Polk County Parade 2012

Parade yesterday. Really love everyone that attended. I really missed some that were not able to come.
Watching the kids attempt to carry their bags of candy and cuzzies. Amazed me. I am sure it was more of a bounty than their Halloween was.
It was a long day, but fun was had by all!
My view was mostly the back of my wiener dogs heads. Texas was in the back seat. Popping his head out the window occasionally to amaze the crowd. That's always funny! Buddy finally settled down and seem to Enjoy himself.

Skin cancer?

I am sitting in the Dermatologists office. I have a funny feeling I might have a run in with my first spots of skin cancer. I have a large spot on the top of my head and a small triangle on my forehead. My sister said she experienced the same exact marks. All those blistering sunburns from Miami when I was a kid didn't help.

You could ride that Trophy!

I had to share this.

It has been a long "SHOW" career for my boy Texas. "Longest Tail," "Tallest Dog" "Best Trick." Ahhh! the fun of small towns. Today he won a huge, wonderful trophy at the "Pooches to Pedigrees" show by the Kiwanis Club at Tri State Arena. The class was for "The most Handsome Male." I was glad to see others thought so too!

Texas is sadly announcing his retirement from the "Hee Haw" Show Circuit. He is 7 yrs old, (which is starting to get up there) graying and not quite enjoying it like he had. I am getting both my knees replaced Sept 20th, so we are both a bit worn out!

 

 

Cuban Food

Did my eyes deceive me? As I was rushing down Spring Place Rd (HWY 74) my eyes spied a hot red wagon parked on the corner where the Tornados tore down all the buildings a little over a year ago. "Authentic Cuban Food" it said, in big block letters one the side of the wagon. "Footlong Cuban sandwhiches!" That was all it took!

Having been living in Miami for over 40 years. The one and only thing I found I missed was the food. The Mexican's have great food here. But it is nothing like the Cubans! Rich with flavor, the smell of lemon, garlic and onions. Oh gripes, I am dying just thinking about it. I had to stop.

"Cuban Sandwich," "Croquettas," "Papas Rellenas" (mash potatoe fried balls stuffed with meat) O.M.G! I walked up to the bright red lunch mobile ready with my Espaniol. (I know how to order authentically also!) Only to overhear the propriator speaking to the customer a head of me in English! With no visible Cuban Accent! NOOOOOOOOO! It can't be an AMERICAN serving AUTHENTIC CUBAN FOOD! How authentic could it be?

Well, as I struck up a conversation (in englaise) I found that he was not even from MIAMI!
Could it be...that Cubans have taken over other parts of Florida as well?????

It turned out my night in shining red wagon was from Tampa, Fl. Where he proudly told me that the origional authentic Cuban Sandwiches were first made. Tampa! What?:I couldn't believe my ears...Wasn't the Cuban boat rush in Miami? Didn't I start my stay in Miami in 1960 with only one cuban on our block? Only to leave in 2005 and find I was one of the few Americans left in Miami? Pronounced mee-ham-ee! You mean they made it up to Tampa and made the first AUTHENTIC CUBAN SANDWICH there first? Well even though I didn't believe it. I decided to give him a try. I'll have a Cuban Sandwich, a Papa rellenos, and 5 hamone crocettes I said. As I proceeded to have a conversation with the very nice American (Bruce). He began the preparation of my food.

Looking into my wallet I discovered I only had $3.00 (This never happens to me) Halt! I said in my best German. I have to go to the bank! I have no dinero! Bruce was only too happy to partially cook my food and continue when I came back (So it wouldn't be cold). Wasn't that sweet? Well I am here to tell you THAT wouldn't happen in Miami!

Well I bid him "adious" and drove home. I have to tell you, the food was wonderful! Very authentic and I was pleasantly surprised to find an extra croquetta in my box when I got home! Ya got to love it!

Until next summer my sweet!

My wonderful 8 yr old niece "Holly" left yesterday after 10 weeks with me. I miss her giggles, her smile, and even her moods. The dogs are all depressed and mopy. Because she knows I have some health issues, she told me: " I will be your knees, I will be your feet, I will be your back, just lean on me too."  How great is she?

She did everything around the animals, fed the goats, horses, dogs, bird and turtle. Big responsibility for an 8 year old.

I rewarded her behavior with gaited horseback riding lessons, where she learned from the best teacher around. "Susan Brown" with "Rarity Bay Equestrian Center" in Vonure, Tennessee.  She could not have a better trainer.

I was so proud of her.

Until next summer sweetheart! I will miss you!

Dog rescue in Thailand

This makes our mission in Tennessee look easy...Just puttin things in perspective.

