An Open Letter on What It Really Means to Be a Liberal Democrat

Friends, neighbors, and fellow Americans,

I want to take a moment to clarify where I stand, because I am tired of being misrepresented as a “radical leftist” simply for holding values that I believe are rooted in fairness, compassion, and the very ideals America was founded on. I am a liberal democrat, yes—but that doesn’t mean what some people assume it does.

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Caring for People Is Not Radical

I believe that a country shows its true character in how it treats its most vulnerable: children, the elderly, the sick, and the disabled. No civilized nation should tolerate people going without food, freezing in the cold, or dying because they cannot afford healthcare. This is not about handouts; it’s about decency and human dignity.

Healthcare and Education Should Not Be Crushing Burdens

I believe healthcare is a right, not a privilege reserved for the wealthy or the fortunate. That doesn’t mean I think the Affordable Care Act is flawless—it isn’t—but the alternative of letting people go without care is unacceptable.

Likewise, I believe education should be affordable. No one should be saddled with six-figure debt simply for trying to better themselves and contribute to society. Other nations make this work. Why can’t we?

Work Should Pay, and Wealth Should Be Shared Fairly

I do not believe in taking money from hard-working people and giving it away to those who refuse to work. What I do believe is that no one should work 40, 60, or 80 hours a week and still not be able to cover rent, food, and basic necessities. A minimum wage should be a livable wage. No worker for a multibillion-dollar corporation should need food stamps to survive.

We cannot ignore the reality that wealth in America is concentrated in the hands of very few while too many struggle to make ends meet. Fair wages, affordable housing, reasonable healthcare costs, and a tax system where the wealthy and corporations pay their share would go a long way toward correcting this imbalance.

Faith and Freedom

I am not anti-Christian. I have no interest in banning prayer, closing churches, or restricting anyone’s personal faith. What I oppose is when politicians attempt to legislate Christianity into civil law. That is not freedom—it is the opposite of religious liberty. Just as Christians would resist Sharia law being imposed in the U.S., I resist biblical law being forced upon everyone, regardless of their personal beliefs.

Equal Rights Are Not Special Rights

I do not believe that LGBT people should have “more rights” than anyone else—I believe they deserve the same rights as everyone else. The same applies to women, who should not be treated as a separate class of humans, but equal in pay, rights, and freedom from abuse.

Immigration and Regulation

The myth that undocumented immigrants live off government programs is just that—a myth. They are not eligible for the vast majority of benefits, and when they do take jobs, it is usually because employers knowingly hire them. We need humane, rational solutions to immigration that don’t involve caging children, separating families, or ending programs like DACA.

And yes, I believe regulation is necessary—not because I want government in everything, but because unchecked greed has proven time and again to lead to unsafe products, environmental destruction, and abuse of workers. Regulations exist to hold companies accountable and protect consumers.

Guns and Safety

I do not want to take away all guns. What I do support is enforcing the laws we already have and enacting common-sense measures to keep guns out of the wrong hands. That is not tyranny—it is responsibility.

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The Present Moment

This is why I cannot stand with Donald Trump or with Pete Hegseth’s vision, expressed yesterday before hundreds of military leaders and generals. Suggesting that America’s democratic cities should be used as military training grounds is authoritarian, not democratic. It is an abuse of power.

History shows us the dangers of militarizing civic spaces—whether it was Mussolini’s Blackshirts marching through Italian cities, or Hitler’s paramilitaries using public squares as stages for shows of force. Once you normalize military presence in civilian life, you erode the boundary between democracy and authoritarianism.

And regarding the government shutdown that began at 12:01 a.m., I reject the narrative that it is the fault of Democrats. The truth is that Republicans wrote the bill to keep the government open while deliberately excluding Democrats from participating. You cannot lock one party out of the room, refuse to compromise, and then turn around and blame them for the consequences. Again, history reminds us: when one party starts dismantling the norms of shared governance, it undermines democracy itself. That is how authoritarian systems begin.

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Disagreement Is Not Hatred

Like most liberals I know, I do not hate Donald Trump or the GOP. I strongly disagree with them, yes—especially their cruelty, their constant stream of insults, and their questionable tactics—but disagreement does not equal hatred.

The sad truth is that Trump and many within the GOP have frequently expressed outright hatred toward liberals and Democrats. That is documented. It’s not just political opposition—it’s a culture of hostility. I want to be clear: I do not return that hatred. I believe we can, and must, disagree without dehumanizing each other.

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The Bottom Line

At the heart of it all, my beliefs come down to one simple principle: we should take care of each other. That does not mean people should work themselves into the ground while others live off their labor. It means that in a nation as wealthy and resourceful as ours, no one should suffer or die from preventable causes simply because it “costs too much” to help them.

That is not radical.
That is not extreme.
That is not anti-American.

That, to me, is democracy.

Sincerely,
A concerned liberal democrat and American citizen

Five daughters. Five adults. Five sisters. Mary. Pat. Carol. Liz. Cathy.

Monday morning, June 29^th,  2015 the oldest of us had a heart attack a day after surgery and she did not survive. Mary was a born again Christian and she found love, family, comfort and joy within her church. She left this world knowing she was loved by the family she created.

 

Mary didn’t have a lot in the way of material possessions. She had a couple of dogs whom she adored, a few good friends, a few pieces of furniture and a firm belief she knew where she was going when she died. I think if you could ask her she would say she died rich.

