Yesterday I stepped out onto the deck and there was Izzy in the bird bath lying in about ½ inch of water. Granted, it was in the upper 90s and pretty humid. She stayed there a good 30 minutes until the Mockingbird took umbrage and ran her off.
So this entry is really just to vent about a situation I have come across more then once while being in happy valley. I have never been a big fan of people that take advantage of others while showing you some compassion. Living here in Utah i have come to find myself in situations where questioning someones integrity has often been a habit based on what I have experienced. Working in property management has been a fun journey. You have the chance to meet lots of people from all walks of life. I had a resident that came in and wanted to discuss rent, she was about ready to go to the attorney and had one day to pay before the eviction process would accrue. She started crying and Gena asked me if I would look up her bishop for her. I looked him up and she told me she hasn't been in years. Gena told her not to worry that the church would help her. She was grateful for the help and encouraging words. A few days later she came back in and told me that she had an interview with her bishop the next day and asked if the church was still going to help her even though she told the church that she wanted her name removed from the church records. I told her that they wouldn't help her because she wasn't a member. She then told me she wasn't going to tell them because she needed the money. Then I asked her if she was going to be at church on Sunday. She said no, and that she wasn't ever going to go. I was disappointed, I checked to see if she had paid and she did in fact pay her rent with the church's help. I was ticked that people take advantage and lie to get what they want. I have seen this a lot living here in UT. It makes me hate the people here.
The following photos were all taken yesterday in the early morning light and all within about 30 minutes.
Simon waiting on his daily bread
"Hi! My name's Buck and this is my other brother Buck."
MEMORIAL DAY!
Historieta Latinoamericana/ Viñetas Sueltas/ Buenos Aires
Cargado originalmente por TropicalGothic♥powerpaola
Del 25 al 31 de mayo se llevará a cabo el festival internacional de historietas Viñetas Sueltas en Buenos Aires.
Exposición Historieta Latinoamericana (Centro Cultural Recoleta) Desde el jueves 28 de mayo.
Exponen: Clara Lagos, Federico Baert, Caio Di Lorenzo, Marcos Vergara, Mr. Exes, ZAP, Powerpaola, Fabian Zalazar, Christiano, Dante Ginevra, Kwaichang Kraneo, Angel Mosquito.
I am now selling uppercase living. I have wanted to do it for a really long time and I think that now is that time. I am taking orders and have an awesome catalogue if anyone wants one. Its Vinyl lettering for those of you that didn't know. My website is up and things can either be ordered threw me or threw my site. Its cool because of all our colors, fonts and other stuff. Here is my site below..
While I was in the bay area this weekend I had the opportunity to go to a fireside with my friend Brenda before my flight left for Salt Lake. She had told me that all YSA were asked to attend. The fireside started with a broadcast with Elder Clayton of the 70. He spoke of a statewide YSA conference that would be taking place on Aug 8th and 9th. There was a power point presentation, a musical number and a talk by the stake president of the San Francisco Stake. They showed a video of what to look forward to during the weekend. There is a humanitarian project planned, temples will open at 5 am so that all YSA's can get 3 temple sessions in, and workshops that we will be attending. Im way excited and planned to come back for it. Here is the video that we were shown during the fireside.
I suppose that many of us believe the weekends, especially the long ones, to be the nostrum for the grind of the week – I know that is what is in my head as the weekend approaches. Perhaps that was true in my youth when my batteries had and endless capacity to recharge. Now I wonder if it is that my expectations have expanded or my capacity to execute has diminished – perhaps it is both.
In all reality, Vulpine Manor has benefited from our labors (whether or not the list was completed) and already the list for next weekend has begun. There will be plenty of time for lounging as the weather comes into its summer scorch. Meanwhile the extra rain we are getting and the high humidity has caused exponential growth and cutting must happen lest we fall behind the jungle swell. Some of you might remember the insurmountable vegetation that we faced when we first moved here. I’m proud to say that we are far better off now and NEVER want to go back there again.
I’m yawning so I should claim my pillow. Speaking of claims, I’ll leave you with these:
MINE! ALL MINE!!!
These guys are fast! Even at a shutter speed of 1/400 they blur!
(too bad he's not happy here, huh?)
