Saw the Movie: Religulous

We finally saw a movie at the theatre - and it was really thought-provoking. I'm a firm believer in God and have a strong faith (having many times been communicating with those who have passed from this life), and have to say this documentary made a lot of sense.
As USA Today says, "Bill Maher's intent in his documentary is to shift that pressure onto the faithful as he grills them on the basic tenets of their beliefs. The results are funny, revealing, provocative and even scary. And to a goodly sum, probably, offensive."
The fascinating part of this is how religions are man-made, and each wants their followers to adhere to a different set of beliefs that can not only give hope and be a refuge for people, but also cause division, hatred, intolerance, wars and death. Maher interviewed a Vatican priest who admitted that no one knew when Jesus was born (he mentioned it could be July 3rd for all they know), and said that a number of traditions and beliefs were created long after Christ. Interesting.
Maher finds some really interesting characters (below from USA today story):
"1) From Mormon underwear to gizmos to assist Orthodox Jews to circumvent Sabbath rules, Maher finds plenty of humor in the holy. However, he goes out of his way to avoid bullying tactics: "There is a difference between not respecting a person and not respecting their beliefs."
2) When Maher goes after a Hispanic minister in Florida named Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda, who claims he is the reincarnation of Jesus, he quips, "Not just because you share the name Jesus?"
3) The Rev. Jeremiah Cummings, ex-member of the singing group Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, has a weakness for snappy, and expensive, suits. "The people want you to live well," he says. Maher zings: "That's what pimps say about their women."

"We want people to be enlightened of things they aren't aware of," Maher says. That includes that the recent finding by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life that 16% of Americans aren't affiliated with any religion, a bigger minority than blacks or Jews.

Here's one thing in the film that we both DID know: News that the Founding Fathers weren't high on organized worship might come as a shocker, too. Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying, "Lighthouses are more useful than churches." (So did Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, etc.) - What's interesting is the "religious right" wants to run the country, and that's totally opposite of what this country was founded on. Food for thought.
FULL STORY:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2008-10-05-religulous-commandments_N.htm?csp=DailyBriefing

2 Stories I found Interesting: What Do You Think?

Happy Monday! Our dogs are back at daycare today for the first time in 3 weeks, and they were very excited.
Anyway, here are 2 stories in today's news I found interesting, and I'd be curious to hear your comments on the first one (just click on "COMMENT" below). I don't like public bathrooms... but when you have to use 'em, so be it. Some people outright fear them. It grosses me out though, when people don't wash their hands!!

Conquering the 'ewww' factor of the public potty
CNN Story Highlights:
*New Web sites help find nearby public restrooms in the U.S. and abroad
*Washing your hands is crucial to preventing the spread of bacteria
*The first stall is likely to be cleaner than the middle stall
*Don't put your purse on the floor, which has the highest concentration of germs
STORY: http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/10/03/bathroom.hygiene/index.html/

Dog makes 45 mile trek home 1:43
A once missing dog is back home with his owner, three weeks and 45 miles later. WJAR's Michelle Brown has the story.
VIDEO: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/10/02/dnt.ri.dog.goes.home.wjar/

Hil and Richard Visit with their new dog!

Our friends Hil and Richard, who have been a couple for over 45 years visited us today and brought their new poodle, Amy (all pictured above). She was adopted from the Washington DC Animal Rescue League, and is around 3 years old. What a beautiful, well-trained, housetrained and lovable little dog she is.
We left the dogs together in the house and ventured out for some Chinese food. The dogs were fine and seemed to enjoy each other's company.
It was nice, because Dolly and Franklin don't like a poodle that lives down the street from us, but that's cause we think the older man that walks that neighbor dog is grumpy, and our kids just don't like him! :)