 

One of my sisters commented that when you lose a sibling, your world shifts and it does. Any of us could be angry with the other, gripe and complain but no one else was granted the same privilege. We loved and fought with each other through childhood, teen years, adulthood. No one else knows your history like a sister.  No one else understands you like a sister. No one else can make you as happy or as angry or as sad as a sister.

My oldest sister is gone. We didn't always get along but I miss her. It didn't matter if we talked, I knew where she was, I knew she was in this world, I knew she was there. Now she is not.

 

One of my sisters pointed out we all need to make an effort to stay in touch, to take the time to be sisters. We live different lives but she is right, we need to make the effort. As she noted, there were five of us, now there are four. There will never be five again.

 

Four daughters. Four adults. Four sisters. Pat. Carol. Liz. Cathy.

 

Good bye Mary. We loved you.

 

 

 

 

Bad Decisions notwithstanding, poverty should not mean my dogs are better cared for than humans. . .

We took Punkin to the vet the other day for his annual. He's the oldest dog here, 15 1/2 years old, cataracts, hard of hearing, toothless and a mind of his own. In addition to being the oldest, he is also the smallest at 3.2 lbs. Lest you think that puts him at a disadvantage, let me put your mind at ease, this little guy runs the place. 

He thinks nothing of charging Prince to take over Prince's meal if the mood hits him and he'll even tackle Nikki if she irritates him. Because he has thyroid issues he usually has a T4 test every year which is a blood draw taken from the neck region. When he first had a T4 several years ago, this 3 lb dog needed 7 (yes SEVEN) people to hold him in order to draw blood without hurting him. Today they have a system and can do it with only 3 people. Punkin knows exactly how to take advantage of his diminutive size.

His blood tests came back and he needs to start eating kidney friendly food which is fine, prescription diets are no strangers in this house of former mill dogs. His tests also revealed the beginning of glaucoma so he was prescribed eye drops which hopefully will relieve the pressure, if not then it's off to see our favorite ophthalmologist at MedVet.

His eye drops are what prompted me to write today. While waiting to pick up Punkin's prescription at the pharmacy two people were ahead of me. One gentleman had apparently lost his insurance and was trying to decide which medications he could pick up. I had Mason with me at the walk-up window so we walked away to give the man privacy. When we came back a lady was picking up several prescriptions. I heard the pharmacy tech tell her that the $181 xyz prescription was not covered by Medicaid and asked if she had a supplemental insurance plan. The lady said no and asked about two other prescriptions that apparently were covered ~ at this point Mason and I walked away again to give her privacy.

Once the lady left, I went back to the window to pick up Punkin's eye drops. They weren't terribly expensive but they weren't inexpensive either. I thought, not for the first time, how fortunate we are to be able to care for our pets and ourselves. We've never been in a position where we had to choose between medical care for our pets and the shelter or euthanasia. We've never had to pass on a prescription for one of our dogs or ourselves because we couldn't afford it. Decisions about our dog's welfare are made based on what we believe is best for them, not for financial reasons.

Somehow it does not seem right that whether you live in pain or comfort, live with a medical condition or are cured, even live or die should depend on how much money you have. Somehow, it does not seem right that my dogs have better care than many humans. I understand that sometimes people are living in poverty because of bad decisions, but I don't agree that those bad decisions are justification to either let them suffer in pain or die. We need to fix this. We need to help those who can't afford medical care. We need to take care of our own.  In this country? In this state? In this city? We need to do better. . . .

Sweetie & Holly

Sweetie is the little Yorkie in front, Holly is the foxy, red Pom in back and we lost them both in April of 2014.

I usually write a eulogy for my dogs when we lose one but I have not been able to say goodbye to these two. They were such bright lights in our home and losing them both so close together was a nightmare. Both of these little dogs came to us as rescues, Sweetie's owner was in a nursing home and her care takers were not kind to her. Holly came to us from a rescue friend who saved her from a terrible breeder.

When Sweetie came to us, it was just going to be for a short stay until we found her a home. She had been locked in a basement for 5 months and was so happy to be out and among people again that she was super hyper. She barked, turned in circles and zipped around like a crazy dog. Once she understood she was not going to be sent to the basement and that sofas and beds were once again in her future, she became the happiest of dogs. At one point I wanted to change her name but the fact is, once we got to know her there clearly was no other name that fit her. She came here a "Sweetie" and she left here a Sweetie.  Cancer may have robbed her of a few more years but it could not take away her wonderful personality.

Holly the pretty, red Pom left us way too soon. She was such a character. She was happy go lucky and silly and just loved life. We called her our rabble rouser because she would be sitting outside and all of a sudden jump up, run to the other side of the yard barking her head off. All the other dogs would take off after her barking like idiots and Holly would stop in her tracks, walk back to where she started and sit back down watching the fun. Oh what a stinker she was. 

I don't know what happened to her. She laid down on the deck one day, went to sleep and never woke up. She had been to the vet a few months previous, her bloodwork was good, her dental went well, she had a clean bill of health. The days and weeks before she died she exhibited no symptoms. She ate supper the night before and breakfast the day she died. I just don't know what happened to her. I do know that this house is a bit quieter, there is a certain silliness missing and there is a hole where both Holly and Sweetie once were.

I really can't write a eulogy for these two little ones. Maybe someday but not today. For now girls just know, Mom loves you both.

I borrowed this blog from one called "TRUE STORIES OF A MIDWEST YANKEE"

I read this blog and thought it was worth sharing. Random acts of kindness are so worth mentioning as are the wonderful people on the receiving end. I've included a link to the original blog at the bottom as I am only sharing, not owning. Grab a tissue and rejoice in knowing there are Angels out there. . . .