Sounds bites and small video clips about the ongoing war in Iraq and Afghanistan filter into the airwaves and onto the Web everyday. But they don’t really convey the physical and psychological demands U.S. soldiers endure on a daily basis while serving in one of the most politically and culturally complex wars of our time. Often, these soldiers come back both physically and mentally scarred when they return home. Sergeant Allen Hill, an Iraqi war veteran is one example.
Upon returning home, Sgt. Hill continued to suffer the devestating effects of a major brain injury sustained during his service in Iraq, including lingering stress, depression, nightmares, and anxiety. His therapy dog, Frankie, was trained by an inmate serving time for manslaughter at the Fishkill Correctional Facility in Beacon, New York, just a commuter train ride north of New York City. I spoke with Sgt. Hill and Gloria Gilbert Stoga, who founded the “Puppies Behind Bars” program to train guide dogs over a decade ago, and whose group recently added the “Dog Tags: Service Dogs for Those Who’ve Served Us” program. All three appeared on a recent episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, joined by actress Glenn Close, in a show devoted to the animals in our lives. In addition to sharing how much Frankie has changed his life, Sgt. Hill gave us his thoughts on how the military views and responds to an increasing number of soldiers suffering from mental rather than physical disability.
Military Dogs, Sometimes Viewed As Surplus, Often Euthanized
Talking with Sgt. Hill got me to thinking about not only therapy dogs who help our returning veterans come back into 'normal' civilian life, but the highly-trained military dogs (scouts, bomb-sniffing, guard duty) who serve alongside their human comrades in war-torn areas of Iraq and Afghanistan. (Put aside, for a second, the current controversy surrounding a handful of misguided military troops who may have used angry dogs and other means of torture against prisoners of war. This is indeed a most important issue deserving of vigilance and justice, but it is not the subject here.)
In the past, most sadly in the Vietnam War, combat military dogs were destroyed, put down, euthanized--anyway you put it--after the war ended or their 'services' were no longer needed. I wondered if this was still the case with the dogs serving in the Iraq/Afghanistan war; are they or will they be euthanized when their time is served?
To answer this question, I asked Vietnam War Veteran Ron Aiello, president of the
United States War Dogs Association, who served as a Marine Scout Dog Handler in Vietnam with his own military dog, 'Stormy.' Groups like his exist for just this purpose--to bring, as his website says, 'every soldier home', including K9s.
Some of these dogs, unfortunately, still 'fall through the cracks' according to Aiello, but groups like his try to find as many adoptive homes for former military dogs as possible. Read "Dexter's Story" for a scenario which occurred less than six months ago at href="http://www.militaryworkingdogadoptions.com/OPERATIONDexterFlies.html.
There is no official tally for the number of military dogs now serving in various Middle East conflicts (Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait and surrounding countries) but Aiello puts the number at about 700 to 800.
Why do some military dogs, after serving their country in various capacities, still end up euthanized when there is no longer any need for their services?
"There was a problem with the system that no one saw until recently," Aiello says. Before deployment, most military dogs are trained at the Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. After they are deployed, whether it be in areas of active conflict or at US military bases in Germany, Italy, Korea or other allies, Aiello and others assumed the dogs were shipped back to Lackland where they would be officially retired from duty and then available for adoption. "We were wrong," he says.
Instead of shipping the dogs back to their home based in Lackland, dogs were typically retired in the country they were based. If they are not adopted in the country in which they were retired it is highly likely they will be destroyed. Additionally, the U.S. military will not pay for the transport of an animal back to the United States, even if their is a willing adopter. Organizations like Aiellos raise money to help cover the cost of bringing them home.
I also asked Aiello if there was another factor contributing to the euthanization of military animals; could it be that they just simply weren't safe to place with a 'civilian' family environment after having been trained for combat?
"We hooked up with Save A Vet because this organizations Is run by dog handlers who will take any of these military K9's that are more aggressive and will retrain these K9's.They are Military or just recently discharge military handlers who can take care of the more aggressive K9. Most everyone that I have been in contact with (civilians) who have adopted these wonderful K9's . Love them to death. One lady told me that she opened the door to her home and the K9 went in an plopped onto the couch like he had live His whole life there. Another one adopted a K9 3 years ago and the K9 just recently passed away. He apply again and now has aSecond adopted K9.
