Pet Peeves

Pet peeve: People interrupting me when I’m trying to say something.

Nothing so irritating as someone who interrupts you as if they know what you are going to say. They don’t. I going to start hanging up the phone or just walk off. Maybe they’ll figure it out? Conversation - a lost art!

Pet peeve: People who suck the joy of a story you tell them by not acknowledging what you tell them & launch into their story, which isn’t even remotely like your story. Or…they just hijack the story before you finish so they can talk. 

I just want to tell them: Do you actually listen to someone when they are talking?  Do you really? So, do you engage with them so that they feel you heard them? Or do you just listen long enough to interrupt them so you can take over & do all the talking?

Do you monopolized the conversation, throwing in “well”, “anyway”, “but”, anything to keep you talking & not let the other person speak? What? They aren’t that interesting to you? Or are you so vain you think only your story is worthy? Try asking them something about what they were saying to get them talking & get a real conversation going. Give & take & listen. Learn to be a listener!

Stop being a social vampire! You may think your interests are important - they are to you - but so is that person who came to talk or called you on the phone. Would it kill you to encourage them to talk? So what if you don’t find it interesting (or you don’t understand). Ever consider they aren’t interested in what you are rambling on about, but are more polite than you?

Be polite for once! Stop interrupting people! Listen to them. Share their joy, make it about their experience. You just might learn something & enjoy yourself.

Pet peeve: 

1. People who only call you when they want something.
2. People who dump your call for someone else - that they could call back!
3. People who expect you to come get them & expect you to meet them somewhere because they don’t want to go out of their way to pick you up. 
4. People who talk on their phones or text while you are out to lunch with them. You, apparently, are not as important as this random person. 

I like to take people out to lunch as a way of celebrating their birthday or to cheer them up. Apparently, I’m the only one who likes to do this amongst my “friends”. Only one of the 5 people I took out for a birthday lunch took me to lunch & even called me on my birthday this year. One sent a HB via FB. I’m saving my money this year & not bothering to bore them this year. 

Just a few random photos I’ve taken lately.

Florida Soft-shell turtle

Geese at the koi ponds

Sandwich terns

Homo sapiens trying to fly. 😁

 

Behold! A bunch of white birds! 😁

Just adding some Snowy egret & Great Egret photos for your enjoyment of nature. 

Taken in Bayou la Batre, AL

 

End Of The Year Donation

I’m posting on all my blogs in the hopes that you will learn of this fantastic group who work to help people in arid regions of Africa to care for their environment and to feed themselves.

The Edenland Foundation: http://edengardens.org/
Founded by a fellow Ridgeback owner’s family from Sweden.

Hoping you’ll join me in donating to this great cause. You can send money via PayPals to:: loverescueoperation@gmail.com

Dukan Diet Tips

As I promised my FaceBook buddies, here's a few tips that have helped me stay and not stray from my diet:

Pure Protein bars: From WalMart or Target or Vitamin Shoppe: My favorites are the Chewy Chocolate Chip and S'Mores bars. These are great to stuff in your purse just in case you are stuck away from home and are craving something chocolate like. One of these and a Coke Zero and I'm a happy camper.

Oh, Yeah! bars: From Vitamin Shoppe. I haven't seen them anywhere else, but this is Mobile and you might have them at one of your local stores. My favorites are the vanilla, peanut butter and mint wafer bars. I keep these in the frig because they tend to be a bit "melty"...and they are just plain yummy cold!

Truvia: From Walmart or most grocery stores. Unlike aspartame, this doesn't have a bitter after taste. I use in in my plain yogurt. You can use it in your coffee, tea or what ever beverage you like sweet.

Jerky. From any grocer. This is a great packaged item you can take along to work or in the car for a quick protein, low fat snack . One of my triggers to snack is reading, so I snack on jerky instead. Keeps my mouth occupied and out of mischief.

Calbee Snapea Crisps: I LOVE these things. I found them first at Walmart, haven't seen them since. I just bought them from Amazon and Vitacost and had them shipped to me. Great for the crunchy munchy cravings!

