An Interview with Karen (of Karen & Jack)

[Adina P]

Karen joined DoodleKisses.com early in its infancy. Since then, her love of dogs, particularly her labradoodle Jack, has been abundantly evident.  She is known and admired on DK as a rescue champion, dog advocate and pet food guru.  Her passion for these things has given her quite the reputation!  When her values are challenged, she speaks up.  When she believes dogs are at risk, she speaks up.  And when it comes to the safety and health of dogs, she speaks up.  Karen isn't afraid to be bluntly honest.  That has, at times, gotten her into trouble or offended some members. 

But as many long time DK members can attest, her honesty comes from a good place and a desire to protect dogs.  And that's why fellow Doodle Kisses members look up to and love Karen.  That and her commitment and loyalty to Jack.   I'm excited to be sharing this interview so you can learn more about our fabulous long time DK member, Karen :-)

As much as she adores Jack, he was an unlikely adoption.  She was not LOOKING for a labradoodle.  Karen, remind us again how, you, the German Shepherd and Poodle connosieur ended up with a shedding labradoodle?

I grew up with poodles and as an adult, had a schnoodle and then a miniature poodle. Clean, brilliant, funny, affectionate dogs, all of them. I also always loved GSDs, having grown up with Rin Tin Tin, along with Roy Rogers' Bullet. In 1998, I read about a GSD rescue group in my area and started fostering for them. I had a couple of amazing fosters that I seriously considered keeping, but I really didn't want a huge dog that shed. (!!!!!!!!)

When my poodle died in 2005, I really didn’t want to start over with a puppy, and decided to look for a medium-sized adult poodle or poodle mix to adopt. I wanted a dog who was housebroken, past the puppy chewing stage, good with cats and kids.  I submitted a couple of applications to some local rescue groups. I applied for one dog at a local private shelter, and was approved, but he turned out not to be a good fit for me. However, the rescue group loved my application and kept it on file. When JD was surrendered, they called me.

I almost didn’t go to meet him, that's how much I didn’t want a labradoodle, lol.  I had never spent much time around the sporting breeds, but found the retrievers I did meet to be kind of spacey and distracted, and I didn’t want a dog that size anyway. I wasn't crazy about the couple of labradoodles I had seen in my neighborhood, either. So when the rescue called me about this big labradoodle they had just taken in, I was less than enthusiastic, but the volunteer said "You really should come and meet him. He's worth it." So I did.

He was a mess. Filthy, greasy, skinny, poorly proportioned, he looked like an Irish Wolfhound/Afghan Hound mix. Too big, wrong color, curled up tail, sway backed, and where was the curly poodle

coat? But he was unbelievably sweet and well-behaved, even at 14 months. Calm, affectionate, friendly, and when I finally got a good look at his face, adorable. Still, too much dog for me. I needed time to think about it. I spent two hours with him and left without him. It did choke me up when they put him back in his cage.

For three nights, I couldn’t sleep, thinking about him. I had looked at a lot of dogs in shelters and walked away without a loss of sleep. I'd given up fosters that I really loved. Why couldn’t I stop thinking about this one particular dog?  On the third sleepless night, I realized that somebody was trying to tell me something. The next morning I called the shelter and he was still there. He came home that night, and the rest is history, lol.

How long after you got Jack did you find DoodleKisses.com?
About two years. I got JD in January 2006 and joined DK in 2008. 

What kept you coming back?
The new friends I made here, particularly those who had also adopted adult doodles and were dealing with some of the same issues I was: Shyness, fear, undersocialization. It was nice to share experiences. And the DRC got its start from those discussions and friendships.

You've become one of our most active members and an official "Hopeless Doodle Addict." You know very well that becoming a Hopeless Doodle Addict takes some time.  How has being an HDA on DK affected your personal life?
My family and non-DK friends don't get it, lol. I do neglect some household tasks and spend way more time on the computer than I should or otherwise would. But I've made some very good friends on DK who have really enriched my life, people I speak to on a weekly basis. And I don't see less of my non-DK friends. So I'd say the effect on my personal life has been very positive. I do spend a lot of time trying to help DK members whose dogs have health issues, much of it through PMs and even over the phone, but the rewards are worth the time and effort. 