I hope you'll listen to the next episode of Pets In the City on Pet Life Radio and my interview with Sgt. Hill and Gloria Gilbert Stoga of Puppies Behind Bars. And visit the Puppies Behind Bars and the Military Working Dog Adoptions website, too.
http://www.gnn.com/article/loyal-pooch-protects-injured-mother-dog/484199?icid=main|main|dl2|link5|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gnn.com%2Farticle%2Floyal-pooch-protects-injured-mother-dog%2F484199
(May 14) - When a 9-year-old female yellow lab-chow mix was hit by a car on a busy New York City highway Thursday morning, her doggy companion ran into traffic to stand guard.The protective pooch turned out to be the injured dog's son. The brown and tan canine would not let anyone near his mother, barking continuously at any oncoming traffic on the Major Deegan Expressway and at the police officers who arrived on the scene to help, WABC reported.
Eventually, the police were able to get close enough to the hurt dog to slide her onto a sheet to transport her to an animal hospital. A vet later said she has a broken leg and possible internal bleeding, but is expected to recover.
As for her loyal rescuer? After his mother was loaded into the police cruiser, the dog ran off. Police gave chase for 45 minutes and were finally able to guide him off the road at an exit ramp. The dogs' owner -- who recognized his wayward pets from news reports -- says the brave boy is safe at home.
The extraordinary scene snarled rush-hour traffic and was caught on tape by news helicopters. Watch the WABC news report and raw video below.
Note: The news report initially identified the hurt dog as male. Police later confirmed that she is female and the mother of the other dog.
I am so In love with Bollywood films I had to include a piece of the latest one I saw. I was introduced to Slumdog Millionaire by my good friend Danny. This movie was truly a masterpiece. Here is a little bit about the film. If you have not yet seen this film I highly suggest it.
The story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game shows questions. Each chapter of Jamal's increasingly layered story reveals where he learned the answers to the shows seemingly impossible quizzes. But one question remains a mystery: what is this young man with no apparent desire for riches really doing on the game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out. At the heart of its storytelling lies the question of how anyone comes to know the things they know about life and love.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGPjI0lB3FE
I love her style- to check out her wedding cakes- (which are amazing)- go to nickygrant.com. Too bad she lives in the UK :( Too far to order for me.
Indeed, there are some (as Mr. Marder himself eludes to) that are in full support of the ban. We'll bring news to you on that, too, as it emerges.
Diane West: It is my understanding that New York State has a law banning 'breed discrimination' (counties of New York cannot make a law contradicting this). In other words, a ban on owning pit bulls, etc. How is NYCHA getting around this? Did they meet with state lawmakers about this or is NYCHA exempt from this law, and if so, why?
Howard Marder: The law you refer to, is Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets law, Section 107 (5). That section prohibits a municipality from regulating specific breeds of dogs. NYCHA is not a municipality. The rule does not apply.
DW: Is this officially called a 'regulation' concerning NYCHA buildings only? What constitutes a building that falls under the NYCHA umbrella? Section 8 and/or other subsidized, such as Mitchell-Lama or others? All boroughs of New York City?
HM: It is applicable in NYCHA owned and operated buildings. It never applied to Mitchell Lama. NYCHA only provides subsidy to Section 8 tenants and does not own or manage the buildings in which the vouchers are used, so it does not apply to them. However, if there is a building that receives Project-Based Section 8, the rule does apply.
DW: How many people is this likely to affect throughout NYCHA residences?
HM: We have no idea because if people are not registering their pets, there is no mechanism for us to do a pet census. Anyone living in a NYCHA apartment today has the ability and responsibility to register their pet under the old policy.
DW: When was this first enacted, and what event/s precipitated it? Were their public discussions or other notices to the public about this poss ible change, and if so, how/where were they announced?
HM: The pet rules came effect with the passage of Federal guidelines requiring all public housing authorities in the U.S. develop their own policies to allow residents to own one or more common household pets. NYCHA’s 40-lb. weight rule was instituted in May 2002. NYCHA announced the change in pet policy to our residents in mid-March by letter to each household and by articles in the Housing Authority newspaper, The Journal.
