Spring cleaning, and update from Annie

This is a rambling blog of sorts, because it has been quite a while since I've posted any sort of "real" update! First of all, allow me to say that we are all fine. Russell and the dogs are peachy and I am well. As always, our lives are hectic, and I will share some highlights and thoughts with you, in bullet points, for which I hope you will forgive me... I'm being lazy, but there is much to tell. Since I have last posted, I turned 50, we moved my Mother to another Nursing Home, there are raccoons living in our fireplace, again, and suicidal bunnies in our yard. So where should I begin? I guess the beginning is always a good place so, fasten your seat belts, because here we go!

When I last posted, I had recently just become Catholic. That continues to be the highlight of my year... and will probably be the highlight of this decade. Being Catholic, and being able to receive communion, fills me with such joy. The experience has been so much more profound than I ever anticipated. And I had anticipated that it would be amazing!

We moved my Mother to another Nursing home the week after Easter. It was a scary thing to do, but miraculously (thanks be to God!) she adapted well, and really loved the new facility. And the amazing thing is that she is only in a semi-private room, but is much happier with the quality of care that she is receiving. This is such a blessing. She also has been showing signs of wanting to do things.. to get up and let us push her outside so she can enjoy a sunny day. She's not wanted to do something like this in over two years... so we are rejoicing about this.

So for a couple of weeks in April, things were relatively quiet and we just muddled along. And then the 12th day of April came, and I turned 50. Getting my AARP card was not the happiest thing in the world, but it is a reality. We threw a small dinner party for family and friends. Initially it was going to be a "wake" with me sitting in a big bed..... making fun of the fact that women in my family tend to "go to bed" at a young age, because they don't feel really good, but are not really sick. I refuse to do this... I'm making that emphatically clear. But, because of prom season, and weddings, we couldn't find a good location for this, so we just reserved a room at a local restaurant and invited family and friends. It was a fun night and a really upbeat way to celebrate such a dubious milestone! My cousin Virginia, who happens to be one of my closest friends, is 16 days younger than I am. She lives in Seattle, so we see each other usually only once a year over Christmas. However, she came home for her birthday and we were able to have an awesome visit. So there are good things about turning 50! And in all truth, it's not so bad.
I took a week off to attend the Newfoundland National. It was great fun and good to see friends that I never see enough of. And to be surrounded by a mere 400-500 Newfies is a wonderful thing. Of course, the shopping is good as well, and I got my annual souvenir! After all, sometimes (not always) it is about the stuff!

We've had a few more bumps in the road with my Mother, but things are seeming to straighten themselves out.

I think the thing that amazes me most is that each day, is filled with so much. It's often time to find quiet and think. It's so easy to get caught up with whatever is happening.... and to lose sight of the larger picture. And I am learning... to slow down and breathe... and I am also learning that prayers are answered... and for that I am so incredibly thankful to God.. for all of his blessings.
I've eluded to raccoons in our chimney. Well this is the 2nd year that we are hosting a Mother Raccoon and her babies. Of course after this happened last year, we planned on closing off the chimney. But in our typical fashion, we never got around to it, and so here we go again. They'll be gone sometime in mid June, and hopefully we'll be smart and take measures to prevent this from happening next spring.

And finally, to the suicidal bunny. There is a rabbit that sits at the far end of our lawn, and suns herself. She sits there every day and watches as we come out with our 4 dogs... and when they get close, she runs like the wind to the other side of the road. So she is well aware that the dogs are there. So why did she build a nest there... and have her babies??? Kira (and it would be Kira) discovered the nest the other day. She got one of the babies in her mouth and then dropped it. The other baby took off. Kira was so excited. Russell had her out at the time, and after getting her back into the house, went to look for them. They were nowhere to be found.. and hopefully they are hiding and will stay hidden in the future. Kira is still eager to check that part of our yard.. but we keep her away from it. Thankfully, the others didn't realize what was happening and are not aware of the suicidal bunnies.

And last, but not least, Russell and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary yesterday. That is amazing to me. It doesn't seem like it's been 14 years since we were married!And that is it, for now at least. I hope that all of you are well, and as things calm over the summer, I'll try and post more! Hugs and Blessings to you all!

A Clever Rendition of The Lord's Prayer

THE LORD'S PRAYER
Rather cleverly done. I got this and thought to pass it along...
This is in two parts, the prayer in regular type and God’s response in indented and boldface italics type.
*********
Our Father Who Art In Heaven.

Yes?

Don't interrupt me. I'm praying.

But -- you called ME!

Called you?
No, I didn't call you.
I'm praying.
Our Father who art in Heaven.

There -- you did it again!

Did what!?

Called ME.
You said,
'Our Father who art in Heaven'
Well, here I am.
What's on your mind?

But I didn't mean anything by it.
I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day.
I always say the Lord's Prayer.
It makes me feel good,
kind of like fulfilling a duty.

Well, all right.
Go on.

Okay, Hallowed be thy name .

Hold it right there.
What do you mean by that?

By what?

By 'Hallowed be thy name'?

It means, it means... good grief,
I don't know what it means.
How in the world should I know?
It's just a part of the prayer...
By the way, what does it mean?

It means honored, holy, and wonderful.

Hey, that makes sense.
I never thought about what 'hallowed' meant before.

Thanks.

Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.

Do you really mean that?

Sure, why not?

What are you doing about it?

Doing? Why, nothing, I guess.
I just think it would be kind of neat if you got
control, of everything down here like you have up
there. We’re kind of in a mess down here you know.

Yes, I know;
but, have I got control of you?

Well, I go to church.

That isn't what I asked you.
What about your bad temper?
You've really got a problem there, you know.
And then there's the way you spend your money --
all on yourself.
And what about the kind of books you read?

Now hold on just a minute!
Stop picking on me!
I'm just as good as some of the rest of those
People at church!

Excuse ME.
I thought you were praying
for my will to be done.
If that is to happen,
it will have to start with the ones
who are praying for it.
Like you -- for example...

Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups.
Now that you mention it,
I could probably name some others.

So could I;

I haven't thought about it very much until now,
but I really would like to cut out some of those things.
I would like to, you know, be really free.

Good.
Now we're getting somewhere. We'll work together -- You and ME.
I'm proud of You.

Look, Lord, if you don't mind,
I need to finish up here.
This is taking a lot longer than it usually does.
Give us this day, our daily bread.

You need to cut out the bread.
You're overweight as it is.

Hey, wait a minute! What is this?
Here I was doing my religious duty,
and all of a sudden you break in
and remind me of all my hang-ups.

Praying is a dangerous thing.
You just might get what you ask for.
Remember,
you called ME -- and here I am.
It's too late to stop now...
Keep praying. (pause... )
Well, go on.

I'm scared to.

Scared? Of what?

I know what you'll say.

Try ME.

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us..

What about Ann?

See? I knew it!
I knew you would bring her up!
Why, Lord, she's told lies about me, spread stories.
She never paid back the money she owes me.
I've sworn to get even with her!

But -- your prayer --
What about your prayer?

I didn't -- mean it.

Well, at least you're honest.
But, it's quite a load carrying around all that bitterness
and resentment isn't it?

Yes, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even with her.
Boy, have I got some plans for her.
She'll wish she had never been born.

No, you won't feel any better.
You'll feel worse.
Revenge isn't sweet.
You know how unhappy you are --
Well, I can change that.

You can? How?

Forgive Ann.
Then, I'll forgive you;
And the hate and the sin,
will be Ann's problem -- not yours.
You will have settled the problem
as far as you are concerned.

