I thought I did this already?

I meant to blog earlier today but I guess I spaced out and didn't get to it.  I am not preaching this week so I've been doing tons of "secretarial" kinds of things, which I enjoy doing for the most part, but whenever I do I get too many things "open" on my to-do list and have a sort of ADD moment where I'm not sure if I'm coming or going.  I need to start a project and finish it, and then move on to the next one -- but I never do that.  I start six and work on them all here and there and if I'm lucky a couple get done.

Right now I should be writing my "From the Pulpit" column due Friday, but I got distracted by my blog.  That, and the fact that writing 400 words is nearly impossible. I am way to wordy to limit my spiritual wisdom to 400 words. HAHA! I am supposed to write a column about Robin Meyers, coyly advertising his visit here in October, but I have no clue how to do that. I should have asked someone else to do it months ago.  My plate is full.  But I'll do my best.

Another gorgeous fall day here, and Bob is home soon.  After this week he'll only have two weeks left at the golf course.  To say he is counting the hours would not be an exaggeration.  He has 96 hours left (assuming there are no rain days, then it's less than that) and then he is DUN and ready to start the dog training business.  We have a business name, and a slogan.

Pawsitive Transformations

Bringing out the best in our best friends

What do you think?  Next up is a web site, some small business education through ISU and SCORE, then watch out world!


I went with Bob to the Humane Society on Tuesday, to play with a sweet little puppy named Augie, who is not yet up for adoption but needed some attention. He's freaking adorable, but very chewy. I felt like I was in a room with a school of piranha. He bit my hands, my legs, my feet -- with those razor sharp little puppy teeth.  I was having trouble getting him to stop and Bob came in and immediately got him to sit and pay attention and do amazing puppy things that did not involve chewing.  I knew he was good at this stuff, but other than with Kayla and Sheba, never really saw him in action before.  


He's very gifted.  And that is not wifely bias.  It's true.

Bob has a treat, and thus Augie's attention. He's going to get him to sit.

And VOILA - Augie sits! And does not chew.

This is Macey. She sat right away, and was not a chewer.

I'm fickle

Every year when Fall or Spring begins, I can't remember which one I like better.  When a long hot summer like this one ends, and the cooling of autumn begins, I'm convinced that yes, Fall is my favorite season.  But I'm pretty sure earlier this year, when the long cold winter was over and the warming and greening started, I said that Spring was my favorite season. So perhaps my favorite season is the one I'm in?  No that can't be true -- while I admit a certain childlike giddiness when the first snow flies, winter is NOT my favorite season. Nor is summer because it just gets too stinking hot and humid here for me to love it, especially this past summer.  


So it's between Spring and Fall for my favorite season and each year, when one of them begins, I profess my undying love for that season.  Then six months later, I've forgotten my love for one and thrown them over for the other one.  I think it's because I prefer temps around 70 degrees with plenty of sunshine, and both of those seasons give me that. I grew up in SoCal, where temps are usually in the 70's and there is plenty of sunshine -- so I prefer that weather naturally.  As a Midwesterner now, I do admit to liking the changing seasons because it keeps life interesting.  But I'm never excited and happy to see winter or summer arrive, while I am excited and happy when Spring and Fall arrive.  Notice how I capitalize them? Another sign of my fondness for them.


Several years ago, Bob raked up all the leaves and Sheba plopped down in them for a photo. We love this photo and had it framed.  Sheba looked best in the Fall, against the backdrop of the reds and golds and yellows of autumn, with her mostly white coat. We sometimes lost her in the snow, when she was younger and totally white.

Kayla, on the other hand, with her golden coat, looks good in Spring -- and also is quite lovely in winter snow.  

Ah heck who am I kidding -- they both were/are beautiful no matter what the season!

I feel like Sally Field

So, after my frustrating week with whales, dolphins, and interfaith peacemaking, two of my former students emailed me and asked if I wanted to meet them for lunch today.  They are twin sisters who were part of UCCF for all four of their years in ISU who graduated this past May.  One lives and works at home in Palatine, the other is in Edwardsville in nursing school -- and they meet here occasionally to see each other since it's the halfway point (and they are very close and miss each other and it's very sweet).  So I was very happy to hear from them and make a lunch date to see them and catch up.

