As some of my friends know, I have three kittens from Boots, that we brought in when she was sick. Two of them are fine and healthy, baruch Hash-m. But the littlest, Squeak, has not been doing good for the last few days. A week and a half ago, shortly after we brought the kittens inside, Squeak had a seizure. But he seemed to get better from that. Yesterday, I took him to the vet because i noticed one of his pupils was all the way open and didn't close. He also didn't seem to be as active. He was never that active to begin with, but still, what little activity he had done was gone now. The vet said that what he really needed was an neurologist, but in all honesty, that would be crazy expensive, and there is no way, I'd put an animal through something like an MRI scan. It's traumatizing enough for people, and at least THEY know what's going on. So I brought him home, and he just has been getting worse and worse. I don't think he's going to survive the night in all hoonesty. He won't eat, won't drink, and he just lies there shaking. It's so hard when a baby animal that you've cared for is sick, will possibly die, and there is NOTHING you can do for it. So, that's why I'm sad, now you know the whole story.
Update: Squeak did live through the night, but when I went into the room the next morning he didn't seem to be doing much better. He was having trouble breathing and he still couldn't get up. We ended up taking him to the Humane Society. I felt relieved when we dropped him off because now it would be THEM making the decision and not me. We gave away Slippers the same day, but we are keeping Mittens.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
Pros and Cons of Sukkos in Florida
Ok, so Florida is known for it's lovely sunny weather. After all, we are called the Sunshine State. However, around Sukkos, it's usually not sunny. It's actually quite....rainy. Which means, we go out into the sukkah for a total of 10 minutes, get drenched while my step-father says kiddush and does hamotzei and rush back in. There's a tendency for it to rain at night, when it's not raining and we can sit in the (dripping) sukkah, there are mosquitoes and bees, oh, and humidity, can't forget humidity. Also, there is always the threat of a hurricane, I mean living in Florida you know there are going to be hurricanes. Baruch Hash-m, there have been no hurricanes in Florida this hurricane season, but the season isn't over yet, so you never know. Two years ago, at the end of Sukkos, Hurricane Wilma came crashing through. Fortunatly, it was Simchas Torah, so my family didn't need the sukkah anymore but...the hurricane made something of a mess you could say.
Alright, so I've gone through a few cons of Sukkos in Florida, there are good things too, don't get me wrong. After all, there are 7 days to the chag and not EVERY day is bad. There are days when you are sitting in the sukkah and there are beautiful breezes. You don't need to worry about freezing in the sukkah (unlike in NY, or Mass.) I spent sukkos up in Monsey one year, and I was freezing my tuchus off, I was so glad the next year to be back in Florida and not have to go through THAT again. And, for my family at least, there is always the chance that yet another cat will wander into our life and take off with the challah cover.
I think that is all I will ruminate about sukkos for now, until next time, when I shall discuss "Snowbirds and Tourons"!
Alright, so I've gone through a few cons of Sukkos in Florida, there are good things too, don't get me wrong. After all, there are 7 days to the chag and not EVERY day is bad. There are days when you are sitting in the sukkah and there are beautiful breezes. You don't need to worry about freezing in the sukkah (unlike in NY, or Mass.) I spent sukkos up in Monsey one year, and I was freezing my tuchus off, I was so glad the next year to be back in Florida and not have to go through THAT again. And, for my family at least, there is always the chance that yet another cat will wander into our life and take off with the challah cover.
I think that is all I will ruminate about sukkos for now, until next time, when I shall discuss "Snowbirds and Tourons"!
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Dragons...
People often ask me, why I am so obsessed with dragons? So I'm gonna list some of my reasons here. Dragons play a big part in fantasy, and there are many different things you can do with dragons. Also, people from different places have different images of dragons in thier minds, so the way an american imagines a dragon is very different from the way an asian does.
There are as well, many varied dragons: fire dragons, ice dragons. water dragons, earth dragons, magic dragons, small dragons, large dragons, stupid dragons, wise dragons, dragons that fight humans, dragons that work together with humans...etc. I can likely list at least one book that has each kind of dragon I've mentioned. Heck, I could probably list several!
I have a very active imagination, and I have a tendency to make little stories in my head, and most of them never see the light of day, and quite a few them feature dragons. I could write one right now!
She peered over the edge of the crater, and shook her head. "The ground seems very far down from here." She said to her rider anxiously. It was their first flight and the dragon was having second thoughts. "Oh, come on, Mage," her rider chided, "it's not that far, and if you drop there will be someone to catch you. You were really excited this morning." Mage sneezed. "That was this morning," she whined, "this is now, and I'm scared." Her rider snorted in disgust. "Look at all the other dragonets, they seem to be having a fine time." he gestured at the rest of the group, whose dragons were whooping and doing loop-de-loops. Her rider then decided to switch tactics. "You're not going to let Jode outdo you, are you?" Jode was the one simbling who canstantly got under Mage's skin. There was a "friendly rivalry" between them, though now it wasn't very friendly. Mage caught a glimpse of Jode winging by, his teeth bared in a mocking grin. "Absolutlely not!" she roared. She spread her wings and jumped off the ledge. As she jumped a thermal drifted up beneath her, and she soared. "Woohoo!" her rider cried. "That's it Mage! I knew you could do it!" She smiled, it had been easy after all, what had she been scared of? She went swooshing after Jode, thinking "Let's see if he smirks now!"
Okay...that was actually pretty long for me, and I came up with that in the spur of the moment. But the problem is, that I can't keep it flowing for long, and then I end up thinking it needs work and I lose interest. Whatever. Oh yeah, and there are people who ask me, in a condescending tone, "You DO know dragons aren't real right?" Yes, I do know that, I might be crazy, but I'm not completely insane. Oh, and by the way, I apologize for not having posted in a week, been busy. Till next time, whic hopefully won't be so late, So long!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Busy Week
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It's been a busy couple of weeks. First, Boots was very sick, and we didn't see her for two days. Then on Friday, the 31, she showed up again and was looking VERY sick, she hardly moved, wasn't doing anything. So I took her to an emergency vet, and he said that she had an upper respiratory infection, as well as another kind of bacterial infection. Her white bloodcell count was high, she wasn't getting enough liquid...in short, a very sick cat. So I opted to leave her there for the next two days, because shabbos was coming and we wouldn't be able to do anything for her than anyways. Ok, after that, we came home and our neighbor had found oneof the kittens, and then another and then a third! So we now had three kittens, I took them to the vet to asl him what we should feed them. I was given food and medicine and then I had to run hometo finishgettingreadyfor shabbos. Then, we went back on Sunday to take her home. The vet said she had a 50/50 chance of getting better. Her main problem was that she was depressed. I had a feeling that I could nurse her back. So, it has now beenone week and I took her to the vet on Wed. and he saidshe was doing a lot better. But I've been kept busy, that's for sure!
Monday, August 27, 2007
Vacation Experience
OK, I really should be writing what I did during vacation, but at the moment, I just don't feel like it. I'll give a couple of examples of what I did during vacation though, just to start it off. But, I'm warning you, I'm not going in order, so if you notice inconsistencies, that's why.