Oh, you know, you're right.
You always are...
And more than I want revenge,
I want to be right with You... (Sigh).
All right all right…
I forgive her.

There now!
Wonderful!
How do you feel?

Hmmmm... Well, not bad.
Not bad at all!
In fact, I feel pretty great!
You know, I don't think I'll go to bed uptight tonight.
I haven't been getting much rest, you know.

Yeah, I know.
But, you're not through with your prayer are you? Go on.

Oh, all right.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Good! Good! I'll do that.
Just don't put yourself in a place
where you can be tempted.

What do you mean by that?

You know what I mean.

Yeah. I know.

Okay.
Go ahead. Finish your prayer.

For Thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory forever.
Amen.

Do you know what would bring me glory?
What would really make me happy?

No, but I'd like to know.
I want to please you now.
I've really made a mess of things.
I want to truly follow you.
I can see now how great that would be.
So, tell me . . .
How do I make you happy?

YOU just did!

Belated Easter Greetings

Hello to all my friends. All is well with me, and I hope and pray that all is well with you. I have been away from here for far too long, and an update is long past due!!!!

My time in the past few weeks has been divided between my journey of faith and issues with my Mother. As many of you know, I have been in the process of becoming Catholic. I am thrilled to say that I received the Sacraments of Confirmation and was accepted in to full communion by the Roman Catholic Church during Easter Vigil! I cannot begin to describe what this was like. The joy in my heart is purely indescribable. Never before in my life have I embraced the experiences and traditions of Holy Week as I did this year.

On the Saturday before Palm Sunday, I made my first "Confession". This is something that I thought I would dread... and while I was nervous, and anxious, it was a powerful experience, and I couldn't believe that when it was over, that I didn't really want to leave! The next day was Palm Sunday. Russell was camping with his troop, and they go to Mass on Saturday afternoons. So I went with my Mother Inlaw. The Passion was read, and it was incredibly moving.

On Tuesday, we drove down to the Saint Peter In Chains Cathedral in Cincinnati to attend the Chrism Mass, where Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk blessed the sacred oils. The Mass of Chrism is celebrated once a year. It is always celebrated at the cathedral and is one of the most solemn and significant liturgies of our church. During the Mass, the bishop blesses the oil of catechumens, the oil of the sick, and the oil of chrism. The first is used for for adult catechumens and infants, the second for anointing the sick, and the sacred oil of chrism for baptism, confirmation, the ordination of priests, and the consecration of altars. All three are basically an olive oil; chrism spices the air with the scent of a perfume, traditionally balsam. The music was sung by the Athenaeum Chorale and was spectacular! This was definitely worth driving through torrential downpours through rush hour traffic. I am hoping to be able to go again next year.

The next day was spent dealing with our flooded basement. We got about 4 inches of rain in less than 24 hours. It was a mess, but suffered from no major damage. Our backs ached, but it was kind of a good experience. From listening to the news, it was clear that we got off easy. We only had water in our basement, and not sewage. Russell and I worked well together... there was no bickering... and we actually managed to laugh and joke around a bit.

Russell and I attended the Mass of The Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday. I attended the service on Good Friday and then we attended a prayer service on Saturday Morning, followed by a rehearsal. And then, the big moment came.... Easter Vigil!

It began at 9 pm. I was very grateful to have dear friends and family there to celebrate this moment with me. It was long, but truly amazing. A night that I will never forget. And at the end, I was officially Catholic! Words can't describe what it was to receive Communion for the first time!! And the scent of the oil stayed with me all through the night. I'd wake up and smell it, and would smile and fade back to sleep!

A Week In A Nutshell

Hi everyone.. I've been so immersed in other things that I have neglected my blog and my friends horribly. Please accept my apologies.

What an amazing week it has been. It started out last Sunday with attending what is called a "Rite of Election". During Mass on Sunday, those of us in my RCIA class were introduced to the congregation and asked to sign a book. The book was then brought by our priest to the official "Rite of Election" on Sunday evening, at a very large church here in Dayton. I, along with my fellow candidates attending this service along with our sponsers. We were called up by parish, and our sponsers were asked questions about our preparedness. We were asked some basic questions and then we all prayed. It was an incredible event. This was one of 4 such services within the Cincinnati Archdiocese. There were 2 in Cincinnat and two in Dayton. Between the 4 services, over 1000 people are in the process of becoming Catholic. That number amazed me!!!

During the week, I took part in what was called "A Busy Person's Lenten Retreat". It was... awesome. It began with an opening prayer service on Monday afternoon. I was assigned to a spirtual advisor, with whom I met for 30 minutes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. There was a lunchone on Wednesday and a closing ceremony on Friday. My Spirtual Advisor was Sister Mary Louise, and we had some amazing discussions. I got some good feedback and she gave me some wonderful tools about how to pray, and how to connect. I know that the will help me greatly.

Tuesday brought snow and then ice. Way too much ice for my liking. The University cancelled morning classes and we did not have to report until noon. Of course, Russell wanted to go in early. That was fine, because I had reading I wanted to do. In addtion to all my reading for RCIA, I have also begun reading the Harry Potter series... and I'm enthralled with them.

Thursday, of course was Valentines Day. The morning started out on a wonderful note. Russell and I had lunch with a friend, and then on the way home discussed what we were going to do for the evening. After calling a 1/2 dozen restaurants, we decided to wait to have our Valentines dinner until Sunday or Monday, when they wouldn't be so busy.

I had lunch with Karen, my sponser on Saturday and then visited with my Mother. I took her a dog book for her valentines gift. She has been asking for one. I don't think it was the one she wanted, so I may be taking it back. Saturday night saw us attending the Annual Banquet at our local dog training club. We teach their ever week, but have not been as involved. So it was very very good to catch up with alot of old friends!!!

And that, in a nutshell was my week. Hugs to all my friends. Have a grand day and hopefullly, I'll be able to stay in touch more this coming week. And in closing.. good luck wishes to Dale Ernhardt Jr at today's Daytona 500!!! Goooooooo Junebug!!!!

Lent

As many of you know, I am currently undergoing one of the most incredible journeys of my life... I am currently going through RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults). In other words, I am becoming a Roman Catholic. I have regularly been attending Mass with my husband for the last two years. This past Wednesday, was my very first experience in receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday. It was a very powerful experience, one that I embraced deep in my heart. It was also the first time I've fasted on Ash Wednesday. Fasting is never fun, or easy... but I noticed that it wasn't as difficult as when I need to fast for other reasons! I believe that my reason for fasting helped me endure and embrace the experience, and to stay positive!


As I was walking to the Chapel for the Ash Wednesday Mass, I noticed a hawk, sitting at the very top of the cross on the very top of the chapel. Intrigued, I got a really good look and was easily able to ascertain that the hawk was a red tailed hawk. This distracted me for a few seconds, and then I hurried inside. The chapel was full.. it was standing room only. So I found a spot at the back of the chapel and waited for Russell. He arrived a few minutes later, and I whispered to him about the hawk. After Mass, we looked and sure enough, it was still there. In sharing this with friends, I learned that Native American lore says that the presence of Red Tailed Hawks are good luck. They ward off evil spirits and protect from dangerous weather! Of course, the nation was currently being ravaged by horrible storms, blizzards and floods. We were spared for the most part here in Dayton. So I wonder if there's not something to this folklore. Either way, it added to my wonderful Ash Wednesday experience.