Sugar free chocolate syrup and sugar free strawberry syrup: From any grocer. I can drink skim milk if it's really cold, but a dollop of sugar free chocolate syrup makes it a bit special. I like the strawberry mixed with plain yogurt for an afternoon or late night snack. If it ever gets cold again, sugar free chocolate in hot milk for hot chocolate. Yum.

Oh Yeah! drinks: Jennifer likes these when she's in a hurry to get going in the mornings. I'm not such a fan, but you might be. I have tried the Oh Yeah! and Pure Protein drinks and prefer the Oh Yeah! drinks.

Caesar dressing: I've found that this won't mess up your diet to use on salads. They do have a good "mayonnaise" like recipe in the book, but I'm bad about forgetting to make it ahead of time. Along with mustard, it makes tasty "deviled eggs", too.

Fluids: Although the diet says water, coffee, tea, diet drinks, Crystal Lite, etc work well, too. Drink lots!

Olive Oil PAM spray: Even though I bought two new non-stick pans, I've found that spraying the Pam before making galettes to be helpful. Also, smaller galettes are easier to turn over than the bigger ones. You can store them in the frig and use them to wrap around cooked ham lunch meat... sort of like a burrito.. for a snack or lunch.

The No Brainer Diet

Beginning April 1...yes, April Fool's Day, I started the Dukan diet. I've tried just about every one there is....some worked well, but were too restrictive, some left me just plain hungry! The Dukan diet, so far, is a perfect match for me AND there is a two step program to help you lose the pounds and a two step program to help you retrain your body to keep it off. That's been a problem in the past, too. Lose the weight, gain it back PLUS 10 pounds! Not good.

To date, I've lost 25 pounds -Yea, me!

Basically, you eat all you want of lean protein and vegetables, low fat milk products like skim milk, yogurt and cottage cheese, eggs and oat bran. Not that oat bran cereal that you find in stores... real oat bran. Oddly, I couldn't find it here so I ordered it from Amazon. Now, it's expensive there! I did find it at VitaCost much cheaper.

Honestly, if you are hungry on this diet, it's your own fault. Of course, you will have cravings if you are a sugar and carb person, but it's a DIET for heavens sake.

To help me, 'cause I'm a chocoholic, I buy Pure Protein bars...my favorites are the Chewy Chocolate Chip and the S'mores from either Target or WalMart or Oh, Yeah! bars from the Vitamin Shoppe. I love the Vanilla, peanut butter and chocolate mint wafers. One of those and a diet Coke around 3 PM and you are quite satisfied.

I bought the book and read it first, then I got my "stuff" together and started. I recommend you do the same if you'd like to try it.

*** Update: As of today, 6/14/2011, no more blood pressure meds! Yea, me! Thank you, Dr Dukan!

Paintin' My Picture...

This morning, I see the post on the RR Members about the updated schedule for the Specialty. It stated that "the judge" decided to have stud dog and brood bitch after BOB on Friday AND that I would take an hour lunch before the BOB finals.

For the record, I do not have the authority to set the schedule. That is what the SHOW COMMITTEE does, not the judge.

They did ask me what I though they should do about the overload on Thursday and I did SUGGEST moving the property classes after BOB. That's what we always did in the past. Apparently, they are worried people would leave.... er, so what?? Only the diehards and those shopping for bloodlines like to watch that anyway, so why do we care if the day trippers leave??

They want to keep the spectators and build the suspense, so the waiting to judge the finals of BOB was their idea. Okay.... but don't paint me as the dictator!

Emergency Shoe Shopping

In Sept, I'm going to judge the conformation part of the RRCUS Nationals ( that's Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the US' annual specialty show for the uninitiated.)

Today, I found out the unofficial count was 490 entries! Holey crap! I'm gonna need some better shoes if I'm to stand on my feet for 8 hours a day.....'cause that's about how long it'll take me and 3 days worth at that!

I thought for sure that the entries wouldn't be so big since it was way out on the west coast and the economy being what it is. Guess I thought wrong!

Scratching My Head In Amazement

Yesterday, all the judges got a letter from Ron Menaker saying AKC had rescinded it's original plan to "charge" us to judge. ( Must have been the collective cry of "Get a rope!". ) However, they still plan on "taxing" us somehow for the privilege of making money for AKC. Yeah, I know it's the strangest thing I've ever heard, too.

