Sunlight and Shadows

Sunlight -

It's been a roller-coaster day. I just returned from Houston where I attended a birthday Luau. The party-goers tally? 39 Lesbians, one Gay couple and me. It was fun since they had hired a singer who I've known for 20 years, but hadn't seen in 13.

I used to join in and sing with Sheila's band Lil Bit of Texas; back then she was married to a man and singin country; now she's been with a woman for 12 years and is singin party songs. I was asked to sing and said I'd do one song, which turned into six:)

This might sound typical if you don't know me, but I seldom sing in a spontaneous situation, like at a party, as I can be very shy in this kind of setting. It's a strong indication that I was having a good time for me to get up in front of this crowd. After all, what's a guy to do when he's way in the minority and there's no eye-candy for him? Hide behind a mike:)!

Funny sight - the hosts had 87 bras dyed bright neon colors hanging from the trees and along the top of the fencing as decorations....hehehe! I thought a lavender lacey one was particularly fetching. Ha!

Tally - two birthday parties this week and 320 miles on my truck to attend them. Typical for these parts.

Shadows -

On a somber note - My mom's best friend from high school called today. She lost her daughter to cancer Thursday. Diane was a playmate of mine when we were growing up....sad....; I lost my tennis-pro cousin, Todd, this Spring to leukemia; another couple who have been close friends of my folks for 45 years, had their youngest daughter commit suicide not long ago. I knew Bonnie too.

My folks are ok, just somber. Dad was pondering the sadness of his close friends losing their children so young. He said, "I can't imagine what it would be to lose a child first. You never expect it to happen in reverse order." All of the parents are in their 70s and 80s. The three who died all in their 40s.

I am saddened by the news, but as many of us who buried countless friends in the 1980s and early '90s, not unused to the idea of my peers dying young. It doesn't make it right, it never gets easy, but it makes you aware of how precious life is. It's like having your shadow stepped on.

Sunlight and Shadows

Sunlight -

It's been a roller-coaster day. I just returned from Houston where I attended a birthday Luau. The party-goers tally? 39 Lesbians, one Gay couple and me. It was fun since they had hired a singer who I've known for 20 years, but hadn't seen in 13.

I used to join in and sing with Sheila's band Lil Bit of Texas; back then she was married to a man and singin country; now she's been with a woman for 12 years and is singin party songs. I was asked to sing and said I'd do one song, which turned into six:)

This might sound typical if you don't know me, but I seldom sing in a spontaneous situation, like at a party, as I can be very shy in this kind of setting. It's a strong indication that I was having a good time for me to get up in front of this crowd. After all, what's a guy to do when he's way in the minority and there's no eye-candy for him? Hide behind a mike:)!

Funny sight - the hosts had 87 bras dyed bright neon colors hanging from the trees and along the top of the fencing as decorations....hehehe! I thought a lavender lacey one was particularly fetching. Ha!

Tally - two birthday parties this week and 320 miles on my truck to attend them. Typical for these parts.

Shadows -

On a somber note - My mom's best friend from high school called today. She lost her daughter to cancer Thursday. Diane was a playmate of mine when we were growing up....sad....; I lost my tennis-pro cousin, Todd, this Spring to leukemia; another couple who have been close friends of my folks for 45 years, had their youngest daughter commit suicide not long ago. I knew Bonnie too.

My folks are ok, just somber. Dad was pondering the sadness of his close friends losing their children so young. He said, "I can't imagine what it would be to lose a child first. You never expect it to happen in reverse order." All of the parents are in their 70s and 80s. The three who died all in their 40s.

I am saddened by the news, but as many of us who buried countless friends in the 1980s and early '90s, not unused to the idea of my peers dying young. It doesn't make it right, it never gets easy, but it makes you aware of how precious life is. It's like having your shadow stepped on.

Puppy Mills in Parking Lots

I'm not the puppy police, but a disturbing trend is happening in the parking lot of my local Wal-mart Supercenter. Nearly every weekend there are one or two pickups parked in the lot in the end closest to the road. They are selling puppies out of cages from the back-end of the trucks.

I've gone up and asked questions of a couple of the sellers (breeders?). About 8 months ago, one woman was selling Great Pyrenees, the big white herding dogs. I've never understood why people would have this breed of dog in Texas where it is so hot and humid, but there she was, selling pups who ranged in age from 10 weeks to 5 months for $300 a pop..er, pup.

My sister had a Great Pyrenees female named Belle who passed away last year, so I was eager to determine the breeder's legitimacy. I know Colleen is in the market for a dog and loves the breed. My questions for the breeder were specific. Her answers were vague.

She said they were purebreds with no papers, but offered little else except the sex and age of the pups. I watched as three contractor/farmer types came up to her, handed her $300 in cash and walked away with their choice.