In addition to not eating meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all the Friday's of Lent, I've decided to give up sweets (candy and desserts). Visiting my Mother is always filled with eating candy. She has tons and tons of it, and it's in little bowls all around her room. Knowing this, I got into the "right mindset" as I prepared for our weekly visit. I was able to ignore her candy with ease. I felt no desire for it. I prayed a prayer of thanks, and asked for continued strength in my resolve. Will power has never been my strong suit. I also manged to ignore all the valentine's candy displays at the grocery.... it's all over, and I typically fall prey to at least one of this displays. However, I stayed focused on what I was looking for and checked out without any feeling any temptation. Thank you, God!


Yesterday, being Friday, meant "no meat". Russell and I met for lunch at the Faculty/Staff dining room on campus. The Chef was serving the loveliest pork roast. I looked at it with longing.. pork is my favorite. I mentioned this to the manager, and he groaned. He wanted it to. He told me laughingly that they had really messed up the menu, and didn't think about this being Lent. Of course, it's a little more astonishing, because this is a Catholic University. He was pretty chagrined and I giggled and said, well.. just don't take it off the menu because it didn't sell. He assured me they wouldn't.


So I chose the fried shrimp, and a cheddar garlic biscuit. And then I went to the salad bar and scooped up a large dish of napa cabbage salad... and then walked around and generously sprinkled sunflower seeds and crumbled bacon on top! I didn't even realize what I had done until Russell pointed at it in mock horror. It took a minute for my brain to click and I too gasped in horror.. more real than his. So, after we sat down, i proceeded to scrape off all the bacon. Our table was right next to another, where two priests, both of whom I am good friends with, and who know that I'm going through RCIA, were sitting. Fr. Teddy immediately noticed, and started laughing, asking me if I had put bacon on my salad. I groaned and grinned at him. Fr. Joe laughed and and Fr. Teddy said that they could give me a dispensation. I looked up from my scraping, and said "really?". I was so mortified and sad that I had messed up. Russell grinned at them and said "that's a rookie for you!!!". They both laughed and told me not to worry about it. Finally, I thought I had it all and took a bite. NOPE. I told Russell there was bacon mixed in... so I went and got a lid, and brought it home to eat this weekend. Another Priest, named Fr. Bert came over to say hello. I told him what I had done, and he was very sweet and told me that not to worry, that it was an honest mistake. He then went back to his table and came back once more and said, don't worry... one of the Brothers forgot and got a cheeseburger on Ash Wednesday! That definitely made me feel better!!!


These are my first "Lenten" experiences... and I may share more as time passes. If you are taking part in Lent, I'd love to hear about yours.

2007 Perseid Meteor Showers Underway

From SpaceWeather.Com:

The Perseid meteor shower has begun. Although the display will not peak until August 12th and 13th, sky watchers are already counting as many as a dozen meteors per hour (including some nice fireballs) during the darkest hours before dawn. Rates could increase 5- to 10-fold when the shower reaches maximum on Sunday night and Monday morning.

Advice:

Get away from city lights. While many Perseids will be bright enough to see from light-polluted urban areas, the shower's full grandeur is reserved for places with dark and starry skies. This is a good weekend to go camping.

Some more Excellent info:
SkyandTelescope.com

Doctor's Report

Here is the scoop:

I have a bad case of cellulosis, and have to keep my leg elevated as much as possible for 3 days. I got a shot of super strong antibiotics, and am on major antibiotics for 10 days. I have to go back for a recheck in 3 days. She says that more than likely I got this from a bug bite or plant at the lake. Hmmmm!!!! ....

So I went and saw my Mommy, and then to Kroger's to get my perscription filled and to get comfort food. My Leg is propped, and I'm nicely medicated. I'll go back on Friday at 3 for a follow up.

Thank you so so so much for all your kind thoughts, prayers and concern. They all mean alot!!!

Hugs to everyone!

UPDATE Posted Friday, August 10 at 7:35pm

I went back for a recheck today, and I'm doing much better! She says it will take time, and I'm still to keep my leg elevated at all times, or as much as possible. I have to go back in a week for another re-check, but my Dr. was pleased.

Thank you for all your messages, continued prayers and good thoughts. You guys are the greatest!

I want my Mommy!

Just a quick post... I've pretty been in bed for the last two days... I have the flu and my body feels like a train wreck. I will check in here when I can.... Hugs (non-contagious) to all.

There's no place like home!

Well I'm home! And very glad to be. We had a nice time, but I missed Russell, Kira, Ben and Yelda. Russell couldn't take off from work, so I went with my Mother inlaw. Russell and I have our own place, which is next to my Mother Inlaws. Her place is next to her brothers, so there's usually always family around!

Our place is a two bedroom "park model" mobile home. It's got a regular bathroom and kitchen, and a small living area. Because we now have 4 dogs, three who need to be crated when we're not home, we've not been going to the lake at all, and have missed it. We're thinking of converting one of the bedrooms into a "dog room, and removing the bed, and putting in crates and another window a/c, so the dogs would be cool when we're out on the lake fishing.
So, since Russell couldn't go, I took Cora, who loves it. And she's our "very bested girl" and behaves well... the only thing you have to watch for is that if she finds a dead fish, she likes to roll in it and that is stinky!

Since we hadn't been there for a long time, I discovered a few "problems". Our TV was "toast"... it wouldn't stay on. Russell said that he remembered it misbehaving when he was up there with his scout troop. So off to Walmart I went to buy a new one. We don't watch tv alot, but at night, or when we want to come in from the heat, it's nice to have. Happily, I got one with a DVD player, because we don't have cable, and reception is terrible. The only channel I was able to get was the PBS station, which was fine, since we watch alot of PBS. Russell will be able to get more channels. And I luckily bought a couple of DVD's and watched those at night. Our cordless phone's battery was also dead, but we had another phone in the closet, so I got that to work. I was also able to get online via dial up.. which was a blessing. I read everyone's messages and comments, but didn't post or upload pictures because it would have taken too long.
Russell's Uncle and his wife and great grandson were there, and we went fishing on their pontoon. I caught 3 large catfish with my brand new "red firebird" fishing rod!!! Everyone was dubious that I'd be able to bring in anything on it, but I surprised them and landed two very large catfish and third, which was not as large. We only kept what we were going to eat... and released the smaller ones, and the ones that we couldn't use.

Russell's cousin came up with his daughter and grand daughter to visit on Wednesday. We spent most of the afternoon on the lake, ridnig around... we pulled into a marina, and everyone got hawaiian ice. I got "lime" flavored!!! YUM!

It was hot hot hot.. and thank goodness for the air-conditioning. Cora was out in the mornings with us, and in the evening. I made her stay insdie during the hottest part of the day. She wanted to come out for visits, and I let her... and she was really good about telling me when she wanted to go back in. Even though she's a Newf, she's never been a big swimmer. I would have liked to take her out on the pontoon, but the one we use wasn't out... it's part of the estate from Pete, and we don't know what's going to happen to it. I didn't want to take her on the other one.. it's new and I didn't want her to shed on it. So, maybe next time! I did have a spray bottle filled with water, and we misted her alot, and that really helped. And, for a treat, I made her her very own snow cones! I have a snow cone maker up there, and I melted beef bouillon cubes, and froze them.. and then put them in the snow cone maker, and Cora had her very own snow cone!!! She loved it, and I decided to bring it home and make some for Kira, Ben and Yelda. They love to chew ice, so they will love this!!!

So, in a nutshell, that is "my time at the lake". And I loved it, but it's very good to get home. Russell did a great job taking care of the others. He rigged up fans to keep them comfortable in their crates. Apparently, they were restless since both Cora and I were gone, and he even tried to let Yelda sleep in our room. Kira didn't want to, and stayed in her crate. She didn't like the fact that Yelda wasn't out there with her, and fussed!!! Russell was up and down trying to help them settle, and was a very good sport!!!