1,200 Dogs Rescued from Thailand's Dog-Meat Smugglers

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 12:00 PM PDT

On July 28, Facebook fans of Animal Activists Alliance Thailand were overjoyed to read the breaking news that more than 1,200 Thai dogs had been rescued from international dog meat smugglers. The dogs were intercepted in two separate raids as they were en route to their doom. One convoy containing some 800 dogs was intercepted late at night. Those terrified dogs had been kept in the jungle for several days without food or water. They were very weak; many of them were wearing collars, indicating they had recently been pets.

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One of the smugglers' trucks, loaded high with dogs in cages.

The rescue was accomplished by the Royal Thai Police and the Royal Thai Navy Border Patrol, with support from members of Animal Activists Alliance Thailand. The smugglers were arrested in the Ban Phang district of Nakorn Phanom Province.
The only viable option for the rescue team was to transport the dogs to shelter facilities in Nakhom Phanom, but the province's governor said there were no funds to feed and care for the dogs. To the rescue came Soi Dog Foundation, an international nonprofit that has committed to covering the immediate cost of the dogs' care. The charity (Soi is Thai for "street," as in "street dog") teamed up with Animal Activists Alliance Thailand to supply 12 tons of dog food, as well as vets and other staff.

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The emptied cages tell their own story.

The canine survivors are now safe from dog-meat smugglers and starvation, but there's still the very real danger of distemper and parvovirus to contend with. So all 1,200 dogs must be vaccinated, each one requiring a course of three vaccines, to prevent outbreaks of these highly contagious diseases (which have, sadly, killed many other dogs rescued from smugglers in the past).
"The lives of these dogs are at immediate risk," says John Dalley, Soi Dog's executive director. "Unless they are vaccinated soon, disease epidemics will break out and most will perish. The ongoing cost of caring for the dogs will be over 500,000 Thai baht per month."
Here's a video showing the rescued dogs:

The value of these dogs alone in the Vietnam restaurant trade is well over 3 million Thai baht, or $95,000. "The smugglers are losing a lot of money, but we need to raise a lot to be able to help these dogs and others who may well join them in coming weeks," Dalley adds.

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The dogs being fed by Soi Dog staff and volunteers. Note that many dogs have collars -- and are probably stolen pets.

You can do your part to help these dogs and prevent the birth of thousands of unwanted animals through Soi Dog's vital spay-neuter mission, by making donations or sponsoring animals through its site.

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The rescued dogs all get vet exams.

Is there hope of putting an end to the cruel trade in dog meat, which is happening even as you read this? Dalley says there is: "We can save the rescued dogs and stop the dog meat trade altogether. The sheer numbers of dogs that are going to need somewhere to go will bring matters to a head very soon, thereby prompting the government to take action to stop the trade at its source."

Thank goodness for good friends

OK, I have already admitted to myself that I am not as sharp as I used to be. Maybe I was never really that sharp, but my memory for names left me in my late 30's when I started taking tons of medicine for my neuropathy. My body has been so abused and tortured, it surprises me it's still hanging in there.

The last few years I have been subjected to the worse muscle spasms in my inner thighs, I could have ever imagined. Unfortunately my brother and niece have had to be witness to this as they stood by helplessly. At the onset, I am totally incapacitated for at least 20 mins. Can't stand, can's sit, can't move. I just scream in pain. The poor dogs get so freaked out.

The doctor put me on Soma (you just got to love the way we medicate people in this country) and I take one at night with the rest of my tons of other medication. No one has figured out why I am getting these unbelievable muscle spasms, but I suspect it may be associated with dehydration. 

Made a huge mistake last night. I haven't been much of a drinker for years, but very occasionally enjoy a glass of wine or a tiny glass with a finger of Brandy in it. I made sure I had a huge glass of water as well and poured a bit of Brandy. My niece commented on seeing me drink alcohol and I assured her that little bit would be fine.

So much for that...Not only did I get one of the worse muscle spasms an hour later, I mistakenly took a second dose of muscle relaxer with my regular night time pills. Because I  take so much medication for my leg disease (Charcot Marie Tooth Syndrome) and my herniated discs, I was sure I was going to lapse into a coma and leave my 8 yr old niece to deal with this, I called the poison control center. They were worried about my blood pressure dropping and wanted me to call 911 or at least have an adult stay with me.

My good friend Helen had just returned from a vacation and was kind enough to come and hold my hand (I know she was looking forward to sleeping in her own bed) I am sure she didn't sleep much (I was out like a light). All was well this morning (I lived) as we had some much needed coffee and cantaloupe. My point to all this is that I have come to appreciate my friends so much for their incredible selflessness. I don't know what I would do without them. I have no family anywhere near me. I have been so lucky in my life to have the friends I do. They all know who they are. I just want you all to know how grateful I am to having you all in my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.