Empire of the Dog http://empireofthedog.posterous.com World Domination through Positive Reinforcement. [R+] posterous.com Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:49:00 -0700 A "funny" week for PETS in New York City http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/a-funny-week-for-pets-in-brooklyn-new-york-ci http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/a-funny-week-for-pets-in-brooklyn-new-york-ci

This week is a CRAZY week for pet rescue benefits. I've barely been able to keep up-My dance card is OVERFULL  and I don't think I can keep up! I'll only be able to give you the FULL HEAD COUNT when the post is done-so let's get started.

Wednesday April 18th  in Greenpoint

Saint Vitus Bar
1120 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
Join Greenpointers for our comedy night at Saint Vitus on April 18, 2012 at 8pm to benefit Dog Habitat Rescue. Hosted by Tom Cowell. $5 - all proceeds will be donated to helping save our strays!
tickets availabe HERE
Timthumb

Greepointers Calls this poster "sexy"-I can't fully disagree....---------------------------------------------------------------
Also on Wednesday the 18th @ The Gotham Comedy Club
a JOINT fundraiser for Stewie to the Rescue Inc and Empty Cages Collective!

It's only a $20 cover and a two drink min - The whole cover goes towards the rescues!
ANDREW MARTINEZ (Last Comic Standing), SHEILA KAY (Law and Order: SVU),OPHIRA EISENBERG (VH1),TIM KROMPIER (MTV), EXIENE LOFGREN (LAUGHING SKULL FESTIVAL)
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THURSDAY APRIL 19th in the EAST VILLAGE @ Upright Citizens Brigade, 153 East 3rd Street, possibly the "weirdest" & "wildest" of the bunch....the LEAST TAME for sure I suspect.
To benefit WAGGYTAIL rescue
Hosted by Dave Hill and starring Janeane Garofalo featuring Adam Sank, Liam McEneaney, Mike Amato, and a very special surprise guest.
BUT WAIT! there's MORE!! A no-cover afterparty and raffle at Double Down Saloon on Avenue A, 8:30-10:30 PM

Waggye

I just don't think you can compete with wacked out prizes like  BOTOX, Lessons from a Dominatrix and 5 minute speed date with a Playboy Model...clearly something for everyone...well, maybe nothing for your Nana-nope, wait wellness exams from Cooper Sq Veterinary are also on the table.

* I might STILL be missing a benefit ...it seemed like there were MORE.
_____________________________________________

UPCOMING!!

WOOF WOOF WEDDING
ANOTHER benefit for WaggyTail Rescue! [that gal is BUSY!] and North Shore Animal League.
Broadway STAR ORFEH's dog BOO will marry DJS EVENTS founder Dawn Strain's dog daughter- a rescue dog VIA waggytail rescue...
This should be something! More later....

DID I Miss anything? let me know...

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1200439/_MG_7283aa.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SDBYX5Cf6kF denise herman the Empress denise herman Wed, 07 Mar 2012 08:32:00 -0800 Puppy's first BATH in FIVE ACTS http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/puppys-first-bath-in-five-acts http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/puppys-first-bath-in-five-acts

Let's make puppy bathtime more of a FUN playtime than a chore. With a little patience and preparation you and your pup can have a lifetime of baths that don't end in a watery dog-wreck.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1200439/_MG_7283aa.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SDBYX5Cf6kF denise herman the Empress denise herman Sun, 25 Sep 2011 07:58:00 -0700 Introducing the BOOK/VIDEO VOOK® project. http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/introducing-the-bookvideo-vook-project http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/introducing-the-bookvideo-vook-project
I'm BACK, finally!

I'm a terrible blogger as it turns out. I'm supposed to be consistent, entertaining and consistently-entertaining I think. However, I've been sporadic, stumbly and all over the map as far as writing goes. To be fair these are my reasons, I mean excuses, I mean reasons..oh you decide.
1. I've been taking on more aggression cases lately for clients as I have my great new trainer Dominika Knossalla who's been available to take on a lot more clients for me, so that I can save my time for the mentally taxing and laborious aggression cases. It's been good-a lot of dogs improving, but it's a process...sometimes a LONG, ONGOING process.

  2. I've discovered a fantastic new manicure that keeps my hands from looking like I've just dug myself out of a grave. Typically in this job one can keep a manicure perhaps six hours? Twenty Four hours for a gel manicure mayhaps. BUT this manicure is awesome and lasts forever. BUT NOW my nails got so long it's hard to type. This is a SUPER STUPID excuse, but it's true. I'm a total ten finger trained secretarial WPM style typist, but these nails are hobbling me. I'll figure it out soon.

