Sunday, May 23, 2010
On vacation ...
Hello my friends ... I will be visiting my homeland for about a month, I appreciate you dropping by and will return your visits when I get back. Hope you all have a good and pleasant summer!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
The iron monster ...
HUBBY submitted a letter to the editor to our local paper and it says it all below.
Kitten traumatized by steel leghold trap.
About four weeks ago a large, beautiful, solid black year old kitten showed up at our house ... so friendly you wouldn't believe it, and he loved to be held. It was during that terrible, terrible frigid weather, and we fixed a weather-protected box for him on the front porch with a comfortable, large old blanket inside to keep him cozy. If we had kept him in the house our territorial indoor cat would have torn him to pieces.
Then he turned up missing for about two days. We thought possibly someone else had taken him in. One evening, late, I went out on the porch with a flashlight to look around his box. He was there by the door of his box - his leg crushed in the steel jaw leghold trap that he had dragged with him from who-knows-where.
His odyssey through the woods in the dark night must have been excruciating-and here he was, trap and all , back to his newly-adopted home, pleadingly looking up at me in the rays of the flashlight, with that ugly monster still imprisoning his leg.
He was lucky that he was able to break the trap free from its station. I have heard that sometimes an animal will chew off it's own foot in order to escape. I called for my son immediately, and between the two two of us we got the strong jaws apart, freeing him once again. His leg was useless then, though he tried to hobble on it.
I took him to the vet the following day, and the x-ray revealed that his leg was luckily not broken but traumatized. The vet said that his leg would probably eventually heal, but to watch it. She gave him a shot of antibiotics. At this point he is doing well, and has pretty much full usage of his leg, as far as I can tell.
The "iron monster" is still on the table on the back deck, reminding me, first-hand, of the cruelty of this machine. If you're going to kill small game at least have the decency to shoot them. I think that this instrument of terrible suffering should be banned.
Signed: D.G.
Pictured below is the "iron monster"...if you click to enlarged you can still see a few of our new cat's fur. Getting trapped with this ought to hurt bad, don't you think? I'm not against trapping and/or wildlife management; I fully understand about the importance of restoring balance to nature but there should be a better and safer tool to restrain target animals...what if our new cat was not able to free the trap from its place?...he probably froze to death because it was zero below most nights that week...poor guy.
A while ago, I blogged about our very territorial cat, Oreo here ... as you can hear, Oreo was really hissing at Guy that is why we can not let him in. (our son named our new cat Guy, I would have preferred Inky but I was the one who named Oreo, so I let him.)
What to do, what to do...it's too late to bring Guy to an animal shelter; we fell in love with him!
Kitten traumatized by steel leghold trap.
About four weeks ago a large, beautiful, solid black year old kitten showed up at our house ... so friendly you wouldn't believe it, and he loved to be held. It was during that terrible, terrible frigid weather, and we fixed a weather-protected box for him on the front porch with a comfortable, large old blanket inside to keep him cozy. If we had kept him in the house our territorial indoor cat would have torn him to pieces.
Then he turned up missing for about two days. We thought possibly someone else had taken him in. One evening, late, I went out on the porch with a flashlight to look around his box. He was there by the door of his box - his leg crushed in the steel jaw leghold trap that he had dragged with him from who-knows-where.
His odyssey through the woods in the dark night must have been excruciating-and here he was, trap and all , back to his newly-adopted home, pleadingly looking up at me in the rays of the flashlight, with that ugly monster still imprisoning his leg.
He was lucky that he was able to break the trap free from its station. I have heard that sometimes an animal will chew off it's own foot in order to escape. I called for my son immediately, and between the two two of us we got the strong jaws apart, freeing him once again. His leg was useless then, though he tried to hobble on it.
I took him to the vet the following day, and the x-ray revealed that his leg was luckily not broken but traumatized. The vet said that his leg would probably eventually heal, but to watch it. She gave him a shot of antibiotics. At this point he is doing well, and has pretty much full usage of his leg, as far as I can tell.
The "iron monster" is still on the table on the back deck, reminding me, first-hand, of the cruelty of this machine. If you're going to kill small game at least have the decency to shoot them. I think that this instrument of terrible suffering should be banned.
Signed: D.G.
Pictured below is the "iron monster"...if you click to enlarged you can still see a few of our new cat's fur. Getting trapped with this ought to hurt bad, don't you think? I'm not against trapping and/or wildlife management; I fully understand about the importance of restoring balance to nature but there should be a better and safer tool to restrain target animals...what if our new cat was not able to free the trap from its place?...he probably froze to death because it was zero below most nights that week...poor guy.
