. . . and that's MOW money

I think the gods didn't want me to cut my grass this weekend. Saturday, I did not have to run, so I laid around some, drank coffee, and farted around on the computer. About the time I was going out to cut the grass, the clouds opened up and it rained like a cow pissing on a flat rock.

Then today, I had to run 18 miles. After that little chore, I went out to mow and I couldn't get the lawn mower started. I have had good luck with Lawn Boys until this mower. This mower is only about 3 years old and the deck is falling apart. I have had to make parts to keep it in service. I did some troubleshooting and discovered there was no spark. Now days, mowers don't have points and a condenser, they have some kind of circuit board. I was tired of dicking around with this piece of crap, so Barbara drove me to Lowes and I bought a brand new Troy Bilt.

Now the yard is freshly cut and all is well. With a whole cutting season ahead of me, I did not want to have to nurse the old mower along. I want to start it up and get busy cutting grass. The old mower is on the curb. I am laying 10 to 1 odds it is gone before the trash man comes Tuesday morning.

Nothing like a new lawn mower to give the testosterone level a kick in the butt.

Until the next time
John Strain

Head and Heart

Ellen left a comment about our dog decision that pinpoints the heart of the dilemma. If we look for logical and practical reasons to get a dog we would probably say "no." Then if we allow our heart to make the decision, we would probably say "yes." Right now, our thoughts rule because we have not laid eyes on the furry critter. Once that happens, we are pretty certain our heart decision will overwhelm any carefully constructed logical argument.

On the thinking side, we know of the responsibility required to care for a dog. It costs money, it takes a toll on the house, and it requires extra planning when you are away. Regarding the heart, a puppy brings love, laughter, and companionship.

The decision really is: Do we go look at the dog in the first place? I know that to look is to accept.

Barbara is not the heavy, only the strongest proponent of the thinking side of the equation. I share her concerns, but feel if I can convince her it would make it easier for me to throw caution to the wind and get the dog.

Monday will be the decision, I suppose, so stay tuned.

Until the next time
John Strain

Seeing a Man about a Dog

When we came home from work tonight, Barbara checked the phone messages. One message was from Cathy at the vet's office. "Mr. Strain, this is Cathy with Dr Maher's office. We want to talk to you about a dog." That was the extent of the message.

Barbara and I are getting used to no dog. It has its advantages. No hurrying home to let a dog out so he can uncross his legs, no messes on the floor, and no money spent on dog food, flea medicine, and shots.

On the other hand, you don't have a dog to love a pet. It has only been two months since Hobo died. I think it is too soon, but when someone calls out of the blue, I wonder if it is fate. Hmmmmmm. I know if I go look at the frigging dog, I will like it and want it, but if I don't check it out I am not giving fate a chance. Hmmmmmm.

Maybe I will give Cathy a call tomorrow and see what's up.

Stay tuned.

Until the next time
John Strain

My Town is Going Ape

Watch this news video about the Tulane Primate Center in Covington, Louisiana, where 53 monkeys recently escaped.

MONKEY ESCAPE VIDEO
When the window opens, click the "play" button on the media player

Monkeys Escape From Research Center On Northshore

POSTED: 5:04 pm CDT May 10, 2005

NEW ORLEANS -- More than 50 monkeys escaped Tuesday from a research center on the Northshore.

All but five have been captured.

The animals, pigtail macaques, were being used for breeding at Tulane University's Primate Research Center at the southern edge of Covington.

A spokesman said the escape happened after a caretaker failed to properly secure a cage.

The spokesman said the animals are not dangerous and do not carry any disease, however, he urged people not to approach them.

Anyone who sees one of the macaques is asked to call the center at (985) 871-6512.

Lucky for the Primate Center I had a little time I could donate to the task of locating their monkeys. A couple of them work at my hospital. I think I found several others in our city and parish government offices. Another one was caught programming the traffic lights on Highway 190. At least that would explain the light synching.

I am afraid some other monkeys got on planes, trains, and automobiles and fanned out across the country. You may see them in your town soon. Maybe you already have seen one of them. If so, let me know, so I can tell the authorities at Tulane.

The funny thing is, the monkeys were used for breeding purposes. Why would they run?

Until the next time
John Strain

Mother's Day Extended

On Monday I heard about a dog in Kenya that rescued a baby it found in the forest. According to the story, the baby was 2 days old and abandoned. The dog found the baby and carried it across a busy street and through a barbed wire fence. Some children, hearing a baby's cry found the little girl being guarded by the dog along with her puppy. The little girl was taken to the hospital where her infected umbilical chord was treated. She is doing fine now, if being an orphan is doing fine.

Check out the story here

I want to believe this story. It is perfect. A simple dog does the noble thing the child's parents would not do. Sure, sure, all dogs are not noble. Pit bulls have eaten more children than other dogs have nurtured, but what a story for Mother's Day.

While animals are still in the wild so to speak, they are still in touch with what they are. Their instinct guides them. People, on the other hand, have constructed an artificial reality for themselves. We do not fall victim to the weather, night, or seasons. We have oranges in winter, ice on hot days, light in darkness, and nearly anything we want.

As a result, our values become more complicated. We begin to value that which is easy. The parents of this baby must have felt raising a child to be difficult. Maybe a baby did not fit into their plans.

Thank goodness when people act this way, the animal kingdom comes to the rescue. This little Kenyan girl was rescued by a dog with a strong mother instinct.

Who knows, maybe this little girl will grow up to run in the tradition of her countrymen. Maybe someday her chest will break the tape on Boylston Street in some future Boston Marathon. If she does, it won't be any thanks to some cold-hearted parents, but because of a simple dog doing what mother dogs do.

What the heck, Happy Mother's Day again

Until the next time
John Strain