Dear woman behind me in line at the grocery store,

You don’t know me. You have no clue what my life has been like since October 1, 2013. You have no clue that my family has gone through the wringer. You have no clue that we have faced unbelievable hardship. You have no clue we have been humiliated, humbled, destitute.

You have no clue I have cried more days than not; that I fight against bitterness taking control of my heart. You have no clue that my husband’s pride was shattered. You have no clue my kids have had the worries of an adult on their shoulders. You have no clue their innocence was snatched from them for no good reason. You know none of this.

What you do know is I tried to buy my kids some food and that the EBT machine was down so I couldn’t buy that food. I didn’t have any cash or my debit card with me. I only had my SNAP card. All you heard was me saying “No, don’t hold it for me. My kids are hungry now and I have no other way of paying for this.” You didn’t judge me. You didn’t snarl “Maybe you should have less kids.” You didn’t say “Well, get a job and learn to support yourself.” You didn’t look away in embarrassment or shame for me. You didn’t make any assumptions at all.

What you did was you paid that $17.38 grocery bill for us. You gave my kids bananas, yogurt, apple juice, cheese sticks, and a peach ice tea for me; a rare treat and splurge. You let me hug you and promise through my tears that I WILL pay this forward. I WILL pay someone’s grocery bill for them. That $17.38 may not have been a lot for you, but it was priceless to us. In the car my kids couldn’t stop gushing about you; our “angel in disguise.” They prayed for you. They prayed you would be blessed. You restored some of our lost faith. One simple and small action changed our lives. You probably have forgotten about us by now, but we haven’t forgotten about you. You will forever be a part of us even though we don’t even know your name.

You have no clue how grateful and embarrassed I am that we pay for all our food with SNAP. We eat well thanks to the government. I love that. I love that the government makes sure my kids are cared for. It is one less worry for us. I also struggle with pride and embarrassment. I defiantly tell people we are on SNAP. Daring them to judge us.
Only those closest to us know why we are on SNAP. They know my husband is a hard worker who was laid off after 17 years in a management position with his former company. They know we were moved from our home to a new state only to be left homeless since the house we had came with the job he lost. Only those closest to us know my husband works part time while looking tirelessly for more; that he has submitted more applications than he has received interviews for. Too many jobs are only offering part time work anymore. It is not easy for a 40-something year old to find a job that will support his family of 5 kids.

You know none of this but you didn’t let that stop you from being compassionate and generous to someone you have never met.

To the woman behind me at the grocery store, you have no idea how much we appreciate you. You have no idea the impact you had on my kids. You have no idea how incredibly thankful I am for you. Your action may have been small, but to us it was monumental. Thank you.

Thank you for not judging us. Thank you for giving my kids a snack when they were quite hungry. Thank you. Just thank you.

Forever,
Andrea, the woman in front of you at the grocery store with the cart full of kids who are no longer hungry

http://truestoriesofamidwestyankee.wordpress.com/2014/03/19/to-the-woman-behind-me-in-line-at-the-grocery-store/comment-page-7/#comments

30 Random Thoughts on 1/1/2013

1. Don't strive for perfection. Don't date it, marry it or want it. It's boring, annoying and unattainable.
2. Like is more important than love. It's easy to turn like into love, not as easy to turn love into like.
3. Care for something small, cuddly and furry, preferably at least 4 or 5 years old, maybe a dog or a cat. Your life and your education will be incomplete until you love and are loved unconditionally by a pet.
4. Instead of using the dishwasher, once a month wash your glasses with a new sponge in hot, soapy water.  The sparkle and shine will put a smile on your face.
5. Take a little "ME" time each day, it may be only 10 minutes but it should be your 10 minutes.
6. Walk barefoot in the rain at least once each summer.
7. Do random acts of kindness frequently. You could give a smile to a stranger or send a note of praise for a teacher, store clerk, or receptionist. You could visit a nursing home, animal shelter or school and volunteer to spend time with a senior, an animal or a child. Maybe you will choose to buy  cup of coffee for the person behind you in the coffee shop or pay for a stranger's groceries.
8. See a musical at least once a year, more often if you can manage it.
9. Read a biography, a love story, a mystery and a thriller every year. Books expand your horizon and take you to wondrous places.
10. Send a favorite author a note and thank them for a great story.
11. Do something totally out of character at least once every six months - strike up a conversation with a stranger, join the crew of a community theater, try something that scares the bejeebees out of you.
12. Find a charity that holds the same values as you and give it your support. Donate money (just a touch more than is comfortable) because all good charities need funding and you need to learn to budget. Donate time because devoting time and attention keeps those values in the forefront.
13. When someone knows they are wrong, they will attack. Stand firm. Don't yell, shout or make a scene. In time they will stop or be exposed. It is not your responsibility to try to change their values, only examine and hold true to your own.
14. Find something that makes you laugh each day. Watch a pet play, listen to a humorous story, look for the humor in a surprising situation, laugh at the outrageous. Laughter celebrates joy. Laughter should never be mean.
15. Treat yourself to a manicure, a pedicure or a different hairstyle once in a while just because.
16. Wear mismatched socks because they are warm and fun and it's important not to take yourself too seriously.
17. Have a snowball fight on a snowy day. Drink hot chocolate on the back porch. Sing at the top of your lungs. Don't worry about the neighbors, they'll like it or not. Doesn't matter, do it anyway.
18. Take your camera to the park, walk 30 feet, turn left and point and snap. Now look up, turn to your right and point and snap. Walk 75 feet, repeat. Discover the wonder in the every day snapshots of your life. Share the photos with others.
19. Everyone is scared at some point, just keep going, it gets easier.
20. When you don't feel well, go to a doctor. When it hurts, take pain medication. When it doesn't hurt, don't take pain medication.
21. Avoid people and groups who use the phrase "I hate. . . .", they love drama, create chaos and drain your energy. They are telling you who they are, believe them.
22. When you are unsure what to do, take the kindest action.
23. Giggle. It's good for you.
24. Silence equals consent. If someone says or does something that goes against your core values, speak up. You probably won't change them but one rational voice in the crowd can make a difference. Be the difference.
25. When you are unkind, apologize.
26. Tackle big tasks one step at a time. If you want to quit smoking, just don't smoke that one cigarette. If you need to lose weight, work on losing one pound.Find a way to make it work.
27. Sometimes you just need to have a good cry, it's okay, cry.
28. Buy something silly and play with it. A bottle of bubbles, a coloring book and crayons, a jump rope.  Rediscover the kid in you.
29. Don't beat yourself up. Don't beat others up. Every day each of us are doing the best we can with what we have.
30. Find someone to love and love them completely. A spouse, a child, a sibling, a cousin, a friend, a pet, yourself. . . . love really does make the world a better place.

