Awe, funkyart, it sounds like life has been a real challenge for you, I'm so sorry to hear about your dog, Loosing a pet is such a sad thing. Thanks for letting us know how you're doing, stop in often and give us updates. Life isn't just about decor projects. --Lukki

I figured whatever was going on wasn't real good ..:(

I'm sorry to hear you've been dealing with a lot and I'm sorry about your dog.

You can shoot me an email if you ever want to chat, vent, etc. I hope we'll be seeing more of you here. You've been missed!

Gosh, me too, so sorry to hear about all you've had to deal with - and to lose your dog on top of it all. :(

Your post back to give us an update is very inspiring and it looks like you're bouncing back. Congrats on your efforts to make it a time of change -- ALL GOOD changes!

Oh funkyart, I am so sorry for your loss. I assume it was your rotty. You should post that pic with your dogs and the neighborhood kids. I love that pic.

Take care.

Updates are always good to hear; my sympathies about your dog.

good luck with all your projects, may your renewed energy continue to flow.

I so appreciate everyone's kind words. It has definitely been a period with lots of challenges but I've had some successes as well as losses. That's what life is, huh?

Just like an artist's work often reveals the artist's mood, I think our homes often reflect what's going on in our lives. I've been dark and somewhat of a mess.. and so is my house. It's time to pull out of it!

Kelly, how sweet that you remembered the photo of my dogs. Yes, it was Grace, my rottie, who lost her battle with cancer. She was an amazing dog and as sad as I am to have lost her, I was blessed for the time with her and I learned so much about dog training and nutrition and health..

This is another one of my favorites..

Thank you all .. your notes mean a lot to me!

How could I forget that pic. What I love about it is that it shows that a rottweiler can be a big, gentle bundle of love. I think so many people are intimitaded by them. The second you posted is so sweet. It reminds me that I need to get more pics of my two dogs together.

Grace obviously had a wonderful life and home while she was here. The second picture is sooo adorable.

Losing a pet has got to be one of the hardest thing's in life for us. The last two pets I lost, a dog about 5 years ago who was my shadow, and my cat two weeks ago, I was in a state of shock for a week, I'd just sit on the couch and do NOTHING. Even cleaning the kitchen became a chore.

I bought another dog of the same breed nine months later, after much internal struggling, and it's as if my dear Lily's soul came into my new Grace's soul. :)

Hang in there, it looks like you're getting better. Depression sucks, huh?

Kelly, she really was a bundle of love.. and so expressive. She was playful.. and had a sense of humor. I had to work with her a lot.. she was a rescue and I had to socialize her to a house and teach her self control around food.. but she was always a cuddle bug and just naturally great with kids. As kids approached she would automatically sit or lay down and wait expectantly for them to come greet her. If they didnt, she'd purr or make little noises so that they'd notice her.

I'll never forget the day a very young boy was visiting a neighbor-- he was maybe 3 yo. He walked right up to Grace and to the horror of his mother (and me), LICKED Grace's face. hahahah. He thought that's how you kissed dogs because that's how they kissed him. Grace just sat there and soaked up the attention.

She was much loved by the kids in the neighborhood and my own nieces and nephews-- even those who had been afraid of dogs. She was a good ambassador for her breed and for dogs in general.

Thank you so much for remembering her as a special dog. The breed gets a bad rap because of those who mistreat them. It's a wonderful breed and except for my grief, I'd absolutely adopt another.

Love that picture of the dog butts! I know the pain of losing a pet - it hits you harder than you realize. It's good to have you back.

Yes.. well I have been depressed and there are times that something catches me and I still shed tears for Grace. Perhaps I always will-- especially because I worked so hard to get her healthy after her rescue and then to battle her cancer. I wasn't ready to give up.

Still, there has been a lot more going on. I worked insanely long hours to keep my old company's head above water. We had some great successes and in the end, we received big accolades for our product and our work and every one of my clients raves about my team.. unfortunately, that wasn't enough. A few years of bad decisions and hard times took the cushion away that would have allowed us to take our newest product and sail with it. It IS still a success and there is a growing list of organizations wanting to talk to us about it.. but we have merged with a much larger company. My group is more or less intact,but I now work for a large corporation rather than a quirky fun and independent company. This is a big change for me and not one I would have chosen.

Again, thank you all for your thoughts and encouragement. I am touched... but please know that I am fine. I am a fighter and my reasons for not focusing on the house or myself have been more related to trying to keep the company going... I DID keep it going for 8 months longer than the lawyers or owners thought we'd manage and I put us in a position that we were strong enough for a merger. We didnt leave a trail of unhappy clients.. we didnt leave a trail of debt. I am proud of what we've done.. and yet, I do still feel somewhat defeated. I had no intentions of every working for a large corporation again. Damned Economy.

Sorry for the big personal dump-- I just wanted to to be clear that I haven't been clinically depressed or paralyzed. I have been trying to stay anchored amid a wild hurricane of change. I usually thrive on change, but the things that have changed were the things I'd have liked to have kept the same. This economy is really shaking things up for a lot of us.