Here are some more photos:


Create Your Own

Checking in...

I'm still posting on my other blog.. I didn't want to abandon this one... but life continues to be "crazy busy!". So, if you find me here, and want to catch up, visit me at:

http://360.yahoo.com/cora_newf

Things are insanely busy in my whacky world...

...and I'm having a hard time keeping up with two blogs. So, for the time being, I'm posting a link to my other blog... and when time permits, I'll try and get back here and catch things up!!! Here is a link to: my other blog

Office Benjamin Kramer Fife's Safety Report

Neighborhood Safety Report

compiled by Deputy Benjamin Kramer Fife

The following information is compiled from the Department of Public Safety Incident Reports. This report is provided as a public service from the Neighborhood Department of Public Safety.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Report #: 060730a
Date of incident: 7/30/06
07:45 Hours

While on my regular morning patrol, I observed suspicious activity coming from an adjacent property. Upon further investigation, I observed a very large object in the driveway. It was very loud. It proceeded to move out of the driveway and along the roadway in front of my territory. The subject was very large and having never seen anything similar to it before I was immediately suspicious. Upon further investigation I have put together a description of the subject: large trailer pulled by big red pick-up truck; on the trailer was a large and very old red farm tractor. The subject appeared dangerous and unruly. I sent the signal for back-up. The subject continued down the road and out of my jurisdiction. I continued to send urgent alarm signals out to neighboring precincts. Subject remains at large and is considered highly suspicious and potentially dangerous. Case status: OPEN!

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Report #: 060802a
Date of incident: 8/02/06
07:28 Hours

As I left the station for my morning patrol, I immediately noticed suspicious activity coming from the trees. Upon noticing this, I investigated further. My initial impression was that the sky was falling. However, evidence soon showed that nuts are falling out of the trees, and landing in my territory. Individuals should use caution when walking in certain areas. Case Status: CLOSED!

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Report #: 060730b
Date of incident: 8/02/06
07:33 Hours

Continuing on my morning patrol, I noticed a stray canine waking down the street. This suspect was in violation of Statute 995.221, section B2 which states “all canines in public areas must be on a leash at all times”. I immediately sent out an alarm signal and notified the suspect that he was in violation of local ordinances. The suspect approached and I immediately notified him that he should not trespass onto land that is under my jurisdiction. At this point, my presence was required elsewhere, and I was “urged” to go indoors. Subject remains at large and is considered highly suspicious and potentially dangerous. Case status: OPEN!

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Disclaimer: While these incidents actually occurred their accounts have been reported to hopefully provide readers with a good laugh. Ben is one of our Newfoundlands. His personality is best described as a cross between Deputy Barney Fife from "The Andy Griffith Show" and Kramer from "Seinfeld".

Playing In Traffic...

This day is a perfect is a perfect example of the phrase “take one step forward and two steps back”. To begin with, I didn’t get enough sleep last night. I stayed up late trying to finish a book that “I just couldn’t put down”. I think I finally finished it around 3:30 and of course the alarm went off to feed the dogs around 6:30! And while I thank God every morning for the snooze alarm, using it is only delaying my reality. So after walking and feeding all dogs, and seeing Russell off to work, I slipped back into bed for another hour’s sleep. By doing this, however, I put myself behind schedule.

I had an appointment to meet an appraiser at my Mother’s condo at 11:30. This took about 45 minutes and then I was off to my Mother’s Doctor’s office to pick up a prescription. Of course this isn’t an easy drive because the office is located right across from the Mall and traffic is always horrendous. Plus the parking lot is far away from the office, and while I parked as close as I could, it was still a bit of a hike. Normally I wouldn’t mind, but with the mercury approaching 100 degrees, I was not amused. There was a bit of a wait while they reviewed my Mom’s chart but I was soon on my way.

The mall area is far away from everything else. And traffic being at its worse- I ended up using my “plan B” route. This probably was not that bad of a deal because it got me out of major traffic- for a while anyway! I finally arrived at the pharmacy only to be told that I had to wait a couple of days to fill the prescription due to insurance issues. So I headed back out into the heat and went to the grocery store across the street to pick up some things for my Mom.

And finally, I was on my way to my Mom’s. I was staying late because she was supposed to have her first session with her new physical therapist. However, he never showed. I waited about 45 minutes and finally headed for home. The car was hotter than Hades. When I got home our house was cool and I was greeted by four happy dogs. Russell was working on my Mother’s bills, and that’s how we spent the rest of the evening.

Dog Days of Summer Warrant Pet Safety

The “Dog Days of Summer” have truly arrived! I heard on the radio just now that temperatures here could very well be over 100 tomorrow! The announcer reminded listeners to be sure and watch out for their pets during the extreme heat. And because of this, it’s necessary for all pet owners to take extra precautions to ensure the safety of their pets. And so I decided to post a Blog about this! It’s important that all pets be provided with plenty of shade and water. And whenever possible, bring them inside to keep them out of the extreme heat.

Do not leave any pet unattended in a car on hot days. Even if a car is parked in the shade, temperatures in a parked car can reach 120 degrees in no time at all. Leaving your pet in these conditions is extremely dangerous, even it’s for a short amount of time. The can suffer from heat exhaustion, heat stroke, brain damage and even death. Putting your pets at risk is simply not worth it. It’s a much better idea to leave them safely at home, preferably inside where it’s cool. If you come across a parked car with an animal inside, notify either the local animal control or police immediately. You may very well save a life by doing so! Symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke include:

• Heavy panting
• Glazed eyes
• Rapid pulse
• Unsteadiness
• Vomiting
• Deep red or purple tongue

If your pet does become overheated, it is essential that its body temperature be lowered quickly and immediate first aid is necessary. The first thing you need to do is to find a shady area for your pet. Apply cool water to your pet’s body, which will lower its body temperature. You should also apply either cold towels or ice packs to your pet’s head, neck and chest. Encourage your pet to drink small amounts of water or lick ice cubes. And finally, take your pet to a veterinarian ASAP.

It’s possible for pets to bet sunburned and your pet may need sunscreen on its nose and ear tips (ears are particularly vulnerable to sunburn and skin cancer). This is especially true for pets with light-colored noses and light colored fur.

If you like to walk your dogs, do so either in the very early morning or later in the evening. Pavements become quite hot during the heat of the day and can burn your pet’s paws. It’s also important to note that people with short-nosed dogs and those with thick coats need to take extra precaution.

Photo Info: We fostered this boy a few years ago. When he came into rescue he weighed only 68 pounds and had lost 3/4 of his hair. He's happy and healthy now and has a wonderful home. His new "Mom" took this picture of last year as he relaxed in his pool on a particularly hot day! His name is Troy!

Ice Cube Passion

When it comes to ice, I'm like a hamster. I've discovered lately that I hoard it. We don't have an ice maker and we don't usually buy store ice. Instead, we make ice the "old fashioned" way. We have 4 ice trays. I'm not the most coordinated person, but when it comes to filling ice trays I'm quite proficient. As soon as the ice in the trays is completely frozen, I open the trays and dump them into the ice bin. I then quickly refill them and pop them back into the freezer.

It's a pretty good feeling when the ice trays are completely frozen and the ice bin is full. Unfortunately, during these dog days of summer, that's a rare event. As of right now, the ice bin is full to overflowing and the trays are freshley filled.

