A book for dog lovers [color:"blue"]I, Jack[/color]

Granted, it is Juvenile Fiction not Adult Fiction. But it is HYSTERICAL. It's written from the perspective of an adult male yellow Lab.

Gray,

When are you going to update your No Stick? You've turned me into a vicarious Alaskan.

And you made me look up aufeis ...

After we left the North Slope the trip was like boot camp. I had no time at all for blogging. Now that I'm home I'm too busy!

Since I still several hundred more photos and a few tales to tell, I plan to do a bit of after-the-fact blogging later this week. Keep checking back.

I've had that blog for probably two years, and I bet there are five regular readers. It's weird having more than that, even if it's just temporary.

I often forget what a cool dude you are Gray

...and then I read something that reminds me. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

On my front, I finally got moved back into my little yellow house. Yeah! It's bright, tiny and Paige and I love it after that big old dark house we were in. All the wood in that house is either maple or oak. The floors in every single room including the kitchen are a beautiful maple. Dark, dark and darker.

The little yellow house has cheap pine floors and wookwork, and painted hollow doors. Vinyl windows with cute little window boxes.

Gonna fix her up and sell her, but sure am enjoying being back there. It was my first house, long before Paige was born.

I have been reading all sorts of stuff about starting my own business and putting half of my 401K into a sole IRA account, or self-directed IRA that allows real estate investment out of it.

Also looking at the possibility of operating a food cart at the various festivals in Green Bay next spring (very possible).

GB talked to some businesses down on the water front and they said what was needed was a water taxi, like they have in other waterfront areas. Green Bay is just in the process of developing their waterfront and I think it is already very beautiful.

We looked into the costs involved in the boat itself, even converting an old house boat. The captains "6 pack" (yes that's what they call it, too funny) license is under a $1000. to obtain but the insurance is sky high. Way too much money to invest in starting a business when there are too many unknowns, and with the vicarious summer weather in Green Bay, it's just too risky. It was fun to dream about though. I could so imagine myself there, hanging out on the river front with all the tourists. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

It's soo much fun to concentrate on things other than a broken heart.

This is what is meant by freedom of the mind, to me. It's awesome to be free to pursue thoughts, dreams, to imagine, and most of all to work towards something new. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> To be light of mind...priceless.

Weaver, I have no idea what you were talking about but thanks a heap. You made me feel better.

I need a fiver from that gun nonsense. Must... resist... personal... attacks!

So I heard 81-year-old Christopher Tolkien finally finished editing another of his father's unfinished tales, called The Children of Hurin, and that it is very dark and a good read.

But first I need to read The Road. I was too cheap to get it in hardcover when it first came out, then I resisted it because of the "Oprah" sticker on the paperback (vain I know), and now it's won the Pulitzer.

Cormac McCarthy is what they used to call a literary giant.

GC

Weaver knows what she spouts and touts.

You are cool and froody.

I am tired.

Very, very tired.

We've a new dog.

Her human mommy passed away last week. Her human sister found her by mommy curled up in a ball.

She thinks she is a human. Which means, just like our non-fur babies, she sleeps crosswise on the bed while the Wookie and I clutch the sides.

Her name is Molly. I sing Molly Malone to her while I work in the garden. I'm sure my neighbors LOVE that.

Kimmy, I need a dog too.

But I can't get past thinking I need to fence my yard first, and fences are $$$$$$$$$$$$$.

I'm gone 10 hrs a day. It would be wrong to not fence the yard.

Dog owners feel free to chime in.

I picture a fenced yard and a dog door, to prevent having a lonely dog who needs to pee.

GC

oh and:

She barks at the vacuum and at the broom and at the mop and at the treadmill.

Which is great, cos it gives me an excuse NOT to utilize those items in the house. I wish that she'd bark at the dishwasher and oven.

(snicker)

I've always had great luck with dogs. And cats. And turtles.

Not so great with fish, though.

Time for another dog for me too. Pound puppies are the best. I think they actually appreciate being adopted. Kennel pups seem entitled.