Last shabbos we(my mother, brother, and I) were supposed to stay in a hotel/resort. You'll notice I said "supposed". What really ended up happening was we spent shabbos on the side of the road in our car, in the middle of Georgia. No, I am not kidding, it really did happen. It was definitely an...experience. One I would not care to repeat but an experience nonetheless. You're probably wondering how we ended up there in the first place right? Well, we were coming from South I-75 and we were using map quest directions. Now, either the place had moved or, the directions weren't put in right, but first we got off on the wrong exit. We called them and they said, "Oh, you're supposed to get off at exit 101, which was 20 miles down the road. Then we called them again, and told them we were coming from the south, which way should we go? Left or right? They told us we should go left, we'd travel for another 10-12 miles, see a state park, and they'd be right next to it. Well, we made a left, and went 12 miles down the road, 13, 14, it turned out they were in the exact opposite direction. It was 2 minutes before shabbos, and I told my mother to turn around, I had seen some trailer houses, a minute away. So, we pulled in to the dirt road, and it was shabbos. We opened the doors of the car before that so we could get out though. So my mother went to different trailers knocking on the doors to see if someone would be able to drive our car to their "driveway" and turn off our battery so we could spend shabbos in the car. Sure enough, there was a family who drove our car up to the driveway and turned off our battery for us. But, these people had NO IDEA what Jews are. The only person who did have any idea, was the grandmother of the family, who lived next door. So we ate dinner in the car (we had brought our food with us in coolers) and basically just sat in the car. We tried to fall asleep, but that was almost impossible, especially in a car full of luggage and you have three full grown people. (By the way, our "car" is a minivan.) And, though we didn't find this out till later, we were in rattlesnake country. The next day, we ate lunch in the car, while the family piled into their truck and went to the local school for a ceremony of some sort. The air kept getting hotter and hotter, I think it went up to 100 degrees that day. Fortunately, when the family came back, they offered to let us into the house, and we gladly accepted. My mother sat and chatted with the mother and grandmother (my mother will talk anyone she meets) and I sat and read a book I had brought. Actually I think I went through two books. The family had two small dogs who were continually jumping all over the place, but they were cute and friendly, so it didn't bother us. It's a very good thing my family loves animals, or else we'd have been in trouble. So, we were inside till shabbos ended, and then we re-connected the battery and drove down to a place right on the border between Georgia and Florida. It was SO good to sleep in a bed again. I think that's all I'll write for now, though I may update parts of this post later. And I shall share with you some more experiences from my vacation soon.
Last shabbos we(my mother, brother, and I) were supposed to stay in a hotel/resort. You'll notice I said "supposed". What really ended up happening was we spent shabbos on the side of the road in our car, in the middle of Georgia. No, I am not kidding, it really did happen. It was definitely an...experience. One I would not care to repeat but an experience nonetheless. You're probably wondering how we ended up there in the first place right? Well, we were coming from South I-75 and we were using map quest directions. Now, either the place had moved or, the directions weren't put in right, but first we got off on the wrong exit. We called them and they said, "Oh, you're supposed to get off at exit 101, which was 20 miles down the road. Then we called them again, and told them we were coming from the south, which way should we go? Left or right? They told us we should go left, we'd travel for another 10-12 miles, see a state park, and they'd be right next to it. Well, we made a left, and went 12 miles down the road, 13, 14, it turned out they were in the exact opposite direction. It was 2 minutes before shabbos, and I told my mother to turn around, I had seen some trailer houses, a minute away. So, we pulled in to the dirt road, and it was shabbos. We opened the doors of the car before that so we could get out though. So my mother went to different trailers knocking on the doors to see if someone would be able to drive our car to their "driveway" and turn off our battery so we could spend shabbos in the car. Sure enough, there was a family who drove our car up to the driveway and turned off our battery for us. But, these people had NO IDEA what Jews are. The only person who did have any idea, was the grandmother of the family, who lived next door. So we ate dinner in the car (we had brought our food with us in coolers) and basically just sat in the car. We tried to fall asleep, but that was almost impossible, especially in a car full of luggage and you have three full grown people. (By the way, our "car" is a minivan.) And, though we didn't find this out till later, we were in rattlesnake country. The next day, we ate lunch in the car, while the family piled into their truck and went to the local school for a ceremony of some sort. The air kept getting hotter and hotter, I think it went up to 100 degrees that day. Fortunately, when the family came back, they offered to let us into the house, and we gladly accepted. My mother sat and chatted with the mother and grandmother (my mother will talk anyone she meets) and I sat and read a book I had brought. Actually I think I went through two books. The family had two small dogs who were continually jumping all over the place, but they were cute and friendly, so it didn't bother us. It's a very good thing my family loves animals, or else we'd have been in trouble. So, we were inside till shabbos ended, and then we re-connected the battery and drove down to a place right on the border between Georgia and Florida. It was SO good to sleep in a bed again. I think that's all I'll write for now, though I may update parts of this post later. And I shall share with you some more experiences from my vacation soon.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Kitten Alert!!!
I saw saw the kittens for the first time today! They are so incredibly cute!!!! There are for and for the most part, look like thier father. And, amazingly enough, I was able to get close enough to pet them! EEEEEEEE!!!!! I'm REALLY excited if you can't tell. I also was able to get pics of them which I will put up, that is as soon as they load. Did I mention they're cute? Because they really are. And, they are also only three weeks old. And they are so cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Daddy's Poem
I was going through my e-mail, clearing it up, when I came across this poem that had been sent to me by a friend. It's extremely....well, I let you decide what exactly it is, but I will tell you I cried. Hope you enjoy.
"Daddy's Poem"
Her hair was up in a pony tail,
her favorite dress tied with a bow.
Today was Daddy's Day at school,
and she c ouldn't wait to go.
But her mommy tried to tell her,
that she probably should stay home.
Why the kids might not understand,
if she went to school alone.
But she was not afraid;
she knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates
of why he wasn't there today.
But still her mother worried,
for her to face this day alone.
And that was why once again,
she tried to keep her daughter home.
But the little girl went to school
eager to tell them all.
About a dad she never sees
a dad who never calls.
There were daddies along the wall in back,
for everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently,
anxious in their seats
One by one the teacher called
a student from the class.
To introduce their daddy,
as seconds slowly passed.
At last the teacher called her name,
every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching,
for a man who wasn't there.
"Where's her daddy at?"
she heard a boy call out.
"She probably doesn't have one,"
another student dared to shout.
And from somewhere near the back,
she heard a daddy say,
"Looks like another deadbeat dad,
too busy to waste his day."
The words did not offend her,
as she smiled up at her Mom.
And looked back at her teacher,
who told her to go on.
And with hands behind her back,
slowly she began to speak.
And out from the mouth of a child,
came words incredibly unique.
"My Daddy couldn't be here,
because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be,
since this is such a special day.
