Posted on 10/20/2020 9:33:20 PM PDT by BenLurkin
I used to schedule my meltdowns, back in the day. So I get it. But then, CFIDS came along and I had to follow to Sioux proverb — “let the wind blow through you.” I found that fighting it only made me sicker.
Unnghh. I want to go to bed, but I’m going to sit up here and make sure I’m available to help a FRiend keep from having a meltdown. At least as far as I’m able!
Thank you, I appreciate the support!
Mass was a success, although it started raining just as we were ready for the Palm Sunday procession. Nobody melted, and we had an additional song ready for the inevitable confusion.
Next thing is Cub Scouts, which also has interesting issues with rain. If all goes as planned, the Mint Hill Police K9 officer will be there to wag his tail and show his teeth to the Cubs.
The K9 officer was a Belgian Malinois from Mexico who was very well behaved. His partner was a nice, young, local man who served in the Army before joining the Mint Hill police. The Cubs were impressed with both.
One of the TV personalities in Vegas had a Belgian Malinois, and she was a beautiful dog. The personality moved to Reno and got a job with the NV highway patrol as their public information officer. She was, back in her early days, a cheerleader for the Raiders, and I’ve kept in contact with her through our moves. Her dog “Anubis” died in December and Kim is still mourning her.
She was a beautiful dog! Solid black. And though she was old, deaf and arthritic, the last five years of her life were spent in being spoiled.
If I could get a larger dog, it would be the Malinois. Second choice, German shepherd.
The Groenendael variety is long-haired, it has a solid black double coat; the outer coat is straight and particularly long around the shoulders, neck and chest; they have short hair on the face, and well feathered legs and tail.
All four subtypes of the Belgian Shepherd are very smart and high-energy. The Malinois (short-haired, light brown) is least suited to home life and most often found in military or law enforcement occupations.
(I just learned this: I'm writing about them for the Special Animal Friend column.)
What a gorgeous face!
Good morning.
Back from the laundry room where I washed the old mattress pad in preparation for donation, since it still works. I went to put the new one on and when I started to take it out of the box, I got a whiff of old body oils.
WHAT??? Sure enough, there was a stain about 18” across at the bottom end of the mattress pad. It may be something besides body oils, but it IS oil of some kind and I have contacted the company about it. So the old one will go back on until such time as a replacement has been sent.
My Favorite Son called last night. All the noisy buttons were turned mostly off, but I had turned over to get out of the damp and heard the phone vibrate against the night stand. Well, the call lasted for an hour and 17 minutes.
All the stuff I’ve been telling them in letters over the last few years were “suddenly” revealed in that one call because of questions that they asked. I told them several times that it was all in the letters, and nothing should be a surprise and yet, there was “the world’s best kept secret.” “Not if you had read the letter when it came.”
Fun times. One of the apartment complexes was ruled out because of vermin, but the other just happened to be a place where my Favorite Son had lived at one time, so with any luck at all, I’ll have more information on it this week.
In the meantime, I feel that loss of sleep...
But the laundry is done and later on, I’ll make the bed.
The weather is fairly mild but I don’t know how long that will last, as the wind is forecast for later today. Sharon sent me a text while I was on the phone, asking if I would be available this morning.
Yes, but why do people pick Mondays, and why do my kids insist on calling/texting me when I’m in bed? Yes, they know.
The kitteh, who looks like Shannon, is annoyed by the Monday. Shannon is also annoyed, but that’s her default state.
All I can say about today so far is that it is not raining and not especially cold. I’ll know more when it gets light. The boys will be working on Envirothon studies today, now that James and Vlad have graduated from Driver’s Ed. Meanwhile, I need to schedule eye exams for them and process other stuff regarding their continued student-driver progress. The driving school sent a helpful, detailed email!
I also have music stuff to do, and maybe I’ll get a nap. You and I both suffer way too much from disrupted sleeps!
Anubis was a gorgeous dog, and she loved to photo-bomb anyone with a camera.
Las Vegas must be opening up because there are commercials for some of the casinos showing up on TV. Also, Zion is open, evidently wide open, because folks are falling in record numbers. The medevac choppers fly over the complex almost every day, lately, headed for the medical center in St George, and if necessary, to the trauma center in Vegas.
