A new experience

[clevermanka]

This little girl's voice. WOW.

Locals! If you've got business attire that you'd rather not donate to Goodwill or Salvation Army, KU has a professional clothing drive for students who need interview clothes.

The trip to Indy was nice. I scored some nice thrift finds (four cashmere sweaters, a wool sweater, a heavy cotton zip-front cardigan, and two skirts), and enjoyed the beautiful autumn leaves. They've usually all disappeared by the time I visit in late October/early November, but Indianapolis had a late fall and there were gorgeous yellows, reds, and oranges everywhere. We spent a lot of time just driving around. Next year I might plan my visit a couple weeks early so I have a better chance of catching that again. Maybe I'll get to drive the Chevelle out there!

When I got back home, I spent some time chatting with the neighbor until her dog bit me. BIT ME. I have never been bitten by a dog before and I wasn't entirely sure that's what had happened until I went inside to look at the wound. I was just petting the damn thing and when I stopped, he lunged at me. I felt a poke through my jeans but thought maybe it was just a claw. I made an excuse to go inside (mckitterick was still outside chatting) and when I looked at my thigh there was a definite puncture mark and little even scrapes from his teeth on either side of the puncture. Not to mention a bruise from the pressure. It really hurt.

I'm uncertain how to broach this topic with the neighbors. I've never been in a situation remotely like this before. I washed the wound and put antibiotic ointment on it and it looks okay (and is much less tender now) but what the fuck.

Comments

[miischelle.livejournal.com]

Maybe ask them if the dog has any weird triggers or bugbites maybe?

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

When he lunged at me, she said "oh, he's not aggressive--that's how he lets you know he doesn't want you to stop petting him." So obviously this has happened before. Just I don't know if he's ever actually bitten anyone.

[hdsqrl.livejournal.com]

That little girl's voice...oh my. The word Sacred came to mind as I listened. :)

The dog bite - yeesh. A neighbor's cat bit me once (totally my fault - I'd let her into the house and then she and one of mine got into it and she bit me while I was separating them) and I went to the neighbor to inquire if the cat was fully vaccinated, as I'd been bitten and just wanted to make sure I didn't need to worry about more than just a local treatment of the wound. (The cat was fully vaccinated, and I healed fine, but did go through some antibiotics to be safe.)

At a minimum, I'd make sure the dog has had its shots, and when the owner asks why you're asking, you can say you'd actually been bitten to the point of broken skin. She needs to know that about her dog, for sure, even if you have no plans to go all IMMASUEYOU on her. :)

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

That's a great way to handle it. Thanks!

[hdsqrl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the neighbor was SO SO sorry, and you could tell there was a little anxiety or worry that I was mad and would get authorities involved. Animals are animals, though, and this wasn't a cat with a dangerous backstory that had broken into my house with a machete, heh.

I assured her all was okay, that I just wanted to make sure, etc. I went to the doc and had it cleaned out really well (it was a deep bite) and that was that.

[msmitti.livejournal.com]

This is great advice.

[seascribe.livejournal.com]

Ack, that is NOT OKAY.

Did she not react at all?

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

She did. She said "oh, he's not aggressive--that's how he lets you know he doesn't want you to stop petting him."

[seascribe.livejournal.com]

Oh, uh, yeah, I would let her know what happened then. If that happens to a kid that he doesn't want to stop petting him, there's gonna be a world of hurt for everyone.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I knew I was going to say something, but didn't know how to approach the situation. hdsqrl's suggestion above is fantastic.

[msmitti.livejournal.com]

WTF--not aggressive? Even if it didn't bite, the lunge *is* aggresive.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I thought the same thing.

[alryssa.livejournal.com]

My thoughts precisely. Ugh. Some people are really bad for excusing behaviour that's inappropriate, and when it's with dogs? There's some serious implications in that.

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

I did not know KU had a Closet! Well, I know where my "forget you'll ever wear this skirt agains" can go. Way cool. Penn House or the Social Service League also do this.

I'm glad someone has a good suggestion for the dog bite, because I was just frothing about "LUNGING AT ANYONE IS NOT COOL DOG BEHAVIOR!!" That's right up there with owners who let their friendly dogs jump on people. ACK.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I was shocked that he behaved this way. I've interacted with these dogs several times and this has never happened. Yeah, not okay at all.

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

Besides, it's not up to the dog to decide when the petting stops!
I totally understand how you feel reticent about approaching her, since she's unaware that it's not Good Dog behavior, and you've all had good interactions previously.

Well, yay for beautiful Fall Colors this year!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

it's not up to the dog to decide when the petting stops

This is an excellent point.

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

Yes, and he's obviously been rewarded by more petting with this behavior, so no matter what you'd say, I'm sure it would be greeted with bewilderment.

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

As the owner of dogs -- one of which is a regrettable jerkwad, despite lots of training -- I'm horrified. Very glad you'll be saying something before another incident happens.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I plan to go over tonight after dinner. Will report back tomorrow!

