Oops, it happened again.  Another wet mess in North Carolina thanks to a Tropical Storm.  Ida hit the Gulf coast a few days ago and it has been pouring non-stop here ever since.  Everything is beyond soaked, flood warnings are in effect for certain areas, and the dogs would rather hold it until they burst than set another paw on the soupy ground outside.  Thank Goddess that the energy-saving LED icicle lights were hung before the clouds started pissing rain.  Once the sun finds its way back, it will be too chilly to stand there clipping a bunch of way-too-expensive lights  to the gutters.  Thanksgiving in less than two weeks?  Time isn’t flying, it’s on warp speed.

Something really bothering me lately is the number of innocent people killed or wounded by whacked out individuals with guns.  This crap economy has everyone on edge, creating a ripple effect of negativity that has some reaching the point where they’re coming out shooting like Yosemite Sam.  Have we really become so absorbed by our miserable lives that we want to share our pain by inflicting it on others?  Even worse are the gun-crazed fools who fight for their right to keep and bear arms, as stated in the Second Amendment.    You know, I can see the possible need for something like that - in 1791 when it was adopted.  Yes, that was SEVENTEEN NINETY-ONE.  The lack of proper gun control in America has made guns out of control, and the people fighting to keep it that way just might end up shooting themselves in the foot.

Stepping off the soapbox and into a brighter light, it’s November, and that means National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) has officially started.  Beginning on 1 November, writers of all levels, from all over the country and overseas, will complete a manuscript by the end of the month.  Target is a finished first draft (minimum of 50,000 words).  Of course, a goal like that can be set at any time, but what a rush to be doing it simultaneously with thousands of other writers.  Plus, there is plenty of support and encouragement during the month to keep writers motivated and focused on getting the job done.  Check out NaNoWriMo’s site and tell me that isn’t a fab concept.

Signing off with a ♥ because all you need is love…  (God, I miss John Lennon)

© Dolny-Bombar 2009

Photo:  Zion National Park in Utah © Barbara Dolny-Bombar 2009

I have always had an affinity for the moon. Ordinary things, harmless by the light of day, can enchant or terrify the mind when seen from the perspective of the moon’s glow. When I was a kid, my mother always said that I was like the moon. I never really knew what she meant, but I liked that comparison then and still do today.

The moon is associated with power, magic, romance, and mystery. Studies have shown distinctive behavioral differences in people, animals, and plants when the waxing moon grows to full. Who hasn’t held their breath in awe at the sudden sight of a spectacular moon, or shuddered with just a tinge of fear when alone outdoors with a full moon framed by dramatic clouds? Toss the sun into the mix and things definitely get a bit strange.

I’m referring to the latest lunar eclipse - a total eclipse at that. A lunar eclipse occurs only when the moon is full and if it passes through some part of the Earth’s shadow (A solar eclipse occurs when the moon is new - or dark - and the moon comes between the sun and earth). Because of the moon’s orbital tilt, lunar eclipses are not a monthly sight. You’re more likely to catch a partial eclipse than a total one, but when everything is in order, the total eclipse can be an impressive sight, with colors changing from almost turquoise to orange to deep red.

There’s an old saying, If I didn’t have bad luck, I’d have no luck at all, that summed up my plans to capture the perfect lunar eclipse in photographs. Here in the Piedmont area of North Carolina, we are blessed with a mild winter climate, cloudless sunny skies, and clear nights on an almost daily basis. The one time it wasn’t going to happen was on the night of the lunar eclipse. Normally that would have been good because our hot, dry summer left us in a drought and rain is welcome. However, the dark clouds rolling along throughout the night gave us a tease instead of much needed moisture. Because the sky was in motion, I had a slim chance of getting a few shots of the moon between patches of thick cloud cover, so I thought I’d give it a go.

Outside on my deck, I had a perfect view of the moon (when the clouds moved out of the way). There was a distinctive energy in the air that our neighborhood dogs and cats must have sensed because the animal noise was non-stop. A chilly breeze combined with the restless animal sounds set the perfect tone for photographing a lunar eclipse. Now if only the clouds would cooperate and give me a decent shot.

The moon played peekaboo with me during the shoot, but I managed to get a few photos of the early phase between the clouds. After that it was hit or miss with my Fuji digital camera’s timer going off exactly as the clouds took their place in front of the action. When I finally had a patch of clear sky, the neighbor’s cat let out a loud yowl that startled me enough to knock the tripod just as the timer was going off. I lost the shot and caught the tripod before it landed, but Cat kept yowling, which then brought my three dogs onto the scene. Always game for an adventure, the boys raced out into our fenced yard barking like never before, encouraging the already noisy neighborhood beasties to join them in a cacophony of howls, yelps, and meows.

I took that as a sign to flee the scene and went inside to revise my plan. By then it was just after 10 p.m. The eclipse would peak about 10:26, and I still didn’t have a great photo. I traded the easy-to-use Fuji for my digital SLR Olympus and thought I’d give it one more try. After rounding up the wild bunch, offering biscuits to get them back in the house, I was ready for action. I set my sights on the muted orange-red moon, and the camera on consecutive shots. No timer here, I was going to do it myself to get at least one good shot of that elusive heavenly body. The clouds were thicker now, but I found my window of opportunity, pointed and shot at the same time the screen went black. I forgot to charge the battery and it died after focusing. There was no time to get a fresh one as the clouds were settling in for the night.

