Marriage is a Mess in the U.S.

Did you know? While it is routine for American citizens in heterosexual couples to obtain green cards for their foreign spouses, the Defense of Marriage Act has barred such status for immigrants in same-sex marriages. 
The New York Times ran a story yesterday about the complications and mess that is created by not having gay marriage acknowledged all over the U.S.  IT NEEDS TO BE RECOGNIZED IN EVERY STATE.  Read the article:  Confusion Over Policy on Married Gay Immigrants
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/us/30immigration.html?hp 

An interesting Book Event!

Yesterday  I was asked to talk about ghosts and spirits, and my book (Ghosts and Spirits: Insights from a Medium) at a senior woman's meeting in Annapolis, Md. There was also another author there who spoke about her series of books and she was fascinating. It was a wonderful time! 

Rob Gutro talking to the women's club in Annapolis, Md.

   I set up a table in the back of the room and put out my books, business cards, and a sign. After about 15 minutes people started filing in. One woman was approaching my table and I started to get a headache. She told me that she has sensed her late husband around her on numerous occasions. She said that sometimes she would feel him laying next to her in bed. Other times she knew he was just standing nearby. 

  She said to me "doesn't that sound crazy?" Of course it doesn't!  People who lose loved ones often either see, hear, feel, sense or smell something that reminds them of their late loved one. She asked how I sense ghosts and spirits, and I told her that I get a headache (from electrical/energy overload). She said, "that's amazing, because I get these headaches that come and go, and I attribute them to my late husband." She went on to tell me that she was checked by doctors for a cause of the headaches. I told her that I thought her husband's checking in on her may be some of the reason she gets them. She's obviously sensitive to his spirit returning!

     As she turned around to get her seat, I told her "make sure you save a seat for your husband's spirit, too."

Ridiculous Rumor: Maya calendar predict 2012 apocalypse

NASA Scientists answer several questions regarding 2012. when the Mayan calendar flips over and starts again. Crazy rumors abound around the Internet that 2012 is supposed to be the end of the world (again, just like Y2K). NASA has provided answers to all your 2012 questions. 

BOTTOM LINE: pay your mortgage. You're not going anywhere! - Rob
Question (Q): Are there any threats to the Earth in 2012? Many Internet websites say the world will end in December 2012.
Answer (A): Nothing bad will happen to the Earth in 2012. Our planet has been getting along just fine for more than 4 billion years, and credible scientists worldwide know of no threat associated with 2012.
Q: What is the origin of the prediction that the world will end in 2012?
A: The story started with claims that Nibiru, a supposed planet discovered by the Sumerians, is headed toward Earth. This catastrophe was initially predicted for May 2003, but when nothing happened the doomsday date was moved forward to December 2012. Then these two fables were linked to the end of one of the cycles in the ancient Mayan calendar at the winter solstice in 2012 -- hence the predicted doomsday date of December 21, 2012.
Q: Does the Mayan calendar end in December 2012?
A: Just as the calendar you have on your kitchen wall does not cease to exist after December 31, the Mayan calendar does not cease to exist on December 21, 2012. This date is the end of the Mayan long-count period but then -- just as your calendar begins again on January 1 -- another long-count period begins for the Mayan calendar.
Q: Could a phenomena occur where planets align in a way that impacts Earth?
A: There are no planetary alignments in the next few decades, Earth will not cross the galactic plane in 2012, and even if these alignments were to occur, their effects on the Earth would be negligible. Each December the Earth and sun align with the approximate center of the Milky Way Galaxy but that is an annual event of no consequence.
 FOR MORE OF THE NASA Q&A ON 2012: http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012.html

VIdeo Clips from Sunday's Lunch Out!

Yesterday we had a nice lunch in Washington, DC with our friends Hil, Richard, Jeff and Jose. The famous Washington, DC cherry trees are beginning to bloom and although we didn't go down to the Tidal Basin where all the trees are, we did manage to catch some of them that are planted throughout the city.
 - This was also the first time I was using a new Flip video camera that my brother and sister-in-law sent us, so I'm not very good with it (yet). Anyway here are two short videos from Sunday. :)

A GREAT Invention: Flushable dog poo bags!