Which members have you met so far?
You, Leslie & Halas, Ann Kendig, Penny (Comiskey & Beemer), Lynn (Sadie & Molly), Jeannine Smith, and a few others who are not very active on DK, mostly people associated with IDOG & DRC, and people who attend the No. Ill and PawPad romps.  I've talked to a LOT of active DK members on the phone, though.
And I'm going to meet my very favorite DK member in July!

What are your favorite places on DK (group? etc)
The Food Group is my favorite place on DK, for obvious reasons. :-)

Now let's leave DK for a bit and talk about the Karen before DoodleKisses.com -- how did you spend your time before Jack and DK?
Not much differently than I do now, really. I've always had a dog, so having Jack hasn't really had an impact on changing the way I've always spent my time, although certainly his care requires more time than my previous dogs' did.  I was working when I got JD and when I joined DK, so I didn't have as much free time as I do now. I spent a lot of time in the gym back then. And I was helping to care for my grandson, who is now 14 and doesn’t need babysitting any more, lol. But otherwise, I spent my free time pretty much the way I do now. I always read a lot and did a lot of research, only back then I was reading and researching in books instead of on-line, and the research was about human fitness and nutrition rather than canine health & nutrition. I cleaned house, grocery shopped, ran errands, walked, visited with  friends, went out to eat, listened to music, watched a little TV, did volunteer work for local rescue groups, etc. just like I do now. Those things haven't changed. I lead a pretty quiet life.  I was active on the Board of Directors of my Homeowner's Assn., but I moved just before I got JD. Most of the changes that have occurred in the way I spend my time would have occurred whether I had JD & DK or not, they've been more the result of getting older and where I am in life.

Any hobbies or pastimes?
LOTS of reading, some gardening, and I'm also addicted to playing word games on Pogo.com. I probably spend as much time there as I do on DK.

Where have you traveled?
 I haven't traveled very much in my life, it's never been something I had a huge desire to do. I've been to Mexico twice, Florida about 6 times, short trips to L.A., San Francisco and New York,  a driving trip to Texas once, and I've spent weekends in WI, MI, and IN. Oh, and a cruise to the Bahamas. I'm pretty much a homebody, even more so now that I have JD. But I am planning a short trip to Connecticut in July, to visit Jane.

I faintly remember that you either have never flown in a plane or just hate flying.  Tell us more.
I did fly when I was in my teens and early twenties, and it never bothered me. But I suddenly developed a fear of flying about two years after my DD was born, on a trip to Mexico, and it got worse with each subsequent trip I took, actual panic attacks. The last time I was on a plane was in 1997. BUT... I'm forcing myself to fly again in July. I'm terrified, but I'm following Eleanor Roosevelt's advice: "You must do the thing you think you cannot do. " 

If you could live anywhere (just snap your fingers and arrive with Jack), where would it be and why?  Would that change if you were on your own or Jack didn't have any health issues?
I'd like to live on a very large property with access to woods and a beach.  Some place where there are four seasons, but with milder, shorter winters and less extreme temperatures than Chicago. And not a lot of rain and humidity. Know any place like that?  When I think about moving, I do think about having to be near veterinary specialists because of JD's medical needs. I couldn't be out in some remote location. If he didn’t have health issues, I could have a big piece of property way out in the middle of nowhere.  As far as being "on my own", I need a dog like I need air. So that isn't even a possibility. "Life without a dog? Is that even possible?"

Describe your dream vacation?
Beaches, sunshine, bare feet, JD running off-leash, tropical breezes, tropical flowers, tropical beverages, tropical fruit, fresh seafood, and no agenda whatsoever. 

Do you have a bucket list?
Nope. I like to let life surprise me and it always does. As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

If you could be anyone else, who would you be?
Glinda the Good Witch, lol. She's immortal, she has magical powers, and I like bubbles better than airplanes.  If it has to be a real person, maybe Princess Kate. She's young, beautiful, classy, smart, rich, and happily married to the future King of England.

