The Week That Was...

What has been a very short week is winding down. Blogging has sure taken a back seat between the holiday, gardening and Bacchus.

Thursday he had an appetite so I pretty much let him eat as much as he wanted. Actually it was mostly chicken instead of his usual diet of sausages. The high fat diet, however, caught up with him that evening when his whole digestive system rebelled. He and Hub were gone an inordinately long time for their last walk. He just couldn't get anything out and completely exhausted himself trying. He had to take a breather even before returning to the house.  Which really scared Hub.  An uncomfortable night followed.

By pill time Friday morning everything had reversed itself and I had to clean him up. Hub and I decided it was time for some tough love. No more junk. We'd rather he fade away from not eating rather than kill himself trying cope with a bad diet.  Oh, he'll get fed all right.  It's just time to call the old boy's bluff and for Mom (me) to get some backbone!

Off to the vet for a shave and a haircut. And some more pills to settle his system. Today he's sulking but he's also feeling a whole lot better.

Fortunately, for the sake of my humor, my good friend Word Tosser came down from Sandpoint and met me for lunch. No blogging. Just visiting.

Same thing today. Yard work. Unless something really grabs my attention I anticipate the same for tomorrow. Monday I have surgery on my hand so I doubt I'll be at the computer then either.

Now, that's more than you wanted to know, but it's why the substance of the blog is a bit different this week.  Every once in awhile life without the computer just needs lived!

Puppy Love

Every once in awhile I figure I've done something right. If I hadn't, I don't know how I rate the wonderful "animal" people that have passed through my life over the years. None have meant more to me than the ones I have now.

You met Ollie a couple of weeks ago when I took Bacchus to meet him. He belongs to one of the vet techs. Last week she and the staff had been talking about us and were wondering how we were doing. So she gave me a call. Just to touch base. And to deliver a standing invitation to drop by whenever I was in the area to visit with Ollie. These are special, caring people. There will be a time when I'm sure they'll see more of me than they'd like.

I had to go to the grocery store today and it's right around the corner. I called to see if they were busy and was told to come on in. I did. With camera in hand. The proud Mom doesn't have a camera and you know parents need pictures of their kids. So every once in awhile I'll bop in and snap a few for her or take a short video. Today, still in my gardening clothes and looking like I have a death grip on him, I had my picture taken too.

When circumstances permit, like it's a bit cooler, I'll take Bacchus with me. He's still enjoying his outings and the interaction with one of his own! Dr. Prince came in from her lunch break while I was there. We talked about how full the cycle has become. What Ollie's Mom is going through with him, I'm repeating with my dear old man. Same issues, different ages. I revel and reminisce in her enthusiasm for the breed, comparing notes, answering questions and experiencing again the absolute joy of a new puppy.

I'm finding the experience fascinating, poignant and very, very special.

Not Such A Wonderful World These Days

I've said before and I'll say again, I think Hillary Clinton probably has the toughest job in the Obama administration. That's probably why she isn't getting much air time these days. She's working. The world is a mess and she is our face person. I'm just wondering when the administration is going to allow her to kick it up a notch. Or maybe Obama flitting around Las Vegas touting solar energy that provides power for 25% of an Air Force base is more important.

The news today that North Korea has decided to no longer abide by the armistice that ended the Korean "police action" does not bode well. Especially paired with their recent nuclear test and threat to fire upon Japanese and U.S. ships.

Robert Gibbs, Press Secretary, saying these actions won't get North Korea the attention it craves is interesting. It would seem they're getting quite a bit of attention from the rest of the world.

Then there is the fall out from the Netanyahu talks. His insistence to continue building in settlements within what is supposed to be Palestinian territory along with his coolness toward a two state solution also does not bode well. King Abdullah of Jordan has warned for months now that unless and until the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is resolved there will be no peace in the Middle East. He may know of which he speaks since he is right in there.

Last but not least are our Pakistani friends who gave huge concessions to the Taliban in the Swat Valley to keep the peace only to find themselves being suddenly overrun. To their credit they are making an effort to push the Taliban back but a tremendous price has already been paid.

Follow the link to the Times Online and watch the video, if you have the stomach for it, to see what they did to a 17 year old girl who supposedly refused the marriage proposal of a Taliban commander.

Think about how much aid we give to all these countries. We never withdraw it. They thumb their nose at us or rattle their sabers and it seems like all we do is give them more. The last thing in the world I would advocate is more war. We should just pull the purse strings shut and let them fend for themselves. After all, it's the technique being used against those who the administration considers greedy corporate executives!

Think what we could do for our own country with the savings. Pay off our debts to those who don't like us very much like China. Maybe even shore up Social Security and Medicare for the likes of me. I can think of a few hundred other uses for those billions, too. Can't you?

Obama, You're Scaring Me!

I have not been pleased with many of Obama's appointments because they don't have the qualifications for the jobs they fill. I understand, though, that's politics. I had hoped Obama would play the game differently. It is apparently not to be.

His choice of Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court confirms it. First I don't subscribe to the notion that the justice need be a woman nor a Hispanic if either, or as in this case one and the same, is not the best possible person available. Oh, I know, women are under represented and so are Hispanics. So are American Indians, Asian Americans and dozens of other ethnic groups who are all citizens of the United States! They just don't happen to represent voting blocks of any magnitude.

That she feels the court is to make law rather than interpret it is troublesome. That she ruled in favor of the City of New Haven, CT against the white firefighters that were denied promotions because there was no black that passed the test doesn't just smack of racism, it's a knock out punch. That she has been overturned more than the soil in my garden doesn't comfort me either. According to Politico her views on other issues are all across the board. She's elusive. As a way to stymie those who will be questioning her for confirmation, this may be a smart political ploy. For the people of this country and for the President who put her name forward, this is risky business.

According to all the conservative talk shows today Rahm Emanuel pushed hard for Ms. Sotomayor over Obama's instincts. There is no way of knowing how true this is but from what I've seen I would trust my instincts and say the possibility is high. That also goes to the issue that Emanuel, as chief of staff, is doing the governing while Obama continues to campaign.

The bright side is, if confirmed, she is but one vote on the Court of nine. The dim side is that while the Republicans will rail against her, they have no leadership to take the argument to the people. Even dimmer is that Obama may have two more seats to fill before he leaves office.

The Supreme Court is not supposed to be warm and fuzzy and bring one's personal life history into decisions. They are to sort out conflicting opinions in law and uphold the Constitution.

Obama has stated he believes the Constitution is flawed. If he is going to appoint justices who agree with that stance, we may end up thinking the Bush administration abuses were a walk in the park.

You Go Girl!

Well, she made it through the semi finals. A little shaky at the beginning, but she steadied and ended strong.

I thought you might like to hear what she was like at 22 back in 1984. And I'm wondering if she will compete against Greg Prichard.