Wordless Wednesday

Picture Source

Tuesday Tails.. the cute stuff.

I'll save the PDA (Pretty Dam* Awful) stuff for "Tuesday Tails on Friday".  hehe

Source Page has details for Ithaca Commons 

More and more cities are opening up to well mannered dogs, as long as they are leashed.  Or could it be that dogs are working this around to "The Great Canine Take-over"?

Speaking of which, there is a Swedish, German, Hungarian production called, "White God" , and it's a Tale of both homeless and pound dogs, and they are shown in a whole new light.

Admittedly, it is hard to watch because of the abuse the dogs seem to endure, and the vengeance they exact.  But the message is that the Dogs, my friends, have had it up to HERE with the humans.

This incredible film won an award at Cannes ( the real test of a film; let's be honest here) and was  an Official Selection at Sundance.

And if you watch this- I had to skip the dog fighting scenes- don't forget to read the Credits!  They are amazing.  Your heart will be thumping at the amazing extent to which the Film makers put themselves to make this film.

Oh, and that puppy up there?  He only wants to lick your face.  Honest.

Wolfie, who doesn't like rain, loves his little rain coat.  So, now he's got a rain coat and can keep the tickly rain drops off his back during rainy walks.  It's Green on one side and Plaid on the other.  Film at 11.  Just kidding about the film.  teehee   Wolfie does not like to have his picture taken when he's wearing ANYTHING but his collar.  He's proud of his Hairy little chest, and his gorgeous little Flippy tail.

After all, he's come a long way, Baby!

First day home, October of 2009

Today, just back from the groomers

Music Monday: Johnny Cash, "Cry, Dry, Cry". Also, the five gallon bucket swamp cooler photo, as promised.

I can't stand what's happened to YouTube.  All the freaking ADS!  And you can't dismiss them anymore.  Like I care about Fast Food, or Cars, or TV shows with Babes who can't dress their top halves properly.  Color me, "So out of here!"


This has the best sound, remastered no doubt, so it's a little thuddy.  But I love this man's voice and the songs he created.  Enjoy it.  RIP June and Johnny





And now for something completely different:  Bee's Bucket Swamp cooler.

Bee says that it works fairly well for a small room that gets pretty warm.  She's going to make a cat toy out of the left over plastic things.  I told her that some people put ice in the water to make it even cooler.  I guess that the stuff out of the freezer can be chipped from the edges and used, too, that is if it's not already being used to thaw and water plants with.  Every drop has to count in parched California!

Walt Disney is frozen? Who knew?

Sunday Stealing!

Really Random Meme

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we try to credit the blog that we stole it from. We also provide a link to the victim's meme in our "Previous Victims" widget. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") Sometimes we edit the original meme, to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, to select the best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from this new meme or recently asked questions from a previously featured meme.
Cheers to all of us thieves!!!

Really Random Meme

Stolen from: Love me some surveys


Do you believe that Walt Disney is really frozen? 
Actually I have never even really thought about this.  

Do you believe its easy to forgive and forget? 
No, it's not easy.  To be honest I think there are some things that are unforgettable but the victim must strive to forgive what happened.  Otherwise such terrible things will cripple a person for life.  Whatever someone did to you (no matter how ghastly) to get past that terrible thing, it's a MUST to forgive it.  I'm not saying such a person need be in your life anymore.  Just that you forgive it to be able to move on.  I've had some experience with these things, so I'm trying to say, Forgive it.

When you feel like running away from it all who do you call? 
I call Michael or Joe.

Is there anyone who knows your entire life story? 
Yes.

Have you had to have stitches at all in the last year? 
No.  "Celebraaaation time,  Come on!"

Which is coming next: Christmas or your birthday?
My Birthday is coming up first.

Have you ever been a clown for Halloween? 
At Halloween, I go for the witch or the Wench.  A clown I played in carnival.

What time did you go to bed last night? 
2:30
When did you get up this morning? 
7:30
When was the last time it rained? 
A week ago we had a few showers but they were inconsequential.

Are your finger nails painted at the moment? 
They have some old polish hanging on to their surface.

Do you ever go hunting/fishing? 
Hunting no, fishing yes.  Fishing quite a bit.  I love surfcasting.  It was the most fun I had fishing, ever.  I loved when the line whipped out over my head and the Lead carried the gear way, way out in the surf.  It was exhilarating!

Source

Did you have an imaginary friend as a child? 
No because I had a cousin who lived close by who was only 7 months older than I.  We were fast friends and did almost everything together, including getting in big, big trouble sometimes. hehehe

Which parent do you look most like? 
My mother, brother, sister, and I talked about this when Mother was still alive; we decided that I looked the most like the perfect blend between my mother and the paternal unit.  My brother looked more like my mother, and Sis looks most like the Paternal side. 

Do you have any friends who are famous? 
Not that I know of, not living ones anyway.  

Do you use eBay to buy or sell? 
I've bought yarn on eBay and tried to get a dozen tea cups and saucers.  

Mine's worse.  SOURCE

Is music a daily part of your life? 
Yes.  Plus, I think music is something to live for.  It's easily one of the greatest things about human beings that they appreciation music and have the ability to enjoy it, whether or not they play musical instruments themselves.

Is your self esteem high or low? 

I'd really just  characterize it as good enough for me to be comfortable in my own skin.

Saturday9 -Take a letter, Maria, the Mob broke all my fingers....

