I am a sucker for dog dancing videos. The first one I posted on my site was also a golden retriever. Rookie made his debut several years ago and was probably the first canine freestyle video that really made the rounds. Most people don’t realize that the WCFO, World Canine Freestyle Organization, even exists. Can you imagine, people from all over the world getting together to compete and dance with their dogs? How cool is that?

I have seen many dog dancing videos, but have never seen a dog salsa like this one! Que Fantastico!

My husband turned the big 5-0 this month. He’s a low maintenance guy who enjoys the simple things; woodworking, canoeing, avocados, and dogs to name a few. All he he wanted for his birthday was to add 10 pounds permanently, in other words, adopt our little foster dog. Papi was rescued by Central Texas Dachshund Rescue last year after he was dumped at the night drop box of Town Lake Animal Center. We think he is a chiweenie. We think he might only be a quarter chiweenie though, perhaps his dad was a full blooded dachshund and his mom was half dachshund and half chihuahua.

We have fostered over a dozen dogs in the last the last couple years, and we fostered Papi the longest of all. I guess because he doesn’t quite look like a purebred dachshund (legs a little too long and funny ears) no one was interested in adopting him, until now.

Allan got his birthday wish, and he said it was the best birthday present of his life. Here’s a little slide show of Allan and Papi from last December, just a few weeks after we started fostering him. Enjoy!

Fostering is very rewarding and easy! You provide food, shelter and lots of love and the rescue group pays for any medical bills. Central Texas Dachshund Rescue has to frequently turn down dachshunds in need because we don’t have enough available fosters. Please consider fostering or donating your time or money today!

My twitter friend @PetsitUSA turned me on to this funny video. It’s a short little commercial promoting pet adoption produced by L.A. Animal Services. It’s clearly Super Cool, but is it Very Super Cool?

I hope you enjoy this short article I wrote for the “The Green Room” which can be found in the winter issue of Stationery Trends Magazine. Everyone wants to reduce their carbon footprint and I was excited to be able to write about this complicated and many times misunderstood topic. Read entire article below.

The Green Room
What is your Carbon Footprint? -  Why does it Matter?
Learning abut your environmental impact allows you to go more green

By Sue Rostvold

There have been numerous books and articles written about carbon footprints, but what exactly does it mean? One straightforward approach can be found at www.carbonfootprint.com. There you can calculate and reduce your personal and business carbon footprint.

After calculating your carbon footprint, you’ll be more aware of the consequences of your choices. When customers ask you about green products or your environmental commitment, you’ll say you are educating yourself and have even calculated your footprint! Understanding how your current decisions and practices affect the world will strengthen your business, improve public relations and ultimately boost the economy.

A carbon footprint is a measure of the exclusive global amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases emitted by a human activity or accumulated over the full life cycle of a product or service. More simply put, the carbon footprint is a metaphorical description for the impact our actions and choices have on the environment. It measures the resources you consume, both directly (by the kind of car you drive and by how hot or cold you keep your house or business) and indirectly (by how much energy it takes to produce the products that you purchase).

When carbon-based energy (e.g. oil, coal, natural gas) is used, gasses are emitted, which adversely affect the planet’s atmospheric balance and can greatly affect climate. So we measure our impact, or the resources we use, by measuring the amount of greenhouse gases produced in units of carbon dioxide, thus calculating our carbon footprint.

So, a carbon footprint is calculated in two parts:

1) The Primary Footprint is a measure of our directly consumed non-renewable energy, creating CO2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. This includes home and workplace energy consumption, as well as transportation (e.g., car and plane).

2) The Secondary Footprint is a measure of the indirectly consumed CO2 emissions from the whole life cycle of products we purchase, rent and use — the carbon emissions created with the manufacture and eventual breakdown of these items. To put it simply, the more we buy, the more emissions we’re responsible for creating.

According the EPA, the process of recycling paper uses 60 percent less energy than manufacturing paper from virgin timber, while recycling aluminum uses 96 percent less energy than mining aluminum ore. So simply put, if you make a some lifestyle changes — reduce, reuse, recycle; support local businesses; purchase sustainable green and fair trade products; convert to compact fluorescents or LED lights; drive minimally and slower; and make energy saving decisions every day, like turning down the heat or air conditioning or using cloth tote bags — your business’ carbon footprint is probably already lower than average. Congratulations!

We each have the power to make really important changes in this world with our simple day-to-day actions. As we become smarter and more creative with our energy consumption, our planet will be healthier and our nation will be less dependent on foreign sources of carbon-based energy.

