Help.. I am a Yelper...

Who am I? Why am I authorized to judge others? Oh, yeah I am a consumer!! I enjoy posting reviews and giving kudos to those who deserve it and hand slapping those who need it. I like to think I am fair, I tend to give places more than one chance and I know the world does not revolve around me. However, it would be nice if we each got our moment to be the center of attention! I rely on other people's reviews as well! If some place has mixed reviews, I will give them a try. However, if somewhere has consistent bad reviews, I tend to stay away. Everyone has different levels of expectations and mine seem to be high, but everyone should have a basic level of expectation when paying for a meal, experience or service. Kindness, timeliness, cleanliness, value for what you get and manners are just the basics. I also tend to appreciate reviewers who post just as many good reviews as bad, not everyone is excellent and not everywhere is horrible. I try to remember to post good reviews and not be super harsh on bad reviews, because maybe it was just an off day for that particular individual or businesss. Bad reviews tend to roll off the fingers much easier than good ones, because venting is easier to do than it is to praise others for a job well done! I encourage you to let others know when they do a good job and to post reviews when you have the time. I enjoy learning from other consumers vs the businesses trying to make a dollar. I love to shop online for clothes and I rely heavily on the reviewers that state too large, too tight, no shape, cheap fabric, must buy great deal, order in every color - So far consumer reviews have been right on and I tend to order the correct size, one up, one down or right on depending on what others have already learned. Life is too short to not take good advice and save the time later of returning something for being too tight or too large. Yelp is also requiring that businesses to do business differently, and businesses that care tend to monitor reviews and reply to them. I have enjoyed the interaction I have had with business representatives who have responded to my bad and even good posts. If you haven't yet, start yelping and sharing your reviews with people like me so I can learn from your experiences!

Recent reviews by Crystal C.

What's this?

cousins by blood, friends by choice

This entry is dedicated to my cousin Kristen, who was a BEAUTIFUL bride on March 5, 2011!

I like to think I am put together, the one who holds back tears, speaks my mind and then thinks about the people I most likely pissed off later. I defend family, friends and others when i feel it's necessary. I work to help homeless animals who don't have a voice, i like to make things better. I helped Kristen with anything she asked to make her wedding a special day. On wedding day: I worked to keep everyone on time, breakfast, Make-up, hair, lunch, floral.. check.. get Kristen in her dress, adjust her cleavage, find her shoes, get her flowers.. get her a shot or two! Load her in the mini van with sparkling clean rims.. get her to the wedding site on-time.. take photos, cover the bug bites (thanks Alex), get her a drink, stress about room layouts, watch her walk down the aisle, hold her flowers, hope Dana's hair doesn't catch on fire standing under the candles of the beautiful floral arch lit with candles, give Kristen back her flowers, watch Kristen and her husband drive off in a golf cart to take photos on the golf course, sign the marriage license, get Kristen a drink, take more bridal party photos in the rain, get introduced into the reception, have dinner, visit with friends, check in on Kristen, she is now married, happy and beautiful. Just beaming a radiant glow, if you ask me...

Now the fun part for most.. slide show (I teared up watching memories fill my heart), toasts.. aunt lori, alex and then me. I was a wreck, i was overwhelmed with emotions, my hands were shaking, i asked Jake to hold my champagne flute..i knew what i wanted to say, i wanted to say so much, but no words can express what Kristen means to me or how much she has enhanced my life... i made it through the words (no tears) and made my way back to my seat... Then Jake toasted the wedding attendees, his family, his new family and his new bride-to-be also known as his wife. This is when I lost it, i realized (what i already knew) my cousin was marrying a wonderful man and she was becoming the woman she wanted to be. I know i am not losing her, but gaining a cousin-in-law, but i think Jake and I may need to have a one-on-one chat. Kristen is more than a cousin, more than a friend, she is part of my life, my memories since I can remember remembering. :)! I stepped outside to have myself an UGLY cry, i am not a fan of ugly crying and often make fun of people who do. I will admit i had myself an ugly cry...The emotions of the day all caught up to me, i did not have a job, everyone had eaten, everyone was a having a good time and now it was my time to relax. Without a job, i had time to think (and feel) about everything leading up to my cousin's wedding, all the planning, all the appts, all the lists, all the questions, timelines, decisions and fighting with Kristen to get her nails done. I am honored to have been an active participate in Kristen's wedding, but when the work was done and it was real - I was emotional, i was happy for Kristen, i was in awe of her beauty and of the beautiful woman she has become! I know how to plan an event, but I didn't know how to "feel" one until Saturday night. Congrats to Kristen and her husband Jake!!!