DW: Why/how did NYCHA come upon the ban of no animals over 25 lbs as opposed to 40lbs? (which documents said was the rule previous.) Is there some kind of study or other reason which made NYCHA decide on this weight?
HM: NYCHA had the 40-lb rule from May 2002 till the present and, in many instances, NYCHA and its residents saw that it did not work. It created a number of problems such as those caused by larger, menacing and dangerous dogs and dogs that the NYPD complained were threatening and vicious. The larger dogs were simply creating a problem because of the density in our buildings with the limited elevator and hallway space by which our residents could traverse. Many of these situations are complicated when there are large dogs.
DW: There is an extensive lists of breeds (full and 'mixed') on the list (below.) How did you decide upon these breeds? In particular you seem to put emphasis on "Pit bull, Rottweiler, Doberman , Chow, Boxer, Akita, German Shepherd". Again, is there a particular reason, study or justification for this? Why dogs such as Dalmatians, Golden Retrievers, and several breeds of terrier?
HM: The NYCHA Pet Policy Overview has been updated. (see the link to our website) http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycha/downloads/pdf/pet_policy_overview.pdf . It now prohibits three breeds, Pit Bulls, Rottweilers and Doberman Pinchers.
DW: There is also a provision for 'one cat per apartment'. Is this correct? So in other words, a tenant may either have one 'approved' dog or one 'approved' cat (not one of each?) Why were cats included in the new regulations? Also, a 'reasonable amount' of other animals (birds, etc.) What is a 'reasonable amount'?
HM: The rules provide for either one dog or one cat, not both. That has been in place since May 2002.
DW: How will these regulations be enforced? Will NYCHA representatives or building agents be looking in apartments or patrolling grounds? What happens if someone is not in compliance?
HM: NYCHA will use its limited resources to address lease violations such as this as well as all other lease violations or Quality Of Life infringements or crimes as it is made aware of them. NYCHA has and will continue to cooperate with the NYPD for any City-initiated enforcement efforts.
DW: Will there be a grace period for people who have animals grandfathered in to get what you are asking them? (ie, licenses, vets/vaccination/etc?) As paying this all at once may be a hardship for some.
HM: As the pet policy overview makes clear, a person just has to submit the registration form before the May 1 deadline to register a pet that hasn’t previously been registered, to register it. Residents will be given a grace period of 90 days after submission of the registration form to comply with other requirements, such as veterinarian examination, spaying and neutering, rabies inoculation and Health Dept. licensing
DW: If one has, say, a pit bull, or Rottweiler, or other right now, they do not have to give it up, but it must be registered. After this animal passes away, it cannot be 'replaced' with a 'new' pit bull, etc., but only a pet on the approved list. (I just want to make sure that people understand whether they have to give up their animal or not come May 1st.) Have you reached out to the shelters and adoption groups in the NYC area re this and its possible ramifications?
HM: Nobody will have to give up a previously existing pet that complies with the old policy (dogs up to 40 lbs and breed restriction) if it is registered before the May 1 deadline. We have had discussions with the ASPCA and the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals concerning our pet policy.
DW: Are there exceptions for 'service animals' (even if they are on the 'banned' list? Section 8 residents don't have to pay a fee (but do have to license and vet.)
HM: Verified Service animals are exempt from any breed restriction or weight limit. As mentioned, this does not apply to Section 8 voucher holders living in private buildings.. It does apply to Section 8 project based residents since they are in a NYCHA owned building.
DW: Just FYI-- Are you aware the online-license form has been intermittently down for a few months now?
HM: There is an additional 90 day grace period to comply. As with any rule good faith attempts to comply that are made difficult by external sources are taken into consideration.
11 And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen.
12 And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit.
“Mrs. Pot, is this the pit?” said me.
“Why yes it is, a pit to hiss,” said she.
“The boy, Mrs. Pot …,” said me.
“His name?” said she.
“Gryphon,” said me.
“Has he been hissed in the pit before?” said she.
“No hissing around,” said me.
“Sixty dollars,” said she.
“Uggg,” said me.
“Gryphon’s collar,” said she.
“I’m wearing THAT?!” said he.