Ahhh Funky - so happy you are here and updated us. I had a feeling a while back you were getting a bit overwhelmed with all going on at your work. I have no doubt at all that you are simply going through a blue period, not clinical depression. You are an upbeat person who seems to go with the flow and give things your all. You did that with your job. I am sorry about the big corporation, but hopeful that will work out for you. I am also hoping that means less time at work for you and more time to concentrate on other areas of life - including that bedroom and THOSE CHAIRS LOL!!! I'm very happy to hear you're giving dating another chance and hope that works out!

I'm sorry to hear about your doggie. Of course you are still hurting and grieving. That is only natural.

Maybe it's time for you and your sis to plan one of your trips again. Chin up sweetie and carry on - I have no doubt at all you'll do fine.

I'll drop you a line and hope to catch up more with you.

tina

Funky!!! I am so sorry about your Grace. Love the pics. Glad to hear you are feeling better. These four legged children of ours sure do leave an empty spot in our hearts as well as fill it up at the same time. The yin/yang of life, I suppose.

Change is good. One day at a time.

I had posted earlier this year about being so frustrated about my weight. Would do well one week & bad the next....I made the decision 2 months ago to keep it simple & cut the (whites) breads, chips, sugars (mostly) & fast food. I was shocked when I weighed yesterday & have lost 20 lbs. Now, if I can stop making these danged chocolate molten cakes......
SMiles:)

Nice to see you back Funky! You've been missed.

Sorry to hear about the loss of your beloved pup. That's such a hard loss to bear.

Don't forget how much light there is within you, Funky. It may seem dark out there, but you are a very special lady who may just not be seeing all the beauty she has to bring to the world right now.

Glad things are getting brighter for you. Focus on all those good things about yourself and your life. You have so much to offer. I know you doubt it sometimes, but that's the *real* you.

Gosh.. you guys are all so sweet. I probably would have done well to pop in here more through the rough times but I just didnt have the energy at the end of my days.

Hugs to all of you!

Scoobyruby.. Congrats on losing 20 lb!!! I am so frustrated by my weight too. I have always struggled with it but I just lost the battle these last two years. I don't eat all that poorly or that much-- but I often only eat once a day (at night) and I am not getting enough exercise or sleep. My metabolism is slow and messed up so both are SO important. The key for me is always to eat more meals and to exercise. I'll get there.

Funky, I am sorry for all your losses...both Grace and the company you knew and loved. Your stories of Grace are so sweet to read. I hope you'll keep them gathered for when you need a smile.

Honestly, reading your words is so inspiring. Life is a mix and to acknowledge the bad side is as important and moving back toward the good stuff. Glad to hear you feel like you've turned the corner.

Amy, you are very insightful. I really was/am grieving the loss of my company. I'll need to work through that before I really move onto my next step in life.

I really believe positive change comes from the unexpected or "bad" things in our lives-- if we let it.

Thanks for your note!

Funky, I think you are very wise to put the word "bad" in quotes, as if you hesitate to use the word. I hesitate to use the word as I get older and see more and more, as you and Amy note, how so much growth and enrichment comes from opening up to shall we say, "challenges" that present. Resisting challenges and calling them "bad" experiences only prevents us from receiving the gifts they surely bear, eventually.

It seems that while a "charmed" life that doesn't encounter too many bumps in the road is regarded as the ultimate "prize," the true "prizes" of life, such as depth, compassion, wisdom, growth, are only won through meeting our challenges, facing our fears.

The celebrity culture, advertising world and the media do not tell us this. The perfect life, according to them, is smooth and blemish free. To heck with personal growth! I admire how you are pursuing a different path.

Here is an old Chinese proverb I posted when my sister was diagnosed with breast and lung cancer recently. I hope you like it!

Here is a link that might be useful: Good luck/Bad luck?

S-G, love that proverb! I have someone in mind who needs to see that. Thanks for posting it.

Oh, I love the story of the toddler licking her face. How cute. I also love this: She was a good ambassador for her breed and for dogs in general.

What a tribute to Grace.

Funk-ay! glad to see you back. I remember Grace- but true to my nature- I remember dogs and their names but not always the humans.
You can be proud of how you fought for Gracie her whole life,and you can be proud of how you fought to keep your company going.

Stinky, I love the proverb and I have marked it to keep. Thank you so much, to each of you-- Kelly and Cooper...everyone. What a great group this is!

Funkyart so sorry for all the problems you've had lately. But may I say, I didn't know you were so young and pretty, my goodness. Funkyart does not imply Sultry and yet so natural, and I truly mean that. (lol)

.....Jane

I didn't mean to put LOL after my statement. I had written more and deleted it and forgot to remove the LOL, you look so pretty.

Thank you, NewDawn-- but none of the pictures here are me. They are all kids in my neighborhood. I appreciate your kind words but I am not young.. or sultry LOL.