Just My Dog

He’s just my dog.

He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds, my other ears that hear above the winds.

He has told me a thousand times over that I am his reason for being – by the way he rests against my leg, the way he thumps his tail at the smallest smile, and how he shows his hurt when I leave. (I think it makes him sick with worry when he is not along to care for me.)

When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive.

When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile.

When I am happy, he is joy unbounded.

When I am a fool, he ignores it.

When I succeed, he brags.

Without him, I am only another person.

With him, I am all powerful.

He has taught me the meaning of devotion is loyalty itself.

With him, I know secret comfort and a private peace.

He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant.

His head on my knee can heal my human hurts.

His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things.

He has promised to wait for me … whenever … in case I need him, and I expect I will, as I always have.

Who is he? He’s just … my dog.

— Gene Hill

So Tom, Ted and I went out to dinner the other night and had this really interesting conversation about the filter. It all started when we were talking about two of our favorite TV shows, Bones and The Mentalist. We get a kick out of the main characters because they’re not quite normal in entertaining ways.

It all started to make sense when Ted described Bones as having no filter. She says exactly what’s on her mind and she has no trouble talking about things most people consider private and she’s confused when anyone is taken aback by her honesty because it all seems perfectly normal to her. Patrick Jane’s filter is in polarity mode — he’s constantly trying to crack someone else’s filter.

We decided that Ted’s filter is stuck in auto-off mode. He’ll go for days (or weeks) spending time alone or with close family… and the filter gradually shuts down because it’s unnecessary. When he ventures back into the social scene, he needs to re-enable the filter or he’s likely to step outside the bounds.

Tom’s filter is always on and always set to high. Never make waves, never say or do anything to call attention to himself, always fade into the background.

I think my filter is pretty much like everyone else’s. Just plain normal — how utterly boring.

I’m all for Health Care Reform. I believe everyone should have access to reasonably priced quality health care.

But I’m completely against the Health Care Bill. It’s the wrong bill. It’s loaded with a ton of crap that shouldn’t be there.

Plain and simple: vote no to Obama-care on Sunday or I vote no to you in November.

I’ve said before that Democrats can’t add.

This week, Obama tried to convince people that if the healthcare bill passed, their employer’s premiums would decrease by 3000% and that would allow their employers to give them raises.

Huh? A company that pays $1,000 in insurance premiums is now going to save $29,000? Where the heck is that $29,000 coming from? Maybe insurance companies are going to start paying employers?

I don’t know what bothers me more… the fact that Obama said something so stupid or the fact that the audience believed it.

There was a time when Kisa’s dreams kept me awake at night. I don’t know what she was dreaming about, but the paws were flying and she was yelping — just the way she always did when she chased a squirrel across the front yard or did laps around the house.

Now, the silence in the hallway keeps me awake at night. I think it will be a long time before I stop noticing the empty spot on the floor outside our bedroom door.

Beyond The Rainbow

As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played,
I was so very tired and knew my time on earth was soon to fade.

I saw a wondrous image of a place that’s trouble-free
Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity.

I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, and on the other side
Were meadows rich and beautiful — lush and green and wide!

And running through the meadows as far as the eye could see
Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be!

My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new
And I wanted to go run with them, but I had something left to do.

I needed to reach out to you, to tell you that I’m well,
That this place is truly wonderful, a happy place to dwell.

That your heart shouldn’t ache so… the pain should go away.
I’ll wait for you in comfort ’til you come for me some day.

That although we’re not together in the way we used to be,
We’re still connected by a bond no eye can ever see.

That when you need to find me, we’re never far apart.
Just look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart.

Anonymous

The Make Drug Tests Required To Get Welfare page is getting a lot of attention (1.8 million fans as of this post), but the State of Missouri is trying to make it happen:

Welfare recipients in Missouri would have to undergo drug testing under legislation expected to hit the state House floor this week. Supporters of the proposal say the state shouldn’t subsidize drug use.

Sounds like a no-brainer to me.

But critics say the law targets the poor and that the state’s drug treatment programs already have lengthy waiting lists, leaving few options for people who want to get clean.

What?!?!? That is so lame. There’s your tax dollars working for you, America.

This year, drug testing for elected officials already has been proposed as a separate bill by Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City. “We’re in a time period in which we need to restore trust,” she said as she presented her bill to the House Ethics Committee.

Translation: We’re tanking in the polls and we better do something to make people happy before November.

I hope they get to shove this through and set an example for the rest of us… but I’m sure the ACLU is going to scream foul and some idiot will find a way to kill it.

Read the entire press release.

via Editorial: I Told You So – Yes I Did – Galganov.com.

1. Buy a bag of dried beans for 15-bean soup (throw away the spice packet).
2. Soak the beans in a pot of salted water overnight (about 12 hours).
3. Stir the beans and throw away any floaters. Drain, rinse and put back in the pot with enough water to cover by 1-2 inches.
4. Add one coarsely chopped onion and four stalks of coarsely chopped celery.
5. Toss in a ham hock and a half bottle McCormick Cajun Seasoning.
6. Simmer for three hours, adding more water if necessary.
7. Add a can of crushed tomatoes and simmer for 2-3 hours until tender.