Random Thoughts Tuesday 3-29-11

Hello, All.  I'm gonna play along on Random Tuesday today.  Our usual lovely host is taking a little break. But some lovely bloggers are keeping the linky going, so stop by and see Stacy if you want to play along.

I learned how to give antibiotic shots to a lizard (that would be Mamba, our leopard gecko).  She needs another one tonight.

I'm working on an exam for my Human Diseases class.  We are doing renal and gastrointestinal this time.  So while reviewing today we talked about diarrhea, constipation, hemorrhoids, vomiting.  I used the word "borborygmus" in a sentence.  (go ahead.  look it up.  I'll wait).

I also mentioned the fact that an aunt of mine died of acute glomerulonephritis at the age of 13.  It was 1944 and the penicillin that would have saved her was all over in Europe.  I'm glad the troops got it, but it would have been nice to have known her too.

Still working on Chili's house training.  She is one stubborn little smoosh-faced girl.  Almost has me convinced it's my fault she's not house broken yet.  Almost.

Did you see the article not too long ago that said parents are more unhappy than people without children?  (Shouts to the boys in the basement: "Hey!  Stop hitting your brother!  What?  He kicked you where?!")

Chili likes to be mothered by Sassy.  Right now she is sitting under Sassy and reaching up her paw to Sassy's face.  The goal is for Sassy to lick her face and ears.  She loves it.  And Sassy doesn't seem to mind either.

It's so funny that the animal that weighs the least makes so much noise when he jumps.  ("Hey!  Guys!  Stop yelling at each other!" "You're a weanie!" says one of them.  "you're a weanie without any pee!" shouts the other one.)

I just heard Spooky jump off of the bed or counter in the bathroom upstairs.  He only weighs about 7 lbs but it sounds like a large child is jumping around up there.

Got my tax info to the accountant.  Today.  He's got like two whole weeks to work on it.  So why do I feel guilty?  Must be the catechism I was subjected to as a child.

Well, I've got to go get the dinner, that only 2 of the 5 of us will appreciate, ready.  I've already been asked what we're having.  Beef stir fry with red peppers, onions, broccoli.  ("Yuck.  Why can't we eat real food.  Like Mac-n-cheese, or hot dogs?")

I'm really looking forward to getting veggies from our CSA garden soon.  Spring greens are ready this week.

K.  Have a great week!

Macro Monday 3/28/11 (on Tuesday 3/29/11)

It snowed last Saturday and covered up the daffodils.  But today they are fine :)
See some great macro Monday posts at Lisa's place!

Sassy Sunday (3-27-11) Almost April Fool's!

Hey Everyone!  It's spring, but yesterday the sky thought it was still winter!  We got a bunch a snow.  And we had a blast.

The boys made a snow alien.

But today it is all gone.  It was pretty much melted by noon.

Hope you are having a great start to your spring! 

Sassy

Sassy Sunday (3-13-11) Sassy Smiles

Hello Everyone.  Sassy here for another addition of Sassy Sunday.  I'm thinking about rescued dogs today. In a sense I was rescued.  I had a family that had an allergic member so I went to live with someone else.  They had another dog that didn't like me, so I went to live with someone else.  Those people thought a young puppy was too much work so they didn't want me.  Then one day I went to live with my new family and they have loved me ever since.

Some dogs are not so lucky.  And if they end up in Animal Control, for whatever reason, they have little chance of getting out.
I'm afraid if I ever ended up in Animal Control I'd have a hard time getting out too.  See, if the animal control officer thinks you are at all vicious, they put you down.  And I tend to smile when I'm happy or nervous.  Here is what I look like when I'm smiling.

I was smiling at one of my "kids" when Barb snapped this picture.  I do this whenever one of my people comes home.  I wag my tail too, but apparently, I still look scary to people who don't know me.  So I'd have little chance at animal control.

Ginger also would have little chance.

See how sweet she looks in this picture?  But she's afraid of people, particularly men, that she doesn't know.  She shows all the classic signs of a "fear-biter".  And she has tried to bite men who have come into the yard.  The people at animal control would not put up with this.  They'd get a muzzle on her and put her down right away.  That's why she has a leash on.  We have an invisible fence, but she scares people by charging the fence when they run or walk by and often they don't know she'll stop.

I don't think Chili would have a problem at animal control.

Chili on her one-eyed bear

She loves everyone and I'm sure she'd make it out alive.