Anyone that owns a dog or dogs should get biodegradable dog poo bags. You can flush them down your toilet and not have stinky garbage cans and fill up landfills with more plastic (and poo).
ORDER THEM on http://www.flushdoggy.com/
(and 10% of profit is donated to the ASPCA to fight against Puppy Mills).

*They're convenient for pet owners living in apartments, too- who have no place to dispose of waste.

USE THE POO CALCULATOR!! to see how much waste you're putting in landfills annually (you've got to admit in a SICK way that you're curious: http://www.flushdoggy.com/why_flush_poops.html

 Study by city of San Francisco has shown that  dog poop occupies 3.4% of residential landfills.
Storm water carries dog poop and other dog waste directly into waterways. Pet waste is responsible for up to 90% of all bacterial watershed pollution in urban areas of the U.S.
Dog poop has a lot of nitrogen and adding nitrogen to our water depletes the oxygen needed for fish and  wildlife.
Plastic bags or even biodegradable bags when thrown in an air tight landfill would overcrowd our land and not biodegrade. An EPA report states, “Flushing pet waste is the best disposal method.”

Oregon firefighters trained to give CPR to pets!

**THIS IS GREAT!!!
ASHLAND, Ore. (AP) — Some Oregon firefighters and paramedics are now equipped and trained to give first aid to dogs, cats and other pets.
  The Daily Tidings reports that Ashland Fire & Rescue firefighters were trained last week to do CPR on dogs, cats, ferrets, gerbils and even reptiles that have inhaled smoke. All five department engines now carry oxygen masks for pets.
  Division Chief Greg Case says rescuing pets involved in fires helps the entire family. Firefighters treat people first and will help pets if possible.
  Veterinarian Dr. Alice Sievers says smaller animals can be placed inside the masks, while the devices can be fitted over the nose or beak of larger animals.
  The department received equipment through a donation from Project Breathe.

Funny: How a Senior Makes a Difference

What an inspirational little story. There is hope.....
As we get older we sometimes begin to doubt our ability to "make a difference" in the world.  It is at these times that our hopes are boosted by the remarkable achievements of other "seniors" who have found the courage to take on challenges that would make many of us wither.
 
Harold Schlumberg is such a person:

QUOTE FROM HAROLD
 
I've often been asked, 'What do you old folks do now that you're retired?'
Well...I'm fortunate to have a chemical engineering background and one of the things I enjoy most is converting beer, wine and vodka into urine.
           I do it every day and I really enjoy it. 

A joke for the Day: "The Italian Man of the House"

This great joke came from Mom F. in Maine- This reminds me of Delegate Emmett Burns in MD who told me that he's the "man of his house," and won't vote for gay marriage because he doesn't understand what a 50-50 marriage means. Anyway, enjoy! 

 THE  ITALIAN MAN OF THE HOUSE 

Tony  had just finished  reading a new book entitled, 'You Can Be THE Man of  Your House.'

   He  stormed to his wife in the kitchen and announced, 'From now on,  you need  to know that I am the man of this house and my word is Law. You  will prepare  me a gourmet meal tonight, and when I'm finished eating my  meal, you will  serve me a sumptuous dessert After dinner, you are going to  go upstairs  with me and we will have the kind of sex that I want.

  Afterwards,  you are going to draw me a bath so I can relax. You will  wash my back and  towel me dry and bring me my robe. Then, you will  massage   my feet and hands. Then tomorrow, guess who's going to dress me and comb  my  hair?'

   His  Sicilian wife Gina replied, 'The funeral director would be my  first  guess.'

Ghostly Encounter in a Bed and Breakfast!

Sometimes when you have the gift of sensing spirits, vacation isn't vacation. Unless you're tuned out and not relaxed, you're bound to hear from any resident ghosts. Such was the case this past weekend when my partner and I went to a Bed and Breakfast in central Virginia. 
   As we were taking a walking tour through this incredible Bed and Breakfast, I was contacted by a female ghost as I walked up the stairway from the first floor to the second floor. The ghost actually gave me the name "Ann Custis."
  It's not often that I get a first and last name, but this time I did. I had no idea who that could be or if I even got the name right.
  When we got home we did some research and the Custis family is related to George Washington. (I had no idea). The B&B owners are checking with the local historical society to see if an Ann Custis visited. - There was an Ann Custis who lived in eastern VA and had a farm about 40 miles north of the B&;B.

