Posts filed under ‘THOUGHTS’
MY LIFE WITH MILLIE AND SAM: A PETS’ STORY
Recently, my cat, Sammy (Samantha), died. She will probably be the last pet I have. And this will be the first time this house has been without a pet in about 35 years.
We’ve gone through a host of various types of animals as pets over the years. There have been lizards and snakes. I had a ball python for 25 years. We’ve had gerbils and a hamster. The hamster was found by a friend around Christmas time. The girls named it Noel. There was a hermit crab named Shelly. We have also had three dogs and four cats as pets one time or another. I’ll save most of their stories for the future.
This story will concern the last two pets who lived in this house. Millie, a fantastic dog and Sammy who would demonstrate an attitude when she wasn’t sleeping, which was most of the time. But no matter what their personality, they were part of the family.
MY LIFE WITH MILLIE AND SAM
This is a story about my dog, Millie, and my cat, Sam. Both remarkable pets.
My wife, Joni, and I adopted an SPCA dog. He was a terrier of an unknown mixture named Whitey for obvious reasons We loved him and had him for years. I would be sitting in a chair in the living room, and he would sit in front of me. I would say, “He’s coming up” and he would jump into my lap. Of course, he was white, but when he got a haircut portions of grey skin would show.
When Whitey died Joni said, “No more dogs.” Whitey’s death was grieved by the entire family.
My brother’s wife had quads, and they already had two kids at the time. We went to my brother’s house to celebrate the high school graduation of Lauren, Katie, Christopher and Andrew. All went on to get degrees, and some of the kids, advanced degrees.
When we arrived at Mike’s house the first thing he said was that we should go into the garage. He had a female Chocolate Lab named Haley. She was gaining weight, so Mike cut down on her food. His daughter, Jessica, came home from nursing school and said, “Dad, she’s pregnant.” When we walked into the garage there was Hailey nursing nine pups of various types. There were Chocolate Labs, Yellow Labs and pups colored brown and white. Mike did not know who the father was but my money is on a German Shepard. The pups were born at the beginning of June. Joni could not resist having one of these pups. Who could? At the beginning of August found Joni, my daughter, Lynn, and myself driving to my brother’s house to select one.
At that time there were seven or eight left. They were outside when we got there running around in a pack. Falling, jumping but always staying together. The pups were let into the house and we all sat down to have lunch. Joni had her eye on a Chocolate Lab named Chubs because he was the largest of the liter. As Joni was eating her lunch, and the pups were playing, a brown and white pup came and sat next to Joni. We did not pick out a pup. The pup picked us. I wanted to name her Molly, but Lynn wanted Millie. From the title of this piece, you could see who won.
FEMA RUMORS
FEMA RUMORS
I don’t usually post twice in one day, but thought this subject warranted an exception.
The internet is a prime example of what is good, bad and ugly in our society.
The good is that it is a remarkable tool for education and obtaining knowledge from all over the world. You can be sitting comfortably in your home and explore the entire world for information concerning any subject which interests you.
The bad is the many ways it is hurting our children. Kids are being influenced by social media platforms which can be addictive and the source of false and destructive information. Addiction to these social media platforms results in the isolation of our young, and the product in some, severe depression.
The ugly is the reason for this post. The internet is the prime source of misinformation and rumors causing a great deal harm in our society.
Yesterday’s news contained a story about false rumors causing distress and confusion in people. which due to the spat of hurricanes, need all the help they can get. There have been false rumors circulating stating that funding for FEMA has been taken and used to support illegal aliens. There can be nothing further from the truth. These false accusations have resulted in threats to FEMA workers causing FEMA to change how they are responding to the massive disasters resulting from these storms. Now, due to the possible danger to their workers, instead of visiting homes and businesses to access damage, those seeking assistance must go to centers recently set up to serve this response.
Yesterday it is alleged that a threat was made by an individual set on harming FEMA workers. He was arrested in North Carolina and, in his car, was found a long rifle and two handguns. Members of our society currently experiencing unspeakable destruction in their lives are being prohibited from receiving the immediate help they need in this time of crisis.
These rumors must stop. And those spreading them must develop a conscience for the good of our society.
YOU KNOW YOU’RE GETTING OLD WHEN:
You remember when preparing a piece for publication required carbon paper and white-out.
BALDWIN’S BOOK BARN
On the outskirts of West Chester, PA is an unsurpassed emporium of used books, Baldwin’s Book Barn.
The store, located in an actual barn, is a rambling five-floor store of used books, almost exclusively hard cover editions. A booklover could easily get lost for hours of enjoyment. Name a subject and you will find shelves of books covering that topic.
The reason I mention this bookstore is that I have two short stories which take place in this store. One of which has been recently published for the second time.
Back to my love of this store.
I am intrigued by old books, and this is the place to find a trove of them. I own a few old volumes. My oldest is a book of English history published in 1794. I enjoy holding such a book, letting my mind drift to the era it represents. Considering what life was like and who was alive when that book was published.
