Teaching an old dog new tricks

By Angela Thomas

Like so many Americans, my dog was the highlight of my week. After working long hours in retail, I would put the key in the lock, open the door and there would be my adorable boxer dog, Emma—toy in mouth—greeting me at the door with her famous “wiggle butt.”

My family lost Emma last December to heart cancer. Her loss was something that strongly resonated with my family. My dad lost his best friend, my mom lost a daughter and I lost a sister. Emma was such a special dog to us. She never drooled, she rarely gave doggy kisses and she managed to be as well behaved as possible. We were cat people after all—we never experienced those sloppy dog kisses and the need for unending attention.

She was the friendliest, happiest and most playful pup. She loved her squeaky toys and she loved her hulahoops. She loved her French fries and her bacon. She begged like she was a starving dog and ate like a pig.

She was the bomb-dot-com in other words.

Grogan and the famous Marley!  Credit:blogs.trb.com

A few months after Emma’s death, I was perusing through a bookstore in West Chester, Pa., and discovered Marley & Me by John Grogan. I had heard about the movie and refused to watch it. I just couldn’t go through that pain again.

Almost a year after her death, I sat down and read Marley & Me for a week. I laughed and I cried. Grogan wrote a book that any dog lover could relate to. But the book also focused on the journey of family and the important lessons of life. Marley grew with the family—teaching them responsibility, unconditional love and loyalty.

I could relate to Grogan both on a journalists level and on a personal level. After Marley’s death, he wrote a column about his beloved dog. After Emma’s death, I couldn’t seem to get closure. I missed Emma and I wanted to do something in honor of her so I decided to use my journalistic voice as a means to do so.

Credit:en.wikipedia.org

I wrote about the benefits of adoption. Emma came from Boxer rescue in Pennsylvania. She was abused and abandoned and came to us with optimism. She taught us so many lessons, especially on love. I interviewed a representative from Boxer Rescue and a representative form The Humane Society of Harrisburg. It took me two weeks to write the article and 1,000 words later, I had closure.

I suggest that not only as an animal lover, but as a human, check out Marley & Me.  I promise you, it will change your life.

To read my article on animal rescue, go here. 

The story that needed to be told

By Angela Thomas

Julie Anne Peters always seems to write about the same characters: two lesbians, one out, one not-so-out. However, this time, I think Peters has an original story! Never in my years as an avid reader have I read a story about two lesbians in an abusive relationship. Usually, it is the same old story where two girls see each other across the hallway, their eyes lock, the one not-so-out girl questions her sexuality, breaks up with her boyfriend and hooks up with the out girl. This time, Peters has the same two characters but we get the notion that these two aren’t going to have a smooth road ahead in their pending relationship.

The two girls, Johanna and Reeve represent  the small group of lesbians in their school. Reeve is that girl we all know; the one with the posse of lesbians, the beauty queen, the girl every bi-curious woman wants to test their sexual tendencies with. Johanna is the quiet lesbian, reveling in her singleness, being an all-around good student, and avoiding the nearest GSA. Johanna also harbors a massive crush on Reeve.

What I like most about the book is that anyone can relate. Most of us will willingly admit to having a crush on that one person that just makes the whole world stop for a few seconds. Only a select few will admit that on the occasion that we are in a class that is boring or dazing off at work, we will create scenarios in our head which involve our crushes and ourselves. Readers get a glimpse into the desperation, lonliness, and lust that Johanna has for Reeve.

Throughout the book, I found myself hanging on to different clues that Reeve wasn’t a good person for Johanna to fantasize or want. For one thing, Reeve was extremely rough with her friends and would randomly slug them in the face or kick them. However, once Johanna and Reeve started connecting, Reeve’s abusive nature was apparent. Also, while reading, I found myself getting frustrated with Johanna. She blamed herself for all of Reeve’s physical actions. She risked everything; her best friend, her job, her volunteer opportunity, for this girl who stole and mentally and physically hurt her. 

Rage was that story that needed to be told and I am glad it did. Abuse can happen in any relationship, despite sexual orientation. 

The Help: Inspirational or not?

