Borias:Dog for Equality

The state of CA has been undergoing some turbulence of late, with the recent upholding of Prop 8, the ban on gay marriage. It's no secret that I feel quite strongly that ALL people are created equal, and that the majority should not take away rights of a minority in a vote. I mean, if parts of the ADA were put up to a vote, I'm pretty darn sure the majority of business owners would strike it down. Thankfully, I'm protected under the law. But my gay brothers and sisters have yet to gain the freedom to be equal under the law. To not be treated as a second class citizen. 

So, I feel a duty to lend my support in this civil rights struggle of our time. It's the right thing to do. I'm so grateful to have my wonderful dog as my "back up". As everyone's. Here's a breed that was once used to instill terror in certain oppressed people, and now one is lending his voice against oppressors! How cool is that? He barked like crazy in the rally the Day of Decision, almost in unison with the chants. He sat beside me for five hours at a sit-in at the County Clerk's office, where some gay couples attempted to get marriage licenses. We were practicing civil disobedience, and stayed past hours, until the police escorted us off. 

I think Borias has a calming influence, when emotions run high at these things. That's a good thing. Kind of a therapy dog for activists. I also think it's cool how he can be a catalyst to communicating with those on the opposing side. Today we were at a party that fundamentalist Christians put on to, well frankly, gloat over this decision. It's Pentecost Sunday, and they chose to go down the the Administration building, and rally. This pastor who has been in the news locally ran the show. 

I went among everyone, with my camera, and shot photos. I'll be honest, I had a very difficult time listening to what was being said. From my viewpoint, there was an awful lot of fear and ignorance, and downright intolerance being spread around. They certainly don't think so, and even claimed they are putting this forth out of love and compassion. Where they get that, I just don't know. And my goodness, did they bandy the word "natural" more times than I could even begin to count! They are "natural" marriages, "natural" relationships. 

Wow. 

Folks, I am not "natural", or "normal", a freak of nature. I can't walk. I didn't choose this, and neither does anyone choose their gender identity. It's who they are. Diversity is a wonderful thing!

So I'm proud that my dog was by my side..all our sides...when we were faced with arrest while politely demanding our rights. By our sides while we marched to the Hall of Justice. (Where I was denied justice same time last year, in my case against Service dog discrimination, ironically). By our sides, and barking loudly while PA systems projected the self-righteous gloating of religious folks. And together, we will continue to fight for justice and equality. We will persist until right wins. 

And it always does in the end. 

Entering the Photography Exhibition at the Fair

Oh why do I procrastinate? It causes so much grief, one would think that would be a cure. But alas, I continue. I entered some photography in the fair at the end of the month, just minutes shy of the deadline. Ended up entering 10 images, the limit. At $16 a pop, too! Plus thought I'd enter my painting of Borias for the art show. 

It's this one, my mama's boy. I called it "My Heart" : )

The photos I entered were all dogs but one image. A police horse. I would maybe have better chances of winning had I entered a broad range of categories, but it bummed me out that last year none of my dog images were picked to even be in the show, so I deluged them this year ha ha. 

But what a load of work! First, picking the images was not easy, and naming them. Then the last two days I have been slaving over my Epson R2400, having trouble with prints. My printer is temperamental to begin with. It's been leaving faint banding that you can barely see, but once you notice them, well, you see them. Then I was printing from psd. files, and so that was messing up the color. Lots of ink and paper later, I finally figured it out. 

Then there's mounting the images. I took them to a local framing shop, to have them dry mounted. Found out he just used spray, and the gator board is more an 'off black' than black. Oh well. Too late now! I sure hope it's ok, though. So now I just have to finish up with the few I'm putting mats on, and label them. Tomorrow is the last day to bring them in to the fairgrounds. 

Sure hope a lot get picked! And that I win something. It's super competitive. Thousands of entries. And dogs are a very popular subject material! So we shall see. Sure glad I'm almost done with the work part, though. 

