Sabtu, 29 Mei 2010

Dr. Caldwell and his magic elixir

My cousin and her POSSLQ were here a couple of months back and we went "bumming". That's what my mother would have called it. We take it to mean going antique shopping and rummaging around more for the purpose of getting caught up in who's done what recently than anything else. By staying on our feet and moving we avoid sitting and drinking beer or having a hot fudge sundae or both. By the time they had to leave we had all settled into a steady stream of laughter and were exhausted. Then she hauled out the box of bottles she'd been given by someone in West Virginia, from whence they were returning, having wandered a bit off their northern California trail.

Did I want any old, dirty, unusable bottles? BUT OF COURSE. Need she ask? Aren't they the find of the century and undoubtedly priceless. Good thing I took the photo. Those bottles are here in this house somewhere but I'll be darned if I can find them now. By the way, how long is the excuse, "We're having the kitchen re-done" good? I'm hoping a full year. Any comments suggesting it should be less than that will remain unposted. Ah, but I bet those rascals are under the sink.

Back to the bottles. My hub, also my POSSLQ, decided to research the one from Monticello, as in Monticello, IL. Could we have hoped it was a bottle Thomas Jefferson had had at HIS Monticello? We could have, but we didn't. While he was googling away I wondered if that sort of activity really qualifies as research. It's far too easy. Like I said, though, back to the bottles.

Well, if the Internet is to be believed, this particular bottle, and many like it, was produced between 1865 and 1945 and contained a certain Dr. Caldwell's Syrup of Pepsin. The bottles had a cork style mouth until '42 and then went with the screw on cap. They are worth every bit of $1-2. WOW.

The story is worth more than that. It seems Dr. Caldwell was a real doctor. However, the FTC (pre-Federal Drug Admin) ordered his company to cease misrepresentation as to the efficacy of its preparation for the relief of constipation or other ailments. The order prohibts the use of the word "pepsin" alone or in association with other words to describe a preparation ot containing sufficient pepsin, as an active ingredient, to possess substantial therapeutic value because pepsin content.

A handful of noteworthy remarks must be made now:

1. The government had its own language even a century ago. We have complained and not been heard.
2. Pepsin is remarkably close to Pepsi. Does that mean anything?
3. If you were full of sh_t before you took this concoction you were still full of it afterwards.


Brew & Bob at the Renton Fun Match!

Today, Jo and I got up early for the Renton Fun Match. Below are videos of their Rally runs. I learned outdoor rings are a huge distraction for the beagles. Brew held it together until the 8th sign and then he was all beagle - smelling and sniffing the ground. Bob also smelled everything as well as jumping all over the place. Overall, they both did pretty well after all they are beagles and so they should get extra credit. I've entered Brew in Rally at the June Puyallup show so I can see we need to do some extensive training in the next two weeks without treats.

Brew


Bob

Jumat, 28 Mei 2010

Annie-Jean's Story

Once upon a recent time there lived a nurse who hadn't worked in two and a half years.

She had breast cancer and could not do her job any longer.

May 15, 2010, she died.

Her pets were left behind.

It gets better.

A nearby shelter, Benld Adopt-A-Pet, heard the story. One of the dogs and two cats were adopted but that more remained. We have Annie, the Beagle now, as a foster. We never knew Jeany but she must have been wonderful as her pooch is!

I picked Annie up Wednesday afternoon. She was thrilled to see someone as a visitor. With Jean's sister's approval during a cell phone conversation, I loaded up Annie drove to our house where she promptly went outside, waiting to meet the resident dogs. That has gone well. Score 1.

She and I were able to visit our vet that same afternoon. Her shots were all updated and she was tested for heartworm. She's negative! Preventatives are in place now for that and fleas/ticks. Our small town vet knew the story and gave me a break. Thank you! Score 2.

The staffers at Benld know of (at least) one person, right in our area, who is especially fond of senior dogs and Beagles. We've talked. She and her dog are planning on meeting us sometime after June 2nd and it sounds promising. If the dogs get along it may be a done deal. Score 3.

