Do You Know What's Under Your Bed?

I love skimming the headlines and finding two from unrelated stories that make a story of their own. Such was the case today when I read that newly appointed New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has removed two rifles she kept under her bed for protection. Maybe she feels living in Washington D.C. to be safer haven.

Widely criticized for her support of gun owners' rights when she was appointed to Hillary Clinton's seat, she may have been on to something. Representing an upstate New York district may have its perils.

Across the state in Orchard Park the police are investigating the beheading of a woman; the wife of an influential member of the Muslim community. The husband walked into the police station and reported that she was dead - at his place of business. He ran Bridges TV, designed to show the Muslim community in a positive light. Oops!

Of course she broke every rule in the book by filing for divorce and taking out a restraining order against him. The district attorney was quoted as saying, "Obviously this is the worst domestic violence possible." Do you think?

He has been charged with second degree murder. Second degree? Wow. Maybe it's because they have yet to find the murder weapon. I doubt it's under her bed!

I think if I still lived in upstate New York I might just have a rifle or two stashed under my bed too. You just never know who your neighbors might be!

While Congress Postures Hillary Earns Her Pay!

The Monday morning papers around here are usually light in weight and substance. I guess reporters don't work week ends on the assumption that news worthy events do not occur. Or else editors figure it's a time to get their money's worth from the wire services.

If that's the case today was their bonus. Oh, there was news all right. Hillary began her first official trip as Madam Secretary with a warning to North Korea that it needs to live up to its commitments to dismantle its nuclear programs. The Pakistani government, an ally of sorts, has cut a deal with the Taliban to allow them to impose Islamic law in the strategic Swat Valley. Think subjugation of women and school burning for starters.

The Venezuelans have over turned term limits which will allow the sane and beneficent Hugo Chavez to run for office for as long as he lives, effectively turning his tenure into a dictatorship. Oil, anyone?

The Iraqis admit there was fraud in their recent elections but not enough to be concerned about. And then there is Israel. Ah yes, the country we be beholden to forever. Our dear and staunch ally of allies! They've now seized 400 plus acres in the West Bank opening the door for more settlements. Despite their promise to the U.S. to refrain from doing so. Think peace gone down the tubes one more time.

I hope Hillary is as good as she thinks she is! Her hands will be full and her wits challenged.

Meanwhile our new President is having to travel the country to drum up support for his programs while the Republicans wave paper and belly ache about pork. For that I would applaud them if they had done something better during the time they had in the leadership. They didn't. Ms. Pelosi and Mr. Reid had better remember what happened to them for lack of performance. They were turned out. I feel like I'm on a see saw and can't get off.

One thing both sides need to remember. It took a world war to get us on the road to recovery after the last stifling depression. It seems like our enemies and allies alike know we're bickering within and are taking advantage of it. Is this the mind set? The stimulus to economies that wars bring? If that's the case forget about saving GM and Chrysler. It will be all desert camouflage Jeeps and Hummers.

Just don't bet this time around it will be contained on another continent. I personally don't want to ask, "Where have all the young men gone? Gone for soldiers, every one."

Bacchus Update

I meant to tack this on to yesterday's post but didn't get it downloaded. This is how Bacchus is looking. Being a dog. Making his snow angels. Note his bright pink tongue! That was truly his valentine to me yesterday!

For The Love Of A Dog

Today seems an appropriate one to explain a bit about my relationship with Bacchus. Though we've always had strong relationships with our dogs, the one Bacchus and I have is probably due to timing and circumstance.

We had him for about a week when I got word my Mom was terminal - maybe a couple of weeks at most. Hub had business trips scheduled so we decided I'd take the puppy and drive to North Carolina from Rochester. The plan was I'd stay as long as necessary.

The irony did not escape me that I was going to introduce a new life to her as she was losing hers. It was a bittersweet thought; one not to be fulfilled. Mom didn't make it through that first day. So there we were, Bacchus and me. We stayed a month taking care of everything that has to be done to close out a life. Funeral arrangements, estate sale, getting the house ready and putting it on the market. The two of us together. At night, when exhausted, he'd snuggle up with me and give me the comfort I sorely needed. We formed a very special bond.

You might think a puppy would be a handful under such circumstances but he was incredibly good. He seemed to sense it was the prudent thing to do. He played puppy more to bedevil the neighbors who were helping out then to aggravate me. He never did. He literally house broke himself; slept through the nights without being in his crate and was always ready with an antic to give me a laugh when I needed one most.