Stairway where Ann Custis was!

  Of course, it could also be Mary Ann Custis Lee wife of Robert E. Lee.  According to Wikipedia, while he was stationed at Fort Monroe, Robert E. Lee married Mary Anna Randolph Custis (1808–1873), great-granddaughter of Martha Washington by her first husband Daniel Parke Custis, and step-great-granddaughter of George Washington, the first president of the United States
  I'm not naming the Bed and Breakfast because it wouldn't be right to do that. Besides, the managers said that only once did they think they had an encounter when they heard a woman laughing and there was no one else in the entire place or outside. The B&B is also in a remote place, so they couldn't have heard a woman outside either.

  I'm now waiting to hear if the B&B and local historical society can confirm she was there, or owned the place in the 1800s.

Dental for Dogs- Just Like People: Sprite's Trouble

If you have a dog, it's important to treat the dog like a child, especially with DENTAL issues. Their teeth, like yours, need to be brushed daily. Their teeth builds up plaque, and food caught between them generates bacteria, which can lead to bacteria, bad breath and gum disease.
   When we took in our foster dog, Sprite, his breath was rancid. It was so bad that driving in the car with him was awful and the windows had to be opened (that was in late November!). He had 7 teeth removed. Now, despite the daily teeth brushing, a dental supplement in the drinking water to reduce bacteria and dental treats - the teeth simply continued to deteriorate. There are now 9 more of Sprite's teeth that need to be removed. That will leave him with about 5 or 6.
  Because his breath has become unbearable, we brought him into the Vet this week.  
  Teeth affect every part of the body. *Believe me, I (Rob) know. I've had a lot of trouble with my own teeth.  So, because Sprite's teeth are in such poor shape, any continuing infection (and there certainly smells like one is happening now) would begin to affect his organs.
   We also noticed that he wouldn't eat (unusual for a food-driven Dachshund) until his kibble was watered down and softer. That indicated tooth pain to me.
   We're working with the rescue, and we'll cover half of the operation (it gets pricey, so brushing teeth daily is a good thing to do). Sprite will hopefully go in in the next week, so he won't be hesitant to eat anymore.

Spring Has Arrived!

Here in the Baltimore/Washington area Spring 

has arrived! 

-Although it officially arrived Sunday night, March 20th, the daffodils on our front yard acknowledged the season by blooming today.

A Great Visit!

This weekend when we stayed at the Orange, VA bed and breakfast, we drove down to central Virginia to visit Tom's late partner's dad  - also named Tom. It was an emotional and wonderful time. During the visit, Tom's late partner Ed came to me many times and provided amazing signs and confirmations that he was there. I'll be including the entire story in the 2nd book I'm in the process of writing.  Anyway, here are some fun photos from that incredible visit!

Ed's old truck from 1996 still runs

The former pharmacy Tom G. worked at-that Ed told me about.

Rob on Ed's old tractor

Dinner in downtown with Tom G.

Tom and Tom G. at Ed's gravesite. Ed was there, too. Believe me!

Tom G. at Ed's tractor

Tom on Ed's old tractor

Tom, Tom G. and Rob at Ed's Truck!

A Great Bed and Breakfast Weekend

We received a wonderful surprise gift from our friend Jacquie in Massachusetts... she gave us a weekend in an elegant and wonderful (2 year old) Bed and Breakfast in Orange, Virginia this weekend! We totally recommend staying at the Chestnut Hill Bed and Breakfast in Orange, VA. - The owners, Kathleen and Troy are awesome, and the place is an old mansion that they bought at auction for $1.00 and totally renovated into a gorgeous place. They just had to move the mansion about 400 feet from it's original place (which they did).
 - Each room was gorgeous and incredibly clean. They've been open 2 years and redecorate each room annually. They landscaped a beautiful back yard with fountains and patios, and have a large screen and bar in the lower level. The dining room is reminiscent of an elegant room in some 1800s mansion.
 - We highly recommend staying there. Here are some photos (although they don't do it justice). GO THERE! MORE INFO: http://www.chestnuthillbnb.com/
Thanks a million, Jacquie, this was incredible!

Elegant Dining Room!

Amazing Living Room!

Front of the Chestnut Hill B&B

Original Staircase and entryway

Bathroom in our room

Entryway

How to Relax!

