He's a Pistol, That's for Sure

Before I had my son, I had two dogs, Jack the Pomeranian and Joshua the Pekingese. Jack was with me for 12 years and Joshua, 17. They were my very first doggies and will hold a very special place in my heart. They were my loyal companions before my son and it broke my heart when they had to cross over the Rainbow Bridge. I still, to this day, remember their personalities and everyone once in a while have managed to call the cats, by their names.

Joshua

My son only remembers Joshua but they never bonded. Joshua was "old" by the time my son understood what a good friend a dog could be and Joshua just thought my son moved way too quick. Soon after that my son started asking for a dog of his own. I wasn't ready for another dog, it was too much work taking care of Joshua in his senior years, so I compromised and we rescued two cats, Boo and Shadow. This was my first foray into cats and it took some getting used to. They didn't always come when called, they didn't wag their tails when we got home for the day and they were just all-around goof balls, chasing each other, jumping to the top of cabinets and being nosy. Joshua wanted nothing to do with them, they also moved way too quick when all he wanted to do was sleep. They are good cats, very people-friendly and when it suits them, enjoy our company and each sleep with one of us at night. I still think they're kooky, but in a loveable way.

Shadow & Boo

Getting the cats appeased my son for a while. And I have to admit, they are more appealing to me than a lizard or snake (no offense to any reptile owners). In that time Joshua passed away so we were solely a cat home. It was nice for a while not having to worry about letting the dog out and cleaning the crate out. But something was missing. The cats, as wonderful as they are, simply are different from a dog. My son began to ride the bus home from school and we began to give serious thought about adding a new member to our family. My son and I discussed and agreed that we would BOTH have to like the dog and the dog would have to like us. My son would have to help with its care, walking it, picking up the poop, etc. The search in earnest began. We would looked online at the Humane Society of Northwestern PA, the A.N.N.A. Shelter and Because You Care and began to visit on the weekends. We met several dogs, but either we didn't agree on the dog or the dog showed no interest in us. I promised my son that when the right dog came along, there would be no doubt, we would love it and it would love us. Then one day it happened. We were at Because You Care to meet another dog. Unfortunately (or fortunately) that dog wasn't a match for us. On a whim we decided to meet Gizmo. They brought him into the meeting area and he came right over to us, wagging his tail and wanting to give us kisses. I think we knew right away we wanted him to become a member of the family.

We began the adoption process at Because You Care which started with an application and a check for the adoption fee. The adoption process was then explained to us. It wasn't a take-your-dog-home-see-ya-later type of process. They checked your vet and personal references. They came to your home and you had to show them where the dog would be inside and outside, have a post, fenced yard or run set up and they talked to you about your daily schedule, other pets in the house, all with the goal of ensuring the animal was going to a loving, safe home AND would work well with your life-style. You could tell the staff at Because You Care really wanted the adoption to be successful, for everyone to be happy. Also, part of the process was they didn't cash your check for the adoption fee until after the adoption was finalized. They aren't just after your money.

We got the call a couple days later that we had been approved for the in-home trial. My son and I were very excited, nervous, but excited. We went and got food, a crate, treats and toys for Gizmo. We picked him up on a Friday after work and the fun began. The first night and next day Gizmo was calm, ignored the cats and liked to sit on our laps. However as he became more comfortable with us and his surroundings it all changed. He showed aggression towards people coming into the house and barked at everything when outside, people walking, cars and bicycles passing, other dogs, leaves, you name it, he barked at it. When inside he would bark at everything when looking out the windows, started chasing and barking at the cats, grabbed and chewed socks, shoes, paper, anything that wasn't up high or in a closet. He also began to try and take food off our plates when we were eating on the couch. After a couple days of this my son and I were at our wit's end. I called Because You Care and explained what was going on, what the behavior was and we were considering giving Gizmo back. She shared with me more about Gizmo's history, that he came from a neglected, possibly abusive situation, that the prior owners called them and stated to come and get the animal or they were going to shoot him. Because You Care jumped in and rescued him immediately. She asked for us to be patient and recommended I speak with a dog behaviorist about Gizmo where they could evaluate him and provide guidance on how to work with him. I agreed to try this approach. My son and I were dedicated to try and make it work.

