Friday, October 31, 2008
If I didn't have a dog........
I could walk around the yard barefoot in safety.
My house could be carpeted instead of tiled and laminated.
All flat surfaces, clothing, furniture, and cars would be free of hair.
When the doorbell rings, it wouldn't sound like a kennel.
When the doorbell rings, I could get to the door without wading through fuzzy bodies who beat me there.
I could sit on the couch and my bed the way I wanted, without taking into consideration how much space several fur bodies would need to get comfortable.
I would have money and no guilt to go on a real vacation.
I would not be on a first-name basis with 6 veterinarians,as I put their yet unborn grandkids through college.
The most used words in my vocabulary would not be: out,sit, down, come, no, stay, go couch, and leave him/her/it ALONE.
My house would not be cordoned off into zones with baby gates or barriers.
I would not talk 'baby talk'. 'Eat your din din'. 'Yummy yummy for the tummy'.
My house would not look like a day care center, toys everywhere.
My pockets would not contain things like poop bags, treats and an extra leash.
I would no longer have to spell the words B-A-L-L, F-R-I-S-B-E- E, W-A-L-K, T-R-E-A-T, B-I-K-E, G-O, R-I-D-E, H-U-N-G-R-Y, C-O-O-K-I-E, B-U-N-N-Y.
I would not have as many leaves INSIDE my house as outside.
I would not look strangely at people who think having ONEdog/cat ties them down too much.
I'd look forward to spring and the rainy season insteadof dreading 'mud' season.
I would not have to answer the question 'Why do you have so many animals?' from people who will never have the joy in their lives of knowing they are loved unconditionally by someone as close to an angel as they will ever get.
How EMPTY my life would be!!!
Thanks Scot for sending that one my way---it's priceless!
Later gators.....
C
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Thoughts for Midweek...
This week I have opted for a guest poster-ie the hubby. He usually has a different take on things and yes, he makes you think.....
Sitting watching the endless Election ads and one can only hope for the election to be over. The problem is that what ever happens will be 4 more years of someone. It’s hard to tell who is best when all we have to go by are 30 second blurbs about a candidate. One of the more memorable ones is the Joe the Plumber adds by McCain. This stirred up memories of 1972 of all things.
1972? Yes, you remember. We have Joe the plumber in our politics in 2008 but in 1972 it was the White House plumbers. The five burglers caught in the Watergate complex going through the Democratic National head quarters. The ruin of Nixon and the Republicans in the 70’s. Seems we have come full circle in some way. Maybe loosely I must admit but we are forced to relieve the history we have forgotten or chosen to put out of our collective memory.
So, if we're back to political plumbers and dirty campaigns, then what else. Some of the comparisons are interesting. In 1972, the USSR, USA, and China conducted nuclear tests. Now we are concerned about Iran and North Korea conducting nuclear tests. US airlines had begun mandatory baggage and passenger screening. I'm glad we have progressed this. In 1972 Nixon and the USSR's Brezhnev signed the SALT accord for nuclear missiles. Now Russia is concerned about our anti missiles program that’s being deployed in Europe. Jerry Lewis had his 7th Muscular dystrophy telethon. I hope we are closer to a cure today. Mariner 9 sent us pictures of Mars and Apollo 16 landed on the moon. Now we have a worn out space shuttle program and vehicles on Mars transmitting fascinating images back.
1972 was a very serious time. We were beginning to leave Vietnam and turning over control to their government. We pulled out and the South fell. Cambodia later became a killing field for the Kamar Rouge in the power vacuum we left behind. Indo China became a mess as we left. Now we are looking at the aspect of an exit strategy from Iraq. The cost of the war is also bogging us down. Vietnam affected our economy in the 1970s as our war is today. Let us not forget the cost for freedom is high and the effort for it must not cease.
This year we enjoyed watching the Olympics from China. A totalitarian government has deep pockets for pageantry. I imagine the London games are striving to make a good showing compared to the opening a closing of the games in Beijing. I don't envy them. In 1972 we had the Munich games which were marred by terrorism. Luckily these games were kept safe but one can't help but notice that China has a zest and program to win medals. Reminds us of the old Cold War Olympics. East vs. west. It also reminds us that terrorism been with us for a while.
It is also noted that 1972 was the first year that West Germany and East Germany recognized each. That sounds odd. How can you not recognize a country next to you? You can fill in your own punch lines.
Yes, after the White House Plumbers we elected a person with little experience. We voted "the bums out" of the white house after Nixon and Ford. We voted a one term governor of Georgia to be president. Now claims that democratic candidate has too little experience as he was just elected to the senate in 1997. After 1972 we had the oil embargo. Large American cars were on the way out for a long while. American jobs began to go away. The farm crisis took hold. We began importing more oil than producing it. Banks and saving in loans collapse. There was slow economic growth, inflation, productivity was down, and slow economic growth.
