Bill Signed Allowing Military Dogs To Retire In the U.S.!

We love good news stories about dogs and about veterans and this one combines both! 

President Obama Signs Defense Bill Allowing Military Dogs To Retire In US 
By: Erin Shea  Source: http://www.akc.org/news/bill-allows-military-dogs-retire-us/?asdkca

On Wednesday evening, November 25, 2015 President Barack Obama signed the annual defense spending bill that will now allow American military dogs to retire in the U.S. The policy update on military animals was one of many in the $607-billion 2016 National Defense Authorization Act, according to the Military Times. 

The Military Times Noted: Easier rules for military animal adoption — The measure changes the rules on adopting military dogs and other animals to make it easier for former handlers and families of injured handlers to adopt them following their military service.

This law requires that military dogs return to the U.S. to be retired and will give handlers the first chance to acquire the dogs once they are retired, per Voice of America. Before, military dogs were retired overseas and it was extremely difficult for handlers to take the dogs back to the U.S.

 

A Holiday Tradition: Christmas Decorations at Homestead

In central Maryland, Homestead Gardens is a large, local and well-known place that people go to get in

Scott at the Train display

the Christmas spirit. There are so many wonderfully decorated trees, ornaments of all kinds, displays, and even a large holiday train display. Recently, we took our friend Scott there when he visited.  Check out the 5 minute musical photo tour that Scott put together below.  Hope you enjoy the tour.

Bear and Bear

  

The large train display

Dinosaur tree

Tom and Rob

Rudolph Village

Below is a 5 minute, musical video tour that Scott put together for his "bear with me" vlog: 
 https://youtu.be/Ps9VJjWGmvE 

Another Good Mr. Monk Mystery: Mr. Monk is Open for Business

Recently I finished reading another good Mr. Monk mystery called "Mr. Monk is Open for Business." This is one of the latest in the series (there are a lot of them). This one is by Hy Conrad who was one of the original writers of the Mr. Monk TV detective series. (Lee Goldberg wrote many of the Mr. Monk novels and Hy Conrad took over).
   The story was good, and fast-paced, but it didn't have many quirky OCD Mr. Monk moments in it, as the others did. In fact, there were hardly any. Usually, they make me laugh out loud, and I didn't get that from this story, but the story was good, as were the characterizations. 
   Natalie Teeger (formerly Monk's assistant now a licensed private investigator) and Mr. Monk open up an agency in a store front. They also have to help the police figure out how an employee disappeared after killing several fellow employees. There are some good twists, and of course, I recommend it. I would give it 4 stars instead of the usual 5 stars that I've given all the other Mr. Monk books. - Rob

ABOUT THE BOOK: Mr. Monk Is Open For Business is the eighteenth novel based on the television series Monk. It was published on June 3, 2014. Like the other novels, the story is narrated by Natalie Teeger, Monk's assistant.

SUMMARY:  Welcome to the series of original mysteries starring Adrian Monk--based on the hit USA Network series Monk, starring Tony Shaloub--the brilliant investigator who always knows when something’s out of place....

Failing to win back his girlfriend in New Jersey, Monk returns to San Francisco where Natalie has set up an office for Monk and Teeger, Consulting Detectives. It’s time to stop bickering and get to work when Lieutenant Amy Devlin comes to them for help.
   A disgruntled employee came into work and started shooting, killing three coworkers and leaving a female hostage severely wounded. After spotting the shooter through office windows, the police lost him—leaving Lieutenant Devlin with a real mess on her hands.
    Visiting the bedridden survivor, Monk finds her to be helpful, cooperative…and quite charming as well. But the more he and Natalie try to track down the assailant, the more he seems to have disappeared from existence altogether....

It is difficult to get into the "Season"

    It's difficult to get into the "season" when we have legislators who don't seem to care about simple protections for all citizens. Can someone tell me a good reason why these things were rejected?
The Senate just rejected gun control amendments that would have 1) expanded background checks for guns purchased online and at gun shows and 2) prevent individuals on the terror watch list from purchasing firearms.
     Why would anyone not want these things to keep people safe?
    It makes no sense to me. Doing nothing is Not the right answer.
    - Yes, I know there's a "black market" but why not make it harder to get these assault weapons? And do hunters really need an AK-15 for deer hunting? (when did deer start carrying firearms and wearing body armor?) I am Not talking banning guns - so don't panic, just assault weapons.
      In my opinion, anyone who votes for those who oppose making these assault weapons harder to get, is just as responsible for the death of all the victims. The children in CT, the San Bernadino office workers, the Utah college and the other 352 mass murders.
     WASH POST SOURCE: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2015/12/03/senate-democrats-to-force-gun-control-votes-in-the-wake-of-the-san-bernardino-shooting/

Crusoe the Celebrity Dachshund Book Tour Part 4: His Walk of Fame Star!

 This is Part 4 (and a snippet) of Crusoe the Celebrity Dachshund's Book Tour Adventure. He looks like our Tyler. He's been on a tour promoting his latest book. This is a reprint from his latest blog.  Check out his FULL ADVENTURES at http://www.celebritydachshund.com
   (NOTE: This is the last part - but there's so much MORE on the website! - including Crusoe goes to the Beach, sings, etc.)

