PETS
I realize that there are many weighty things to discuss. However, I think that some lighter subjects should be brought front and center now and then. I was out and about today and eating lunch in my car. While doing so, I observed a man sitting at an outdoor table and as he was eating, he was dropping scraps accidently on purpose for his dog, a beautiful mid-sized all white mutt. I call that type of dog food, floor d'ouvres.
It started me thinking about pets. I live in a 165 year old village, but in the new section (30 years old). There are 285 homes and at least half of them contain dogs, and many cats a lot of them feral. I was impressed by the fact that the entire area didn't smell like a cesspool. Apparently, the pet lovers actually picked up after their dogs. we have every kind, from giant mastiffs, to little lap dogs like Yorkies. I own a beagle which I love dearly. Being a mini-hound the only way to get her on your lap is to put food there, but be careful, she might eat the buttons off your shirt.
This brings me to my topic. I wonder how many Gulchers have pets and who has dogs, or cats or something else, and why. Just curious. But in may be insightful -- about what, I'm not sure.
It started me thinking about pets. I live in a 165 year old village, but in the new section (30 years old). There are 285 homes and at least half of them contain dogs, and many cats a lot of them feral. I was impressed by the fact that the entire area didn't smell like a cesspool. Apparently, the pet lovers actually picked up after their dogs. we have every kind, from giant mastiffs, to little lap dogs like Yorkies. I own a beagle which I love dearly. Being a mini-hound the only way to get her on your lap is to put food there, but be careful, she might eat the buttons off your shirt.
This brings me to my topic. I wonder how many Gulchers have pets and who has dogs, or cats or something else, and why. Just curious. But in may be insightful -- about what, I'm not sure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IccmI...
But then, as they say, nothing succeeds like excess.
eye!"
My last dog was an English Mastiff. I would need a much larger yard to have a dog that size again. He was a wonderful pet. His names was "Gaius Magnus Petronus Pious" you get 160 characters on the AKC papers. The latin fans will realize the translation sums up the breed.
Beauty of naming a dog something like Gaius? No other dogs will answer to it.
Edit: Added the last few lines because I was interrupted by the better half to do something before I could finish, LOL.
Good to hear from you. We have no kids and our dog is going on 13. I don't want her to go before her time, but after she is gone the freedom you have now, I hope to experience.
Regards,
O.A.
I hope you keep well and maintain that optimism for many more years.
Regards,
O.A.
Strange, but at first being "free" like that was an odd feeling. It didn't take long to LIKE it, though! I think the trick is to get out and DO something with your new found time. My wife and I have discovered we really are still best friends and do stuff together all the time. Gosh, wish we had this "freedom" when we were 30... heck even 50, LOL!
To each his own.
We did have a dog for a while, which strayed into our driveway and wouldn't leave. The poor thing was loaded with fleas and other problems so we took her to a vet and got her back to excellent health. We asked around the neighborhood and no one knew where she came from. That may have been just as well because her "attitude" was that of a dog that was treated poorly by her previous owner. I think she was a cross between a poodle and a Cocker Spaniel. This was after our children were gone and we were both working (not traveling much then) and loved having her with us and her "attitude" improved immensely, too. Then a neighbor said the dog cried all day while we were working, so I would come home for lunch every day and found the neighbor was right. It was cruel to leave her so lonely IMO, so after about 8 months we found a family with children that would love and take care of her and gave her up.
I have a soft spot for poodles, especially standards. The one that stands out the most in my mind was a big cream male we called Bob, and we were fortunate to have his company for fourteen years. Bob had health problems from the start, but never let that hold him back. He had a natural sense of humor, clowning and grinning without prompting. My friends' children learned to walk by pulling themselves up on Bob's fur, and he especially enjoyed the company of toddlers. He was also an instinctive guard dog, letting unwelcome strangers know they would face unpleasant consequences if they overstepped the bounds he set.
I now have the company of a female one-eyed mini poodle who astounds people when she insists she wants something by distinctly saying "now." A new addition is a 15 year old terrier mix with cancer we rescued from a situation where she had constant conflict with a larger dog, and the poodle immediately welcomed her to the pack.
About three mo.s later I came home and a female golden puppy had been bought by my wife and daughter.
She happened to have her birthday the day our son died ,she was a savior for us from our grief. We named her Mulligan she is now white faced and 12 1/4 years. Old. Every Day is a good day that Mulligan is with us!
