Keep Growing Runt!
Keep Growing!
Runt finally sprouted a dahlia... I am soooo excited. This years dahlia beauty is smaller, with white blooms and pinkish tips. I have about 5 more blooms to open up that I can count right now.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Chicago The Band
Saturday August 26th, we went to see Chicago at Ravinia. Ravinia is one of my favorite summer staples. You really must go once a summer, and I haven't been in 5 whole summers so I was very excited. It's outdoor seating, you can buy pavilion tickets, but they are more expensive, and frankly not as fun.
You are allowed to bring in any kind of food you like, including alcohol. You sit in a field and you enjoy!
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| Our feast |
We saw the band Chicago with Alisa and Mike. Being incredibly famous in the 70's we didn't find them as fascinating as those around us did. I would say I knew about 1/2 of the songs, so it was boring for the other half.
Those who are true fans of Chicago, said that their performance was amazing.
As everyone knows, I am always one to do anything the slightest bit corny... was this t-shirt too much?
You be the judge!
Book Worm
I have read two non-fiction books in the past couple weeks that I think were fabulous about 2 specific topics I really care about:
Oogy is a story about a dog whom was used as a "bait dog" when it comes to dog fighting. In order to teach dogs to fight, the owner barbarically places a smaller, defenseless animal whether it be a pig, a cat, rabbit, chicken, whatever, in this case a 10 week old puppy, in a blocked off area chained to a fence. This teaches the fighting dog to be aggressive and to kill. Then the bait dog is often left to die. Oogy however survived. the left side of his face being ripped off, his jaw being broken, and being left afterward in a cage bleeding out to die when the police raided the home that it happened in.
In a sad moment, a family brings their cat to the vet to be put down, and they run into Oogy who is recovering after his surgery. The family is instantly connected to this creature, and soon after adopt him as their own.
I wasn't sure I would be able to handle this book. Animal cruelty shakes me up so bad, and makes me wonder how someone can call themselves a human being after treating an animal like this. To know that people in the United States are profiting off of something so inhumane makes me sick to my stomach. It is happening everywhere, and it is considered a felony in all 50 states.
"On a recent Saturday afternoon Oogy was curled up on the couch asleep, his head in my lap, and I was thinking about how his life is now, as opposed to the way his life had been before: daily acts of unspeakable violence for no comprehensible reason until the ultimate, searing horror. Had he sensed he was dying as he lay in the bloody puddle of his life disappearing? Was he conscious when the police put him on a rubber sheet and took him to the hospital? He could not have comprehended the significance of the siren wailing the journey as his head was beaten with hammers. Oogy went to sleep in a world consumed by terror and pain and awoke surrounded by angels in white coats who put out the fire in his head, who were kind to him, who stroked him gently and talked softly to him. Instead of people who tortured him, he was surrounded with love and kindness and healing mercies."
The other book I read was called Josie's Story by Sorrel King. This story was written by a mother who's daughter died due to a medical error. After being badly burned by hot water, Sorrel's daughter was sent to Johns Hopkins, one of the best medical centers in the United States. There she was treated and was getting better with an expected discharge, when a nurse comes along and administers a dose of methadone to a dehydrated 18 month old putting her right into cardiac arrest. This story then proceeds to tell how Josie's mom starts a crusade to put a stop to mistakes that are made in health care today. This is a book every health care provider should read, as well as every parent.
As a nurse, I like when the patients and their family members challenge me. I like when they ask me why are you giving what you are giving, why are you doing this? It keeps me on my toes. After all, I should have logic behind doing what I am doing. This nurse didn't have the logic to back up the dose of methadone she gave. Had she thought about her action, Josie would still be alive today.
There are way too many breakdowns in our healthcare system. There is just too many providers involved. If this book doesn't teach a parent anything, it teaches them to hold their ground, and when something doesn't seem right scream, push or shove and say STOP.
Oogy is a story about a dog whom was used as a "bait dog" when it comes to dog fighting. In order to teach dogs to fight, the owner barbarically places a smaller, defenseless animal whether it be a pig, a cat, rabbit, chicken, whatever, in this case a 10 week old puppy, in a blocked off area chained to a fence. This teaches the fighting dog to be aggressive and to kill. Then the bait dog is often left to die. Oogy however survived. the left side of his face being ripped off, his jaw being broken, and being left afterward in a cage bleeding out to die when the police raided the home that it happened in.
In a sad moment, a family brings their cat to the vet to be put down, and they run into Oogy who is recovering after his surgery. The family is instantly connected to this creature, and soon after adopt him as their own.
I wasn't sure I would be able to handle this book. Animal cruelty shakes me up so bad, and makes me wonder how someone can call themselves a human being after treating an animal like this. To know that people in the United States are profiting off of something so inhumane makes me sick to my stomach. It is happening everywhere, and it is considered a felony in all 50 states.