Things normalized when we got home and he quickly trained his people to do his bidding. We did so happily. The next lengthy period of time he and I had together was when we moved from Rochester to Coeur d'Alene. Hub was staying behind to supervise the packing and do the final clean up while Bacchus and I drove here to close on the house and have things ready for the arrival of the trucks. That drive across the country was another special time. We weren't in any big hurry. We detoured through Yellowstone where he learned firsthand about bison and bears and elk. He barked his enthusiastic greeting to all of them. The only ones who paid any attention were the bear cubs who guessed he probably wanted to play. Sorry kid, bad idea.

Once settled, we began our morning walks. It was our doofing time. He enjoyed snuffling anything and everything along the roads and I'd let my mind wander anywhere it wanted to go. A couple of miles. Every morning. If the neighbors were out we'd stop and visit. Soon everyone from the school bus driver to the county workers starting out on their morning schedules from the truck yard at the end of the street to people commuting down the road became hand waving friends. Everyone knew the Saint Bernard and the lady with the pink pick up bags!

When I began blogging, the premise was writing about my thoughts while on those walks. And so it has been for the past nine years. We haven't a lot of time left on this journey through life together. It hit me so hard because it was so unexpected, even at his age. Much the same as it was with my Mom. What had been an upset stomach turned into a recurrence of colon cancer that had metastasized to her liver. No one saw it coming. Her caregivers, who were the best, were dumbfounded. The parallels are uncanny.

We've been so fortunate to have superbly gifted and caring veterinarians looking after his well being. We've got the meds pretty well sorted out and figured out the eating problem so he's back on his food. Next Friday he goes back to Washington State to have a heart monitor placed under his skin so we can better determine just how well his heart is doing.

It's what one does for a family member. It's interesting. So many people equate pets as substitute children. We never have. We chose not to have children. We always wanted dogs. Four Saints and two mutts over 40 years. They have all been beloved, wanted pets; not substitutes for anything.

I'll no doubt write about our adventures on occasion but regular updates seem to be a bit ghoulish. Yesterday, all of us being struck with cabin fever, we decided to pile in the van and go for a ride - to Missoula to do some shopping. Bacchus got his two hamburger lunch and a ride which he loves. He's a dog. We're going to let him enjoy being just that as long as he himself is enjoying it.

It just seems the right thing to do for the big ole guy who has given us, and especially me, so much, so many times.

An American Political Primer

If ever one needed a primer to explain how American politics works or doesn't, just reference the first three weeks of the Obama administration.

It reminds me of the M*A*S*H episode where Major Burns goads Klinger and Zale into a fight; they orchestrate the battle to do in Burns and together knock him cold with one well coordinated punch. That's what the Republicans and Democrats are doing to Obama. Forget about the country. It's partisan politics as usual.

I'm actually beginning to feel sorry for Obama. Softening partisan politics, no easy chore to begin with, is one thing, but his own people and party are letting him down. And I might add, us.

Pelosi, who acts like she runs the country, throws a hissy fit when Reid tries to roll her. The procedure for choosing cabinet members has been an absolute disaster. Now Republican Senator Gregg has withdrawn his name for Secretary of Commerce citing irresolvable conflicts regarding the stimulus package and the census.

He knew of these issues before his name was put forward. All his platitudes about the honor of being considered and his admiration for the President ring false. Why did he even entertain the idea?

Now that he will retain his Senate seat the stimulus bill will be in peril when it comes back to the Senate. Will Snow, Collins and Specter, the three Republicans who voted with the Democrats, do so again? My guess is their leadership is leaning on them pretty hard to change their votes.

Actually, this may be good for the country in the long run. Things seem to be muddling along. The DOW is inching upward ever so slightly, but upward never-the-less. Maybe businesses who deserve to fail should do so. Those who are strong will pick up the slack. Other than the nostalgia of seeing brand names go away, is there really a good reason to keep GM and Chrysler afloat? Remember Studebaker or Nash? I do. Do I miss them? No. Ten years down the road who will miss GM or Chrysler. There are already others out there ready to absorb the market share. But whatever. Perhaps the die is cast.

Once the stimulus issue is settled, the media should return to reporting on other pressing matters like the escalation of violence in Afghanistan and the elections in Israel and the upcoming one in Iran.

If Obama thinks getting the stimulus package is tough, he hasn't seen anything yet. Especially if Netanyahue gets the nod to form a government over Livini and even if he doesn't! What if Ahmajinidad prevails in Iran over challenger Khatami!

What will Congress be doing? Who knows. They could still be agonizing over what is and what is not stimulus. Or they could just be posturing. They do it so well.

Yep. Political theater with an adoring audience in the media. Thumbs up or thumbs down? Two years will tell the tale. The only bright spot is that when asked if he would run for office, Joe the Plumber answered that he isn't sure we deserve him. At least someone has gotten something right!