And though you cannot meet him,
I wanted you to know.
All about my daddy,
and how much he loves me so.
He loved to tell me stories
he taught me to ride my bike.
He surprised me with pink roses,
and taught me to fly a kite.
We used to share fudge sundaes,
and ice cream in a cone.
And though you cannot see him.
I'm not standing here alone.
"Cause my daddy's always with me,
even though we are apart
I know because he told me,
he'll forever be in my heart"
With that, her little hand reached up,
and lay across her chest.
Feeling her own heartbeat,
beneath her favorite dress.
And from somewhere here in the crowd of dads,
her mother stood in tears.
Proudly watching her daughter,
who was wise beyond her years.
For she stood up for the love
of a man not in her life.
Doing what was best for her,
doing what was right.
And when she dropped her hand back down,
staring straight into the crowd.
She finished with a voice so soft,
but its message clear and loud.
"I love my daddy very much,
he's my shining star.
And if he could, he'd be here,
but heaven's just too far.
You see he was a policeman
and died just this past year
When airplanes hit the towers
and taught Americans to fear.
But sometimes when I close my eyes,
it's like he never went away."
And then she closed her eyes,
and saw him there that day.
And to her mother's amazement,
she witnessed with surprise.
A room full of daddies and children,
all starting to close their eyes.
Who knows what they saw before them,
who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second,
they saw him at her side.
"I know you're with me Daddy,"
to the silence she called out.
And what happened next made believers,
of those once filled with doubt.
Not one in that room could explain it,
for each of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her,
was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
And a child was blessed, if only for a moment,
by the love of her shining star.
And given the gift of believing,
that heaven is never too far.
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them. Send this to the people you'll never forget and remember to send it also to the person that sent it to you. It's a short message to let them know that you'll never forget them. If you don't send it to anyone, it means you're in a hurry and that you've forgotten your friends. Take the time... to live and love.
"Daddy's Poem"
Her hair was up in a pony tail,
her favorite dress tied with a bow.
Today was Daddy's Day at school,
and she c ouldn't wait to go.
But her mommy tried to tell her,
that she probably should stay home.
Why the kids might not understand,
if she went to school alone.
But she was not afraid;
she knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates
of why he wasn't there today.
But still her mother worried,
for her to face this day alone.
And that was why once again,
she tried to keep her daughter home.
But the little girl went to school
eager to tell them all.
About a dad she never sees
a dad who never calls.
There were daddies along the wall in back,
for everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently,
anxious in their seats
One by one the teacher called
a student from the class.
To introduce their daddy,
as seconds slowly passed.
At last the teacher called her name,
every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching,
for a man who wasn't there.
"Where's her daddy at?"
she heard a boy call out.
"She probably doesn't have one,"
another student dared to shout.
And from somewhere near the back,
she heard a daddy say,
"Looks like another deadbeat dad,
too busy to waste his day."
The words did not offend her,
as she smiled up at her Mom.
And looked back at her teacher,
who told her to go on.
And with hands behind her back,
slowly she began to speak.
And out from the mouth of a child,
came words incredibly unique.
"My Daddy couldn't be here,
because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be,
since this is such a special day.
And though you cannot meet him,
I wanted you to know.
All about my daddy,
and how much he loves me so.
He loved to tell me stories
he taught me to ride my bike.
He surprised me with pink roses,
and taught me to fly a kite.
We used to share fudge sundaes,
and ice cream in a cone.
And though you cannot see him.
I'm not standing here alone.
"Cause my daddy's always with me,
even though we are apart
I know because he told me,
he'll forever be in my heart"
With that, her little hand reached up,
and lay across her chest.
Feeling her own heartbeat,
beneath her favorite dress.
And from somewhere here in the crowd of dads,
her mother stood in tears.
Proudly watching her daughter,
who was wise beyond her years.
For she stood up for the love
of a man not in her life.
Doing what was best for her,
doing what was right.
And when she dropped her hand back down,
staring straight into the crowd.
She finished with a voice so soft,
but its message clear and loud.
"I love my daddy very much,
he's my shining star.
And if he could, he'd be here,
but heaven's just too far.
You see he was a policeman
and died just this past year
When airplanes hit the towers
and taught Americans to fear.
But sometimes when I close my eyes,
it's like he never went away."
And then she closed her eyes,
and saw him there that day.
And to her mother's amazement,
she witnessed with surprise.
A room full of daddies and children,
all starting to close their eyes.
Who knows what they saw before them,
who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second,
they saw him at her side.
"I know you're with me Daddy,"
to the silence she called out.
And what happened next made believers,
of those once filled with doubt.
Not one in that room could explain it,
for each of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her,
was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
And a child was blessed, if only for a moment,
by the love of her shining star.
And given the gift of believing,
that heaven is never too far.
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them. Send this to the people you'll never forget and remember to send it also to the person that sent it to you. It's a short message to let them know that you'll never forget them. If you don't send it to anyone, it means you're in a hurry and that you've forgotten your friends. Take the time... to live and love.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
North Carolina Aquarium
Octopus
Shark!!!
Cuttlefish and the little white things are sand fleas.
We saw the cuttlefish eat one of them. It was actually kind of funny because right before that, my brother said "Oh, look at the sand flea jumping!" CHOMP, cuttlefish eats it and now it's history. He was so devastated.
Jellyfish (they were SO cool to watch, wouldn't want to be in the water with them though)
We went to the NC Aquarium on Sunday, here are some pics that I took, enjoy, and I'll give a full report on my vacation when I get back.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Sorry
Sorry I haven't been blogging, but it's been a busy few days and I proabably won't really be able to blog till I get back. (And start school) In the meantime, I leave you with a couple of pics, taken on my new camera!
Friday, August 03, 2007
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Baruch Hash-m!
So I was taking an online course this semester and for the first three weeks I was doing fine. Then I got sick for a week. So of course I was behind on EVERYTHING. I got it all done though, handed it in (late of course) and my teacher told me that the grades had already been handed in. "Oh no," I thought, "that's it, I failed." So, I wrote her an e-mail asking her if there was anything I could do to get a passing grade. And while I waited for her to respond, I prayed. I said, "Hash-m, if you help me pass, I will say Mincha every day no matter what." I'll admit, I've always been a little bit lax on that. So, right after I said that I went and davened mincha. A short while later, when I was driving my brother over to a friend, I got a call from my teacher, and she said that she took my first three esssays (which I had done pretty well on) and made my grade from those, so I passed. Baruch Hash-m! Hash-m is great in His glory!
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Mazel Tov!
