Crypton Dog Beds...

UPDATE: Nov. 5, 2008: Since I wrote this, Dogbedworks.com came through for me. They DID exchange the cover for a suede Marsh Fabric Crypton cover. The dogs WILL sleep on that one. I DO recommend DogBedWorks.com for the Suede Marsh Crypton fabric bed.
BOTTOM LINE- if your dog likes soft cushions to lay on, the Wegman collection of fabric, although beautiful in appearance, won't be comfortable for your dog. Ask for the suede crypton fabric instead.

ORIGINAL POST: Okay- I tried to do a good thing. For us and for the dogs. For YEARS I've been reading about this Crypton fabric being used in dog beds that is spill, stain and dirt resistant, and comfortable. Well, it's 3 out of 4. They are NOT comfortable.
I paid $160 for the bed (which I would NEVER pay in a store, but you know,it's easier on-line)... only to find that the Crypton fabric is like Canvas. Yes, as rough as a canvas.
The design was beautiful, but the material is not comfortable at all. I wouldn't even want to use it for a pillow.
Needless to say, the dogs TRIED to sleep on it the first night. They were up all night. It was NOT comfortable. It was a CANVAS-like fabric- with weimaraners on it (the William Wegman collection).
So, I contacted the maker: dogbedworks who informed me that it was not exchangable : "This is a custom made item and we cannot accommodate returns or exchanges of these beds. As always, we are here help if you have any questions." I didn't see the fine print on the order. So, read everything when you order on-line.
DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE I MADE. Get a regular, comfortable bed from a pet store. If there's not enough stuffing in it, buy a $2.00 bag in Walmart and add to the bed. NOW I've got to figure out where I can get a new cover for this unusable bed.

Tough Weekend

It was a tough weekend. In fact, it was so stressful, I had headaches that withstood 4 tylenol (spaced accordingly by directions), stomach issues, and was emotionally and physically exhausted. I flew to Massachusetts to visit my widowed mother, and help her get the house cleared of some things since my dad passed. She's an emotional wreck. Up, down, depressed, angry, sad and changes her mind minute-by-minute. On top of it, she's been losing her memory over the last couple of years, so she gets angry when you do something she asked you to do before. I understand the loss of her husband (of 53 years), but the anger thing needs counseling.
I'm not someone that really ever yells (unless it's over politics at the television), but although I promised I wouldn't, I did it each day after being yelled at - I simply despise arguments and was prompted into them over and over. I won't go any further. Just know that if you have to deal with an elderly mom, and you love her very much, and she's angry and forgetful, it's not easy. For me to come home physically sick and emotionally/mentally exhausted, that's a tough weekend.
The only bright spots were two. One, my taking her on a Mystery Ride to Portland, Maine, where we met our friend Jeff and Mom and Dad Feldhaus for lunch. After, Jeff, my mom and I walked through the "Old Port" part of town, which was actually a really nice time. Two, Jeff came back to Mass. with my mother and I that night and we visited my brother Doug, wife Sue and my 2 nephews the next morning for a couple of hours.
TOM and the doggies got to stay home in the peace and quiet.

Conn. high court rules gay couples can marry

Well, it's about time. Maybe all the other states will realize that equal means equal. For those that use religion to deny and divide, I pray for them. If two people share love for each other, and God is love, do the people that stand against gay marriage think that God is evil then? Well, they're wrong. God loves everyone equally and everyone IS equal. Period. It's time to end division, hatred and fear.
After all, gay couples in Massachusetts have been marrying for over a year now- straight people haven't divorced because of it (they're doing fine with that by themselves) and everyone is living just fine there.
Conn. high court rules gay couples can marry By DAVE COLLINS Associated Press Writer
© 2008 The Associated Press Oct. 10, 2008, 11:57AM
HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut's Supreme Court ruled Friday that gay couples have the right to marry, making the state the third behind Massachusetts and California to legalize such unions through the courts. FULL STORY:

Our Candidate for President- One you only heard of through us!

We have the perfect candidate for President this year, thanks to Hugh Simons in Atlanta, his campaign manager who provided the means.
This candidate has federal government experience on environmental issues. He's been a city councilor for years in my home town. He's knowledgeable about the political process, state and federal governments, what it takes to pass laws and make actions happen. He's been responsible for cleaning up beaches, for resolving land and business disputes. He's taken calls 24/7 from the general public and always provided a response. He's honest, hardworking, a husband and father. He's by FAR the best candidate Tom and I could ever imagine.
Watch this video to see who it is:
http://www.tsgnet.com/pres.php?id=370743&altf=Epvh&altl=Hvusp/

Support Marriage Equality in California

Our friends Rick and Richard asked us to post this: This really does go well beyond California in its impact. http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/10/red-alert-in-ca.html We would like to get married ourselves, and this kind of inequality really has to stop. It's just plain stupid.
08 Oct 2008 04:30 pm
"Red Alert In California
An anti-marriage equality ad, featuring Gavin Newsom, is making headway in California. The rights of many married couples are now in jeopardy. If you support marriage equality, please do what you can to talk to your friends and family members in California, or donate here for the No On 8 campaign. We're currently losing. And this is the most critical vote in the history of the civil rights movement of our time. With potentially historic levels of African-American voters in California, and with a certain political party rallying the extremist Christian right, the momentum has shifted. Please help." TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/2224950/34300189

Superman's dad is dead ... again

I saw this story on CNN today (and am picking up my comics tonight, as I do every Wednesday night)- and this issue of Action Comics is already in my previously ordered list of titles. What's interesting is that I didn't know that DC Comics was going to revisit this story again. It's interesting because at work, several co-workers and friends call me "Superman" and this story is coming out just 2 months after my dad passed. Coincidence? Hmmm...

NEW YORK (AP) -- Superman's dad has died again.
DC Comics has killed off Clark Kent's Earth father with a heart attack. In Action Comics No. 870, out Wednesday, Superman can't hear his mom's cries for help in time to save Jonathan Kent.
The TV Jonathan -- played by John Schneider -- died long ago on CW's "Smallville."
In the original Superman tales of the 1940s, Clark Kent's parents died while he was still a teen. And in the 1978 "Superman" movie that starred Christopher Reeve, Jonathan Kent, played by Glenn Ford, also died of a heart attack.

Some Possible Mergers? (Really Funny ones!)

Here are some MERGERS that may happen as a result of the bad economy - according to "Mom" Ann Feldhaus in Maine (Thanks,Mom!):

With all the turmoil in the market today and the collapse of Lehman
Bros and Acquisition of Merrill Lynch by Bank of America this might be some
good advice. For all of you with any money left, be aware of the next
expected mergers so that you can get in on the ground floor and make some
BIG bucks.

Watch for these consolidations in later this year:
1.) Hale Business Systems, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Fuller Brush, and W R. Grace Co. Will merge and become:
Hale, Mary, Fuller, Grace.

2.) Polygram Records, Warner Bros., and Zesta Crackers join forces and become:
Poly, Warner Cracker.

3.) 3M will merge with Goodyear and become:
MMMGood.

4. Zippo Manufacturing, Audi Motors, Dofasco, and Dakota Mining will
merge and become:
ZipAudiDoDa .

5. FedEx is expected to join its competitor, UPS, and become:
FedUP.

6. Fairchild Electronics and Honeywell Computers will become:
Fairwell Honeychild.

7. Grey Poupon and Docker Pants are expected to become:
PouponPants.

8. Knotts Berry Farm and the National Organization of Women will become:
Knott NOW!

And finally...
9. Victoria 's Secret and Smith &Wesson will merge under the new name:
TittyTittyBangBang

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!