“’twill but tickle,” said she.
“In the pit?” said me.
“In the pit and be hissed,” said she.
“The hissers?” said me
“Are three,” said she.
“The grass, the box and the bush,” said she.
“What that?” said he.
“A hisser,” said me.
“WHAT”S THAT?!?!?” said he.
“A tickle,” said she.
“DAMN!” said he.
“It worked,” said she.
“To the bush!” said she.
“Ok,” said he.
“Rattle hissssss,” said Three.
“
“Bravo!” said she.
“He passed?” said me.
“Grade A,” said she.
“I’m outtie,” said he.
“In the truck,” said me.
“A COOKIE!” said he.
So we left ol’ Mrs. Pot’s pit and her hissers three and went home to where we don’t have a Mrs. Pot or a pit to hiss in. Perhaps we never will. Should a hisser stop to hiss, without a pit, Gryphon now knows to “let it be, let it be, if there is a hisser, let it be!” (sorry John)
Note: snake awareness training is serious business in parts of the country (like ours) where hissers are about. The old adage of “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” sure applies here. Although I was loathe taking him to this training, it was certainly not as bad as I anticipated. I will have to admit that it was weird wandering around in the grass field where there was 1 Diamondback Rattler loose (rattling, agressive and sometimes within just a few feet), 1 rattler underneath a dead cedar bough (and rattling) and a Copperhead in a box. The vipers were all missing the venom glands but were fully functioning and healthy otherwise. Frankly I think the exposure in the viper emporium was as helpful to the bipeds as the canines – recognizing potential danger by sight and sound and also by observing the viper’s behavior. There were 20 dogs, more people, 3 vipers, lots of stories (both good and bad) that support the activity and I came away with a companion that KNOWS not to stick his nose where it doesn’t belong.
Gryphon’s first days here have been phenomenal. He’s taken to the house, cats, critters and us. It has been an instant bond from the day I arrived at the breeder’s and he took to “B” immediately when he and I arrived home. One cat has become his “bud” and one is a bit hesitant, but doesn’t flee when he approaches. Izzy, on the other hand, cannot understand WHY we would let such a behemoth in HER house! She gets along with all the other critters, including
He’s had no issues being in his kennel during the day (I suspect that he sleeps most of the day). He was a bit restless at night and we realized that he was used to having a crate to retreat into and has been fine at night since that purchase. Using a crate has been a huge change from how things were with
The trip was like most road trips that you push through alone. It was mostly a drive on auto-pilot; although, this time I managed to remember to pick up several book CDs from the library before setting out. The books made the long miles easier, especially at night.
The straightest and fastest shot from home to
The most stressful part of the trip was the very first night. Dark had fallen hard while I was still on I-10 and I was already wary of the stretch north from Ft. Stockton to the New Mexico border. I had not seen another vehicle in a couple of hours. This lonely road is a lot of sage, oil wells and … well … nothing actually. There was, however, a proliferation of jack rabbits, horned owls, coyotes and deer. Proliferation is not an adequate word; abundant might be a better choice, but still doesn’t do it justice. The scene played out like a peripheral sidebar featuring a Steven King novel while I was listening to Sarah Dunant’s In the Company of the Courtesan – a very weird experience at best, with carnage both in the book and on the road. After a half dozen owls had flown up in front of the Explorer over the course of 10 miles I began to feel a little spooked by all the nocturnal hijinks and pulled off in the next picnic area to sleep till dawn – probably another 40 miles and many more owls and critters.
I got out to unkink and shake off the unsettling miles, looked up and was awestruck. What struck me in this very western part of
The rest of the trip was pretty uneventful, save the suicidal flood of bugs upon the windshield north of
I spent a good bit of the time feeling like I was in a huge extended neighborhood, since I’ve run this route so often. I really don’t have to think where to turn, where the motels are, where the gas exits are as well as the restaurants. I’m sure truckers must feel this way. No thinking - pas de la pensée. There were long distances of some pretty spectacular scenery and often I would find myself absorbed in what seemed like an endless non sequitur - flashes of grandeur that had zero relation to the book I was listening to – comic and confusing sometimes. On the return I had the added comedy of Gryphon – my own canine Cirque du Soleil.