On a recent visit I purchased a book entitled Minnesota in the Civil and Indian Wars, 1861-1865 published in 1890. I find value in owning a book published shortly after the event or era no matter what the subject.
An example of this interest is an eight-volume set, not purchased at Baldwin’s, titled The Story of the Great War. The first volume is copyrighted 1916. So, this set of books was not only written shortly after the event but during the event.
This is a true example of current events.
Here is a link to the store.
DETAILS OF THE MARTIAN INVASION FOUND IN THE NOVEL THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
CONTINUED
Once the machines emerge from the crater they use a heat ray and black smoke, poison gas, to destroy the humans encounter.
During the invasion the main character seeks shelter in a partially destroyed house with a curate. The curate’s fear increases, and he talks louder and louder, is discovered by the Martians and abducted.
One interesting fact is that the machines are tripods and travel using three long extended legs. Upon examination of the Martian machinery and vehicles it becomes apparent that the Martians have no knowledge of the wheel.
They communicate through telepathy. And in appearance, resemble something out of a Lovecraft story.
During the invasion Martians drink the blood of humans they capture for nourishment. Upon the demise of the Martians autopsies are performed and it is discovered that the Martian lack a digestive system, hence the need to drink human blood. During the invasion massive amounts of red vines are produced and plague the area. Nourishment to create the vines and color is also attributed to the use of human blood.
Of further note is that the Martian vehicles can be destroyed.
The Martians eventually succumb to diseases caused by the bacteria found on Earth. It is speculated that there are no disease-causing bacteria on Mars.
Finally, it is thought that if the Martians launch another invasion of Earth it will occur in a less developed country. But this time humanity will be ready.
WAR OF THE WORLDS: AN INTRODUCTION
WAR OF THE WORLDS
A REVIEW OF THE NOVEL AND RELATED MOVIES
This is an introduction to my next series of posts.
During my teenage years I was fascinated by Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). I accumulated a small paperback library on the subject. Was a subscriber to Saucer News (that topic will be covered in a future post).
With my interest in UFOs, I was drawn to the novel by H.G. Wells, War of the Worlds, published in 1898. And have been entertained, many times by the 1953 movie starring Gene Barry and the 2005 movie starring Tom Cruise.
In subsequent posts I will explore invasion ‘fact’ of the Martian invasion outlined in the book and how closely the two movies follow those ‘facts’.
I hope you find these posts interesting.
At the conclusion of my War of the Worlds discussions I will explore the current quest to discover alien life. And how it may exist closer than expected.
THE MARTIAN MISTAKE
THE MARTIAN MISTAKE
One of my favorite movies is the 1953 edition of The War of the Worlds.
In both this movie, and the Tom Cruise version, the Martians make a major mistake resulting in their demise.
I will be discussing these movies in a future post.
What was their mistake and why did they make it?
Hint: The source of the Martian’s mistake is explained at the end of H. G. Wells’ book. The basis for both movies.
In seven days, I will share the answer.
CHILDREN AND CELL PHONES
CHILDREN AND CELL PHONES
First a disclaimer. I don’t own a cell phone. My kids are grown so I don’t have one of society’s major problems: Children and the influence of cell phones.
Even with the above disclaimer I am well aware of the problem cell phones are causing with our youth. You would have to live in a cave or under a rock not to be.
We have restrictions on our children to ensure their safety. They can’t drink until they are twenty-one. They cannot, or are not supposed to, drive until they reach an age designated by the state where they dwell. We categorize movies for the protection of our children. Why can’t industry produce cell phones made for children, say for children under the age of fourteen which are limited to only communication? Could it be that less sophisticated phones would cut into profits?
Cell phones are denying children their childhood by gluing them to a screen rather than participating in constructive play. Reducing children the opportunity to make friends.
I don’t think most children under fourteen have the means to purchase cell phones on their own so parents would have complete control over the phones their children can use.
Currently cell phones, right or wrong, are ‘practically’ a necessity. But why can’t there exist cell phones, for children, whose sole purpose is for communication. For children, bring back the cell phone of the past. For the use of moms to contact their children to see what they were up to and that they were alright. With these cell phones exposure to the outside world would be limited.
As children matured the phones could provide increasing access to the outside world and information. And by the time our children reach adulthood they have developed healthy habits in the use of cell phones.
YOU KNOW YOU’RE GETTING OLD WHEN:
You remember when a judge made decisions based on the law and not the source of their appointment.
WALT’S OPINIONS: THE UNICORN DILEMMA
WALT’S OPINIONS: THE UNICORN DILEMMA
WALT’S OPINIONS
THE UNICORN DILEMMA
Noah must have been extremely talented in sexing animals. But no one is perfect.
And that is, perhaps, the reason why we have no unicorns today.
The commonly held theory as to why unicorns do not exist is that they were left behind with the beginning of the rain. It is possible they weren’t left behind but were, in fact, passengers on the ark.
It may be that they do not exist today for in selecting the couple to be saved, Noah made a mistake.
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