By Angela Thomas

I’ve recently just finished the book, The Help by Kathryn Stockett. That being said, I am not sure how I feel about the controversy over the book. I understand the point of view about the book having the same old “white woman helps and saves black woman.” However, I found the two women of color characters, Aibileen and Minny to be the strongest characters in the book and although Mrs. Skeeter helped Aibileen and Minny with their book, it was ultimately Minny and Aibileen who helped themselves. I haven’t seen the film adaptation of the book, so I am not sure how they portray all the characters and stories. I think what Stockett was trying to prove was that conditions for women and men of color were terrible. The way they were treated was (and still is) disturbing. Stockett was just trying to bring light to a harsh situation.

The book was thoroughly enjoyable for me and had me laughing at some parts and tearing up at some. I don’t think I’ve ever hated a character like Hilly but she was also a fictional character that represents many non-fictional people today. Celia Foote was one of the most amazing literary characters I have ever read. Her compassion, her innocence, who colorblindness, and her strength were extremely inspiring. This novel is absolutely recommended! 

Not the classics but who cares!

There is nothing I love more than a guilty pleasure book series.

Photo taken from: pumpkinlub.tumblr.com

In high school, I gobbled up the Gossip Girl book series like it was Thanksgiving dinner. Within a week, I had the first 10 books in the series read.


This time, I have to say, the Pretty Little Liars book series are my new meal.


I have recently just finished the fourth book in the series and I must say, I’ve never been 
more captivated/involved in such character’s lives like I am with this series.


The series follows 4 best friends who are dealing with the disappearance of their mutual friend, Alison, who is the “Regina George” of their somewhat-damaging friendships.  Three years after the disappearance of Alison, the four girls (Aria, Spencer, Emily, and Hanna) all receive threatening messages from a mysterious “A” character. All the girls are convinced that the person who is behind these text messages, is their friend, Alison. However, when Alison turns up dead, the girls are in a frenzy. Who could know all of their secrets that only Alison knew? Spooky, right?


The great thing that the PLL books bring out is the constant subject of cyber-bullying and glbt issues. Emily, one  of the four girls, begins to question her sexuality. Emily formally told Alison about her sexuality issues and once the threatening text messages from “A” starting coming in, Emily was being harassed and threatened that all of Rosewood High (the prestigious school that the girls go to) would know that Emily is gay. When Emily fibs to a police officer about “A” and the horrifying text messages, emails, and personally notes that she is receiving, “A” gets her revenge by posting posters of Emily kissing another girl all over the school. It touches on the sensitive subject of the “coming out” process that GLBT youth go through and how cyber bullying can escalate into something more damaging.


PLL takes place in Rosewood, Pa, an imaginary town that many PA residents could replace with the Mainlain. There are mentions of WaWa, the “King James Mall” aka The King of Prussia Mall, West Chester Pike, Philadelphia, and many SEPTA references.


The series has also be developed into a highly successful television series on the ABC Family network. Although the stories and the aesthetic looks of the character have been altered, it seems to be the one book-to-television series that mostly stays true to itself.


Although the PLL series is mostly geared to the young adult demographic, I found myself thoroughly engaged. If you want to enjoy a quick, yet intellectual read, I’d say go for the PLL liars series.


However, be warned. This series is in no way a “chick-lit” series.

The beginnings of what I hope to be, a fun adventure

I usually go through little obsessions that last for a few weeks and then die. First, it was the Hanson brothers in the 6th grade, then it was gel pens in the 9th grade, anything Paris, France-related during senior year, and just a few weeks ago, I went on a 2-week obsession with anything Selena Gomez-related (don't judge me!) 


However, there are 3 obsessions of mine that have yet to go away. In fact, they have aided me through the rough times and have given me even more encouragement during the good times. Coffee, Books, and Philadelphia are my 3 main loves and without them, I would probably just collapse from boredom and exhaustion. 


So I have finally decided to devote an entire blog to a beverage, a city, and the power of Literature. My plan is to hopefully entertain you lovely readers with my adventures in the city of brotherly love, talk about the different coffee shops that I go to that are not Starbucks, and tell you about the books that I am reading, whether they have been out for decades, a week, or a day. Hopefully this will not get too expensive....

                          City Hall in Philadelphia. Photo Credit: Angela Thomas