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If A Dog Were Your Teacher !

If A Dog Were Your Teacher !

You would learn stuff like…

 

  • When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
  • Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
  • Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
  • When it’s in your best interest, practice obedience.
  • Let others know when they’ve invaded your territory.
  • Take naps and stretch before rising.
  • Run, romp, and play daily.
  • Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
  • Avoid biting, when a simple growl will do.
  • On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
  • On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree.
  • When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
  • No matter how often you’re scolded, don’t buy into the guilt thing and pout – run right back and make friends.
  • Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
  • Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.
  • Be loyal.
  • Never pretend to be something you’re not.
  • If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
  • And MOST of all…
  • When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

 

Author unknown

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Laugh or Cry

My wife recently had surgery so we have a temporary handicap sticker for the car.  I tell you this to explain why we were parked so close to one of the three doors into Wal-Mart.  We were at the one in the area that  everyone refers to as The Valley here in Chesterfield.  It is beautiful river bottom farm land that they have lamentably converted into multiple strip malls anchored by the ever present huge box stores.

I was backing my wife’s Subaru from the aforementioned spot when I noticed two of Chesterfield’s finest exit the middle entryway of this huge Supercenter Wal-Mart.  They looked for all the world like a couple of hound dogs on the scent.  It was obvious that Continue reading “Laugh or Cry”

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An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser

To be blunt, I am not quite sure I liked this novel.  It took me two checkouts from the library separated by a few weeks to get through the book.  I did get sucked into the narrative at the latter half of the book.  Having said that, this is also a novel that if you can get through it, it sticks in your mind.

The best way I can come up with to describe this book is Theodore Dreiser riffing on Dostoyevsky’s psychological drama in Crime and Punishment with the second half of the book a courtroom drama.

My problem with the book is threefold. Continue reading “An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser”

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Ministry of Evil: The Twisted Cult of Tony Alamo

I need to watch this.  It is going to be on the Sundance Channel towards the end of February.

When I was a County Sanitarian (Health Inspector) in Arkansas from 1983 to 1989, I had to deal with several Tony Alamo businesses.  They had a restaurant, at least one convenience store I remember.  They had a hog farm that was something out of a Mel Gibson Mad Max movie.  Between myself and another agency we got them to close that down.  I had to get on their main property one time to investigate a sanitation complaint.  They blocked my entrance, and of course by the time I went through all the legal hoops, if there had been a problem they had covered it up.   Fortunately, I never had to deal with Tony directly.

The rumor around town was that he kept his wife’s body Continue reading “Ministry of Evil: The Twisted Cult of Tony Alamo”

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Thank you for your service…Maybe

I have an interesting problem that has cropped up in the last 5 or 6 weeks.  I have several caps and shirts with the emblem from the FFG-52, USS Carr on them.  I wear the hats a bunch.  Partly because I like the way they look, but mainly in honor of my Uncle Paul H. Carr.  The ship was named after him for his heroic actions in WWII.

I’ve been doing this for years.  The ship was actually decommissioned a few years ago.  So a rough estimate would be 25 years or more.   Occasionally folks will ask me about the hat.  What has been really cool over the years is how many folks I have run into that have served on the ship.  When they see the hat they frequently come over to talk to me.  I have had some very nice conversations Continue reading “Thank you for your service…Maybe”