If you could invite four famous people over for dinner, who would
those people be?  What would you serve them?
This was a very hard question to answer, lol. Living or dead? Real or fictional? So many possible choices.  At first I was going to say The Beatles. But that's too easy, and I really only want to talk to the dead ones. I decided to limit myself to living people who I've always wanted to talk to, and who I think I would like as people even if they weren't famous. And then there's the whole issue of the menu, which since I hate cooking and suck at it, was daunting. I thought about inviting one of the Iron Chefs as a dinner guest, but then I discussed it with my gourmet cook DD, and she offered to plan the menu and cook the dinner if I let her choose one of the guests. So, the guests would be:
 
My favorite author, Anne Tyler
Michael Moore
Bill Clinton
And my DD's choice, Steven Tyler.
 
And here's the menu:
 
Appetizers:
Tuna Tartare w. cilantro, avocado & lime
Bruschetta w. heirloom tomatoes & fresh basil
 
Salad:
Baby beets w. goat cheese & arugula, pomegranate vinegarette
 
Main Course:
Herb-crusted leg of lamb w. pappardelle in wild mushroom ragout & merlot reduction
Seared sea scallops on lemon risotto
Wilted baby spinach
Roasted tri-color carrots
 
Dessert:
Lemon angelfood cake w. mixed berries & whipped cream
Assorted chocolates

If you could be a superhero, what would your super power be?
The ability to transport myself anywhere instantly.

Have you ever done anything noteworthy...awards? newspaper article written up?
Well, I won a few weightlifting trophies. (Does the gym's newsletter count?) And when I was younger, I won a few prizes for art work. I used to draw and paint a lot and went to art school for 6 years. I actually considered a career in commercial art, but that was way before computers.

Were you a stay at home mom or did you work outside the home?
I was home until my DD started Kindergarten, then worked PT, then full-time when she was in Jr. High. The time I was home with her was the happiest time of my life.

At an unlikely time you switched retrained and became a personal trainer and body builder.  What led to that?  Tell us about this change and how old you were when you made this change.
It's a long and pretty amazing story, lol, even to me. If you had told me prior to my 38th birthday that I would ever have an interest, let alone a career, in anything remotely connected to athletics OR science, I would have told you that you needed your head examined, lol.  I was the last kid sitting on the gym floor when they chose teams. I couldn't even play jacks, never mind volleyball. Absolutely no eye-hand coordination whatsoever. I was so bad at sports that in grade school, I used to go to the nurse's office with a stomach ache when it was time for gym class. I was good at folk dancing, lol, and not too bad at gymnastics, but completely hopeless at anything involving a ball. I also had no reciprocal motion. As an adult, I had no interest in sports or exercise of any kind. Naturally thin, with a high metabolism, I got away with that, for a long time.

I also had very little interest in science when I was in high school and college. I barely made it through chemistry the first time around, mostly because of that #@!!!**!! sliderule! Two tutors, and I still couldn't remember which scale to use or how to balance an equation. And while biology interested me, no way was I going to dissect anything. I managed to get through high school without taking any biology classes. My interests were in the arts. I drew, I painted, and most of all, I read and I wrote, short stories and poetry. I majored in Rhetoric at Illinois and English Lit at Northwestern.
Fast forward to my 30s. My XDH had the world's worst spine, countless surgeries, five discs removed and three spinal fusions during his very short lifetime, although I wasn't around for the last one. He was forever laid up and on disability or workman's comp. And he was in constant pain. His back and his pain dominated our lives. He couldn't go anywhere, do anything, couldn't even sit beside me at my father's funeral or take a walk with me on a beautiful evening. In the middle of a sleepover party for my DD's 9th birthday, I had to call a neighbor to drive him to the hospital with back spasms. It never got better, and he wouldn’t do anything to help himself get better. Refused to do his rehab exercises, refused to learn to bend and move correctly. It was easier to just lie there and take pain pills, to which he became addicted, so another 8 week hospital stay, this time in rehab.

Meanwhile, I was getting older and feeling it. I was still thin, but I was starting to get a little bit, shall we say droopy in certain areas, lol.  Worse, I was noticing some loss of energy and strength when I did gardening or housework, and more important to me at the time, I was starting to feel some minor aches and pains afterwards. That scared me, because somebody at my house had to stay physically strong and able. We didn’t have room for two hospital beds.  