Newcomers to hiking and the great outdoors. Or, as my late mum would say, “greenhorns from the woods.”
I think we need to rent a cabin in the Ozarks for a weekend in the middle of a week, once I get moved, and in between hikes, we can sleep.
I’d like to cancel Monday for lack of interest, but it’s already started, so...
The moon was beautiful when I went out but even prettier when I came back because the cloud cover was less. It seems I’m always surprised to see the moon at the full, or close to it. I keep feeling like Sam in Rivendell...
Good morning. Happy Monday!
That’s a brilliant idea. We can also lounge in the shade and draw pictures of trees.
I noticed the moon last night as I kept stepping out to suggest that Jake should come in before we locked up. It was pretty. Maybe we’ll have our patio and fire pit in time for Midsummer!
Today’s special animal friend is the Belgian Malinois, a dog breed commonly found in military and law enforcement service. All domestic dogs are classified as Canis lupus familiaris. Over 200 distinct breeds are recognized by associations around the world.
The Belgian Malinois is one of four subtypes of the Belgian Shepherd dog; each subtype has a different coat color or texture. It is recognized as a separate breed in the United States, but not in Europe. The Malinois has a short, fawn-colored coat with black “overlay” or ticking on the shoulders and a black face.
Belgian Malinois (and the other Belgian Shepherds) are medium-large dogs, standing about 24 inches high at the shoulder and weighing 60-80 lbs. (males) or 40-60 lbs. (females). They have a graceful and well-proportioned body adapted for speed, agility, strength, and endurance. Honestly, you look at one and say, “Yeah, this is what a dog should look like!” They carry their heads high on a strong neck, and their large ears are upright and alert. Their muzzles are medium-long, and their teeth are impressive.
Belgian shepherds and similar dogs were used for herding and protecting sheep for many centuries in northwestern Europe. As sheep-raising declined in this area in the 19th century, the breed’s future was in doubt. Intentional development of the breed began in 1891, led by Professor Adolphe Reul of the Cureghem Veterinary School. Professor Reul and his team examined hundreds of individual dogs and classified them into subtypes with the intention of limiting interbreeding among them. However, population losses during World War I and World War II led to a decision to cross-breed the subtypes in order to support overall genetic diversity. Of the four currently recognized (in the U.S.) Belgian Shepherd breeds, the Malinois is the most likely to breed true.
Belgian Malinois are exceptionally intelligent, energetic, and loyal. They need well-planned, consistent training, intellectual stimulation, and hours of exercise each day. The nice young police officer who brought his Malinois to show the Cub Scouts yesterday compared his dog to an Olympic athlete. He explained that, although he took his dog home when they were not at work, they could not relax on the sofa and eat chips together. The dog’s diet, activities, and interactions are always oriented toward his professional fitness. Their expected lifespan is 12 to 14 years.
Most Malinois in military and law enforcement are bred and trained by Europeans, regardless of their country of residence. The dog we met yesterday was born and received his initial training in Mexico. He understands commands in English and Dutch as well as gestures. The dogs receive basic obedience training from the breeder and then do “college-level” training with their handlers based on the organization’s specific needs. These courses last four to six months. Law enforcement roles include detection, such as drug or explosives identification, and patrol/pursuit. This is a facility in New Mexico. Watch their video!
https://www.ruidosomalinois.com/index.html
Happy Monday to you as well!
How’s the puppy doing?
That was a very nice special animal friend story. Europe produced some very clever, very beautiful shepherd dogs for a long time. Of course, I’m partial to shepherd dogs, no matter where they come from.
I’m really excited about the move for a lot of reasons. Being out in the boonies with no schedule, and artistic ways to pass the time sounds like more than a brilliant idea. It sounds like it was made for doing! ;o]
Also, Restorative Beverages!
Absolutely! And in case we get bored, a British Murder Mystery to be read aloud. Complete with accents, if we can manage them. ;o]
Another brilliant idea!
:rubbing hands together excitedly:
This is just getting to be more funner by the minute!! I can hardly wait to get moved!
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