Take a Letter, Maria

Welcome to Saturday: 9. We have no rules but if you do this nutty little Saturday Meme, be sure to link at the Saturday9 homespace, and the button is in the side bar, or not.  Since we really have no rules here!  Well, no spamming!

This is the place where we all have fun and go a little crazy, yes?

Saturday 9: Take a Letter, Maria (1969) 
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, R. B. Greaves gets a shock when he gets home from work. When is the last time you were surprised? Was it a happy or sad surprise?
It was sad.  But, there's the end of it.

2)  Mr. Greaves sings that he didn't get home until "about a half past ten." That's a very long workday. No wonder his wife felt neglected! Have you ever had trouble maintaining balance between homelife and career?
Since I ended up with no career, I don't see any balance problems at all.  My homemaking life became everything to me, and I don't regret anything about it.  Now, when I could have had a career, I am too old, and too arthritic, to pursue it. :-)  That just leaves it all open to the young bloods, though.  See, it all balances out in the end.

It's always possible to find artistic things to do.
The place this comes from is HERE
Beware, they are nut jobs. Lol!

3) According to the song, "Maria" is a secretary. Have you ever worked in an office?
No, but my closest cousin and I always played office when she came over.  Since I had the typewriter, a Christmas gift from my mother, I got to be the secretary.

4)  In today's office, R.B. Greaves wouldn't ask Maria to "take a letter." Instead, he'd keystroke his own email to his wife and cc his lawyer before hitting, "send." Think of another phrase, like "take a letter," that we seldom hear anymore because of technology.
"Honey, your Boss is on the phone!  He's yelling about something called the Simpson Account records!"

5) "Maria" is mentioned in many songs ("Maria" from West Side Story, "Maria, Shut Up and Kiss Me" by Willie Nelson, "How Do Solve a Problem like Maria?" ...) but Crazy Sam discovered  few, if any, "Samantha" songs. Does your first name figure prominently in any lyrics?
From the time I entered school, and until the second year of college , I never even met anyone else with my name, so the answer is, "no".   It's now much more common to meet another person but no songs were ever written with my name in them.  I'm miffed.  I might start a rant...hmmm?.... no, I guess not.  

6) 1969 was the year that Neil Armstrong first stepped on the moon. Do you believe in life on other planets?
Life has to be on other planets.  Fortunately, we have never gotten off this one far enough to encounter them or we'd probably wipe them all out, take all their stuff, and haul it back here if we couldn't breathe their air.   Y'know?

7) In 1969, the Beatles performed publicly for the last time as a band, on the roof of Abbey Road studios. When did you last climb up onto your roof?
Sometime in the early part of this century.  This is before I broke my wrist trying to fly out of the raised bed.  Mr.Z  frowns upon my attempts to gain Altitude on our fifth of an acre in this manner, anymore.

8) Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mysteries sold at a brisk pace at Christmastime in 1969. Were you a fan of these books? If not, tell us about a book you remember enjoying when you were young.
I never read any series for kids because there just wasn't much around when I was small. I read things like The Wizard of OZ, Treasure Island, Grimm's Fairy Tales, Winnie the Pooh, Alice in Wonderland, and Hans Christian Anderson's Fairy Tales. But my favorite memory is of  The Mysterious Island, but I've already said that was the best.    

9) Random question: Do you consider yourself old fashioned?
Speaking of moral issues is dangerous but I'll bite.  As far as it goes, I go by The Book.  But I don't try to dictate what others do, as I believe in Democracy first and foremost, and living the life you were born to do.  Besides,  I love new things coming out that push the edges, and I love Women's Lib! Here's to Uppity Women EVERYwhere! 

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

Tuesday Tails on Friday......PDA but this gives you a chance to do something about it!

I'm posting this right away because this is an action alert because time is of the essence!  

This is PDA-Pretty Damn Awful

Here's a place  to raise hell about it.  The link goes to the Center for Biological Diversity action alert pages.

Friday5- Corrected....Find your Happiness

Friday 5 for September 25: Mood

Hello, and welcome to this week’s Friday 5! Please copy these questions to your webspace. Answer the questions there; then leave a comment below so we’ll all know where to check out your responses. PLease don’t forget to link us from your website!

When did you last spend kind of a long time in an unpleasant mood?
Well, the mistake I just made inserting this post at Friday5 got my blood pressure up!  It will never happen again!
And I'd say that the last couple of months.  I'm not going to rain on this parade.  I'll save it for later.

When you’re in a bad mood, what are strategies you employ for either dealing with it or shaking it?
I remind myself of what is good in life, how many people on the planet are working hard to save it, and that we have a lot of help when we care but can no longer do much.  

What’s a meal you enjoy only when you’re specifically in the mood for it?
I'm not sure what a specific mood for any food might be.  But, I love Penne pasta.  Even just seeing actors eating it in movies makes me happier.  Find your joys where ye may?

When you’re in an especially foul mood, how are those close to you most likely to detect it?
Body language, I suppose.  This does not happen much anymore at all.  I'm not very vocal when in a foul mood, and that's because of what's happening in my brain while I compose myself and rebalance the Psyche.

What external forces seem most to influence your mood?
It's people.  The ones who are aggressive, ruthless, greedy, selfish and heartlessly cruel.  Nature doesn't seem to have it specifically "in" for us.  Nature just does what it has to do to rebalance the planet. OK, the fact that Nature is currently losing does influence my mood.

Thanks for particpating, and have a cheery, playful, whimsical weekend!

Thanks for this Meme!