Life Is What We Make It!

“Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be.”

What does your perfect life look like? Do you want a perfect life? Last night, Betty from Nebraska called and she asked to conduct a Gallop poll with me. She sounded nice and like a gentle grandma type, so I gave in and gave her 10 minutes of my time. With a glass of Pinot Noir, which I purchased on my 2010 Thanksgiving getaway, I settled in to answer the questions. The survey was a standard of living survey. Questions included do you have enough money every 7 days to buy food, heat your home and put gas in your car. Yes, I have money to do these things, I often wish I had more money, but I do have enough money to do the basic things and then some. This 10 minute survey made me think about what I have and how lucky I am. Questions included do you have access to fresh fruit and vegetables and have you been to the dentist in the last 6 months. Do you have health insurance, can you afford the fresh fruit and vegetables available? Wow, yes I can afford all these things and the fab Pinot Noir I am sipping as I say, yes, yes, yes. I am lucky, I take things for granted. I am happy to be employed, happy to have health insurance, happy to have extra money to spend on useless items that I deem necessary. On the other hand, I believe I worked hard to have what I have and these things are not just given away. It is a mix of motivation, access and determination to make your best life possible. I am still striving to determine what my best life looks like, but for now I am going to work on being happy with what I do have. Appreciating that my current life is now and I need to enjoy the "now" as I plan for the future. I am lucky to have a wonderful family, friends and co-workers who "get me" most of the time. I am blessed to be able to share my bed with 4 wonderful pets, although last night I was smothered and could barely move without fighting for space on the bed. Cheers to what we have and the good that is to come!

Special Dogs...Touch Many and Motivate Others...

"I guess you don't really own a dog, you rent them, and you have to be thankful that you had a long lease."

Dedicated to Wags, who ventured to the Rainbow Bridge in 2010

Most people who know me, know me as an animal lover. I have always cared for and nurtured animals, but dogs were not on the top of my list. I had dogs as a child, but I don't remember truly bonding with them or sharing a bed. However, when Shadow an 8 year old weimaraner was brought into my life that changed and I now openly and willingly share my bed, food and love with dogs. Shadow was in my life not nearly long enough (short term lease), but she has forever changed my attitude and outlook on animal rescue. I have always adopted from the SSPCA or taken in the neighborhood stray, but Shadow taught me as long as their is space in my home it is my job to take in the not-so-perfect dog and shower them with love. When Shadow left this world to venture to the rainbow bridge, because cancer took over her body, I thought I would never want a another dog, because Shadow could not be replaced. However, as the pain began to grow all I could think about was the empty pet bed, the lack of routine missing from my life, the lack of a wagging tail nub greeting me when I got home. I knew it was my duty to find another rescue to bring into my empty home. My home will never have a vacancy sign for long as Shadow made it my duty to take in the senior, not so perfect, not so healthy, not so social dog that other people turn a blind eye too! It is true Shadow will never be replaced, however, she has shaped my view on animal rescue and taught me I can make difficult decisions. I can take in short term leases, knowing I will give them my all until it is time to turn in my lease. Believe me - it hurts, the pain is heart wrenching, but when I think about the bigger picture - I can trade in this pain for the love brought into my life.

Who knew one dog could move me, make me a better person and change my outlook on life?