By working with foster dogs Barb has also learned that when someone surrenders a dog to animal control, he is usually put down right away.  See, animal control will keep a stray for 7 days (more or less) to see if an owner claims him.  But if the animal is surrendered by the owner, they know no one is looking for him.  So they usually put them down to make room for other animals.

There is a guy at animal control that will call our favorite rescue if a dog comes in that he thinks is "highly adoptable".  But that doesn't always happen.

Well, I overheard Barb saying it would be a good day to go to the dog park.  So I'm off to get ready.  Thanks for stopping by today!

Barb

Macro Monday 3/7/11 and Great (Ft.) Scott!

Hey, Everyone.  Thanks for stopping by today.  I'm playing along with Lisa et al. doing Macro Monday.  Stop by and see some of the great macro shots!

The family and I went to Fort Scott, KS this weekend.  The occasion, unfortunately, was a memorial service for a loved one.  But it was a wonderful weekend, nonetheless.  Have you ever been to Fort Scott, KS?  This is definitely a place worth checking out if you are near by.

And let me recommend a great place to stay.

The Courtland Hotel.  What a cool place!  This place has been a hotel, boarding house or dormitory since it first opened in 1906.  It was originally built for people working on the railroads.  Now it is restored and remodeled to provide all the modern "necessities" but it still feels like you are staying in an historic building.

The first picture at the top is a closeup of something in the wall in the stairwell.  I'm not sure what it is, but I liked it.  Here is the whole stairwell.

There are beautiful, original tin ceiling tiles.  The woodwork is beautiful.  There are some original antique furnishings plus many beautiful pieces added by the current owners.

The proprietor is extremely knowledgable on the history of the town and has lots of stories to keep you entertained.

Front of the building

We also visited the places that were important in the early life of our loved one.  The doorknob above is from the church he attended as a child.  We also visited the house in which he was born (now uninhabited and in disrepair) and the house where he lived as a teenager (now occupied by his 84 year-old brother).

Yesterday, before heading home, we took the time to visit the old fort.  It was built as a peacekeeping fort (keeping the settlers and the native americans apart) but outlived its usefulness when the westward expansion took place.  

Just one of the many buildings of the old fort.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Be sure to visit the other macro sites!

Barb

Sassy Sunday (2-27-11) Sailor has sailed away.

Hello Everyone!  Sassy here.  I know.  It's been a while since I last posted.  Some of it is my fault.  Most of it is Barb's. :)

Well, Sailor has sailed away to his new home.

I think everyone will miss this little guy.  Even I think he's cute.  And I tolerated him pretty well.  I hope his new forever home lasts longer than the last one we sent him to.  See, a few Saturdays ago we sent him home with a new family only to get him back the very next day.  But this new home sounds just perfect.  He'll be the only baby in the house.  He'll be best friends with his new mom's best friend's dog.  And he will go to doggie day care every day with this new bestest doggie friend.  Sounds perfect.  So let's keep our paws crossed!

I saw the vet this month.  Guess what he told me.  Yeah.  I have to lose about 10 pounds!  Doesn't he realize that I'm too busy keeping the couch warm to worry about exercise?  So I've been on walks everyday since the weather has been sightly better.  Don't get me wrong, I love to go on walks.  I just don't want the goal of these walks to be weight loss.  I want to smell the smells, check out the cracks in the sidewalk, pee in everyone's yard, etc.  Seems the people in the house want me to just keep walking.  At a rather brisk pace, I might add.  See, they are doing some sort of contest at the gym and want to lose some weight themselves.  So they are all gung-ho about Ginger and me losing weight along with them.  Ok.  We'll see how long this lasts!  (just don't mess with my food!)

So.  Are your people looking for a new best friend?  There are some new friends available at Hope Rescues.   And one of Hope's friends, Mark Buerhle from the Chicago White Sox, and his really sweet wife, are helping out by sponsoring pets and contributing to new housing for those waiting for a home.  They are such nice people.  :)  Check out hoperescues.com if you need a new friend.

Well, I've got to go get that squirrel out of the bird feeder.  I hope everyone has a great week.  Thanks for stopping by!

Sassy

Sassy Sunday (2-13-11)

Hi Everyone.  Sassy here.
It's been a tough week this week.  Dad's dad died on Monday.  So Mom, Dad and the boys were all kind of busy this week.  Then they left us with a nice dog sitter and went to the funeral over the weekend.
I'll post a real Sassy Sunday next week.  Right now, I gotta get to bed.