3. I was performing as the VIDEO tips person for the new VOOK® project YOUR FIRST DOG. It was produced by VOOK and a video company called AND NOW media. They did a great job, and I'm super excited and proud of it. It's available for download on Itunes for 7.99 and makes a great gift for your digital savvy [less dog savvy] friends. Even if you've had a dog before it's probably got some great information for you. We talk about hosuetraining to a SPOT, Teaching your dog to SIGNAL to go out, Energy Burning for non-working dogs [as all PET dogs are NON working], Nail Clipping made easy and MORE!

  It's available on Itunes for $7.99 and is great for new and seasoned dog owners actually. I'm also the VIDEO face for the YOUR FIRST CAT guide as well. It's a widely unknown secret that I used to be a "cat person" shhhh! I used to take all my babysitting money and spend it going to CAT SHOWS! Yep, don't tell.

Your First Dog: The Video Guide

via itunes.apple.com

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1200439/_MG_7283aa.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SDBYX5Cf6kF denise herman the Empress denise herman Thu, 25 Aug 2011 09:40:00 -0700 DOG DAYS http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/dog-days http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/dog-days
via studio-kg.com

Some times there are LONG LONG days with the dogs where THIS contraption is something to consider.
"the Ostrich" Pocket Pillow for Nap , 2011.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1200439/_MG_7283aa.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SDBYX5Cf6kF denise herman the Empress denise herman Wed, 13 Jul 2011 22:09:00 -0700 AWESOME DOG STICKERS/ART http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/awesome-dog-stickersart http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/awesome-dog-stickersart

Tonight I found all these cool stinckers from  REDBUBBLE.COM. I'm a weirdo for my age, I still like putting stickers on my car, partially because it's OLD and needs them so no one think I don't *KNOW* that it's a bit of a wreck, and secondly it just reminds me of being younger. Conversely I *HATE* buttons, like the kind with sayings and photos- absolutely HATE them. Thank god these aren't buttons!

 

BEST PUG STICKER EVER~

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Have I mentioned how much I LOVE "RETRO" 70s..

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WORD!
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SUMO DOGS....
but they are FRENCHIES? Shouldn't this have been two SHIBA INUS? .. *IF* we are being authentic here.

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via redbubble.com

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1200439/_MG_7283aa.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SDBYX5Cf6kF denise herman the Empress denise herman Wed, 29 Jun 2011 21:31:00 -0700 Project DOG is coming to San Francisco. http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/project-dog-is-coming-to-san-francisco http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/project-dog-is-coming-to-san-francisco
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via projectdog.net

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1200439/_MG_7283aa.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SDBYX5Cf6kF denise herman the Empress denise herman Sun, 19 Jun 2011 16:57:00 -0700 Helping Dogs cope with Fireworks Anxiety and noise sensitivity this July 4th Holiday. http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/printable-sharable-fireworks-faq-for-dog-owne http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/printable-sharable-fireworks-faq-for-dog-owne

EODfireworksFAQ.pdf Download this file

Instead of just doing an article this year, I was inspired by Sophia Yin's Body Language Poster that was eminently sharable and made a FIREWORKS pdf that's sharable with some ideas for keeping your dog calm and relaxed this July 4th. It's by NO means the final source of all good ideas, so let me know what else has worked for you along the way and I can add it NEXT YEAR..or maybe tihs year if I'm super industrious [fireworks 2.0?]

That's my dog holding the sparklers!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1200439/_MG_7283aa.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SDBYX5Cf6kF denise herman the Empress denise herman Sun, 19 Jun 2011 14:42:48 -0700 An Independence day teaser http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/an-independence-day-teaser http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/an-independence-day-teaser

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Guess what next week's safety advisory is about?

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1200439/_MG_7283aa.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SDBYX5Cf6kF denise herman the Empress denise herman Sat, 07 May 2011 00:17:00 -0700 New Twist on "TOP DOG" http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/new-twist-on-top-dog http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/new-twist-on-top-dog

A couple of things I found online this week at Bed Bath & Beyond

Canine Bunk Beds let your dogs decide once and for all who's "TOP DOG" Alpha/SchMalpha! I'll bet it's going to be first come, first served up there!

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SURRENDER DOROTHY! I don't know if you've noticed, but I reference THE WIZARD OF OZ *and* STAR WARS a LOT. Keep your TOTO safe from Tornadoes..or is it Tornados? [I'll ask Dan Quayle] with this cute small animal carrier.

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DIAPER [PAD] GENIE This wasn't in the PET section-but I discovered a client of mine using this very thing to hold those gross, used wee wee pads. If it can keep diaper smell away, surely it can work for a lil doggie. I'll bet it's especially helpful if you have multiple small dogs using pads or a young puppy using a LOT of pads daily. Come to think of it-just throw ALL the gross garbage right in there..I think I have some science projects in my fridge that would do.

