Wednesday, October 10th, 2012
Central Park East - 7:05am

Good morning!  Another rainy one today.  I only saw between 5-10 people with their dogs out this morning.  You know what amazes me?  How I can go on walks in Central Park every morning, and while most days I see lots of people, for the most part they are complete regulars.  I see them almost every day.  Some are more die-hard than others.  In the past year, the regulars between the hours of 6 and 8 are probably in the realm of 35-60 people.  35-60!  Granted this is just one little 3 mile slice of the Park during one little 2 hour slice of time, but don't you find that a bit surprising?  The population of Manhattan is just over a million and a half people.  We'll cut out the tops and bottoms of the city, because they aren't going to come to the Park - too far.  Even if you took the people just in my immediate vicinity, we'll say 60's-80's on the East and West side, that's THOUSANDS of dogs. 

I just find it surprising that the Park isn't overrun by dogs every morning.  It is on the weekends, but not during the week.  I'm glad it's not overrun with dogs - because I would probably enjoy it less - but I'm surprised.  I think this reflects the typical NY'ers view about dogs.  Typical NY'ers view their dog as a sort of human-cat-like thing.  It definitely needs booties and maybe some sweaters or overalls.  DEFINITELY raincoats.  It may need to be pushed in a stroller.  It probably needs doggie daycare - whatever that is.  It most likely needs grooming and blueberry facials (I'm not kidding - someone handed me a flyer in the Park once advertising a posh upper east side dog spa that offered blueberry facials).  Despite all of this lavished attention, it also seems to only need a walk down the block - literally not even around the block - down the same street as the building is on. 

I think that all of this reflects a sort of attitude of wealth and privilege and laziness here.  What your dog really wants, no matter how little and dainty it's been bred to be (my own dogs being a perfect example), is for you to take that raincoat off it so it can roll in the mud.  It wants to run off leash and chase squirrels and birds into bushes.  It wants to eat horrifying things it finds around trash cans.  It wants to crunch up rotten acorns.  It wants to bark and smell other dog's butts (get over it - it's how they investigate one another!!!!).  They want to roll in dead things and swim in mucky ponds.  It wants to be a dog.  The only thing that makes a difference are the toys I think - Nan - they really like the toys :)

NY'ers - especially upper east siders - need to stop pretending that buying things is what will fix everything.  Buy your children posh educations - go ahead!  They'll just learn how to blow Adderall in the bathroom while at their SAT prep courses.  Then the NYTimes will run an article about how the "pressures of school have driven kids to drugs."  WRONG.  They're on drugs because:  1.  They're too accessible because you give them too much money and 2.  You taught them that if something doesn't work they should just buy something to fix it.  And buy your dogs doggie daycare memberships - they'll just sleep there - when they could have been comfy sleeping on their couch at home.  These people are literally buying an opportunity for their dog to be at the equivalent of the pound - loud - crowded - not much oversight or attention.  So stupid.  Just give your dogs some more attention!  

Woah.  I got all worked up there.  Let me settle down.  It's the upper east siders - they're getting to me.

It probably sounds like I'm up on my high horse - "I do everything right - you should do stuff like me."  No, I don't actually think that.  I don't think that I do things right.  I work all day - I probably should have never bought dogs to begin with because I'm not home enough.  I probably don't give them as much exercise as they need.  I don't do enough obedience training with Bear so he's not as well behaved as Sofie.  They both jump up on people with muddy little paws and beg shamelessly for food.  Bear still has accidents in the house because sometimes at the end of the day - I'm beat and I don't want to take him out as much as I should.  Sometimes I sit on my computer all evening instead of interacting with the little living beings romping around in my living room.   So please - don't think that little rant was about me thinking what I do is great - because I have a lot things I'm working on.

I guess what I'm saying is this:  (and I saw this on one of those church signs that says stuff like "Ephesians 1:100 Looketh to the Lord for guidance - and come to morning service on Sunday 11am!")
"How do children (or dogs, or your spouse, or your friends) spell LOVE?  T. I. M. E." 

Have a wonderful, wonderful day!