So at 38, I started attending an exercise class conducted by a personal trainer in her home. 45 minutes of cardio and 45 minutes of strength training, twice a week. The cardio, I could take or leave, but the strength training changed my life. Turned out, I may have sucked at throwing or catching a ball, but you don’t need eye-hand coordination to do resistance exercise, and I was born for it. It just felt good to me, and I started seeing results right away; I felt better and I looked better, and that  motivated me to want to do more than I could do in the twice a week classes at the trainer's home. So I joined a gym, and I ventured into the weight room and was befriended by some of the hardcore bodybuilders who got a kick out of seeing this little skinny "older" lady trying to learn how to do a bench press, and pretty soon I was a full-fledged gymrat, lifting 6 days a week and loving it. And of course, when you first start seriously lifting weights at 38 under the guidance of some twenty-something muscleheads with no formal training in biomechanics or any related field, you end up in the orthopedic surgeon's office with a knee or shoulder injury. Mine was the rotator cuff.

After 12 weeks of treatment and rehab, I was back to square one, having lost most of what I'd gained, and I decided that if I was going to lift weights, I was going to do it right this time. So at 40, I went back to school to study exercise physiology. I never intended to make a career of it, I just wanted to know how to do it right, and to understand what I was doing. But bodybuilding the second time around, doing it the right way, had such a huge positive effect on me, both mentally and physically, and gave me such confidence, that I just had to share it. Because so many women have such negative feelings and self-esteem issues about their bodies, and this was not about being skinny, this was about being strong. This was about being independent. This was about the lesson I had learned the hard way: that you can have money, you can have a successful career, you can have a beautiful home, you can have a husband and kids and friends who adore you, but if you are weak and dependent and in constant pain, you are going to be miserable, you are going to be a burden, and the people you love deserve better than that.

So I became certified as a personal trainer, and then a strength and conditioning specialist, and then a life-style and weight management consultant.
And that's how a skinny weak 40-something English lit major ended up becoming a strength trainer and bodybuilder.

 
If you had to eat the same food for a week, what would it be?
Tuna salad. 

You've mentioned that you don't like Pizza and think it looks like a giant scab.  Any other foods you dislike?
Stuffing, waffles, sweet and sour dishes, halvah, cashews, peanut butter, syrup of any kind, Miracle Whip, biscotti, and lots of traditional Jewish favorites like kishke, kreplach, kasha, knishes, mandel bread and potato pancakes, lol.  Mostly starchy stuff. Anything that's sweet but not a dessert.  I can't eat "little" animals: Cornish Hens, other small game birds, sardines & smelts. And I want so badly to like yogurt, but I just can't stand it. Not even frozen yogurt.

Favorite breakfast?
An "Alpine scrambler", which is scrambled eggs with cream cheese, diced ham, and scallions, with a side of crisp bacon and a lightly toasted English muffin.

Favorite lunch?
An assortment of sushi or a chicken salad in summer. In winter, beef barley soup or chili.

Favorite dinner?
Alaskan King Crab legs with drawn butter, boiled red skin potatoes with dill butter and a field green salad with crumbled blue cheese.

Favorite dessert?
Chocolate Mousse with whipped cream and fresh raspberries

Let's go back...even farther...Any interesting chidhood memories?
My best memories of childhood are the summer evenings when I was very young. For the first 8 years of my life, we lived in a residential neighborhood in the city of Chicago, and it was really heaven for kids. The houses all had front porches, the lots were small, and there were alleys, and streets at either end of the block where there were stores and businesses, including a drugstore that had a soda fountain. Back in those days the world was less threatening, or at least it seemed that way, and our parents pretty much allowed us to run loose in the neighborhood. There were tons of kids on our block, and it seemed like the whole world was our playground. On summer nights, a lot of the parents would sit out on the front porches, and visit back and forth with each other, and we kids ran around all over the block, catching fireflies and playing games. The Good Humor truck would come every night, too, and even Good Humor was better then, lol. My favorite was a popsicle that was cherry on one side and lime on the other. I still crave those popsicles sometimes. Those nights still seem magical to me.