Gizmo

I began talking with Kel Ertl at Compatible Canine Companions. I shared with her Gizmo's behavior and asked for help. She explained a lot about the terrier breed, none of which I really knew (shame on me for not understanding prior to adopting) and possible reasons why he was acting out. I agreed to bring Gizmo out for an evaluation and to have her help my son and I on training techniques. Of course when we met Kel, Gizmo was on his "good" behavior, even when he met Kel's own dogs. We learned several techniques on what to train on and how to accomplish it. It was a very positive session and very glad we went. I'd recommend working with her if you have negative behavior in your dog that you'd like to see reduced or eliminated.

My son and I began working with Gizmo and found he's a smart, little guy who picked up on basic commands like "sit" and "down" quickly. We're currently working on "give it,", "stay" and come. The "give it" command is a must have with him. If a closet door is left open or clothes on the floor, he will find it in a split second and go. He is still requiring a treat for "give it," but that is much better than chewed shoes and socks. However, he seems to have a stubborn streak, not unlike my son :-) or maybe it's just his terrier instinct, when it comes to people-food on a plate and the darn cats. Many f-bombs have been dropped so far, but I'm working on that too, lol. Luckily the cats have their safe, dog-free places to go and Shadow is not afraid to chase Gizmo, which he thinks is a game. Boo has learned to just lie there and let Gizmo sniff and play, he'll tolerate Gizmo for a bit then gets up and runs away. The cat-dog relationship is still evolving and we're still working with Gizmo on the "leave it" command to draw his attention away from the cats. I believe we're going to need a new plan of attack for the food situation. He shows no food aggression when it comes to his dog food. Since it's just my son and I, we eat in front of the TV (no judging, lol). The little booger is quick and yesterday got my taco off the plate and all over the chair. Not a good night. It's times like that we force ourselves to remember where he came from, remember his positive traits and understand how we can help him become a better doggie. I'm not going to lie, it's challenging.

Gizmo

Not only are we working through the behaviors, Gizmo is a very active dog, if you couldn't tell from the above comments. It's a characteristic of the breed and the fact he's not even a year old yet, his birthday is coming up at the beginning of December. As I think back, I remember Jack and Joshua in their younger days, both were active as well. I lost a couple pairs of shoes and jeans to Jack and the corner of a dresser and half an aloe vera plant to Joshua. Gizmo is just a youngster still. We keep him exercised by walks, playing with him outside, taking him to the Humane Society's Dog Park for exercise and socialization and playing with him inside, fetch down the hall is a favorite. He's extremely agile and loves to bounce. If I had more time and we work on his commands, I could see him as an agility dog, he's flipping fast! Even with all that, he has energy to burn. We are toying with the idea of getting him a doggie friend he could play with. I waffle back and forth about this idea. Jack and Joshua got along wonderfully with each other, they would play, groom and sleep next to each other as well as having bonded with me. There are lot of things to consider, that I'm mulling over. I want to be sure we do what's right for the dogs and what's right for us, so no one ends up miserable. We are looking for a calmer dog who likes to play and will also bond with its humans.

Why am I sharing my experience with you? Honestly, I went into this with rose-colored glasses, thinking that we'd bring a dog home and everything would just...work. I did no research on breeds and didn't have a full understanding about their possible history and how it may affect their behavior. I just knew we were ready for a new family member and that we wanted to rescue. I can't say enough good things about the experience at Because You Care and Compatible Canine Companions they have helped us through the transition. When you're ready to adopt, I'd recommend: 

• Work with an organization that understands the rescue & adoption process and can provide guidance if things aren't perfect, one that isn't simply out to place as many animals with families regardless of the fit and collect a check. 
• Do research on different breeds and understand which ones may work well with your lifestyle.
• Be prepared to spend time training away bad behaviors and reinforcing positive ones. 
• And most of all, be honest with yourself and whether you're ready for a new family member. If you're not, there's no shame in that, it's better you figure it out sooner rather than bringing a dog home for a few months and figuring it out then.

I'm still convinced rescuing Gizmo was the right choice, even with his baggage. He has a couple nicknames, Bat Dog because when his ears are up, it looks like a bat and Fruit Loop, because that is exactly how he is sometimes. And while we have more work to do, I know with dedication, patience and love, we can get to that happy family space.

a.k.a. Bat Dog

If you have an adoption story you'd like to share, I'd love to hear from you.