Sighing, I plopped down onto one of the deck chairs and watched Mother Moon wink good-bye as the clouds covered her again. I didn’t get my perfect photo, but I did see some of the lunar eclipse and chalked it up to experience - an erratic one, but interesting nonetheless.

© 2008 Barbara Dolny

Photograph of Feb 2008 lunar eclipse by Barbara Dolny

Everyone is still talking about the adorable winner of the 2008 Westminster Kennel Club Show. Uno, who has an official name of “Ch K-Run’s Park Me In First”, is a beautiful male with fine form and good game, who stole the hearts of the crowd in New York’s packed Madison Square Garden. While that might not seem any different from winners in previous years, one thing does stand apart in Uno’s case. He’s a beagle. Yep, the good old trusty Beagle, a perennial on the list of America’s most popular dog breeds for almost a century, has now validated that role by nabbing the title of America’s Top Dog.

To say this was an upset is putting it mildly. A beagle almost seems out of place in a group of shaved, powdered, and poofed-to-perfection poochies. Even in his own group, the hounds, Uno had to compete against breeds ranging from the graceful Afghan to the sweet Dachshund. And he did it well, taking the group win as the first title given in a competition of 2,500 dogs from 169 breeds and varieties. Uno then went on to beat out two poodles, a Sealyham terrier, an Australian shepherd, a Weimaraner, and an impressive Akita for the top spot by adding a high dose of charm and charisma to his exceptional dog-next-door looks.

Uno’s new life in the limelight has brought even more interest to a breed that has long been a family favorite. As “mom” to one-and-a-half beagles (Oscar is half Border Collie), I completely understand why people fall in love with that particular type of dog. I also have first-hand experience with the negative aspects of beagle ownership. This all is thanks to Sam, my rescue beagle who has been a part of our family for more than a year now.

When Sammy first came to live at 714, it was as a foster for the local rescue. At that time, Sam was at the other end of the spectrum from Uno. Sammy was a mess physically and emotionally. Now, I’m not a violent person, but when I saw that dog for the first time, I would have gladly thrashed those responsible for his condition. I knew that we had a great deal of work ahead of us to try to turn his life around, especially as there was very little information available about his past. I also knew that I was going to fail as a foster because there was no way that little dog was going to live anywhere else once I adopted him.

Taking care of Sam’s physical problems took some time, and he eventually got healthy and strong, looking every inch as fine as the champion Uno, with the exception of a few additional pounds. First lesson learned in Beagle 101, they eat - a lot. And they don’t stop eating until everything in sight is gone. It took some time to stop feeling guilty when I cut him off and had to ration his intake to proper portions each day, but we’re doing fairly well now. Exercise is another lesson learned, beagles are active and like to get into everything. Word of caution, keep beagles in a fenced-in yard or on a sturdy leash because they’ll start following their noses and forget about coming back. And say good-bye to quiet. Beagles bark, bay, and howl - frequently, but never without good reason. At least it’s a good reason to them, even if you don’t agree.

Dealing with Sam’s emotional problems was another thing. Sam must have been used as a hunting dog at some point in his life. I suspect it was in his younger years and he is excellent at catching or cornering backyard things like voles and snakes. Mice and lizards are goners when they face Sammy in the house (see my “Mousecapades” post). Sometime after the hunting experience and before his new life with me (a non-hunter), he was abused. There were many long nights of talking softly to him when he was crying in his sleep, lots of work on stopping growls when a toy was taken away or one of the other pets in the house invaded Sam’s large personal space. The worst was when when Sam flinched if you moved anywhere near him. But the little guy had spunk underneath that sad expression and I knew that if he had enough unconditional love, we would eventually break through - I just didn’t know how long that would take.

Sammy celebrated his first year with my family on 15 October 2007. Parts of that year were tough on all of us.  There were a few times when I wondered if I did the right thing by bringing Sam into the lives of my well-adjusted pets. But we hung in there and Sammy has blossomed into a friendly, lovable little guy with the greatest personality ever. He’s a different dog these days, the one he should have been all along. Still, every now and then he’ll whimper in his sleep or flinch when you reach over him. Fortunately, those moments are now few and far between, and Sammy takes the honors as one of three Top Dogs in our home. It wouldn’t be the same without him.

© 2008 Barbara Dolny

Photo of Sam by Barbara Dolny

*** If you are considering adding a furry member to your family and thinking of a Beagle, please read information on these dogs before you make that final decision. Beagles are one of America’s favorite breeds to own but are also one of the top breeds lost or given up for adoption because their needs don’t match those of their owners. If you do your research and find a Beagle is the dog for you, then please consider adopting a dog in need from your local shelter or rescue group.***

***If you can’t take on a pet right now but want to help, please donate time, supplies, food, money, or whatever you can give, to your local animal shelter or rescue group.***

I love the Internet. Name it and you can find it online. You can shop, travel, earn a degree, find a job, meet new friends, date, marry, attend a funeral or watch a film. One good friend of mine is becoming quite successful at day trading stocks online, another isn’t too shabby playing online poker (NOTE: I do not advise attempting either of these things unless you have the time and money to invest, and the knowledge to do it right.)

People are also using the Net to see and be seen by anyone willing to take a peek. Popular sites like YouTube, Facebook, Myspace, and photo sharing sites like Flickr or Snapfish allow members to showcase their work and themselves. Stars have been made on these sites, people with real talent and some so out there that they generate enough site visits to earn them notoriety if nothing else. It’s amazing how free people can be in cyberspace compared to the social restraints of the real world.

