Fur Love

Having returned last night from my all too short visit to Scottsdale, it is back to work today at George Funeral Home & Cremation Center with a busy schedule awaiting. It was great to see many of my old friends…and to make some new ones too! I always come away from this trip invigorated and full of new ideas and this time was no exception.

Last year, I was fortunate to meet Coleen Ellis. Someday, there is going to be a television show about this lady as she is so incredibly passionate about her work. Although somewhat unique, it should be found in every community.

Coleen opened up the first stand-alone pet funeral home in the United States and currently is the president of Two Hearts Pet Loss Center. Coleen came back to the Chaparral Suites again this year to share her ongoing work with our group.

I picked up a copy of her book, Pet Parents…A Journey Through Unconditional Love and Grief

Although I had planned on another book for the ride home, I decided to move Pet Parents to the front of the line and finished it just as we passed over Nashville, TN.

Well, the pilot said it was Nashville.

For the record, I got teary-eyed 12 times while reading Pet Parents, deciding to keep track after the second time. Luckily the guy sitting next to me (a US Air pilot flying standby) slept most of the trip back and I didn’t have to explain my behavior.

If you are a “Pet Parent” like me, get the book. If you are not “one of us”, get the book because it explains a lot about why we are like we are. If you are a veterinarian, you must read this book. As a matter of fact, buy the book, read it and then give it to your vet.

After being away for four days, I spent some time with Alicia, getting caught up on all the goings on and then I got on the floor with those four, big Labs and got myself a good dose of unconditional, “fur love”. Like the brand says…”Life is Good”.

Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day 2012 …Thanks, Tom.

In the New Year, 2012, both Groundhog Day and the State of the Union address will occur on the same day. This is an ironic juxtaposition of events.
One involves a meaningless ritual in which we look to an insignificant creature of little intelligence for prognostication.

The other involves a groundhog.

January 23-30, 1978

One of the stranger titles for a song, but it speaks of friendship and following our trails back to our roots.

From the “Jackrabbit Slim” LP, it also contains the iconic phrase, “It’s often said that life is strange, but compared to what”? This phase is also referenced in a song released many years later…Thirty More Years.

Through the decades, whenever I was feeling blue or just wanting to play a quick song on the guitar, chances were (and still are) pretty good that this would be the song

Really?

It seems appropriate to link to an article found on one of my favorite, new sites…Green Mountain Scribes

Student Censored for Promoting Adoption

Read This Book

The inmates continue to run the asylum and the battle lines have been drawn. I was having a discussion about this with my parish priest, Fr. Gregory Wilson and he let me borrow a book that was one of two I read on the planes and airports yesterday (spent more time in airport seats than in airplane seats). The book is “How To Win The Culture War” Kreeft is very cogent and I came away aware of many things of which I had been ignorant.

Oprah probably wouldn’t suggest this book because it doesn’t support her agenda, but it does support mine.

I Wonder…

Tomorrow marks the 39th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade

Choose Life

I wonder what was going through my mother’s mind when she put me up for adoption?

I wonder if she ever thought about abortion?

I’m glad she made the decision she did, because it allowed my parents to to pick me. So yes, I do have a little bias in this area.

I’m praying today for those who are standing for life today.

A Local Thing

AGS , (Bush Field,Augusta,GA) is probably the only airport in the country with its own putting green.

Putting green at AGS departure area.

I voted early and am leaving the dreary rain for the sunshine of Scottsdale,AZ and spending a few days with some of the most innovative funeral directors I know. This will be my 9th year attending and it always is the highlight of my professional year.

I’ll try to pick up the pace of posting a bit, as I know it has been a little sparse as I close in on the second anniversary of the blog.

Have a great day.

An Era of Bad Suits

Between work this weekend and assisting with a community service project (no, it’s not part of a plea bargain), I did some cleaning around my office. I went through a few boxes and came across the yearbook from my senior year in high school. Watchung Hills Regional High School, Warren, NJ, class of 1978. I also had to chuckle as I doubt it’s called the “Lenape” any more as I’m sure someone thinks it is derogatory to the Lenni Lenape Indians.