My cat Boots had kittens! We haven't seen them and we don't know where she put them, but we know she had them because we saw when she went into labor, and now she's all skinny again. We probably won't get to see them for at least a month, that's what happened the last time she had kittens. And before anyone asks "Why don't you have her spayed?" or "What are you going to do with the kittens?" Ok, first of all, she is an outdoor cat, she won't even let me hold her for very long, never mind take her to the vet! Secondly, she teaches her kittens to be scared of people so the moment they see us they run. And a few weeks after we get to see them, she'll chase them off. So, it's not really up to us to decide. Though I would LOVE to try to get one of them. When we actually do finally see them, I'll try to get pics (that is if they don't run at the sight of me) and post them. Also, about my vacation, I'll probably still be blogging, I'll take my compy with me.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Things to look forward to
Well, once my essay (and my class) are done, I have lots of stuff to look forward to. I'm going an a two week vacation, one week in South Carolina and the next week in North Carolina. Then I'm going down to Atlanta, on my way home for something called an aptitude test. Basically I'll be able to find out what kind of juob I'd be best at. Then, when I return, I start class again. (groan) however I have 3 classes that I'm looking forward to taking. 3/5 isn't bad. And right after that, my former roomie from sem is coming down to Florida w/ her sister. So, I'm REALLY looking forward to that. Course, I haven't told my brother yet that she has a sister coming. He is already freaking about my roomie, M. And I'm expecting my new camera to arrive on Thursday, so I'll be able to take pics and post them. YAY!! In the meantime I shall put up some pics I got from a website. They're very cute.
Monday, July 30, 2007
My Essay That I've Been Working On All Week (2nd Draft)
Dog Fighting
Some perpetual problems in society don’t show their ugly faces until a celebrity is involved. Such is the case with dog fighting. Dog fighting, as with all animal fighting, lies beneath the surface of most people’s conscience, rarely covered by mainstream news outlets. Until the last few weeks when star quarterback Michael Vick was indicted on felony charges for running a dog fighting ring, dog fighting was rarely discussed outside of the world of organized crime. It is much more prevalent than most realize, and despite all the legislation banning it, dog fighting is a growing trend in the United States. In a country that all but deifies dogs, it is amazing that such unwarranted cruelty takes place on a daily basis in communities around the country. To stop this barbaric practice the American people must demand that legislation prohibiting dog fighting have consequences with “real teeth” and that it is strictly enforced.
The “sport” of dog fighting has been around in one form or another for almost a thousand years. The rules have altered little from the time of the nineteenth century. In a typical case, which is usually privately contracted, the owners’ agree with one another to fight their dogs, “stipulating the rules governing the battle, especially the weight of the animals, the principles of the wagering, and what constitutes victory and defeat.” (Curnutt, pg. 285) The rules regarding the declaration of victory vary, but there are a few constants for ruling the loser. If the dog jumps out of the pit, refuses to fight, or if the dog’s handler picks it up, those all comprise forms of defeat. Of course, dead dogs lose as well, but fatalities are rarely reported.
“The fighting is performed in an enclosure, referred to as the “pit”, is about 15 feet wide, with sides 2 ½ or 3 feet high, often carpeting covers the floor area. The dogs are brought into the “pit” by their respective handlers, usually the owners, who hold the canines in opposite corners behind a line. Sometimes a referee is present and he signals for the fight to commence. Then they begin in a simultaneous “scratch”, in which the dogs are released at the same time to rush at each other across the pit and join battle. When one dog pins the other with an immobilizing bite hold, the two are pried apart with a “breaking stick,” a wedge shaped rod used to separate the jaws, and are then taken back to behind their lines. After this, alternate “scratches” begin, with the leading dog given the opportunity to attack first.” (Curnnot, p.285) “ The matches can last anywhere from 20 minutes to 10 hours depending on how long it takes for one dog to become too weak to fight.”(Bacon) The losing dog may be disposed of by electrocution, beating or drowning. Even the “victorious” dog suffers untold abuse. The breeders staple the dogs wounds, pump them with antibiotics and fight them until they are the loser.
The rearing and training of the fighting dogs is as ugly as the events themselves. Many of the dogs have been stolen or adopted from shelters where they are trained as puppies to be aggressive and violent. “They are kept chained and locked in crowded cages, far enough away not to kill each other, but close enough to put them in a constant state of agitation… Sometimes they steal other peoples’ dogs from their own backyards to use as “bait” in training. The conditioning also includes…. hours of running on a treadmill or tied to the bumper of a moving car.” (Curnnott, p. 285)
The popularity of dog fighting is growing mainly because of the growing involvement of rap and hip hop celebrities, as well as professional athletes. It has been observed that rap music, in particular, glorifies dog fighting by writing songs about it. Th rapper DMX, sings the following lyrics in his album “Year of the Dog Again.”
“Place your bets/ you can imagine what the bloodline is like…All my pups is crazy, ‘cause off the leash/ They can eat, stand a match for three hours at least.”
Furthermore, a number of professional players have been directly linked to dog fights. For example, in 2005 the well known NBA player Qyntel Woods pleaded guilty to animal abuse charges for having abandoned a pit bull that had wounds from a dog fight. Also in 2005, the former NFL running back LeShon Johnson pleaded guilty to owning fighting dogs and encouraging dog fights. (Sun-Times) Moreover there is a perpetual attitude among a number of pro athletes that dogs are the others property and they should be free to do what they want to with them. (Sun-Times) Many who run dog fighting rings gain lucrative profits. On the lowest end of the scale $50,000 to $60,000 is at stake, while at the high end, for the more “sophisticated” games, the payoffs can be close to $1 million. (Bacon)
Although no federal agency is responsible for tracking national arrests, there are an estimated 40,000 people that take part in this “sport” and the true number is probably much more than that. Much of the proof of the widespread nature of the problem of dog fighting is anecdotal. For example, several months ago 36 pit bulls, treadmills and fighting equipment were confiscated in Charlotte, North Carolina and the owner was accused of engaging in illegal dog fighting. These types of indirect proofs are common occurrences as indicated by recent court filings. (MSNBC.com – Newsweek – July 18) But, there are other proofs of the frequency of this illegal activity including the growing web activity, the increase number of publications and the flooding of dog shelters with pit bulls, the most popular fighting breed. One animal advocacy group, pet-abuse.com, found 122 suspected dog fighting cases nation wide in 2002. However, this only represents the tip of the iceberg. (Newsweek – July 18) The problem in obtaining statistics, in part, lies with the secretive network that runs the business. “You have to know somebody, who knows somebody to get into the rings…It takes time and money to infiltrate these underground operations (that) Animal Control just doesn’t have.” (WCNC – July 18)
Despite dog fighting’s prevalence in the United States, it rarely makes the news, that is until a high profile celebrity like Michael Vick, gets arrested for running a dog fighting operation. Michael Vick, star quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons, along with three other men were indicted on July 17, 2007, for their alleged running of a dog fighting ring on Vick’s property in Richmond, Virginia. “Vick was charged in the 19 page indictment with competitive dog fighting and conducting the venture across state lines. It was also alleged that Vick was highly involved in the operation, alleging that he attended fights and paid off bets when his dogs lost. It said he also was involved in the executions of dogs that did not perform well.” (Maske) If convicted, Vick faces up to six years in prison and a $350,000 fine. Not to mention, he will lose tens of millions of dollars in endorsements and his career will be ruined. Furthermore, the NFL will additionally penalize him, even if he is not convicted.