I recently entered the Myspace realm after a chat with my sister about her son’s site. It sounded like he did a nice job designing it, but one has to be a member of Myspace (and other sites of this nature) to view the site. Not only must you become a member, you have to be approved by the owner of the Myspace page to be added as a “friend”. After promising I wouldn’t write any cutsey “auntie” stuff, my teenaged nephew agreed to include me on his friend list when I signed on for a Myspace account.

That was the easy part. It’s free and doesn’t take a working knowledge of rocket science to do. Once I OK’d the triple site warning that informed me I could never change the Myspace URL- so I should be certain I wanted that one, I was in. I choose barbaradolny for the URL, with a user name (that can be changed) of Barbara. Not very creative but I knew I wouldn’t forget it and lose access to my account.

After staring for awhile at the resulting homepage of my new account, wondering what the heck to do next, I decided to do what any adult with my limited technical knowledge would do - I phoned a kid for help. In this case, it was my nephew, who lives 500 miles away from me. The first thing he did, after gathering information to work on my account, was grouch about the boring name and URL. Since the URL was set in the stone of the Myspace world, we settled for changing from Barbara to the “cooler”, according to Nephew, Galdra, which means magic.

I then basically sat on the phone, refreshing every so often when I got the go ahead from the nephew. He set me up with a nice background and an account on Project Playlist, another site for music that can be used on your Myspace page. He helped me search for the kind of music I liked and added that to my page, along with a photo. When my nephew was finished, I had a very nice site that I only screwed up a few times since. He patiently reset my information the first time I lost everything when trying to do something on my own.   That gave me confidence to continue learning how to do some basics, including how to control what is added to my site by people and how to have a public site that avoids spam. (Sites can be set to private - recommended for children, or public with restrictions, or no holds barred).

While I’m certainly not 100% Myspace savvy, I now can do more things on my page, navigate the sites, and find other people I know with an account to add to my own friend list. It’s a great place to network or connect with friends. Musicians, filmmakers, writers, and other creative sorts have pages there too. I love discovering someone new or finding out the latest on an old favorite. And, with my nephew as my safety net, I may even try to tackle YouTube next.

Special thanks to Anthony B. for all of his help and patience!

© 2008 Barbara Dolny

Photo of author by Tim Bombar

Yep, you read that right. This year I have decided to forgo the usual new year resolutions. I decided to revolt the system when I started making a mental list of what I wanted to accomplish in 2008. Save more, spend less, exercise more, eat less… the usual suspects. I realized that I say those things every year,  and mean it at the time, but by mid-February (if I’m lucky), I have already blown my budget by adding several pricey pairs of spring shoes to my wardrobe, and am willing to seriously maim someone for a chunk of chocolate cake.

The thing is that I really do want to make changes for the better. Who doesn’t? It’s just that I’m not one of those super disciplined people that can stick to their agenda like glue. I consider myself a sensual person, taking pleasure in things that appeal to each sense. Unfortunately, the one sense that suffers from this principle is common sense, especially when I deprive myself of something that I think I’m never going to have again because I gave it up as a resolution. The end result is that I overdo it the next time in spite of what that little voice in my head is saying.

So, this year I decided to buck the system and follow that tried and true philosophy that is the staple of many different self-help groups, “take it one day at a time“. No more stressing myself out by avoiding that new pair of shoes or that gooey piece of cake. Nor am I going to force myself to pinch every penny or hightail it to the gym. Been there, tried that - for years - and was still saying the same things when the next year rolled around. This year, there’s no more guilt.

By taking each day as it comes, I start with a clean slate. If I screwed up the day before, hey, it’s gone. If I don’t do everything on my agenda today, then as long as I have prioritized and made it through the most important things, I did well. No more kicking myself because I didn’t get it all done. Same goes for my shopping and eating. Anything goes. With the thought gone of never having a specific thing again, I no longer obsess over the verboten item. However this time around, I do have a little chat with myself to see if I really need or want the item in question. If I find I can’t live without it, it’s in. If I decide that I can wait until another time, I let it go. Surprisingly, I find that by taking those few minutes to think it out, nine times out of ten, I go without. And I’m fine with that.

It’s the same thing with saving money and exercising. How about tossing a few bucks into the rainy day kitty or going out for that walk - just for today? There’s always that underlying thought that if I really want to, I can splurge or laze tomorrow. And you know what? This attitude adjustment seems to be working. Yes, it’s still only the beginning of the new year, but I’m not preoccupied with this stuff these days, and as a result, I’m actually eating healthy and not feeling resentful (or deprived) because I know if I really want something, I can have it. I also walk daily because I know I don’t have to if I don’t feel like it. I even saved some cash by realizing that I didn’t need those hot-pink stiletto pumps. So what if my recently sprained left ankle did a lot to help win that argument? The point is I didn’t buy them.

I’m not sure how long this new way of life will last, but so far, it hasn’t been the usual struggle. I feel good at the start of each new day and even better when it ends. Tackling things as they come, instead of fighting with rules I imposed upon myself at the beginning of a new year, seems to agree with me. I think I can do this one day at a time thing - but that’s my thought today.  Ask me again tomorrow.

©2008 BA Dolny

Hanukkah is winding down and the Solstice is on its way, soon to be followed by Christmas and Kwanzaa, which means that we’ll be at the year’s end before we know it. It has been a bit difficult to get into the holiday spirit when temperatures here in the south have been warm, but friends and family up north assure me that the cold and snow are thriving.