This is why I think of 1972 when I hear about another plumber and politics. But why get worked up. It is late and I should see what old shows are on. Sanford and Son, Gun Smoke, All in the Family, or Mary Tyler Moore. Oh, but wait, maybe I should read a book instead. I’ll avoid those campaign ads and sleep better.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Heads Up!
http://www.throwedrolls.com/
We aren't going down to the Springfield show this year so no rolls, honey, butter, goodness, time to wipe the drool off the keyboard. Drat, there went the diet too.
Later gators....
C
Friday, October 24, 2008
Friday Foto for Skywatch...
Figured that since it's raining, brown and cold right now, a summer shot might help me daydream about sunny, green and warm.
http://skyley.blogspot.com/
Later gators...
C
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Thoughts for Midweek.....
Self Test for Paranoia: You know you have it when you can't think of anything that's your own fault
I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo.... In morse code.
~~-Emo Phillips
I sincerely believe people talk about me. Mine would be a pretty meaningless existance if they didn't.
"Why are you so paranoid, Mulder?" "Oh, I don't know. Maybe it's because I find it hard to trust anybody." - Scully & Mulder, The X-Files, "Ascension"
Paranoia is not the belief that everybody's out to get you -- they are. Paranoia is the belief that everybody's conspiring to get you.
I am kind of paranoiac in reverse. I suspect people of plotting to make me happy. ~~JD Salinger
My two favorites.....
Paranoia is a social disease--you get it from screwing other people.
I envy paranoids; they actually feel people are paying attention to them. ~~ Susan Sontag
So until I see you, or is that don't see you again....
Later gators....
C
Late Night TV and Sleep Disruptions
I title and write the following as kind of tongue and cheek. But there is certain knowledge or skeptical belief's that I am not comfortable with.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
N-S-E-W? Another Friday Foto for Skywatch
What direction? What time of day?
http://skyley.blogspot.com/
Later gators....
C
Friday Foto for Skywatch
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
How old are you really?
http://www.peterrussell.com/Odds/VirtualAge.php
Later gators....
C
National what????
Thoughts for Midweek....
~~Bill Maher and I are on against each other, and we're friends. He can do my show any time he wants, and I've done Politically Incorrect several times. There's no reason to think competition has to be adversarial. Jay Leno
Honestly, it's not bad to be competitive but we also have to realize that if we alienate the competition, then they won't come and play the game anymore.
~~A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing. Emo Philips
(HA, I love that one-remember, we are not all perfect at everything we do-that's why I don't play tennis)
~~The higher we soar, the smaller we appear to those who cannot fly. - Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
~~"I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to dance better than myself." Mikhail Baryshnikov
I think this last one holds a lot of meaning. Competing is one thing but being competitive is a whole other ball game. Those that just compete will do so without a shred of concern for those around them-ie winning at all costs. But those that are competitive do so with a goal in mind and will train, learn, lose then get right back up and join the race again. They end up leading in order to achieve their goal.
~~"Don't ever compromise on your standards or your objectives, because the worst thing is to compromise and lose." Michael Bloomberg
Later gators.....
C
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Why is he using a heating pad?
Puppies, why did it have to be puppies?
Monday, October 13, 2008
4:30am
Friday, October 10, 2008
Snookie
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Friday Foto for Skywatch
Excuse me, we are in the middle of a wrestling match
Doggie Taco
No idea what to call this post
UIHC
So it's been two weeks since I crashed the burb and we started this odyssey of healing. I'm good for the most part. Going to have my right knee looked at in a few weeks if I continue to have that bone jarring pain when I walk, but nothing compared to the Ms. On Tuesday she had her stitches in her neck removed and it looks good. She laughs and says she could play Frankenstein and not need makeup on her neck. Yes her wicked sense of humor is back and overflowing. Yesterday we embarked on a trek to the UIHC.
First it's neuropsych. Just wanted to make sure that she isn't suffering from PCS like her dad(5 years now*#$&#*$&) 2 hours of testing. David and I took a nice stroll to the main hospital and got a cup of tea. Now for those of you who have never been down to this campus, it really is a campus. Walk out the front doors and into Kinnick Stadium-yes that's right football headquarters for the Hawks. Disability and Development Clinic is off to the west of the main hospital. Parking is a nightmare to say the least. Back to testing---yes 2 hours for them to say-you have an intelligent daughter. Duh, could have told them that and saved ourselves a trip. So no side effects, she's cleared on that front.
