Breakfast With Bacchus

Well. Here we are again, still chugging along. Bacchus has a stubborn streak that is putting my patience to the test. Eating is still a problem. At least that which is nutritious. As you can see, he's not crazy about taking his pills any more.

After consultation with his cardiologist, we've started him on a human anti-depressant that works as an appetite stimulant in dogs. We're hoping it works - and that we can use a generic because it is prohibitively expensive! Today is second his day. If it's going to help it should be kicking within the next couple of days. Keep your fingers crossed for us!

We had a good week. The continuing snow keeps the old boy happy even though everyone else is thoroughly tired of it. Once it's gone he'll have to go back to drinking water like a regular dog rather than laying for what seems hours eating snow.

Today's video is longer than I like to post but I wanted you to have an idea just what it takes to get pills into a very stubborn dog. Patience - and for the sake of your fingers - prudence!

Next Friday we go to WSU for a check up and an assessment of how he's doing. From our point of view it's not bad. We're still allowing him to romp if he wants. Walk as far as he wants and pretty much eat what he wants. Why is it I don't think anyone will indulge me to this extent!

Indignant Righteous Indignation

A while back a local, or locals, asked a state senator to have the attorney general investigate whether or not a board member of our local urban development, LCDC, corporation was in violation of conflict of interest requirements. This gentleman sits on the board of a local bank which is eligible to make bids on projects within the urban development districts.

To the casual reader it would seem that he does. Upon investigation, however, the AG's office found that yes, he was in violation of conflict of interest but could find no evidence of criminal intent nor of a prosecutable level.

The hue and cry over this has been deafening. The "open government" cadre are hailing this as a great victory. Others, including the gentleman himself, friends and colleagues, are lamenting that it even happened way beyond prudence. Letters to the editor and even columns are lauding this life long resident as the epitome of integrity and one devoted to community service.

It leads me to ask why, since he got a pass from the AG's office, are the howls still being heard, including from him! Part of the complaint is that he has a right to face his accusers. Accusers of what? Someone had a question about the relationships. That is not an accusation; merely a question. Do we not have the right to ask for an independent opinion?

Then it has been asked why the senator didn't pick up the phone and ask the bank about the relationship and pick up the phone and ask LCDC about the relationship.

Okay, herein lies the problem. If that is the mentality no wonder everyone is always at each others throats. Asking the bank and the LCDC if the relationship is above board is like asking a wife beater if he beats his wife! What do you think they're going to say?

From what I read about this gentleman and his wife, they are, indeed, pillars of the community. He needs to go quietly into the night lest more of us begin to wonder why he and his minions are protesting so much!

Charm Vs. Protocol

After the hubbub over Michelle Obama touching the Queen, I decided to see what other gaffes have been made. In our country the Obama's have huge approval ratings. They are bright, articulate and attractive. I like them both. That being said, they would be wise to get a protocol officer in place. Citizens of other countries, not to mention their leaders, may not be as inclined to take such breeches in stride. The Obama's might be viewed as arrogant or even disrespectful even if not so intended. Being a little more traditional in their gift giving might also be a good idea. DVDs that don't work on the British system really doesn't cut it.

I did a quick search to see what gaffes have been attributed to them. I found ten for Barack. Only eight seemed at all worth mentioning. The most arrogant, I think, was the presumptuous use of a Presidential Seal look-a-like during the campaign. Other than that they were all slips of the tongue that any one of us could make with no malice intended. Like the comment about his bowling being best suited for the Special Olympics or the Nancy Reagan seance comment.

Others were simply interpretations of what he said spun to suit the purpose on whoever was commenting. That goes for the misquote of Michelle's "proud of her country" statement too.

Actually, I'm quite pleased with the President and his spouse thus far. I listened to his post G-20 summit news conference and liked what he had to say and the way he said it. I'm going to criticize his actions when I feel they deserve it along with the actions of his appointees. It's my right as a citizen. I'll also praise when praise is due. That too is my right as a citizen.

