She's a Bulldog

Ever been called a bulldog? Well, I have!

Clyde, the Bulldog
Photo by Asmadeus.

Let’s put this into perspective.

Years ago I worked for the Tulare County Department of Public Social Services. I was a welfare eligibility worker there in the 1980’s.

I joined the union.

Each year our union negotiated for raises and benefits, and usually they didn’t amount to much, but I guess without the union we’d have received less. Maybe even, nothing!

One year the union was unable to strike a bargain with county management, and threatened to call for a strike.

Can you imagine being a needy, poor, miserable, broke, indigent person showing up at the department of social services to beg for medical help or foodstamps, being told that all the eligibility workers were out on strike?

Well, it seemed that was about to happen.

My co-workers, Judy G. and Judy V., convinced me that I should attend a union meeting that was also attended by personnel department management staff. During that time I was interviewed at the front of the room about my insurance needs.

When I got done, I was surprised to hear one of my co-workers praise me, saying, “She’s a bulldog. She didn’t back down.” She was laughing and smiling so I guessed I did the right thing!

Bulldog, from Wikipedia.

Check out this guy. He’s got his feet firmly planted on the ground and is not going to budge. He’s strong, he’s persistent, and he knows what he wants.

You wouldn’t want to meet that dog in a back alley!

I need to call on some of my bulldog strength and determination right now, to get my writing and blogging back on track. Have you noticed that this blog is a couple of months out of date? Perhaps I’m the only one who noticed, but it distresses me every day.

I’ve been blogging here since October 2001, first on a blogger.com blog, and later on this WordPress blog. It is really hard to stay consistent with blogging, but that’s what I’ve got to do. I’ve got to continue to develop this site. I need to make it better. I need to keep it updated constantly.

Missing two months is really not cool. My bulldog self wouldn’t tolerate that.

At this time, however, I’m distracted. Recently I decided I need to challenge myself to give away or throw away 95% of what I own. I’m going to have to move this year, and need to get ready.

I’m giving away my books by the end of this month, keeping only fifty for myself. That’s my goal.

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I’m also selling some of my furniture. When I leave here it will be totally lightweight. I’m ripping my heart out, even selling my grandmother’s bedroom set. This feels like a huge sacrifice, but it is necessary. I can’t afford to take it all with me… and the more I’ve thought about it, I’ve realized I really don’t even want to.

It is time to move on, and my bulldog self is coming out now, determined to succeed at this extreme decluttering challenge.

All this commotion is not great for writing!

How can I write novels while my world is coming unglued?

But that’s what I have to do. With enough determination, I can be yet a little bit stronger, and open up Scrivener and write a few words.

Why not?

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This month I’m working on Watching Hazel, a novel I started several years ago, that is still unfinished. I have six chapters, and I need more! This novel is loosely based on my great-grandmother’s life, liberally embellished with fiction.

I’m finding that during my decluttering challenge, blogging comes easy. I’m learning to use blogging as a tool for relaxation and release of tension.

I need to write, with some bulldog fight.

It’s only right.

Before I go, I have to share one more bulldog photo, because it is too cute to miss.