We had a lovely visit for about at hour at Los Potrillos, where I used to take them out to eat and not only did they buy my lunch, but they also gave met his lovely gift (after already getting me flowers and a beautiful vase in May when they graduated).  She's one of those Willow Tree angels, and she is called the "Angel of the Heart -- for those who love and are loved."  Isn't that the sweetest nicest thing?  They like me! They REALLY like me!

Sometimes I wonder if I do any good in my work with college students, or if I have any impact or meaning in their lives at all (I know that's kind of dumb but one does wonder that) since most of them move away and lose touch.  But a few do keep in touch, and gestures like this make all the ugly stuff of the week wash right away.  Thank you Michelle and Beth!  I look forward to seeing you the next time you are in town.

The Cove

This is not a happy entry.  Nor will it be amusing.  You have been warned.


Do NOT click on the link below if you are squeamish or easily upset.  It's about the killing of 15 pilot whales in "The Cove" in Taiji, Japan yesterday, and it has some pictures along with the article which chronicles the event.
http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-100921-1.html


Here is some of the text:

At first light, a boat took the dolphin trainers from the public beach over to where the whales were being held in the killing cove.  They were not gone long before they returned and left the area in their cars.  Apparently, none of the whales were suitable for the live trade.  Perhaps they were too beat up from having been held in the shallow killing cove. The story that the live dolphin/whale trade associations and aquariums around the world tell that they are not involved in the killing was proven a lie this morning.

Shortly after the trainers left, the “fishermen” moved in.  Their callous efficiency denies their claims that there is reverence among them for the dolphin and whale.  It was soon over and the nets came down.  Then small boats exited the cove with their dead cargo carefully hidden from view under tarps.  The boats went out of sight around the corner and soon the police and others left the area. We lingered and then discovered that from a different vantage point we could see a barge just outside the cove that was wrapped in tarps.  This is where the whales had been taken.  The dead whales were pulled off the barge by a dolphin hunter boat using ropes tied around their tails.  Three times the hunter boat pulled about 5 whales off the barge and transported them around to the butcher house in Taiji Harbor.

I love dolphins. I always have.  And whales.  Maybe it's because I grew up near the ocean -- or maybe I'm just an intelligent, caring person.  And what's happening in Japan MUST stop.  


Every winter (summer in Antarctica) they set out to kill 1000 whales in spite of an international ban on whaling (they get around the law by calling it research which, pardon my French, is BULLSHIT).  And in Taiji, on the eastern coast of Japan, the Killing Cove operates during the fall, starting around Labor Day.  The movie "The Cove," which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary last year chronicles this holocaust.  I watched the movie earlier this year, and it was so very hard to watch, and I cried through most of it.  But I got through it because I wanted to bear witness to the slaughter, and I felt I owed it to my dolphin kin to see what is happening to them since I can't go to Japan and stop it. And now they are killing pilot whales -- such beautiful, gentle, sweet creatures.  


This year there are several activists in Taiji, present daily near the Cove which, until yesterday, had prevented the slaughter from occurring (just the fact they were there, and the bad press they've been getting in Taiji had so far kept them from killing any dolphins).  They were still kidnapping dolphins from their ocean home to be trained pets in aquariums around the world, but the ones who were not selected by the trainers were set free.  This did not happen for these poor pilot whales.


Most of the Japanese do not know about what goes on in Taiji. Most, when they see pictures or view footage from "The Cove" are outraged, and easily convinced that the carnage must end.  But the Japanese whaling industry is powerful and so far have not been able to be stopped (other than by the Sea Shepherds, who travel to Antarctica each year to harass the whalers and limit their "catch" of minke and humpback whales -- last year they reduced their take by half).  Though this year Australia, within whose waters they hunt whales, is taking them to international court to try and get them to stop.


