Best Short Video From Australia- Ever

Our friend Chris in FL shared this amazing and short video from Australia who are campaigning to End Marriage Discrimination. It will make anyone see that marriage is indeed a right for everyone.

Happy Birthday Dolly -Our Weim turns 7!

Dolly

 Today is our lovable Weimaraner's 7th birthday. Dolly Loretta was born on Nov. 29th, 2004 in a litter of 6 at a breeder's house in Atlanta. When Dolly's mom stepped on a rusty nail and contracted tetanus, the breeder dumped the newborn pups at a shelter. They were a week old. The shelter called Wolf Creek Weimaraner Rescue in Tenn. and Amber (manager) raced there and picked them up. She and others bottle fed them for many weeks and at 3 mos. old they were adopted out.
- Rob's friend Lynn Chandler told Rob to check the rescue websites and adopt another Weim after losing his puppy Buzz in Feb 2005 to a reckless driver. On March 18th, Rob and friend Jeff drove to Knoxville and picked up Dolly.
 - Dolly is loyal, obedient and extremely affectionate. She follows us around the house and always needs to be with someone, while our Dachshunds, Franklin and Sprite sometimes prefer alone time. Dolly loves Beggin' Strips and chicken or tuna on her food, and loves walks. She loves rope toss in the backyard, too. She doesn't like cars driving by the house and growls, and little white dogs (one lunged at her as a pup and she never got over it). She's also afraid of bicycles because a 7 year old accidentally fell on her while riding his bike. 
  Dolly is the most loving, loyal dog anyone could ask for- She's our little "poo poo head," and tonight she gets to pick out treats on a visit to Petsmart.
  

Franklin and Sprite

DOLLY'S BROTHERS and a WALK THIS WEEKEND: Everyone in the Mid-Atlantic enjoyed the mild weekend weather including our dogs. We loved walking in a sweatshirt or tee-shirt. Look how happy Dolly, Franklin and Sprite are walking in the mild temps and sniffing around!

Party at Our friend Yolie's House

Our friend and neighbor Yolie had a party this weekend and invited us over to meet her fun family who are visiting from the Bronx, New York. Her sister and sister's husband own a Mexican restaurant in NY and cooked a fresh Mexican meal. They also surprised Tom with cake and balloons for his birthday this past week. Our other neighbors, Deedee and Bill came over, and Deedee's 85 year old mother Betty, who is a hoot. She even danced at the little party!  Here are some pictures.

Betty twisting at 85!

Betty, Yolie's mom Rosa, Derek, Bill and Deedee dancing

Tom and Rob with other partygoers in the kitchen

Deck the New Den for Xmas

Tom decked out the new den in front of the house, too!

Tom & Rob Shopping at Homestead Gardens among the Christmas trees

Prepping for Christmastime

We enjoy Christmastime because people are nice to each other and things are nicely decorated. Don't get me (Rob) started on the meaning - I focus on being nice to others. Anyway, we started decorating for the holidays- actually, Tom did all the decorating this year, while I wrote out Thanksgiving newsletters.  We haven't started the holiday cards yet! Here are some pictures.

Tom hung the lit Christmas wreath on the upstairs dormer

Tom put up the tree as Dolly and Franklin snooze beneath it

Post-Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was nice- We cooked turkey and trimmings and Tom's folks came over and our friend Darold and his friend Kelly. We took a couple of walks with the dogs to digest between dinner and dessert. We also stopped over our friend and neighbor's house (Yolie) and met her family who are visiting from NY. That was fun, too.
  Today, Friday,Nov. 25th the weather is just as perfect as it was on Thanksgiving, so Tom spent the morning raking (again) up the backyard, while Rob wrote hurricane updates for work (although Rob is off today). We all went out in the backyard and took a couple of pictures before doing a little shopping.

Half the bags Tom raked today

Tom collapses for a min (bkgd) after hours of raking as Dolly looks around.

!

Tom also cleaned out all the flower beds in back

Franklin growling after hearing another dog

Sprite enjoying the backyard

Rob cuddling Sprite as Dolly waits for her turn!

If you missed Rob on the Unknown Paranormal Radio Show... listen here!

 Join Host Kevin Weddle, Founder of Unknown Paranormal, along with Co-Hosts Jeff Stirl and Martin Bravo as they discuss with guests topics of paranormal, spiritual, and the unknown and unexlained. Come join us for an in depth discussion of the paranormal world.  This week, our guest will be Rob Gutro.  Rob Gutro is a "developing medium" who is still learning how to use his abilities. He can receive messages from those who have passed either from Earth-bound ghosts or spirits who have crossed over. He wrote and published the book "Ghosts and Spirits: Insights from a Medium."  (Rob comes in about 30 minutes into the program. The program is 120 minutes).

 LISTEN TO THE SHOW HERE: 

Listen to internet radio with Unknown Paranormal on Blog Talk Radio

Happy Birthday, Tom!