Thankful Thursday

I'm grateful for Fun Stuff that friends find on the web and send me to share with you all!

Thank you Pina!

Here's a Linkie to go get Peanutized!

Here is my Peanuts Avatar....

Lucy, the Bratmeister!

Go play with this and cheer up someone or even yourself.  

Happy Wordless Vernal Equanox Wednesday: The Poetry of Weeds

Tuesday Tails! It's World Rhino Day! And the Wolfie report.

World Rhino Day Page

It's also a chance to spread the awareness of the Animal and its Endangered Status.

Photo is from the Link

Have a look HERE for the news....

I finally found this photo!

Wolfie Report:  Wolfie sends all his fans a little kisskiss.  He is slowing down, as I said a while ago, but he's also mellowing out.  Though he might be going deaf, I think it's just that he knows the trash trucks won't hurt him no matter how scary and noisy they are, and that, even with that big swinging arm and all the rattles of bottles falling into them, they do not run up on the curb and actually bite anyone.
Wolfie probably got a lot of his food, in his feral period, out of trash cans and such.  He may have a good reason to be afraid of trash trucks for this reason.  But, happily, those days are fading from his memory.

Don't look so shocked! Yes, trash trucks do not bite.  Honest!

 But they do smell delicious, right doggies?

Music Monday: Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks performing, "Never going back again"

This is a lovely performance of one of my favorite style of guitar, and duet singing.  I was so happy to find it on the web from a live performance.

Here's to the Good Old Days!

Sunday Stealing

September 19, 2015

Gag Me Meme

Cheers to all of us thieves!!!

Gag Me Meme

Stolen from: Love me some surveys

Do you have a sensitive gag reflex?
Yes, almost anyone who has taken care of babies in diapers does.
  
Where are you the most ticklish?  
The side of my neck.

What was the last situation to upset you? 
It has something to do with Gay Bashing in a film about the 60's.

Have you ever had an online argument?  
Yes I have, and it was with an Anti Healthcare troll.

Do you like to listen to music while filling out surveys?
No.  I like it quiet when I'm typing.
 
How long do you spend on the phone each day, on average?
Zero
 
Is anything in your hair right now, like gel, hairspray, etc.?
No, there's nothing but some dust and lint from dust bunnies.  I need to wash this mop.

When was the last time you were up before the sun? 
A couple of weeks ago.  Actually, this morning I was awake and up before the sun,like right now.

Do you like wearing sunglasses? Why or why not? 
I do.  And the reason why is that I believe it may forestall the need for cataract surgery too early.

Last show you watched?
I watched something called "FBI Stories"

Next vacation you’re going on?
I have no idea.

Do you regret doing anything you’ve done this week?  
I regret not re-stringing the two little wind chimes.

Last night you felt?
Alone in the Universe.

What are you wearing right now? 
 A dress.  It's time for bed though, and I'm going to make some PJs to wear soon, in the evenings.

Have you ever kissed underneath the stars?
Absolutely every time that you kiss, you are beneath the stars.
  
What are you doing now?  
I'm clinging to the side of Mt. Everest in a tent, with the wind howling like 80 mph outside of it.  Aren't iPads great?

What plans do you have for tonight?  
I plan to be asleep.

What’s the very first thing you do when you wake up, other than breathe?  
Well, I would hope that no one stops breathing just because they go to sleep.  I guess I'd open my eyes and dash to the small room.

Do you like reading? 
 I do.

Do you ever think about stuff and start crying? 
 I'm practically 73 years old.  I'm always thinking of things that make me start crying.

Have you ever kicked a vending machine?
Yes, but I didn't do it for real, just for practice.

Do people consider you smart? 
I think people think of me as invisible.

Have you ever stayed online for a very long time waiting for someone? 
 Yes I did.  It was back in internet infancy, when IRC was all the rage.

Do you tend to be aware of what is going on around you? 
I'm not gaga yet, if that's what you mean.

How much money did you spend yesterday?  
Not a red cent.

Is there anything in your past that you’d like to try again?
I'd like to become a teacher.  Then I could have known all the ins and outs of applying for pell grants for my kids.  All of them should have degrees.

Time for Me to Fly: Saturday9er meme

Time for Me to Fly

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

Saturday 9: Time for Me to Fly (1978)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) How often have you flown so far this year?
To be honest I never fly unless I absolutely have to.  Happily, I haven't had to in years.

2) Think back to your last flight. Was it pleasant, stressful, or just uneventful?
The last flight was home from spending Springtime in Santa Cruz, many years ago.  It was sort of uneventful even though I saw a puff of black smoke exit the right engine from my window seat.  It was a commercial commuter flight because, even if it does take nearly 9 hours to drive, it takes less than 1.5 hours to fly.  The shortness of the flight was very pleasant, indeed.  

3) According to the Airports Council International, the world’s busiest airport is Atlanta's Hartsfield. Have you ever been to Atlanta?
No, is it nice there? I haven't crossed the Rocky Mountains for anything but a long weekend exploring Southern Colorado with DH, and later on a Four Corners trip with the rockhounds.  We were going to travel more but events overtook our zeal.  

4) This week’s featured band, REO Speedwagon, took their name from a truck. Have you ever driven a truck?
Yes; as a teen I did drive a pick up, for a while, to high school.  Later on, after the kids grew up  I bought a beautiful little red mini pick up.  I've put a picture of the sort of truck I used to drive in high school up here somewhere on the blog.  Trucks are loads more fun to drive than anything else but a Corvette, or maybe an old Bugatti. 

