A Wet One at the Swamp

We were fortunate to be offered tickets to this week's game. The first half was full of scoring and steady rain. Not to worry - we brought our slickers.

It's the second half with the second teams on the field. Looks like another win for the Gators.
Next week - can't wait!

Graphic But Powerful Video

If you've ever text messaged while driving...or even thought about it...attempted a phone call...or whatever...the following video will impact you. This is a public service message created in the UK, but is applicable anywhere. Heed it's message.



See the accompanying story here at NPR.org

Weighing in on Health Care Reform

If you're interested in some very informative and interesting information on health care reform visit Bill Moyers Journal at pbs.org. There are a number of videos that will get you thinking and explain to you how our system really works.

I believe we need fundamental change in our system and I fear the Congress is going to f%#k everthing up. Our system is bad and we cannot throw good money after bad. I don't believe insurance companies bring any value to the table - instead they skim off anywhere from 16% to 26% for shareholder and CEO enrichment. I don't know about you, but if I lose my job, I lose my health care.

I'm also hearing that Congress is writing language that would prevent negotiating lower prices from pharmaceuticals - much like they did with Medicare D (the drug benefit). Does anyone else think this is wrong?

I'm disappointed in our President. He needs to grow a couple of cajones and put together a real plan for change.

Last nights show on Bill Moyers showed part of a film called "Money-Driven Medicine". It was fascinating. And if you live in Gainesville - a health care mecca - the film really hits home.

So, friends, I urge you to go to alternative sources for news - don't rely on the major networks to give you the real deal - they just give you the sound bites that the health care industrial complex wants you to hear.

We Honor You with Our Flag

We are flying our flag to honor Ted Kennedy. "Kennedy was in some ways larger than life, but at the same time he was undisputably human, his good and bad always subject to intense public scrutiny". Kennedy once said "I recognize my own shortcomings, the faults in the conduct of my private life. I realize that I alone am responsible for them, and I am the one who must confront them." Despite all this Kennedy has always been a champion for those less fortunate giving a voice to those who needed it most - children, minorities, immigrants, the poor and disabled. We already miss you. Thank you Senator Kennedy.

Health Care Reform Debate

Performance Rap

Those of you who enjoyed watching the Tour de France will enjoy this video.

Earth Pets Has a Second Location!

Booya!

Earth Pets has opened up a second location near the Main Street Publix! We visited the store today and they are going to carry pretty much what they carry at the other store. No more having to go to the mall area to get food. Now, we can easily ride our bikes to the store to pick up the food.



While we were there Miriam met Buster - the resident cat. Buster has a great personality and took to Mir like a fish to water. Neat cat.

We can't plug Earth Pets enough. They sell great food - you can't find it at Walmart or the grocery store. If you've ever read "The Whole Dog Journal" you'll know that good food is essential to a healthy pet and Earth Pets sells many of the brands recommended by the journal. Think about it - when we had the food contamination situation involving China - Earth Pets didn't need to pull any food off their shelves. They don't sell crap. And I don't mind spending a little more for dog food because my dogs are worth it.

Earth Pets Organic is located at 404 NW 10th Avenue. Their website is at http://www.earthpetsorganic.com.

So, those of you living on our side of town - get out there and support a local business that sells some really fine products!

Playing at Lunch

I often spend part of my lunch playing fetch with Peanut - it accomplishes two things - it redirects her from anxiousness and tires her out. Peanut is what you call "high strung". She runs on high idle most of the time. She becomes anxious very easily and doesn't seem to know how to relax.

I took this quick video during lunch today. Yes, this is the same little Peanut who likes to climb fences.

A New Young Filmmaker

I have to plug my nephew, Ronnie. He is an aspiring filmmaker. What I found most intriguing about his movies is that he uses his mother's little Canon Powershot camera and edits his movies with Windows Movie Maker. I love the use of simple tools. Below is one of his movies. His channel on YouTube is here.

The Great Escapes and the aftermath...

Above picture: Peanut reposing after a busy week.

It's been awhile since my last post but it's been a hectic week.

We had two escapes last week. On Tuesday, Peanut scaled the front gate and ran down 9th street. Mir was able to get Peanut chase her back to our street. Boxer also escaped at the same time when the gate wasn't properly closed. Luckily no animal was injured.

Mir spent Wednesday fortifying the front gate. Mind you this is a 6ft privacy fence and gate. 

Thursday night Peanut got wind of a critter (cat?) in the back corner of yard. She got herself so worked up that she climbed the fence and went over. Did I say this was a 6ft privacy fence? The cross beams are on the outside of the fence - to prevent Peanut from getting any kind of leverage. Clearly this wasn't enough. So, Thursday night I go running down 9th street to 6th avenue in an effort to head her off. I was able to find her and bring her home. She spent Friday and Saturday at the end of a leash.

Saturday we went to Home Depot and came up with a plan to lengthen the fence height and to prevent Peanut from getting her paws on the top of the fence. Sunday was spent executing our plan.