The book, musty, yet memorable

I stopped working and spent about an hour thumbing through the pages….recalling the names and times we spent together.It was interesting to see how much I remembered…and how much I forgot. Man, the suits were funky back then…right out of Saturday Night Fever.

The three, vice-principals...nice suits.

The last reunion we had was the 10-year..1988…the year our first daughter was born. I do not know if there have been any subsequent ones, but wouldn’t be surprised if we didn’t, because the President, Vice President and Secretary Treasurer all died several years ago and I suppose the class officers are the ones who usually plan these events.

Then, in brown polyester suit

The good news is that I don’t look much different today than I did back then…well, not too much different.

And today....plaid sweater vest

Maybe someone from the class will see this and reach out. It was a big class…443 graduates, if I recall.

I wonder how many ever pull out their yearbook and look through it?

When Puppies Get Together

It has been awhile since I provided an update of the canine residents of our home. I thought this might be a

Maggie, the matriarch

good time to get a quick post in before church.

For those of you new to the blog, we have four , black labs. “Maggie” and “Snickers” are going on nine years old this Spring. Maggie is an “English, Block-head” Lab and Snickers is an “American” Lab. “McKenzie” and “Big Red” are siblings and will be two years old this June. (If you want to learn more about them (and have a couple of hours), simply puts “dogs” in the search window at the top of the homepage.

Henry, six months old

We had a visitor since yesterday…Henry, a six-month old Rottweiler who has visited before (click here)

When you put all those dogs (5) together, something entertaining is going to happen and it is called “playing”.

It started last night.

Most of the roughhousing was between McKenzie and Henry. Surprisingly, Maggie at her ripe, old age even got into the fray a bit.

2 on 1

The pictures are a little blurry as the iPhone is only so good and these dogs were moving fast….very fast.

Girls can play too.

Anyway, for those of you that have been following the canine side of our family….enjoy.

She didn't cut him any slack...go McKenzie!

Enough is enough. I'm outta here.

Maggie & Snickers, for the most part, leaving the running around to the kids.

Worth Mentioning

One of my new, blogging buddies, Alan, has a great, political (mostly) blog named Green Mountain Scribes. So far, I haven’t read anything there that I disagree with and this post is no exception.

The article is called, What Would You Do with $370,000? and it reminds of my days with Family Honor, Inc., where I was privileged to serve on the board in the late 1990′s and which I still support today.

Check both sites out…and talk to your kids.

Hello 911?…I Have an Emergency & Need Your Assistance

I received a note this morning from a friend who is seeking my help as she continues her work to assist the members of the New York City Fire Department impacted from the attacks of 9/11,

They deserve our respect and action....

(FDNY). I have became “a fan” of Jessica Locke since Christmas of 2009 when one of my daughters gave me her book, Rescue at Engine 32

I have posted a few columns mentioning Jessica, especially her incredibly moving piece of music entitled Reading of the Names, found here in this post. You can also search my blog and you will find several articles about her great work.

I have never done this before, but I am asking all my blogging buddies to consider signing the petition after reading Jessica’s report and then to share this with their readers.

I am also asking my readers to do the same and send the link to as many people as you can.

If you aren’t familiar with PTSD and the FDNY, watch this video from Brothers…On Holy Ground. It is riveting and close to overwhelming. I purchased the DVD and it arrived just after Christmas and I have watched it three times already and cried each time I did.

The request has been up for just a few days and so far, there are a couple of hundred signatures. Nothing would make me happier (and prouder) than to add couple of thousand in the next day or so. I know that with my close circle of blogging buddies, we can reach hundreds of thousands of Americans with the click of a mouse.

Even though you might not live in NYC, please join me in letting the Mayor and Fire Commissioner know how America Feels about the FDNY and 9/11.