Comments for MMilani.com

Comment on Meandering With Myrn: Words, Words, Words by Myrna

Myrna — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:23:27 +0000

Thanks for your comments, Kim. The problem with all terminology is that people will invariably define words in terms of their own experience unless another definition is offered. Ironically, even though people may project a fantasy human parental relationship on their animals skewed more in what those folks consider a positive direction, how people view the teacher/student model will depend on their own educational experiences. As such some may see this as a more authoritarian relationship skewed in the punishment direction.

No right or wrong answer here. The key is to assume nothing and always define what we mean when we use certain words. That way we don’t wind up thinking we’re talking about the same thing when we’re not.

Myrna

Comment on Meandering With Myrn – Episode 77 by Myrna

Myrna — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:06:11 +0000

Thanks for reminding me of this poem, Joyce. So powerful and yet so poignant!

Comment on Meandering With Myrn: Words, Words, Words by Kim Rinehardt

Kim Rinehardt — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:07:14 +0000

When dealing with the general public I find that people often struggle to see their pets as whole and complete creatures in their natural form. They too often prefer to view them as human children with hair. As such, although I completely understand the meaning of your podcast, I usually define leadership as that of teacher/student or mentor/student. It helps people see the leadership role as one designed to teach and guide, rather than to “dominate,” and without entering the sometimes perilous waters of “my dog is my child.”

I do understand that you’re pointing out the need to adopt the CANINE parental role, but I think it’s difficult sometimes for the general public at large to think of themselves as parent to a dog, as opposed to dog as child; to seperate from their own need for a “baby.”

This is no slam to the general public by the way. Only an observation about how difficult can be to help people understand what a healthy human/canine relationship would look like.

BTW, you might find it humerous to note that in spite of this, I refer to myself as a “Dog Mom.”

Comment on Meandering With Myrn – Episode 77 by joyce kesling

joyce kesling — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:55:53 +0000

This podcast reminded me of a poem on Wolf Hybrids in Coppinger’s book. “Being of two kinds thus made, He, as his dam, from sheep drove wolves away, And, as his sire, he made them his own prey. Five years he liv’d, and cozen’d with his trade; Then, hopeless that his faults were hid, betray’d Himself by flight, and by all followed, From dogs, a wolf, from wolves, a dog, he fled, And, like a spy to both sides false, he perished.” “Metempsychosis,” verse 45, English poet John Donne

Comment on Meandering With Myrn – Episode 69 by Myrna

Myrna — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:25:25 +0000

Thanks. My Guru is working on it.

And a great Christmas to you, too.

Comment on Meandering With Myrn – Episode 69 by joyce kesling

joyce kesling — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:22:08 +0000

when i FB’d it came out episode 49?, it tweeted episode 69.

have a happy happy christmas

Comment on Meandering With Myrn – Episode 67 by Kim Bloomer

Kim Bloomer — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:50:00 +0000

Myrna, that was such a great podcast! I just did a “nice” review about Santa Buddies with my usual warning about “NOT” going out and getting a dog or puppy just because of the dogs in the movie. And I made some comments about the Disney factor as well. But your insights while they were funny in the delivery, not so funny in the reality of it all. Jeannie and I just did a show on holiday safety for pets, and we admonished our listeners to NOT get a pet for Christmas no matter what the current sentiment was from the big movement shelter stuff. OY VEY is all I can say. Thank you for saying what I didn’t have the courage to say in my review of the Santa’s Buddies movie. I’m going to link to this on the blog post though and also share with our dog group. Merry Christmas Myrna and thank you for your candor!

Comment on Meandering With Myrn – Episode 63 by Judy

Judy — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:41:14 +0000

The podcast was as elegant as the worm discoveries you discussed. Thank you!

Comment on Meandering With Myrn – Episode 62 by Kim Bloomer

Kim Bloomer — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:58:33 +0000

You know Myrna, many of the people who understand all that you said about plants, are now coming to a rather startling conclusion for their own lives – to subsist on air and water. That is not only scary but obviously not healthy and very dangerous. I like how you resolved this for yourself – that we’re all in this together. There is a very natural cycle of life, that the animals and plants never question, only humans question it all. Animals and plants just live and die. I think it would be pretty awesome if we’d do likewise.

Comment on Meandering With Myrn – Episode 60 by Kim Bloomer

Kim Bloomer — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:44:23 +0000

I loved seeing Bam high up in a tree like a real cat…like we used to see all the time back in the day. Great podcast Mryna!!