It's only Monday but so far so good. Peanut has been eyeing our handiwork quite a bit but doesn't yet have an answer to our fortifications. We'll continue to watch her and hope that her days of escaping are over.

Brother, Can You Spare a Tire?

We've had the RAV4 since 1997 and today experienced our first flat tire. Technically, it's not flat yet - but it will be by morning. It appears we ran over a screw - it's stuck right smack in the middle of the tread.

30 minutes and one big hernia later we had loosened the lug nuts. The few extra pounds I've gained helped enormously on that last stubborn nut. I placed my foot on the lug tool, gently bounced up and down and slowly the nut turned.

Then the rain came. We decided to suspend tire changing operations until tomorrow morning - partly due to the rain but also due to Miriam exhausting herself getting the darn nuts off.
Stay tuned tomorrow when we attempt to answer the question, "How do we remove the jack that's attached to the floor board underneath the front seat? Where's the owner's manual?"

Houston, We Have a Problem

...And her name is Peanut.

Whenever we let the dogs out we check on them periodically - typically about every 15 minutes. With dogs, you have to be careful because it only takes a minute or two for them get into something they shouldn't.

Many of you know that one of the reasons we paid mucho dollars to have a 6-foot privacy fence installed was because Peanut had learned to climb our four foot chain link fence. It seems we didn't spend enough. Perhaps we should have splurged for an 8-foot fence.

I walked outside to do the usual check and called for Peanut. She did not come. I called again. She did not come. Peanut ALWAYS comes when she's called. Then I heard panting on the other side of the fence. I strode to the big gate and opened it. There she was in the neighbor's front yard - I called and she came.

Our neighbors have recently acquired some cats that they allow to roam. I'm fairly certain that Peanut climbed out in order to get a cat. From the looks of her, I think I can say with some certainty that she did not catch the cat. That's a good thing. The bad thing is that now she knows she can climb out and we're going to have to get very creative in keeping her inside the backyard. This is not the kind of challenge I like - I'm likely to lose a few years over this.

Happy 4th Everyone!

It's been a lovely July 4. Went to the park and played fetch with Peanut. Then came home and took the big dogs for a walk around the duckpond.

The flag is flying proudly, the yard is mowed and we'll soon start preparing our buffalo wings for a potluck later this afternoon.

Then, this evening as the locals light their fireworks we'll hang with the dogs and work to keep them calm.

Have a good one, everybody!

The Joys of Living with Dogs

This past week and a half has been particularly interesting and a bit educational.



About a week and a half ago we took Sydney to the vet to get her teeth cleaned. She came back with beautiful pearly whites and an extra gift. We noticed that evening that she was infested with fleas. We immediately began mitigation by taking out our trusty flea combs and vigorously combing the fleas out of her coat. This was a Wednesday night. It was quickly apparent that we would need additional help. We sent an email to our vet and informed her of our situation. She was very obliging and offered to give us samples of Capstar. For those of you not familiar with the latest arsenal against fleas, Capstar is a tablet that begins killing adult fleas in 30 minutes and lasts up to six hours. We received enough for two treatments of all dogs. When treating flea infestation, you treat the infected pet and any pets in the household. So, we spent the weekend de-fleaing our home and pets. We thought we licked the problem, but Sunday night Peanut became the favorite host of the fleas.

I called the pest control company that does our yearly termite inspection and had them spray the yard. Peanut was still getting fleas even after the spraying (which later I learned was normal) and in fact, one evening we tossed her in the shower for an emergency bath. Mind you Sydney and Boxer were essentially flea free and had been for days. We had stopped the rotation of dogs to prevent further transfer from one dog to the other.

I decided to consult my friend, Google. Research taught me about the life cycle of the flea and how one must control the eggs in order to control the infestation. I had known that fleas seemed attracted to white and I learned that is because they associate white with a heat source. There's a lot more to fleas than I will talk about here - but I decided that the flea infestation brought home from the vet was taken care of.

So, we had a new flea problem and it was in the yard. Since Peanut was the only dog now with fleas I decided to walk the yard in white socks, go to her favorite spots and see what happens. There are two areas of the yard that she particularly likes because of the opportunity for catching rats or mice. One is behind the garage. I walked around there - stopping and starting - nothing. So, I headed to her other favorite spot near the air conditioner on the east side of the house - BINGO! I walked around there and almost immediately fleas were all over my white socks - a big flea even jumped on my arm and bit me! I had located the problem area. I saturated the area with a flea spray I had bought at Home Depot. I know enough about fleas now to understand that this problem is not going to be solved quickly.



It's kind of funny that as we deal with this problem we sometimes feel that fleas are crawling on us - but they're not - or that every little itch must be a flea bite - but it isn't. The mind can be a terrible thing.

Why are there fleas by the air conditioner? Rodents live nearby under the house. Peanut is always stalking and trying to capture them here. It is therefore necessary to rid this area of rodents and then deal with the fleas that are left behind. We are currently working on the rodent issue - I don't like killing animals but given the current situation I don't see a viable alternative.