Dog fighting is illegal in all 50 states and is a felony in 48 of them. The only two states that they are a misdemeanor are Wyoming and Idaho. But the severity of the actual penalty varies from state to state. Although until 1975 no state made it a felony to engage in dog fighting, by the year 2000, forty five states classified as a felonious crime, punishable by up to five years in prison. (Curnott, p.286) The harshest punishment to date for dog fighting was a sentence of seven years in state prison after a man in Sacramento, California pleaded no contest to dog fighting charges. The police seized fifty-five highly aggressive dogs at the felon’s residence, all of whom were so aggressive, they had to be euthanized. (Curnutt p.286)
America has never had a serious discussion about the reprehensive sport quite like the one that’s going on right now (Sun Times). Until this past month, the media, law enforcement agencies, and the American public have “ignored the surging popularity of dog fighting.” The under-reporting of this crime, along with the overall lack of of education on the issue, has in part contributed to the prevalence of dog fighting. The Michael Vick case has now brought dog fighting into the national spotlight. This case not only made dog fights a front news story, but has resulted in a lengthy soliloquy on the U.S. Senate floor by Senator Robert Byrd who repeatedly stated that dog fighting is a “barbaric practice” that deserves the death penalty.
Despite increased public awareness and the vocal public outcry against such abusive practices, dog fighting is likely to continue to thrive until there are adequate legal responses. Although all 50 states have laws that prohibit dog fighting, prosecution of the crime is often long and difficult. For example, the law in Georgia requires that police catch dog fighters in the act before they can make an arrest. (ABC News - July 19)
As a result, prosecutors often “plead down” dog fighting cases to misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty, disposing of them quickly. Instead of jail time, many accused dog fighters receive probation and small fines. (Sun Times 2007) Many experts say the judicial response is perceived as just a “slap on the wrist” and are “written off as a minor cost of the highly lucrative industry.” (ABC News)
Recently, Congress passed the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, “which provides for a three year jail sentence and fines of up to $250,000 for interstate animal fighting.” This is a step in the right direction, but still does not address the main problems in adequately prosecuting dog fighting cases. First, the legislation applies to dog fighting that involves “interstate” transactions. Local dog fights, that which does not involve any commercial transaction that crosses state lines, is not covered by this legislation. Secondly, the threatened jail time of three years is wholly inadequate to dissuade many in the dog fighting community to give up this “barbaric” practice. Third, the business side of dog fighting is so lucrative that to many, even a fine of $250,000 will seem worth the risk.
For legislation to have the necessary deterrent effect, the penalties must be significantly increased. Many states have learned this lesson with other criminal behaviors. In Florida for example, the use of guns in criminal activities had reached epidemic proportions when the legislation passed into law a provision known as 10-20-Life. The first time an individual is found guilty of using a gun in the commission of a crime, they receive 10 years in prison. The second time, they receive 20 years. And, if they are convicted of using a gun in commission of a crime a third time, they receive a life sentence. This is legislation with teeth.
Likewise dog fighters should be forced to face serious penalties, like 10-20-Life, for engaging in such horrific actions. Aside from the inhumane nature of dog fighting, and the cruelty that the dogs themselves must endure, society as a whole pays an enormous price for condoning such barbaric practices. For one thing, there is a strong connection between dog fighting and other gang crimes. “The game breeds a sub-culture where illegal gambling, drug use, and guns are common.” (ABC News – July 19) Several large cities, like Chicago and Los Angeles, have started to recognize this reality and created special police units to investigate these cases of abuse.
But, perhaps the greatest danger is to our children. Many people are afraid to let their children play outside for fear they will be attacked by one of these aggressive dogs that may not be able to distinguish between another dog and a young child. All too often, innocent children are the victims of unprovoked attacks by dogs who are internally bred for the aggressive characteristics. Worst of all, however, school children are being indoctrinated that “two dogs at each other’s throats is cool.” (Sun-Times) According to a 2001 study by the Anti-Cruelty Society of Chicago, 20 percent of school children had witnessed a dog fight (Sun Times). Even teenage girls are passive observers, hoping to meet a “cool” guy. The National Human Society observed attendance at dog fights can lead “young child speculators (to) grow up insensitive to animal cruelty, enthusiastic about violence and disrespectful of the law.”
For all these reasons, dog fights need to be dealt with by state and federal legislation in a way that truly deters any form of participation, whether owner, promoter, gambler, or passive observer. Nothing short of legal culpability will deter participants from this reprehensible crime. Our children deserve better, our society deserves better, and our dogs deserve better. It is our duty to protect all three.
Some perpetual problems in society don’t show their ugly faces until a celebrity is involved. Such is the case with dog fighting. Dog fighting, as with all animal fighting, lies beneath the surface of most people’s conscience, rarely covered by mainstream news outlets. Until the last few weeks when star quarterback Michael Vick was indicted on felony charges for running a dog fighting ring, dog fighting was rarely discussed outside of the world of organized crime. It is much more prevalent than most realize, and despite all the legislation banning it, dog fighting is a growing trend in the United States. In a country that all but deifies dogs, it is amazing that such unwarranted cruelty takes place on a daily basis in communities around the country. To stop this barbaric practice the American people must demand that legislation prohibiting dog fighting have consequences with “real teeth” and that it is strictly enforced.
The “sport” of dog fighting has been around in one form or another for almost a thousand years. The rules have altered little from the time of the nineteenth century. In a typical case, which is usually privately contracted, the owners’ agree with one another to fight their dogs, “stipulating the rules governing the battle, especially the weight of the animals, the principles of the wagering, and what constitutes victory and defeat.” (Curnutt, pg. 285) The rules regarding the declaration of victory vary, but there are a few constants for ruling the loser. If the dog jumps out of the pit, refuses to fight, or if the dog’s handler picks it up, those all comprise forms of defeat. Of course, dead dogs lose as well, but fatalities are rarely reported.
“The fighting is performed in an enclosure, referred to as the “pit”, is about 15 feet wide, with sides 2 ½ or 3 feet high, often carpeting covers the floor area. The dogs are brought into the “pit” by their respective handlers, usually the owners, who hold the canines in opposite corners behind a line. Sometimes a referee is present and he signals for the fight to commence. Then they begin in a simultaneous “scratch”, in which the dogs are released at the same time to rush at each other across the pit and join battle. When one dog pins the other with an immobilizing bite hold, the two are pried apart with a “breaking stick,” a wedge shaped rod used to separate the jaws, and are then taken back to behind their lines. After this, alternate “scratches” begin, with the leading dog given the opportunity to attack first.” (Curnnot, p.285) “ The matches can last anywhere from 20 minutes to 10 hours depending on how long it takes for one dog to become too weak to fight.”(Bacon) The losing dog may be disposed of by electrocution, beating or drowning. Even the “victorious” dog suffers untold abuse. The breeders staple the dogs wounds, pump them with antibiotics and fight them until they are the loser.
