BULLIES come in all ages

BULLIES come in all ages
(click to see movie trailer)

Surround yourself with positive people,
energy, and situations;
always avoid negativity.

~~~~~~~~~~

Life is too short to wake up with regrets.
So, love the people who treat you right.

Forgive, and then forget about the ones who don't.


Thursday, December 31, 2009

Snow in North Georgia


Rain and light sleet were predicted for Wednesday night, with no accumulations expected. The sleet quickly changed to snow and accumulated on raised surfaces such as decks, trees, grassy areas, and Black Labradors.



A Winter Weather Advisory was posted by 11:30 PM.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We hope everyone has a happy and safe New Year's Eve.

If tomorrow morning you find yourself in need of a little hair of the dog, you're in luck. Mom has been brushing us like crazy and we have a fresh , new supply of 100% Labrador Retriever fur, that we will gladly share.

As Lab owners know, we never have a shortage of hair.


Happy Trails,

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

I'm Juz Sayin'

Give a dog a fish and you have fed him for a day.
Teach a dog to fish....








Happy Trails,

Monday, December 28, 2009

The Ed Block Courage Award




Ed Block was a hero in many ways. Under General Patton in World War II, he earned a Purple Heart. As an athletic trainer, he was a master in his chosen field. As a person, he was compassionate and giving.





Ed graduated from the University of Missouri with his master's degree in 1937. He initially began his career as a high school athletic trainer/coach in 1938 at Hancock High School in St. Louis, Missouri. After being drafted into the US Army in 1942, Ed advanced from the rank of Private to 1st Lieutenant and earned distinction with General George Patton's Tank Corp during World War II.


After discharge from the Army in 1947 he served as Head Athletic Trainer and physical education instructor at Washington University.


In 1951, he returned to college and completed his doctorate in rehabilitation and earned a degree in physical therapy from Columbia University.


The Ed Block Courage Award Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of neglected children and ending the cycle of abuse. The purpose is to raise Awareness and Prevention of child abuse. That objective is coupled with the Foundation's commitment to celebrating players of inspiration in the NFL.

The Ed Block Courage Award is named in honor of Ed Block, the longtime head athletic trainer of the Baltimore Colts who was a pioneer in his profession and a respected humanitarian. The award is a yearly honor given to those NFL players who "exemplify commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage."




Block sounds like a wonderful man who would be insulted by the fact that Philadelphia Eagles player Michael Vick was voted unanimously by his teammates to receive the Ed Block Courage Award this year.


How much courage does it take to torture defenseless dogs and be involved in the "sport" of dog-fighting? How does this behavior make him qualified to assist abused children? I also see no reason to celebrate his character.


Even more disturbing are Vick's comments:


“It means a great deal to me. I was voted unanimously by my teammates. They know what I’ve been through. I’ve been through a lot. It’s been great to come back and have an opportunity to play and be with a great group of guys. I’m just ecstatic about that and I enjoy every day.


“I’ve overcome a lot, more than probably one single individual can handle or bear,” Vick said. “You ask certain people to walk through my shoes, they probably couldn’t do. Probably 95 percent of the people in this world because nobody had to endure what I’ve been through, situations I’ve been put in, situations I put myself in and decisions I have made, whether they have been good or bad.


“There’s always consequences behind certain things and repercussions behind them, too. And then you have to wake up every day and face the world, whether they perceive you in the right perspective, it’s a totally different outlook on you. You have to be strong, believe in yourself, be optimistic. That’s what I’ve been able to do. That’s what I display.”




People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said the Eagles “fumbled when they gave Michael Vick the Ed Block Courage Award, which was named after a man who advocated in behalf of abused children … Michael Vick should not be the person anyone points to as a model of sportsmanship, even though he has now exchanged dogs for touchdowns after serving time for extreme cruelty to animals. We wish him well in educating others, but this is not appropriate and does not mark a joyous moment in NFL history.”



As always, I look forward to your comments and opinions.


Hey, Vick, we've got an award for you:






Happy Trails,

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Sunday is for Family

Mother
Savannah, GA
Christmas~1986




Happy Trails,

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas

Hope Santy Paws was good to everyone!

