Best Friends Magazine Reviews Humphrey Was Here

I'm thrilled that Sally Rosenthal of Best Friends Magazine has reviewed my book, Humphrey Was Here, in the July/August issue. A large part of the book deals with the time I spent at Best Friends volunteering after Humphrey passed away. It was a healing ground for me and will always have a special place in my heart.

Read the full review.
Purchase the book.

"The honesty and wisdom that grace this book will serve as a balm for others coping with their own pain."
~ BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE

Etsy Front Page!

This morning my Woman and Dog print was featured on the front page of Etsy.com! I've been working hard for several months on my Etsy Shop and shocked to wake up to see the news on my Facebook page.

Buy A Golden Rule Print and Help GRREAT!

I've made an arrangement with Golden Retriever Rescue Education and Training (GRREAT) to donate $5 for every Golden Rule print purchased from my Etsy Shop. So if you'd like to help a great organization and get a great print check it out. Be sure to mention "GRREAT" in the "message to seller" at checkout when you make your purchase. 

Paw Nation Print Giveaway

The wonderful website Paw Nation is having a giveaway for a FREE print from my Etsy Shop! Enter to win by simply going to this link and leaving a comment with your favorite print from my shop. Deadline for entering is 5 p.m. ET on Friday, June 4, 2010. Good luck!

May Special: Signed copy of Old Friends with FREE Notecard

Get a signed copy of my first book, Old Friends with a FREE Notecard. Priced the same as Amazon before they sold out - $13.17 with shipping. Ships USPS Media Mail. Great Mother's Day gift!

PayPal link: http://bit.ly/bteHGW.

Tara & Bella: An Animal Love Story

This is the sweetest love story between an elephant and a dog. Please watch.

Urban Animal features Humphrey Was Here

Urban Animal, an Australian magazine for animal lovers, has an excerpt of my dog memoir, Humphrey Was Here, in their latest issue. It's in two parts, which you can view here: Part One | Part Two. Humphrey Was Here can be purchased online at Amazon or Barnes & Noble. The book is also available at any bookseller.

Photographic Talent

One of the great things about the Internet is it instantly erases geographical boundaries. With the click of a mouse you can be connected to a great artist in another place. In this case Ottawa, Canada and the work of photographer Liz Bradley. She also has a great blog: Ottawa Dog Blog. Be sure to check them both out!

Just a Dog

Saw this on a friend's Facebook page and echoed how I feel today.

Just a Dog

From time to time people tell me,
"Lighten up, it's just a dog," or,
"That's a lot of money for just a dog."
They don't understand the distance traveled,
the time spent or the costs involved for "just a dog."

Some of my proudest moments have
come about with "just a dog."

Many hours have passed and my only
company was "just a dog,"
but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been
brought about by "just a dog," and,
in those days of darkness,
the gentle touch of "just a dog"
gave me comfort and
reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a dog,"
then you will probably understand
phases like "just a friend,"
"just a sunrise," or "just a promise."

"Just a dog" brings into my life
the very essence of friendship,
trust, and pure unbridled joy.

"Just a dog" brings out the compassion
and patience that makes me a better person.

Because of "just a dog" I will rise early,
take long walks and look longingly to the future.

So for me, and folks like me,
it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment
of all the hopes and dreams of the future,
the fond memories of the past
and the pure joy of the moment.

"Just a dog" brings out what's
good in me and diverts my thoughts
away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand
that it's not "just a dog" but the thing
that gives me humanity and keeps
me from being "just a human."

So the next time you hear the phrase
"just a dog." just smile....because they "just don't understand."

- Anonymous

The Beauty of the Beast

Learned of this video from my friend Jerri and had to post. Beautifully shot video. I looked into the cost of the camera used and it took a bit of digging but finally found it...$2,500. I love the expression on the bulldog's face the best.

Law and Order?

Not with these pooches! Apparently many dogs get a bit out of control when they hear the opening music to the TV show Law and Order. A lab, a pomeranian, a springer spaniel, a collie, a poodle...they all seem to react to the show's theme. My dog, Payton, is not a howler, so he looked at me like I was crazy while playing this clip.

Remember The Golden Rules

Every now and then it never hurts to be reminded of how best to live. Who better than a group of beautiful golden retrievers to remind us of the golden rules? That's the focus of a new collection of images I've created especially for my Etsy Shop.

Etsy Photo of the Week - Abraham Lincoln Tribute

Abraham Lincoln is one of my favorite historical figures. Much of it is due to a great book that I read in 2006 entitled Lincoln's Melancholy. Abe was an avid animal lover. The Lincolns had rabbits, cats, a horse named Old Bob, two goats (Nancy and Namco), and several dogs (including Fido, which translates from the Latin word Fidelities as faithful). I'm happy to use his wonderful quote - "I care not for a man's religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it" - in this new image for My Etsy Shop.

