This is heart breaking

Please tell me animal abuse will stop someday soon.  My first reaction to these kinds of articles is an eye for an eye.  The problem with that is there are too many people on this planet that commit these horrendous crimes, and most of them are underground and hard to find.  Thank God for people like Bad Rap and Best Friends, and all of the other shelter and rescue workers.  I don't know if I could do what they do - I think it would kill me.

Mt. Lassen

This photo is mine.  Should you travel to Chester or Mt. Lassen, you are likely to see this photo on several postcards.  It is very popular due to its beauty.

More good news from BAD RAP

My favorite part of the article I've linked here:


...a television reporter who showed up to portray the dogs in a negative light asked the veterinarian why there were so many media reports about these dogs going bad. The African American vet countered, “Why do you think there is still racism in America?” The reporter was dumbfounded.


Good answer...and it is the solid truth.  Media is one of the worst offenders of sensationalizing bad news and most of the time they get it wrong.

Forwarded to me by a friend

Remember that pets can't do a lot of things for themselves and that they depend on you to make their life a quality life! 
 

A PET'S TEN COMMANDMENTS......... 

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful. 
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me 
3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being. 
4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you. 
5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me. 
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it. 
7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you. 
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak. 
9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old. 
10 On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.

~Take a moment today to thank God for your pets. Enjoy and take good care of them. 
Life would be a much duller, less joyful experience without God's critters. 
We do not have to wait for Heaven, to be surrounded by hope, love, and joyfulness. It is here on earth and has four legs!

Please love your pets.

California, here I come

I leave to visit my aunt and uncle in Chico, CA this afternoon.  It's been a few years since I've been on a plane.  Today is thundering and lightening, which reminds me of the lightening storm I landed in in Omaha in 1997.  The last time I was on a plane, we were going to Pryor, OK to visit my other aunt and uncle and got way laid by a blizzard and re-routed to Branson, MO.  What fun that was trying to get a huge 747 to take off from a runway made for turboprops!  The turbulence was stomach turning.  The best flight I ever had was to Hawaii.  Big planes, lots of leg room, good company.  I could do that trip again in heartbeat.  Some friends and I are talking about doing that next year.  I am really amazed that I don't have to go to Denver to get the best airfare.  I fly out of town here and connect in Salt Lake.  Easy four hour ride both ways.  I was initially going to drive, that would've been four days.  Now I get more time with Judy and George.  We're going to Mt. Lassen and kayaking on the lakes in Chester after a grand touristy tour of Chico.  I look very forward to it.  Much needed vacation and rest.  It has been years in the making.

Parade

Parade magazine is publishing an article tomorrow about the Vick dogs progress.  The above link is to the military history museum and an article about Stubby, the most decorated dog soldier in history.  The last time Pits were on the cover in 2001, this dog was celebrated. It is very illuminating, and my hope is that it will give the world cause to believe this is a breed worth saving.

How come

How come when faced with a scary situation the first thing out of my mouth is holy crap or s@&# or F*$#.  Today, for the first time in the two years Callie and I have been hiking in Bangs Canyon, we saw a snake.  It wasn't teeny tiny, either.  It was a BIG mother!  Actually, Callie didn't see it, she was running ahead of me.  I'm glad she didn't see it, she may have chased it.  It slithered right in my path and I screamed holy hell!  I bet the entire town heard me.  I was close enough I could hear it hiss.  Another hiker I met told me it was probably a Gopher Snake.  He said there are a bunch up there.  All I can say was I couldn't get away fast enough.  I think it wanted as far away from me as possible too.  Probably thinking, "what is this screaming imbecile?!  I'm out here minding my own business and along come THIS?!  Ewwww!  I hope not to repeat an encounter like that anytime soon again!  An hour later I believe my heart rate has settled to near normal.

Palisade Peaches and Olathe Sweet Corn are here!

Just wanted to post that, so anyone who doesn't live where I live can feel some envy.  :-) We have the best peaches and corn on the planet, I'm convinced.  And I have easy access to get it.  The harsh winter and late summer arrival seemed to do nothing but add delicious flavor to these two locally grown, but nationally known treasures.

Summer vacation

It is summer vacation season.  I have two weeks off this year.  I'm looking forward to being away from work for a while and being able to focus on a writing project I'm working on and a class I'm now taking. Everyone is on vacation.  Friends from Hawaii are here for as long as they feel like it.  I think that's a great way to live.  Their lives are so easy at home and they travel when and where they want.  I think next year I'll have enough money to fly to Hawaii and see them, and I have three weeks vacation next year.  I love where they live.  It's the Kona side of the Big Island, and it is spectacular.  I really enjoyed my short time there years ago and am eager to repeat the journey.  But I'm still short on money, though I keep working on saving, so the little I have is taking me to California for a week this year to visit my aunt and uncle in Chico.  That's a nice place to go too.  It's north of Sacramento and Napa. A little college town that reminds me a lot of  Boulder.  They have a cabin in Chester.  A cute little mountain town in the Sierra's near Mt. Lasson and Mt. Shasta.  We're going to go lake kayaking.  I haven't done that before.  I'm looking forward to it.  


The neat thing about all of this is that I now get a chance to live and participate in life.  Because I'm sober, I have choices I didn't have while drinking.  I am grateful that I discovered this other way to live my life before it was too late, and I'm glad I'm am of sound enough mind to really be able to appreciate it and be grateful for it.  I look forward to many more vacations.  It would be great to have a traveling companion.  That may or may not ever happen.  No matter what I will make the most of it.