Jaret's Place

"A Dog's Purpose" (Sweet story)

Received this via email today. Thought it worth sharing. I happen to believe this about ALL animals...

 A Dog's Purpose? (from a 6-year-old)

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the  old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why.''

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.

He said,  ''People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?'' The Six-year-old continued, ''Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''

Happy 9-9-09!

Nothing too much today... Just wanted to wish everyone a GREAT 9-9-09! (September 9, 2009)

HAVE FUN!

Of the 350 words this bird knew...

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

New Star Trek movie... Vulcan Awesome!

Saw the new Star Trek movie yesterday... AND LOVED IT.

When I first saw the previews of the new Star Trek movie, I thought "Yeah, that's nice. Not one actor I recognize and I haven't watched the show since Capt. Kirk was on". Sure, I had seen the previous "Star Trek" movies but it had been quite a while since one of those came out. My 8-yr-old daughter had never seen even one episode of the series (old or new) and I wasn't really sure if she'd even like Sci-Fi. 

So the day before Mother's Day after being prodded for days as to what I wanted to do to on Mother's Day, I said, "Eh, let's go see it".

Ironically, the morning of Mother's Day we woke up to a show about the auctioning off of the show's 40-year history worth of props, models and clothing. Some items fetched QUITE a price! So my daughter became slightly interested in seeing the movie after seeing many of the outfits and unusual alien costumes that were auctioned off. 

We arrived 30 minutes early for the 4pm showing and THIS MOVIE DID NOT STOP FOR A MINUTE! When it was over, we'd been in the theater for over 2 1/2 hours! (Note: its not a 2 1/2 hour movie... remember, we got there early).

When we got out we couldn't believe so much time had passed! We felt like maybe 45 minutes had gone by! My daughter came out excitedly claiming "THAT was the BEST movie I've seen IN MY WHOLE LIFE! Let's see it AGAIN!" What I really liked about it was that you get to see how the crew of the Enterprise came to be. All the events leading up to 

So to answer the question: "Are you out of your Vulcan mind?"

The answer is YES! WITH SHEER DELIGHT AFTER SEEING THIS MOVIE! (Ok, sorry. That was corny, I know. But I am still just so overjoyed at what a fantastic surprise this movie turned out to be!)

GO SEE IT!

Dan Fortuna - feats of strength!

This is a video of a guy I grew up with on Long Island named Danny Fortuna. Only a few years older than me, back then a few years made a big difference. He was always like the big brother we never had. Always looked out for us "younger" kids. We lived in the same apartment complex during our early school years but eventually lost track of one another.

I recently found him again on Facebook and he hasn't changed a bit! He is now an arm wrestler (among other things) and he's been so kind as to record this video for our viewing pleasure!

Click here to view Dan Fortuna - Feats of Strength

Who do I want on my side in a bar fight?

DANNY FORTUNA! :)

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"If you seek Amy" (Brittany's song). Anyone else find this UNBELIEVABLY inappropriate?!!?

"Haha Heehee Haha Hoe!"

If you listen to pop music you've no doubtedly heard Brittany Spears' new song, "If You Seek Amy" with the repetative "haha hee hee haha hoe". If you haven't done the "word play" yet, say the title a few times to yourself. If you still don't get it, let's combine it with the chorus of the song:

"All of the boys and all of the girls are begging to ... If You Seek Amy"

Doesn't make much sense to someone who truly thinks Brittany is just SEEKING AMY but if you say the title again "If You Seek Amy"... If u see kay me... It becomes F-EWE-C-K mee (And I'm using EWE in an effort to not trigger any language sensors.)

So now lets see that chorus again:

"All of the boys and all of the girls are begging to ... F-ewe-C-K MEE"

Un-freak-in' real. Now don't me wrong, I am a huge fan of word play.. but THIS?!!? In a freakin POP song?!!?

Do you guys really want your 7-year-old girls shouting out the words to this song in the car?!!?

About 6 months ago, I had exactly that scenario in my vehicle: two 7-yr-olds and one 10-yr-old (all girls) gleefully shout-singing to the radio playing Brittany's "Womanizer". Ok, a 7-yr-old really doesn't know what a Womanizer is, so whatever. Not the best thing to sing but not horrifying.

THIS however, "All of the boys and all of the girls are beggin to... F-EWE-C-K MEE" is indeed HORRIFYING for a CHILD to be singing.

I guess that's the reason for the "haha heehee haha HOE"... Brittany can now delight in the fact that she has gotten CHILDREN to join her in her "Hoe-Quest". And sure, I can (and do) change the station when this song plays but my daughter listens to the radio even when she's not around me and I can't stop her from hearing it if I'm not around, right? I do notice some stations dub over the "If You Seek Amy" with the "Haha heehee haha ho" verse but not all of them do.

I might add too that I have NEVER been one for censorship but I just can't get over how sexually explicit this "Pop" song is and that Brittany thought it fine to record. Not that Brittany's made the best judgements in her life but I don't know! Her managers, her friends, her DAD? These people thought this was a good song her to sing?

I dunno. What do you think?

Taking photos of your child having a tantrum?

I was reading a blog today written by a mom who routinely photographs her childrens tantrums then posts them on her blog on the internet.

What do you think of that? Do you think its cruel? Acceptable? A riot? What?

My father took MANY MANY pictures of me while growing up and as a result, I now HATE having my picture taken. I was never photographed having a tantrum (probably because I didn't have tantrums), nor were those pictures posted on the internet (ok, ok - there was no such thing back then)! But if I am left feeling camera shy after being constantly photographed when I was HAPPY how do you think it would affect a child who is being photographed when having a meltdown? And then the pictures are posted for ALL TO SEE on the internet?

Just curious on your opinion...

Squirrel gets his nut (great pic)

Great pic - courtesy of Yahoo:

A squirrel, who's obviously not shy, reaches for a peanut from the hand of a man at Mount Royal Park in Montreal, Tuesday, March 10, 2009.

How long does it take to digest an earthworm?

Ok, so the other day I am walking along and I look over to see a pretty Robin hopping along the grass looking for breakfast. As the little bird hops, I can't help but wonder how long its going to take him to find his meal.

Within seconds of completing my thought, Zoop! He popped his beak into the ground, yanked out an earthworm and gulp, gulp, gulp, the earthworm was gone.

And I have to admit, it stunned me a bit at how quickly the whole process was over! I was then thinking of the earthworm. He only JUST got swallowed so his journey to the stomache had not even officially begun! So here I am, I'm an earthworm, slinking along under the ground when SWOOP! I am sucked out of the ground, I briefly see the light of day and next thing I know I am someplace verrrrrry dark, unsure of what has just happened! I wonder how long the robin can feel that earthworm squriming around inside of him before the worm comes to rest!
I am sure someone who is more knowledgable than I am in the ways of science could answer this question for me. But to actually witness the sudden disappearance of that worm has left me wondering how long DOES it take to digest an earthworm?