Tom has perfected relaxation- with Dolly, Franklin and Sprite!

Touching Video: Dog in Post-Quake Japan Brings Rescuers to Injured Dog

*This video taken by rescuers sifting through debris following last weekend's massive Earthquake really touched me. Dogs are truly amazing, loving companions.**

Reporters came across the animal whilst filming the destruction wreaked by Friday's earthquake and tsunami in Ibaraki Prefecture, northeast Japan. The pair were rescued by vets from Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support.  The tan and white spaniel was taken to a shelter in Mito while its injured mate is being treated by a vet in the same town. 

Happy 7th Birthday Franklin!

Today is our lovable little Dachshund, Franklin's 7th birthday! He has mellowed as he's grown older but despite white fur on his front paws, he's as fast as a tornado when it comes to chasing birds and squirrels!  He loves ALL food and treats are always welcome. Grandma and Grandpa spoil him (and Dolly and Sprite) rotten, but we think he deserves it. Happy Birthday to our little "Frankalino-puppachino!

How a Meteorologist Acknowledges St. Patrick's Day

Being a meteorologist, I (Rob) guess I have a unique way of celebrating St. Patrick's Day- using satellite imagery in the shape of a 3-leaf clover to look at Ireland. The idea for this story came to me because I use this satellite data every day and there are 3 types of data, just like a clover. Anyway, you can read the full story about what it all means, here: http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/aqua-clover.html
 OR, just read the caption below and enjoy this geeky scientific image (well, I love it!).

CAPTION: This collection of Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument images of Ireland positioned in the shape of a clover include visible (left), infrared (center) and microwave (right). They were captured from the AIRS instrument onboard NASA's Aqua satellite on March 3, 2011 and revealed a land surface temperature near 50F (10C). Credit: NASA JPL, Ed Olsen/ Henry Kline

NOAA Animation of Tsunami Wave Throughout the Pacific-post Quake

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration created this animation to show how the tsunami waves (generated by Japan's 8.9 Richter Scale earthquake last week) propagated throughout the Pacific Ocean. It's a fascinating look at how the quake affected the Pacific Ocean (North and South Pacific).

For more information about it, check out the NY Times DOT Blog: http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/11/ocean-spanning-power-of-japans-great-quake-on-display/

New Plantation Shutters... finally

We've been trying to get plantation shutters for our large front window for a couple of years, and tax returns allowed for it! Yay! The shutters were installed this week and make a tremendous difference in the lighting in the living room. Here are before and after photos. The were taken from a cell phone so they're not the best resolution.

Before the shutters -we removed the drapes

Our nice new plantation shutters! We recommend them!

4 Days of Missing Posts- dealing with nasty people

  Why haven't I posted anything in the last four days?  It's taken me 4 days to calm down from the disgust I feel toward various churches (Catholic, African-American, Baptist and Mormon) -  and the conservatives in our state that rallied to prevent gay marriage from becoming legal here last week. The issue is now dead.
  The leader of this movement of hatred and intolerance is Delegate Donald Dwyer of Anne Arundel County. This man has for some reason been re-elected to office and now the ONLY item he rallies for is to prevent ANY laws of equality for gay and lesbian citizens. I would love to know where this intense hatred of his comes from. I have a theory that he's a deeply closeted gay man - who uses his hatred to cover for him. This isn't so far-fetched. In fact, I believe it was the Governor of Washington State that did the very same thing until he was outed.
   I urge anyone in Anne Arundel county to not vote for this hateful, nasty, vicious man again. I'm not alone in this opinion. When I spent several evenings last week emailing and calling offices of Maryland Senators and Delegates they shared the same sentiment. Many of the people in the offices agreed that Dwyer is the most hateful and disliked person in the entire state house. Fascinating how a hateful man continues to remain in politics.
  So, although gay marriage isn't legal in Maryland, it is legal in various other places that don't have stupid people legislating.
  Where is it legal? As of February 2011, same-sex marriages were granted in Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Washington, D.C., along with Coquille Indian Tribe in Oregon. Same-sex marriage licenses were available in California between June 16, 2008, and November 4, 2008. It was passed in Maine before HATEFUL conservatives repealed it. Bastards.
  States that recognize same-sex marriage but have not granted same-sex marriage licenses include New York, Rhode Island, and Maryland.
  As of February 2011, 41 states expressly prohibit same-sex marriage; said prohibitions are contained either in state statutes or state constitutions.