Website References:

• Because You Care
• Compatible Canine Companions
• Humane Society's Dog Park
• List of Erie Dog Parks
• List of Erie Rescue Groups

They Both Stink!!!

I'm not big into political commentary, once in awhile I'll post a meme or give a thumbs up to something that tickles my funny bone and heaven knows this presidential election will provide fodder for decades to come, unfortunately it will be at our Country's expense. As the countries around us begin to brace for either The Liar or The Pig and dont' forget there's a small chance we'll get The Potsmoker.

There's a meme going around to the effect of how can women be upset by Trump's comments when they purchased and read "80 Shades of Gray"? That's simple. "80 Shades of Gray" is a work of fiction written by an author. Trump's words were spoken (and meant) by a true misogynist, racist and ignorant b@$tard. That's a big difference and yes, I put a link to the definition just incase anyone needs it.

But don't worry folks, I detest Hillary too! Let's chat about Benghazi and Whitewater. She was called a liar starting early in her career and that reputation has followed her, hmmm, I wonder why? She let's her husband screw around and then calls those women names. Oh and don't forget the email fiasco. She gives women and bad name.

It disappoints me that we, as a Country, have to pick from the "lesser of multiple evils." That it costs billions of dollars to run for president that good people, who would make great leaders will never be able to run because of that. And it saddens me that the U.S. will continue to be the butt of jokes. We thought George W and his Bushisms was bad...can you imagine what will come out of the mouths of these ding-dongs?

Honestly, I may pencil in these two...

Review: Hello Fresh Meal Service

 

We all see hundreds of ads everywhere, they bombard us daily in our email, on our social media feeds, TV, etc. and we receive coupons for everything possible in the mail, think Valpak. Once in a while they will actually come in handy. Case in point, my trial of the Hello Fresh meal service. While I was thumbing through my local Valpak envelope and came across a $50 off coupon. I had been wanting to try a food service, see what the big deal is about, so what the heck.

The Hello Fresh site is easy to navigate, clearly laid out, easy to find and understand the terms and conditions as well as aesthetically pleasing to browse. Off to a good start.There are three plans to choose from: The Classic Plan which allows you to pick your meals, how many to serve (2 or 4 adults) and frequency of delivery (3, 4 or 5 meals per week) at $9.90 - $11.50 a person depending on frequency of delivery, the higher the frequency, the cheaper the meal. The Veggie Plan which allows you to select 2 or 4 adults, but your frequency is limited to 3 time per week, there are no other delivery options. This means the cost per meal will vary between $9.08 - $9.83 per meal. The Family Plan serves 4 (2 adults, 2 children), your delivery options are 2 or 3 times per week and the cost is $ 8.75 - $9.99 per meal, again the more you buy the cheaper it is. For all plans the shipping is free.

I selected the The Family Plan, two meals a week. My thinking was cook once but have two meals, one for now, one for later. This strategy comes in handy with a crazy week-night schedule, sometimes cooking a meal is not an option and I hate wasting money on fast-food garbage. This way, put the leftovers on a plate and reheat. The total price was $79.95 subtract my $50 Valpak coupon and bingo, first delivery was scheduled for Saturday morning. All I had to do was wait. On Thursday I received an email & text from FedEx stating my package would arrive between 7:55 AM & 9:55 AM on Saturday and sure enough, the FedEx guy pulls up while I'm sitting at the counter having my morning coffee. I hauled the package inside, it was surprisingly heavy. The outside package was undamaged which is a good sign. Split the tape and took my first peek inside the box.

You can see the two meals partitioned within the box, veggies, spices, rice, potatoes, etc. The two meals they sent were Glazed Chicken with Green Beans & Coconut Rice and Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Lemony Potato & Zucchini Hash. Upon inspection of the ingredients, most made it through the shipping process unscathed. The zucchinis did have some dings and the potatoes a bit banged up, but overall everything was still edible. I then began to wonder where the meat was. I discovered you have to lift the top boxes out of the larger box and directly below them were two huge ice packs. Now I understand why the box is so heavy. You could put these two packs in a cooler and

keep a case of beer warm all day. I wasn't quite sure what to do with them, they would take up a lot of room in your freezer. If you have a box freezer, they'd probably be great to keep on hand. However, I don't have a spare freezer and they take up valuable space. I'm thinking I won't keep them but it's a shame to just throw them out. I pried up the ice pack layer and below were the packages of pork and chicken. They were still cold and intact. I was somewhat surprised not to find a liner to keep things cool inside the box. 