To conserve ice, I've got 2 pitchers of ice water in the fridge, as well as a jug of Russell's sugar free "bug juice" and a couple of 2-Litre bottles of Diet Pepsi. Having our beverages cold means that we use less ice. I take one final step in ensuring our healthy ice supply- we use thermal glasses and mugs.

Bottom line: I AM A COMPLETE AND TOTAL DORK! LOL!

My Book Nook

One of the many things involved in clearing out my Mother's house is finding something "to do" with her voluminous collection of paperback books. My Mother's taste in fiction isn't something you'd expect your Mother to enjoy. My Mother enjoys novels about vampires and romance... the steamier the better.

It’s difficult for my Mother to part with her books. However, the reality is that she has been somewhat compulsive in building her library. There are many duplicates, and many unread. There are several that she’s really not even interested in reading. So, we’ve decided to sell them.

A family friend started selling them online. However her husband had back surgery yesterday and she will not be able to continue. I went to her house on Tuesday and she “showed me the ropes” in regards to selling online! On Wednesday, I went to the bank and opened a special checking account to deal with this. I then spent the entire evening setting up my seller’s account and listing a couple of dozen books.

And ‘lo and behold, one sold this morning! I felt victorious! I dutifully printed out a packing slip, and hurried off to buy shipping materials. I then went to the post office and waved cheerfully goodbye to my first successful sale!

Like my Mother, I am a “shopper”. So who would have thunk? The buyer has become a seller. And that is a pretty fantastic feeling!

Here's a link to my store at Amazon: AnniesBookNook

We've been infiltrated!

I'm feeling sort of crappy so I was trying to sleep in. I heard the phone ringing, and proceeded to crawl out of bed to find the damned phone. This time, it wasn't too hard because the phone was on the charger. Of course, I was too late and had to wait for any voicemail message to come through. The call had been from my friend Susan... our caller ID showed that she was calling from her cell phone, and she was more than likely on her way to work.

So I called her back and we were chatting away when complete pandemonium broke out. All 4 dogs went absolutely insane. They were barking wildly, so much so that I knew something or someone was in our yard. They sounded much too alarmed and anxious for it to be squirrel, rabbit or bird. So I told Susan that I better go and see. She said to call her back.

I walk through the kitchen towards the living room and stopped to get some of my on ammunition: dog biscuits. I was yelling for the dogs to be quiet, which in itself was an exercise in utility. It was at this point that it also occurred to me that I wasn't in a "presentable" state to greet someone at the door.

So I peer around the corner, and tried to see if someone was on the porch. There didn't appear to be anyone there, so I slipped into the dining room and quickly got a better look. Nope... nobody on the side porch! The dogs were still carrying on, but the aroma of the dog biscuits clutched in my hand must have wafted towards them, because their barking was rather half-hearted at this point.

As I was making them get off the couch, I glanced out the picture window, and saw our interloper. It was a great big green monster parked smack dab in our front yard. And bless their hearts, my 4 beloved sentries’ were doing the best to send out the alarm and to protect our fort!!! I love these dogs so much. At this point, biscuits were handed out, and everyone was safely tucked into their crate so that I could go back to bed.

But then I realized I need to call Susan back, but I had to wait a bit. So I checked email and decided to post this latest happening in my whacky world. Of course, by now you realize that the great big green yard monster is actually my beloved Ford Explorer. It was parked behind Russell's van, and when he left for work this morning, he pulled it over into the yard so that he could get out. I could have driven his van, but I really like my explorer.... he's such a big sweetie. He'd hate that I said so.... but it's the truth!

I have been excused...

I was summonsed for Jury Duty, and was supposed to report tomorrow. As instructed, I just called and learned that all trials have been cancelled for tomorrow. This releases me from my obligation.

In some ways I'm relieved. I have way too much on my plate as it is. Yet I've always wanted to have the experience of serving on a jury. I believe that it's my civic duty and that is something that I feel very strongly about.
Ah well, perhaps another time....

$3.09 a gallon????? Yikes!!!!

I was astounded this morning when I saw that gas had gone up over night to $3.09 a gallon! I think that is the highest I can ever remember it being in this part of the country. Geeeez....

For those of you reading this, I'm curious to know how much gas is right now in your town... so if you would, add a comment to this blog and tell me how much gas is in your area. I hope that anyone reading this blog will participate.

Also here is a link to a cool site for anyone living in the USA or Canada.... it will help you find the cheapest gas prices in your area, and you can sign up and participate and earn points to cheaper gas: Gasbuddy.Com

And of course, we need gas. While we were out on our expedition yesterday, we stopped for gas. We decided to gamble and only get a little bit, thinking that prices would go down today.... HA! The laugh's on us... and we've got alot of egg on our faces.

Weekend's end.....

We managed to sleep in today! WOW!!! Yet, we didn't sleep in too late to miss going to Mass. We decided to attend mass at Emmanuel Roman Catholic Church, which is located in Downtown Dayton. Before today, I have never been there, and had always heard about how beautiful it is. I wasn't disappointed. It is a gorgeous church! It's very tradtional and not at all modern. I personally find many modern churches to be rather harsh and cold.

Emmanuel was built in the mid 1800's and survived Dayton's great flood of 1913. The stained glass windows are breathtaking. To be honest, I was so distracted by all the amazing windows and other beautiful things that I had a hard time concentrating. LOL!

After church, we went to breakfast at a neat little eatery, also located Downtown. We had hoped to pick up some spices from a man that has a stall in a street market, but the entire market is closed on Sundays. So, we moved on to plan b! We were soon on the interstate heading south out of town. Our destination: Turtle Creek Flea Market.

It was a great day to go to a flea market. The heatwave of the past 2 weeks finally broke Friday night, and temperatures were only in the mid 70's. Plus, there was no humidity to speak of. It was so nice not to have a "schedule" to adhere to. We were able to meander around the flea market at a leisurely pace. We purchased 3 bags of our brand of dog food for an amazing price, which was the entire reason for going to the flea market to begin with!

We had been at the flea market for a couple of hours when my cell phone rang. Reality had intruded on our day. The call was from my sister. She was checking to see if I was going to be visiting our Mother today. I assured her I was, and she asked me to pick up some things that my Mother needed. I told Russell that our next stop needed to be Wal-Mart!

Somehow, I thought that we would be able to avoid a trip to Wal-Mart this weekend... but I dont' think that is even possible. I don't think a weekend's gone by in the last 10 years where I haven't made at least one trip to Wal-Mart! Once we arrived at our local Wal-Mart, we decided to grab a sandwich at the "Subway" located inside the store. We felt so sorry for the girl working there. She was all by herself, and some customers had made huge messes at their table and at the beverage station. I will never understand why people behave this way. They simply have no respect!

After eating our late lunches, we picked up the things my Mother needed. Russell got paged about a problem with one of the systems at work, and he thought he might have to go in. Happily, the problem was resolved without him having to go in. I helped him walk and feed the dogs when we got home, then left to visit my Mom.

She was tired and not very talkative. I stayed for about 2 hours and headed home. It's been a quiet but nice evening. The air is cool outside... the crickets are filling the night air with their song.... I feel tired, but in a good way. I'm ready to take on the week... and will be "back in the saddle" tomorrow morning.

In the meantime, good night, and sleep tight!!!

Musing about July....

"July dawns on lake or river can be gauzy with mist and glowing beauty, a special bonus for quiet fishermen. July afternoons can roar and rumble with thunderstorms that slash the sky, shake the hills, and drench the valleys. July nights can be as cool as May, as sultry as late August, and they are lit with more fireflies than stars."