Today is Tom's birthday!  

Tom and Franklin

So, I say: Happy birthday to the love of my life- my sunshine, my best friend, partner, hubby, soulmate. You know that it's a perfect love when you can make each other laugh every day. You make me whole and bring me so much joy. Life is wonderful because of you. Happy Birthday with love always! Rob

Here are some pictures of our adventures

Ruthie, Tom and Maureen

Tom, Rob, Franklin & Dolly Halloween 2009

Dolly and Franklin

With Governor and Katie O'Malley :)

We see you!

Tom, Hil, Rob

Tom and Rob in Lancaster, PA's Pretzel Factory

Wedding Day, June 26, 2009 in Connecticut!

Remember to Forget this Sign

A co-worker sent me this sign that is just so awful and distasteful, that it's funny. I had to share it.  - Rob

Installed a New Skylight!

This weekend, we hired a contractor to "let there be light" in our 2nd floor bathroom. The 2nd floor bathroom has a slanted ceiling that follows the roof and there's no window in it. The bathroom opens directly to the stairway that goes downstairs, and it has always been dark. SO, Tom found a great skylight on-line and ordered it.. This weekend, our contractor installed it, and it totally changed the appearance of the stairway, the bathroom and even shines light down into our living room. Here are some pictures from the installation.

Cutting a hole through the roof

Hole cut and window inserted in the upstairs bathroom

The finished skylight in the upstairs bathroom! What a difference!

Light streaming from the new skylight, pouring downstairs

Even in the late afternoon the skylight lights up the staircase!

Prep for Thanksgiving

Mixing all the baked goods in the kitchen..

This year we're hosting Thanksgiving again and having 6 people for dinner, and others are coming over later for dessert... so Rob's in the kitchen making Pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, brownies and cookies. Of course, there's a fresh pot of Dunkin' Donuts coffee in the background. :)

Tom working hard in the backyard clearing it for winter

Meanwhile, Tom is outside cleaning up the yard and mulching, and Dolly and Franklin are enjoying their new orthopedic bed, while Sprite snoozes on the bedroom rug for peace and quiet. 

DONE! Pumpkin bread, brownies,scones,sugar cookies!

Rob will guest on the Unknown Paranormal Internet Radio Show Sunday 9-11p

Don't forget to tune into the Unknown Paranormal Internet Radio Show on Sunday, NOVEMBER 20, 2011 from 9pm to 11pm Eastern Time

Rob Gutro joins Host Kevin Weddle, Founder of Unknown Paranormal, along with Co-Host, Jeff Stirl for an evening discussing all realms of paranormal and spirituality.

• http://www.unknownpg.com
• http://www.twitter.com/unknownpg2010
• http://www.facebook.com/casperspirit

Rainy Days = Indoor Play Days

Wednesday and Thursday this week were rainy, cold and grey. So, our dogs, Dolly, Franklin and Sprite didn't go to daycare- because they're be inside anyway. But, first thing in the morning we have playtime (after they eat at 5am and nap for an hour or so). We play with toys or toss a tennis ball. They really enjoy it. Here are some pictures from a rainy day this week. - and a short video of morning playtime!

Sprite (back) & Franklin (front) snooze after breakfast

Dolly's post breakfast snooze in total comfort

Dolly and Sprite- ready for play

Franklin- If I chase a ball, there better be food involved!

Great Holiday Gift Ideas!

Dunkin' Donuts

If you could customize your DD Card w/ any photo, what woulDD it be? Customize your own DD Card here: https://www.dunkindonuts.com/content/dunkindonuts/en/ddcard/buyacard.html

OTHER GREAT IDEAS:

*Gift cards for Oil Changes; or to CVS, Walgreens or Rite Aid - for prescription refills (even toilet paper!); grocery stores; gas gift cards; restaurants like Panera Bread, Chilis, etc.; bookstores (and comic book shops!); a doggy day care; a pet store;  a large clothing store with big variety - like Kohls. Just some ideas for you!

RESEARCH: Slow eating reduces food intake

We all could use to lose a little weight, and especially when you're over 30, the pounds seem to keep adding on. I (Rob) found this piece of research and it makes sense on a couple of levels. The key to slower eating is taking breaks- talk, read a book, etc. 2) It prevents you from putting MORE food in your mouth.  3) Drinking water makes you feel full, so drink up. 
Learn from this article- it's worth reading! - and lose those pounds! Rob


Researcher provides further evidence that slow eating reduces food intake
Kingston RI (SPX) Nov 15, 2011 - Two new studies by researchers at the University of Rhode Island are providing additional insights into the role that eating rate plays in the amount of food one consumes. The studies found that men eat significantly faster than women, heavier people eat faster than slimmer people, and refined grains are consumed faster than whole grains, among other findings.