Dear Republicans:

Let it go. You misjudged the American people and what they want. The President of the United States is a Democrat. Get over it. Do you want a Republican President in 2016? Okay, here are a few suggestions.

1. Practice what you preach. You want less government? Then stay out of my gynecologist's office. You are not a doctor. Your opinion on abortion should not be law. It is not the government's concern either. Get your transvaginal ultrasound wands out of women's vaginas. Forcing women to endure a medical rape is wrong, stop it. Of course you have a right to state your opposition to abortion. You do not have a right to stop a pregnant woman from having one. Let it go.

2. If you oppose Gay marriage because of  the teachings of your church, realize those are your beliefs not mine. Just as you believe Gay marriage is wrong, I believe it is right. You and I were born heterosexual, just like some people are born gay. Neither side made a lifestyle change, we are what we are. Your religion teaches that God is all powerful so recognize s/he had a powerful reason for making some of us gay. Stop the conversation about gay marriage just grant equal rights to all and move on.

3. The country is changing, please change with it. Many of you are smart, brilliant, creative, wonderful people with a wealth of knowledge and experience to share. Share it with everyone, white, black, Hispanic, Asian and every other citizen in this country. Do you care about others besides middle class white men? I think you do, show it.  Talk to women, blacks, Hispanics, Asians, etc. ask us questions and listen to our answers. You can't be inclusive if you don't talk to us.

4. Helllllloooo! Republican men need to recognize that rape is an act of violence, women do not choose to get raped, they don't enjoy it, they aren't looking for it, they can rarely prevent a stronger, determined man from committing it. Women do not have some secret secretion in their bodies that will prevent a pregnancy occurring from a rape. Recognize rape is a crime of violence and support the victims of rape. When a Republican politician refers to "legitimate" rape, or indicates a woman's body will reject pregnancy when they are raped, or makes other equally ignorant statements stop backing and supporting those politicians. There is no excuse for such attitudes in the 21st Century.  Run, do not walk, away from those people. Republicans everywhere need to educate themselves on rape and then drum the "war on women fools" out of the party. You will not lose anything important. 

5. You could solve the immigration problem. Some of the smartest people in this country are Republicans. Stop fighting and find a solution. The majority of Americans will not agree to deport American children born in this country of illegal aliens. If their parents are good citizens, find a workable way for the children to be naturalized and the parents to become citizens. You want to deport the low life and criminals? No problem, so do the Democrats.  Fair immigration reform will win more than the Hispanic vote, you'll win many Democrats too.   

6. Disavow the extremists. Michelle Bachman, Eric Cantor, Grover Norquist and others of the same ilk need to go. Bachman is incredibly ignorant on so many subjects that she brings down the collective IQ of the entire Republican party by at least 50 points. Cantor grandstands but has no real economic comprehension. America can not afford rigid, arrogant, self serving politicians anymore. Norquist highjacks and intimidates elected Republicans by bullying them to sign a no new taxes pledge. Get rid of the fools who sign the pledge along with Norquist. Elected officials need to be able to negotiate on issues and follow the directive of the voters who put them in office not blindly follow other politicians such as Norquist. If a new tax is out of line, any politician, Republican or Democrat should vote against it without a pledge forcing them to vote it down and if the tax is beneficial, they also have an obligation to vote in support of it. Rush Limbaugh, ugh. He is not enhancing the Republican party. Dump him.

7. Find an honorable, strong leader to put forth as a candidate for 2016. No more Bachman, Gingrich, Santorum, Romney, Ryan types. While they each may have had some value, overall each was not a strong, honorable leader. Americans are not simpletons, we know fools when we see them. Find a candidate with a strong belief in the people of this country. Someone who wants to work with 100% of Americans and does not write off  47% of the population or think of us as "you people."  The next candidate should be willing to release at least 5 yrs of tax returns and should recognize the difference between personal beliefs and political issues.If the next candidate can run a campaign without trashing their opponent, they will have my vote and a lot of others as well. We want to know what the candidate believes, not what they don't like about their opponent. (This goes for Democrats too but I'm trying to help the Republicans right now.)

