I’m planning work in a different way this time around. In part because I’m working on the Bush Foundation’s Dakota Creative Connections grant. (The idea/grant proposal was to amass enough work for an exhibition or two…)

I’m working with this idea of a collection of work that will live, at least for a time, as one chunk. Rather than making pieces as sketchbook->studio->collector. I’m trying to hold, at least, a few of these back. Weird.

I cannot believe that I allowed myself to be photographed in this situation-

Standing next to a car

Wearing a bikini.

What was I thinking?

On a positive note, it’s nice to have proof of my once skinny thighs…

This meme is floating around. While I usually don’t play, this one seemed sort of… well, something.

So the rules are: if you’ve already done the thing it needs to be in bold. Things I want to do are italicized and things I haven’t done/don’t want to do are in plain font.

THE 99 THINGS MEME

1. Started your own blog. (I would have to say yes to this one…)
2. Slept under the stars. (First time was girl scout camp on the shore of Gascoyne Lake)
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii. (Not high on my list of places I want to go, but I’d like to someday.)
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity. (Hello, Greyhound adoption. Doesn’t everybody involved do this?)
7. Been to Disneyland/world. (Disneyland, not Disneyworld. No big desire for Florida).
8. Climbed a mountain. (Technically mountain, but nothing really, really big).
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo. (Church choir — maybe third grade?)
11. Bungee jumped. (No thank you…)
12. Visited Paris. (Want to go back…)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea. (Nauseous on boats. I think I actually turn green).
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child. (I’ve adopted Greyhounds… does that count?)
16. Had food poisoning. (Rapid City Pizza place. Never eaten pizza in Rapid City since)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty. (Never been to NYC. On my list of things to do).
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France. (Slightly disappointed about the glass)
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked. (This creeps me out).
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill. (Never had a job with sick days. Doesn’t work when you are self-employed).
24. Built a snow fort. (Oh my gosh, like every winter as a child).
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a marathon. (I’d like to have said that I’ve done it more than actually doing it…)
28. Ridden a gondola in Venice. (In spring, thank goodness!)
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset. (Hasn’t everyone done this?)
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise. (see #13).
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person. (Have driven near in, but never stopped).
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors. (Mostly).
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language. (does HTML count?)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person. (Pyramids in Egypt are higher on my list!)
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person.
41. Sung Karaoke. (No, never.)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing. (See #13).
49. Seen the Sistine chapel in person. (Hot, lots of people, but amazing).
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. (Cold, lots of people, but amazing).
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling. (Not big on swimming, boats, etc.)
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater. (I’m not sure about this one. There was a drive-in in Baker Montana, but I don’t remember every going).
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.
62. Gone whale watching. (See #13).
63. Gotten flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood.
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy. (Have lots of my toys in the attic).
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial. (Many times. Probably my favorite DC Monument).
71. Eaten Caviar. (Not my favorite).
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square. (Would like to visit NYC!)
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London.
77. Broken a bone. (Wrist, falling off a bicycle as a kid).
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book. (Imagine a big “Sarah Snavely” coffee table book of Greyhound sculptures).
81. Visited the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car. (Nah. Slightly used is fine with me).
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swum in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.

You know about ted.com? Probably everybody does, but I finally clicked a link in a email from a friend and… wowweee!!!

Having a ball playing the TED talks on my laptop as I work in the studio.

Here’s a cool video to get started:

Three days cooped up in the house is too much for Sage. Today we braved the cold temps and headed to the dog park.

You’d think -4 degrees is too cold for a greyhound — very little body fat and even less hair. Not so much.

He was a maniac. He ran with the poodle, then with Winchester. Every time he ran near a human, he’d bounce past them — sailing past at their shoulder height. Bounce, bounce, bounce. Attempt to steal gloves, scarves, whatever he could. Then RUN….

It is so hard to try to teach him manners when I’m laughing so hard I nearly fall over.

In between studio time, working at the library and tending to bored dogs, I’ve been adding my personal library to LibraryThing.com.

It is kind of fun in an “I’m such a dork and like to be super organized way”. I’ve been adding a few books in the cold and dark evenings.

I’m surprised at how many books I have (384), and how many I have left to add. And how many lame-o dog books I’ve read. Wow. Some are instruction manuals on how to beat your dog. Makes you sick. How we have tortured these creatures in the name of precision obedience. I’m glad training and behavior studies have progressed past the Koehler method and others.

Here’s a peek at what I’ve got listed so far….

This is the bottom of the fence which surrounds the dog park. Here’s a closer look:

See those little twisty bits on the bottom of the fence? See how the fence is about… 2 to 5 inches above the ground? Here’s what happens when one Greyhound pup pushes another Greyhound pup into the fence and that pup pulls his leg against those pointy twisted fence parts:

Not good.

Now I’ve run Greyhounds in this park many, many times. This is the first time with pups. And the pups play differently than my previous adult Greyhounds.

Here’s the part that makes me sick. Sage has injure himself once (see photo above). Annie has been injured twice. Once on each paw/wrist.

I really, really don’t want them to injure themselves again.

So… do I

• Quit running them? (No! They are Greyhounds and need to run!)
• Quit running them together? (And option, but awfully boring for pups…)
• Find a different place to run? (Illegal or unfenced)
• Try to control their wild playing? (HAHAHAHAHAHAH!)
• Figure out a way to fix the fence? (Now that sounds a bit better).

The simplest way would be to bring dirt in and bury the fence. Otherwise, maybe tubing of some sort to cushion the twisty wires? Or bend the twisty wires away from the interior of the park?

Any ideas out there?