I took a little break with my puppers, and took him to "his" Balboa Park for a bite to eat at the Tea Pavillion in the Japanese Friendship Garden. It's really funny that I've been going to this park for many, many, maaaanny moons, yet I had no idea there was a japanese cafe there! The food isn't bad, either. Very relaxing to sit out on their deck, overlooking a canyon, with black bamboo. Peaceful. And Borias can scan the landscape for squirrels. 

I let him chase one that went up a big tree when we were on our way. I think that did him some good mentally. Though I cringed when he lept up and put his paws on the tree. Worried for his back. He was so happy to be out on that kind of a walk, he started running with me in tow, like he adores. I let him for a little ways, he just looked so joyous. I'm so grateful he can still do that a little. Thanks to his acupuncturist and masseuse! And wonderful chiropractor. 

I don't know who's heart was singing more. His or mine :)

Shopping

Borias isn't all that thrilled with shopping, being a male after all. I think he must find the whole activity both boring and pointless. Wandering around a brightly lit place, staring at clothing and whatnot. I'm personally not into shopping much, either, but now and then the mood strikes me, and I head to the mall. Fashion Valley is an upscale mall, where there's a Cheesecake Factory (yum!), and movie theaters. So I can do more than shop. 

It's interesting the kinds of encounters that I can have with people during a shopping trip. I had just gone into Bloomingdale's, looking at some sunglasses, and the sales gal came over. So I made a comment about these Ray-Bans looking kind of funny, an odd shape. She never looked at me, but was marveling at Borias. She just started asking me about him. 

I said  it's funny how sometimes people don't hear a thing I'm saying, and just see the dog. She laughed, but not in a way that recognized what I had just said. She was still too busy looking at my dog. It was a token laugh. She didn't get it. 

Then there's some parents who are just really, really strange. There was this middle aged man with two young toddler aged boys, who came into the Gap with them while I was engaged with a sales clerk, and was  saying "you want to pet the dog, let's ask if you can pet the dog", only it wasn't directly to me. Just loudly saying it. I just moved a bit, avoiding them. Not to be rude, but I was talking and kind of busy, and didn't want the distraction at the moment. Well, ran into Mr. Dad again coming off an elevator towards the movie theaters on the second level. 

He was standing right in the way, little boy by his side, and a woman (mom?). Boy starts to cry and buries his face in dad as Borias goes to get off the elevator. I try to go with him, but they don't move, blocking my exit. So I say excuse me. 

Dad says "your dog's gonna bite my kid's face off".

HUH???? 

I said how absurd, he's my Service dog, not a vicious kid killer. 

"Well, my kid's afraid of him!"

I could see that he was mildly wigged out, but that's not my problem, I only wanted to go off the elevator. I had gotten past him, and said, indignant, that I had only said excuse me. Apparently he thought I was mocking his kid's crying or something. I shrugged and we went on to go see Wolverine. Seriously, parents can really be strange. 

Another little Asian boy followed us around in a department store, waving his arms, barking at Borias, and generally being hyper. Parents were jewelry shopping, engaged with the clerk, oblivious. When he started roaring at my dog, I had had enough, and said "Please stop. I'm not here for your entertainment!"

A woman going up the escalator gave me a thumbs up in approval. The kid gave me kind of a blank look, as if not many adults told him to knock it off before. 

It does seem more and more that people treat us as if we are there for their entertainment. It just gets a bit tiresome when the folks are rude, or obnoxious. Thankfully I have lots of cool interactions to make up for those. People that get a kick out of Borias' antics. 

Like he entertains himself while I wheel around in a store by doing a little mini-dance. I don't let him full out bounce and act the fool of course. But he still likes to get away with some playfullness. So he will hold his leash and shake his head walking in a prancy way. Gets a giggle out of the clerks. If there's loud music playing, he'll try to boogie a little more. My dancing fool. 

We both enjoyed Wolverine very much. Though Borias slept through most of it ha ha. I tried to get him to watch the trailer for Ice Age 2, with the animated squirrel things. He watched a while, then looked up at me, and turned around to go to sleep.