Hmmm....*thinks about it*

Source

or: 

Source

5) REO Speedwagon got their start in Champaign, Illinois, which is home to the U of I campus and, consequently, many bars. One of the most popular is the Blind Pig on Walnut Street. Give us the name of the bar, club or restaurant where you met up with friends in your younger days.
We really didn't meet up in bars.  I was young in the dark ages, and we drank fire water in caves.

6) Recently, lead singer Kevin Cronin appeared on an infomercial, hawking TimeLife’s two CD set of Ultimate Rock Ballads. Have you ever purchased anything from TV?
Ew...  I was too into PBS,  Beverly's Fabrics, JoAnne's, and sewing to be interested in anything on TV.  However, we have won auction items, including piano lessons, on PBS.  Does that count?

I don't really see how a shoestring comes into this at all...

7) This song is from the CD, You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can’t Tunafish. Is there a can of tuna in your kitchen right now?
Tuna is the new peanut butter.  So, of course, there are cans of tuna on the pantry shelves.

8) You Can Tuna Piano, but You Can’t Tunafish is available on eBay on vinyl, CD, cassette and 8 track. Did you have an 8 track player?
Oh yes, and even a cassette deck, which I still think is superior in sound to a CD.  Yes I know, I am the dino amongst the herd. Is that more properly, the "luddite"?  *shouts: "I'll never go Metric!"*

9) In 1978, when this song was popular, the first Susan B. Anthony Dollar was minted. How much do you have in coins in your wallet right now?
I've got 7 dimes in that tiny pocket.  They are light but mighty little coins.  Clunky Nickels and Quarters seem even heavier than they used to be, and whose fault is that I ask you?  The Edge Funds?  

Still organizing? Friday5, Procrastination!

Friday 5 for September 18: Procrastination

Hello, and welcome to this week’s Friday 5! Please copy these questions to your webspace. Answer the questions there; then leave a comment below so we’ll all know where to check out your responses. Please don’t forget to link us from your website!

What haven’t you framed yet?
About seven thousand photos of the DH, the kids, the dogs, the flowers and trips taken.

Lots and lots more than this.  Picture source has a gross ad

What haven’t you thrown out yet?
I'm through throwing out things. Now the hard part of making sure things, like clothing, gets refashioned into something I need.  This insures that it doesn't get donated to any group which doesn't just shrink wrap it all, and send it on container ships to South America.  

Why I never pay full price.  The waste is astounding!

What haven’t you repaired yet?
Two little wind chimes and a lamp.

Whom haven’t you called or emailed yet?
Two dear friends who are waiting patiently for letters that should have been sent out weeks ago.

What haven’t you seen yet?
Patagonia, Vancouver, Alaska, The Badlands, Montana, Washington, Oregon, the entire East Coast.  Just about everything really -the South of France, Tuscany, Paris... Viet Nam.

Thanks for participating, and hey: if it’s waited this long, it can wait another day. Am I right?
You're welcome, and yes, you are right.  All that stuff is going to wait another day even though, today, I would like to restring the wind chimes.

Thankful Thursday: I'm glad I'm not on one of these boats.

 GOOGLE will Match the first 5 million Euros in donations.  This is one of the photos they put up at this special appeal.   They will be helping four international organizations that care for war victims and refugees.

Be sure to Click on the MORE INFORMATION words at the end of the page.

Feel free to pass this on.  And thank you for caring enough to read this far.

Wordless Wednesday

Rain!

Lovely soft rain!  It's filling up the water butts.  Thank you from all of California!   Thank You Lord of all!
When I was a kid I remember it rained in September because it happened just when we went back to school.  Odd thing.  Last night I looked at the rain stick, an aboriginal instrument and thought," maybe I should shake that for good luck."  We've had the promise of rain so many times and now it is delivered.

Tuesday Tails. A Lion's Tale....The work goes on....

You remember Cecil, yes?  Well, now we have some teeth in the law, because people from all walks of life stood up on their hind legs and did things!

Cecil thanks you.

From the Humane Society International Newsletter:

"Knowing that trophy hunters are motivated by the prospect of displaying their kills in their homes, we immediately began calling on the companies that contribute to the problem by transporting such trophies to stop doing so. I’m happy to report that so far, 43 airlines and carriers — as well as several major sea freight shipping companies — have announced or reaffirmed bans on wildlife trophy shipments. We’re working hard to add more to that list, including UPS, Fedex and South African Airways."

This took a lot of work, by animal rights agencies, and a willingness to meet these agencies in a common goal, to get this down.  Human Race, we just might make it.  This action should make us all feel better about ourselves.

Sunday Stealing. The Mac and Cheese Nightmare

September 12, 2015

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we try to credit the blog that we stole it from. We also provide a link to the victim's meme in our "Previous Victims" widget. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") Sometimes we edit the original meme, to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, to select the best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from this new meme or recently asked questions from a previously featured meme.
Cheers to all of us thieves!!!

Mac'n Cheese Meme

Stolen from: Love me some surveys


Can you ever get enough of mac ‘n’ cheese?
 I used to have a weekly menu when Mr.Z was on strike.  We had Mac'n' Cheese once a week in those times.  The family liked it so much that I just kept right on making it.  

Are you allergic to nuts or diary products?
Yes and no.  Some I can eat, others I can't but that only applies to dairy.
Moooo! 

Do you think age matters in relationships?