8. Last, but not least, understand the majority of this country, regardless of race, color, religion, sexual orientation or gender is moderate. There are always going to be crackpots on both sides of the aisle. Ignore them. Crazy liberals and extreme conservatives don't have enough support to put anyone in office so stop catering to them. You don't have to insult them or anger them but you also don't have to agree with them. Moderation, bipartisanship, willingness to work toward the middle, knowing when to stand strong and when to compromise ~ those are what we are looking for in a leader. All Americans, regardless of party, want a leader. You give us that, we'll support you.


Everything else. . . let it go.  

A Lesson Too Valuable to Ignore. . . .

See this little guy? His name is Punkin and he came from a rescue group based out of Canton, Ohio. The founder, Robin Aufderheide has a 17 year old son named Zack.

Zack is growing his hair to 10 inches so he can donate it to another charity called Locks of Love. They take the hair and have it made into wigs and hair pieces for children with cancer and other diseases that cause them to lose their hair.

Zack currently came under fire at school because the dress code states boys hair can not be in a ponytail, fall below the collar or cause a disruption. He was told to follow the rules and get his hair cut. When Zack explained why he was growing his hair the principal suggested he go to a board meeting and ask for an exemption until his hair was long enough to donate. Zack did, the board listened to him, it appeared a member or two empathized with him and at the next board meeting, they voted and determined he had to cut his hair or suffer the consequences.

So far the consequences have been an in-school suspension and way more attention from the media than Zack ever wanted. Rules are important, they hold havoc at bay. But sometimes, the really responsible thing to do is to respectfully break the rules. I've known Zack's Mom for years through the rescue community and I've known Zack as the youngster who used to ride shotgun with his mom on many a transport.

I don't know the school officials that believe the rules are there for a reason and can not be broken, I don't understand their thought process but I do know this:

Robin is a good Mom who started a rescue group and has fought to save small breed dogs whether they are strays, owner surrenders or come from puppy mills. Her son learned kindness and caring and that sometimes it is important, even responsible to break a rule for the greater good. Now would be a teachable moment for the Canton High School Zack attends.  Teach the students that rules are important but sometimes, the greater good is more important. 

Lead by example and show the students that sometimes Principals, Superintendents, even School Board Members will stand up and break the rules because it is the right thing to do. Teaching the student body that adults can recognize an error and fix it, is a lesson much too valuable to let pass. I support Zack and I hope the Principal, Superintendent and School Board will too.

https://www.facebook.com/onemoreinch

Goodbye Lennox

 Lennox, a Labrador/American Bull Dog mix was killed today in Belfast, Ireland.

Lennox didn't bite anyone, he wasn't vicious, he caused no harm, in fact he was a friendly, happy go lucky dog.  Hard to believe that a a city council would sanction, no demand, a harmless, loveable dog be killed? Believe it, Lennox's troubles started as a  victim of a BSL (Breed Specific Law) and his life ended because of arrogance, ignorance and egos.

When you take away all the drama and tempers, here is what happen: a little over two years ago three members of Belfast City Council had the dog warden seize Lennox, after these inexperienced, non-experts declared he was a pit bull mix and therefore a dangerous dog.

This quickly spiraled into a horror show. The family appealed to the animal warden but were repeatedly ignored, they appealed to city council for help and were turned down. They retained an attorney and took their case to the press and the public and that's when the real nightmare began.

Animal advocates denounced the Belfast City Council members, they posted angry remarks on Facebook, Twitter and various websites demanding the release of Lennox and some suggested vile and destructive actions be taken against the council members.  The Belfast City Council members dug in their heels, how dare these crazy animal activists stick their nose in "our" business? How dare they tell us what to do?

Of course there were also reasonable, problem solving animal activists that were calmly and kindly offering solutions to save Lennox (remember, Lennox never did anything wrong ~ never) and allow the members of Belfast City Council and the court system ~ as the case went to an appeals court ~ to save face and let Lennox live.

Sadly, both sides dug in, by golly the council was not going to be threatened, yelled at, pushed around or bullied by a bunch of dog loving busy bodies. They could legally kill that dog and by God they were going to do it. No one was going to tell them they couldn't carry out their God Given Duty!

The animal activists were angry, frustrated and at a loss. How could the Belfast Council members choose to kill a dog based on incorrect information? Hundreds of thousands of animal lovers worldwide signed petitions to save Lennox. Hundreds of people protested the laws, wrote letters to the editor, called and emailed the council members. Rescue groups offered to take Lennox into their organizations, Victoria Stillwell offered to place Lennox in a sanctuary to live out his life in safety.

At any point the members of the Belfast City Council knew they could legally allow Lennox to go home to his family, or release him to a rescue or give him to Victoria Stillwell who agreed to pay for all costs associated with taking him to a sanctuary.

Instead, they let their anger, arrogance, ignorance and egos reign supreme and earlier today they killed this handsome, loveable dog who never growled, bit, or harmed anyone. They killed Lennox because they could.



While I would like to ask the Belfast council members "What exactly is it that you think you won?"  Maybe the more important question to ask them is "Do you have any idea what you lost?"


God Speed precious boy, I'm sorry we couldn't save you.

Goodbye Nora

Nora Ephron died yesterday.  I didn't know her personally but I feel as though I did.  That was part of her amazing talent. She wrote about life as she saw it and we saw ourselves in her descriptions. She made me smile with her appreciation of life.

