Rusty's First Haircut

Our dog Rusty has never had a professional haircut. Lately he has been doing a lot of biting and scratching. Our efforts to relieve his skin problems have not been successful, so we decided it was time to have him professionally cleaned.

My wife called PetSmart to make the appointment for this past Saturday. They talked her into something called the Furminator. It is a process that helps breeds (like Golden Retrievers) regain their coat. They said that they do not shave Goldens because the hair does not always come back the same way.

So, we arrive at PetSmart and ran into a snag. We were told to bring proof that Rusty had been vaccinated. I had found a receipt from the vet, but unfortunately it did not have the year written down. So, I had to drive back and try to find additional paperwork. Fortunately, I was able to find the right document and Rusty was officially allowed to get a haircut.

We then learned that the Furminator was a 4 hour process. We had dinner plans and so that option was off the table. I guess the Furminator is the Super-Deluxe package (like at the car wash). We told them to just give him the basics (wash, nail trim, clean ears, etc).

What happened next was pretty funny.

Rusty has a mind of his own and can be pretty stubborn. He also has separation anxiety. So, he did not want to cooperate. When it came time for him to have his backside cut, he just laid his 125 pounds down and would not budge. It took 3 employees to try and lift him so they could work on him. They finally were able to do it. They all laughed at his strong will.

An hour and a half later he was ready to leave. He looked and smelled nice. He is not biting and scratching very much.

He is a happier dog which makes us happier as well.

Konked!

Yesterday was the first time I felt like going to the YMCA in the last month. I had been feeling under the weather but I am on my road to recovery.

After lifting some weights, I used the Hydro-Massage machine to relax my muscles. It felt good to be back at the Y.

My wife used the massage machine after me. I decided to wait for her at the entryway to the Y. When I got there I noticed that they had a sports tent set up to promote some upcoming event. It was sponsored by Tostitos and they had a couple of chairs that looked inviting. So, I decided to take a seat and relax. The chairs had a nylon bottle holder which was perfect for me. I put my water bottle in the holder and leaned back to relax. I was checking out an unopened bag of Tostitos when ....

Just then someone came up to enter the Y and the automatic doors went into motion. Little did I know that my head was lined up perfectly with the automatic doors. What happened next must be obvious to my readers.

Konk!

My head stopped the doors from opening all the way.

I felt a little dizzy, but that is not that unusual for me.

Until next time ...

DQ and Potato Casserole

A funny thing happened tonight. My wife had made a delicious ham and potato casserole and I ate as much as I could. But, there were so many leftovers, we decided to see if our neighbors wanted some. It's not something we do very often (maybe once a year). Not because we don't like our neighbors, but we usually do not have a lot of food left over.

We checked next door and they were not home. We decided to drive to the local DQ (Dairy Queen) to get some ice cream. After we arrived, I waited in the car. A few minutes later, my neighbor walks to the window and hands me a 'Blizzard'. It turns out, they had decided to bring me back a dessert. This was also unusual, they had never done this. This was only the second time they had been to this DQ.

What an odd coincidence.

ps: I am now a fan of the Blizzard, but boy is it filling.

In Search of Golf

Summertime in Florida can be hard on a golfer. It seems like everytime I try to play golf a thunderstorm rolls in. This has happened to me the last 6 times I have tried to play.

Tonight was no exception. I met my friend Rick at Heritage Harbor only to find out the course was reserved for the High School team. So, we decided to play at a different course. On the way, the heavens opened up and we decided to call it a night.

I thought that was it for me as far as playing golf. But on the way home, my neighbor called and asked if I wanted to play at USF. I said sure.

After arriving at the course, I thought we would be unable to play. I saw flashes of lightning in the distance. My neighbor wasn't going to let a few thousand degrees of heat discourage him. I thought, well, why not.

It turns out the storm stayed away and we were able to play 16 holes.

And, he paid!

So, my search for golf was finally fulfilled.

Rusty Gets Stuck

The other night our dogs Rusty and Bob went out to the backyard for one last time before bedtime. After a few minutes, we heard Rusty barking over and over. This usually means that Bob has cornered a possum or an armadillo.

But this time, his bark meant something else.

My wife went outside and saw that Rusty was in distress. Him and Bob had been creating this giant long tunnel of a hole and Rusty had gotten himself trapped.

The only thing we could see was his head and front paws as he was trying to pull him self out. He wasn't able to use his back paws because of all the loose sand.

At first, I couldn't figure out how to get him out. I started to dig all round him, but the whole was so deep, nothing I did was working.

Finally, I was able to clear a way and he pulled himself out.

Poor guy, was scared.