Truthfully, while thoughts of a white Christmas are nice, I don’t miss freezing my butt off to scrape an inch of ice off my windshield before I start sliding down the street in my car, heater blasting, and me wiping off the windshield I fogged with my body heat. Nope. Don’t miss that experience at all. But I do miss the decorations. Not those enormous blowup things that people feel the need to plop on their front yard, I could live without seeing another one of those for the rest of my days. I’m talking about the traditional decorations in general. People in the snowy north know how to do up a holiday right.

It’s not that the south lacks imagination, there are some beautifully decorated places around here. Unfortunately they’re few and far between compared to the northern states. I’d say it’s the cold and snow that makes a difference. There’s something special about seeing a well-decorated home, with just the right amount of outdoor lights, a pretty tree shining through a window, and a wreath or two on the doors. It becomes even nicer when you add a blanket of fresh white snow, and smoke rising from the chimney. Snuggling around a toasty fireplace with steaming cups of marshmallow-topped cocoa isn’t quite the same when it’s 60 degrees outside. That’s probably one reason why you tend to see more decorated homes per block in the north than you do in the south.

You’ll also see more people stringing their outdoor lights anywhere from late October to mid-November in the north because they want to beat that first arrival of the freezing wind, ice, and snow. One good battle with nasty weather and frozen decorations will teach you to never wait too long again. I speak from experience.

This year the holidays begin at my house with the coming of the Winter Solstice, and continue through the end of the year. On Solstice Eve, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve, we will set out luminaries along the driveway and path to our front door. Candles appropriate for the season will be lit throughout the house and a fire will crackle in the fireplace. Special ‘Eve’ dinners will be prepared, as well as special dinners for the actual holiday celebration. It’s a lovely end to the old year and the perfect preparation for welcoming the next.

Whichever holiday you celebrate this year, may it be filled with joy, love, and light. And have a safe and happy 2008!

© 2007 Barbara Dolny

Photo of Solstice table setting by Barbara Dolny

I love the holidays. Actually, late summer through 31 December is my favorite time of the year. There’s something special that takes place during the long segue from lazy summer days to the hustle bustle of the winter holidays. And, while I’m not thrilled to see Halloween candy displays in July and Santas in September, it’s a sure sign that the crazy time is about to begin.

People are creatures of habit, and old habits die hard. How else can you explain waiting 335 days to begin your holiday gift shopping when you know that the same holiday happens the same time every year? Here in the good old USA, most people wait for the day after our Thanksgiving holiday - also known as”Black Friday,” to motivate us to shop till we drop, or more likely, until our wallets are empty. Insanity and chaos ensue when shoppers line up for the 5 a.m. store opening to buy a Black Friday advertised special (in very limited quantities) for a fraction of the retail price. Does anyone really need a particular item so badly that they would lose a good night’s sleep over it? No. But it proves the power of advertising is strong, and there is a certain sense of satisfaction to say you were one of the lucky few to get that advertised special before it sold out.

With the Black Friday kick off, there seems to be an unwritten rule that allows shoppers to get nasty, and store clerks to become surly. It could be that some people are still crazed from indulging in too much Thanksgiving fare, or perhaps it’s being surrounded by blinking colored lights and caroling toys for months leading up to the holiday that starts to take its toll. Then again, it could be the non-stop playing of the same three holiday songs between ten minutes of non-stop commercials by almost every radio station on the dial. Whatever the reason, some fall victim to the rudeness that strikes even the most mild-mannered person during the holiday frenzy and ’tis the season to be jolly gets more twisted every day.

Each year I think I am not going to succumb to the seduction of sales, but somehow find myself scrambling around with everyone else anyway. I figure that Coca-cola is partly to blame for using the Santa figure in a widely successful, early 20th century advertising campaign. Not only did it solidify the image of Santa that is best known today, it also gave other merchants the green light to showcase their own wares through the power of advertising and the seasonal shopping craze took root.

I tried Black Friday once and that was it for me. I can’t be bothered to wake up at such an ungodly hour, only to duke it out with the mob for the few real bargains offered. This year I’m going to pace myself by shopping during the ‘off’ hours, doing some online shopping, and getting my shopping done as early as possible. Maybe that way when I’m wandering around the stores dazed and confused during the season’s final shopping days, it will be out of habit, not because I’m still searching for that perfect gift.

© 2007 Barbara Dolny

Photo of holiday decor by Barbara Dolny

Mice would be great if they knew how to cook a la Pixar’s Ratatouille, or create fabulous couture clothes like the gown Cinderella’s furry friends made for her in the Disney flick. Who wouldn’t love to get the lowdown from Mickey about his famous peeps, or tuck Stuart Little into his tiny bed at night? However, once mice leave the animated world and enter reality, they become pesky rodents that are absolutely not welcome inside of my house.

Admittedly, those tiny field mice can be cute - when they’re not hanging out of my Siamese cat’s mouth. Juno is an indoor, “no kill” cat, who doesn’t like to share her private space. She always brings wiggling, very much alive, mouse house invaders to me to toss back out. After a few rounds of flying through the air like Mighty Mouse, you’d think the mice would get the idea that they’re not welcome here, but the little dopes keep coming back, somehow finding their way into the garage.

Our home’s attached garage is Juno’s place to take a break from the continuous dog party going on inside the main living space. That is, if the three members of my muttley-crew decide not to follow her through the cat door. Most of the time, the young dog boys are content to hang inside because it’s a lot more fun to interrupt me and bark through the window at passers-by than watch the cat snooze on top of a motorcycle. Still, the boys love to be right in the middle of adventure, and that’s where the mice are having problems.