Yes, underage minors, younger than 16,  should not be having families and full time jobs.  They have barely learned to drive!

Has anyone ever called the cops on you? 
No.  Never had the honor.  

Did you talk to someone until you fell asleep last night? 
No, but I talked to someone that was already asleep.

What’s the connection between the last person you texted?
 My Daughter.

Are you in a good mood? 
I'm chillin' out, answering questions on Sunday Stealing.  Ya.. I am in a good mood.

Excited for anything? 
That the arms race is almost over?  Ya, I am.

Do you have a hard time controlling your emotions? 
I watch a lot of chickflix just so I CAN cry once in awhile.  I was trained early not to cry.

Do you like your height? 

Well, not any more I don't.

How long have you lived in your current home? 
Since Krakatoa blew up.

Could you go a week without brushing your teeth? 
No.  I'd never risk having to pay for major dental repairs.

Have you ever given any amount of money to the homeless? 
A third of our charitable giving is to the homeless.  That's a chunk of change.  They didn't ask to be living in a time when such civil disruption was being caused by people in love with money, now did they?

Own anything from Bath & Body Works? 
No.  At least I don't think I do.  

Have you ever had your nails so long that they curved down at the ends?
Yes i have, on Halloween.  It's things like these toenails that creep me out though:

From Flickeriver

Have you ever swallowed a bunch of salt water by accident? 
No, I usually swallowed it on purpose so it didn't get into my lungs.

Does it take you over an hour to go to sleep sometimes? 
All the time.

When you get home from school/work do you change into your pjs right away?
When I was going to night school, yes.  No other time did I ever even wear pjs.

Have you ever stayed up all night and the whole next day without any sleep? 
I've been awake for 72 hours before, at least three times in life.

Has anyone ever told you that you have pretty feet? 
No.  But I like them anyway.  Beats the heck out of having cloven hooves.

What is the temperature currently in the town you live in? 
I don't know what the official temperature is but in this room it's 79°F and it's 10:50 pm at the moment.  HOT!

 Do you ever actually drink milk alone?
No, it doesn't like me anymore.  So, I return the favor and leave it alone.

Dogs on Cowles mountain- save a little life!!!

From this place.    ://www.bringfido.com/attraction/154

I'm posting this, because a dog just died up there in 100 degree heat and no shade.

Not a Good Place for Pets

Danny in San Diego

Cowles Mountain is great. Not great for your pet. I work in the Veterinary Field and have seen many cases of Bloat, Heat Exhaustion, Rattle Snake Bites and Dog Attacks- Directly from Cowles. Bloat happens when pet owners allow dogs to gulp water before, during or after taking on the mountain. Surgery = apx 4000 Heat Exhaustion. It is simply too hot. Going in the dawn or dusk poses a higher risk to snake bites. Most pet owners do not notice the early signs of Heat Exhaustion, time it takes to get off the mountain, in the car, and to a veterinarian can cause severe harm to your pet. Heat Exhaustion = apx 2000 Rattlesnakes are prevalent at Cowles. I have seen several myself, including a Red Diamond. As mentioned above, Dawn and Dusk are times were reptiles move about most often. So, trying to avoid the heat may lead you and your pet to a great chance encounter with a Rattler. Rattlesnake bites are Serious! Even if your pet has had a Rattlesnake Vaccine. If your pet is bitten, Every Second is Critical. You must think about the time, to get off the mountain, in the car, to a veterinarian, the out coming is often fatality. Treatment of a Rattlesnake bite, is not just a "Anti-Venom Shot" it is the administration of Anti-Venom. Often, patients can use multiple vials of anti-venom. The pet is also going to need hospitalization and after care. Rattlesnake bites can cause life time coagulation problems. Rattlesnake Bite Treatment - apx 4000 Lastly, dog attacks. Sadly, with San Diego having so many Dog Parks and Beaches the most frequent case in the veterinary ER is lacerations. It's probably not your dog's fault. Cowles Mountain is Not a Leash-Free area, but people do it all the time. And if you think you can get the attackers information to have him/her cover the cost, you are wrong. My best advice, is do NOT use retractable leashes. Be sure the your dog's collar will Not slip off (Try a Martingale style collar) and be aware of your dog's surroundings. Sorry to be a Negative Nancy- but it's the truth.

Saturday Komeekz! Luann, art teacher extraordinaire

THIS is the life!

I've followed, and loved, this cartoon from the beginning.  Happy young adulthood Luann!
Yes, I know she isn't real. heehee

That's All, Saturday 9, and can we go to Disneyland now?

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

Saturday 9: That's All (1983)

Hope there are less egregious errors than the last post!

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In the lyrics, Phil Collins sings of a time he was wrong when he thought he was right. Tell us about a recent time when you got it wrong.
I'm just wrong so much that it would take a half page to tell about it all.  

2) The song is addressed to a lover that Phil clearly feels is contrary. When he says, "day," she says, "night." Is there anyone in your life who seems to disagree with you all or most of the time?
Not in my present life.  There used to be quite a few but those people are just so far out view of my telescope now that they must have latched onto someone else, or maybe they just died?

3) This was Genesis' first Top 10 hit in the US. Can you name another Phil Collins or Genesis song? 
"Follow you, Follow me" I loved that song.  Phil Collins did some great stuff on his own.  I love this one:



He also is a spectacular drummer.  The man's got rhythm.  