Sue Rostvold drives a compact car in Austin, Texas. She and her husband compost, recycle and garden to lower their carbon footprint. In addition to a 20-year career in the pre-press and printing industry, Sue is the passionate founder of Verysupercool “green” greeting cards. Her dog-themed, inspirational cards are printed on 100 percent PCW recycled paper. You can e-mail this article and find even more links about carbon footprints at www.verysupercool.com.

Thanks to everyone who retweeted, commented and watched our fun rescue dachshund video on YouTube!

The five “Weenie Tweet” contest winners are: @lcurrie, @bcorrigan, @kismet_mattie, @momgenerations and @petsitusa! I know they will all enjoy this awesome Dachshund Rescue calendar which includes hundreds of sweet doxie photos. Please continue to spread the weenie word and tell your friends to support ctdr.org in any way they can. Below is a photo of Martin, our little ctdr rescue.

The goal: To spread the good weenie word about Dachshund Rescue and promote our new video! We have five Sweet Dachshund Rescue calendars to give away!

How to win a calendar? Just Retweet the message below:

Weenie Tweet Alert! Win a Verysupercool Dachshund Rescue calendar just by tweeting & commenting! Rules at http://poprl.com/8Wm  #VSC-CTDR

Then leave a comment anywhere on Verysupercool.com with a link to your tweet! Feel free to comment on any of the twelve calendar model’s posts; from Ms. January to Mr. December, they are all quite irresistible. Just don’t forget to include a link to your tweet when you post your comment! Good Luck!

P.S. Please leave a comment, and not just a link to your tweet. ~;:::::;()”>

You have until midnight Friday, December 19th, to tweet it up. Five lucky winners will be announced Saturday morning and each will receive a 2009 Central Texas Dachshund Rescue calendar to enjoy or give as a gift.

All proceeds from the sale of this calendar
go directly to Central Texas Dachshund Rescue!

CTDR is a 501(c)(3) Corporation

My husband and I volunteer with Central Texas Dachshund Rescue as many of you know. We love being foster parents. This year I helped with their 2009 Fundraising Calendar. It was a huge project, but I’m a sucker for dachshunds and rescue groups, so what’s a girl to do. It was fun designing the layouts for each month and photographing these Verysupercool rescues.

As a rule, I don’t photograph dogs in costumes. It’s never been my thing. There are plenty of others out there doing it, plus I’m more into the natural look. But for CTDR, I was more than happy to make an exception for a great cause. Sure, it’s kitch, it’s campy, it’s silly, and it’s absolutely dripping with sweetness. But you can’t help but smile when you see these images, and some of the stories will no doubt bring a tear to your eye. Many of the models are in CTDR’s Hospice Program, and medical costs are never ending. Sadly, Hazel passed away before the calendar was printed.

Please enjoy the short little video below, and share with your friends. We want to spread the word about Dachshund Rescue. There are more dachshunds that end up in shelters in Texas than any other state. They really need our help. NOTE: Please sign in on YouTube and give this video a high ranking, and/or leave a comment so we can get as much exposure as possible! We have calendars to sell and rescue dogs to care for!

The calendars are $15 if you purchase one, and $13.50 if you purchase two or more. Buy calendars online here: CTDR 2009 Calendar.

All of the dogs on the calendar and in the video are also posted on this website. You can search by name or by month to read each dog’s story. Note: As of 12/10/08 Woody (Mr. May), Belle (Ms. August), and Chiquita (Ms. October) are still available for adoption. Visit ctdr.org to see all the sweet and available dachshunds that need homes.

Central Texas Dachshund Rescue
Calendar Model!

Pet Passions: Staying very close to his Hospice Mom.

Pet Peeves: Photo shoots with reindeer costumers in August.

Breed: Dachshund

Buy the 2009 Central Texas Dachshund Rescue Calendar featuring Skippy!

Skippy’s CTDR Story On Calendar: Skippy came to us after being passed around to many homes. We just can’t imagine why anyone would want to give up this laid-back guy. He is a happy boy who loves to smile! Skippy has a variety of health issues, so even though he is only about 9 years old, we decided to make him a Hospice Care dog.  This made him smile even more because he just adores his foster mommy and doesn’t want to move to another home ever again!

More: Yes, it was August when we made Skippy get into the warm and fuzzy reindeer suit. Allan and Skippy’s foster mom took turns taking pictures at this photo session since I was out of town. They did a great job.

Note: CTDR’s Hospice Program is always in need of funding. All donations are tax deductible and very much appreciated.

Central Texas Dachshund Rescue
Calendar Model!

Pet Passions: Treats and her Hospice Mom.

Pet Peeves: When her brothers and sisters get too pushy.