I laugh out loud everytime I watch When Harry Met Sally. Sleepless in Seattle makes me feel warm and fuzzy and I mourn the loss of the bookstore while cheering the romance in You've Got Mail.
Her movies made me laugh and cry. 

She didn't like growing old but wrote such hilarious accounts that she made all of us feel a little better. Since growing old is better than the alternative, she not only made us laugh, she made us feel like we were all members of the same club.  I Feel Bad About My Neck is best appreciated by those over 45 and I Remember Nothing is still one of my favorites.

These are some of the movies that came from this brilliant, funny lady:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-nora-ephron-greatest-hits-video-compilation-20120626,0,3304097.story

Nora was one of those people who played a quiet, indirect role in our life. Her humor, her joy, her love of life and her talent to share all of that became a part of our culture, a part of our collective history .  Thank you for making me laugh and thank you for showing me the foolishness of taking myself too seriously. I will miss you. God Speed Nora.

Avery's Bucket List

Sometimes I think the universe whispers to us and other times I think it shouts.  I read a post earlier today about a little, 5 month old baby girl with SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy.) Her name is Avery and her parents started a blog called Avery's Bucket List  http://averycan.blogspot.com/ . They (and friends) made a list of all the things Avery would like to do before she dies. Babies with SMA type 1 rarely live to the age of two. A tiny little baby should not need to make a bucket list, she should have days and days and months and months and years and years ahead of her. Alas, Avery does not. The disease is progressing. . .

She has already lost the ability to move her legs, her parents know her time is limited but they are working to put a face to SMA. Perhaps Avery's beautiful little face will be the one that inspires someone famous to take up the cause of SMA, maybe a brilliant mind will see this pretty baby and take an interest in the disease and that mind will be the one that starts the research that eventually will find a cure for SMA.  At present there are no clinical research studies looking for a cure for SMA. Avery's parents know that help can not come soon enough to save her, but by putting a face to SMA, they hope it will help a child in the future.   

 

None of us have any magic answers but we all can do something to help - please look at Avery's blog and read her bucket list. Is there anything you can help with? At the very least we can help spread her story, we can help make her the face of SMA. The universe shouted today: SHARE AVERY'S STORY! I listened, I'm sharing. I hope you will too. 

Better than yesterday. . . .

I wrote this a month or two ago and then posted to the wrong page. I have lost and gained the same two pounds several times since writing this. So this person who does not like to exercise and does like to eat has decided on a new approach. I need to lose one pound. My goal between now and Saturday is to lose a pound. I'm going to exercise, cut back on sweets and make it happen!

I think I mentioned a year ago (okay, I whined) that I quit smoking in April of 2010 and have since managed to gain 30 lbs. Last year I said, enough, I'm going to lose the weight and basically spent more time thinking about it than doing anything. 

So today is the first day of my "Stop whining and take off those pounds" program. I know I need a consistent program but first I'm just going to start moving every day. I am so out of shape that everything tires me out - walking just a short distance makes me want to take a nap. Stretching and doing exercises is awkward and uncomfortable (not to mention I hate exercising.)

Still, I need to get in shape and I need to lose weight so I am starting with ideas that work with my current physical fitness status. I typically have the TV on in the morning while I clean house so today, for one of the hour morning shows, everytime there was a commercial break - I stopped cleaning and exercised - most of the breaks are between 3 & 1/2 and 4 minutes for a total of 18-20 minutes. Okay, not the longest work out, but better than not doing anything.

Then I happened on the 5 minute workout on the Dr. Oz website todayhttp://www.doctoroz.com/videos/jorge-cruises-5-minute-workout  and decided to add that to my routine. Ouch - still, I can do 5 minutes. I then decided to do 5 minutes twice a day, once in the am & once in the pm. Okay, I can do this.

Probably should not have eaten that jelly donut for breakfast but the chicken fajita for lunch was a good choice. Hey, it's a start. It's not perfect but better than yesterday and that's how I'm going to get back in shape. Doing a little better each day - one day at a time.

2012 has certainly started with a roar. My brother-in-law passed away on the 2nd from a heart attack. The week that followed was a blur as family members reconnectd via the phone and shared a lifetime of memories.  They talked about growing into young adults, parents, then grandparents and now the shock and the inevitable surprise of losing the first sibling.

There was the whirlwind of calling hours, the funeral, meeting and greeting childhood friends, seldom seen relatives, past neighbors and reaffirming who we were, who we are and acknowledging our shared history. The loss of a sibling reminds us that more sunrises are behind us that ahead of us, it gives us pause if only for a moment.

Lew & Bob July 2010

Back home, life goes on. We go to work, to the grocery store, doctors and dentist. We take our dogs to the vet, clean house, pooper scoop the yard and remind each other to "take your meds." A beloved brother is gone but life goes on, it's just a little quieter, a little less shiny, a little more lonely. We love you Lew and we miss you.

A Lesson From Max. . . .

I was watching Max our very old, arthritic, and blind Yorkie this morning when a battle burst through the quiet. Max is sometimes very loving, other times very grouchy. When another dog bumped into him there was no question of fight or flight - Max chose fight.  He reared up on his back legs, growled, snapped at his tormentor, twisted, turned and made his displeasure known.

I reached down gently lifting him up and away from the fray. As soon as Max recognized my touch he settled down. I spoke to him quietly, gave him a few gentle pets and a hug and he sank into my arms and sighed. Nikki, the other dog involved, looked at me and a kind word and gentle ear scratch reassured her that she was still loved. Off she went to play with another dog.