Saturday a Dogged Downer Turns Upward

Yesterday, Saturday, Oct. 4th I went to the 2nd of 3 doggy costume events planned for the month of October... and like last week's (which was cancelled and not rescheduled) this one didn't go well either.
Tom decided not to go because there was too many chores around the house to do (there were, but these events are what I wait all year for, as Halloween is my favorite time of year). Also, Jeff, Douglas, JC, Todd and Erica all cancelled for various (and good reasons), so I was on my own with Dolly and Franklin. It took 1 hour to get there. It was in Hunt Valley (north of Baltimore) and we're near Annapolis, but the drive was fine, singing to Alan Jackson with the dogs in the truck. :)
The Dogfest event was huge. It was spread out over about 5 farm-sized areas. Parking was a mess, run by teens on their cell phones, directing and misdirecting people all over. One teen attendant sent me in the opposite direction of where the entrance was (it wasn't obvious, and everything was over rolling hills).
The costume event wasn't marked, and was down over 2 rolling hills. We got there 15 minutes before it, and it took 10 minutes to walk to the entrance of the event, then walk 1/4 mile up a dirt road to the vendor's tents - which were nowhere NEAR the costume event. That was too far to get to, and I had the dogs' costumes in the truck back 1/4 mile away in the lot. So, I gave up on it. We DID walk around and enjoyed looking at all the stuff from the vendors and I bought various treats. It was fun for the "kids" so there was a lot of butt-sniffing going on. :)
I was totally surprised when my friend Steve C. called my name! He drove up from Baltimore (Jane was home sick). Steve made my day. He had been there 30 minutes looking for me and the dogs. WOW. We decided to leave and went to Panera Bread nearby and had a snack outside at a table. It was a BEAUTIFUL day. 71F and blue sky and sunshine. Dolly and Franklin were perfectly behaved and greeted everyone walking by. Afterward, Steve left to go shopping in the mall where Panera was, and I headed home.
I stopped and visited friends Tood, Erica and their weimaraner, Beamer in Ellicott City, and we visited for a short time, watching all the dogs run around in their backyard and enjoying the sunshine. They, too, saved my day of "a dogged downer" - having costumes and not getting to show them off (I MADE 'em, which was why it was frustrating). Anyway, Erica is pregnant and has a head cold, but of course, can't take anything for it. I recommend chocolate. :)
Upon returning home, Tom and I went out to dinner, and I proceeded to get sick on whatever we ate. At least Tom got lots of gardening and stuff done (although he strained his back again doing it). Interesting day.

Ready for Halloween?

My favorite Holiday is coming - and I'm excited about this year! I'll post pics of the costumes later. I'm dragging Tom to a bunch of doggy costume events, too. :)
Meanwhile, I'm not the only one psyched about it! Our friends Melinda and Derek love Halloween and have already put together the costumes for their kids!
Jack as Batman and Emmy as Batgirl - and Melinda makes the outfits!

Colleen points to help for Retirees!

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Infuriating - Mistreatment of Animals

Okay - this is the third story I've heard like this in a month. The other 2 came from West Virginia. One of them involved dachshund puppies living in filth (or dying in it). Another one came from a woman we met last weekend at Panera Bread in Bowie, who had a beagle pup with her-- She said the pup was one of the pups left alive in a puppy mill, where dogs were literally piled on top of each other. Now this: Hellish conditions found at Almost Heaven Kennel in Pennsylvania
Story Highlights:
*Kennel owner Derbe "Skip" Eckhart cited for cruelty, loses license
*65 dog and puppy carcasses found in freezer, officials say
*800 to 1,000 live animals, including monkeys, mini horses rescued
*SPCA says animals lived in filth, lacked access to fresh water
FULL STORY: http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/10/02/kennel.cruelty.charge.ap/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
There is absolutely nothing more infuriating to me than people who mistreat innocent animals. They should be reamed and forced to exist in the same conditions they made dogs and cats live in, until they're no longer breathing. Thank God for the SPCA, the Human Society and Rescues like Wolf Creek Weimaraner Rescue in TN (where I adopted Dolly from). THAT's why I support those charities.

The Outrageous Cost of Assisted Living

My friend Beverlee (85) wants to go into assisted living, because she's legally blind, frail, and in failing health. She finds it difficult to cook for herself and is unable to leave her apartment.
My friend Cynthia is looking into them now for her dad, and discovered the range is between $3,500 and $6,000 for assisted living! Here's a link to a fact sheet: http://www.eldercare.gov/eldercare/Public/resources/fact_sheets/assisted_living.asp
As for nursing homes, she said they're cheaper but rooms are shared and you can not bring your own belongings. To get into a nursing home that medicare will pay for, you have to be hospitalized for 3 days or more, then medicare will pay 100% of a nursing home for the first 20 days, 80% for the days 21-100...then you have to get medicaid from the state if you can prove you cannot pay.
This is what so many are facing now, and everyone should plan...

Even a Dog Walk Can Be an Adventure!