After that, i blocked the hole. They will have to start a new one.

The Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

When I lived in Pittsburgh I always seemed to have a sore throat or some other ailment. I never felt completely healthy.

After I moved to Florida, I became much healthier. I wasn't sure of the reason until recently.

A few years ago during a trip back to my fathers house, I could not help but notice, the pungent smell of cigarettes when I was in his 'smoking' room. Instantly, I felt a sore throat coming on.

Second-hand smoke was the reason for my childhood illnesses. Back then, there were no special rooms to smoke in. The whole house was available for him to smoke.

So, if there are any smokers out there, think about the effects of second hand smoke on your loved ones.

That is my PSA (Public Service Announcement) for today.

Office Putting Green

My job at NewHomes was a dream job. One of the benefits was that I somehow managed to have a putting green in my office. I don't even think that JR Ewing (from the old Dallas show) had that perk.

It all started with a monthly staff meeting where they had various activities to have employees interact (team building). One month we had a Price Is Right contest. I volunteered to bring in a putting green to help with the Price Is Right putting game.

It was a fun meeting. When it ended, I said that maybe we should keep the green close by if we needed it for the future. My boss (and friend) Dennis agreed. I just had to figure out where to store it. Then, I got a great idea.

Why not have it laid out in my office (that way it would not get all wrinkled).

So, that is what happened.

Every now and then, I had to test out the green to make sure it was still working ok. To be 100% certain, we used to have putting contests so that others could be sure. Everyone would leave with a smile on their face.

Those were good memories.

What About Bob

Our dog Bob was a stray that we took in. About 3 1/2 years ago, I noticed a dog laying down next to our neighbors dog in their backyard. I didn't think much of it. I figured he was a neighbors dog that had just come over for a visit.

A few weeks later I see him again. It turns out that he had been all over Tampa Palms for several weeks. He was surviving on his own and this was in February when it was cold at night.

My wife and neighbor gave him food and water but he would not let anyone near him. Finally, my wife was able to put a leash on him and brought him in the house. He didn't have a tag, but we placed an ad in the newspaper.

No one replied and we decided that we would keep him. He is a real cute dog. The vet thinks he is a Sharpei/Retriever mix. He looks tough, some people think he is part pitbull. He is actually very sweet.

The name Bob came from the movie "What about Bob". We were trying to think of a name and I said, "What about Bob".

Anyway, we are glad we got him and so is Rusty. They became instant friends. Bob adjusted slowly. He may have been abused, because he didn't like anyone getting too close to him. Eventually, that changed and he is just as much of a nut as Rusty.

How Not to Save Money

When I was living at the Woodlands apartment complex in Tampa after moving to Florida, I met a guy by the pool who was earning some money by doing oil changes for people. So, being the trusting sort of person that I am (naive), I allowed him to work on my Datsun 200SX (nice car, but had no air conditioning).

I guess he did ok. I don't remember having any engine problems.

A while later, I made a bad decision. I found out the car needed brakes and asked him if he knew how to do that. He said, "Yes, I do those all the time". I figured I could have him do it and save some money.

So, he drove to where I worked and proceeded to begin to replace the brakes. Of course, 'dumb Dave', paid in advance. At the end of the day, I walk to my car and saw that it was still on blocks and he was long gone. It turns out, the job was too hard for him. I tried to get back my money, but he was a con artist type. So, I just chalked it up to another life lesson.

Anyway, a friend at work knew a guy who was a legitimate mechanic. They came and towed the car and made the necessary repairs.

I kept the Datsun for a few more months (until summer kicked in). The odd thing is after I traded the car in, I saw it a few weeks later. One of the guys I played basketball with had bought the car (another strange coincidence in my crazy life).

Drug Deal Gone Bad

About 10 years ago I was working from home when I heard this very loud noise. I ran outside but did not see anything. I did hear noises from behind our house. So, I walked through the neighbors yard and then I saw a car that had crashed into someones home.

(The house I later learned belonged to a couple who owned several very popular Asian restaurants within my neighborhood).

There was a girl in the back seat yelling. Turns out she had broken her leg and she was trapped inside the car.

Later I learned the whole story. The people who lived behind us had a son who was a drug dealer. Several teenagers had come to make a purchase. The teenagers tried to leave without paying their tab. So, when they tried to drive off, the drug dealer grabbed onto the steering wheel. The car careened out of control before cashing into the neighbors garage.

Just another day in suburbia.

Golf and Ants

Recently I was playing golf with some friends and I was not playing well. After another bad drive, I decided to lay down on some nearby grass and stare up at the clouds. I thought this would help me relax.