[sherwood21.livejournal.com]

HOLY CRAP THAT KID. <3

Dad's setting aside some of his old suits and business clothes for that clothing drive.

Yeah, the whole thing with the dog is ... not good. I hope your conversation with her goes well. I know plenty of cats that will reach out and tap you if you stop betting them, but certainly don't claw or bite. If you'd gone to the ER, they have to call dispatch to report it and we have to send an officer out to take a report, which means she probably would've gotten a ticket for it.

[sherwood21.livejournal.com]

PETTING. PETTING THE CATS. NOT BETTING THEM.

...

WHY AM I PICTURING TINY SQUIRREL BOOKIES WITH GREEN VISORS NOW.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

TINY SQUIRREL BOOKIES WITH GREEN VISORS

I need this in my life.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Okay, I can't find any squirrel bookies, but I DID find Sneezy the Squirrel in the hat he wears when laying sports bets:


(http://metro.co.uk/2013/01/10/sneezy-the-squirrel-is-nuts-about-trying-on-hats-3346416/)
Click the image to see more of Sneezy.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

ADORBS.

[sherwood21.livejournal.com]

IT'S SO FLUFFY!

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Any squirrel that human-friendly probably gets LOTS of food. Just ask our fluffy little beggars.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Wow, glad I didn't go to the hospital, then.

She was very nice about it when I went over last night.

[nottygypsy.livejournal.com]

That girl! Tears at 35 seconds, I checked.

That dog, good advice! Take it. Also, sorry for your ouch.


Forgot to say YAY clothes score!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I thought you'd like the little girl! Yay!

Maybe sometime when we have money (*snort*) we can schedule another thrifting day together. I had a great time when we did it a couple years ago.

[nottygypsy.livejournal.com]

I did too! Let's try to do that again!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Maybe when I'm building my spring wardrobe? I'm good for winter after the Indy shopping.

[nottygypsy.livejournal.com]

I have less warm weather clothes too. (I prefer winter clothes)

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Perfect!

[pointoforigin.livejournal.com]

So sorry about the dog bite. If it's shallow and the dog has been vaccinated for rabies, it will probably heal up okay by itself. I would advise an immediate visit to the doctor if it starts to swell or look red or anything like that. I've seen cat bites get super badly infected and need antibiotics, and I assume dog bites could be nasty too. I hate when pet owners blithely excuse bad behavior. It's not the pet's fault--but it's not okay to let that continue.

Yay for great thrift store findings! And OMG that voice . . . I was actually shocked when she started singing. I couldn't believe the clarity, the pitch, the range . . . wow. Beautiful.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

The dog is up to date on his shots, and I'm up to date on mine, so....I'm keeping an eye on it and if it starts to get ugly, I'll see the doctor. BOO HISS antibiotics. They screw up my system so much I'll do about anything to avoid them.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Holy Mutant Voice, Batman! How does a little girl SING LIKE THAT? Whoah.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Pretty incredible, eh?

I'm all...

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

[indicolite.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, .I have to disagree concerning Amira Willighagen. I've finally found the articles that confirm my stance on her: http://talkaboutopera.weebly.com/1/post/2013/11/we-need-to-talk-about-children-and-opera.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/classical-beat/post/child-opera-singer-goes-viral-redux/2013/10/31/63189d1a-4269-11e3-8b74-d89d714ca4dd_blog.html

Her voice is NOT as good as it would get with training --- she has clear high notes but her middle voice is lousy. And she clearly has no understanding of what the aria is about.

And making a child that age sing opera is as terrible for a developing set of really tiny muscles as putting a child that age on pointe in ballet, which no sane ballet teacher would ever do.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I hadn't thought of that. Interesting points. Although (to me) it didn't look like she was being "made" to sing it. If she enjoys this, obviously her parents should enroll her in lessons, asap.

[indicolite.livejournal.com]

Yes, I hope so too; she may end up like Maria Tallchief (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Tallchief) (have you heard of her? Fascinating woman) who the Wikipedia article doesn't overtly say but I knew from other sources was on pointe at age five or so, and that is what she means when she says that it was a miracle she wasn't seriously hurt by her early ballet training. In the name, also, of looking sweetly pretty and being famous.

The problem that I fear is that voice lessons are HARD. I remember the frustrations I felt for nearly a year with Lenore, thinking, "But people already TELL me that my voice is pretty and I sing well --- why do I have to do all this work, why is she constantly finding fault with me?" A child would be even less likely to see how far she has to go after the adulation and how perfectionistic the art actually is: at that age, you tend to think that you only take lessons until some goal like growing up and being famous, which she has already achieved early; it's hard to understand that even Renee Fleming and Cecelia Bartoli, adult international superstars, work with coaches all the time.

If Amira's family does the right thing and puts her into lessons with a teacher who knows what he/she is doing, the first thing he/she will do is tell Amira to dial back, a lot, on the things that made her famous, change her style, and drill her in fundamentals. She will inevitably be very frustrated and bored. She will be very tempted to quit.

I pray she doesn't.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Me, too!