Breed: Dachshund

Buy the 2009 Central Texas Dachshund Rescue Calendar featuring Ellie!

Ellie’s CTDR Story on Calendar: Ellie came from a shelter in November 2004. Previously she had been used for breeding. They cut out a piece of her ear so that they could quickly tell her from the other dogs. A malignant mammary tumor and advanced lung disease landed her in our Hospice Program. She recently was diagnosed with Oral Melanoma and is receiving the latest treatment.  Miss Ellie is all Southern Sugar and wants nothing more than your love. We are so thankful that we are able to help her.

GUESS WHAT?

You might think we’re crazy, but we think that Ellie is Martin’s Mom! They look so much alike and Ellie was a breeder for years in the area. I can’t get over the fact that they cut out a piece of her ear so they wouldn’t accidentally sell her. It’s amazing how happy she is considering all she’s been through. I’m so glad that CTDR has taken her into their Hospice Program. She’s worth every cent they have spent on her! We love Ellie, or as we call her, Martin’s Mom.

Note: CTDR’s Hospice Program is always in need of funding. All donations are tax deductible and very much appreciated.

Central Texas Dachshund Rescue
Calendar Model!

Pet Passions: Exercise, Play, Action!

Pet Peeves: Getting up early for agility classes.

Breed: Dachshund

Buy the 2009 Central Texas Dachshund Rescue Calendar featuring Chiquita!

Chiquita’s CTDR Story on Calendar: Chiquita found herself at the pound through no fault of her own.  This high energy, playful gal has just a hint of mischievousness in her.  She loves to jump over hurdles in her agility workouts and is the official director of playtime in her foster home.  But she wants you to know that she doesn’t really care for “cute” pumpkin costumes, even if they are for the good of the group!  Chiquita is patiently waiting for her forever family and is available for adoption now.

More: Chiquita has been in foster for a long time. She needs a special family who is willing to commit to give her the attention and exercise she needs. She’s loves to play! Submit an application for Chiquita.

More photos and video of Chiquita running an agility course coming soon!

Central Texas Dachshund Rescue
Calendar Model!

Pet Passions: Playing, running around, and the squeaky ball.

Pet Peeves: Not getting chased enough!

Breed: Dachshund

Buy the 2009 Central Texas Dachshund Rescue Calendar featuring Wyatt!

Wyatt’s CTDR Story On Calendar: Wyatt landed in Central Texas Dachshund Rescue in 2008 after living on the streets of Fort Worth. He was scared, skinny, and starved for affection. Today he has gained weight, developed muscle, and feels confident, safe, and secure. His foster parents have given him  extra lovin’ and report that he’s the happiest boy they have ever seen! He can entertain himself for hours with a squeaky ball or one of his toys, throwing them up in the air, off the couch, or across the room. He loves to razzle dazzle!

More: Wyatt was our foster dog. He lived with us for many months and we were so happy to have him in our lives. He is a real joy! We are happy to report that Wyatt has been adopted! He found a fantastic forever family, and even has a dachshund sister now!

Wyatt used to love to hang with Allan at his desk in the morning. He can get very comfortable in a lap if given the opportunity! Here are a couple of shots I got one morning.

Note: Check back to see Wyatt’s video coming soon!

Central Texas Dachshund Rescue
Calendar Model!

Pet Passions: Sunshine and the outdoors!

Pet Peeves: Sand inbetween her toes.

Breed: Dachshund

Buy the 2009 Central Texas Dachshund Rescue Calendar featuring Belle!

Belle’s CTDR Story On Calendar: It’s hard to believe that Belle, this stunning bathing beauty, was found wandering the streets scared and alone. But this healthy, active gal is definitely no beach bum! She adores people and playing with her squeaky toys as often as possible. Thanks to CTDR, she is learning basic manners and is gaining confidence around other dogs. Belle is ready to share her sunny disposition with a new family as soon as possible. She’s our Little Miss Sunshine and we love her!

More: Belle is still available! Submit an application for Belle.

Central Texas Dachshund Rescue
Calendar Model!

Pet Passions: Fourth of July and squirrels.

Pet Peeves: Baths and ear cleanings.

Breed: Dachshund

Buy the 2009 Central Texas Dachshund Rescue Calendar featuring Winston!

Winston’s CTDR Story On Calendar: Winston joined the CTDR family in May of 2008.  He is heartworm positive, Cushingoid, and had severe dental disease, so he became a candidate for our Hospice Program.  His personality is full of flash and sparkle! Winston loves everybody and everybody loves Winston.  He enjoys his short walkies, snacking on carrots, and lying on his foster parents’ feet while they are on the computer. He especially loves it when his kitty housemates rub up against him.