After a few seconds, I felt a stinging sensation in my lower leg. And another, and another.

I didn't realize that I had laid on an ant hill.

I quickly tried to get them off of me, but before I could, I had been bitten about 8 times.

The pattern of bites looked like the big dipper.

At least, I had an excuse for playing a bad round of golf.

Bad Medicine

I used to get impatient with my father at times. He was a little moody and seemed out of it. I now know why.

He was taken so much medication for a variety of ailments, that it messed up his system and turned him into a different person.

I have to take some pills for the first time in my life and I now understand the side effects.

I can't wait to get my health back. I miss being me.

Slow Walker

I love my dog Rusty as much as anyone could love a pet. He is a Golden Retriever / Labrador Retriever mix.

He is about 10 1/2 years old but he is still very active. He insists on two or three walks a day and he loves to wrestle with our other dog Bob.

But Rusty is slowing down as far as how fast he can walk. His hip is bothering him a little. This is usually not a problem, until yesterday.

We were walking and out of nowhere, a huge thunderstorm rolls in. I tried to rush Rusty along but it was no use. The rain came down in buckets. Fortunately, we dodged the lightning.

We all got soaked, but I still love my Rusty.

High School Bookie

My first job was probably different than most people. I was a teenage bookie. In high school, I was approached by a friend, who worked for a friend of his, who worked for his father, who was in organized crime.

I once heard a story about the interior ot the 'fathers' house. In an upstairs room, there were nothing but guys sitting in chairs by desks making phone calls. And, I don't think it was part of a telethon to raise money for the needy.

So, I guess I was a junior partner in the underworld. Being part Italian, made it seem like it was almost part of my destiny. I was chosen because I had friends in all the 'cliques'. Jocks, nerds, "the unnamed", etc. I was in a group all to myself.

The job of a bookie was to hand out betting slips to people. They had to pick a minimum of 4 pro or college football games correctly to win. Of course, each betting slip was stamped 'Entertainment Purposes Only'.

For each dollar bet, I earned 20 cents. For a 14 year old that was pretty good money.

Alas, my days in the mob ended early.

Somehow, word leaked to my father. He was in politics and it would not be good for his re-election if his son were to be sent to the big house.

Baby Gator

When you go on as many dog walks as I do, you are bound to come across a lot of unusual sights.

There have been many critters that we have seen (bobcats, deer, snakes, turtles, rabbits, otters, turkeys, armadillos, possums, etc).

A few times we have also come across alligators. Yesterday, we discovered one that had recently died.

I felt sorry for the little critter. I could not tell what had happened to him. He had kind of a 'bleached' look.

The Big Reveal

At my last job (NewHomes), we would have a monthly meeting to review the company financial statements. It was called the 'Big Reveal'. At the same time, we would always have some 'team building' activities. It was always a lot of laughs.

I started off kind of quiet, but eventually my true personality emerged. It was at one of these events, that I pulled off my version of the 'Big Reveal'.

I have always been a Pittsburgh Pirate baseball fan. They were very competitive in the 1970's (winning two championships), and also in the early 1990's. Since 1992, they have been terrible (not one winning season).

Last year, the Tampa Rays, who like the Pirates would always finish last, finally started winning. My wife and I started to go the games and we became fans.

So at the monthly meeting, I stood up and proceeded to tell a 'made-up' story that had people thinking I was leaving the company. Oh, and I was wearing a Pittsburgh Pirate jersey.

I can't remember all the details, but I said something like ...

"I just wanted to thank all of you for giving me the opportunity to work here. What I am about to do is one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make. As most of you know, I was born in Pittsburgh and I was a big sports fan. I always think back on a lot of fond memories growing up there. But, now I am in Florida. And, I have a big decision to announce. Its really hard for me to do this, I hope my family will understand".

At that moment, I took off my Pirate jersey. Underneath it, I had on a Rays shirt. And then, I finished my statement.

"So, I am officially announcing that I am switching my allegiance from the Pirates to the Rays".

Everyone laughed and clapped.

It was a lot of fun.

The day of the "Big Reveal".

A Mole In One

When I lived in Pittsburgh, I enjoyed playing golf with my cousin Freddie. Freddie is probably the craziest person I ever met.

His sense of humor is legendary. He and his friends would go into very exclusive restaurants and his friends would film Freddie as he pretended to fly around the patrons in a Superman costume. They did it to make some kind of documentary on how people react to outrageous behavior. I don't think they ever finished the movie, but it gave me ideas for something I did at my previous job (that will be in a future blog).

Anyway, one day we were playing golf and as we walked off the putting green, we see a dead mole. So, Freddie, picks it up and proceeds to place it in the hole we just played and puts the flag back in.