A while ago, I blogged about our very territorial cat, Oreo here ... as you can hear, Oreo was really hissing at Guy that is why we can not let him in. (our son named our new cat Guy, I would have preferred Inky but I was the one who named Oreo, so I let him.)
What to do, what to do...it's too late to bring Guy to an animal shelter; we fell in love with him!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
2010 Robotics
GOOD DAY my friends ... I'm back! Between being busy and winter blah I did not feel like blogging ... but I'm a little inspired now; must be the nice weather we've been having lately, sunny and feels like spring! ... missed you guys!
Anyway, here's a bit of good news, the Naples Grapes of Wrath robotics team, where our son is a member, tested their robot last Friday and Saturday to compete against 50 other high schools around our area and all the way from Canada and Pennsylvania. I took Friday off, so hubby and I went to watch their competition. It was quite exciting!
The game for this year is a 3-on-3 soccer game. The field is divided by "humps", pictured below, with two goals at each end. Robots have to go over the humps or under a tunnel and try to make a goal. A few seconds before the game ends, robots gain bonus points for suspending from the tower in the center of the humps. I don't really understand all the rules and scoring system but it was still fun watching all those robots "play" soccer. :)
Our son, reading a book while waiting for their turn to compete... he looks tired. Their team spent the night in the city so they probably went to bed late.
When our son came home Saturday night, it was hard for him to contain his excitement; he was wearing his medal around his neck and proudly told us that they won FIRST place! Yay! All that hard work paid off ... they worked on their robots after school for six weeks, and there were times where he came home after midnight because they were building/working on their robots.
So, what better way to start my first blog for 2010 than this? ... pretty cool, huh?
Their team will now advance to the national event held in Atlanta, GA, during their spring break.
It's nice to be back! I'll come visit you soon ...
Anyway, here's a bit of good news, the Naples Grapes of Wrath robotics team, where our son is a member, tested their robot last Friday and Saturday to compete against 50 other high schools around our area and all the way from Canada and Pennsylvania. I took Friday off, so hubby and I went to watch their competition. It was quite exciting!
The game for this year is a 3-on-3 soccer game. The field is divided by "humps", pictured below, with two goals at each end. Robots have to go over the humps or under a tunnel and try to make a goal. A few seconds before the game ends, robots gain bonus points for suspending from the tower in the center of the humps. I don't really understand all the rules and scoring system but it was still fun watching all those robots "play" soccer. :)
Our son, reading a book while waiting for their turn to compete... he looks tired. Their team spent the night in the city so they probably went to bed late.
When our son came home Saturday night, it was hard for him to contain his excitement; he was wearing his medal around his neck and proudly told us that they won FIRST place! Yay! All that hard work paid off ... they worked on their robots after school for six weeks, and there were times where he came home after midnight because they were building/working on their robots.
So, what better way to start my first blog for 2010 than this? ... pretty cool, huh?
Their team will now advance to the national event held in Atlanta, GA, during their spring break.
It's nice to be back! I'll come visit you soon ...
Thursday, December 31, 2009
RINGING IN ... 2010!!!
I'M SAD TO see 2009 come to an end because it's been a good year, but I am also looking forward to the coming new year. Blessings to all of you, wonderful friends, thanks for your visits, encouraging comments and support.
HAPPY AND HEALTHY 2010 AND MANY SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL!!!
Note: It is a belief for many, in my country, the Philippines, that having round fruits in the house before the coming of the new year, will bring you good luck throughout the year. What's your belief, if any?
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Winter Concert 2009
IT'S THAT TIME of year again where schools/students show off their hard work and give an excellent concert for all to enjoy. My kids' school is no exception. If you are a follower of my blog you all know that our son loves to play guitar. He is a member of the school's marching band, jazz band, drumline and high school concert band ... that's how much he really loves music. lol Plus he has his own band, Funk Uncle. Unlike bigger towns or cities, our small town's performers are not in formal attire ... just plain or nice-looking shirts for boys, and decent clothes for girls, but their performances are up to par just the same. Here are a few videos I took of their jazz band, sharing it with all of you and especially to our relatives here and abroad who enjoy watching him play. All seniors were featured since this will be their last winter performance, and that includes our son ... and it's kind of sad in a way, if you think about it ... "last performance?" :(
He is the one standing in the back wearing a tan hat playing the first and last solos.
They played, "Six String Shuffle" here.
... in this vid, he utilized his "Wah" pedal, playing "Funky Ol' Saint Nick"
... "Free Bird" and again his "Wah" pedal for sound effects.