Contents are laid out on the counter together and separated into the individual meals to be cooked.

 

The next day I had time to do some cooking and decided to try the the pork recipe first. The prep work was easy, dicing the potatoes and zucchini, slicing the scallions and mincing the garlic. The recipe called for two baking sheets, one for the potatoes the other for the zucchini. I simply used one larger sheet, put the potatoes on one side and started them earlier than the zucchini. Any chance I have to save on dishwashing, I'm going to take it. Popped the zucchini in and seared the pork, then popped the tenderloins on the same sheet, right over top of the zucchini. In the same pan as the pork was seared in, made the sauce. Now I can't say I'm a fan of searing meat inside, it stinks up the place, but I did it. I get that searing helps keep the meat juicy, but unless you have a good stove fan, consider searing it on the grill. I plated the food and my son and I sat down to eat. Unfortunately we were both underwhelmed. It was just ok, didn't have a lot of flavor, meat was cooked fine. Maybe I'm spoiled, but I like my food to have flavor, using lots fresh herbs and tend to put in a bit extra garlic, but that's just me.

There were extras for leftovers, enough to have another meal later in the week, so that aspect worked out well. Wednesday was my next day where I had a bit of time to cook. Out came the the chicken recipe. Got everything prepped, unfortunately within a couple days, some of the green beans had to be thrown out. The plastic bags they came in didn't do much for keeping them fresh. I would recommend transferring things to a container to keep them fresher for longer, if you're not going to cook the recipes within a couple days. Also, one of the ingredients is fresh ginger and the recipe says you can mince or grate. I tried to mince, I had the mincer out already for the garlic...failure. It just smushed the ginger so I then had to chop it up, pain in the butt. Hint: just grate the ginger. Similar to the pork recipe, you have to saute the chicken in olive oil. So not a fan of this method of cooking. Stinky house later... oh well. The glaze made with soy sauce, ginger, garlic, honey and water was easy and tasty. And I will have to say that making the coconut rice smelled good while cooking it, but again the recipe fell flat. My son and I weren't fans of how the chicken turned out, the green beans and rice were the best part of the recipe. The saltiness of the sauce with the slight sweetness of the rice paired well together. I believe it's simply a matter of how we're used to cooking our meats, I usually bake, grill or crockpot them. Frying and sauteing isn't something done frequently in the house.

Overall, everything was just ok. The recipes, prep, clean-up, just ok. However, I decided to give it one more delivery, see what the next pair of meals would be. The box came Saturday morning, perfectly on time. The box was still heavy, but I expected it this time. Picked it up and noticed it was wet, not damp, wet. I smelled my hands, but couldn't determine what was leaking. When I opened the box and pulled out the individual boxes, I could see there was water and meat juice / blood all over the inside. I began to disassemble the packaging, starting with the smaller two and found there was liquid all over the produce and containers in both boxes. I had to rinse and dry everything just to put it in the fridge. When I got to the ice packs they were not the same brand as prior, but a much cheaper made variety that were almost all water, meaning this box had been sitting somewhere for longer than expected. I picked them up and could tell that one of them had a leak in it. I pulled the ice packs out, quickly moving them to the sink and then saw the other culprit, one of the beef packages had popped open along the seam, the pressure of the ice packs and other food on top must have been too much. In addition to the blood / juice being everywhere, the beef didn't smell good, like it was beginning to rot. Disgusting! I immediately bagged it up and threw it out. As I looked inside the big box I could see about a 1/4 inch of water / blood along the bottom. I dumped it out and took the box outside. Ugh! I emailed the company with the issue and am hoping to hear back from them.