"On a recent Saturday afternoon Oogy was curled up on the couch asleep, his head in my lap, and I was thinking about how his life is now, as opposed to the way his life had been before: daily acts of unspeakable violence for no comprehensible reason until the ultimate, searing horror. Had he sensed he was dying as he lay in the bloody puddle of his life disappearing? Was he conscious when the police put him on a rubber sheet and took him to the hospital? He could not have comprehended the significance of the siren wailing the journey as his head was beaten with hammers. Oogy went to sleep in a world consumed by terror and pain and awoke surrounded by angels in white coats who put out the fire in his head, who were kind to him, who stroked him gently and talked softly to him. Instead of people who tortured him, he was surrounded with love and kindness and healing mercies."
The other book I read was called Josie's Story by Sorrel King. This story was written by a mother who's daughter died due to a medical error. After being badly burned by hot water, Sorrel's daughter was sent to Johns Hopkins, one of the best medical centers in the United States. There she was treated and was getting better with an expected discharge, when a nurse comes along and administers a dose of methadone to a dehydrated 18 month old putting her right into cardiac arrest. This story then proceeds to tell how Josie's mom starts a crusade to put a stop to mistakes that are made in health care today. This is a book every health care provider should read, as well as every parent.
As a nurse, I like when the patients and their family members challenge me. I like when they ask me why are you giving what you are giving, why are you doing this? It keeps me on my toes. After all, I should have logic behind doing what I am doing. This nurse didn't have the logic to back up the dose of methadone she gave. Had she thought about her action, Josie would still be alive today.
There are way too many breakdowns in our healthcare system. There is just too many providers involved. If this book doesn't teach a parent anything, it teaches them to hold their ground, and when something doesn't seem right scream, push or shove and say STOP.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Peter Pan
Last Wednesday, Rachael and I made a trip to the city to see Peter Pan. Peter Pan has been playing at Chicago Tribune Freedom Center North, 360 Theatre and it is in the final days of performances.
I had mentioned to Rachael that I wanted to go, and a day later she got an email from TravelZoo for 1/2 price tickets. Turns out in the end with tax we saw an amazing production for 50 dollars.
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| First we had lunch at Snarfs. Highly recommended. Tastes just like Pot Belly |
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| .360 Theatre. |
As a kid I used to love when the play came on TV with Mary Martin. I just thought it was so cool that she could fly. I bet if I watched it today it would be extremely corny.
The theatre was built for this play and is actually going to stay intact for others. The stage is in the middle and the audience sits around it. The actors fly and do flips and with the help of technology you feel like you are flying too. My absolute favorite scene was with Tinker Bell, Peter, Michael, Wendy, and John holding hands and flying high above the audience. It was so classic and so fun.
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| .Me and Rachael in the last row. It was fun being in Neverland even for just a couple hours. |
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| "Second star to the right, and straight on til morning." |
Operation Backpack
Bark For Life
On August 6th... I was up and at em at 6a.m. and at the James O. Breen Community Park... ready to take a bite out of cancer! It was the 3rd Annual Bark For Life. I wanted to enter both our pups... but Adam was out of town that weekend, and I knew I wouldn't be able to control both of the little stooges myself. They are a handful. So I simply just volunteered my time, setting up, taking down, and entertaining the four legged friends I met.
We ended up raising our goal of $5,000 dollars for the American Cancer Society-Kane County.
So, we were extremely excited.
I fell in love with this Great Dane. I have never had the privilege of being near a Great Dane in my life, and I thought he was just magnificent. The tips of his ears reached the middle of my chest.
Aren't they just gorgeous? The tan one is a therapy dog, and is so gentle!!! The black one is a puppy and still isn't aware of his size, accidentally knocking down a toddler!
Our turn out wasn't the greatest as it rained cats and eh hem, dogs, the night before and was a very wet day. But it was so fun, and for such a good cause.
I hope to get a little more involved next year, and to possibly hook up with the animal shelters in the area. My idea was to hold an adoption and raise $ for cancer research. 2 causes near and dear to my heart. That way we can get the animals out of cages for a day and hopefully get them homes.
I'm such a dreamer!
I hope to get a little more involved next year, and to possibly hook up with the animal shelters in the area. My idea was to hold an adoption and raise $ for cancer research. 2 causes near and dear to my heart. That way we can get the animals out of cages for a day and hopefully get them homes.
I'm such a dreamer!
Japanese Beetles Drool
So... I have been seriously down in the dumps about Japanese stupid Beetles. They ruined our trees. Our brand new baby trees. Not only ours, but most every one's in our neighborhood, which makes me feel a tad better! But for real. I was minding my own business watering my little flowers that I planted below these trees when I look up and am totally sickened by what I see. An infestation of Japanese Beetles. I know these things started coming around a couple years ago. They were on the news and everything, but I guess I thought they were lying or something. Not only was I sickened by the beetles, but by the cluster formation of holes they were leaving in the leaves. Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a thing about anything that comes in clusters. I just can't handle it. It gives me that nails down a chalkboard feeling, and I am just completely grossed out. I have looked into this and it is an actual phobia... but I digress.... another post for another time.
Nasty!
They have eaten through every leaf.
Back on the cluster thing.... I found more clusters under some wood chips... I don't know what the heck it is... but do you see those little circles in the cluster formation. YUCK.
Honey combs are also extremely hard for me to look at... and guess what we have on our porch and in our bushes.... I have tried to condition myself to look at things like this, but in the end... I just get the major heebeejeebees.
And THAT is the end of THAT post!!!
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