That's when it hit me, the lesson finally clicked. Max is old, sometimes he hurts physically. He lives in a dark world, blind, no visual cues, alone in his darkness. Voices and touch are his clues to what's going on around him. Max calms when he hears my voice or feels my touch. He immediately understands he's safe. There is no question in his mind, he relaxes knowing instinctively that he is loved. A kind touch reaches his soul to let him know someone cares about him. Max gets that who and what he is, is enough.

And it occurs to me that the next time someone snaps at me, the next time they rear up and growl, I hope I'll remember the lesson Max taught today - a kind word, a gentle voice, a soft touch may be exactly what they need.

We can't always know or even see others pain. We don't know their private battles, secret fears, or blind spots. Max reminded me today that often what is needed is a little kindness. For that moment, that instant, it' enough.

One of the best kept secrets on TV. . . .

We keep the TV on almost all the time, it's good background noise and helps keep the dogs settled down except for the commercials where a door bell rings. Sigh, that's another story we'll tell someday.  Anyway, here it is Sunday morning, the TV is on and I have to say one of the best programs on TV is CBS Sunday Morning.

It's a news magazine that takes the time to tell the story. Last week there was a segment on high tech bionic prosthetics that help paralyzed people walk - it was a simply amazing, well told story. They also did a segment on one of my favorite entertainers of all time - Ellen DeGeneres. Ellen is, in my opinion, the epitome of grace under pressure. She told a truth and was vilified by the public, yet her kindness and gentle spirit won out. The Ellen segment showcased how nice she is and yes, how funny.

I enjoy the variety of information in the program. Today, a segment on Cold Play, the music group whose lead singer Chris Martin is married to Gwyneth Paltrow. . . who knew? (Okay, probably everyone except me.) Another segment dealt with the pill factories in Florida - doctors whose practice exists to push prescription drugs for $$$$. Oh yes, and a nice  presentation about the good things found in New Jersey.

Easy going, useful information presented in a quiet, pleasant format. A nice way to start the week and probably one of the best kept secrets on TV. Turn it on next Sunday, I think you'll like it. . . .

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/sunday/main3445.shtml

Remembering A Legend . . . .

The world lost an amazing, brilliant, innovative risk taker on Wednesday, October 5 when Steve Jobs passed.  His creative genius made a difference in the lives of millions. Who would have thought two kids putterin' around in a garage would change the world?

I've never met Steve Jobs or his Apple co-founder Steve Wozniack but they both became part of  "my" story. In my early 30's I happened upon computers and purchased my first Apple ][ Plus. What an exhilarating, heady time that was. To my delight, I discovered "I got it" when it came to these personal computers. I embraced the technology, first learning the hardware, then the software. What fun the early years were. A friend used to tell me "In the land of the blind the one eyed man is King." How true!

Over the years folks like Jobs, Woz, Gates, Ellison, Bushnell, McNealy (the list is so long) were followed, quoted and talked about by those of us in the industry. We really didn't know them but we all knew their stories. They became part of our story, they were the guys in the forefront whose innovations were something to understand and master. We weren't the innovators but we were touched by them, we felt a kinship with them. Their creations became part of our world and a whole new industry was created for us to support. We needed their genius and they needed our ability to evangilize their inventions.

October 5, 2011 marks the passing of Steve Jobs.  For many of us, a world without Steve Jobs will be a little less bright, a little less creative, simply a little less. I'm sad he's gone. Good bye Steve. God Speed.

Rescue is hard. . . .

Rescue is hard. Most of the dogs are abused, neglected, and have health issues. We take these dogs into our homes and our hearts and help them heal. For me, medical problems are the easiest part. I have a good vet and easy access to some of the best specialists in the country. Fosters receive the best medical care available and our wonderful vet eases the pain and helps restore them to good health. 

We work on the emotional and mental damage. We teach the fosters that hands don't hurt, that dogs are not allowed to fight, that there will always be good food, fresh water, special treats, and lots of patience. We show them there are good and kind people and that love is unconditional. We give them time to understand they are safe and when we think they are ready, we start looking for their forever home.

Rescue is hard. It hurts to let a dog go to a forever home. Some are easier to let go than others.  I once had a puppy who was so full of energy that I celebrated when his adopters picked him up.  They enjoyed the running, playing and silly antics of a youngster - he drained me beyond words. I've delivered dogs to adopters who cried for joy when they met their new dog in person - much easier to let go when you know how loved they will be. Only twice have I adopted out dogs that I really did not want to let go. 

The first was a tiny Yorkie named Chewy.  The adopters actually came to look at another dog but Chewy immediately fell head over heels in love with one of them. He jumped in Bruce's lap, he cuddled, he performed a number of adorable antics, he charmed everyone and surprised the daylights out of me. Chewy's message was clear - "I'm your dog. Take me home."  I took him with me on the home visit and he acted as though he had been there his entire life. They had a wonderful yellow lab named Buddy who also fell under Chewy's spell. Chewy was right, this was his home. I was happy for Chewy and his two dads but sad for me, I loved that little guy but I knew this was the best home for him. Rescue is hard but it's not about us, it's about the dogs. I let Chewy go because he had found his dads - what else could I do? He was home.