Crusoe said: The next day we were to commence our California road trip up from L.A. to San Francisco, but I still had one more thing left to do while I was here in Los Angeles…
So I guess it’s official, I am the celebrity I always thought I was.

Thanks to both of my wonderful fans who each gifted me a Hollywood Walk of Fame star with my name on it.


Hope you enjoyed my #LAStory !
Keep walkin’ the walk,
~ Crusoe

Crusoe the Celebrity Dachshund Book Tour: Part 3: All Aboard!

 This is Part 3 (and a snippet) of Crusoe the Celebrity Dachshund's Book Tour Adventure. He looks like our Tyler. He's been on a tour promoting his latest book. This is a reprint from his latest blog.  Check out his FULL ADVENTURES at http://www.celebritydachshund.com
We were headed somewhere very cool – the Travel Town Museum in Griffith Park; a neat little place where you can learn about the history of LA and its roots in the railroad system, allowing you to  see and read about some old locomotives, and of course, take a little miniature train ride around the premises!

They knew a celebrity was coming to visit… but what they didn’t know was that I was already a self-proclaimed train conductor!

And I have a keen eye for detail.
For one thing, I noticed that the railroad workers were digging in all the wrong places, so I hopped over the tracks to go show them how it’s done.

Without even asking, I joined in the work crew, setting a sharp example as to where we need be diggin’.
Can you believe these tracks are some hundred years old?! I’m digging up pieces of history!

They all stopped to watch me. I like to think that they were keenly observing my example, but I’m sure they were just staring dumbfoundedly at my muscles, glistening in my own
sweatshiny fur.
When we got the tracks patched up, I was finally confident enough to commence my train ride with the guests. Allllll aboard!

NEXT: CRUSOE ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME

 VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-6tH17kl0Q

Crusoe the Celebrity Dachshund: Book Tour Part 2

 This is Part 2 (and a snippet) of Crusoe the Celebrity Dachshund's Book Tour Adventure. He looks like our Tyler. He's been on a tour promoting his latest book. This is a reprint from his latest blog.  Check out his FULL ADVENTURES at http://www.celebritydachshund.com


After an awesome sold-out event and meeting all our wonderful fans from the LA-area, we were headed downtown to the young & hip, Angel City Brewery where I enjoyed a refreshing cerveza.
It’s a pretty cool place where you can bring in food from the nearby food trucks, and very dog-friendly too, which I always love to see.

Dad and I both had a few too many, so Mum had to drive us back. Unfortunately for her we both thought it hilarious to obnoxiously squeak our duckies like a couple inebriated college kids in the back seat of a cab. That is, until we both conked out.
The next morning we were up nice and early to get a great start to the day, but after the night before, I needed a bit of time to soak up some sunshine in the hotel lobby…

Call it a dog’s hangover cure.
After which, we were off to our first adventure, which obviously had to be my “Mecca”.
[Enjoying this post? Please “Like” to the left! ]
And by that, I’m talking about the Hollywood sign! But it wasn’t just a walk in the park; it was quite the hike up a hot and barren mountain!

Now I am a remarkable hiker, having led expeditions up Swiss mountains, but I’m just not used to the California climate. However, I can’t be seen as a quitter no matter what, so I told Mum and Dad that despite the heat, I would continue with the expedition, even if it killed me.
They made me turn back of course, but at least it wasn’t me who decided to do so.
However, we did make it high enough for a great pic of me and the sign! It was a wonderful feeling.

Something about this place feels a lot like “home”…
And while in the area, we headed over to the Griffith Observatory to enjoy a nice view of Los Angeles.
“Oh my!” I exclaimed as I looked through the telescope. “What a wonderful babe-watching invention this is! Sexy ladies, as far as the eye can see! Oh, and the city is beautiful too”

“Dad, I would like one of these things installed on my balcony back home, please.”

NEXT: CRUSOE WORKING ON THE RAILROAD

Crusoe the Celebrity Dachshund: Book Tour Part 1

We love Crusoe the Celebrity Dachshund (who looks like our Tyler). He's been on a tour promoting his latest book, and here's Part 1 of his latest blog, with pictures and video.  Check out his website/blog at http://www.celebritydachshund.com

Crusoe the Celebrity Dachshund: Book Tour Part 2: My LA Story

November 16, 2015 - by Crusoe

As the second stop on my book tour, I found myself in sunny LA, California. From this point forward on the tour, I’ve been partnering with the tourism associations of each city, in this case, Discover LA, who have helped me explore the best dog-friendly places the cities have to offer. So this will be a little like a doggy travel guide as well if you’d ever like to go on a “follow in Crusoe’s pawsteps” trip…
I was staying right downtown at the Residence Inn LA Live location.