Sammy, a rescued Beagle, is a former hunter; Beemer, the Border Collie, loves to herd; and Oscar, my Love Dog, is a Beagle / Border mix that would lick you to death if he could. Whenever Juno brings a mouse into the house, she plops it down in front of the first person she finds who can send it packing. At first, the stunned mouse was scooped up and gently tossed out the door, where it scampered into the safety of the woods. Lately, the routine has shifted to Juno dropping the mouse and the rest of us chasing it around like Mack Sennett’s Keystone Kops.

It’s best for a mouse on the run in here if a human member of the household nabs it first because overweight Sam likes to pounce on mice, and Beemer, an excellent ball player, has caught more than one in his mouth.  Needless to say, his teeth are much larger than Juno’s. Oscar just enjoys the commotion and his tail wags non-stop during the chase. With the onset of cooler weather, we have had weekly mouse runs, the odds now strongly in favor of the Beagle or Border Collie. Definitely not good news for the unwanted visitors.

Unfortunately, the last rodent to enter the house through the swinging cat door alive, wasn’t so lucky exiting. We had our usual chase around the house with Beemer scooping the mouse up first. The mouse’s movement inside of Beemer’s mouth must have tickled his tongue because the dog quickly spat it out. I was about to grab the mouse with a paper towel before it could run off again, when Sammy zoomed in and gobbled it up. Sam has been on a doggie diet, and the temptation of a forbidden snack was just too much.

Things have been quiet on the home-front lately. Maybe word has spread throughout the mouse community about the mouse-eating beagle, and the little critters will henceforth avoid house number 714. In a perfect world that could happen, but we all know it won’t.

Today I received word from a dear friend in Sri Lanka who is suffering from diabetes. Complications from this tricky disease have progressed enough for surgery, which is scheduled for tomorrow, our Thanksgiving Day here in the USA. Kumar has always been a bright spot in my life. A good man with a beautiful family, he remains positive in any situation, and has inspired me to try to do the same (although I fall far short of his center of calm). I pray for his health, and am grateful to have such a good person in my life.

This Thanksgiving brings an awareness that I haven’t always had in the past. Sure, I was thankful for the days off and for delicious holiday fare. That hasn’t changed. Now, I look at my furry little family - three knucklehead dogs and a screwy Siamese, who were once in need of a loving home, and am thankful for all of the love and joy they give me, unconditionally, every day. I think of family and friends that have shared good times, and have been there for me during the bad. And for opportunities and experiences to travel and work at something I enjoy.

To all of you with much love and gratitude, have a safe and very happy Thanksgiving!

© 2007  Barbara Dolny

Photo of a rural road, during autumn in PA by Barbara Dolny

If you haven’t seen Michael Moore’s documentary “Sicko” yet, get off your keister and go rent it on DVD now. A warning to my fellow Americans, you’re going to be mad as hell by the time the end credits roll. Not to mention sad and ashamed that our once powerful nation continues to crumble in the midst of greed driven by the very people we elected and trust to protect us. And that is exactly why you should see this film.

“Sicko” doesn’t focus on the millions of uninsured Americans (that’s another story waiting to be told), instead, it examines the current American health care system for those with insurance, and compares it to universal free health care systems in Canada, Britain, France, and Cuba. Free systems that Americans have been warned about for decades, by our government, as being inadequate, costly, and inferior to our own. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth.

To date, I have visited 30 of our 50 United States. The beauty and diversity of this country holds its own with any other place on earth. People I have met during my travels have been kind and willing to help a stranger in need. Overall, I would say that the majority of Americans are smart and aware of what’s going on in the news. So why are these same people allowing themselves to be led to slaughter like cattle, instead of questioning the government’s refusal to create a national health care system? Better yet, why aren’t more of us fighting for one?

Insurance and pharmaceutical companies are literally killing us by refusing needed tests and treatments, keeping us doped up, and taking away the very things we have worked so hard to have, if we can’t keep up with our increasing deductibles and co-pays. Sure you’ll be taxed more for a national health care system that provides free care for every citizen. However, when the cost of supplemental insurance for family members, deductibles, co-pays, and obscene prescription prices in the USA are added up by the average insured American worker, the amounts are equal to, if not higher than, the tax percentage deducted by other countries for a system that ensures free health care, and low-cost prescriptions, for every citizen. The only losers in a set up like this would be the insurance and pharmaceutical companies, and any greasy-fingered hands in the health care industry or political office that prostitute themselves for a slice of the money pie.

We have seen our resources - people and product, our jobs, our finances, our possessions, and now our health care dwindle down to the point where they are no longer worth anything, or have been taken away completely. We have lost track of the “American Dream”, and struggle just to get by every day. We are sick, tired, and afraid that the little we have left could be lost if we don’t manage to stay afloat. Even if we do everything right, one major accident or illness could take us down for good. And we have no one to blame but ourselves.

It’s time to stop accepting what’s being handed to us and start fighting back. If you love America, then fight for it. Learn what’s going on, and how even one person (You) can make a change in the system. Get vocal - question your medical costs, your doctors, insurance companies, pharmacies, and fight back. Learn what your local, state, and national politicians are supporting, and how it affects you. Then use your voice and VOTE. Don’t leave it up to the next guy to do it for you - your one vote can make a difference. And the right to vote is there for all US citizens. Use it before you lose it because if it reaches that point, you will have already lost a great deal more.