The rearing and training of the fighting dogs is as ugly as the events themselves. Many of the dogs have been stolen or adopted from shelters where they are trained as puppies to be aggressive and violent. “They are kept chained and locked in crowded cages, far enough away not to kill each other, but close enough to put them in a constant state of agitation… Sometimes they steal other peoples’ dogs from their own backyards to use as “bait” in training. The conditioning also includes…. hours of running on a treadmill or tied to the bumper of a moving car.” (Curnnott, p. 285)
The popularity of dog fighting is growing mainly because of the growing involvement of rap and hip hop celebrities, as well as professional athletes. It has been observed that rap music, in particular, glorifies dog fighting by writing songs about it. Th rapper DMX, sings the following lyrics in his album “Year of the Dog Again.”
“Place your bets/ you can imagine what the bloodline is like…All my pups is crazy, ‘cause off the leash/ They can eat, stand a match for three hours at least.”
Furthermore, a number of professional players have been directly linked to dog fights. For example, in 2005 the well known NBA player Qyntel Woods pleaded guilty to animal abuse charges for having abandoned a pit bull that had wounds from a dog fight. Also in 2005, the former NFL running back LeShon Johnson pleaded guilty to owning fighting dogs and encouraging dog fights. (Sun-Times) Moreover there is a perpetual attitude among a number of pro athletes that dogs are the others property and they should be free to do what they want to with them. (Sun-Times) Many who run dog fighting rings gain lucrative profits. On the lowest end of the scale $50,000 to $60,000 is at stake, while at the high end, for the more “sophisticated” games, the payoffs can be close to $1 million. (Bacon)
Although no federal agency is responsible for tracking national arrests, there are an estimated 40,000 people that take part in this “sport” and the true number is probably much more than that. Much of the proof of the widespread nature of the problem of dog fighting is anecdotal. For example, several months ago 36 pit bulls, treadmills and fighting equipment were confiscated in Charlotte, North Carolina and the owner was accused of engaging in illegal dog fighting. These types of indirect proofs are common occurrences as indicated by recent court filings. (MSNBC.com – Newsweek – July 18) But, there are other proofs of the frequency of this illegal activity including the growing web activity, the increase number of publications and the flooding of dog shelters with pit bulls, the most popular fighting breed. One animal advocacy group, pet-abuse.com, found 122 suspected dog fighting cases nation wide in 2002. However, this only represents the tip of the iceberg. (Newsweek – July 18) The problem in obtaining statistics, in part, lies with the secretive network that runs the business. “You have to know somebody, who knows somebody to get into the rings…It takes time and money to infiltrate these underground operations (that) Animal Control just doesn’t have.” (WCNC – July 18)
Despite dog fighting’s prevalence in the United States, it rarely makes the news, that is until a high profile celebrity like Michael Vick, gets arrested for running a dog fighting operation. Michael Vick, star quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons, along with three other men were indicted on July 17, 2007, for their alleged running of a dog fighting ring on Vick’s property in Richmond, Virginia. “Vick was charged in the 19 page indictment with competitive dog fighting and conducting the venture across state lines. It was also alleged that Vick was highly involved in the operation, alleging that he attended fights and paid off bets when his dogs lost. It said he also was involved in the executions of dogs that did not perform well.” (Maske) If convicted, Vick faces up to six years in prison and a $350,000 fine. Not to mention, he will lose tens of millions of dollars in endorsements and his career will be ruined. Furthermore, the NFL will additionally penalize him, even if he is not convicted.
Dog fighting is illegal in all 50 states and is a felony in 48 of them. The only two states that they are a misdemeanor are Wyoming and Idaho. But the severity of the actual penalty varies from state to state. Although until 1975 no state made it a felony to engage in dog fighting, by the year 2000, forty five states classified as a felonious crime, punishable by up to five years in prison. (Curnott, p.286) The harshest punishment to date for dog fighting was a sentence of seven years in state prison after a man in Sacramento, California pleaded no contest to dog fighting charges. The police seized fifty-five highly aggressive dogs at the felon’s residence, all of whom were so aggressive, they had to be euthanized. (Curnutt p.286)
America has never had a serious discussion about the reprehensive sport quite like the one that’s going on right now (Sun Times). Until this past month, the media, law enforcement agencies, and the American public have “ignored the surging popularity of dog fighting.” The under-reporting of this crime, along with the overall lack of of education on the issue, has in part contributed to the prevalence of dog fighting. The Michael Vick case has now brought dog fighting into the national spotlight. This case not only made dog fights a front news story, but has resulted in a lengthy soliloquy on the U.S. Senate floor by Senator Robert Byrd who repeatedly stated that dog fighting is a “barbaric practice” that deserves the death penalty.
Despite increased public awareness and the vocal public outcry against such abusive practices, dog fighting is likely to continue to thrive until there are adequate legal responses. Although all 50 states have laws that prohibit dog fighting, prosecution of the crime is often long and difficult. For example, the law in Georgia requires that police catch dog fighters in the act before they can make an arrest. (ABC News - July 19)
As a result, prosecutors often “plead down” dog fighting cases to misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty, disposing of them quickly. Instead of jail time, many accused dog fighters receive probation and small fines. (Sun Times 2007) Many experts say the judicial response is perceived as just a “slap on the wrist” and are “written off as a minor cost of the highly lucrative industry.” (ABC News)
Recently, Congress passed the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, “which provides for a three year jail sentence and fines of up to $250,000 for interstate animal fighting.” This is a step in the right direction, but still does not address the main problems in adequately prosecuting dog fighting cases. First, the legislation applies to dog fighting that involves “interstate” transactions. Local dog fights, that which does not involve any commercial transaction that crosses state lines, is not covered by this legislation. Secondly, the threatened jail time of three years is wholly inadequate to dissuade many in the dog fighting community to give up this “barbaric” practice. Third, the business side of dog fighting is so lucrative that to many, even a fine of $250,000 will seem worth the risk.
For legislation to have the necessary deterrent effect, the penalties must be significantly increased. Many states have learned this lesson with other criminal behaviors. In Florida for example, the use of guns in criminal activities had reached epidemic proportions when the legislation passed into law a provision known as 10-20-Life. The first time an individual is found guilty of using a gun in the commission of a crime, they receive 10 years in prison. The second time, they receive 20 years. And, if they are convicted of using a gun in commission of a crime a third time, they receive a life sentence. This is legislation with teeth.
Likewise dog fighters should be forced to face serious penalties, like 10-20-Life, for engaging in such horrific actions. Aside from the inhumane nature of dog fighting, and the cruelty that the dogs themselves must endure, society as a whole pays an enormous price for condoning such barbaric practices. For one thing, there is a strong connection between dog fighting and other gang crimes. “The game breeds a sub-culture where illegal gambling, drug use, and guns are common.” (ABC News – July 19) Several large cities, like Chicago and Los Angeles, have started to recognize this reality and created special police units to investigate these cases of abuse.
