Ted Kerasote Does It Again!

Wheeee, I'm back! It's spring break here and I have several "clients" who need to be fed and walked regularly so they see me three times a day. Good dogs and cats - each and every one of them. Often we hear how independent and unattached cats are. I'm here to say the cats get lonely. They cling to me upon arrival and "talk a leg off". Dogs, love 'em dearly, want to go out and want a toy and a treat. They'll do anything you want (I didn't use the word "always") but I suspect there's a personal motive involved. The cats are just pleased to see someone in the house. Granted, they do disappear when the newness wears off and they recognize it's just me.

And, already this morning I have done a task that makes me ask "Are these people nuts for having me take care of their critters?" One place I am visiting has plants and the note left for me includes a request to water the plants. You know where I'm going don't you? Yes, I watered a fake one. It was early this a.m. The note said "living room" and that was IT in the living room. I caught on. It's drying upside down in the kitchen sink now. No one will be the wiser, really. They don't know I blog. :-)

Really important today is sharing with you all a wonderful book, PUKKA'S PROMISE. For you who are MERLE'S DOOR fans this is the next non-fiction book Ted Kerasote has written about dogs in his life. If you haven't read about Merle you can do that first or not but I highly recommend both books. What's critically different about this new book is the exhaustive, extensive research done regarding dogs in the human world. Like Ted, I found myself thinking, "I wish I'd known that..." Gosh, we humans have a great deal to learn about what chemicals, processes, surgeries, etc are suitable for ourselves and our dogs. Naturally I hope Ted will continue producing some of the best books around as I find his real-life-situations very heartwarming and revealing. I have read and do read other male authors' books about dogs but Ted always reveals a great deal about himself too, showing his tenderness. The only other author who did so convincingly wrote FOLLOWING ATTICUS.

Yes, usually I try to tell tales of/on myself but some exceptions are worthwhile these are tremendouse "reads" and if you read a blog you can read a book! Go forth and conquer the world with words!

BAKE SALE

Any time of the year is great for bake sales. It's tough to walk past the table supporting an array of goodies such as homemade brownies, over-sized chocolate chip cookies, even Rice Krispie treats! But, what about homemade pies and breads, or even a whole frosted cake. What delights these are!

Going to a bake sale is special. You get yummy treats for a reasonable price and the funds help out a great cause, in this case a deserving no-kill animal shelter.

Mark your calendars for Litchfield, IL on April 3rd. Go to the WalMart @ 10 and make your selections! Support this fine shelter. Every contribution counts!

Intersecting Wanderings

Someone on the passenger side of a car in the middle lane at an intersection opened the door and put down a fast food beverage cup just because he/she is a lazy SOB. Is this the root of what is wrong with all of us? We just don't care enough about our own world, or fellow persons? Someone will get paid to pick that up. Is that acceptable thinking in this country?

A good deed was observed today when we were in traffic, headed towards my mom's nursing home. A vehicle either broke down or ran out of gas at another intersection. Two young men popped out of two different vehicles to assist the owner in pushing the vehicle through the intersection so traffic could proceed. YES!

Earlier this week Frieda Joy, one of our dogs, and I went to visit my friend John. He recently moved to a new independent living complex in a Chicago 'burb. We took a route in that had us traveling through my hometown. We didn't go past the house I grew up in but did turn at the intersection where the grade school building is and it is now a community center with lots of senior activities. I could be back in my kindergarten classroom if I lived up there.

Anyway, John loved meeting Frieda and she got past being timid in a strange place filled with all new people. After our visit we went to the nearest major intersection and hopped on the tollway to I-55 and scooted home. I'm not sure I liked that way even though it was faster. There's something about poking along memory lane that adds color to a trip.

Lucky us; I really mean that! Finally the new local bakery is open and we've been there twice this week. That's you-know-who's doing, not mine. I've managed two cups of coffee and 1/2 cran/nut muffin. HE's downed a double-sized piece of apple struedel and an order of biscuits and gravy with his two cups of java. Nonetheless, it is all "from scratch" goodies and we'll be making it another "regular" stop when we do rounds. Today we got a bonus: ran into an old friend we hadn't seen in a year; he'd moved. We got caught up on happenings and know we'll see him again. He went to school with the guy in the family who owns the bakery. Actually they own all four corners of this intersection and have put businesses in two and leased the third to another. It's all in a, well, I want to say, recovering, neighborhood. Good for them - they are part of the solution.

Now, I gotta ask: Is Christmas totally LOST? No carols in stores, lackluster "Happy Holidays" and non-existent "Merry Christmas" exclamations, no acknowledgment of the meaning of Christmas? This year, more than ever, it seems people are focused entirely on retail and the economy and change. The one thing that hasn't changed is why we have a Christmas in the first place. A 42" HD tv along with WWii, an iPod, and who knows what else vs. let's see, a relationship with family, friends and God? Ah, the intersection of Xmas and Christmas...I Believe.

Merry Christmas!
I'll be saying THAT again!