Note: CTDR’s Hospice Program is always in need of funding. All donations are tax deductible and always very appreciated.

Central Texas Dachshund Rescue
Calendar Model!

Pet Passions: Pleasing his hospice mommy.

Pet Peeves: Going on picnics without being able to eat!

Breed: Dachshund

Buy the 2009 Central Texas Dachshund Rescue Calendar featuring Brogan!

Brogan’s CTDR Story On Calendar: Brogan arrived in October 2004 and needed back surgery. After a successful operation, it was clear something still wasn’t right, and a biopsy showed that he had Micro Vascular Dysplasia. Because there is no cure for this, he became a Hospice Care dog. His disease is well managed with diet and medication. Brogan enjoys chewing Nylabones, chasing squirrels, and attending summer picnics. He will do anything to please his foster mom, including dressing up in a silly hot dog bun.

Note: CTDR’s Hospice Program is always in need of funding. All donations are tax deductible and always very appreciated.

Central Texas Dachshund Rescue
Calendar Model!

Pet Passions: Being near his people. He loves to be close.

Pet Peeves: Top hats and tuxedos.

Breed: Dachshund

Buy the 2009 Central Texas Dachshund Rescue Calendar featuring Woody!

Woody’s CTDR Story On Calendar: Woody came to Central Texas Dachshund Rescue in 2008 after animal control found him roaming the streets. He was a mass of matted fur over skin and bones, covered with fleas, and heartworm positive. Today he is as healthy and handsome as ever. He successfully went through heartworm treatment, put on weight, and his coat is simply gorgeous! His favorite pastimes are belly rubs and cuddling, and he falls in love with everyone he meets. Woody is all dressed up and ready to go with you to his new home!

More: Woody stayed with us for a few days when his foster Mom was out of town. A total sweetheart, well behaved and oh so handsome! I can’t believe he’s not adopted yet!? Submit an application for Woody.

Central Texas Dachshund Rescue
Calendar Models!

Pet Passions: Sleeping with friends.

Pet Peeves: Sleeping alone.

Breed: Dachshund

Buy the 2009 Central Texas Dachshund Rescue Calendar featuring the Easter Puppies!

CTDR Story On Calendar: Puppies!  What could possibly be more adorable?  Central Texas Dachshund Rescue took in their mother just a few days before she gave birth. Caring for pregnant mothers and newborns is very time intensive for CTDR.org volunteers. Pregnant rescues need even more love and nurturing to make them feel safe and secure, many for the first time in their lives. Thanks to CTDR, all the pups from this litter are happy, healthy, and flourishing in their new forever homes!

More: Don’t you just LOVE the smell of 12 week old puppies? It was fun to hang out with these little pups. There were 6 in the litter, but, by the time I got there to photograph, there were only four left. I am totally kicking myself for not taking making a little video while I was there!

Central Texas Dachshund
Rescue Calendar Model!

Pet Passions: Belly rubs and kisses.

Pet Peeves: Not getting enough eye contact.

Breed: Dachshund

Buy the 2009 Central Texas Dachshund Rescue Calendar featuring Chandler!

Chandler’s CTDR Story On Calendar: Chandler arrived at Central Texas Dachshund Rescue when his family could no longer care for him.  Once his heartworms were treated, he was up and ready for action, running in the fields of green!  This charming wheaten wirehair is always first in line for kisses and  loves to have his belly rubbed too. Just look at those big, brown, irresistible eyes! Chandler is hoping a little Luck o’ the Irish will find him a new home, and CTDR plans to match him up with the perfect forever family.

More: Chandler’s eyes just knocked me over. He was such a doll to photograph! A wirey, snuggly doxie, with just a hint of teddy bear! He’s been adopted and is very happy in his new home! Yay!

Central Texas Dachshund Rescue
Calendar Model!

Pet Passions: Roses, Love and Kisses.

Pet Peeves: No being able to eat any Valentines candy!

Breed: Dachshund

Buy the 2009 Central Texas Dachshund Rescue Calendar featuring Hazel!

Hazel’s CTDR Story On Calendar: Hazel took Central Texas Dachshund Rescue by storm in May 2005.  She was heartworm positive, had numerous tumors, bad teeth, and a false pregnancy. We planned to make her comfortable in our Hospice Program, but this old gal had other ideas, and came to flourish under our care.  She became our most famous dog, as she has been featured on a greeting card, our business cards, as well as magazine covers!  She is everyone’s favorite Valentine!

More: This sweetheart has touched a lot of hearts in the last couple years. Check out her earlier post here, She is also featured on one of our most popular holiday cards!

See Hazel’s Verysupercool Holiday card!