4) Phil Collins is a model train enthusiast. Is there anything special that you collect?
I collect rocks and rusty things out of the desert, and glass chickens.  I'd collect pound dogs, too, but Mr. Z has drawn a line in the sand behind Wolfie.  HeckFire!  

Hi, my name's Lil' Sugar!

5) Collins was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. At the ceremony, he delivered the commencement address. When did you last give a presentation or deliver a speech? 
It was a long time ago.  I did a Eulogy, and for a great friend.  She was a gifted and amazing rock carver and gem faceter, and her knowledge base was truly an inspiration.   But I'll never do another Eulogy because it's incredibly hard to do that.  

6) One of Phil Collins' early solo albums was called, Hello, I Must Be Going. He took the title from a song in the 1930 Marx Bros. movie, Animal Crackers. What's the last black and white movie or TV show that you watched?
Nebraska, and the technique was very effective.  

7) In 1983, when this song was popular, the Lotus 1-2-3 program made it easier for PC users to build spreadsheets. Are you answering these questions on a PC or a Mac? Laptop or desktop? Tablet or phone?
On a PC which I have Annointed, "The Ancient One".  It's been modernized as far as the memory, and motherboard, and anything else.  We hope the great irreplaceables don't go anytime soon, and  we pamper it along.  CountryDew, it can't handle Windows 10 and am I EVER happy about that.

8) 1983 is also the year when McDonald's introduced McNuggets. What's your favorite chicken recipe (assuming it's not McNuggets)?
In truth, McNuggets were a stolen recipe.  They stole it from Chinese restaurants.  Anyway, my favorite is fresh Chicken, marinated in lemon and sliced onion, then Grilled and sliced over the top of a green salad, with added Walnuts.  

9) In 1983, President Reagan signed the bill making Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday a holiday. What's your favorite holiday?
Christmas, and I have the boxes of decorations to do it up properly, if I'm not dragging a leg or am otherwise indisposed, I get it all done.  Then it stays up just as long as I like it up, maybe April.  I don't care for the Circus of Shopaholics, or even the Religious Aspects because I think it's a promulgated handy take over of a kind we don't see anymore,

but I love the season, the good will, and the special openness and Joy.

friday5 Microeconomics... and Books books Hurrah for books!

Friday 5 for September 11: Microeconomics

Hello, and welcome to this week’s Friday 5! 
The linkie is in the side bar with the other Memes,  so come on over!

1.What’s something you have in great supply this weekend?
I have a lot of TIME!  And that is great!

2.What demands do you have of the next few days?
I'm planning on knitting, and reading my book.  The doing of laundry is also in the plan as is dustmopping.  And I plan to keep tossing things.  Whooo hooo!

3.What kind of inflation do you welcome after the week you’ve had?
I'm planning on expanding my diet to include chocolate which I've been limiting to lose weight, which has happened.  That's Deflation, right?

4.What’s something you’ve recently taken an interest in?
Conspiracy theories that make sense.  

5.Read any good books lately?
I'm reading lots of good books, lately.  Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen, two books by a Paleontological scholar, the latest is in the side bar for now, and two more from him are in the works.  Let's see, what else?  There was an Amish mystery trilogy I'm almost finished with.  I also read some of Hannah Shrock's books.  And I just started The Girl from Krakow , by Alex Rosenberg, and I want to read, British War Brides , by Helen Bryan along with it.

Thanks for participating, and have a booming weekend!

Something different for Friday... Lots of information about the Greater Sage Grouse, with a coloring book and other things for kids in the last link.

Corrected:  And, I apologize for mistakes made in spelling, syntax and grammar.  I was doing this very late.  Why the quote is still so full of bugs, I have no idea.

You can watch a video from Cornell Lab of Ornithology about the Lekking ground dances of the Great Sage Grouse.  Is that cool or what?

See it HERE

This will be a sort of Friday tails post.  The Greater Sage Grouse, along with other lesser Grouse, used to be innumerably strong, strung out in huge areas along the sage plains.  Now they are being considered for listing as "Endangered".  That's pretty freaking sad, you know?

From Yellowstonegate.com
The page is very slow to load

 This is an excerpt from THIS government document.  If the future of this amazing bird is of interest to you, I urge you to read the whole document:

"2.2. Historic Status and Distribution
Sage-grouse originally occurred in 16 states
and three provinces (Aldrich 1963, Johnsgard
1973), and their distribution closely approximated
that of sagebrush. Forests, deserts, rivers and
mountain ranges fragmented the birds’ original
distribution naturally (Braun 1998). However,
sage-grouse evolved to use large expanses of shrub
steppe habitat (Connelly et al. 2000c). Early
estimates of sage-grouse abundance were largely
anecdotal, but suggested this species was abundant
in many parts of its range (Braun 1998).

Western settlers reported seeing the skies darkened by large
flocks of sage-grouse. Pioneers described filling
wagons with sage-grouse to provide food for their
communities as well as for miners and other working
groups (Rogers 1964). Both Colonel John
Fremont (1845) and Elliot Coues (1874) reported
that sage-grouse were abundant throughout much of
Wyoming in the early to mid-1800s. Prior to 1870
in Montana and 1900 in Idaho, little or no protection
was afforded these birds (Autenrieth 1981,
Wallestad 1975).

In Colorado, Rogers (1964) indicated that
thousands of sage-grouse were killed
each year to feed participants in the annual “Sagehen
Days” in the town of Craig.