With a couple hours to spare, we did some errands. Duck food, new duckie slippers(they are the cutest btw) and a wander through Leash on Life. It's a really small but fully packed dog and cat store. Eddie, who has eaten his collar, got a new Lupine one. And yes his old one was a Lupine and yes it is in route to the company for replacement. Sidetrack here and plug. Lupine collars, leashes, harnesses are all guaranteed for life. Chewed, lost, ripped, doesn't matter. You have a piece of it left and they will send you a new collar. Done it 5 times now over the years. Eddie decided during this whole time frame of chaos to chew his up. Oh well, best investment I make with my dogs besides microchips. www.lupinepet.com
Back to UIHC, this time we have to find elevator "I". Now supposedly if you follow along the main hallway the elevators are all listed alphabetically. But "I" is at the end of the hall, a long walk from the main entrance. PappaJohn Pavillion. Then they send us down to the LL(lower level, basement what ever, it's underground). Fill out forms, go to this clinic, then this hallway, turn left, then right, spin a 360, doo-cee-doo your partner. Personally I was lost but thank GOD for signs. We got in and out of there in record time. She's got exercises to start in a few weeks, sling to wear for at least 4, though in 2 weeks she has to start leaving it off at home. The dr seeing us has a 10 yr old daughter too. Rides horses too. Nope, no horses for a time. BUT for all of you wondering about dog shows??????? We go back in November for another appointment but he feels that she will be cleared to show by December and...... will be able to show Moose or Eddie!!!
After a long day, we finally made it back to the truck. Time for haircuts. Neither of us looked like we had had one for months. And I need to thank the girls at Cost Cutters Marion, who did a great job on both our cuts but also threw in a shampoo and dry for the Ms and got all that ointment and junk out of her hair. Does a body good for a little pampering.
At least the next appointment will be short and sweet. She can get a full day of school in and I can get at least a partial day of work in. Crossing fingers that she gets the green light to lift her best buddies on the table again!
Later gators....
C
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Thoughts for Midweek.....
Figured this week's thoughts should be about who we are or maybe a reflection on who we aren't?
One of my favorites...
I was playing around last night with Moosie. He might be a big dog, okay, he's a huge cardigan, but he's also got a heart to go right along with it-big, forgiving, lays it right out on his paw. He doesn't do anything for himself, but for his humans. He is truly my heart dog and knows it. I don't know where I would be without him and I hope that I can live up to his expectations of me.
I go back to my FFA and 4-H roots--- "Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve" or "To make the Best Better". It's what we do as the outward presence of our existance that matters, not what just we think or believe. Failure to act on our thinking or believing results in a static existence - do you want that to be what matters-a do nothing person?
So I challenge on this Midweek quest---who are you, what are you and what are you doing about it!!!!!!!! Let's live up to the expectations of our dogs--it's a hard road but I know we can do it.
Later gators....
C
Monday, October 6, 2008
Indian Summer
Looked up the term for Indian Summer-a stretch of warm days after the first frost, but usually in November? Even though we didn't have a hard frost last week, we did have enough to wilt the morning glories and hibiscus. In town it didn't get as cold. Once again, the joy of being out in the country-it's always hotter or colder then in town. More rain, more snow, more wind and more ice. I have the camera ready to get some good sunset photos tonight. I love autumn photos, the color range is amazing.
Hopeful I will also have time tonight to fix some agility equipment. Seems dogs racing around the yard at Mach 10, then leaping off the teeter, can cause it to bounce and glue joints to come undone. Also doesn't help that it's usually 3-4 dogs on it instead of one as per instructions. Same goes for the tunnel, it's a cheap kids one at that, but time for repair or replace. Collies are not meant to fit in that one and I am sure the capacity load is one, not five cardigans at a time?
This is the time of the year when I seriously wish I still had an outside job. Opening my window helps but man, I tend to daydream more then work. Sent the Ms to school with her shorts and tshirt, worried she would get cold. Nope, she had the day better planned then I. Oh well, shows you that grownups aren't always right.
Leaves are dropping all over the place. Nothing pretty yet though. Hoping that when we take our road trip this weekend up north that it will be worth it. Otherwise, I might just have to plan one for the next weekend too ;0)
Later gators....
C
Friday, October 3, 2008
A grudge is a heavy, unnecessary burden
I do a daily bible devotional called the Upper Room. It's been around forever. I even have one of the monthly paperback books-used before the invention of the Internet, that has the most amazing Advent devotions, that we still use each year. But I digress, so I click on the link this morning, get myself settled and start reading. Kind of like that V-8 -bonk on the head, I immediately thought of a group of people I know. So this is the opening scripture to read:
Matthew 18:21-35 (NRSV) "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?"Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times."
