Beau’s Plight

Posted on January 7, 2015January 7, 2015 by Dusty Roads

I’m usually a cat person. Those are the posts you see here. My little cat family takes center stage but I like dogs too. I just don’t have the lifestyle to accommodate a dog. But I really love any animal and sometimes my Facebook feed is overflowing with animal stories. Some are heartwarming while some hare heartbreaking. Usually I try not to linger too long on the sad stories because there is nothing I can do. But Beau’s story is different.

Beau is a 2 and 1/2 year old Golden Retriever/White German Shepard mix with no history of aggression or biting. But after Beau allegedly killed a duck that wandered on to his own property, he was seized by animal control and the city of Dyersburg, TN plans to euthanize him as a “vicious animal.”

https://www.change.org/p/save-beau-the-dog-s-life

Beau was supposed to be euthanized on November 20 but thanks to the power of social media he is still alive as of this writing. The city continues to hold him on doggy death row and is charging his owner for his upkeep.

I am stumbling over my thoughts here. So much is just WRONG with this picture. The city has removed the dog, refuses to return it and is charging the owner for his care!? And this is all because he killed a duck? That trespassed into his yard? Unless I am missing something this is really a case of “officials gone bad.”

Please support Beau. There’s a link to his story above.

A petition to save him was started but the link doesn’t seem to work. I only seem to be able to reach the petition from the Facebook feed. It does not copy and paste over so the only way to help Beau is by sharing the post.

Please help Beau by spreading awareness. It’s all that is saving him right now.

Thank you!

Even my Horoscope Gives Me a hard Time

Posted on January 6, 2015January 6, 2015 by Dusty Roads

I feel bad enough that I can’t manage to post more often any more but today’s horoscope even chimed in with a guilt trip!

Aquarius

Your Daily Horoscope

You may not have the time to write the next great epic novel, but you could have a few minutes each day to write a blog post, or to share some ideas in social media. You may find that people are drawn to what you have to say right now.

It’s Christmas Eve

Posted on December 24, 2014December 24, 2014 by Dusty Roads

I just wrapped up my last minute errands so I’m all set for tomorrow. The house may not be perfect but it’s in better shape this year than ever before. The cats are both well and content. I have an awesome job with awesome people. I have much to be thankful for. In fact, I should be so happy that I’d be turning cartwheels if I could!

Then I turned on the TV. It was set to a news channel. What was the lead story? Another police shooting in MO., a white police officer and a minority teenager. It breaks my heart. This one was also fatal. These are mistakes that can’t be taken back. Once done its done. The family grieves but the officer will never be the same again either. I don’t know if it was a justified shooting or not and I, unlike many, will not judge because I wasn’t walking in either parties shoes.

Want to know what the follow up story was? A shooting in an Atlanta movie theater! At least in this one no police were involved and the injured parties will survive. But I can’t help but ask myself how we reached this point.

I am not a proponent of gun control. I don’t want to ban handguns and rifles, maybe assault weapons, but not the rest. I grew up around guns. I had my own 22 and a 30-06. Shooting was fun. My family all hunted and we ate the meat from our kill but pointing a gun at another human being…it would never have crossed our minds.

It’s Christmas Eve. This should be a happy time of hope and joy. Instead families are grieving and fingers are being pointed. Police are on guard and demonstrators are out of control. This is a sad state any time of year …but come on people! According to legend, even a war stopped for Christmas! (The Christmas truce was a series of widespread but unofficial ceasefires along the Western Front around Christmas 1914)

My wish this year is for Peace and Understanding to touch the hearts and minds of all. Santa, please bring JOY to the World!

God Bless Us Every one!

It’s Still the Christmas City

Posted on December 21, 2014December 21, 2014 by Dusty Roads

In this era of political correctness where formerly mainstream concepts have to take a “back seat” to the minority out of “sensitivity”, I am proud of my City of Taunton. Since December 1914, the city of Taunton has provided a large annual light display each December on Taunton Green, giving it the additional nickname of “Christmas City”.

Taunton Green 2010

Each year a banner proudly proclaims “The Christmas City” over the display in the center of town. The display includes angels (gasp), and a nativity scene, (What!), a menorah, and even Santa Claus and to the best of my knowledge there has not been any complaint. Everyone I know looks forward to the Lighting of the Green. Every year, no matter the theme, the paths are lined with lighted Christmas trees, and families stroll the lighted paths.

Taunton Green 2011

It’s beautiful. Soft music, Christmas Carols, is piped in playing in the background.

Taunton Green 2012

For the last several years, since I got interested in photography, I’ve made it a point to photograph the Green in all of it’s Festive Glory.

Taunton Green 2013

This is a time when Santa Claus is banned from school Christmas parties…oh sorry Holiday parties, and other towns change the name of the December School vacation from Christmas Vacation to Winter vacation. Everyone is so afraid to offend instead of fostering understanding, tolerance and mutual acceptance.

Christmas trees are a pagan symbol but they have been embraced as a symbol of Christmas, a melding of different faiths. Beautiful decorated fireplaces are a tradition in many homes but the Yule Log was borrowed from the Wiccan celebration of Yule before it became associated with December 25.

I am happy Taunton stands by its tradition and I hope it will continue for many years to come. I hope someday people of other faiths will not feel so threatened by a Christian holiday that they can embrace the festive beauty of the season and enjoy it too. You don’t have to be a Christian to appreciate the colorful lights and artistic displays.

Taunton Green 2014

I have no wish to offend my Jewish, Muslin, Buddhist and Wiccan friends or any other religion I may have missed but I will end this post in the spirit of the season.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

The Tiles are here, The Tiles are here!

Posted on November 28, 2014November 28, 2014 by Dusty Roads

All the turkey and cranberry done and back to real life.

The Tile Guy called at about 9:30 am this morning to say he was on his way! When he arrived he had a whole bunch of tiles. I guess when I made my selection it came with a 3 inch border and then a twisty cap. Very pretty but it wouldn’t look right with the 3 inch lip the counter top people put in. So I decided to get rid of the twisty part and (sadly) the 3 inch trim. I really love that trim but it just doesn’t look right. (Sigh)

Just the back splash please.

The poor guy has a lot of repair to the wall to make. It was really gouged when they tore out the old yellow tiles. That has slowed him down somewhat but we are making progress.

It occurred to me last night as I sat in a turkey stuffed stupor that the kitchen came out close to the color I had planned for the bedroom. Now I’m not sure if I want the bedroom green after all. That could be a little too much green in such a small space. I will give this more thought once I get the house back together. Maybe a light blue?

My friend Jamie gave me another idea for the soffit area. I mentioned I might stencil some vines or something there and he suggested those signs you can get from the craft stores .