Happy Trails,


Thursday, December 24, 2009

Last-Minute Christmas Gift Ideas



I received this special e-card from my dear friend Kathy, from BirdingRVers.
Hope you enjoy it.
Click on Lab.




Just a reminder:


Happy Trails,

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Rudolph by Jack Johnson

This is my new favorite rendition of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer...
Just sit back and enjoy!
Thanks, Olive, for turning me on to Jack Johnson!





Zack: "Oh, the humiliation!

Don't even think about painting my nose red!"


Happy Trails,

Monday, December 21, 2009

I'm Juz Sayin'

Santa is very jolly because he knows
where all the naughty girls live.



Happy Trails,

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Sunday is for Family

Grandpa and Grandma
Savannah, GA
~Dec. 1953~

What my grandparents didn't know at the time this picture was taken, is that my parents and I (7 months old) were flying home from Guam (my birthplace) to surprise them for Christmas. They thought they would be spending Christmas without seeing their first grandchild!

Happy Trails,

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Puppy for Christmas? Think Again!


Why is a Christmas dog a mistake?

First, because no animal should be a surprise. The arrival of a dog changes a household considerably—for years. Someone has to take responsibility for their daily needs—feeding, exercise, health care, grooming. The decision should be thought about, talked about, negotiated.
A new dog, not necessarily a puppy, either, should be the result of a process, not an impulse.
Kids can be unreliable; kids change. The puppy melts their hearts for a few days or weeks. But then it needs to be walked every day (in the rain). It needs careful attention to its feeding and eliminating if it's going to be housebroken effectively. It needs to be taught not to jump on Grandma. The kids oohing and aahing under the tree will soon move on to IMing and texting their friends. Few children outside of 4-H programs and Future Farmers of America want to be tied down to conscientious animal care, and their parents are often no more enthusiastic. Reality will soon supersede the Christmas morning fantasy.

The bigger problem with the Christmas pup is that good dogs are usually unavailable for holiday giving. Hardly any ethical dog provider will support the idea of a dog as a surprise present. Good breeders have carefully constructed breeding programs that are rarely tied to the idea of seasonal gifts, unless arrangements have been made with people they know well far in advance. Breeders don't want their dogs to end up in households where nobody understands the work involved in raising them.

Experienced rescue group volunteers and shelter workers hate the whole idea of the Christmas dog because they know many of those dogs will be coming back to them.

The dogs that are readily available at Christmas are the kind you probably don't want. Puppy mills grind out thousands of puppies to meet holiday demand. They're the dogs you find in pet stores and malls—cute as puppies but often inbred, poorly socialized, and more prone to genetic health problems like allergies or bad hips or to behavioral difficulties like compulsive barking or chewing.

For Christmas, get the kid an Xbox , or an iPod. They'll love it and use it. You don't have to clean up after it, and if they lose interest, you won't have to walk it in the middle of a snowstorm.

If you and your family really want a dog, choose it carefully, and take your time. Get one from a reputable breeder, an experienced rescue group, or an established animal shelter. Ask lots of questions about the dog; expect the breeder or staff to ask you a lot, too. If they don't, be wary. A store clerk or amateur breeder who simply hands you a dog in exchange for your credit card is not your friend. Experienced dog people know the dogs they sell and the people they are selling them to. And don't worry if the dog comes to you in April instead of on Christmas morning. It will be just as adorable without the tree and the bow.

By Jon Katz

Happy Trails,

Friday, December 18, 2009

Sassy Says

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree.
In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.

~Larry Wilde, The Merry Book of Christmas





Happy Trails,

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

It’s Christmas Bird Count Time Again


Audubon's annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will take place between December 14, 2009 and January 5, 2010. This count is the the longest running citizen-science survey in the world.
I hope you'll participate this year.

BTW, Hubby has successfully captured and relocated 17 squirrels. Our trees and feeders are filled with happy birdies, which should make our bird count more successful.


To celebrate the return of the birds, Hubby bought this beautiful puzzle at our local Farmer's Exchange. The Northern Cardinal is my favorite bird. This should keep me busy for a while.





Happy Trails,