In a world where many will be waiting for the charm to fade, however, I'm merely suggesting more attention to protocol will give less fuel for the fire.

Why Are We Seniors Such A Puzzlement?

Back in November when Henry Alford , a contributor to the New York Times , among others, told me I was on his list of ten favorite blogs by or about seniors, I did some digging to learn more about him. It came as no surprise that he had written a book. The title tells it all: How to Live - A Search For Wisdom From Old People While They're Still On this Earth.

The title made me laugh and I vowed to read it. This is not a review of the book but rather an expression of curiosity as to just why "seniors" are viewed as some sort of mysterious beings.

One thing I did find interesting in the reading of the book is that he seemed to be searching for a definition as he was looking for his answer. Those he interviewed seemed mostly, not all but mostly, an eclectic hodgepodge of eccentrics. Granted, he and I do not run in the same circles, but I haven't found the seniors of my acquaintance to be as needy of attention or acceptance of their eccentricities as those in his book.

What I found most interesting, however, were the comments on Times review. It occurred to me that somewhere along the path of aging, younger generations lose touch with who we are and where we've been. We're like knick knacks sitting on a curiosity shelf and we need delicate handling. Do we?

We're referred to as libraries; full of knowledge that should be studied lest it be lost. But how should we be approached? What questions should be asked? Wow.

Of course, I am a senior myself so it isn't all that mysterious. In a book I actually did review a couple of years back there was a great deal of discussion about the disconnect between parents and their adult children. I never suffered that. I like to talk, my Mom liked to talk and when we visited, we did little else - but talk. It's called communication. It's no great mystery. Not just talking, but listening and more importantly - hearing - what one another has to say. There may be disagreements. It's a natural generational happening, but no great mystery.

I found the cover illustration particularly funny. The picture of a Shar Pei - full of wrinkles. I enjoyed the irony. As Shar Pei's age, they become less wrinkled. Would that be true for we seniors! Perhaps if we did a Benjamin Button and could reverse the aging process so we looked more like those studying us we wouldn't seem so unapproachable!

As it is, I guess we seniors hold a great secret among ourselves. We've all attained varying degrees of wisdom by merely being. Some of us have lived very well, others not so. It's all pretty much as to how the chips fell and what we did with them.

In other words, if it weren't for those wrinkles there would be no puzzle at all! We're just like everyone else.

Bonuses As A Way Of Life

The big complaint about the AIG bonuses was that they were supposedly rewarding failure. If the government hadn't stepped in, would anything have been said? No. It's a way of life that reaches far beyond top executives!

In a time of economic stress at all levels, how about signing bonuses for coaches at a time when university budgets are being cut to the bone, teachers are facing either pay cuts or job loss, and fewer students are being accepted? Take for example Washington State's basketball coach Tony Bennett jumping ship for the University of Virginia. His total package is around $1.7 million a year plus a $500,000 signing bonus! That would provide a lot of faculty pay and tuition for a lot of students! What's even more questionable is the fact he's an unproven entity considering the differences between a Washington State and a Virginia! Failure isn't even an issue here. It's for signing on with high hopes. Heck of a deal.

Even harder to swallow for a lot of students, I should think, is John Calipari's deal with Kentucky. His eight year deal will bring him some $31.65 million plus a $2.5 million signing bonus. Please don't tell me it's worth that kind of money because of what the program brings in for the school. If it was all that successful, why are the budgets being cut?

It goes even further. Let's go back to tax payer money. The Wall Steet Journal tells us of the practice of Congress giving sometimes substantial bonuses to aides - with tax payer dollars.

We're told that last year more than $9.1 million was awarded to over 22,000 staffers. These discretionary bonuses went to staff earning more than $100,000, as merit bonuses.

To repeat a theme I harp on often, Congress gives itself automatic pay raises and gives out staff bonuses. Coaches are receiving huge signing bonuses while their schools flounder. Meanwhile Social Security cost of living increases are going to be frozen for the next three years, if not longer.

Does anyone besides me see the hypocrisy in all this?