The lady had water dishes in the cages, but the pups looked miserable, laying sleep-logged in the sun and heat. I figured it was a one time thing until I saw the same woman, same truck, offering Great Pyrenees pups yesterday afternoon. So much for quality control of a breed.

Today, there was a man and his son offering Chocolate Labs from their truck. Again, there was water out for them; in this instance, the truck had a camper cover and a couple of sweet, sleepy-looking puppies were visible as I drove by.

Tim (gotmoof) and I were eating lunch at this same corner during his recent visit to Texas. Across the street from us, a woman had put up a playpen and had 3 adorable dachshund puppies that she was offering for free. She had taken two of them out of the pen and was playing with them. We held our collective breath as the pups gamboled about within two feet of a busy highway. She wasn't able to keep an eye on both all of the time and a couple of times I think Tim and I were ready to jump to the rescue.

I can understand folks trying to give away mutts. My family can testify that "all-American dogs" often make the best pets; we have a long history with them. But - I just think something is intrinsically wrong with selling puppies in a parking lot. I guess I question if they are going to a good home or for that matter come from a good home.

I'd love to have a dog, but my circumstances aren't right, at this time, for pet ownership. I research different breeds all the time; when my traveling settles down, I will get a pet and an adorable pup will be at the top of the list. A visit to the SPCA will also be a priority as I make a decision.

How do you feel about "purebred" puppies being sold at discount from trucks in a parking lot? I've considered reporting or discussing the trend with the management at Wal-Mart, but there isn't a lot of brain matter at this particular store. I've also complained about teens using cell phones and smoking while pumping gas there, (no warnings are listed about the possible consequences) but my suggestions to put up warnings fell on deaf ears. So, I don't expect much from them.

Would you ascertain the situation and contact the police? I'm not sure if the practice is illegal, but it sure is wrong in my book. I'd like some feedback, as I'm tired of puppy mills in parking lots.

Puppy Mills in Parking Lots

I'm not the puppy police, but a disturbing trend is happening in the parking lot of my local Wal-mart Supercenter. Nearly every weekend there are one or two pickups parked in the lot in the end closest to the road. They are selling puppies out of cages from the back-end of the trucks.

I've gone up and asked questions of a couple of the sellers (breeders?). About 8 months ago, one woman was selling Great Pyrenees, the big white herding dogs. I've never understood why people would have this breed of dog in Texas where it is so hot and humid, but there she was, selling pups who ranged in age from 10 weeks to 5 months for $300 a pop..er, pup.

My sister had a Great Pyrenees female named Belle who passed away last year, so I was eager to determine the breeder's legitimacy. I know Colleen is in the market for a dog and loves the breed. My questions for the breeder were specific. Her answers were vague.

She said they were purebreds with no papers, but offered little else except the sex and age of the pups. I watched as three contractor/farmer types came up to her, handed her $300 in cash and walked away with their choice.

The lady had water dishes in the cages, but the pups looked miserable, laying sleep-logged in the sun and heat. I figured it was a one time thing until I saw the same woman, same truck, offering Great Pyrenees pups yesterday afternoon. So much for quality control of a breed.

Today, there was a man and his son offering Chocolate Labs from their truck. Again, there was water out for them; in this instance, the truck had a camper cover and a couple of sweet, sleepy-looking puppies were visible as I drove by.

Tim (gotmoof) and I were eating lunch at this same corner during his recent visit to Texas. Across the street from us, a woman had put up a playpen and had 3 adorable dachshund puppies that she was offering for free. She had taken two of them out of the pen and was playing with them. We held our collective breath as the pups gamboled about within two feet of a busy highway. She wasn't able to keep an eye on both all of the time and a couple of times I think Tim and I were ready to jump to the rescue.

I can understand folks trying to give away mutts. My family can testify that "all-American dogs" often make the best pets; we have a long history with them. But - I just think something is intrinsically wrong with selling puppies in a parking lot. I guess I question if they are going to a good home or for that matter come from a good home.

I'd love to have a dog, but my circumstances aren't right, at this time, for pet ownership. I research different breeds all the time; when my traveling settles down, I will get a pet and an adorable pup will be at the top of the list. A visit to the SPCA will also be a priority as I make a decision.

How do you feel about "purebred" puppies being sold at discount from trucks in a parking lot? I've considered reporting or discussing the trend with the management at Wal-Mart, but there isn't a lot of brain matter at this particular store. I've also complained about teens using cell phones and smoking while pumping gas there, (no warnings are listed about the possible consequences) but my suggestions to put up warnings fell on deaf ears. So, I don't expect much from them.

Would you ascertain the situation and contact the police? I'm not sure if the practice is illegal, but it sure is wrong in my book. I'd like some feedback, as I'm tired of puppy mills in parking lots.