Were you a tomboy or girly girl?  Did you have more girl friends or boy friends?
I was definitely a girly girl as far as friends, clothing, dolls, playing house, etc., but I also liked playing "Army" with my one male friend.

When did you get your first kiss?
15

Did you have any celebrity crushes?  Do you have any now?
When I was a little girl, I was madly in love with Wyatt Earp (Hugh O'Brien). Then Paul McCartney,  then Sam Elliott.   No celebrity crushes now. I'm much more interested in real people.
A photo of Karen with her mother, grandmother, and two sisters on her wedding day, 1978

 
What was home life for you?  Were you closer to one parent or another?  What traits do you see in yourself that came from your parents?
I was the oldest of three girls, all born within less than 4 years. As you can imagine, lots of rivalry, lots of competition. Materially, we were very spoiled. My parents were first generation Americans, very concerned with appearances and what people thought, very traditional in their views: men made a living and supported their families, women stayed home and took care of the kids and the house if at all possible. My mom never worked outside the home, in fact she never worked at all, even before she married at 21. She was a very quiet, shy, beautiful woman, and she lived a very sheltered life. My dad was extremely Type A, a very busy OB/Gyne, and also an assistant professor of medicine, and was always on call. He would never sign out to one of his partners, so he wasn't around much, and when he was home, he was often catching up on his sleep. The rare occasions when we all went out for dinner together as a family, he always left the number of the restaurant with his service, and he was often called out. On my 11th birthday, we went to dinner and a movie in downtown Chicago, which was at least 30 minutes from our home. I vividly remember my mom standing at the curb with three kids under the age of 12 in downtown Chicago at midnight in January, trying to hail a cab.
I was definitely closer to my mom than my dad, lol, despite the fact that we had almost no traits in common at all. I think most of my traits came from my father. Or maybe from neither of them, lol. Certainly, I wasn't quite what they had hoped for. I think I disappointed them greatly by not growing up to be the Jewish version of Jackie Kennedy.

If you could change one thing about how you were raised, what would
it be?
I'd have been an only child, lol.

You have one adult daughter, right?  If you could change one thing about how you raised your daughter, what would it be?
I'd be more relaxed and less worried about schedules.

Any regrets?   
I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention. LOL

If you could go back in time, which phase or time in your life would you visit and why?
Assuming that this visit doesn't involve any do-overs, I'd go back to the years when my DD was a baby and toddler, before she started school. That was the happiest time of my life.

If you were going to be stranded on a deserted island, what is one thing you would want to have with you (only one)?
Aladdin's lamp

What's in your purse right now?
The usual. Wallet, checkbook, credit card case, keys, a lipstick, pens, Tic Tac, and a whole lot of old receipts, coupons, business cards, appointment cards, shopping lists, and other papers that need to be thrown away, lol.
 
Any non dog related pet peeves?
Are you kidding? LOLOLOL  How many do you want?
Let's start with people who have the bass in their cars turned up so high that you can feel the vibrations while sitting in your house two blocks away.
The obsession with technology in general and mobile phones in particular. Unless you are waiting for an organ transplant or you are a member of the transplant team, you don't have to always be connected, lol.

People shooting off fireworks in residential neighborhoods.
People who get into the left lane 10 miles before they have to make a left turn and then stay there, driving below the speed limit the entire 10 miles. I'm always behind them.

Little kids running loose unsupervised in restaurants.
People who get a meal with two sides at Boston Market, and with all those vegetables to choose from, choose potatoes and macaroni & cheese. (Or potatoes and stuffing. Or potatoes and corn. Or potatoes and potatoes.)

TV commercials in which women who appear to be otherwise sane discuss how they feel after using toilet paper.
Candy manufacturers changing all green candy from lime to (gag) green apple.
I could go on...and on...

What music do you listen to most?
Classic rock and folk

What or who has impacted/changed your life the most?
Becoming a parent/ my daughter


What accomplishment are you most proud of?
In my training career, I think I changed a fair number of people's lives for the better, both physically and emotionally. I'm especially proud of having been able to improve some women's self-images and help them to feel empowered.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I'd dial down the intensity, lol.