After the concert, I heard a couple sitting behind me say, "That kid, Will really is amazing! He can really make his guitar sing!" And of course, hearing those kind of comments from others (besides myself, lol) just makes my heart swell! Listening to all those practices for years, over the sound of the TV at home paid off. ;) It was not always easy, especially when our daughter who plays guitar and trumpet was still living at home ... when they both practice? ohhhh, I thought I might develop an early hearing problem, but hubby and I learned to love and enjoy it! We are those kids' number one fans! ... may it be sports or arts and music ... numero uno! lol ... nothing beats that!
My friends, from my family to yours, I am sincerely wishing each and every one of you a heart-warming, blessed CHRISTmas, and and may the New Year bring us good health, peace and joy! Please stay safe and warm! Love all of 'ya!
He is the one standing in the back wearing a tan hat playing the first and last solos.
They played, "Six String Shuffle" here.
... in this vid, he utilized his "Wah" pedal, playing "Funky Ol' Saint Nick"
... "Free Bird" and again his "Wah" pedal for sound effects.
After the concert, I heard a couple sitting behind me say, "That kid, Will really is amazing! He can really make his guitar sing!" And of course, hearing those kind of comments from others (besides myself, lol) just makes my heart swell! Listening to all those practices for years, over the sound of the TV at home paid off. ;) It was not always easy, especially when our daughter who plays guitar and trumpet was still living at home ... when they both practice? ohhhh, I thought I might develop an early hearing problem, but hubby and I learned to love and enjoy it! We are those kids' number one fans! ... may it be sports or arts and music ... numero uno! lol ... nothing beats that!
My friends, from my family to yours, I am sincerely wishing each and every one of you a heart-warming, blessed CHRISTmas, and and may the New Year bring us good health, peace and joy! Please stay safe and warm! Love all of 'ya!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
My boy's 18th b'day ...
Have you ever given in to your kid's nagging/pleading?
Our son turned 18 last Wednesday, and a day before his birthday the present we ordered online for him was delivered. Hubby hid the box but for some reason our son found it. When I got home from work that afternoon, I found the box partially opened and plastered with post-it-notes saying, "let me open this today" and "please" all over the box. Apparently, he came home after school, tracked down the package online and found out that's it's been delivered, so he was in a hide-and-seek mode. After he found it, he probably realized that he's not supposed to open it yet, so he plastered it with those notes, and went back to school for extra curricular activities. (there were actually more notes...they fell off from the box)
He came back home while I was making dinner and followed me around with this face, saying, "can you refuse this face?" ... and words like, "I'm so excited to open it now, I won't be as excited tomorrow", "I have to suffer one more night and day?", etc. etc... giving me hugs, and more hugs.
I finally gave in for the main reason that he is a nice kid, getting very good grades in school, has a nice personality and seems to be doing everything right and besides I don't see any point in prolonging his agony! ... hey, what can I say, I'm a marshmallow-at-heart! lol This picture as they say, is worth a thousand words ... look at that smile! ;)
And boy, he got that baby set up in no time! He played for a few minutes but had to go back to school again. He is a member of the "Operation Santa" committee, where, along with classmates, they go house to house asking for Christmas donations ... go shopping ... box them and then they distribute the goodies to less fortunate families before Christmas.
Ahhhh ... kids, you gotta love 'em!
Our son turned 18 last Wednesday, and a day before his birthday the present we ordered online for him was delivered. Hubby hid the box but for some reason our son found it. When I got home from work that afternoon, I found the box partially opened and plastered with post-it-notes saying, "let me open this today" and "please" all over the box. Apparently, he came home after school, tracked down the package online and found out that's it's been delivered, so he was in a hide-and-seek mode. After he found it, he probably realized that he's not supposed to open it yet, so he plastered it with those notes, and went back to school for extra curricular activities. (there were actually more notes...they fell off from the box)
He came back home while I was making dinner and followed me around with this face, saying, "can you refuse this face?" ... and words like, "I'm so excited to open it now, I won't be as excited tomorrow", "I have to suffer one more night and day?", etc. etc... giving me hugs, and more hugs.
I finally gave in for the main reason that he is a nice kid, getting very good grades in school, has a nice personality and seems to be doing everything right and besides I don't see any point in prolonging his agony! ... hey, what can I say, I'm a marshmallow-at-heart! lol This picture as they say, is worth a thousand words ... look at that smile! ;)
And boy, he got that baby set up in no time! He played for a few minutes but had to go back to school again. He is a member of the "Operation Santa" committee, where, along with classmates, they go house to house asking for Christmas donations ... go shopping ... box them and then they distribute the goodies to less fortunate families before Christmas.
Ahhhh ... kids, you gotta love 'em!
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