Etsy Photo of the Week - Dog Grooming 101

Well, not exactly. See some dogs like to get dirty, but don't much care for getting clean. The latest addition to my Etsy Shop pays tribute to this sentiment. Take a look.

Online Jigsaw Puzzles

I've never been the best at Jigsaw Puzzles, but I've come upon a website that's a lot of fun. It's called Jigidi and it allows you to solve puzzles online. It times how long it takes you to complete each puzzle and shows the ten top quickest jigsaw puzzlers. I've uploaded a couple of my book covers, so see you can beat the best time - http://www.jigidi.com/puzzle.php?id=RV6KQPJ

Etsy Photo of the Week - Two for Tea

Tea for Two or Two for Tea. Anyway you say it, these two Yorkshire Terriers are cute! Available for purchase at My Etsy Shop.

My Valentine is My Dog

According to a new survey 21% would rather smooch their pet than their partner on Valentine’s Day. Men and women were evenly split on the question. Here's the article.

The 2010 Super Bowl Winner Will Be...

Well, according to Kutai, the youngest orangutan at the Oregon Zoo, it's definately the Indianapolis Colts. The zoo has an annual football forecasting event and Kutai picked the Colts t-shirt without hesitation. What does Kutai know about football, you ask. Consider this, the zoo says Kutai has predicted the winner in four of the past five Super Bowls, including the New York Giants' win over the New England Patriots in 2008. His only loss came last year when he incorrectly picked the Arizona Cardinals over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pet Loss: One Man's Story of Love, Loss, and Letting Go

Seven years ago I wrote a book about losing my dog, Humphrey to stomach bloat. The manuscript was sitting there, but I didn't have the heart to revisit the story and publish it. Thanks to the encouragement of a good friend I did and I'm happy with my decision. I've gotten so many nice notes from readers who have suffered similarly painful experiences in losing their dogs. Here are a few comments about Humphrey Was Here from Amazon Reader Reviews:

"The writing is straight from the heart, and I couldn't put it down as I accompanied the author through his emotional journey."

"It is a sensitive narrative of what we all must face at some point in our lives, and one man's process in dealing with and moving through the loss of a dear friend."

"This book would be an excellent gift to anyone who has recently lost a family pet."

Dog Senses Arcata Earthquake

If you believe dogs can sense things before humans do, you've gotta check out this video. The dog feels the ground shaking and darts from the room way before the guy in the beard and the rest of the people realize there is an earthquake.

Etsy Photo of the Week - Pug Shot

This is Bailey, a spunky pug I photographed for Old Friends, my first book. She is staring out at the Pacific Ocean as the sun sets. Available for purchase at My Etsy Shop.

Oprah Winfrey Adopts Two Rescue Dogs

For her 56th birthday, Oprah has adopted two 14-week-old Springer spaniels from the PAW Chicago animal shelter. Sunny and Lauren, will add to the five pets Oprah already has. I work while the show is on, but a name as big as Oprah's can only be good for the cause of adopting dogs.

Check out Mark J. Asher's Etsy Shop.

Dog Training - The Dreaded Vacuum

My dog, Payton, loves to hate the vacuum. If he's outside in the yard playing and he sees me take out the vacuum, he comes to the door to be let in. Then he becomes horrified when I begin to vacuum. I found this video on YouTube and it's a good tutorial on how to teach your dog to be calm when you turn on the vacuum and other things that make your dog freak out.

Biggest and Brightest Full Moon of 2010

Tonight will be the biggest and brightest full moon of the year. To be exact, it will be about 14 percent wider and 30 percent brighter than all other full moons during 2010. The moon may look close, especially on nights like tonight, but it is 238,855 miles away!

I took the shot above from my backyard deck late last year. Check out this photo and others at My Etsy Shop.

Valentine's Day Gift for a Dog Lover

If the one you love loves dogs, my book Old Friends might be a nice gift idea.

“These animals jump from the pages, warm the heart, and inspire the soul.”— THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES (HSUS)

The Best Part About Waking Up

Is sitting with my dog, Payton, on the bed, drinking a strong cup of green tea. I love the quiet time, letting my mind drift from thought to thought. Everything seems possible...

Etsy Photo of the Week - Old Gold

A friend of mine just adopted not one but two Senior Golden Retrievers! This is Buddy. Available for purchase at My Etsy Shop.

The Secret Life of the Dog

The Secret Life of the Dog is a BBC Horizon production that reveals new research regarding dogs and the bond dogs have with humans. It's a six-part video which is definately fascinating and well produced. I do however get a little bit weird or should I say nervous when something as beautiful and innocent as dogs are scientifically studied, but that's just me. One of the segments has a story about a border collie named Betsy that knows 340 words! Check out the first segment below on YouTube.

Prints for Sale

It's incredible just how much there is to explore online and how much there is to create. I just spent the last few days setting up my new Etsy Store. If you are not familiar with Etsy, it's a wonderful site where you can buy and sell unique, handmade items. You can check out my store here.