What is your best trait?
Honesty

Now back to today and doodles. For those that are newer and don't know that much about Jack, tell us about him. How old is Jack now?  He has several health issues.  Give us a quick summary of what he has to cope with:
JD is the cutest, sweetest, bravest, best-behaved dog on the planet, lol. He's eight and a half years old now. He is an F1 Labradoodle from a puppy mill, purchased from a pet store in Arizona as a puppy and dumped in a shelter here in Illinois when he was 14 months old. The reason given for relinquishing him was that the man's job had changed and he had to travel a lot, didn’t have time for JD. Right.
Jackdoodle has Atopic Dermatitis, which is an immune mediated genetic disease and is what most people call environmental or seasonal allergies. He gets immunotherapy (desensitization) shots for that every two- three weeks, and takes evening primrose oil capsules and Claritin when he has flares.  He also has a ruptured lumbar disc causing nerve compression at the base of his spine, and he gets laser therapy every 2 weeks and acupuncture every month for that. We are trying to avoid surgery. And he has Inflammatory Bowel Disease, which is another immune mediated disease which is similar to Crohn's disease in humans & causes malabsorption of nutrients inflammation and ulceration of the GI tract. For that he gets a B12 injection every month, a special very restricted diet, consisting of limited ingredient kibble, boiled chicken breast, and mashed sweet potatoes; he gets four small meals a day, and a whole mess of drugs and supplements every day, some with each meal. And he's a good sport about all of it.

How has he changed your life?
Let me count the ways.
He has enriched my life and taught me so much.
I thought I was fairly dog savvy before I got JD, but I know so much more now, about canine health, and behavior, and nutrition. Having him has forced me to research and educate myself about so many things, and in the process, I've been able to help other dogs and owners, too.
I have friends who mean the world to me, people I hope to have in my life forever, that I wouldn’t have met without JD.
He has shown me what courage looks like. If I ever have to deal with pain or illness, I hope to be able to face it with as much grace and dignity as he has.
He's made me more compassionate. I am a better person for having loved him.
And of course, in some ways, there wouldn’t be a DRC if not for JD.
Not bad for a discarded puppy mill dog.
 
Clark and I met Jack when we visited Chicago a few years ago.  And I was amazed that he didn't even SNIFF the plate of cheese and crackers you set out for us.  He's not a foodie, is he?  What do you feed him?
JD has never been interested in food. It used to frustrate me a quite a bit. He dislikes just about everything other than animal proteins, and before he had IBD, he would skip meals and even refuse treats on a regular basis. Very picky.
Since the IBD started and he's been on prednisone continuously, he's always eager for mealtime and has started liking a few vegetables like green beans and sweet potatoes, but he's still somewhat picky.

Does he have any funny quirks?
Oh yes, lots of them. He's a very quirky dog.
He loves to hang out on my bed, and spends a lot of his "down time" there, but when I go to bed for the night, he immediately gets down and sleeps on the floor or on his own bed, no matter how nicely I plead with him to stay. I try not to be insulted by this. On the rare occasions when I'm in bed in the daytime, though, he stays with me, usually with his elbow digging into my leg.

He is constantly trying to get someone to throw a ball for him, but then is very choosy about the ball. If you throw the "wrong" ball, he refuses to bring it back and stares at you until you find the "right" ball, and only JD knows which one that is at any given moment.

He hates rain, and refuses to go out into the backyard when it's wet, even if the rain has stopped. Even if he hasn't peed for 14 hours, and he's on prednisone. But if you take him out front on a leash, he will go. Same grass, same rain. Go figure.
Occasionally when we are walking, he stops dead in his tracks and won't move. Eventually he'll start walking again, but it can take a couple of  minutes, or at least it feels like it. There is no connection to any certain place, event, time of day, weather, etc.
 
What is your favorite memory with Jack?
I don't really have one favorite memory, all of our time together has been special.

Any embarrassing moments with Jack?
He's really a very well-behaved guy, but there have been a couple of times when a well-meaning strange man approached him (without my permission or approval) trying to make friends, and JD has barked reactively at him. He might look like a muppet, but he has a very big bark, and can look very scary when he's reactive.