Central Texas Dachshund Rescue
Calendar Model!

Pet Passions: Being included in the party! Being with people! Being part of the action!

Pet Peeves: When all the designer diapers are dirty, and all the champagne is gone!

Breed: Dachshund

Buy the 2009 Central Texas Dachshund Rescue Calendar featuring Scooter!

Scooter’s CTDR Story On Calendar: Scooter came to Central Texas Dachshund Rescue in April 2005 in need of back surgery.  After many months of intensive rehab she was finally able to walk, but never regained control of her bladder.  A bout with drug resistant e.coli left her immune system ruined so the final decision was made to make her a Hospice Dog.  She loves to chase the tennis ball and race around the yard. Scooter always shows her style and loves to wear designer diapers.

More: The truth is, Scooter scoots around alot, she doesn’t have a lot of choice sometimes. Her legs occasionally just give out, but that doesn’t stop her, she just drags them behind.  She has to wear a diaper all the time and she’s a lot of work, but she still has a zest for life. She’s amusing, she’s fun, she’s a little diapered sweetheart! P.S. There were skid marks on the floor after Scooter left the photo shoot from where she was scooting around on the hardwoods. I think the diaper leaked a little. Eeewwww!

Note: CTDR’s Hospice Program is always in need of funding. All donations are tax deductible and always very appreciated.

Here is my second article for “The Green Room”, which can be seen in the fall issue of Stationery Trends Magazine. I enjoy writing about the environment, an important issue. Even though Stationery Trends is a trade and not an environmental magazine, they are incorporating sustainable content into each issue, and that’s Verysupercool in my book!

I haven’t seen the movie “Curious George”, but while researching for this article I fell in love with Jack Johnson’s music! I can see why he is such a favorite with young kids, with his great song,”The 3 R’s” .

Read entire article below:

The Green Room
The Three R’s – Recycled products are a smart choice,
Just ask Plato – or Curious George

By Sue Rostvold

Although most of us didn’t grow up recycling, it’s really nothing new. History indicates that recycling dates back to at least 400 B.C., and no less a personage than Plato was doing it. These days our children are often leading the way, singing along with Curious George (aka Jack Johnson, who did the score for the 2006 film): “Gotta reduce, reuse, recycle!”

Wholesalers and retailers across the U.S. are responding to consumer demand for more sustainable goods. Offering recycled products is an easy, eco-friendly way to assure that customers leave your venue feeling positive about their purchases and your store.

Most businesspeople are convinced that responsible sourcing is the way to go, but what does that mean to a stationery/gift retailer that’s new to the movement? If you sing along with Curious George, you’ll respond to both your customers’ desires and the earth’s needs by remembering the three R’s:

• REDUCE. Reducing consumption is the first step. One easy way to do this is to stock products with minimal packaging. This is much easier to do now, since Wal-Mart forced the packaging industry to simplify their product wrappings. When you buy pre-packaged products, look for ones that are simply packaged, and tell your buyers and distributors to look out for new finds. Buying and selling in bulk is another way to minimize packaging. You can even creatively re-package bulk items with scrap paper, ribbon and twine.
• REUSE. Reused, re-purposed and re-adapted are some of the words today’s hip artisans use to describe what was known in the 1990s as “found object art.” Materials such as beach glass, steel, wire, newspaper, aluminum and barn wood are recycled into rustic, eclectic or modern stylized creations. Often these items are made in developing areas of the world and carry the additional benefit of being fairly traded.
• RECYCLE. As the saying goes, “If you’re not buying recycled, you’re not really recycling.” When you buy something made with recycled materials, you ensure that discarded materials are reused instead of ending up in a landfill. Even though almost all paper is recyclable, statistics reveal that approximately 35 percent our landfills are comprised of paper and paperboard! That’s because Americans threw away about 85 million tons of paper products in 2006, nearly a three-fold increase from 1960.* So it’s more important than ever to buy recycled paper products, and remind customers why this matters.

Stocking just one recycled item is better than none. Your customers want items derived from responsible, creative practices. When retailers support companies that are committed to the environment, they also strengthen their own business ethics and reputation. In the end, whether you are a retailer or end consumer, purchasing quality items from companies that are environmentally conscious just feels like the right thing to do. This makes our collective buying power is more important and meaningful than ever before in history.

*2006 statistics from the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Sue Rostvold lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband Allan, and her swimming dachshund Martin. Her company, Verysupercool, features dog-themed, inspirational greeting cards printed on 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper — making them a completely recycled product! For more information, or to watch a music video of the Jack Johnson recycling song mentioned in this article, visit www.verysupercool.com.