Thank you Herb.
Our pets are family to us , you do expect to out live them. Not your kids. Alex was a wonderful son and it was our good fortune to love him.
Jezebel, Bootsie, Tasha, Max, Kirby, Callaway. true best friends from my past.
we still grieve every day. But we also move on. I could go on about him, however a graphic novel will be published about him in the fall. My little dog has done more for me than any shrink could.
The most challenging thing in my life.
The grief never leaves. The challenge is to learn how to deal with it.
It is a challenge everyday. It has been 22 years and I am still haunted.
Humor helps.
So true , like I told Alex's sister it hurts so much because we loved so much. The greater the value the bigger the loss.
Are you the author and have you selected a title.
You are honoring his legacy with this novel. I will watch for it's release.
As an Artist in my paintings. I always put my sons name somewhere in the image , some have said it's like "where's Waldo" trying to find it , but once it's found it is evident.
I also golf and I Mark my golf ball with his name and a shamrock.
He was the only golfer that I was happy to lose to.
As for humor ....how about this.
"I got an ant farm ,bastards didn't grow $hit.
The book will be called "No Barriers" and hopefully will be out in late Fall. Yes, I wrote it and there will be some guest authors writing who worked for him, many of whom were given their first breaks. He is still discussed and talked about particularly at Comicons. There was a straight to tape movie bio of him called "Unauthorized And Proud Of It" which was the company motto.
The story will be in graphic novel form and the artwork I have seen to date looks great.
I salute you both for carrying on and sharing your wisdom and reason with me.
About the article's mention of drug usage. Would Rand have said that her drug usage of tobacco and amphetamines was being objective or not?
THE KITTEN
The trouble with the kitten is THAT,
It eventually becomes a CAT.
Sometimes I call it "Stupid" after I toss a meat scrap its way and it just sits there with a "Say, did something just happen?" air about it.
Otherwise, it will chase a rolling scrap like it s a mouse or something.
Moocher will let me come much closer to it than it used to since it knows I won't try and touch it by surprise.
Yesterday after I picked blueberries, it was walked so closely in front of me that I blurted out, "Will you please get out of my way?"
I've been able to touch its nose twice when the critter knew what I was up to but so far that's it.
It usually takes six hours for it to eat all its cat food and sometimes I wonder if another cat or the neighborhood fox finished it off. I live right next to a large woods and deer has been known to walk out of it.
Some days it only shows up late in the evening.
Twice its been gone all day, leaving me to wonder if animal control got it like a previous cat I fed, but nope there it is the next day mooching away.
Oh, make that three time I touched Moocher's nose. Today I tried to reach farther to pet it but the shy thing backed off.
Throughout life, I have always managed to have a dog or a cat...In my nomadic days there was always a local pet or a friends pet to make acquaintance.
My present wife of 24 years, has always had Maltese, we've raised many a litter...I enjoy playing with and teaching these pups...they get the best of homes and we, of late, puppy sit when the parents go away.
I don't mind being their keepers...it seems natural and I don't think I could sleep well at night without these small creatures snuggled up next to me...they are a delight and truly a gift to mankind.
Gustav is a dapple... mostly chocolate brown but with touches of white. He has one blue eye and one brown eye. Oh, and he has my nose.
Heidi is a crème with brown eyes. And a total diva.
Since we are empty-nesters, these are our two babies.
Tell Gustav to give you your nose back.
I don't call the cat by the name they gave him, Sammy; I call him savage cat. :)
Our dog is very old, very passive, and for all intents an purposes thinks its a cat...go figure.
Our dog (mutt) is 15..she has a bum rear leg which makes getting up a challenge. Her eye sight is starting to go, but she is completely deaf. She doesn't do much chasing anymore and seldom barks.
What a drag it is getting old..Even though she may be in pain, I haven't the heart to have her put to sleep. Sad.
A good vet can see if she is in pain. If so about a low dose prescription for tramadol.
Funny thing is my dog has a bum rear leg. She got it jumping off a sofa and banging into a table edge. She couldn't walk for a couple of days due to pain, but with meds and a mild walking regimen she has come back, although she walks a bit funny on her bum leg. She still runs if provoked but poops out quickly. She's quite active indoors with her favorite toy.
It'll happen. You'll see someone with a cute pup, or a devoted companion and bingo! You're gone.
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