–Hal Borland

Hal Borland wrote an outdoor column for the Sunday "New York Times" for over 35 years. He's also written several books. I yearn to own a couple of them, but they're very hard to find. However, I'm lucky because one of the Mariansit Brothers at work has created somewhat of an art/meditation gallery in our building's elevator. Every day, he posts something written by Hal Borland. And in the 4 years that I've worked in the building, I've become quite enchanted with Mr. Borland's writings.

Family Night At Summer Camp

Russell has been with his Scout troop at summer camp since Monday. In year's past, family night has always been on Wednesdays. However this year, family night was moved to Friday (tonight). I was excited to see him (as always)! I left the house around 5PM in order to arrive by 6. I stopped and bought him some caffeine free diet soda and a big bag of ice. I then stopped to see the Colonel at KFC and ordered our dinner.
For Russell, ordered their new boness buffalo wings. For myself I ordered their honey barbecue boneless wings. I also got us some cole slaw and hush puppies. It took a while for the order to be put together. This isn't surprising considering my restaurant karma (which I'll blog about at a future date)!

I then headed to camp. I was worried about driving out during the 5 O'Clock rush on a Friday, but traffic really wasn't that bad. I arrived on time, and Russell was waiting. It was wonderful to see him. We carried our dinner back to the troop's campsite (Red Hawk). Several other families had already arrived, and we had a wonderful time talking with one another.

Everyone was in high spirits. All of the boys successfully completed all their merit badges. They had put together a skit for the evening's campfire in the council ring. As we were preparing to leave the campsite to attend the campfire, there were rumbles of thunder. Russell elected to stay behind at the campsite and watch over everything in case the storm was bad. I stayed with him and we chatted about the week! Another family joined us, and again we had a great time chatting.

The storm blew over.... there were only a few raindrops. It got darker and darker. It was really nice out. It wasn't too warm and the humidity had disappeared. It was fun watching the fireflies put on their show.... the trees were filled with them... it was beautiful.

Russell walked me to the car without a flashlight. He's so used to camp and can see in the dark. It's rather un-nerving but after 12+ years, I've learned to follow him out. They break camp tomorrow and he should be home between 12-1PM.

TS Beryl

It looks like TS Beryl has the potentional to wreck havoc with the Northeast. There is a "Tropical Storm Warning" for SE Massachusetts from Plymouth to Woods Hole. This includes Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket and Cape Cod. Additional warnings may be issued as well.

Any storm is worrisome. However, since we're in the middle of summer, and the areas affected are filled with tourists and vacationeers, it's even more so. I pray that Beryl blows itself out to sea and no harm comes to anyone.

The fact that is is so early in the season makes me believe what the forecasters have been saying. More than likely, this will be another active year, storm wise. I heard last night that the experts think that most of the storms will be on the Atlantic side and not the Gulf side.

Either way, these storms are really lousy. To anyone reading this in the path of Beryl, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Stay safe....

From my soapbox: Puppy Mills, Back Yard Breeders and Hobby Breeders

Ok… in a previous Blog, I have shared my views on what I think makes a “responsible breeder”. I now feel the need to discuss the difference between puppy mills, back yard breeders and “hobby” breeders. There are no clear definitions, and a lot of gray areas… and I’ll do my best to sort it all out in a clear and concise way!

What is a puppy mill?

Sadly puppy mills have been around for years, and because they are so profitable, they won’t go away anytime in the near future. There are many groups out there who are working diligently in shutting them down. Their task is monumental and overwhelming. Some might ask, why bother? Well, each life they save, each life they make better is a victory worth fighting for.
Here are some facts about puppy mills:
The Humane Society of the United States website defines puppy mills as: “Puppy mills are breeding facilities that produce purebred puppies in large numbers. The puppies are sold either directly to the public via the Internet, newspaper ads, at the mill itself, or are sold to brokers and pet shops across the country…” “…The documented problems of puppy mills include over-breeding, inbreeding, minimal veterinary care, poor quality of food and shelter, lack of socialization with humans, overcrowded cages, and the killing of unwanted animals. To the unwitting consumer, this situation frequently means buying a puppy facing an array of immediate veterinary problems or harboring genetically borne diseases that do not appear until years later. In 1994, Time magazine estimated that as many as 25% of purebred dogs were afflicted with serious genetic problems. Sadly, some dogs are forced to live in puppy mills for their entire lives. They are kept there for one reason only: to produce more puppies. Repeatedly bred, many of these "brood bitches" are killed once their reproductive capacity wanes.”
Puppies sold at the majority of pet stores around the country come from Puppy Mills. While these puppies come with registration papers, they are not a guarantee of the puppy’s lineage.
The best way to eradicate puppy mills is to adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue. Or, to take the time to find responsible breeders. Here is a link to a great webpage that has good information for potential puppy buyers:
5 Easy Steps To Avoid Puppy Mills

What is a Back-Yard Breeder (BYB)?

A BYB breeds dogs in order to sell puppies. Their entire goal is to make money from the sale of the puppies. They do not bother to concern themselves with breeding healthy dogs. They have little or no knowledge about genetics, pedigrees and potential health problems. They pay no attention to the “Breed Standard” for each of the breeds they are breeding. They don’t care who buys their puppies. They offer no guarantees and if someone has a problem with one of their puppies, they will not “be there” for the puppy’s owner. Once the puppy is sold, it ceases to exist in the mind of a BYB.

What is a hobby breeder?

A hobby breeder is what I described in an earlier Blog as a responsible breeder. They are breeding to improve the breed. They are conscientious about the health and temperaments of the puppies the breed. They are involved with every aspect of the breed and they care deeply about each of the puppies they breed.

Afternoon Safari

Russell’s at summer camp, so I’m doing “dog duty” solo. After arriving home from spending the afternoon with my Mom, I begin taking the dogs out for their afternoon walk. As always, Cora goes first. She and I are milling around the outside when I realize that she’s become fixated on something. Of course, it’s the Kamikaze Rabbit that’s taken up residence in the bushes along the front of our house. I hadn’t put the leash on Cora, so I quietly walked up to her and snapped it on. She casually walked towards the rabbit, who then hopped to the edge of our neighbor’s yard, where it has gotten into the routine of watching, waiting and “baiting” our poor unsuspecting dogs.

Luckily for the home team, I had put my ‘thinking cap’ on and I realized that I could gently convince the suicidal bunny to move on and explore the neighborhood. I gently walked with Cora towards the bunny, who quickly realized that life was precious and decided to head off on some sort of expedition. What the rabbit doesn’t know is that Cora is the most gentle of our 4, and she had no desire to hurt it. She just wanted to “meet” it! Realizing that my plan had worked, and feeling rather cocky and proud, I headed inside.

My good luck continued as I took Ben out. He canvassed the neighborhood to make sure that no outside dogs were infiltrating his domain. Once assured that all was secure in his precinct, Deputy Benjamin Fife got down to business. Dinner was calling and he didn’t waste any time. Next up was Yelda. I quickly leashed her up and out we went. Of course, I was still feeling quite cocky over outwitting the rabbit. And I wasn’t paying close attention, and when one is out with Yelda, one must always pay close attention.

And this is where things went wrong. Not so much for me, and not so much for Yelda. Rather, things went very wrong for a little field mouse that caught her attention. When I realized that Yelda was avidly fixated on something and was seriously holding her ground, I knew that this was going to be something. She was sniffing the ground and before you could say Mickey Mouse she had a mouse in her mouth. She proudly looked back at me and all I could see was said mouse’s tail sticking out between her lips. YUCK!