We go to the next tee box and wait and watch. Sure enough, an older couple reach the green and a lady goes to remove the pin but she is having trouble. She looks in the hole and shrieks. Her husband comes over and they both look into the hole, not knowing what to do. Finally, he uses his putter to lift it out.

I still laugh at that memory.

It was "A Mole in One".

High School Basketball Memory

In 10th grade, I was asked to be the basketball manager for our High School basketball team, the Chartiers Valley Colts.

I had tried out for the team, but I was way too skinny. I was a good shooter, though.

Myself and the other managers would alway try to shoot some baskets before the game. One time, we were at an away game and I was shooting long shots from beyond the baseline. I would arc the ball high in the air and hope they would go in. On this night, I couldn't miss.

After about 10 in a row, I hear a lady sitting in the stands say to her friend, "If the manager can shoot like that, what about the rest of the team?. I don't think we have a chance".

We won that game and all the other games in our section. It was a good year for the Colts.

Quick Movie Review

Went to see the new GI Joe movie the other night.

If you like nonstop action, a loud soundtrack, and an unrealistic plot, and needles getting plunged into people's faces ... go see it. I guess it is loosely based on the comic strip (which I never saw as a kid).

I personally was looking for the exits within 5 minutes after it started. If we weren't with friends, I probably would have escaped. It was possibly the worst movie I have seen in years.

I like movies that make you think or are uplifting.

Oh, and in the seat next to me was a mom and her infant daughter who was whining throughout the movie. At least the loud soundtrack drowned out some of her crying.

But, the popcorn was tasty.

Book Review - Slaying the Giants in Your Life

One of the ministries that I donate to is Dr. David Jeremiah. People that donate to his ministry receive various gifts in the mail as part of the "Circle of Friends" program.

The other day the gift was a book called "Slaying the Giants in Your Life".

Click here for ordering info.

The topics covered in the book include:

1. Fighting Your Fear
1. Destroying Your Discouragement
2. Liberation from Loneliness
3. Winning Against Worry
4. Guarding Against Guilt
5. Taming Your Temptation
   
6. Attacking Your Anger
7. Disarming Your Doubts
8. Postponing Your Procrastination
9. Facing Your Failure
10. Journeying Beyond Jealousy

I highly recommend this to anyone who is dealing with any of the above issues. The author, David Jeremiah, provides excellent biblical advice to help people overcome those 'giants'.

One common solution to each problem is reading God's word and getting involved in the lives of other people by way of ministry.

This book spoke directly to me. I am not fighting all 11 giants, but I am battling some of them.

A Tragedy in My Old Neighborhood

Last week, a mass killing occurred in the neighborhood I grew up in. A man shot and killed 3 people and himself at a health club and wounded many others.

The LA Fitness gym was recently constructed. I used to work at a nightclub that would have been right next to the gym.

My sisters friend was best friends with one of the victims. The same victim lived a few streets away from my mom.

Click here for the story.

It's another reminder of how we don't know how much time we have. We all need to make the most of the time that God has given us. My desire is to spend my remaining days serving God by ministering to others with all my heart.

Here is a moving poem that was posted on Facebook in memory of the victim I mentioned above:

Heidi Overmier is the mother of Ian Overmier. Heidi was one of many shot on August 4th at the shooting at LA Fitness in Bridgeville, unfortunately she did not make it. We've created this group to show that we care and our hearts go out to the Overmier family for their loss.



If I Knew

If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.


There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.

Snake Field Update

A while back, I wrote a blog about a place I take my dogs to. I call it the Snake Field. Click here for the earlier blog.

The field is supposedly maintained by TECO (Tampa Electric). I say supposedly because the grass has not been cut at all this year.

As of this writing, the weeds are about 3 feet tall. This has made for some interesting walks as I take Bob and Rusty on one of their many walks. Of course, Rusty, takes his time. He is off his leash and he prefers to roll on his back as he slowly makes his way along the way.

Bob, on the other hand, has found a new adventure. He sticks his nose deep into the weeds because he senses the presence of wildlife. He is our resident 'varmint' remover. He has eliminated many a possum and armadillo. His new target are field mice. I know this because as he is sniffing away, I see his intended prey scurry away.

What's funny is that when Rusty finally catches up and starts sniffing, Bob assumes that Rusty has cornered the rodents. Bob will pull away from me as fast as he can and hop through the tall grass until he reaches Rusty. He will push Rusty out of the way and stick his head deep into the weeds.

It makes for some good laughs.

One of these days, he will probably catch a mouse. He is a pretty determined dog.