Once again, I really felt like a celebrity when we stepped into our room to find a special welcome gift addressed specifically to me! That’s right, not for Mum or Dad.
[See also: Book Tour Part 1 in NYC]

Crusoe and his rubber chicken

But I had an important call to make. I picked up the receiver and dialed the front desk. “Yes, hello? This is Crusoe the Celebrity Dachshund who just checked in – huh? Oh yes, the room will do quite well, thank you. I just wanted to ask, is it okay if I squeak my rubber chicken? It’s very loud so I just wanted to ask first. Yes? As loud as I can? Fantastic. Thank you.”


So I made sure to squeak the chicken loud enough and long enough to show Dad that, yes, it was worth the luggage space to bring it.
It was already evening by this time, so almost right away we were off to our LA book signing at the very unique, Last Bookstore (located in an old bank with vault doors and everything!)
Here’s a few pics from the event:


NEXT: Crusoe visits a  Brew Pub and the Hollywood Sign!

A Short word on the latest horrific U.S. mass shooting

Just a short word on the latest horrific U.S. mass shooting (which is the 355th in 336 days): As the NY "God Isn't Fixing This"

Daily News Headline said today
The NRA fund the Republican party. If you are fed up, then no matter how you voted before, stop voting the NRA supporters in office. There are independents and democrats who don't take money from the NRA.
  Prayers don't fix this - action does. God gave people free will to make decisions- Make a better one now.
   Just read what all of the political candidates tweeted today and decide who would take action: 
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/gop-candidates-call-prayers-calf-massacre-article-1.2453261

Interesting Stories in the News This Week

Today we are sharing lots of interesting stuff in the news- from rising seas, to how to quiet a baby quickly, to less errors in hospitals to goofy things Conservatives running for office have said about climate change.

 

For those who STILL don't believe the Earth's climate has warmed at a faster-than-normal rate (exacerbated by greenhouse gases), I (Rob) could spend hours telling you all of the changes. However, the first story in the news today is about how rising sea levels are causing the disappearance of the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean.  - Rob and Tom

 
THE SLOW DISAPPEARANCE OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS "Most of the 1,000 or so Marshall Islands, spread out over 29 narrow coral atolls in the South Pacific, are less than six feet above sea level -- and few are more than a mile wide. For the Marshallese, the destructive power of the rising seas is already an inescapable part of daily life." [NYT] http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/12/02/world/The-Marshall-Islands-Are-Disappearing.html?ncid=newsltushpmg00000003&_r=0
 

THE MAGICAL HOLD THAT WILL STOP A BABY FROM CRYING For all your holiday newborn needs. [HuffPost] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/calm-any-crying-baby-robert-hamilton_565e6b72e4b072e9d1c40aa4?ncid=newsltushpmg00000003


FEWER HOSPITAL ERRORS SINCE OBAMACARE "Hospitals have cut down on deadly medical errors, saving around 87,000 lives since 2010, according to a new government report." [HuffPost] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/patient-safety-obamacare_565dcb8ce4b072e9d1c34a57?utm_hp_ref=whats-working&ncid=newsltushpmg00000003

2016 Republicans Comments About Climate Change

As world leaders hash out how to stop climate change in Paris, here's where 2016 GOP candidates stand.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/2016-republicans-climate-change_5654fd44e4b072e9d1c11291?ncid=newsltushpmg00000003

A Triple Birthday Potluck Dinner!

Hil and Tom - birthday boys

On Nov. 30th, our friend Hil celebrated his (89th) birthday, and on the 29th, he hosted a small pot luck dinner gathering to celebrate his birthday and that of his friend Fay and Tom's birthdays (all within the same week). Our friend Scott was visiting over the weekend, so he came with us. 

Rex and Kirsten

Kirsten and Rex did a lot of the cooking and organizing with Hil. 


It was a feast full of great food. I (Rob) made a rice/chicken/veggies casserole and no one fell ill from it, so we were good! LOL. 

John, Rex and Michael

 There were egg rolls filled with sweet potato, delicious fried chicken in a Cheerios coating, rolls, salad, homemade apple and pumpkin pies, and so much more. It was hard to keep track of it all. 

Bamba

Amy

  Of course, Hil's dogs Amy and Bamba enjoyed all the company and petting, too. It's always a nice way to celebrate an event having everyone bring something!

Fay- birthday girl (L), Sue and John

 

Scott and Rob

Great Book! Ghosts and Legends of the Carolina Coasts

I recently enjoyed the book "Ghosts and Legends of the Carolina Coasts" by Terrance Zepke. Our friend Lynn J. bought this for us while on vacation, and it's a great book! 
  The book contains encounters and legends from the coastal regions of North and South Carolina. It's nicely formatted and has nice illustrations in it, too.
  There were quite a number of stories that really stayed with me in this collection. One that I won't forget was about a Judge in Maine who accused a woman of being a witch (who may have had alzheimers or dementia). He not only accused her, he presided over her hearing, and readily sent her to death. She told him her foot and leg would come back from the grave and kick him after he died. It did. 
 - Although the judge moved to the Carolinas and was buried there, the mysterious outline of a foot appeared on his giant tombstone (several times as the first time, it was sandblasted off). There's a photo in the book of the outline of a leg and foot on the tombstone.
  So, whether you live in the Carolinas, visit them, or just want interesting ghost stories, this is a really good read.  - Rob