USDA Food pyramid

"It takes time for your body to process fullness signals," she concluded, "so slower eating may allow time for fullness to register in the brain before you've eaten too much."  FULL STORY: http://www.seeddaily.com/reports/Researcher_provides_further_evidence_that_slow_eating_reduces_food_intake_999.html

Enjoying Warmth in Mid-November

 Yesterday, November 14th, the high temperature hit 67 Fahrenheit. Very unusual. In fact, a year ago throughout November we barely got out of the 40s!!  So, as an early Thanksgiving observation, we're all thankful for the warmer than normal fall temperatures.
  Here's a picture of Dolly, Franklin and Sprite on a mid-day (lunchtime) walk, enjoying the sunshine.
  I always try to take a minute to look up whenever the sky is so blue and appreciate it as a background against the turning leaves. Here's a picture of our gum tree in the backyard with fall-colored leaves. Remember to take a minute a look up!

Startled by a Great Blue Heron on a Dog Walk

Great blue heron similar to the one we saw

This morning I (Rob) was walking our dogs through the neighborhood as usual, when the dogs all stopped and looked over at a lawn... (I took the pic of them) and a Great Blue Heron took off flapping its giant wings!  Although we're about 12 miles from the Chesapeake Bay, I don't remember ever seeing one of these huge beautiful birds. Neither have our dogs, so it was quite a surprise!
 Our Dachshund Franklin (who has caught and killed a couple of small birds) probably thought that he's met his match! 
  From Wikipedia:
The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) is a large wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North and Central America as well as the West Indies and the Galápagos Islands.

Dolly, Franklin and Sprite wondering what kind of big bird that was!

Doggone Nice Weekend

Saturday was perfect outside- 65F and sunny. So after haircuts, grocery shopping, etc. we walked the dogs and Tom planted 5 Holly bushes and transplanted 5 trees -because our power company said trees can only be planted directly underneath power lines (that stretch across our backyard). We played rope toss with our Weimaraner Dolly in the backyard while the Dachshunds sniffed around (as they always do).
- Rob made homemade beef stew, 2 pumpkin pies and oatmeal cookies, too.
Here are a couple of pics of Dolly, Franklin and Sprite enjoying the weekend.

Sprite using Dolly for a pillow while riding in the truck. Dolly has one eye opened... :)

Franklin knows how to get comfortable when Tom gets out of bed. :)

Architectural Stupidity: Crosswalk to Nowhere

This "crosswalk to nowhere" is the kind of stuff that drives Tom crazy as an architect. 
Tom tries to get these things corrected, but sometimes people still go through with them, as stupid as they are.
  - Tom had no involvement with this project, and it was posted on someone else's blog, who wrote the following:
Look at this crosswalk in Reading, Pennsylvania (North 5th Street Highway and South Temple Boulevard). Now just imagine the engineering effort that went into its design, with all the components – the retaining wall, the fence, the berm, the drainage, the street striping, the handicapped grading, the textured paving blocks.... Now imagine the politiical process – the design review, the code enforcement review, the DOT sign-off, the planning and zoning board approval.

Help from Beyond: During the Election!

Anyone who knows me, knows I (Rob) have the ability to get messages from people who have passed away - and that includes messages from my dad. During the three days Tom and I were helping campaign for my brother Doug, I got a couple of messages and help from my Dad, letting me know that he was around. 

  The first two signs happened on the first and second day that we were in Massachusetts. Right after we checked into the hotel, I found a shiny penny on the floor of the hallway on the way to our room. Pennies and other change are the easiest thing for spirits to drop to give us a sign. It's called an "apport" - when a spirit uses its energy to transport an object from one place to another.

  Here's how I KNEW it was my dad. The penny in the hotel was dated 2008. Often, the year on the penny will have some significance to the person that passed. 2008 was the year my Dad passed away, and I sensed he was around when I picked it up. That was a great comfort.

  The next day, after running around distributing some 500 flyers for the election we drove back to the hotel. When I parked the car and stepped out, there was another penny on the ground right under my foot! The year was scratched off, though, so I couldn't tell anything more.

  The third sign was an amazing feat. First, I always like to think that out of something bad comes something good. This was also the case here. At 11am I received a text message from Southwest Airlines that our 2:55 p.m. flight was canceled! I called the airline and they said in order to get on another flight, we actually had to GO to the airport! Damn! 

Rob's brother Doug holding son Brian

  - So, we finished up delivering coffee and donuts to sign holders in various polling locations, returned the coffee urns, said goodbye to my brother, sister-in-law and nephews and drove to the airport. After returning the car we went to the ticket counter. It turned out that there was an EARLY flight leaving for Baltimore in 20 minutes! The customer service person quickly put us on the plane and we ran for it (with our bags). We actually made it!  - I don't know of anyone whose flight is canceled only to secure a space on an earlier flight. I'm SURE that my dad had something to do with that.

  - As a final act, although I don't know if my dad had anything to do with my brother winning the election, but I do know that he was standing beside my brother when the polls came in announcing his win.