Tuesday, December 31, 2013

The 'Creek's 2013 Year In Review

Well, here we are again on New Year's Eve.  I hope everyone had a nice Christmas.  The sun is out, the birds are singing... well, at least the indoor ones.  It's really windy here in paradise (central Ohio) as the snow was blowing sideways.  The hens gathered at their gate to be let out, but though I love my ladies, they aren't terribly smart.  The grass may be greener outside their pen, but it's a lot colder in the wind!

Though the Christmas season was a week shorter, I think the media has made it up by making New Year's longer...LOL!  They started airing those sad tributes to those who have passed (reminding me of "Hunger Games" how they flash on the screen with sad music) last week, along with several shows dedicated to wrapping up last year.  So, I may as well do it too.

Thanks to you, the 'Creek is nearly at 20000 hits!  I welcome suggestions on what you would like to see more (or less?)  As I have stated before, I can't be all things to everyone, but I try to rotate topics enough so something may interest you.  I hope you more recent readers will try out the "Index By Topic" and find something either informative or humorous.  I previously tried to keep a regular posting schedule, but if I don't think I have something worth your time to read, I don't just post willy-nilly.  So, likely it will be only 2-3 times a month.

I heard on the news that this is the first New Year's Eve with a New Moon since 1995.  According to the  "About Astrology" website:

"When the moon is new, the sun and the moon are aligned in the same sign and a powerful energy portal is opened.  New moons are a great time to set intentions for things you'd like to create, develop, cultivate, make manifest."

So maybe resolutions will stick this time????  

It's also going to be the Chinese "Year of the Horse" starting January 31st.  I would love to have been a horse, because what's not to like about them?  But alas, I'm an Ox.  For more info and an app that will tell you what year you were born under check out Travel China.  

Some things that folks have to look forward to in the new year-- apparently Prince William announced at Christmas they are having another baby.  We can watch the Winter Olympics (if the Russians can stop the daily terror attacks.) Ohio State is in the Orange Bowl this Friday.  I have friends that are going to be grandparents for the first time.  My son will graduate from high school and my daughter will be a senior in college.  If nothing else, for those of us in North America at least, the days are getting slightly longer.  In Ohio, we can go for weeks of gray days and the sun is an exception, not the rule.  

The kids and I will be watching movies and eating Chinese food in tonight, but if you are going out be careful but have a great time!  

BTW, try to catch the footage of the Dubai New Year's fireworks.  They are touting it as breaking the Guinness record for most fireworks ever used at once.  Should be neat!

See you next year!
Gale

P.S. Guess I should name posts after I write them.  Not much of a review, more of a preview of 2014! LOL!




Monday, December 23, 2013

Merry Christmas 2013!

Long time, no see!  I plan to have a post for you by the weekend, but I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and safe travels.  While we were driving to Grandpa's house, we came across what I thought was unusual enough to pull off the road and snap a quick pic of part of it (sorry it's a bit blurry.)  Someone dressed up a lot of mannequins as 19th century Christmas carolers, which is unique and kind of cool (and apparently for sale.)  You've got to give them props for the eye-catching sign...


Until next time,
Gale

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Two Dewclaws Down! New TV Network Not Only Dumb, But Doggone Dangerous!

Mark and I were scrolling through the DirectTV guide last night and came across a DogTV network free week (channel 534.)  We thought it might be a network about dogs.  Nope, it's a channel for dogs to watch.  Allegedly, they are to watch this when you aren't home, but with English subtitles (in case you don't understand dog or maybe your dog can read?) people are expected to watch as well.  The films are shot at ground level so the dog will have the feeling of "being there."  What if your TV is up on the wall????

The programs change every hour on this "pay for a subscription" network.  One hour is relaxation, where your dog listens to soothing music while they watch other dogs frolicking in a field or  underwater watching fish swim.  Next hour is stimulation, where the music changes to perk them up and they put either dogs playing or project an object such as a bone on the screen and move it around for the dogs to chase.  (Right now our TV happens to be at dog-eye level and Mark and I can only imagine if the dogs went for the bone how many snoot marks or ruined LED/Plasma screens there would be...and no warranty covers them.)  We couldn't force our dogs to even look at the TV much less chase the bouncing bone.  All they want to do is be on the sofa napping.

My personal favorite is training hour.  ROFLOL!  I don't claim to be a dog training expert, but I'm pretty good and I don't believe for one minute that a dog is going to learn by watching TV!   Really?  We have had a handful of really intelligent dogs over the years, one of them being a JRT named Tucker.  I said "What would Tucker think of this?"  Mark said "That's it's the dumbest thing he's ever seen, then he'd take a nap."  Tucker did occasionally watch TV, but he chose the channel...

During the training or "exposure" shows, the dogs are supposed to watch repeatedly until they learn to deal with any situation.  For instance, one segment was "a visit to the vet."  Some dogs don't like going to the vet and this will ease their fear because they will see vets are nice and it will be alright.  We would have been laughing except it shows people letting their dogs run up to strange (and/or sick) dogs and sticking their nose up their butts.  Really bad form and if someone would've done that to Tucker, Patrick or Jordan, they would have had their noses handed back to them on a platter.

Your dog watching is supposed to learn that people in white coats aren't going to hurt them.  Unfortunately, shots hurt and so do other procedures.  But now I'm talking like a person who thinks watching this will really effect a dog anyway....LOL!  Well, we need to set the people straight.  It is also not a good idea to force a dog on a down-stay command to allow a baby to crawl over them and pull on their hair, etc.  They taped this for the dogs to watch and learn that babies aren't bad.  Once again, many dogs would not be safe with babies in this situation, so why encourage it???  That dog was desperate to leave that baby, you could tell by his eyes and facial expression.

They had a segment with dogs crossing intersections to get used to the noises of the city.  If a dog hears enough of something, it might get used to it, but unfortunately, living rooms aren't intersections with actually scary cars going through so a dog would still be afraid (with good reason--cars kill!)  Maybe they should make it in 3-D and we can put the little glasses on our dogs...that would make them feel more a part of it.

We've told puppy owners to leave on the radio or TV to keep their dogs company and I would choose a calming music, not hard rock.  But it's only for "white noise" not lessons.  All of the information for this post has come from watching less than an hour of this total.  I can't bear to watch any more!  Take a look at this channel while it's still free!!!!

Until next time, let a sleeping dog lie....

Gale