We are also watching the dogs' poop for tapeworms.

Another worrisome incident - last night Peanut caught a small animal over near the garage - believed to be a small mouse or rat - I saw the tail. Before I could get Peanut to drop it - she ate it. Even as I write this my stomach begins to turn over. Why she would do this when she's fed some of the best food possible is beyond me. As I admonished her for this despicable act, she looked at me and licked her chops...mmm good! She lives a life other dogs can only dream of and she thanks us by eating a damn rodent?!

Well, the rodents must go - sorry PETA - please understand my predicament.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Christmas in June arrived Saturday afternoon just as the rain began to pour. My task of learning to play the blues now begins in earnest. Not to brag, but I've already got a gig lined up at Club Deb. I've also got the titles to what will be two new orginal compositions - "The Fingertip Blues" and "The Guitar Widow Blues". I can't wait to put the lyrics and chords together!

Anyway, I don't have a lot of time to blog right now. Dinner is asking to be cooked and after that my new baby wants to be played.

Again, thank you to all my loyal readers! Without your votes this day would not have arrived so soon. You will all receive a complimentary copy of my first CD.

Voter Fraud!

"Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!"

Shocked! Shocking! Never in million years did I ever believe there would be voter fraud in my own backyard. I have just learned that two votes were tampered with in a very unsavory fashion. No words can explain the betrayal I feel. I was just so thrilled that I had loyal readers who cared, really cared about my cause.

"It was only a couple of phone calls...no money was exchanged...no promises made!" she wailed in a feeble attempt to justify her actions.

I don't know if it was alcohol induced or just plain guilt, but Miriam fessed up to the devious plot to derail Christmas in June!

Crime may not pay but guilt will. Tomorrow we go shopping $$$. 'Nuff said.

Voting Continues...

To those of you who have voted thus far - thank you so much. So, far the tally appears to be 3 for, 0 against and 1 undecided.

To the lone undecided vote: I sense fear in your message. I'll be addressing your concerns soon in a new blog post.

For those who haven't read the blog post in question, go to: Christmas in June?

Christmas in June?

Things happen for a reason.

A number of months ago I suffered a life altering experience such that my future retirement income as a street corner musician was in jeopardy. Little did I know that this incident would route my musical career in a new direction.

I have played classical guitar for the past 4 years and have tinkered on a steel string acoustic guitar. I would never be caught dead playing an electric guitar. For one thing I am not a rocker and I preferred to stay away from an instrument that required an electrical current. There was always something about the acoustic sound that warmed me inside.

Well, my friends, I have seen the promised land! Miriam and I stepped into Lipham's Music store and my life has changed.

A little background is necessary here. Due to the adverse event of last year, I have been forced to play less classical and more contemporary music (basically because it's easier and requires fewer fingers). My wonderful guitar teacher has introduced me to the blues which I've always enjoyed listening to. I've been attempting to play this new genre of music on my classical nylon string guitar. And it's been okay, but not great.

Which leads me back to my story. I picked up a stratocaster style electric guitar after a brief introduction from a young salesman there. He told me about their audio room and that I was free to plug in the guitar and get a feel for it and its sound quality. OH...MY...GAWD! I now get it. It was wonderful. It was better than I ever thought it would be. I felt the earth move under my feet...

I am now trying to convince Miriam that it is okay to have Christmas in June. After all, doesn't the historical record indicate JC was actually born sometime in June? The good news is she's on board with the purchase - we just don't share the same time table. I want it now - she wants it later.

So, here we are. Christmas now or Christmas later? Cast your vote by submitting a comment. Much like the 2000 election, if comments aren't going my way, I'll simply suppress them or not count them.

Win a Few, Lose a Few

It was a great year for the Gator softball team. But the better team won this tournament - we tip our hats to Washington and Lawrie.

The pain from this loss will ebb with time and the Gators will be back again next year. They should hold their heads high - no tears - they left it all on the field.

Go Gators!

"There's no such thing as a nine run home run..."

These are the words of a wise softball player.

It's currently bottom of the 6th inning and it doesn't look good for the Gators. Lawrie, the Washington pitcher, is on her game. She has received the benefit of some questionable outside calls - but the calls have been consistent and the Gator batters have to adjust. Right now the batters don't know what's coming down the pike and they're swinging for the fences. Need to just get some base hits, score a few runs and build some confidence.

I don't want to write off the Gators tonight, not after what I witnessed yesterday, but there's no such thing as a walk off nine run home run. The Gators are going to need to have short memories and put this game behind them. I know I will. They need to come out and start fast tomorrow evening.

Oh my, the umpires have fallen asleep! At the end of the sixth they thought the game was over and left the field!? Heavens to mergatroid! I don't want to be the head umpire trying to explain that one.

I'm going to stay up and watch the last three outs - I can't abandon the team when they're at a low point - so, good night and Go Gators!