In part of the letter, he wrote this: (Quoted from the 5/18/10 letter from AKC's Chairman Ron Menaker )

"Now, it is time for judges to join the other constituencies of the AKC-clubs, breeders, exhibitors, and registered handlers to make a financial contribution to help maintain the quality of the sport we all love so much"

Huh??? What exactly does that mean??

Many of us are still exhibitors, breeders and hard-working club members. We did not spring into judgehood over night.

In order to judge we had to meet AKC criteria in exhibiting - had to finish so many champions. Had to have bred so many litters. Had to have been in clubs, had to have stewarded shows, etc, etc, etc. In other words, we have spent an ocean liner full of money and spent years studying, learning, doing just to meet their criteria to judge. (Just read on AKC site about the minimum it takes to qualify to apply to judge!)

.....and apparently, that's not enough. Now, we have to pay to support our years of acquired knowledge that we thought we were now able to give back to he dog fancy.

If that don't beat all!

Copper Rose Jewelry

Fellow Ridgebacker, Liz Druitt, has an Etsy store where you can view her fabulous line of jewelry. Check it out at Copper Rose Jewelry.

Liz really has a flair for words, as you'll see.... She should, she's written several books on roses.

Heartbroken

I'm the victim of an extortionist.

I'm expected to pay a $100 yearly - more if I want to advance. Chump change, really, for what they are blackmailing others in my field, but quite a bit for someone on Social Security and who hardly rates a blip on their radar.

What is being held in ransom, you ask? My years of experience in dogs. All my time, money, travel and learning knowledge about Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Beagles, Dachshunds, Whippets and Afghans. Compared to others, I don't do many breeds, but I have 40 years experience in RRs. I have judged Ridgeback specialties around the world, I am judging my own club's national for the second time this year.

Who is doing this dastardly thing? The American Kennel Club. They are going to require judges ( all conformation judges) pay them $50 a year PLUS $10 per breed for every breed we have been approved to judge. You don't pay, you don't judge ever again - anywhere. We dump all your knowledge so it can never be used again.

They don't even bother to call this a renewal fee. If it's a matter of funding the printing of the judge's directory, we all could pay $30-40 and it would be more than covered. By all, I mean the obedience, rally, agility, tracking and field judges, too. Their names have to be printed, too.

Is it because provisionals have to have AKC reps monitor them? Okay, but those same reps are still going to be at a show doing general things for the clubs and exhibitors at a conformation show. Shouldn't that be "pro-rated"? Other AKC judges, whether agility, field, etc, have to have an AKC rep present for their provisionals, so why are only the conformation people singled out?

We all got an email spinning out how AKC's bottom line is dwindling - EVERYONE's bottom line is dwindling, especially mine! Hello, just how much money do these people up there need? Most of them make way more than I ever did when I worked for the state government. As to making money judging - AHAHAHAHAHAHA! I will have judged twice this year, one being my national that I only charge expenses. I judged zero times last year. It's just not feasible money-wise to keep paying and hoping some club might ask me to judge a couple times a year.

Here's a thought - AKC, if your bottom line is falling: CUT YOUR COSTS in house, DON'T CUT YOUR THROAT ! Because that is what you are doing! Judges who decide to pay up will have to pass on the costs to clubs. Clubs, barely making it as is, will have to pass it on to exhibitors, who will have to think long and hard about paying more in entry fees to go to shows where the same people will be judging.

I foresee fewer judges for clubs to choose from for their panels. Some judges, knowing this, will charge even more money because they can get away with it and still be hired. Clubs won't be able to pass that much along to the dwindling number of exhibitors and will eventually give up. The AKC cash cow that is conformation shows will die. Remember AKC gets a cut of each entry fee that is already tacked on to show fees?

Pay attention AKC: If you want to get, and keep, more people in the sport, you have to cultivate them, not alienate them.

Try something novel - like dropping point schedules drastically. This would boost small club's entries dramatically. More dogs, more money for you from entry fees. So what if if there are more dogs making up to be champions? What does that cost AKC? Print in a book that is already being printed? A bit of paper with a title mailed out to the owner??