Okay, again, I had a V-8 moment. After reading what was sent to me that I mentioned earlier, I seriously thought about how dragging it is to carry a grudge. The extra weight we feel the need to carry, the inability or the road block we place in our lives when we don't just own up to a mistake-and forgive. I kind of likened it to a favorite road "hazard" that my kids love to encounter. Why is it that we feel a need to continually hit the potholes, to not forgive and to continue going in a circle on the "roundabout" of life? Do we not realize that we can so easily get off with use of our forgiveness turn signal? I see so much of it on a daily basis-those looking out of #1, protecting their "friends" and will turn in a moments notice when it seems too hard to face up to the facts, acknowledge our shortcomings and just forgive?
The rest of the passage goes as such:
"For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.
When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt.
But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, 'Pay what you owe.' Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt.
When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart."
Just before this passage is another one - Matthew 6:15"... but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespass."
God is telling us that if we can't forgive other's, then he won't forgive us. When you fail to ask for forgiveness or forgive someone else, you are holding on to those past transgressions,. Evil then has a place to take root. Then comes a great little thing known as the attitude of revenge. And revenge is not ours to enact. By taking it into our owns hands it just plants the seeds of evil even deeper into our being.
Romans 12:19-21 says "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. "Basically what God wants us to do is let it go. For if it is true evil and unrepentant, then in time it will get it's comeuppance. Let go by asking God for forgiveness, accepting the forgiveness of others and letting it go. As we are asked to forgive, we need to be honest, with no underlying intentions. For there are those that will ask without truly having the honest intentions that God asks us to have. Playing the part so to speak. Good with alternative intentions is no longer good but means that you have not completely let go of the revenge portion.
So I step back myself and ask what have I not forgiven others for? Is there still a need to "get even" ? Are there grudges weighing me down that I could so easily get rid of by asking for forgiveness, admitting my shortcomings and just turning on that turn signal. Getting out of the slow roundabout of revenge and merging onto the byway of happiness and enjoying the rest of my life?
Loaded blog post, I know. Don't you just love it when I get this way? I promise, Monday will be much better and I should have some great news to pass on.
Later gators...
C
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Friday Foto for Skywatch
Please don't feed the dust bunnies!
~~A clean house is the sign of a wasted life.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Diary of a Foster Dog--tumor results
So anyway, it's been a little crazy since my last post. Seems that the humans here-Cindy and Meredith got in a bad car accident last Thursday. Moose and Eddie were with them when she t-boned a farm wagon. Needless to say that neat suburban is toast, Meredith has some owies and FM Cindy has been worring a lot about her. That's okay, I've been on my best behavior. Moose gave me the details and yes, he's fine too. Always worry about my best boy friend ;0) So I've been not jumping and begging for quiet hugs.
I've also learned a lot in the last week. My new name is very becoming but there are times I totally forget that it is my name and go blazing through the house at mach 10 with someone calling "Carly-come". Nah, that thrill of slidding sideways through the kitchen is way too much fun. I'm also being a good girl and letting the humans know when I need to go out and go "busy". FM Cindy says that makes it much easier for me to find a forever home, especially if I have manners. Now the only thing that puzzles me is this huge box in the front room. It's always talking and changing colors and shapes and what not. Man, not my cup of tea. I'll hang out in the kitchen where all the good smells are.
So from now on it's getting myself ready to impress visitors. I really liked it when Auntie Kim came and visited last week--Moose said that she's the most awesome person and the perfect person to suck up too. Boy was he right!!! He said something about being a sucker for a cute and innocent face. Now I must beg to differ about him having an innocent face, cute maybe but innocent? My bunny butt he is!
Corgi kisses,
Carly
(Editor's note: Yes it's true, her tumor is benign, which means she now has a clean bill of health. With her stitches and staples out, Carly will be working on some obedience-sit, down and stay. Then it's just patitently waiting for her "forever angels" to come by and adopt her. If you are interested at meeting Carly or inquiring about the vacant angel position-please email me at fogebotom@aol.com)
Thoughts for Midweek......
True happiness consists not in the multitude of friends, but in their worth and choice."~ Samuel Johnston
The medicine of life is to have true faithful friends.
A true friend unbosoms freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a friend unchangeably. ~William Penn
For Kim, Kathy, Rus and Sherilyn~
"I find friendship to be like wine, raw when new, ripened with age, the true old man's milk and restorative cordial."~ Thomas Jefferson
A true friend is one who thinks you are a good egg even if you are half cracked
"Misfortune shows those who are not really friends."~ Aristotle
When you look around and your world is crumbling, your best friend is the one to run to you.
Later gators....
C