Click on the word “Sicko” to learn more about the film and on Michael Moore’s name to link to his web site. You will find other Americans who are tired of this sick system and learn how they are starting to fight back.

©2007 Barbara Dolny

For me, Halloween has always kicked off the holiday season. It’s my favorite in the line up of year-end holidays. I enjoy the ghosties and goblins, hearing spooky tales about things that go bump in the night, and the yummy fall treats (think apple cider and fresh fry-cake doughnuts) that segue into delicious holiday specialty foods for the remainder of the year.

It’s also a solemn time for honoring those who have crossed over from this life to another realm, as ancient Celts believed that the veil between the worlds of life and death is thinnest on Halloween night. For those celebrating Samhain, or the “summer’s end”, it can also mean the end of the Wheel of the Year, with the new year beginning on November 1st. A book that offers a different perspective on this time of year is A WITCH’S HALLOWEEN by Gerina Dunwich.

Whether you get into the history behind the holiday or just enjoy the celebration, it’s fun to let loose and venture down memory lane. Trading costumes with friends after each trip through the neighborhood was the norm. The only rules were that you couldn’t take the entire costume from your fellow trick-or-treater for the switch, and you had to dump the contents of your sack before venturing out again. What kid hasn’t played with their stash at the end of the night. or tried to swap the yucky stuff for something better?

Corn mazes and haunted hayrides are also on the holiday fun list, although my experiences with each were not the best. I got claustrophobic in the corn and would have been lost in the maze, after wandering away from my friends, but the sneezing that resulted from my allergies helped them find me.

Another time, I agreed to go on a haunted hayride for a first date with a cute guy I met. We decided not to dress in costume, and to this day I’m baffled by the small garbage bags he had tied to his ankles when he arrived to pick me up. The bags were empty, looking like little capes hanging on the back of his heels. In the snow belt region of central New York state, there might be a valid reason for having garbage bags tied to the back of your ankles, but that night was crisp, clear, and snow-free. When I asked him about the bags, he just laughed and looked at me like I might be crazy.

If that wasn’t bad enough, he spent the entire time talking like Bela Lugosi’s Dracula character. Needless to say, that was also the last date with that guy. But the ride itself was nice, except for the loud Brrrraaaahhhaaahhhaaa he felt the need to let out every now and then.

Halloween haunted houses and home parties suit me better, especially visiting friends or having them drop in on my own celebration. This year I’ll either be the hit or the horror of the neighborhood with gummi eyeballs ready to hand out for tricks-or-treats. I like them because they fit into the freaky holiday theme,  and they are the first Halloween candies I have found that I don’t even want to think about snacking on.

While my good old days don’t compare with tales from my mother, who would sing at strangers’ doors with her friends for pennies on their Halloween night out, they were fun and safe. Sadly, people seem to have shifted to a crazier gear with the passing of time.  Trust has been replaced with caution.  Still, I think there is enough good left to enjoy these changing times and revel in our holiday traditions for as long as we can.

©2007 Barbara Dolny

Photo of Anthony B by Cynthia Battilana

Growing up in a predominantly Italian neighborhood, I became aware of cultural differences at an early age. In a community of smooth, olive-toned skin and glossy black hair, our family stood out as being tall, fair, and different. It wasn’t only because we were a blend of German, Polish, English, and Lithuanian - talk about having an identity crisis - or that we were the only family in the neighborhood to eat Ragu from a jar, mixed in with our spaghetti, it was a lot of other little differences that added up.

I loved everything Italian - the way they talk, their mannerisms, and the amazing aromas that permeated the air on Sundays when everyone, except my mother, would be cooking their sauce. Sometimes when I was alone in my room, I would look into the mirror, wave my hands wildly and babble something that I thought sounded like an Italian, in the hope that it would somehow metamorphose me into one. I gave up on doing that when I realized it wouldn’t, and when I noticed my mother peeking in at me through a crack in the door. Maybe that’s one of the reasons she later told me that I marched to the beat of my own drum.

In spite of our non-Italian status, we were accepted.  Not the way the Corleones took in Tom Hayden, but the neighborhood took care of its own, and we were recognized as being part of it. The neighborhood kids taught us some words in Italian.  I was thrilled to be able to really speak the language, although it wasn’t until later that I learned I was saying all of the primo curse words used in Italy. Still, they were legit, not something made up.

I even took part in two Italian rites of passage. The first was having my ears pierced, this was at a time that predated piercing guns and the short-lived “sleepers”. Our neighbor, a woman who came to the USA from Sicily, had just finished piercing her infant daughter’s ears, and my mother had finally given in to my constant begging to have mine pierced too. As I sat in my neighbor’s kitchen waiting for my ear to be numbed by the chunk of ice she held in her left hand, I tried not to look at the huge sewing needle, white thread dangling from it, that she held in her right.

My screams prevented me from telling her that the ice didn’t stop me from feeling the pain, heat, and like I was going to faint, but I think she got the message. After what seemed like an eternity, the first thread was through my ear lobe. The second ear was easier, probably because by then I really was numbed by the throbbing of the first, and because she got somebody to hold me in place for that round. In spite of my wiggling to be free and continuous screams, she managed to get the piercings even, the sign of a true pro. I wore those bloody threads with pride for weeks until I finally was able to have my first pair of tiny gold hoops.