And then there was Duke. He came with Lexi and darn if they weren't two precious, tiny little Yorkies. Prior to coming here, Duke had a fight with a labrador and his left eye had popped out. There was no sight in that eye but there was a lot of pain so it had to be removed. Our vet prescribed strong pain meds but sometimes the pain broke through during the first few days. I would give him more pain meds and quietly talk with him until the medication kicked in. I confess, Duke stole my heart. He had such courage and such a bold, loving spirit. When we were told a potential adopter wanted both Duke & Lexi we were happy they could stay together but I really did not want to let him go. Still, this is what we do so we put Duke and Lexi on a transport with another foster mom who escorted him to his new home.

Duke and Lexi had a rocky start at their new home but everyone adjusted and they settled right in. I learned the other day that a few months ago Duke got away from his owner and he "went after" a much larger dog. The larger dog killed him. What can I say? Reading that took my breath away. I'm angry that he was killed by a larger dog. I'm angry that I found out only because I sent a note asking how he was. I'm so angry that I let him go to this couple and yet. . . . I know that is not fair. I know they loved him and I know they were saddened by his death. I feel sadness for this couple who opened their home and heart to Duke and Lexi. I feel sorry for Lexi who has always had Duke as a buddy. And I am sorry Duke is gone.

His bright light and courageous heart was extinguished much too soon.  The hardest part of rescue is saying Goodbye.

Duke before his eye surgery.

Good bye sweet boy. God Speed.

The Help

I just finished reading the book The Help by Kathryn Stockett and I'm surprised at the memories it brings back. Mississippi in the '60's  may have been more racist than Ohio, but I think that's because we were a little more subtle. The same feelings of superiority and the unkind, belittling comments occurred here too.

As I get older, I realzie there are so many positive changes our children and grandchildren don't recognize. They don't know how far we've come, they don't really understand where we started. The Help tells the story of the plight of black people in the '60's. Every day whites and every day blacks living their lives in Mississippi and what it was like to be black in America fifty years ago. For some of us, the book brings back memories, for out children and grandchildren it is the story of their parents, grandparents and great grandparents.

It's a good book, a good read, a history lesson and a reminder of the amazing courage of an oppressed segment of our population. The legacy of Martin Luther King, Medgar Evers and the Freedom Riders is fairly well known, but this book also reminds us that the maids, the laborers, the every day folks, displayed courage, dignity and honor to claim their rights. If you are under 40, this is a must read. . .

Where does the time go?

In April of 2010 my husband had surgery to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm. At some point, he is going to need a second surgery for another much smaller aneurysm that was noted in the MRI. His cardiologist told him he needed to stop smoking to prevent a heart attack. Although he has cut back considerably, he still has not been able to kick the habit.

I knew it would be impossible for him to stop smoking if I continued to smoke so I decided once and for all, I too had to quit. Somewhere around the middle of April 2010, I became a non-smoker. I also became a nibbler and surprisingly (to me) less active. In a little over a year, I gained 27 lbs. My 5 foot frame really can't comfortably support an additional 27 lbs.

I've moaned and groaned about the weight for the better part of a year but I really haven't taken ownership of it and decided to actively lose it.  Well, today's the day. I need to lose 27 lbs and I need to get in shape. No more putting it off, no more hoping I wake up thin in the morning. Okay, I'm probably still going to hope I wake up thin tomorrow but I'm sure enough that's not going to happen that I'm actively working on Plan B.

From time to time I'll post updates mostly because if I'm keeping a record I'm more likely to follow through, not to mention complain. I have several reasons for deciding to get back in shape, first - I feel wrong in my skin, it doesn't fit. Second, I don't feel healthy. Third, - I don't like how I look and last but not least - I refuse to buy a larger size than what I'm currently wearing.

And now, moving along with my exciting life, it's time to go pooper scoop. Catch ya later.

Saying goodbye to a great cat. . . .

We said goodbye to our 19 year old cat Data this morning.  He was a great cat who first learned to deal with our chow chow Bear and then, as the years passed, he learned to thrive in a house full of dogs.  Like all cats, he did what he wanted, when he wanted and he taught us to love that streak of independence.  We learned well. 



Data just a few months ago relaxing with the dogs.

He loved to lay in the doorways and make us (and the dogs) step over him.  He thought it was funny to grab our pant leg or hook a claw in a dog so none of us ever forgot who really ran the show around here.

Like all cats, Data lived his life on his own terms. If he wanted his ears scratched or a belly rub, he came to us. The rest of the time, he stuck his nose in the air and ignored us. When the mood hit him he'd play with the dogs and if they annoyed him, he would chase them away. He was an indoor cat who learned to use the doggie door. Laying in the sun on the deck gave him enormous pleasure. Did I mention he was a great cat? 



Data on the deck this fall.



About a month ago, Data started having problems keeping food down, he stopped eating his cat food so we started giving him tuna fish, chicken and rice, anything we could get him to eat.  Six days ago he stopped eating even the tiny amounts of tuna and chicken.  He was skin and bones. But he kept playing with the dogs, hopped in my lap, seemed to still be happy and comfortable.  Two days ago, the purr went away. Last night he lost control of his bladder and bowels. I held him all night and told him it was okay, he could leave, I'd understand. Still he stayed with us. 

Two days ago, he was so thin but still perky.

Early this morning I knew I couldn't let this go on. I had hoped he would just go to sleep and not wake up but sadly that was not to be. I called the vet and said, it's time. Data and I made one last trip together. Did I mention he was a great cat?   Good bye Data, Mom loved you and I'll miss you forever. . . . .  God Speed Precious boy.