It's a sad day for the world of AKC dog shows. Will AKC see the error of it's ways? I don't know.

On the bright side is the fact that there are UKC shows - conformation, obedience and agility. There are NADAC, USDAA and ASCA agility trials and ASFA lure coursing for people like me and others to go and enjoy doing fun stuff with our dogs.

...and that's just what I'm going to do!

Where Has All The Money Gone?

Well, this month Uncle Sam got a big chunk because I took some money out of my IRA last year to survive on until Social Security kicked in Then I had to take out more to pay the IRS..... doesn't seem right, does it?

If that wasn't hurtful enough to the old pocketbook, here comes plumbing woes. Had to call a plumber for a leak in my utility room. I'm pretty sure I was overcharged, but what are you going to do?

After that, the pump decided to go bad, so I had to call the well folks. They have always done right by me, do a great job and charge fairly, so I'm not complaining about them.....( I recommend them all the time.)


Just wish it didn't all happen in the same month!

The River Ran Through Us

Thought we were going to wash away last Wednesday. Although it never rained tremendously hard, it was a steady deluge. Even though Mobile is the wettest city in the US, it was a bit much, even for us.

The view out back toward my neighbor's yard... we are slighly down hill from her so the water flows freely this way.

Out the front... the ditch is over flowing...

The end of the road has become a lake - Lake Cul-de-Sac?

MEDIACOM - Again!

So, now that I have figured out the settings to use with Thunderbird - not the ones provided by the "techs" at Mediacom - other mail servers are returning them! Here's a couple of the messages:

Recipient address rejected: Policy Rejection- API Policy Server- Your mail server has been blacklisted, please contact your ISP or API Digital 256-428-8701 (in reply to RCPT TO command)

host mx2.hotmail.com[65.54.188.72] said: 550 SC-001 Mail rejected by Windows Live Hotmail for policy reasons. Reasons for rejection may be related to content with spam-like characteristics or IP/domain reputation problems. If you are not an email/network admin please contact your E-mail/Internet Service Provider for help. Email/network admins, please visit http://postmaster.live.com for email delivery    information and support (in reply to MAIL FROM command)

Connection refused due to abuse.Please contact your E-mail provider. (in reply to RCPT TO command)

Yes, I called "tech support" - They are sorry, blah, blah, blah...nothing they can do, blah, blah, blah.

They might try sending us all an email apologizing for the entire system change they apparently didn't thoroughly think out beforehand. Seems like this was an ill planned event from the get go. >:-/

MEDIACOM!!!!!

A couple of days ago, I received an email from Mediacom saying they were "updating" their email system. I would not have to do a thing. Seems that's true...except it should have said "YOU will not BE ABLE to do a thing".

For two days now, I cannot get or send email from my email program - Mozilla Thunderbird. It also seems that Mediacom ONLY trains it's techs on Outlook Express... something they do not mention in their ads - it's just an ugly little secret that non-Outlook Express users find out - too late.

The "tech" I spoke to gave me a new account server setting name. It doesn't work. However, I also use Mailwasher - a program that will go to the server and get my emails, so I can screen them, delete if necessary, then I download the safe ones to my computer. My question is -Why can MailWasher use the OLD server settings that Mediacom techs now say DOESN'T EXIST, get my emails and Thunderbird can't??

It's a mystery to me and a mystery to Mediacom. I doubt they'll be able to figure it out, so I'm waiting for some genius to figure it out and post it on the internet where I can Google it and find out how to fix it myself.

UPdate: A nice fellow named Eric left this comment:

Hello, My name is Eric and I work for Mediacom.
I apologize for the inconvenience. You can change your settings to resolve this issue:
Incoming Mail Server: mail.mediacombb.net
Enable SSL
Port can remain unchanged
Outgoing Mail Server:
mail.mediacombb.net
Enable SSL
Port can remain unchanged

While it was nice of you to post, Eric, I got and tried those settings two, now three days ago, hence my frustration... and they still do not work as of today - 12/12/09. However, I have fiddled with the account settings, Mailwasher continues to get my emails from the non-existing server, so now, I , too, can download my current emails from the non-existing mail.mchsi.com, but not with the settings provided by Mediacom. :-(

I still haven't figured out the combination to fix the outgoing mail, but I'm working on it. :-) *** UPDATE: I have now figured out how to send mail!