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HAMSTER BOTTLE FOR DOGS I'm on the fence about recommending this product. While I've used it and think it's very cool-it doesn't always fit properly and water DOES leak out at times. However, it is a super cool idea that works awesome a lot of the time. Put this simply adapter on any water bottle and it adds a rolling ball dispenser head to the bottle that only lets water out when your dog licks it, so you don't spray water at your dog or have to carry a bowl or use your hand. Think GIANT hamster bottle.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1200439/_MG_7283aa.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SDBYX5Cf6kF denise herman the Empress denise herman Tue, 03 May 2011 12:10:00 -0700 TRICKS *are* training http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/some-recent-pup-grads-showing-off http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/some-recent-pup-grads-showing-off

via vimeo.com

VIDEO: In a Land Far Far away...from Manhattan, Dogs were Trained.

 

I am a firm believer that DOG TRICKS *almost* outweigh traditional "obedience" behaviors as tools to gain control and leverage over your dog. In fact as far as your dog knows, "sit" & "down" are just *tricks* you seem very attached to them performing. We could make a case that to the dog, they are in fact ALL "tricks".  He doesn't know there's a functional difference between how you view "sit" Vs. "paw". However, I can certainly tell you that in the cases where a dog knows several traditional obedience behaviors and a trick or two, the reliability of the TRICKS often far outstrips the reliability of the traditional obedience training. When is the last time you saw a dog REFUSE to give PAW when someone asked him? Pretty much never. WHY is this? I have a theory.

As rational humans, we seem to believe that SIT and DOWN, etc are behaviors our dog SHOULD do, regardless of whether we plan to reward it-or even have trained our dog to understand it. We believe he's simply SUPPOSED to do it.
To a greater degree we EVEN believe he came INSTALLED with it, as if it's somehow wired into dogs to KNOW sit on command without ANY training at all-that's SUPER funny to me, but that's a whole other discussion.

When a dog Gives Paw, Spins or Rolls Over it fills us with SUCH delight that we UNIVERSALLY lavish BOTH treats and praise virtually 100% of the time--meaning that we reward it EVERY SINGLE TIME....and so do our friends, guest and strangers on the street! This is a pretty important lesson for an impressionable young dog and leads as you might imagine to a stellar response for those behaviors.
One last reason that dogs often perform their tricks better is that we simply practice them MORE often than other behaviors because they make us smile, feel silly and enjoy the nature of what it's like to be with our dog. Beautiful.

So how can we use this information to be better trainers with our dogs? Consider these options and more...
1.TRY to consistently be MORE rewarding for the behaviors you find USEFUL and IMPORTANT-Don't assume your dog SHOULD do it. There is no SHOULD to a dog-there IS what IS....Think like YODA.
2. Don't discount TRICKS as useless gimmicks. For example, you can just as easily get your dog to greet people NICELY by giving paw WHILE he sits, and it MIGHT be even easier?

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1200439/_MG_7283aa.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SDBYX5Cf6kF denise herman the Empress denise herman Sun, 01 May 2011 20:33:00 -0700 From Wallflower to CIRCUS-ready. http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/some-quickie-tricks http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/some-quickie-tricks

p285.mov Watch on Posterous
This is HINTO, a Rat Terrier Rescue dog that just finished small dog class..and with a BANG!

He came in as the most shy dog in the class, and is slowly warming up and coming out of his shell. Small dog class is a great way to remedially socialize small dogs with other dogs of a similar size so they are "less scary" and then you can slowly work up to more interactions with larger or mulitiple dogs. Small dog class also help focus on some of those annoying small dog centric issues like EXTENDED housetraining issues, barking and hand shyness.

Jumping through the arms is a great trick to reduce fear of proximity to people's hands/arms and LOOMING OVER-which is a BIGGIE.

IN case you've never seen a circus-y dog show, you can get some trick ideas HERE

This TRICK  is surprisingly easy to teach. Next week I'll show the steps to this trick!

xoxoxo Denise

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1200439/_MG_7283aa.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SDBYX5Cf6kF denise herman the Empress denise herman Sun, 10 Apr 2011 15:50:10 -0700 Surrender Dorothy (postmodern wizard) http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/surrender-dorothy-postmodern-wizard http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/surrender-dorothy-postmodern-wizard

P276

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1200439/_MG_7283aa.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SDBYX5Cf6kF denise herman the Empress denise herman Sun, 06 Mar 2011 23:51:00 -0800 Etsy Dog Finds: Feed/Fed!, 80s statues and of course Chihuahuas http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/etsy-dog-finds-feedfed-80s-statues-and-of-cou http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/etsy-dog-finds-feedfed-80s-statues-and-of-cou

So I really like this Chihuahua -it looks like my PI...

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via etsy.com

You know you ALWAYS wanted one of these! I certainly did/do! I think this would look awesome in the studio..and make for good socialization weirdness for the pups who will clearly be baffled by this stiff noble plaster beast

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via etsy.com

The Pink Princess hat makes it! It does it does!

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via etsy.com

Ha! No comment here..

