Music

Dan, you can stop reading now...

Chris and Rich Robinson, brothers who have brought us the Black Crowes, set aside their differences and got together last year to record a few live tunes. Brothers of a Feather brings out the best in these two, and shows just why they should continue making music together. I've actually just gotten around to getting the album and giving it a listen, wish I had done so earlier.

I've been a Crowes fan for years, going back to the early Atlanta days when they were known as Mr. Crowes Garden and played little venues around town, especially L5P. Their 2001 album hit at a time in my life when I was once again exploring various sounds and artists. It's good, Blues based rock and roll, with a little Southern twang (hence, Dan, you're probably not interested... <G>). I'm happy to see that they're back and putting out another studio album in a couple of months.

2,000

It's taken a while, understandably so since I don't post all the time, but the blog has gotten 2,000 visits! Welcome to the reader in Little Rock AR and thanks for your time. Wish I had a prize, but I guess I'll just shake your hand if we meet.

SEGC

R and I are once again members in good standing with SEGC. I found out yesterday that it's been 3 years (!) since we've been members. Doh! I was one of the 6 or 7 at the first SEGC meetings back 12 years or so ago. R was the first foster chair for SEGA when it started up. It's nice to be back in the fold!

Puppies Run!!!

Last weekend was the annual CHASE Valentines day trials held at Old Mill Farm. We were blessed with great weather and lot's of really nice running dogs. Seemed like a great time was had by all.

While the trial was a blast, what I really enjoyed was getting the new puppy into "Field Trial Mode". This is the first opportunity we've had to get Carmela out to experience the whole enchilada, from loading up, the trip and the field. After losing her breakfast (whoops, we forgot she hadn't really ever traveled in a crate in the car, especially for more than 15 minutes), and drooling a bit, she travels like an old pro! She gets in her crate, lies down and just rests for the trip. No whining, crying or panting!! She's going to be a great traveling companion.

Carmela is only 5 1/2 months right now, but she knows what goes on when we get to the field! She was attentive to the bunnies from the beginning, but really became a monster after watching for a while and getting some practice runs in. Now, when the lure is moving, she's all business! Our plan next (I think) is to get her box trained and see how she'll handle racing. That'll be fun since we've never really done any racing with the Whippets. Can't wait!!

CHASE had a puppy run on Sunday, drawing Carmela, John and Laura Parker's Guiness, Kirby Overcash's litter-mates to Guiness, Pauli and Foster, and the Alley's Smokey. Everyone had really nice runs and I think everyone had a lot of fun. Just for the record, Carmela was judged the winner!! <G>

Here are a few pictures I took of the event.

More about the weekend

I shouldn't forget to mention that Mike is scheduled to come home Wednesday after spending about the last 2 1/2 months in the hospital. Karen has his room all set up and ready for his return. Mike says he's especially ready to come home so he can see the dogs as he's not been able to visit with them nor them with him during his incarceration hospitalization. I know that Karen is ready for him to get home so she can dote on him a bit while at the same time she pushes him to work hard to regain full function. I believe that he'll get there, he's got the will and she has the determination.

In case you don't know about it already, R set up a little blog for Karen and Mike. Go check it out.

Powered by ScribeFire.

Cold as a welldigger's....something, but happy as a clam

I'm in NY visiting with our dear friends Karen, Mike and Sue. It's damn 19 degrees here right now with wind gusts up to 35 mph. Damn, I'm not designed to endure this crap!!!

It might be cold, but I'm happy to be here. I'm here with friends John Parker from Atlanta and Phil Allen from Seattle. We got to spend some time with Mike at the hospital the last three days. Got to meet all the family, Noreen, Mike Jr., Lloyd and Nicole. Add those to Mike, Karen, Sue, Me, Phil and John, we had quite the party at the hospital! Mike is doing so well that instead of arriving as expected in a wheelchair, he came strutting in with the assistance of a walker! He's made huge strides in the last couple of weeks, so much so that he is able to use his right side (the tumor is on the left side of the brain), walk, carry on coherent conversations, joke and laugh! With the exception of heavy use of "the word of the day", his conversations are completely normal. It seems that since his last spell, (I really don't know what else to call it. It's the result of the screw up with his meds brought on by too many Dr's having their hands in the mix) the word his brain defaults to is "well". So, you'll be talking about a lure coursing motor and it's "that lure well", or the hospital cafeteria is "the well". Hell, anything is "the well"!! It's really amusing once you get used to it. If he's talking about someone, it's "Richie Well". It's not that he can't think of the name, it's more like that just replaces some of the words. I'll have to do some research and see if I can figure out what it's called.

It's been an absolute joy to be here and spend time with my friend. I hate to say it, but when he was first diagnosed, I thought I wouldn't be spending time like this with him again. As luck has it, I might just get another chance to get up here in the near future. The plan now is for R to be able to come up again in a couple of weeks. She might not know it, but she is!! :)

I love these people and wish them all the best. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. If you know them, please feel free to drop them a letter, an email or a phone call and let them know that you're thinking of them. You should see Mike's face light up when he hears from an old friend or family member. Both he and Karen can use all the support they can get right now.

I'm heading home in the morning. I won't soon forget this wonderful weekend.

Voting today?

Whether you're Democrat or Republican, this election is going to come down to personal liberties. Both parties have plenty of candidates willing to strip you of your liberties for one reason or the other. Of course, some are more overt than others...

Hillary wants to provide universal health care. By force, if necessary.

Scary, scary stuff.

Powered by ScribeFire.

Wiped out!

I caught some bug somewhere last week. I've been in bed since about lunch on Friday, up only for a bite to eat every once in a while, some kind of liquid to help stave off dehydration or Advil every four hours or so. This is kicking my ass.

Back to bed now.