I am heartbroken, just as I am when innocent human life is taken. Yes, they are animals -- but they are innocent, creative, intelligent creatures who are my brothers and sisters, and if human beings can be so cruel and callous towards them, there is something seriously wrong with us.

Just another Manic Monday

A swirl of activity for me today, starting with swimming, cleaning the kitchen (including the stove!), doing some online stuff for Bob's dog training business, and grocery shopping.  Sitting down now for some lunch then back to work -- vacuuming calls.  I wish Dobbie was here. Never should have given her that sock.


So before today we had an interesting weekend.  Last night we had dinner with friends for our monthly Euchre game.  Bob partners with the Mrs. and I partner with the Mr. and last night we kicked their Euchre asses 10 to 2.  To be honest, I think Bob may have actually been sleeping with his eyes open instead of actually playing but hey, I'll take a win however I can get it!  Good food, great wine, and winning at Euchre, what more could a gal want besides George Clooney as her Euchre partner.


Saturday night was amazing -- we were invited by the local Islamic Community to the Eid-ul-Fitr celebration dinner in Lexington.  We weren't sure what to expect, and we did NOT expect not to sit together so that threw us for a loop when we arrived and found that out, especially since we knew no one there.  But we had a wonderful time, our hosts were amazing (and so warm and accepting and hospitable) and I enjoyed myself with the women immensely.  At first when I walked into the women's side of the room I had no clue where to sit, who to talk to -- so I found a table with a few open spots with women around my age, asked if I could sit there, and that was all it took.  We laughed, ate the spiciest food I've ever had the fright of eating, learned about each other, exchanged emails, and made new friends.  Bob had a similar experience with the men, only not as much laughter (they had serious discussions) and he took part in their evening prayer.


Culturally it was all new to us both, as well as religiously. They were so patient with us and were not offended by our questions, but were so appreciative of our being there, and bridges were built between our two communities.  While I'm not fond of their separation of women and men, I respect their traditions (and was interested to discover that some of the women I was with were also not fond of the separation of the men and women for this dinner which, they claimed, was not necessary but some families wanted it).  So much more I could share, and maybe I will at some point. But for now, the vacuum calls.

For your viewing pleasure ...

My niece Laura sent me this video. It made me laugh, so I am sharing it with you.




I have no idea who this child is, and clearly he does not really know the words to this song. But he's got the moves down, and his hair is an art-form unto itself.


I wish you his kind of joy this weekend.


P.S. The lotter ticket for Saturday has been purchased. Just letting you know.

I'm still here

Alas I did not win the lottery last night.  I know, big shock.  Neither were we abducted by aliens, which is a good thing. So, sorry Kim -- no maid job for you in Maui. Not yet anyway. Which means I have to work today, which I have so far avoided by doing things online, like read Jeff Probt's blog from last night's premier of Survivor Nicaragua. 


Yes, yes, I watch Survivor.  In fact, I love that show!  I especially love it this season (so far anyway) because they split the tribes into the youngens (30 and under) and the geezers (40+) and finally I have a tribe I can cheer for -- GO GEEZERS!  Of course they will probably do horribly in the competitions because, well, they are geezers. But there are a few of them (the ones closer to 40) who are pretty smart and physically fit, so if the challenges aren't like the usual strength ones where they throw each other around in mud, maybe they'll do okay.


I am a little worried about them being in Nicaragua tho.  They are in a remote area, on a lovely beach, far away from the cities and people. But every time they show the monkeys and leopards and cougars and sharks in the footage of their surroundings, I keep expecting machine-gun-toting Sandinistas to come bursting out of the jungle onto the beach.  Or would that be Contras? I get confused.  And I'm probably being horribly non-PC right now, aren't I?  So yes, on to other things.  Like Jimmy Johnson being on the show.  Yes, THAT Jimmy Johnson.  Coach Jimmy J.  He's on the geezer tribe, in case you were wondering.


So um yeah, what have you learned today?  I did not win the lottery, I watch Survivor, and I'm pretty non-PC about things Central America . I think that's enough for now.  Discuss.