The second rite happened years later when another Sicilian woman I knew took pity on my limited cooking skills (and the horror of seeing empty Ragu jars in my kitchen), and took the time to teach me how to make a proper Italian tomato sauce - Sicilian style at that.

The old North side neighborhood has evolved throughout the years. The large Italian families have since died out or moved on.  A different population now rules the turf. Yet it was those little differences early on that piqued my interest in other cultures and gave me an appreciation for diversity, not to mention the best recipe ever for a killer sauce.

©2007 Barbara Dolny

**Continued from the previous post**

The evolution begins with a little ball of fur. While it might not be obvious at first, there eventually comes a point when you realize that your life revolves around your pet. Just like children, they are dependent on your care and receptive to your affection. The difference being that as they get older, animals will continue to wiggle with joy when you coo at, or pet, them, and the kids act like you’ve just landed from Mars, especially if you try to do that in public or - even worse - when their friends are around.

The downside is that when the kids hit on your last nerve, there is usually somewhere you can ship them off to that they’d rather be anyway.  But animals don’t go to their rooms to play the latest video game or surf the web. They don’t want the priciest clothes, to borrow the car, or to sneak off with less-than-desirable peers either. It’s sad when an animal hits a rough patch in behavior or health and someone doesn’t even think twice about getting rid of the problem (the pet) instead of taking time to work through it. There is always an excuse, and giving in to letting a potentially good animal go makes everyone lose out.

When I brought home my new pup, the first thing I did, after stopping at the pet store for food, bowls, treats, a bed, dog supplies, and toys, was give him a bath. It seemed like the thing to do - maybe to symbolize a fresh start / new beginning, or probably because he smelled like the animal shelter and I was still shell shocked from the price of dog shampoo et al. I must say he was quite the handsome boy with his shiny, fluffy coat and magnificent fan tail.

My next step was to give him a name. Since my housemate was a BMW motorcycle aficionado, and had a say about this new addition to our home, I thought “Beemer” might be cute - at least until we could think of something else. The pup wagged his tail when I called him by that name. Taking this as a sign that he liked it, it stuck. Then again, his tail really hadn’t stopped wagging the entire time he was with me, if you don’t count being in the bathtub.

When Beemer met Juno, my now 10-year-old Siamese, he greeted her with the same warm, waggie tail greeting that worked its charm on me. Juno hissed, gave him a swat on the snout, then haughtily turned around and left the room. Considering he was the first canine that my indoor cat had ever met, I think it went well. Beemer recovered quickly, gave me a slurp, wagged some more, then peed on my carpet. Apparently his obedience exposure didn’t include learning how to let someone know he needed to go out. That was something we would end up working on for a long time.

As I finished cleaning the carpet, I heard the door open and the other human inhabitant of the house walked into the living room. Beemer wagged his fluffy tail as I happily said “This is Beemer, our new dog.” There might have been a moment when we were headed for a showdown, but Beemer wasn’t planning on going anywhere else and worked it for all it was worth. The ice quickly melted and this dog was here to stay.

That was three years ago.  Potty mishaps and chewing issues aside, he has been a fantastic member of the family. Always there with a wagging tail, he seems to know when someone needs a nuzzle of affection or a laugh resulting from something silly he does. I’m not sure what force brought us together, I only know that I’m thankful for it every day.

©2007 Barbara Dolny

Photo of Beemer & his toy mallard by Barbara Dolny

October is Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog (or cat) month!

Visit your local shelter or go to www.aspca.org

It was love at first sight. The moment our eyes met, I was totally hooked and I knew that I wasn’t leaving without him. I never once regretted that decision and he continues to bring joy to my life every day. So much, in fact, that I have expanded my family - all because of him, my three-year-old Border Collie, Beemer.

I was working with disabled adults at the time and had just taken one of my favorite ladies shopping for her groceries. On the way back to her home, she reminded me of my earlier promise to stop and see the “doggies and kitties” (as she called them) at the local Animal Shelter. Tired, and driving in the opposite direction of the shelter already, I tried to talk her into going the next time we were together.

It surprised me when this usually agreeable woman wouldn’t settle for that and insisted that we had to go at that time. It occurred to me that she might be going through a rough period and needed to feel the love of a furry friend, so I gave her a smile and pulled into the nearest gas station to turn the car around. Visiting the animals would leave us all in better spirits - and I was definitely for that.

The shelter is a beautiful modern, clean facility. Only a few years old, this shelter was a gift to this small rural town from a wealthy animal lover that had lived in Philadelphia, PA. When she passed away, included in her bequests was a large amount of money to rebuild and maintain the two animal shelters in the state of Pennsylvania that were in the worst condition (at the time of her death), due to lack of funds. The shelter we visited - a good four hour drive from Philly - was one of the two.

As bright, clean, and welcoming as this new shelter was, it filled me with sadness that the Cat Room and Dog Kennels were filled almost to capacity. I do want to note that this particular shelter has a higher than 70% rate of adopting out animals, one of the best in the state.

My companion wandered into the Cat Room. Here you can open the cage doors and take out a cat or kitten to hold and pet - and if you’re both lucky enough, adopt it as a new member of your family. I was on my way to the room with the Dog Kennels when I detoured to the Puppy Room. It was always empty whenever I had been there before, puppies being desirable adoptions. Still, my routine was to walk in, look around at the empty cages and move on to the next area.