As to viewing mail on line.... I'm well aware of that...I have other online emails that I prefer. As a rule, I do not like them as I cannot view attachments without waiting for some program to open and show them - I prefer using Mozilla Thunderbird to read and view my emails and I just want to get back to that as soon as possible. That should not be too much to ask.

....and Mediacom should train it's people in the various email programs out there and NOT just Outlook Express. (Yes, the tech supervisor told me they ONLY know Outlook Express - unbelievable in this day and time.)

UPDATE: I can now get and received email.....Sadly, not with Mediacom's directions, but if it works, it works!

Blogger Boggle!

This morning I began my mornings internet check by going to my blog - My Camera's Eye. There I have listed my favorite blogs to visit and that's where I "depart" to read their daily listings.

Imagine my surprise to get a message saying the blog didn't exist! Seems the Blogger link spam robot has flagged it as an offender. "Link spammer"...I don't even know what that means.

So I go to the dashboard and request that it be unlocked. I get an auto reply saying they will look at the blog and let me know the results. That's good, BUT, HOLD ON! They are going to send the results to an email address that I NO LONGER HAVE! Great, just great.

I check my account and that old address is NOT LISTED as my contact email address. Why did the auto reply list that?? Now what?

So, since a simple answer or a direct link to a Google person is nowhere to be found, I had to resort to posting a question on their "help" forum....and oxymoron, if there ever was one! Do I really expect the Help forum to help - honestly, NO. It's never helped me before..... I must be an eternal optimist to keep trying.

UPDATE; November 23. Still blocked, but I found this message at the dashboard:

**Blogger's spam-prevention robots have detected that your blog has characteristics of a spam blog. (What's a spam blog?) Since you're an actual person reading this, your blog is probably not a spam blog. Automated spam detection is inherently fuzzy, and we sincerely apologize for this false positive.

We received your unlock request on November 19, 2009. On behalf of the robots, we apologize for locking your non-spam blog. Please be patient while we take a look at your blog and verify that it is not spam.**

Moving at a Snail's Pace seems to be Blogger's speed too.... unless there are a lot more blogs out there they've screwed up and are having to fix them all.

Enough To Drive You To Drinkin'

I had the brilliant idea to move my JustRidgebacks site over to Google sites this morning so I could save on the cost of keeping it at Tripod. On and off I moved page after page to the newly created site. After all, I have a couple of Google sites and I LOVE Blogger. What could be simpler?

After getting the pages over, I noticed the PayPal's codes weren't there, so I just signed into the site and using the HTML view, I put one in. Odd. The regular little button wasn't there. Instead there was some squarish looking thing labeled : Google Gadget whatchamacallit. I looked again at the HTML I put in - gobbledygook was there instead!!

I decided to risk looking through Google's "help" feature. This should more accurately be called "shortcut to cussin' and fussin" and should come with a warning label that it could easily drive you to drinking. It's that bad. Even if you find a question someone has posted that sounds like yours, sure enough, some geek has posted a short post saying "Just put in a Friggamagig and it will work." Of course, if we knew what a frigggamagig was, we wouldn't have to be asking about the frigging thing!

After the post, Google has a link that says "Was this helpful - yes or no". I do get some enjoyment of clicking NO. I just wish I could add comments, but knowing the state of my mind when I get to that point - it's best there not be comments.

To make a long, hair-pulling, wall-smashing story short, the upshot is that Google sites doesn't "support" PayPals form codes. For a company that wants to rule the internet, this is mind boggling. How the freaking hell did this happen? Blogger supports PayPal codes, why wouldn't Sites?

After all that work, I had to delete the whole shebang...all because I couldn't put the PayPal form code in so people could purchase the items.

I cognitated on this awhile and came up with a plausible conclusion.

Blogger - EASY, newbie friendly.
Sites - royally screwed up.

The only logical conclusion is that Google has geniuses and folks they should fire-but won't - working for them. The genius levels created Blogger. The dunces created Sites.