Comment on Meandering With Myrn – Episode 60 by joyce kesling

joyce kesling — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:27:35 +0000

great one, you can include dobermans too, Josef was a great lizard hunter and once nearly had a possum, i think being around him when i got boudicca at 8 months actually triggered her prey drive watching him, now it seems darwin has picked up the hunting process, but has his own style, sometimes he crashes the fence so they fall. today while i had a friend/client over darwin caught two lizards, he drops them as soon as i tell him,i just go pick them up and throw them over the fence (LOL). it didn’t seem to bother kyla either…i also saved bam’s picture, he’s turning into a great cat!

Comment on Meandering With Myrn – Episode 55 by Devon

Devon — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 20:18:31 +0000

That was brillliant !

Comment on Meandering With Myrn – Episode 58 by joyce kesling

joyce kesling — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:14:31 +0000

Too funny, Darwin was first to alert, he was on his bed next to me. Golda was snuggled up next to my body pillow, boudicca was in her car seat in my office (?), when the howling really got going Golda made a mad dash for the closet as Darwin raced around to the other side of my bed, Boudicca came in jumped on the bed, settled into her usual spot right next to me. I always think it’s funny when i play back video’s each dog seems to recall themselves and perhaps activity, sometimes they come and look at my laptop, they seem to recognize what is going on, even though they are only hearing it again.

Comment on Meandering With Myrn – Episode 57 by Kim Bloomer

Kim Bloomer — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:24:46 +0000

At the risk of sounding redundant, you have outdone yourself once again in properly assessing what is really going on and what the REAL situation is. Thank you! I am getting repetitive in blogging your podcasts on my blog lol but I can’t help it, they are too good not to share!

Comment on Meandering With Myrn – Episode 56 by Kim Bloomer

Kim Bloomer — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:07:26 +0000

Now that was interesting and also cool to hear where you got this topic from. Thanks as always for the deep thinking Myrna!

Comment on Meandering With Myrn – Episode 55 by Kim Bloomer

Kim Bloomer — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:03:16 +0000

Myrna, this was absolutely da bomb! I LOVED it! Heck if I had the cash I’d sponsor you – and we’d push for the magazine to be in MD offices, rocket scientists, AND dental offices!!!

Thanks, you made my day!

Comment on Meandering With Myrn – Episode 50 by Myrna

Myrna — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 08:40:05 +0000

Thanks for the thoughtful comment, Lee.

I wasn’t referring so much to “in my heart I know it’s true” kind of knowledge, but that which comes from the studies of play in both animals and kids. Fortunately, we’re starting to get more studies of both kinds. For a long time and in keeping with the repressive mindset you mention, believing play had value and was worth studying was considered professional suicide.

Comment on Meandering With Myrn – Episode 50 by Lee Charles Kelley

Lee Charles Kelley — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:00:47 +0000

Hi. I very much enjoyed your podcast.

However, I would argue with your position that the best approach to animal play is through knowledge rather than emotion. Yes, knowledge is good. But the primary reason people “clamp a lid down” (as Dr. Brown puts it) on rough-and-tumble play is that we’ve been taught that it’s wrong to express certain uninhibited emotions that are an essential part of play. And in my view, when it comes to rough-and-tumble play most of our the current “knowledge base” comes from having our own playful emotions repressed when we were younger.

So since it’s the mind that stifles pure playful impulses, I would reverse what you said: it’s only through our childlike emotions that we can truly understand play. Our “knowledge base” will always steer us wrong.

Just another way of seeing the subject,

LCK

Comment on Meandering With Myrn – Episode 50 by joyce kesling

joyce kesling — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 01:32:00 +0000

Great podcast and loved the interview with Dr. Brown

Comment on Digging BeeBee’s Grave by Kim Bloomer

Kim Bloomer — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:33:34 +0000

Myrna, I am so sorry to read about BeeBee. You’ve shared Bee’s whole journey with you here on this site, and it has been a learning journey for any of us who have followed you down this path.

For that I am extremely grateful. Bee taught you, and she served her purpose here on earth so very well.

Bee also taught all of us who have enjoyed this sometimes fun, sometimes difficult journey with you in your writing.

It is apparent to me that you as always really thought out and weighed all the possible outcomes and chose the best one for everyone in your household, including Bee.

She led such a good life with you Mryna. You went to lengths many would not and it made Bee’s life as special as she was and is…since she lives on in your memory and the legacy of writing you have here about your life together.

You’re in my thoughts and prayers Myrna. With love,
Kim