Amazing 4 Min.Video of a NY man finding lost film-leading him to Paris!

This is an AMAZING and great story (and the guy is a really good videographer!)
A Brooklyn man's quest to locate the owner of a roll of film he found in the snow in Prospect Park after a blizzard has ended with a reunion in Paris.

  Todd Bieber stumbled upon the film canister while cross-country skiing after a 2010 Christmas blizzard that dumped more than a foot of snow over the city. Bieber developed the film and was captivated by the photos, which show what he surmised to be out-of-towners taking a snowy and beautiful journey from Central Park across the Brooklyn Bridge to an empty Coney Island amusement park, and then to Prospect Park, where they must have accidentally dropped the film canister.
  Bieber's video about his quest quickly went viral, garnering over a million views. Thousands of people wrote offering tips and advice. Finally, he got the response he was looking for. **CLICK ON VIDEO BELOW TO PLAY*

NBC Cancels the Cape: Last Episode Airing Online

  On Mondays at 9PM EST NBC was airing one of our favorite new shows called The Cape, a short series about a cop who’s framed, fakes his own death, and becomes the superhero from his son’s comic books. It starred David Lyons and Summer Glau, and unfortunately, it didn’t bring in the viewers that NBC had hoped.
   Despite 4.1 million viewers, the Feb. 28th show was likely the last to air. The final episode (which they're not even airing for some STUPID reason) that is supposed to wrap up the story, is going to be available only on NBC.com.
   This stinks. I thought the show was well done, and had very good acting. It wasn't hokey either, like several older superhero TV shows were. I'll really miss this program. I guess they didn't have enough stupid men or big chested women on it. Sigh.
To find out when the On-Line end story ends, keep checking: http://www.nbc.com/the-cape/

ROB'S UPCOMING BOOK APPEARANCES/EVENTS

MY UPCOMING BOOK APPEARANCES/EVENTS

MARCH 29, 2011 (1-2 p.m. EST)
Speaking/book signing at Heritage Harbor Book Club (open to public-FREE)
959 River Strand Loop,
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
CONTACT INFORMATION: Email Rob at Rgutro@gmail.com
APRIL 30, 2011 7-9 p.m. EST (Admission- Open to Public)
Mediumship Demonstration with Barb Mallon
Wyngate Hotel, 3940 Centerview Drive, Chantilly, VA 20151
Barb will conduct a mini talk on her work, and then relay messages from the other side to those members of the audience she's pulled to.
I will help host the evening, and give any readings for spirits that contact me (there's always a couple everytime I'm with Barb!). Check Barb's site under "Events" to register and pay.
BARB is an AMAZING and learned Medium (we've worked together a number of times)
REGISTER ON-LINE at www.barbmallon.com
JUNE 10, 2011, FRIDAY AT 7 PM EST (FREE):
Speaking at Inspired Ghost Trackers
Odenton, Maryland (will have books to sign, too)
I'll be talking about my experiences with the Inspired trackers at Montpelier Mansion, Riversdale Mansion, and Sotterly Plantation. Includes a slideshow of pictures from all locations.
CONTACT INFORMATION: Email: Margaret at: inspiredghst@aol.com to reserve a seat! *FREE*
http://www.meetup.com/inspiredghosttracking/events/16748804/

To buy the book: BARNES AND NOBLE E-Book/NOOK: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Ghosts-And-Spirits/Rob-Gutro/e/9781602645141/?itm=1&USRI=rob+gutro
KINDLE: http://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Spirits-Insights-Medium-ebook/dp/B003KK57NC/ref=sr_1_cc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295813675&sr=1-1-catcorr
AMAZON PAPERBACK: http://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Spirits-Insights-Rob-Gutro/dp/1602645132/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1295813675&sr=1-1

Seniors and their funny tee-shirts

Mom F. in Maine sent us an email with some pictures of older folks in funny tee shirts. Some of them I couldn't post on the blog, though. :) Because Tom loves sarcastic tee shirts and has a  good collection of them, I thought posting these was appropriate.  Enjoy!