Concerns over population declines date from
the early 1900s (Girard 1937, Hornaday 1916) until
Rusch (1942) reported that, because of the bird’s
scarcity, there were not many localities where they
could be legally killed by the late 1930s and early
1940s. In his book on wildlife conservation, Wing
(1951) listed sage-grouse as a rare and threatened
species in North America, perhaps foreshadowing
current efforts to list sage-grouse as threatened or
endangered under the Endangered Species Act." 

And this next page is beautifully done, and was created by the Sage Grouse Initiative, a group that is dedicated to wildlife conservation through sustainable ranching practices.  There is a special section at thatis called: "Just for Kids"; it includes a printable coloring book as well as a sort of "Where's Waldo" Poster for identifying all the animals found on the Sage Brush Steppes where they all live.

Hope you enjoy it!

Thankful Thursday: Until you look in a mirror,

or catch a major chronic illness ( meaning NOT the ones that doctors are convinced are all in your head) you will discover when you reach a ripe, old age, that you pretty much feel like the same person you were, when you are over 70, that you were when you were 25- - clueless as to the greater mysteries of life and still facing your own mortality.  I'm grateful that I can look down a long history of messing up and then still being able to continue living Life with a little more clarity and sense of purpose.

Yesterday, I rode on over to Sis's house and had a good chinwag.  We talked about all manner of things:  Homedec, Osama bin Laden, aging pets, The World According to Garp, and the true name of the tree down the road that's festooned, in late September, with huge clusters of yellow flowers.

It's a Golden Rain Tree like this one

Also, we traded tips on keeping lettuce crisp and lively in a refrigerator, measured doorways suspected of being "not to code", and discussed the theory of why God hasn't just flicked us all out into space by now ; we decided many things.

We decided that for every heinous crime committed there were at least 25 people working to catch the rotter, so we still had them outnumbered.   This is a great relief.  Now if we could just have solved the mystery of why over half the prison population is African American, we might have been satisfied with our little chat.

Knitting.  I hang my head.  Since we had the excitement of having to replace a major non-appliance household necessity, I have done no knitting to speak of over the last two days.  I did take the sweater sleeves out of the bag and looked longingly at the pattern that is pure Greek to me in my postoperative haze.

Yes, it was a long time ago now, but "The Little Grey Cells" took a hit, the only way to describe what happens sometimes under anesthetic, and said cells have still not fully recovered.  So I soldier on, trying to make sense of M1s that now appear, and taking them to mean Make 1, and still cannot make it all come out right.

 I do believe that I'll just make the sleeves striped, if there is some other non Merino yarn in the stash.  I'm thankful that I've found that I can knit on the circs.  I just have to keep my eyes open and watch for whatever it is that is lurking just outside my vision but keeps tantalizingly waving it's big green hands at me.

Are you grateful and thankful that stream of consciousness writing still exists in this world much too full of over important Guys in Suits who want to take all the money, as well as all the land, and use it to grow bio-hazards?  Me, too.

I'm thankful that every major religion has, within it, a mechanism that punishes such people, both in the "there and then"- whenever that is- and/or in HELL!

I have this lovely quote about Art to share:

In a decaying society, if it is Truthful, Art must also reflect Decay.  And, unless it wants to break faith with it's social function, Art must show the world as changeable, and help to change it.
~Ernst Fischer~

For reading this long, here is your reward:  If you don't like the cherries, just pick them out and give them to me, please?

SOURCE

Updated Wordless Wednesday.. Tiny. Endangered. Gentle.

*whispers*  sorry about that, Karen.  :o)

Tuesday Tails: Big Money VS the Cunning and Deadly Wolves, AS IF!... Knitting, Wolfie, and Tort report and a Skywatcher Post

The big money boys are rolling out their Big Moolah against the few remaining wolves, AGAIN.    Maybe it's because now that it's illegal, hunters still have a great market for all lupin pelts but hate to be classed as criminals?  Could that be it?

Anyway, the Earth absolutely needs the wolves to keep the Elk herds healthy and the Mule deer in check, something that hunters aren't really saying is THEIR first priority for killing either of those two ungulates.

Here's the Gauntlet- I'm throwing it down!  If you don't eat it or it's not eating humans, don't kill it just for the fun.

My Grandfather would hate what's going on now, and he was a hunter.  He never hunted from an airplane.  He did it the old fashioned way and for the old fashioned reason, to get meat to eat during the winter, and rabbits for the pot during the rest of the year.  He fished to eat, like most fishermen, but they are a different sort of folk.

Bring it, Mz. Sarah!  This is my rant but I'll let you have a run at it, too.

Lovers of  Where the Wild things Are!  Please join in?
  Wolves Under Attack -- Tell Obama to Use His Veto


Knitting report:
I got past the first row of patterns on the sleeves, but had to rip back because I just can't knit them both together on one circ without everything going all caddywompus, pear-shaped, or escew.  I'll stick to straights for these little sleeves.  A picture within the week of the progress.

Tort Report:  With temps returning to below 95°F again, the babies have been able to stay outside.  It was 91 two days ago but it's climbing back up so they came in again yesterday and probably today if the forcast is right.
These two little buddies are getting almost big enough to hibernate but it will take a couple more years of keeping them up all year to make certain they can survive it.  I hope the tomato plants that hang down don't kill the adults but I'm not as happy go lucky as Mr. Z about it.  Churchy's almost as old as I am!  I don't want him to die!

Wolfie report:  The little guy is slowing down.  He sleeps more.

Loves Cuddling:

And, he still enjoys his walks, and he loves, LOVES, going for rides:

He loves his food and  treats!