But, perhaps the greatest danger is to our children. Many people are afraid to let their children play outside for fear they will be attacked by one of these aggressive dogs that may not be able to distinguish between another dog and a young child. All too often, innocent children are the victims of unprovoked attacks by dogs who are internally bred for the aggressive characteristics. Worst of all, however, school children are being indoctrinated that “two dogs at each other’s throats is cool.” (Sun-Times) According to a 2001 study by the Anti-Cruelty Society of Chicago, 20 percent of school children had witnessed a dog fight (Sun Times). Even teenage girls are passive observers, hoping to meet a “cool” guy. The National Human Society observed attendance at dog fights can lead “young child speculators (to) grow up insensitive to animal cruelty, enthusiastic about violence and disrespectful of the law.”
For all these reasons, dog fights need to be dealt with by state and federal legislation in a way that truly deters any form of participation, whether owner, promoter, gambler, or passive observer. Nothing short of legal culpability will deter participants from this reprehensible crime. Our children deserve better, our society deserves better, and our dogs deserve better. It is our duty to protect all three.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Some Seminary Memories
Hmmm....seminary memories, mostly good, but some were just strange.
My second shabbos in Israel, I decided to go to my brother's rebbe's sister. Why? you may ask, well, because I knew no one else there. No relatives, no friends...just a list of people from my brother's rebbe. So I figured, why not? I had to take a train to get to them from Yerushaliyam to Zichron Yaakov, from what she told me, a bus only came once a month so... Ok, I figured. No problem. I take trains a lot at home. I got to the train station and then I had to switch trains. I didn't know which train I had to get on though. But miracle of miracles, a friend of mine from school, not seminary, was going the same way. So I followed her on the train and got off at my stop. Now I had a problem, there were supposedly supposed to be sheiruts there, but there were not. And I couldn't call the family to pick me up because they didn't have a car. So, I stood there and worried. Then I noticed a nice woman and I asked her how I would find a sheirut. One problem: she didn't speak english, and I didn't speak hebrew. However, she did manage to communicate to me that her father-in-law was coming to pick her up and he did speak english. So I waited with her, and a few minutes later he came. I put the same question to him, but he said there were none. Now I was getting worried. No sheirutim, no way to get there before shabbos. No taxis either. The father-in-law asked where they lived, I said I don't really know, so I called them. I put the father-inl-law on the phone with them, and then he suggested that he take me there. Now, in America, you don't usually just get in the car, but this was israel, right? So, he took me, and his son, daughter-in-law, and grandson to drop me off at the apartment. The rest of the time I spent in Zichron Yaakov was pretty uneventful, but that part has definetly suck in my memories. Only in Israel.
More memories to come...
My second shabbos in Israel, I decided to go to my brother's rebbe's sister. Why? you may ask, well, because I knew no one else there. No relatives, no friends...just a list of people from my brother's rebbe. So I figured, why not? I had to take a train to get to them from Yerushaliyam to Zichron Yaakov, from what she told me, a bus only came once a month so... Ok, I figured. No problem. I take trains a lot at home. I got to the train station and then I had to switch trains. I didn't know which train I had to get on though. But miracle of miracles, a friend of mine from school, not seminary, was going the same way. So I followed her on the train and got off at my stop. Now I had a problem, there were supposedly supposed to be sheiruts there, but there were not. And I couldn't call the family to pick me up because they didn't have a car. So, I stood there and worried. Then I noticed a nice woman and I asked her how I would find a sheirut. One problem: she didn't speak english, and I didn't speak hebrew. However, she did manage to communicate to me that her father-in-law was coming to pick her up and he did speak english. So I waited with her, and a few minutes later he came. I put the same question to him, but he said there were none. Now I was getting worried. No sheirutim, no way to get there before shabbos. No taxis either. The father-in-law asked where they lived, I said I don't really know, so I called them. I put the father-inl-law on the phone with them, and then he suggested that he take me there. Now, in America, you don't usually just get in the car, but this was israel, right? So, he took me, and his son, daughter-in-law, and grandson to drop me off at the apartment. The rest of the time I spent in Zichron Yaakov was pretty uneventful, but that part has definetly suck in my memories. Only in Israel.
More memories to come...
Monday, July 23, 2007
Jewish Zen
* If there is no self, whose arthritis is this?
* Be here now. Be someplace else later. Is that so complicated?
* Drink tea and nourish life. With the first sip ... joy. With thesecond ... satisfaction. With the third, peace. With the fourth, a Danish.
* Wherever you go, there you are. Your luggage is another story.
* Accept misfortune as a blessing. Do not wish for perfect health or a life without problems. What would you talk about?
* The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single "oy."
* The Tao does not speak. The Tao does not blame. The Tao does not take sides. The Tao has no expectations. The Tao demands nothing ofothers. The Tao is not Jewish.
* Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. Forget this andattaining Enlightenment will be the least of your problems.
* Let your mind be as a floating cloud. Let your stillness be as the wooded glen. And sit up straight. You'll never meet the Buddha with such rounded shoulders.
* Be patient and achieve all things. Be impatient and achieve all things faster.
* To Find the Buddha, look within. Deep inside you are ten thousand flowers. Each flower blossoms ten thousand times. Each blossom has ten thousand petals. You might want to see a specialist.
* Be aware of your body. Be aware of your perceptions. Keep in mind that not every physical sensation is a symptom of a terminal illness.
* The Torah says, "Love thy neighbor as thyself." The Buddha saysthere is no "self." So, maybe you are off the hook.
* Be here now. Be someplace else later. Is that so complicated?
* Drink tea and nourish life. With the first sip ... joy. With thesecond ... satisfaction. With the third, peace. With the fourth, a Danish.
* Wherever you go, there you are. Your luggage is another story.
* Accept misfortune as a blessing. Do not wish for perfect health or a life without problems. What would you talk about?
* The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single "oy."
* The Tao does not speak. The Tao does not blame. The Tao does not take sides. The Tao has no expectations. The Tao demands nothing ofothers. The Tao is not Jewish.
* Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. Forget this andattaining Enlightenment will be the least of your problems.
* Let your mind be as a floating cloud. Let your stillness be as the wooded glen. And sit up straight. You'll never meet the Buddha with such rounded shoulders.
* Be patient and achieve all things. Be impatient and achieve all things faster.
* To Find the Buddha, look within. Deep inside you are ten thousand flowers. Each flower blossoms ten thousand times. Each blossom has ten thousand petals. You might want to see a specialist.
* Be aware of your body. Be aware of your perceptions. Keep in mind that not every physical sensation is a symptom of a terminal illness.
* The Torah says, "Love thy neighbor as thyself." The Buddha saysthere is no "self." So, maybe you are off the hook.
Just for a Laugh....A real newspaper ad
Newspaper Ad
The following is an ad from a real-life newspaper which appeared four days in a row - the last three hopelessly trying to correct the first day's mistake.
MONDAY: For sale: R.D. Jones has one sewing machine for sale. Phone 948-0707 after 7 PM and ask for Mrs. Kelly who lives with him cheap.