Letter to Dr. Fox: Dog Understood Master's Death

Our friend Maureen forwarded this letter that appeared in a syndicated newspaper column: Animal Doctor, Dr. Michael Fox:about an amazing dog. 

Dear Dr. Fox — I'm writing in response to your recent column about how a "dog's devotion to master can lead to the grave." It is similar to what occurred with our golden retriever more than 20 years ago when my husband died at 46 after a four-year battle with cancer. During my husband's illness, Friday laid beside his bed, provided support when my husband walked, and never left his side. He obviously knew something was wrong and was devoted to his master.


Before my husband was ill, he was a senior sports-and-news cameraman for a major TV station. Owing to the nature of his assignments, my husband's work hours were unpredictable. Regardless of the hour, Friday always knew when my husband was headed home and ran to the front door, wagging his tail and sitting patiently until my husband's car pulled into the driveway.

After my husband's death (in the hospital), Friday sat at the front door all day, every day, whining and waiting for my husband's return. He stopped eating and wouldn't leave the front hallway. He refused to play with our children whom he loved because "guard duty" was his only purpose. He left his post only when he needed to be waked. My heart was breaking for this dog.

After one week of watching Friday's vigil, I decided to help him understand what happened. Hesitantly, Friday left his post and got into the car with me. His car behavior was unusual: He paced from window to window, looking everywhere for my husband. I drove to the cemetery, and we walked together toward my husband's gravesite. As we got closer, Friday pulled away from me and ran directly to my husband's grave. He lay down on the grave, closed his eyes, and just stayed there, quietly. I didn't try to talk to Friday or to disturb him — he needed to grieve, too. After an hour, Friday got up and walked over to me, using his mouth to hand me his leash. He was ready to go home.

On the way back home, Friday laid down quietly in the backseat. After we arrived home, he kept kissing my hands as if to say "thank you" and never again sat by the front door waiting for my husband to return home. He now understood. Although obviously sad, his behavior returned to normal around the children and he began eating again. In time, he healed as we did. — L.B.J., Lake Worth, Fla.

Dear L.B.J. — Many readers will join me in thanking you for this remarkable example of giving a dog closure with regard to your husband whom Friday thought was perhaps still alive. Your devoted dog clearly advances our understanding of how much some dogs really do know and feel. We should never underestimate their ability to comprehend and make every effort, as you did, during such difficult times of bereavement to help them when they are grieving. www.twobitdog.com/DrFox
Dr. Fox, c/o "Animal Doctor," United Features Syndicate, 200 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10016

Our Foster Dog Still Looking for a Forever Home

Our cute little foster dog Sprite (a Dachshund) is still available for adoption. He just turned 14 on Dec. 23, so he's a Christmas dog. Despite being 14, he acts like an 8 year old! He's been updated on his shots, tested for everything and he's in perfect health and has another good 6-8 years in him.

STAIRS- He still climbs stairs. We have 13 steps in our home and he goes up and down several times a day, following us. He's just a little slow, but he does it. 4 steps are very easy for him.

HOUSE TRAINED - He is house trained now. He sleeps about 8 hours during the night without getting up. At night, we keep him crated. He is also crated when we go out, although he would be fine if left gated in a kitchen. He always walks to our back door when he needs to go out. Or, if he's upstairs, he just gets up and goes downstairs! Like any dog, you just have to pay attention to him when he gives you the signal! :)
WALKS - He loves walks- especially short ones, and is the only dog I've ever known not to pull!
BIG DOGS - He also gets along great with Dolly, our Weimaraner (who is 67 pounds). Our Weim even plays with him in the backyard and sometimes chases him.

FOOD - Sprite eats dry kibble and I usually put a little water in it to soften it. I also mix tuna, chicken, or turkey, a egg, or cold cuts in with every meal (for all our dogs!). He eats in the morning when we get up, and in the evening when we get home. The dry food that we feed him is Artemis Fresh mix (http://www.artemiscompany.com/).

NOTE: He also starts "singing" for his supper, when he sees me making it, and prances around the kitchen letting out little grunts. :)

**His favorite treats are pupperoni and beggin' strips. He also loves Milk bones.

CHEWS- he doesn't chew on bones or nylabones at all. *I do brush his teeth daily, though, and give him puppy dental treats, which are easier to chew with his remaining teeth.