Another special weimaraner dog, named Wags, who also ventured to the Rainbow Bridge due to cancer in 2010 has forever changed the mindset of many visitors to the Northern CA Weimaraner Rescue Booth. Wags was a great Weim ambassador and showcased the great qualities of a Weim. I believe Wags' good looks and manners opened the eyes of many booth visitors and helped rescue dogs find new homes. Yes, many weims counter surf, dig, eat things they aren't suppose to, have lots of energy and require alot of work. BUT Wags and Shadow prove that hardwork, patience, time and love make the best dogs. These special dogs taught others that rescue dogs are perfect in their own way and make the best pets!! If everyone is blessed with a Wags or Shadow lease at some point in their life, they too will forever be changed for the better.

"If you have a dog, you will most likely outlive it; to get a dog is to open yourself to profound joy and, prospectively, to equally profound sadness."

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO DO ANIMAL RESCUE?

Your rescue "kit" should include:

A heart of gold to accept those creatures that don't measure up as "perfect" in the eyes of the rest of the world.

The people skills of a salesperson. . . to convince those that are looking for perfection that they will find it in a rescue dog if they are willing to look a little deeper.

A heart of steel to be able to say no when there just isn't any more room for just one more dog.

The knowledge that you can't save them all.

The ability to smile and speak rationally when the 10th person for the day says "I don't want this stupid dog anymore. . . take him or I am gonna shoot him."

Some medical knowledge. . . or your rescue vet bill will be bigger than the national debt.

The fine art of fund raising. . . so your vet bill can be reduced to just under the size of the national debt.

Patience for: breeders who don't care, won't help, turn their backs and say it's not their problem.
Patience for: dogs that were incorrectly placed and come to rescue with so much excess baggage that you think they will never be adoptable.

Patience for: owners who want a quick fix.

Patience for: a world that no longer looks at life as a gift and the lives that we create as breeders as nothing short of miracles.

A sense of humor. . . because sometimes a smile on your face is the only way to hide the agony and turmoil in your heart.

A partner (or housekeeper) with housekeeping skills that are so outstanding that they could be highlighted in Good Housekeeping Magazine. . . so you can devote your time to all the rescues and be secure in the knowledge that the local Board of Health will not condemn your house.

Personal dogs that will tolerate the never ending stream of four legged orphans, waifs and street urchins that will start arriving the moment you say. . . "I have room."

Magician skills so you can change anything that comes thru the door, from black tri male to long tail and brown eyes, into blue merle female, good with kids, housebroke, crate trained and obedience trained.

The ability to face the paperwork head-on and deal with it. . . or someone you can send it to and say. . . "Here, do something with this mess!"

Grooming skills for those ugly ducklings waiting for their chance to be a swan. . . with a little help from you.

I could go on but you probably get the picture. . . . None of us have all of these things but we all know that the business of rescue is a team effort. Everyone contributes what we can as a team member. Some of us cannot handle the dogs or cats or birds or horses or rabbits or . . . , but . . . there are other things that must be done.

Some only want to work with the dogs so. . . leave the paperwork to those that like it. No matter what your situation is. . . it is your willingness to help that is important. With this being said, I do what I can with the time I have and the skills I have. Please check out the Northern California weim rescue on twitter and facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/NorthernCaliforniaWeimaranerRescue

What time and skills do you have to use for good in 2011?

The Red Bed

The red bed was purchased for George and has been loved by everyone. George loved his bed, but Shadow use to squeeze in the bed. I thought this was funny and unusual, a 50lb dog would smash herself into a tiny cat bed. Little did I know, my new 48lb weim would do the same thing. Apparently this wasn't as unusual as I thought. When I first saw Indigo in the red bed, my heart filled with past memories of Shadow sleeping in the cat bed. The animals sharing the red bed shows that sharing is caring!

Intentions for 2011

Yoga has taught me to consider, think and contemplate my intentions. This small block of words, which create a positive thought process for me, makes me feel as if these are all good intentions to remember and strive for in 2011~