In Search of.......

I think that I shall never see
the haircut and style,
I want for me.

I desperately needed a trim, so off I went to the local cut and curl shop at a nearby shopping center. My aim was to get a trim, then run to the pet store and get some special food for my old dog..... all this before it started the afternoon monsoons.


I NEVER get the haircut I imagine. I am the eternal optimist when it comes to getting my hair done. After all, when I say "Just a trim", it seems the "stylist" could easily see that I like my hair a bit longer on top and down to the side, then shorter in back and over the ears. Nope. Apparently, you would have to be someone who notices the obvious...a logical person perhaps...and that kind of person does not do hair at the places I can afford. If I could cut my hair myself, I would. (I do for several weeks until the back becomes unmanageable.)

I knew I was in trouble when my usual lady wasn't there.... but, hey, hair is like grass - it grows...so how bad could it be??

A brand- spanking new person, that's who I got. A victim of the economy & hurricane Katrina, who use to be a shrimper, now he's a hairdresser. Now, there was a red flag if there ever was one.

"Well", I thought, "good for him. He's trying". Famous last words......

Bless his heart, he wanted to get the cut JUST RIGHT.....every hair perfectly blended in with every other hair on my head. He cut and he cut and he cut and he cut. I was getting really worried. My hair was getting shorter and shorter... but I didn't want to yell out "That's enough!!" because his new boss was at the chair to my right. SHE did 3 people in the time he took to do mine.

Suddenly, there was a loud crack of thunder, we all looked out the window and it was pouring buckets! I used this opportunity to say " Oh, no! I've got to get home quick!" ...in the hopes he'd stop cutting. At least, he put down the scissors - and then picked up the clippers! Gee, I thought we was going to shave my entire neck down to my shoulders...and I don't have much body hair period, much less on my neck!

Finally, I started taking off the wrap and saying I've got to go, what do I owe you??

My cousin gave me the name of her hairdresser..... next time, I'm going to give her a call..... couldn't be worst, could it?

An "Eye" Full

I saw this pretty blue dragon fly land near me while out for a walk. I snapped it's photo. When I looked at it the first time in Photo Shop, I laughed - look at that face! Big brown double eyes, a "black button" nose and it appears to be smiling with white lips - I love it!

Later, I wandered out front to water the plants and saw this Buckeye butterfly... check out all those "eyes".

Then I saw this beauty.... I think it's the female version of an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. I couldn't get a photo with it's wings open, but the side view is just as spectacular.

I followed it over to the zinnas and witnessed "the battle of the butterflies"! Another female showed up and wouldn't let the first one settle for very long on any of the flowers...



Unlike the first one, the second kept her wings open.... perhaps to seem bigger??

The second one finally crowds the first off the plant and followed it up over the house. I don't know if it was a battle for territory or what... I had no idea that butterflies even had territories.


Ya learn something new every day.....

Blood Ties

Today, my cousin, Martha, and I got up early and tooled off up the road towards the family stompin' grounds - otherwise known as "up the country". That area is composed of Clarke and Marengo county where our ancestors have lived since the 1800s.

We have one aunt by marriage who is in an assisted living unit in a small town and that's where we met up with her daughter (another cousin) - Margaret, and her husband. After visiting with the aunt for awhile, we loaded up and went in search of food.At the restaurant, Margaret's sister, Nadine and her husband also caught up with us.

It was an enjoyable afternoon.... so good to see everyone! Lots of exclamations about how much you look like your mother..... you resemble the Ernest side of the family, etc, etc..... I did notice that they'd look at me and just smile.... Hmmm, I could just heard the thoughts about... where did you come from??? I don't mind, I know that I resemble my father's side of the family.... always did. :-)


We decided to do this again in about 2 months and see if we couldn't scare up a few more cousins to join us. (Did I forget to mention we are all first cousins? I think we once counted 19 first cousins in the family, although 2 died as children and one of the older cousins died last year - very unexpectedly. )

Most of us live in Alabama. One lives in Texas, two in NC and one in GA... The rest in the southern part of the state. We hope to catch up with them and get them to plan on coming.

All in all, it was fun... just the right amount of visiting time and everyone got home before dark.