I haven't cooked up the two new recipes yet which are: Tangy Beef Stir Fry & Pork and Apple Meatloaf, that'll be sometime this week. The beef recipe does have me cooking the meat in a heated skillet, however the pork recipe might be ok. If they end up being outstanding, I'll definitely let you guys know. As far as my subscription, I cancelled it. Having to clean up all the blood and water in the box along with mediocre recipes, it simply didn't make sense for me to continue with a service that I wasn't completely happy with. The sending of planned meals in a box is enticing, it takes a lot of the weekly meal planning out of the equation. I may try another service similar to this one, so if you have any recommendations, please send them my way. 

Bloody Mary, Not Just for Breakfast

I don't know about you, but there's something to be said for morning cocktails. Now I'm not saying I have one before work, heavens no, but on days I have nothing terribly important to do, what's the harm in having a drink before 5:00 PM? Why the heck do we have to wait for 5:00 PM, who arbitrarily picked that time of day and why do we justify a drink before that time by saying, "Well, it's 5 o'clock somewhere" ? UNLESS we're talking about those few cocktails that are designated as "ok" to serve and drink in the morning. I'm talking about Mimosas, Screw Drivers, Irish Coffee and the wonderful Bloody Mary, which are usually staples at any popular brunch location. For that matter why are they only popular drinks in the morning and not the rest of the day? And why is it frowned upon to crack a beer instead? These aren't riddles I'll solve at the moment, but if you feel the urge to solve the dilemma, be sure to let us know.

Now I've got to admit, I'm not a Mimosa fan, probably because I'm not a Champagne fan (I know what am I thinking not liking Champagne?). Screw Drivers, not bad. Irish Coffee, wonderful on a cold winter's day. But Bloody Marys, that's something I can definitely get into. I went on vacation for a few days in August and decided the Bloody Mary was going to be my drink of choice. Don't ask me why, it just sounded good. So every place we ate breakfast, I had to try and judge the restaurant's recipe. You would think a Blood Mary recipe would be pretty standard, but there was a lot variance in flavors and consistency, size and garnishes, I was pretty surprised. I ordered them in the morning and usually had one (or two) with dinner. My favorite by far was at Hammerheads on the Boardwalk in Ocean City, MD followed by a close second at the Brass Balls Saloon. They both had a great consistency, not watered down, and a good balance between spicy and bland. Plus I'm a fan of olives for garnish.

Because I'm on a Bloody Mary kick, I wondered where the name came from. My first thought was the drink was name after the English Queen Mary, daughter of Henry the VIII, who ruled in the mid-1500's and had hundreds of Protestants executed when she tried to bring the country back to Roman Catholicism. What I found out is there seems to be no definite origin of the name for the drink, just who created it. Regardless of who created it, for whatever reason I feel better, healthier, drinking this drink then other alcoholic beverages. When you make it with V8 it has 2 servings of veggies & only about 220 calories per drink compared to over 300 for an 8 oz rum & Coke. Not bad for a cocktail.

If you look online you can find a ton of different recipes and I'll be honest what you like is more of personal preference. But I'm a HUGE fan of the Old Bay Bloody Mary. Recipe below. I'd love to hear your favorite Bloody Mary recipes, feel free to email it in and I'll post or add as a comment. Bottomline, a Bloody Mary is good ANY time of day!

For a pitcher of this fabulous recipe, which is great to share with friends:

1 qt / 32 oz V8 (you can also use Spicy V8)
1/4 c lime juice (fresh squeezed is great, but the bottle kind works too)
1 tbs Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp hot sauce (I like Frank's, Tabasco is a great choice as well)
2 tsp prepared horseradish
1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
1 tsp fresh ground pepper
1/2 tsp celery salt
1/2 - 1 c vodka (I'm a fan of Tito's or you can use pepper vodka for an extra kick)
lime slice
Old Bay in a bowl / shallow dish

Using the lime slice, wet the rim of the glass. Dip in Old Bay seasoning to add flavor to the rim. Mix first 9 ingredients in pitcher. Fill glass with ice, pour in Bloody Mary, garnish with lime slice. You can also add lemon slices, celery stalks,oysters, shrimp and my favorite, olives in or as a garnish. The Old Bay on the rim gives you extra flavor every sip.

With that in mind, I'm going to mix a pitcher up right now. Have a great night!

Because I Can't Imagine

Timeline Marker for First Plane on 9/11

I can't imagine sitting at my new desk by the window staring out at the view, daydreaming about my first date with the guy I've had a crush on for months and thinking how excited I am for life when I see what looks like an airplane headed directly towards me.