New York, New York

In July of 1986, my cousin Fred and I traveled to New York City. It was my first plane trip. After landing, we were on our way to meet a friend of Fred's. To get there, we had to take a subway. I was a little nervous, since this was my first time in a big city. When you watch TV or the movies, you always hear about New York and all the nuts.

So, within 5 minutes of boarding the subway, this crazy person starts talking in my direction. He says, "If anyone crosses this line, I will kill you". He said it over and over. I thought to myself, "This is going to be an interesting trip.

A cool part of the trip included seeing baseball games at Shea stadium and Yankee stadium. The Yankee game was sold out, but my cousin knew how to overcome that obstacle. He said to put a $10.00 bill in your hand and sneak it to the ticket taker. It worked!

The other part of the trip involved going to some cool restaurants and seeing the 100 year anniversary of the Statue of Liberty. There were some pretty spectacular fireworks over the water.

On the way back, my nutty cousin jumps in between two guys who were fighting. I thought, "Good idea Fred, start a riot".

Overall, it was a good experience for me. It gave me a desire to see more of America.

Giving Back

Inspired by others who have been an example to me, I have decided to introduce a new feature to my blog called "Giving Back". Every now and then, I will spotlight a ministry that I am giving my time, talent or 'treasure' to. This week, I am featuring a ministry that will provide orphaned and disadvantaged children with a backpack and school supplies.

For more information, click here.

But hurry, donations can only be made until August 8th.

Weed Wackers and Birds

A few weeks ago, my weed wacker decided to stop wacking. So, it was off to Lowes to purchase a new one. When I returned, I learned that there was an injured blue jay hiding in the tall grass where I needed to trim.

So, I decided to wait a day to let Mr. Blue Jay get better or to let Mr. Blue Jay go where birds go when they die. Which brings me to a question. With the countless number of birds that there are, why is it, you almost never come across a dead one? It's a mystery.

Although, I did recently. When they are without feathers, they look a lot like dinosaurs.

Back to the weed wacker story. So, the next day, I want to finish trimming, but my wife wants to look for the bird again. I'm thinking, "If he is still there, he doesn't have long to live". Anyway, she finds it, but I decide to trim anyway.

So, I start the wacker and all of a sudden, I feel this sharp pain on my leg. Somehow, the plastic string that does the cutting leaps out and lashes me. This is very odd, because I was standing a few feet away and the string was only about 4 inches long.

I guess I should have waited another day to do the wacking.

Plumbing Issues

When I lived at my townhouse in Tampa Palms, I was relieved that the association maintained a lot of things that I did not have to concern myself with.

I did have to do some things. I am not a Mr Fix It, but I try.

One time, I had to make a toilet repair and by the time I was done, water had been shut off to all 216 units at Faircrest. I had accidentally broke a valve and water started gushing everywhere. I called the office and they sent someone down. At the time, the units did not have an individual shut off or neither of us knew where it was.

So, the Faircrest employee called the office and they in turn shut off the water until a plumber could be brought in.

I didn't make a lot of friends that day with my neighbors.

Snow Tunnel

As a kid growing up in Pittsburgh, we had our share of snow. It was fun to play in it, especially if it meant a day off of school.

One day, my brother and his friend built a snow tunnel. Where they would take turns crawling through from one end to another. It looked like fun and I asked if I could try it. They said sure. Little did I know that they had a plan for me.

As I was crawling through (it was about 5 feet long), one end of the tunnel was closed off. I turned and the other end was closed off. Those 'jerks' had collapsed the tunnel on purpose. I was definitely scared.

All I could hear was their laughter. I wasn't able to dig my way out. Fortunately, they decided I probably needed to be rescued and they dug me out.

Better Eating = Lower Cholesterol

Every time I have had a physical (for as long as I can remember), the blood work always came back with cholesterol levels that were too high. The doctors would always give me a booklet describing what foods to eat, etc.

They would also say to come back in so many weeks and have my blood work taken again. If the numbers didn't improve, they would recommend medication.

I never would come back because I hate being on medication.

This past year and a half, I finally decided to eat healthier. Having lost 50 pounds, I was interested in seeing what my latest cholesterol numbers would be.

For the FIRST time that I can remember, the numbers were good.

So, eating healthier was the answer for me.

I still miss my Doritos.

Vision Update

I'm glad to report that I no longer see any 'floaters' or 'flashes' in my left eye.

For those who are new to my blog, my retina was 'almost' detached as a result of an injury while playing basketball. I had to have several surgeries and there were some scary moments.

I'm thankful for all the prayers and support.

I have a final checkup this week, but I feel that it will confirm what I am experiencing.