BLANKET HIM WITH AFFECTION - He also likes being hugged (I don't think he got much of it with the elderly couple who had him since he was born). He sleeps on a round, soft bed, with a couple of felt blankets (he likes them over him when he lays down for the night).

  Sprite is such a good boy. He's got quite a number of years of life left in him, and really needs a loving home.

MD Delegate Tiffany Alston - A lying hypocrite. Vote her out of office

Here's a letter I wrote to  MD Delegate who SPONSORED the bill FOR gay marriage, then listened to HATEFUL "Religious" organizations and VOTED AGAINST IT. *I cannot believe the hatred of churches, and this particular delegate's turn disgusts me. She's a liar and hypocrite. She should be voted out of office for leading the gay community on. *This is NOT a religious matter. It's a CIVIL matter. Church opinions need to be dropped. Period. They don't vote for equality.
Dear Delegate  Alston- I am ashamed of you. I'm disgusted with your vote AGAINST Marriage equality after Sponsoring the legislation. You have let down a large group of Marylanders who supported you.

  
To bow before "religious" organizations who profess hatred and don't understand civil rights is sickening. Gay marriage is a civil matter and the Maryland bill does not force religious institutions to marry gay couples. Besides, there are many religions in Maryland, not just Christian, and there are agnostics and atheists. Marriage is not about procreation (elderly and infertile couples marry daily), it's about that loving commitment between two people.

I am ashamed that you represent the people of Prince George's County and will urge people not to vote for you in the coming elections. To not vote for the matter is one thing, but to lie to constituents and sponsor the gay marriage bill, only to turn on people because of hate group pressure is disgusting.  

From the Baltimore Sun: House committee passes same-sex marriage bill

March 4- The House Judiciary Committee has voted 12-10 to pass the same-sex marriage bill, sending it to the full House of Delegates. The 171-member chamber is expected take up debate as early as next week.
Del. Tiffany Alston, who had signed on to the bill as a sponsor, but wavered and walked out on a planned vote earlier this week, voted against it. Committee Chairman Joseph F. Vallario Jr., who does not support same-sex marriage, saved the legislation by voting to send it to the full House.
Before the final vote, Alston, a Prince George's County Democrat, attemped to amend the bill to establish civil unions instead of same-sex marriage. The effort drew praise from Republicans on the committee, but cricitism from her fellow Democrats. It failed.
Del. Jill Carter, the other holdout earlier this week, voted for the bill. The Baltimore Democrat supports same-sex marriage, but said she wanted to draw attention to education funding in Baltimore and her own legislation on child custody in divorce cases.
The bill's ride through the House already has been rockier than its passage in the Senate last week, raising new questions about its prospects in the full chamber. The House is expected to take up the debate as early as next week.
Gov. Martin O'Malley has said he will sign the legislation if it reaches his desk.
Thanks to Julie Bykowicz, reporting from Annapolis.

Vacation: Puerto Rico Part 4

 

Our Favorite photo in Puerto Rico-on the beach!

This marked the entrance to a coastline walk

.

Field outside Fort Morrow for kite flying

Crest over entrance to Fort Morrow

Inside the Fort Morrow courtyard

Giant staircase inside Fort Morrow

Fort Morrow Lighthouse

Looking down to Fort Morrow lower level

Tom descending Fort Morrow Stairway

Tom in the Fort's gutter... a new low! :)

Trying to look excited, when we're already Hot!

Beach through Fort's Barred window-artsy, eh?

Rob at Fort's guard post

Vacation: Puerto Rico Part 3: More Photos

Here are a variety of photos from our trip to Puerto Rico- you can see it's a great place to visit!

Northern coastline

Beach near our hotel... but no swimming! Tide too rough!

Enjoying a Coconut drink at the beach

The beach!!

Tom and Rob at the beach in the wind!!

A great dessert- we went back TWICE!

Dog walker with a Blue Weimaraner

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One of Rob's Favorite Tourist spots!

Tom shopping in Condado

Nice palm-tree lined streets

Great Mexican Restaurant called Tijuana's!

Ricky Martin poster on a bus stop

The sidewalk on our 3 mile walk to San Juan!

Small cups of tea and coffee are REALLY SMALL!

State House in San Juan