Last dog actually saved DS from getting run over in the street. Ran out and dragged him back by his diaper.


Gray, you can run but you can't hide.

Graycloud,

Depending on where you live, you can use an underground fence but your baby has to be at least 4 months old to train to it. It also doesn't keep other strays out. We had one where we used to live on 5 acres. It was much cheaper than stick built. The other option would be a chainlink kennel during the day when you are gone, don't make it too small and be sure there is a dog house inside. Most AKC people keep their dogs in small kennels in the house during the day when they are at work. It seems cruel to those who don't but the dogs like having there own space and don't want to dirty it either. Mutts, usually have better temperments, less in breeding, aqccording to some.
They really do love you when you are home and give you lots of loving and petting when you need it!!

A dog lover!! Cats are okay too!

FTS

You guys aren't going to believe the book I read this weekend..."The God Delusion" by Roger Dawkins. They didn't have the book I wanted at the libary and that one called out to me from the new arrivals shelf.

Wow! Talk about dark. It was the first Athiest book I have ever read. I cried afterwards, but I do agree with the danger of religion.

He had an excerpt in there from Sam Harris's "Letter to a Christian Nation" that I agree with wholeheartedly, but don't have the guts to post here.

What troubled me about the book was that there is a definite gap left if one loses his belief in God, and Dawkins says that for him he is so inspired and awed by science and the universe, that he feels no gap.

Well what fills the gap for non-scientific people?

I doubt I will ever be athiest, but I am ready to move myself into the spiritual but not religious category...which is why I even noticed the book in the first place, I suppose.

Of course afterwards, I was so depressed I had to read from Wayne Dyers "Inspiration"...(a fellow follower of ACIM).

And just so as not to stray too far from the subject at hand, P works at the no kill animal shelter in town -

Please, please get your pets from your local shelter. (unless of course you must have a specific breed with papers, or something like that.

One of my cats adopted us - I call her Bastet's cat because the Egyptians belived the cat chose the humans, not the other way around. She is queenly and aloof most of the time...just like a goddess-cat should be.

The other came from a cat rescue. He's fat and lazy and sweet and loving (to the point of smothering me).

Miss Molly is def. happy with us...she's very spaniel-y...like if someone had gathered all the different spaniel types together and smushed them together to make one dog.

- Kimmy

You can email it 2 me, if you like! I promise not 2 be offended. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


This is interesting. I don't feel a "gap", so far as I understand what he's describing. I wonder if the perceived gap is because he's equating a "loss" of his belief in God with a loss of spiri2ality, rather than religion? After all, being "inspired" by anything - be it science, the universe, or wagging puppy dog tails - is spiri2al by definition.

-ol' 2long

I will, but it will be a day or so as I have to bring the book and type the excerpt out.

It's about religion in government. Something that should scare the living crap out of everyone.

2long, Dawkins also talks about how geologists are way too polite when talking to others about science and religion. I had to laugh at that, thinking of you.

My problem is with religion and government, though.

Dawkins has a problem with every aspect of it.

I've only read a few of his essays and seen a talk he gave. Based on that... Dawkins is a relic of 19th century scientific reductionism and arrogance, and I find his hostility toward religion to be a little pathological.

But it's no surprise there should be a scientific backlash to the bizarre reality-denying fundamentalism we have so much of here in the USA.

We've got our own breed of radical clerics.

GC

The gap for me comes from the loss of comfort, a way of thinking, and a way of looking at the world itself. I don't think Dawkins felt any gap, but he was addressing it for all the people raised with religion who would.

If there were no religion in the world, as a favorite Beetle sang about in Imagine, would people finally take responsibility? Would they open their eyes and study peace, and understand finally that it is up to us?

Yes.

I believe downplaying serious problems because Jesus is gonna come solve them for us is more than irresponsible... it's deranged.

For some of us the gap is never filled but we find meaning in the ongoing attempt to fill it. Fluffy as that might sound.

In other words... it's not the belief, it's the practice.

GC

>In other words... it's not the belief, it's the practice.


YES.