Interview meme

The fabulous Voix has sent me these 5 questions.

1) What's the big deal about dogs? Why do so many people love them?
Dogs is dogs! I can't speak for why other people love dogs, but I can tell you why I love them.
It should be noted that I am not a dog fanatic, and I don't love all dogs, and I am not a coo-er over other people's dogs unless that dog happens to be a cute puppy. I generally don't like small dogs all that much, but there are a few I know of that I like well enough.
Living with a dog is creating a relationship with a sentient being who doesn't share the same kind of language. Some people say animals don't have language at all, but that is a debate for another day. This relationship became, for me, a connection to nature, and therefore a connection to the divine. Dogs relate to the world in a way that is totally unobscured by bullshit. A dog is living only in the present moment--unlike human beings, who focus most of our time on things that happened in the past or things that may happen in the future. We can learn from our dog friends a great deal about being joyfully present. Your dog knows you. Your dog has you figured out, right from the beginning, better than anyone else you know. Cooper was eight weeks old when we brought him home, and he had me dialed before the first day was out. Relating with Cooper is also relating to my own animal-self. The me that is an organism, connected to the earth, linked up in the food chain, breathing, sweating, heart beating, physical body. Having a dog has me get down with this stuff every day. In this kibble cruncher, I have a trainer, a teacher, and a wise-quiet soulmate who joins me in all endeavors. That is the big deal about dogs!

2) How did you decide to become an acupuncturist?
I was drawn in by the notion that people are multidimensional beings and that there was a medicine which acknowledged that. Moreover, a medicine that was simple, required no chemistry labs, no bills totalling 100,000$ , and was accessible to everyone. I wanted a life without managers. There is a certain mystical quality about medical traditions which use acupuncture and materials that can be found in nature, and that appealed to me. It is also a trip
to see a breech baby turn during a treatment, I'll tell you that.

3) If you could spend time photographing any place in the world, where would it be?
I like taking pictures of everyday things, so I am happy taking pictures wherever I am.
It might be cool to spend some time photographing Area 51. And Roswell Army Airfield.

4) What is your favorite book of all time? Why?
That is a tough one. I don't think I can name just one, but I will say that every couple of years in the fall I re-read A Wrinkle in Time. I love the Harry Potter franchise, rather shamelessly. I like these books because of the fantasy involved. I lost a great deal of my willing suspension of disbelief when I was doing philosophy and literary theory classes in my undergrad. I am slowly getting it back but I doubt if I'll ever be 100%. Too cranky. Other titles on my faves list include Netter's Anatomy, The Collected Poems of e.e. cummings, Jon Krakauer's books about things that happen, and I have a guilty pleasure thing going on with Tony Hillerman. I read across the board, and for all kinds of reasons. I love nonfiction because I learn about stuff and I love stories about things that happened in real life, but I love fiction because I can surf around in fiction and take a break from things that happen in real life. Honorable mentions to Ed Abbey, Mary Roach, Mary Oliver, Isabelle Allende, Walter Farley, and Loren Coleman. I also keep a journal of books I read and whether or not I liked em. I figure I will start forgetting sooner or later, so I won't have to waste my time re-reading a book I didn't like to begin with!

5) Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Healthy, wealthy, and wise?