Best Laid Plans

Remember my post, "Lend a Helping Paw over the Holidays", where I vowed to try to accomplish everything on my list between the time I wrote it and the start of the New Year? Well, the New Year is here, and I went back to see how I fared...

Gifts that Give Twice: A few months ago I purchased new leashes for the dogs, so I put aside one of our faded Earth Dog leashes to give to the shelter. I wasn't fond of the color, but I don't think the shelter will mind - I'm guessing they can make good use of a soft leash, judging by the 1/2 inch ribbon-lined nylon leash they handed me on the day I walked Spring - boy did that thing cut into my hands!

Clean out that Supply Closet: I discovered a harness and two collars that had been collecting dust, and I'm hoping Leah's old "Ruby Cube" Lupine collar will make some lucky doggy look very stylish - maybe enough to attract the attention of their future adopter. The other collar was plain red, and I just seem to be off that red kick, so into the pile it went along with the harness.

Go through your Own Stuff: I had two towels that were starting to fray on the edges, but are still very much usable, so I added them to the pile. Additionally, my mom recently gave us a new sheet set, so that left me with an old, worn out set to give. Both of these items were on Kent's wish list, and I'm sure they will put them to good use. My sister had also given Meadow a huge, cushy comforter to lie on in her crate while the stitches on her belly healed, and now that Meadow no longer needs it, she said to pass it along so a shivering shelter dog will have a warm place to curl up and sleep.

Buy a Present for a Pooch: Things were tight this December, but luckily for me the pet store I shop at gives out $8.00 off coupons to their regular customers each time they spend a certain amount on supplies, so I used my most recent one to purchase a toy from the shelter's wish list. I was able to get a traditional kong toy for only $9.99, and with the coupon, it only cost me a couple of bucks to help keep a bored dog busy.

Set up a Collection Box: As I mentioned just the other day, the donation drive we did went really well. Look at the huge pile of supplies so many generous people dropped off - an entire trunk full!

Additionally, two of Nick's students donated $50.00 to Kent as his Christmas gift this year....what a great gift!

Coins for Canines: As I mentioned in a previous post, I ended up putting all the coins I had been saving all year towards Meadow's surgery, but Nick and I started saving all of our new coins since December 1st and managed to put aside a small amount to give to the shelter. It was so small, in fact, that I added a few singles to the cup, just so I would feel like I was donating something. It's not nearly as much as I had planned to give before I raided my stash, but at least it's enough to buy a few cans of food to fill a hungry dog's belly.

Donate your Time: Between my two week virus, Meadow's surgery, and the craziness of the holidays, we didn't get to the shelter to walk dogs as often as I originally planned, but we did manage to squeeze in two visits, and, of course, we plan to walk dogs again when we drop off all of the above donations.

Although I managed to get to everything on my list, I'm not really celebrating, because I had planned to do more. I am extremely happy with the amount of items we collected, but I really wish I had more time to volunteer, and more money to give. And those weren't the only plans of mine that have gone awry...

I promised myself I'd complete the first draft of my novel in 2011 - but I fell short on time, fell short on ambition, fell short on creativity, and fell short on some 10,000 words. I really let myself down on this one because I came so close to finishing it and had hoped to begin editing it at the start of the New Year, but now I have to spend some more time drafting it before I get down to the real work.

I also managed to gain weight this year, again, and I learned that my cholesterol has crept past 200. This is probably because (A) I love to eat, (B) I did not get my dogs out for as many walks as I had promised them I would, (Don't worry, they still got their daily play and training sessions, so it was only my waist that suffered), (C) I love to eat, (D) I sit in front of this keyboard too much, and (E) I love to eat. Which means, if you see a little less of me in blogland over the coming months, I'm either preparing a salad, walking my dogs, or using my computer time a little more carefully. But don't worry - I'll still post from time to time, and I'll be back to blogging regularly just as soon as I can. In the meantime - I hope that 2012 turns out to be the perfect year for each of you to accomplish all of your own goals, hopes, and dreams.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM DONNA AND THE DOGS!!