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via etsy.com

FEED or FED! Which is it? My dogs try to trick us when we have multiple family members attending to them. Don't panic and double feed ever again. Like a DIRTY/CLEAN sign for the dishwasher but for dogs.

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via etsy.com

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1200439/_MG_7283aa.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SDBYX5Cf6kF denise herman the Empress denise herman Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:00:00 -0800 Snug as a BUG in a RUG.... http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/snug-as-a-bug-in-a-rug http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/snug-as-a-bug-in-a-rug

I was shopping the other day at Marshall's in Baltimore Maryland and I have to say they have quite the extensive discount PET department. All kinds of goodies to be found. I bought two microfiber ASPCA [ proceeds benefit] mats, and THESE....

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HIS & HERS SNUGGIES...

it's just TOO demented.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1200439/_MG_7283aa.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SDBYX5Cf6kF denise herman the Empress denise herman Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:55:34 -0800 Happy Valentine's Day http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/happy-valentines-day http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/happy-valentines-day

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Everyone loves some positive reinforcement. I DO I DO!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1200439/_MG_7283aa.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SDBYX5Cf6kF denise herman the Empress denise herman Thu, 10 Feb 2011 21:24:56 -0800 Retro: Every old shirt is new again http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/retro-every-old-shirt-is-new-again http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/retro-every-old-shirt-is-new-again

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This shirt could almost be an old Hobie shirt, and if that reference isn't over your head then you'll probably want one of these shirts. Well, we've got 'em.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1200439/_MG_7283aa.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SDBYX5Cf6kF denise herman the Empress denise herman Thu, 10 Feb 2011 17:49:57 -0800 Art: Dog Collection (part I) http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/art-dog-collection-part-i http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/art-dog-collection-part-i

P190 P194
See the full gallery on Posterous

Since my neck seized up this morning and I am lying here on a couch-housebound, I'm catching up on some old blog ideas. I promised a peek into my dog art collection I've acquired through the years. You can see many of these at my studio in Williamsburg if you take a class there.

Silkscreen of racing greyhounds

And painted chihuahua trinket that's also a magic 8ball. Should mention that it's a Taco Bell kids meal toy that my friend hand painted to match my chihuahua. Awesome.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1200439/_MG_7283aa.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SDBYX5Cf6kF denise herman the Empress denise herman Thu, 10 Feb 2011 17:40:48 -0800 Photo: Buddy http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/photo-buddy http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/photo-buddy

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Buddy from my lesson the other night. His impulse control is so impeccable that you have to say "ok" to successfully lure him now.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1200439/_MG_7283aa.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SDBYX5Cf6kF denise herman the Empress denise herman Mon, 07 Feb 2011 09:06:00 -0800 A tale of TWO PUG commercials. http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/a-tale-of-two-pug-commercials http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/a-tale-of-two-pug-commercials

Two finalists for the Doritos Superbowl Contest each contained Pug dogs as a focal point of their advertisement. Only one advertisement won and was used. Do you remember which ONE you saw?

<div

 

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I have a definite favorite-and unfortunately, and predictably it's not the commercial that won the contest. I always like the "weirder" option in any given this or that decision, so it's not surprising to me. I'm an unwelcome person in focus groups for this very reason as well.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1200439/_MG_7283aa.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SDBYX5Cf6kF denise herman the Empress denise herman Wed, 02 Feb 2011 05:48:00 -0800 VIDEOS: Dog Skateboarding, Vintage Tricks and Frisbee http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/videos-dog-skateboarding-vintage-tricks-and-f http://empireofthedog.posterous.com/videos-dog-skateboarding-vintage-tricks-and-f

MISSED DEADLINES & REDIRECTED [human] BEHAVIORS

 

So, I missed the deadline for my VEGAN blog post and Oprah beat me to it, but I am resolved to crank that one out in the next couple of days or so and another round of Etsy dog Ephemera, etc. Until then check out these new videos I posted on VIMEO. I've been playing around with a new Iphone App called 8MM and Vintage Movie Maker-they are super easy to use and awesome fun. The skateboard movie I made in Imovie and I'll have future installments as we turn the chihuahua into a shredding, ollieing machine!
Can't someone make me a Chihuahua version of SCREAMING HAND


or FRED SMITH?

 I actually HAVE that Fred Smith sticker...so this skate thing is oddly close to my heart, despite the fact that I CANNOT skateboard with any actual real acuity. My motorcycle riding ability is also VERY questionable at best [uneasy rider indeed]

 

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING YOU'll REALLY ENJOY

<div class="posterous_quote_citation">via vimeo.com</div>

<div class="posterous_quote_citation">via vimeo.com</div>


<div class="posterous_quote_citation">via vimeo.com</div>

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1200439/_MG_7283aa.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SDBYX5Cf6kF denise herman the Empress denise herman