Timeline Marker for Second Plane on 9/11

I can't imagine what the horrendous sound was, but it shook this building. There are people up from their desks all over the floor as I head towards the window. Why is there fire and smoke coming from our sister building? Can anyone tell me what just happened?

Timeline Marker for Third Plane on 9/11

I can't imagine that this is an actual terror attack on American soil. Who would be so ruthless to perpetrate an act so heinous? Where are my coworkers and friends? I have to find them keep them safe. 

Flight 93 Flight Path

Flight 93 Impact Point

The picture on the above left is the view you'll see when you enter the Flight 93 Memorial in Stoystown, Pennsylvania. The walk is marked with each plane's time of impact and location in chronological order. The walls are massive and the opening wide enough to let those who visit through. These walls are merely an image for the resolve of the heroes on board Flight 93, they stood tall and strong regardless how afraid they were. Like the walls they didn't waiver in their choice to be heroes on that day. The picture on the right is the impact point of Flight 93, the place where the hijackers lost their fight once and for all. The place where the people on board that plane met their Maker, as He welcomed them home with open arms. "You have been brave my children, now find peace."

Sample Debris Field

I can't imagine walking onto a scene where something so massive as a jet airplane is decimated into bits and pieces as it slammed into the ground at 536 mph, the pieces so small they could easily be missed. How did the first responders even cope with the fact that there where human remains mixed with the plane's debris? I can't imagine looking at something this devastating, where do you even begin?

My son asked why I was crying throughout our visit. For me the intensity of the loss that occurred here is overwhelming. I can't imagine what the people on Flight 93 were thinking. We do know some of what they were saying through black box recordings and last phone calls to their loved ones. As they heroically fought the attackers, did any of them find peace before death? Did the nausea and sinking pit in their stomachs finally go away? Were they granted forgiveness and clarity about their lives before they took their last breath? I simply can't imagine.

The heroes on Flight 93 saved hundreds of lives that day as they thwarted the terrorists. They have my unwavering respect and adulation. I can only repay them by living a kind and respectful life. By teaching my son about the loss that occurred that day, so he never forgets. And in turn he will teach his children so the memory, their memory lives on.

Wall of Names

Flight Path & Impact Point from Observation Deck

Observation Deck from Wall of Names

Did You Know That...

...the saying "Balls to the wall" is not as dirty as it sounds? Most of you probably think it has to do with testicles, which always confused me. I never understood why putting one's balls to, on, above or around a wall would be a good thing? From what I've seen, men are rather protective of their crown jewels and at the slightest thought of something bad happening in that general vicinity is cringe-worthy.

Where did this saying come from then? Believe it or not, it's from the aviation industry. Planes have a mixture of switches and levers that the pilot must understand and use to fly a plane. In some planes, especially in the 1960s, the throttle, mixture and propeller governor levers have a round, ball-like top. The "dashboard" or front of a cockpit is called the firewall. When a pilot puts these levers in the most forward position (balls to the (fire) wall) they are going into a full-speed dive, taking that plane to its limit. We non-aeronautical folks use it to mean going all-out or doing something with maximum effort. The automotive equivalent of this is "pedal to the metal."

So the next time someone says, "Go balls to the wall" it's still ok to giggle, but now you know it's not as dirty as you think.

Find Beauty in the Everyday - Milk & Oil Series

Life is hard and some days more of a challenge than others. We have wars around the world going on, we have a lack of racial and gender equality, there is hatred in spades displayed against fellow humans and animals and an overall lack of respect for our planet. These seem to be the norm rather than the exception and it saddens me. Some of it's due to media always focusing on these elements because that's what sells. I wish you could make money selling the positive, because it's out there. Focus on the good humanity can do from building structures to provide a clean water supply, to random acts of kindness and giving, to simply doing the right thing, not to make money but because it's what we're supposed to be doing.

One thing I like to do is take pictures, happy, positive and creative pictures. Images that capture the everyday but in a good way. This is simply my little way of staying positive in a not so positive world. I just wanted to share a few images with you in hopes that it may bring a bit of joy to you world.

Milk & Oil Series

Creatures from the Deep

Sun with Many Moons

A Galaxy Within