Life is always an adventure!
This morning's walk with Dolly and Franklin was filled with it! Every Tuesday and Thursday when I work at home, I walk the dogs about 1 mile around the neighborhood in the early morning and afternoon (and then at night with Tom). About half way through, there's a small park with tennis courts and a playground, where we stop so I can toss their "business" in a park trash can. This morning, on the other side of the tennis court were a Pack of 3 red foxes! Needless to say, I tossed the bag in the trash and ran out of there with the kids. I've seen one fox before here on a rare occasion, but not a pack!
Later, a brazen cat (the kids don't like 'em) decided to strut into the middle of the street ahead, glare at us and hunch its back and hiss. Well, the kids took that as a challenge, so they were pulling me down the street like crazy! That's about 80 pounds of pull! (Dolly is 58 pounds, Franklin 21). The cat got smart and ran like hell!
Rounding the corner to our house, a black poodle mix darted across the street toward Dolly and Franklin. The dog seems to be allowed to walk around freely when the owner is outside (an hispanic man that "no habla ingles"- doesn't speak English- and this morning, the dog was a foot away from being struck by a car turning onto our side street.
So, next time you think nature is peaceful, pay close attention. There's an adventure around every corner!

Visiting Beverlee / What is Portable Kitty Litter?

Last night after dinner, I drove to downtown Baltimore to visit my friend Beverlee, who is 85 and lives in an apartment building for retired folks. Beverlee is pretty frail, about 80 pounds, standing about 4'11" and has lung disease (she's a lung cancer survivor), so she's on oxygen all the time. I try and visit Bev about once every week or two weeks (it takes about 1+ hour to get there from home) on a weeknight. She usually has company on the weekends.
Beverlee has a cat named Stitch. Although her doctors said "no cat, no kitty litter" - because kitty litter makes breathing more difficult, she loves her cat (understandably so). Beverlee is home bound pretty much, and can't even take the elevator to her lobby to get her mail every day, so it's a pretty lonely life except for visitors. We agree that it's a tough life. Her husband passed away when she was in her 40s, so she's been on her own a long time. She's a firecracker, though. She's got all her wits about her, and really knows people. So it's always entertaining to visit her.
Lately, Bev has been asking me to get "disposable kitty litter trays filled with kitty litter." I bought 10 at Petsmart and brought them, and together they weigh about 20-25 pounds. Kitty litter is heavy! Anyway, she likes it better than scooping a litter box, because Bev is legally blind, and can't see to scoop. She can see a little with the use of a tabletop machine that magnifies words about 50 times. - So, last night I brought her the 25 pounds of "mobile kitty litter" with some Dunkin' Donuts coffee (as I usually do). Nothing like coffee and conversation and she's a hoot!
(Tom stayed home with the dogs, as he has severe allergies to cats and can't even breathe around 'em. Luckily for me, I'm chock full of allergy medicine every day of the week.)

Middle of the Week!

It's Wednesday and seems like the week has been dragging, and so am I! It's definitely more challenging to get up at 4am because the sun doesn't come up until 7am! - Anyway, lots going on as usual.
Our weimaraner Dolly had her stitches removed yesterday at the Anne Arundel Vet Hospital in Annapolis, and is back to normal (almost). I can finally give her a bath this weekend, as well as little Franklin (the dachshund) as his injured front leg is now working correctly again.
We're looking forward to a doggy event this coming Saturday... will write more about it later.
Meanwhile, I'm getting dog costumes ready for the event - Dolly will be a "Green Lantern" of the Dog Star (to match my Green Lantern outfit), and Franklin will be an ear of corn! Wait to see that outfit. It's a challenge to make.
Today is comic book day! Yay! That's what gets me through the first part of every week.

Comic Con/ House / Doggy Stuff / Eyes Have it!

Yesterday's Baltimore Comic Book Convention was great. It was very crowded, and I went with my friend Grey, and Tom's friend's partner (both of whom are HUGE comic book fans). We spent hours there going through the aisles of comic books, seeing artists and writers, looking at toys, tee-shirts, and other superhero stuff. It was fun! We also took a lunch break and went to the Federal Hill Street Festival (nearby) that our friend Jane organized. We met Jane and Steve for a quick lunch and enjoyed the festival before going back to the convention!
- HOUSE PROJECT Meanwhile, Tom stayed home with the dogs, and installed 4 new in-ceiling lights in the Kitchen. They look awesome, and provide great light in there now!
DOG NEWS- Dolly gets her stitches out tomorrow!!! Franklin's leg is much better, too. The doc apparently worked it back into place.
- EYE STUFF- I pick up my 2nd pair of glasses tomorrow, and in 2 weeks, Tom goes for his cataract surgery consultation. Yup, he's got them and they're driving him crazy, so they need to be removed. Stay tuned.