I got her up onto the porch, where she spit it out at my feet. I was pretty sure that the mouse had perished and would not recover. I made Yelda go out into the yard, where she promptly did her business. I then decided that if I took her around to the other side of the porch, I would be able to get her into the house without her mouse. NO SUCH LUCK!

As soon as we were on the porch, she lunged and got her mouse back. There was no way I was going in the house. I despise rodents of any kind, and I don’t deal well with dead ones either. At this point, I had a major case of the creeps and my brain was spinning… what to do, what to do????

I remembered that there were some dog biscuits in the car, so I walked Yelda and her mouse over to the car. The passenger door was locked, so I quickly led them around to the driver’s side. I opened the door and Yelda prepared to jump in. There was no way that was going to happen… not in this lifetime. She then realized that I was going to giver her something to eat and dropped the mouse. I quickly brushed the body under the car, grabbed the biscuit and walked her a few steps away and gave it to her. We then went inside, where I quickly crated her.

Kira’s trip outside was uneventful, bless her heart. She sniffed around the porch, so she must have had somewhat of what had happened, but the evidence is missing. We returned to the cool house and dinner was served. So now all that remains is the body. As I see it, I have two choices. I can either park in the exact same place every day, covering up the evidence. Or, I can back the car up, retrieve the body and dispose of it in the woods. I realize that’s what needs to happen. YUCK!

The Making Of A Funnel Cake

The batter is poured from the funnel pitcher into the fryer...

The cakes are fried until golden brown...

Once cooked to perfection, the funnel cake is placed on a plate and covered in powdered sugar....

Sticky!

What a hot and sticky day. We got home from "Day 2" of the festival (a.k.a. "Funnel Cake Hell") about an hour ago. We're trying to stay up as long as possible for the dogs' sake. The picture on this blog is the view from the funnel cake booth. We felt immense relief when the sun went down! Tomorrow ("Day 3") is the final day. Thank God! I'm going to post a series of pictures that depict the making of a funnel cake!!!!

From my soapbox: What Makes A Responsible Breeder?

I am continually astounded by how many people are looking for puppies and have no concept of what a responsible breeder is. Many of these people are inclined to buy puppies from pet stores, which is a VERY BAD IDEA!!! However, that is another topic for another time.

At this point, I would like to share with you my list of criteria that I would use to determine what makes a good and responsible dog breeder:

* When breeding, does the breeder breed according to the breed standard for your breed of choice?

* Does this breeder do all pertinent health clearances for your breed of choice i.e. hips, elbows, and any other health issues that your breed of choice may have issues with?

* Are all clearances posted on the OFA Website?

* Is he/she a member of the National Breed Club?

* Is he/she a member of any Regional Breed Clubs?

* Does he/she show her dogs in conformation, and do the Dam & Sire have their championship? Or, do they at least have points towards their championship?

* Does this breeder participate in any working dog events pertinent to your breed of choice?

* Do they show their dog in Obedience?

* Do they require new puppy owners to enroll their puppies in obedience classes?

* Do they have a contract... and if they do, will they take the dog back for whatever reason? (I know this seems unlikely at this point, but sometimes things happen and people are unable to keep the dog.)

* Have they asked you for references? (This sounds strange, because you're the customer, right? However, a breeder who truly cares about where their puppies go will often make people practically jump through hoops to convince him/her that they are worthy of one of their puppies.)

* Does this breeder require you to spay or neuter your puppy if it's not a show puppy?

* How old will the puppies be when the breeder sends them to their new homes? (anything under 10 weeks is a major red flag)

* Does the breeder require new puppy owners to check in on a regular basis... and is the breeder good about returning phone calls?

and last, but not least

* Do you like this person... I mean really like this person? Is this person someone that you are comfortable with, and will be able to consider them as an extended member of your family for the duration of your puppy's life, and even longer? If this answer is no... then don't get a puppy from them.

As I've said before... these are my personal preferences. There are many good and wonderful breeders out there. The sad reality is that there are even more bad breeders out there.

Most Dog breeds are multi-faceted. It is my belief that it is essential that breeders focus on all facets, and not just one or two.

Switching Gears

Life tends to "go on" despite whatever mess you're in the middle of, and this is the case for me this weekend. Every year, Russell co-chairs the funnel cake booth at his church's festival. In the past few years, he's needed my help more and more, and I've been more than happy to oblige. This year, in particular, he really needs me, as the man who has co-chaired the booth with him in years' past, died last winter.

And so, instead of dealing with all issues pertaining to my Mom, I will be up to my elbows in greasy, sticky, yummy funnel cakes. Updates to come, for sure!

Tornado Warning! Yikes!

Things started out rather rough today, but as the day progressed, I was able to work things out. So I was feeling pretty darned good.... tired, but good. Russell had to work late and had just called to say he was on his way home.

We decided to meet at a nearby Thai restaurant when I saw there was a tornado warning!!! A tornado had actually touched down near the Dayton Mall and was heading in our direction. OMG!!!

Luckily, it passed us by... but geez Louise... what a day!!!!

And it's a full moon too!

Home Sweet Home???

It's been a long weekend and I'm exhausted, both mentally and physically. My spirit is weary tonight... and I have little energy to write this out. Yet I'm compelled to. I spent the day with my Mom in her new apartment at the assisted living facility. Understandably, she's feeling blue and vulnerable. I understand that, I realize that. We had a nice visit and she was doing really pretty well. And I talked to her when I got home this evening, and she was ok. Then I talked to my sister.....

Apparently, my Mother turned away the facilities' physician, because she didn't like the looks of her. We weren't there when this happened, and Lilli gave her a good talking to.

I don't know why I'm so upset... it's late, I'm exhausted... but I'm soooooooooo mad!!! And now I'll have to go and sort this out tomorrow. SIGH. Hopefully after a good night's sleep, I'll be more clearheaded and figure out how to sort all of this out.

Moving Day

We'll be moving all of Mother's furniture today, and will be getting her room set up for her arrival tomorrow. The emotions I've been feeling over the past few days have been intense. Her beloved "Gracie" is going to her new home today. Her beloved "Chloe" will go tomorrow. That is mostly what's breaking my heart. I'll see them again, but I know they're anxious and confused. However, "it is what it is" and we can't turn back. So I'm trying to stay focused on moving forward. Yet so many memories jump out with each drawer we open. Thank goodness for the support of my husband, my sister and her family, and very very dear friends.

How do you spell....?

My sister and I, along with our wonderful husbands are in the process of helping my Mother move into an assisted living facility, and it's incredibly stressful. We've been knee-deep in this for a few weeks now and things are progressing rapidly. We've carefully laid out a path for her and we'll be there every step of the way, every day... to love her and ensure she's getting the care she deserves.

We've found a wonderful place, and luckily, my Mother is receptive to this. She'll be moving in soon (probably this weekend). She is a collector extraordinare and her house is jam packed with stuff. So, I'm very very busy with this. There is so much to do, so much to think about that at time it completely overwhelms me. So, I'm just trying to take it one step, one day at a time.

The timing is good in one respect, because I'm on my annual summer hiatus. I need to be with my Mom as much as possible... while she's agreeable, she's still very sad... and the hardest part is that she can't take her little dogs. We've found good homes for them, and they'll be able to visit, but needless to say, for "dog lovers" this is still painful.

Happily there are two resident cats and one resident dog on the premises which will surely help ease her sorrow. Her new home is very homelike, and we'll be taking as much of her things as we can. It's causing great sorrow to know that she'll have to say goodbye to other things, but we've promised to keep them in our homes, in case she wants to see them.

This has been an extraordinarily difficult time.... however, it has had it's plus sides as well. My sister and I have become very close, and we're aligned arm and arm to help our Mother in any way we can. Lots & Lots of work ahead... but it will definitely be a labor of love!