Annnd, he would enjoy going to the beach and probably will get to do that now that sanity has returned within the municipal code, and the crowds are gone.

Dogs can now be on the beach if they are on a leash, in some places.  He LOVES the beach and plays like a puppy when he gets to go there.  One of the other rules is that you must pick up after your dog. We always pick up after him.  I have a purse full of tiny plastic bags. We're good.

Skywatcher:

Ice Clouds two Sundays ago

Gotta Skeedaddle!

Music Monday: Doo Doo Doobie Brothers! China Grove

Doobies are just alright with me.  I love this Band!

Since the button for this FABULOUSly fun meme is in the sidebar, and most of you know the rules by heart, I'll just say...

Cheers to all of us thieves!!!  

Making a list Meme

Stolen from: Love me some surveys

1. Do you like making lists? 
Yes, I make lists all the time.  I only get one or two things done on them a day but it's very encouraging, and satisfying, to get to put those lines < like that- through the task.

2. Do/did you play sports with your siblings? 
There were no organized sports when my sibs and I were young.  But we did play tag, hide and go seek, and Cowboys and Indians.  As adults I think my sister and I did play tennis a few times.  Not sure.  I was an avid tennis player.

3. Would you rather go to a University or a community college? 
I think that community colleges combined with Uni are the best thing going.  Some community colleges are now starting to offer four year degrees.  I see this as an answer to a great need, to be debt free when one graduates with a bachelor degree.  It's downright sinful that even state college students get saddled with big debts a long ways from when they can earn any money.  *Jumps off Soapbox*

4. What’s your favorite kind of bread? 
Back when I could eat bread, the only kind I DIDN'T like was white loaf bread.  When the older girls were tiny, I made all our bread.  White bread, when home baked, is deliciously pleasant.  I was a bread baker, and made and loved it all.

5. What toppings do you like on your pizza? 
*Smiles*  Aha!  Marketing!  Ok.  When I could eat it, I liked cheese, and anything else other than anchovies.  I just couldn't abide the way they smelled.  

6. What color or design does your shower curtain have? 
It's plain, opaque, and white.

7. What kind of car does/did your mom drive? 
My mother's last car was a 1972, yellow, Pontiac LaMans and looked like this:

My brother, who worked on the car, says that it had a big engine, based on the size of it, from a GTO  and that it  didn't belong there.   That engine kept blowing the starter up.   This was because the engine and the original trannie didn't make a good match.  My brother said that it was a good thing I didn't take the car when it was offered, because it was trouble.  Mechanics, you gotta love 'em.

8. What’s on your cell phone’s home screen? 
A close up of this Apricot nectar rose

9. Do you like to watch the National Geographic channel?
 Love them on the Netflix site..  We gobble it up.  It's a cable channel, so we don't get it.

10. Are you the type of person to correct a survey maker’s grammar and/or spelling?
 No, as they might come back at me some day. heehee

11. What color is your microwave?
black and silver

12. Do you have a fan in your bedroom? 
No.  But did you know you can make a room area evap-cooler out of a fan, a pump, and a five gallon bucket?  I can't wait to see how one being made by one of the family turns out. 



13. Mountain Dew or Sprite? 
Neither.  The only thing I like is Pepsi and since Heaven only knows when, I haven't had any of it, either.

14. Does it rain a lot where you live? 
We wish!  Sadly, it does not.  We go MAD when it rains here!  We take videos and post them on our blogs!  

15. Do you shop at Walmart regularly? 
Sorry, and I have nothing against people who have to, but I'm glad I don't have to shop there. 
I'm a small town store kind of person.  I shop mostly thrifts and little yarn shoppes, tea shops; I'd be happy as a clam in a Welsh village.  I like the La Mesa downtown, the El Cajon downtown,  Julian and Parkville, and even tiny Leadville, Colorado.   

16. Does it bother you when animals lick themselves? 
Human animals, yes.  The other animals? No ... Meet the adorable, and endangered, Pangolin

Source

17. Have you ever been to a Trader Joe’s? 
One of my favorite stores.  I used to think it was called Traitor Joe's, but that was a long time ago.

18. What’s the longest time you’ve ever been stuck in traffic? 
Three and a half hours, getting through L.A.

Source is the L.A. Times

19. Do you wear black a lot? 
No, I don't always wear it to funerals anymore, either.

20. Are there stairs in your house? 
No, but there's a step up in the front and a step down in the back.  No stairs.

21. Have you ever held $500 in cash? 
Yes, but not very long.  It was all in hundreds so wasn't very thrilling at all.  Meh...Now this is a stack worth talking about...

From STACKTHATMONEYFORUMS

22. Do you like onions on your burger? 
Yes!!!!   But, of course I never even eat them anymore.

Source

23. Could you ever give yourself a shot? 
If I had to, yes.  And I would give shots to DH if he needed me to.  These shots are the easiest to give
to anyone.  Coolest Idea!

24. Do you wear shoes in the house? 
Sometimes, usually it's Crocs or Mules if it's not bare feet.  Probably, the majority of the world's population is barefooted at least part of the day.  Sort of comforting in a way, isn't it?  This is good for keeping up the connection between Mother Earth and the human earthlings.

25. Have you ever worked as a cashier?
As a cashier, no.  I had to use cash registers on three jobs, though.  Does it count? 

Oh, By the way, I've recently found out that the word "Sugar"
is the perfect swear word substitute for Sh*t