Sheila is a dog-lover who works to support her two great danes. By day she is a business analyst or product manager, by night she slaves to make sure her danes are comfortable and happy. She lives well beyond her means and struggles to find ways to return to the reality of her paycheck. Her dogs are unfazed by her heroic fight and continue to insist that only the best will do, with extra treats weekly to top off a luxurious existence.

Sheila's danes, Panda, Tonka, and Sera, were the bestest, most beautiful great danes ever to grace the earth. Although completely opposite in temperament and looks, they remained united in their devotion to the woman who feeds and pampered them, and in their hatred of the neighbor's cats.

Panda, a gorgeous fawn with cropped ears, was a princess of the highest order, and her favorite story is, in fact, The Princess and the Pea. She weighed in at a modest 145 lbs with a height of 32 inches (to shoulder). Panda adored those she knew since puppyhood, and was cautiously worried about new people. She was a worrier who thought everyone adored her and wanted to take her home. In her own environment, she was a sweet loving girl who greeted you with furious tail wags and wrrooo-wrrooos to express her delight. She was often found with stuffie in mouth asking for a game of catch me if you can or wriggling on her back begging for tummy rubs.

Tonka was just the opposite: a fun-loving, people-crazy overgrown goofy pup. He was a majestically silly black dane with four white paws a splash of white on his chest. Weighing in at almost 170 lbs and close to 36 inches high, he was a big boy who loved to be loved. Tonka had not a clue in the world that he was big as a horse, and insisted on sitting on guests' laps and sucking up to them in his enthusiastic quest for new friends. Tonka did not appreciate Sheila's singing (she has, after all, no talent whatsoever), and would leave the room quickly when she inevitably began crooning tunelessly. Nevertheless, Sheila tortured him at Christmas with a Tonka-inspired rendition of Frosty the Snowman (a preview: Tonka the Wonka was a jolly, happy soul, with four white paws and a big long nose...).

Note: Panda died of osteosarcoma in late 2006, and Tonka of lumbar sacral disease in early 2008. A third adoptee, Sera, died in early 2008 from oral melanoma as well.

Sheila occasionally travels. Several times a year, she takes short trips to Annapolis, MD, where she meets with friends who live relatively close by. She is drawn to Sedona, AZ, where she owns a time share (oops, that would be vacation rental or some such phrase). Sheila plans to someday visit Rhode Island, Maine, Alaska, Aruba, New Zealand. Meantime, she'll keep spending that vacation money on dog seminars and short trips.

In 2007, Sheila made the change from a Technical Writer to a Business Analyst. It's a similar field with many of the same goals (clarity, communication). It's been an excellent transition and she's enjoying the work quite a bit! In late 2009, Sheila took on a new challenge and transitioned to Product Management, where she is learning a whole new disipline.

Fortunately for Sheila, she has a lovely circle of wonderful friends who are interesting and intelligent, sympathetic and downright nice! She treasures them and all that they are. Uuntil 2010, Sheila was also blessed with a very endearing mother who, in her 80s, was a feisty clean machine. She still misses her mother dearly.

So that's all ABOUT US. We've got dogs and work and friends and family and vacation. So far, so good. Stay tuned.

Sheila
Panda, Tonka & Sera (always in my heart)