What do you love about him most?
How brave and uncomplaining he is, how he sucks it up, accepts what he has to, and is always a good sport, even when it hurts or he's scared. He's my hero.
And he has a pretty amazing nose, too!

Besides his health, anything you would change about him?
I'd make him a non-shedder. That and his health are the only things about him that are not easy to live with.

If you could have any DK member's doodle, who would it be and why?
I am kicking myself for coming up with this question, lol. There are so many DK doodle that I love and would love to own.  I really had to think about it. At first I was using the criteria that I would use if I really was getting another doodle: "Which DK doodle is medium sized, non-shedding, healthy, and has a big black nose?" but then I realized that this is just make-believe and I won’t really get the dog, lol.  And I am most drawn to the big goofy blonde males (with big black noses of course.)
So it has to be Vern. Because he's basically a bigger, younger, healthier version of JD, I think...they both remind me of the Cowardly Lion.

Tell us about any dogs in your future...will there be any?  What breed?  Rescue or breeder?
There will always be at least one dog in my home. And after JD, I don't think it will be a doodle. At this point I am thinking puppy from a purebred breeder, either a poodle, schnauzer, or maybe a Tibetan Terrier, medium sized, non-shedding, and with furnishings, lol. But you never know...dogs sometimes come into your life and steal your heart without your permission. So we'll see.

And finally the really important stuff...Boxers or briefs?
On men? Boxers, absolutely.

Coke or Pepsi?
I don't drink soda, but when I did, Coke.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks, Sandy! 

Kiss H & T for me and tell them I love them, too! 

[Donna K & Quincy]

Great interview! We do love Karen and we love her for the very reasons that scare other people. :>) I also don't blame you for picking Vern, I love the big furry goofballs too. I am pretty sure with your criteria for climate you won't be moving to Newfoundland anytime soon, which is probably a good thing since I would have no idea what to cook for you when you visited. :>) I'm for one am happy that you went back to that shelter for JD, if not, we would not have gotten to know you, and now we know you even better. I have to say I rather enjoyed the many faces of Karen.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thank you, Donna! Quincy is one of the big big furry goofball doodles that I really love! If I could, I'd have a whole herd of them! 

I would like to visit Newfoundland one day. Who knows, if the flight to CT next month doesn't give me a heart attack, we might get to meet one of these days. In summer time, lol. And we can go out to eat! 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

This is really fun....and even I learned a few things about you, Karen.  I guess I'll have to rethink the menu in July...forget the sweet and sour chicken with the sides of mashed potato and mac & cheese.  G & M want to tell you that they are convinced that after you spend a few days with them, they will be your favorites and you'll be leaving Vern in the dust.  Great job Adina and Karen!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks, kid. 

Go ahead and serve that meal; I will be G & M's favorite aunt when they see what I've saved for them in my dinner napkin, lol. 

[Pat and Traveler]

Love this interview!  I've admired Karen since I've been on DK, and it's a delight to learn more about her very interesting life, personal beliefs, loves and dreams.  The life change at 38-40--wow!  An inspiration to all of us!  I've learned to love JD, as described by Karen.  What a dog!  What a woman!

I'd like to see an interview of Adina by Karen.  All in favor, put in a vote.  LOL

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks Pat!

A big AYE in favor of turning the tables on Adina! This was tough! 

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

This was really interesting and fun reading. Thank you!  It's great to know more about Karen and not think of her as my go-to poop lady.  How many poop questions have you received from me, LOL? And you were always so patient explaining things to me. Thank you JD for introducing us to your wonderful mom. :-)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks, Jarka! Can I put that on a future resume...Go-to Poop Lady?" LOL

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

Fabulous interview...  I had no idea about JD's past and all his medical issues... 

Between all your hard work with JD and your love for health and fitness for the 2-legged species, it explains your passion when people discuss health issues with their doodles...and I mean that in a good way!!

Adina this was a great idea.. Can't wait to see who's next!!

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks, Elizabeth! Whoever's next, be warned, OFL is a tough interviewer! 

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I love this!  Karen, I especially love your aqua jumper (lol) :)  I hope JD is with you much longer and don't have to worry about your next purebred dog.....  This was a wonderful interview!