I'm sorry, I had to chuckle

MSNBC: MELBOURNE, Australia - An Australian man was in stable condition Monday after being slashed across the abdomen and face by a kangaroo that was holding his dog underwater.

Chris Rickard, 49, said he was walking his blue heeler, Rocky, on Sunday morning when they surprised a sleeping kangaroo in Arthur's Creek northeast of Melbourne. The dog chased the animal into a pond but it then turned and pinned the pet underwater.

When Rickard tried to pull his dog free, the kangaroo turned on him, attacking with its hind legs and tearing a deep gash into his abdomen and across his face.

'I thought I might take a hit or two dragging the dog out from under his grip, but I didn't expect him to actually attack me,' Rickard told The Herald Sun newspaper. 'It was a shock at the start because it was a kangaroo, about 5 feet high, they don't go around killing people.'

Kangaroos rarely attack humans but will fight if they feel threatened.

Dogs often chase kangaroos, which have been known to lead the pets into water and then pin them underwater as a means of defense.

Rickard said he ended the attack by elbowing the kangaroo in the throat, adding Rocky was 'half-drowned' when he pulled him from the water."

I know the guy almost lost his life and the dog came very close to the great beyond, but I had to chuckle. I was thinking as I was reading this the Kangroo was saying, "I'll show you!" It did.

I can see how this happens...everyone is grasping for the magic wand

FOXNews.com: "SHERMAN OAKS, Calif. — Fortune-tellers, tarot card readers and psychics are reporting an uptick in business during the current economic downturn as people look for guidance, employment advice and a window into their personal economic future.

In the past, the majority of customers flocked to psychics for advice on their relationships and love lives, but the questions today revolve mostly around finding a job and money. Psychics at the Psychic Eye Bookshop in Sherman Oaks say their business is being driven by fear today about the economy and their clients' financial security.

And while many might view astrology or fortune telling as a luxury service, many medims say their business is holding steady and — and in some cases doing even better — as people look for guidance in the difficult economic times.

I have always read my horoscope, more as entertainment than anything else. One thing I have gotten from those readings is a way to behave. The wording always reminds me to treat others with kindness, compassion and respect (I can do that very easily in my sobriety). It is good advice, especially now. People have become insanely rude and self-centered. I chuckle at my horoscopes most of the time because they tell me I'll be lucky in love (Ha! never have been yet), I'll make a lot of money (still holding out hope for that one), and that everyone around me will be kind (see above). I understand the grasping for answers in uncertain times, but the reality is that when people are broke, paying a psychic only makes them more broke. We happen to simply be in a horrible economic situation, and it is going to take a long time to recover from, there is no simple or psychic answer. I hate to be such a pessimist, but our country is a mess, no astrologer, psychic, soothsayer, or spoon bender can get us out of this one (by the way, neither can the democrats).

Hey! That's how my hair looked this morning!

Callie then and now

Because we are on the second day of writing for the NaNo contest and because I'm procrastinating, I thought I'd post some pictures of Callie. It actually got brought up because a friend of mine was looking at my photo album on Facebook and commented on a picture I took of Callie at Fruita Reservoir. He liked it a lot, and since he's a professional photographer that actually meant a great deal to me.



This is the picture that John said he thought was great. I think I agree. Looking it you can see the detailed muscle definition on her body and the height of the picture is correct and has a good solid backdrop. I like it. I printed and put it in a frame on my desk.

Callie when she was new to my life. I can't believe how little she was and how much she's grown.

A picture of Callie this morning. How did I get her to pose like that? I was eating a sandwich.