The morning after...

Mea culpa time...

Well.... it was a long night. And bad-bad-bad dog parents that we are, we didn't get home before the fireworks started. We could hear Yelda barking when we got out of the car. To make matters worse, a thunderstorm was brewing. I got her out of her crate, and she ran and drank and drank and drank. I finally got her leash on, and took her out... and just as she was getting ready to do her business, lightening flashed, thunder boomed and firecrackers exploded.... literally all at the same time. She totally freaked out, and through herself at the door. My heart was aching for her. Russell said he'd take her out, because we knew that she had to GO.

Well, that was a bad idea... because the storm was really gathering steam, and the firecracker loving diehards in our neighborhood were still going at it. She was so upset that she almost dragged Russell down. They came inside and she flew into the den where she feels safest. I was frantic about her... she was so stressed, and I know how bad stress can be. I remembered the peppermint oil I had purchased in the spring, and grabbed it. I couldn't find any cotton balls, so I grabbed some paper towels and went and sat next to her. I poured some of the oil onto one of the pieces of paper towel, and rubbed it into the pads of her front paw. She wasn't thrilled by this, but she let me. I then took her other front paw and did the same.

The stuff is strong, and the entire room smelled like a peppermint shop. Yelda got up and went to drink some more water... and then came back and licked her feet. I do think that it helped her to calm down. She was still panting, because her body had gotten so hot. So I casualy fed her ice cubes to help cool her down. Russell thinks that I've babied her and that's made her worse. But I dont' think so. In researching for my blog on firework safety, I read horror story after horror story... and some dogs have died from heart attacks caused by stress. And, big dogs such as Newfoundlands can also bloat... and there is the possibility of stress causing bloat. So I wasn't willing to take any chances.

A couple of hours passed, and we were exhausted and wanting to go to bed. Yelda was resting comfortably at my feet, but the weather reports showed the possibility of more storms. Deciding not to take any more chances, I put Yelda to bed in her crate, and then gave her 1 Melatonin... a natural sleep aide that is also good in reducing stress. Many people used this for pets who fear storms and fireworks. Yelda settled and had a quiet night.

It's now the morning after, and I am feeling remorseful that she went through that. I'm glad we got home when we did. Yelda is fine. She got up and went outside without hesitation. She's her chipper mischevious self. And when she stole the roll of paper towels off the kitchen counter, instead of being annoyed, I was actually relieved to see that we're back a status quo!

Discovery Liftoffs Safely (and finally)!!!

The following is from NASA:

"With a rocket's red glare, Space Shuttle Discovery lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in a spectacular display of sound and light befitting of Independence Day."

Image caption: Discovery lift offs from Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Photo credit: NASA/Sandy Joseph, Robert Murray

I am so pleased for NASA and for the crew of STS-121. The lift off went off without a problem. Some debris was seen falling away from the fuel tank, but it doesn't seem to be a concern.

I have the crew and their families in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless them and bring them home safely.

Happy Birthday America!!!

"America The Beautiful"
lyrics by Katherine Lee Bates; music composed by Samuel A. Ward

Oh beautiful, for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.

Oh beautiful, for pilgrims' feet Whose stern, impassioned stress A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness! America! America! God mend thine ev'ry flaw; Confirm thy soul in self control, thy liberty in law!

Oh beautiful, for heroes proved In liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved And mercy more than life! America! America! May God thy gold refine, 'Til all success be nobleness, and ev'ry gain divine!

Oh beautiful, for patriot's dream That sees beyond the years! Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed his grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea!

This hymn is very special to me... it was my Father's favorite, and he always felt that it should have been America's National Anthem. And I agree, so it is in his honor that I post it here. Other favorites of mine are:

God Bless America
by Irving Berlin

"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea, Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free, Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.

God Bless America. Land that I love Stand beside her, and guide her Thru the night with a light from above. From the mountains, to the prairies , To the oceans, white with foam God bless America My home sweet home."

America
by Samuel F. Smith

My country, 'tis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty Of thee I sing; Land where my fathers died, Land of the pilgrims' pride, From every mountain side Let Freedom ring.

My native country, thee, Land of the noble free, Thy name I love; I love thy rocks and rills, Thy woods and templed hills, My heart with rapture thrills Like that above.

Let music swell the breeze, And ring from all the trees Sweet Freedom's song; Let mortal tongues awake; Let all that breathe partake; Let rocks their silence break, The sound prolong.

Our fathers' God to Thee, Author of Liberty, To thee we sing, Long may our land be bright With Freedom's holy light, Protect us by thy might Great God, our King.

Our glorious Land to-day, 'Neath Education's sway, Soars upward still. Its hills of learning fair, Whose bounties all may share, Behold them everywhere On vale and hill!

Thy safeguard, Liberty, The school shall ever be, Our Nation's pride! No tyrant hand shall smite, While with encircling might All here are taught the Right With Truth allied.

Beneath Heaven's gracious will The stars of progress still Our course do sway; In unity sublime To broader heights we climb, Triumphant over Time, God speeds our way!
Grand birthright of our sires, Our altars and our fires Keep we still pure! Our starry flag unfurled, The hope of all the world, In peace and light impearled, God hold secure!

From my soapbox: Fireworks Safety for Pets

It’s that time of the year again… it’s the 4th of July weekend, and the skies will soon be filled with flashes of red, white and blue. With the brilliant displays comes lots of noise, often loud and explosive. In addition to large fireworks displays, neighborhoods are filled with the snap, crackle and pop from a variety of noisemakers including firecrackers, cherry bombs and bottle rockets.

And while I love this time of year and love going to watch fireworks, I realize that one of our dogs is miserable during this time. She is absolutely terrified of lightening, thunder and fireworks. In fact, as I type this, neighbors are shooting of firecrackers, etc and Yelda is anxiously sitting beside me, panting, and very stressed. Just a few minutes ago, we were outside for her nightly stroll when she heard a firecracker. She jumped and flew to the house, anxious to get inside to safety.

Her anxiety reminded me of another dog that was terrified of fireworks. Just last year, there was a little Jack Russell Terrier who had been left out in the back yard. When the nightly fireworks started he panicked and managed to escape from his yard. He ran and ran and ran and was soon quite far from his home. He was found the next morning on campus by some students. Eventually his owners were found and the confessed that they had been extremely careless in leaving him outside.

There are certain things one can do to protect their pets during holidays like the 4th. They are listed below:

• Keep all fireworks away from animals
• Leave all pets at home when you go to watch fireworks
• All pets should be left inside. Do not leave them outside, even in a fenced in yard.
• Make sure that they are comfortable and secure indoors with the curtains drawn. Leave a television or radio on… this will help to cover up the noise caused by fireworks
• Make sure that all pets have collars and proper id tags and licenses on. In case they do escape, this will make it easier for people who find your pet to get in touch with you and reunite you with your pet.
• Cats tend to hide when they’re scared. It’s important to not force them from their hiding places. Cats will come out when they’re no longer frightened.
• If you’re at home with your pet, it’s very important to act calm. Do not baby or mollycoddle them. I know it’s hard (speaking from personal experience) but if you do try and comfort your pet, the pet’s fears will be reinforced. Instead, play with your pet, and try and keep it’s attention off of what’s happening outside.
• Some animals have such an extreme fear to fireworks, that you may want to check with your vet about using a mild sedative.
  

These celebrations are meant to be enjoyable. By taking these precautions, your pets will be safe and you’ll all have a happier, healtier holiday.