Annie-Jean's story goes on and her life is changing. She will survive and touch hearts, reminding us of the preciousness of life.

If she doesn't go to this new adoptive home I think she'll be OK. I heard someone leaving this house a few minutes ago smiling and telling two of our dogs we may have a new resident here. Hmmm. For the record, it was not me. I was the one who said when this started that we don't need another dog.

No one ever NEEDS another dog, at least, no one ever realizes they NEED another dog until that dog arrives. Personally I hope Annie gets to go to with Tema as Tema needs a buddy. If it doesn't work, she's happy here. That's what counts.

Oh, that, and the fact there is a great shelter, with the right attitude and focus, in Benld, IL. They get nothing out of this other than the satisfaction of having helped one dog, one more dog. And, life goes on. Tomorrow brings another dog or cat. They are there to help them when they can. Creative Geniuses - each of them!

Minggu, 16 Mei 2010

Observations


Authors who write books which will be turned into audio versions should avoid characters named Jack.
A reader and a listener evenutally tire of hearing "Jack asked". It sounds like something else. Trust me on this one.

This is a lush spring. Each year the flowers get more beautiful. Perhaps we just learned to appreciate them more.











One of our dogs ate the inserts to my much-loved and ancient UGG slip-ons. My fault for leaving them where he could get to them. I've put in "Gels" from Dr. Scholl. Here to tell ya - NOT THE SAME. I was on my feet for 6 hours straight today wearing the UGGs with gel inserts. Not doin' it, folks!

Sabtu, 15 Mei 2010

Team Beagle in Training

Brew and Bob in the Riverdog Outdoor Excursion class. Here we are at Tiger Mountain a few weeks ago, lots of off leash dogs and smells in abundance which meant BIG challenges for beagles to remain calm. And yes, that is Brew in the background barking.


Abba at Obedience II class with Positive Dog Training School. Abba showing her heeling skills.



Brew practicing Rally at Positive Dog Training School. This was a few weeks ago as well.

Sabtu, 08 Mei 2010

Hey Buddy

Life. It's a wonder, isn't it? Just when you think, well, just when you actually think, then that's when you realize you haven't got it figured out and the people you know surprise you once again.

This week I was surprised. Not really by who did something. Not by what was done. Let me tell you about it.

My husband has had reason to visit a VA medical facility once a week for several weeks. This Wednesday was his last visit for awhile. When he travels the 100 miles there he allows plenty of time for construction or other delays. This typically means he gets there in advance of his appointment and can venture into the Veterans' cafeteria for a quick and simple lunch.

This week he crossed the threshold about the time a World War II vet wheeled himself into the cafeteria, having been dropped off at the door by the transport driver.

The vet had $1 to his name. A single, one-dollar bill. A World War II veteran, one of the Greatest Generation, a soldier in the war to end all wars had 100 pennies. He approached the cafeteria worker and humbly asked what he could buy for lunch with his dollar.

Fortunately my double Purple Heart, Bronze Star guy earned yet another medal of service that day by telling this honorable fellow vet that he could have whatever he wanted and it would be the Vietnam vet's honor to buy him lunch.

It would be so easy to start a rampage about what's wrong with sending any elderly, wheelchair bound person out with no more than a dollar. Whoever readied him for the day's experience knew it would get him nothing. Imagine. After all those years, never totally losing the memories of the closeness, the personalness of those battles, and being displaced without the possibility of even being able to buy half a sandwich.

Rather, let's think about the brotherhood and how connected the vets are. Those of us who have never been in our country's service don't get it. We just don't grasp what it is to wake up each day wondering if this could be the last day of life.


It could be.

Maybe we should grasp that notion.

Maybe we'd buy lunch for a stranger and say a kind word more often.

The big things we complain about suddenly seem small and inconsequential; the little things we do make our hearts fly.

Yes, I was surprised. Not by what my husband did or for whom he did it.

I was surprised that we sat their across from each other with tears in our eyes. Were they tears of sadness for the situation he found? Were they tears of joy for being able to change it?

Yes.