TUESDAY Notice: We regret having erred In R.D. Jones' ad yesterday. It should have read "One sewing machine for sale cheap. Phone 948-0707and ask for Mrs. Kelly, who lives with him after 7 PM."
WEDNESDAY Notice: R.D. Jones has informed us that he has received several annoying telephone calls because of the error we made in the classified ad yesterday. The ad stands correct as follows: "For sale-- R.D. Jones has one sewing machine for sale. Cheap. Phone 948-0707after 7 PM and ask for Mrs. Kelly who loves with him."
THURSDAY Notice: I, R.D. Jones, have no sewing machine for sale. I smashed it. Don't call 948-0707 as I have had the phone disconnected. I have not been carrying on with Mrs. Kelly. Until yesterday she was my housekeeper but she quit!
The following is an ad from a real-life newspaper which appeared four days in a row - the last three hopelessly trying to correct the first day's mistake.
MONDAY: For sale: R.D. Jones has one sewing machine for sale. Phone 948-0707 after 7 PM and ask for Mrs. Kelly who lives with him cheap.
TUESDAY Notice: We regret having erred In R.D. Jones' ad yesterday. It should have read "One sewing machine for sale cheap. Phone 948-0707and ask for Mrs. Kelly, who lives with him after 7 PM."
WEDNESDAY Notice: R.D. Jones has informed us that he has received several annoying telephone calls because of the error we made in the classified ad yesterday. The ad stands correct as follows: "For sale-- R.D. Jones has one sewing machine for sale. Cheap. Phone 948-0707after 7 PM and ask for Mrs. Kelly who loves with him."
THURSDAY Notice: I, R.D. Jones, have no sewing machine for sale. I smashed it. Don't call 948-0707 as I have had the phone disconnected. I have not been carrying on with Mrs. Kelly. Until yesterday she was my housekeeper but she quit!
Friday, July 20, 2007
New Pet!
We just got a new pet today and I'm SO excited!!!! My brother's friend's birds had two babies, and we got one. He is so cute! We decided to name him Baby because that's the first thing that comes to mind when we look at him. He's a parrotlet, by the way. So, now we have two cats, two birds and a dog. And, since one of our cats is pregnant and looks like she'll have kittens any day now, we'll have more pets soon enough. Of course, the last time she had kittens she taught them not to come near us, so they won't really be pets. Unless she changes her mind, which I doubt. Boots (the pregnant kitty) is very territorial and will only tolerate her boyfriend(s) staying for any period of time. Someday, I'll probably put up pictures of all my pets. In my family we've gone through...lets see... first two dogs, who died a while back, then we got my first cat(Suki), who's still with us, then our other dog Wishbone, then we went through about 6 hamsters the first two only lived for about 6 months each (Houdini and Brownie) then we got another 2 at the same time, they lived for about 2 years (Goldy and Star) then we got Mittens, shortly after we got Goldy and Star, but Mittens didn't last long either. I think it was also then that we got Diamond (aka Little Bird). After Goldy and Star died we were left with only three pets but not for long. Shortly after that Boots showed up and we got her used to us, so now we have 5 pets. And my mother wants another dog, actually so do I, but I have a different dog in mind. At one point in time, my mother and brother contemplated getting a chinnchilla but decided against it, and my mother would love to get a flying squirrel. Have I mentioned that my entire family is animal obsessed? I think that if we could live in a zoo, we would. Any questions? Ooops, I almost forgot one last pet, a hedgehog, we had her for a year, more my brother's pet than our family's pet. Her name was Quillette, and my brother was very sad when she died from complications of an injury.
PS. I am so sick with a cold it's not even funny. I've spent the last couple of days absolutely miserable. Only reason I'm up now is cause i had caffeine before. At least I have Shabbos and Sunday to recuperate.
PS. I am so sick with a cold it's not even funny. I've spent the last couple of days absolutely miserable. Only reason I'm up now is cause i had caffeine before. At least I have Shabbos and Sunday to recuperate.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Eight Random Things About Me
Okay, though I haven't really been using this blog for very long, I might as well do the whole 8 things bit. Since practically every blog I read has already done it, I don't think I need to say much more about it.
1) My favorite food is Pizza, to be honest, I could eat it everyday, and never get sick of it. Ok, well maybe I could, but only after a long while.
2) I have ADD, not massively, just enough that I have a tendency to get distracted easily and go comlpletely off topic.
3) I LOVE reading, I'm also a very fast reader, I could go through at least 3 books in one shabbos. And I have a huge "library" to choose from.
4) I'm a Baalas Teshuva. I mean, if you count the fact that I became Frum at 9 years old because my mother did. So, young enough that change wasn't that hard, but old enough to remember, say, eating at McDonalds.
5) I don't know how to ride a bike. Yes, I'm serious, I tried to learn several times, but I'm "scared of balancing." Yeah, I know, I'm 20 yrs old, and I should really know how to ride a bike, I don't. Can't rollerblade or iceskate either.
6) For all of my elementary school years, I only spent two years at each school. Kindergarten and first grade, one school, then we moved to florida, so 2nd and 3rd grade another school, then we became frum, so 4th and 5th grade yet another school. The only one I actually stayed in was BYM, for Junior High, and High school.
7) I plan on becoming a animal-assisted therapist, also known as Pet Therapy. NO, it is NOT "asking Fido how he is doing." it is using animals to make people feel better. I'm sure you've heard of swimming with dolphins as therapy, or riding horses. That is what I want to do.
8) I'm writing a book with my best friend, though we haven't really been able to work on it this summer, it's been over 8 years in the making, and it will be the first of four books.
1) My favorite food is Pizza, to be honest, I could eat it everyday, and never get sick of it. Ok, well maybe I could, but only after a long while.
2) I have ADD, not massively, just enough that I have a tendency to get distracted easily and go comlpletely off topic.
3) I LOVE reading, I'm also a very fast reader, I could go through at least 3 books in one shabbos. And I have a huge "library" to choose from.
4) I'm a Baalas Teshuva. I mean, if you count the fact that I became Frum at 9 years old because my mother did. So, young enough that change wasn't that hard, but old enough to remember, say, eating at McDonalds.
5) I don't know how to ride a bike. Yes, I'm serious, I tried to learn several times, but I'm "scared of balancing." Yeah, I know, I'm 20 yrs old, and I should really know how to ride a bike, I don't. Can't rollerblade or iceskate either.
6) For all of my elementary school years, I only spent two years at each school. Kindergarten and first grade, one school, then we moved to florida, so 2nd and 3rd grade another school, then we became frum, so 4th and 5th grade yet another school. The only one I actually stayed in was BYM, for Junior High, and High school.
7) I plan on becoming a animal-assisted therapist, also known as Pet Therapy. NO, it is NOT "asking Fido how he is doing." it is using animals to make people feel better. I'm sure you've heard of swimming with dolphins as therapy, or riding horses. That is what I want to do.
8) I'm writing a book with my best friend, though we haven't really been able to work on it this summer, it's been over 8 years in the making, and it will be the first of four books.
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