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