I opened the glass door and looked right at the most gorgeous puppy I had ever seen. He was the only pup in there.  As I walked into that room, I knew I was leaving with him, and I knew that he knew it too. Period. Never mind the the facts of not having owned a dog in years, that a dog was not low maintenance and I had a busy life, and that I already lived with an older Siamese and a lovable-but- grumpy “no more animals” housemate at the time.

I was told that he was about 12 weeks old and had been found wandering down a busy main county route, trying to heard cars,  on a cold, rainy September day, near an area known for breeding and training border collies. The pup had been the only puppy at the shelter for ten days when I saw him. Interestingly enough, even though puppies went quick and people gave him a look, nobody asked about adopting him. Nor did any calls come in asking about a lost Border Collie pup. Shelter staff thought he was such a good pup and so pretty that they were going to feature him in the next newspaper campaign.

When I took him out of the cage, he jumped up, wagging his tail wildly. It was almost as if he had been waiting there especially for me to arrive. He was great on the leash and when I tried a few hand commands, he obeyed. This was a dog that had either started some type of training or had been exposed to it. When my companion came over to see the pup, he greeted her warmly and offered a paw. That was the clincher (as if I needed one). I bought one of the collars and a leash that they sell at the shelter and filled out the paperwork. Since I was known in the community, a background check went quickly, and I was able to take him with us. I dropped off my delighted lady.  Then it hit me. I’d just had a baby and it was completely unexpected!

©2007 Barbara Dolny

Photo of Beemer by Barbara Dolny

**This story to be continued in another post**

OCTOBER is Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog-Month! (of course, any time is a good time to give a pet a home!).

Visit your local shelter or go to www.aspca.org

The last time I sat in the driver’s seat of a vehicle, there was a movable little stick, or lever, attached to the steering wheel. Nothing fancy, it’s easy enough to use - press down or lift up, depending on what you want it to do. The lever is wired into the vehicle’s system to activate a blinking light bulb on either the left or right side of the auto. 

After performing this basic function, not only will a little light blink on your dashboard, but lights located on the outer front and back of the vehicle blink too.  This lets the other drivers know you’re about to turn. 

Yep, it’s a simple concept behind the indicator light - or turn signal, and unless you have a bulb blown out or faulty wiring, it’s reliable, easy, and works every time. So, why the heck aren’t people using this? I’m not a math whiz, but more drivers using less signals seems to equate to a lot of potential trouble. In fact, not signaling a turn seems to be the norm these days. 

   On a recent day of local driving in a larger city, I noted the number of drivers using a signal was less than those not. Aside from the obvious - I need a more interesting life - I was actually stressed out by the time I reached home.
In my state, cell phone use while driving is not prohibited. It should be - then at least the number of people talking on the phone illegally would lessen - but it’s a common to see other drivers steering with one hand and holding a cell in the other.

One women I was following started pounding on the steering wheel when she was stopped at the light. She was on the cell either having one hell of a fight or amazing phone sex, as indicated by her body language. The woman was so absorbed in her conversation that she was driving 28 mph in a 45 zone. Oncoming traffic and no passing area, prevented me, and the long line of drivers behind, from doing anything more than cursing the selfish jerk out. She finally turned off - no signal, of course, still on the phone. If your conversation is so heated, then pull over to the side and get on with it so the other drivers can be on their way.

It’s not only the cell talkers that don’t bother with signals. How can you steer, signal, and eat your lunch, apply makeup, or read the paper or a map while driving when you only have two hands? Something’s got to give and it’s a no-brainer that the signal will be the one to go. Why bother to use it legally when you’re doing something else that shouldn’t be done while operating a moving vehicle? The last time I looked inside of a Driver’s Manual, there was a section about turning and the use of signals. Apparently that is still the law, albeit not in vogue.

The old adage of there never being a police officer around when you need one proved true for most of my recent experience, where all of the above mentioned incidents were observed.  Finally, on one particularly busy street, I found myself following a police cruiser and happily waiting for some idiot to do something stupid so they could get nabbed.

Unfortunately, the sight of the police car transformed everyone into star drivers; following the speed limit and making all the right moves.  There were no more driving mishaps until the police officer turned on to another street.  He never used his signal.

©2007 Barbara Dolny

Today I found an interesting blog by chance that really made me think. It’s written by a 93 year-old man living in Canada. Apparently Donald Crowdis is the oldest known blogger and I must say he offers plenty of food for thought with his insightful posts on DonToEarth.

Reading his blog made me realize two things, first - life itself - it’s all going to end at some point in time. Second, there is so much to do, see, say that we all should be getting on with it instead of thinking it over. Where to begin when there’s so much to do?

I have always led an eclectic life - never fitting into one definite mold. One reason is that I honestly do like many different types of music, art, food, people, things in general. Someone once referred to me as a ‘comet’ - saying I was very bright when I passed through but never in one place long enough to really shine. I was quite offended by this remark, made years ago, but now realize that, in a way, it’s true. I have given up on opportunities and people in the past before I gave them a fair chance. It’s much easier to disappear than to deal with fear, my true nemesis. I didn’t want to show my vulnerability to anyone and that led me to play it safe. It took a long time to realize this and even today, I still try not to enter the comfort zone of hiding out.

If nothing else, why not take that chance? Even if you fall - pick yourself up and move forward. At the very least, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you tried and won’t look back years later thinking the proverbial “Should have…could have…would have… but now it’s too late.”

Click on Don’s name to link to his great blog!

©2007 Barbara Dolny

I’ve been a bit lax with this space as I am unsure what I could / should write. Recently I had the opportunity to attend a chat session with two top editors at Algonquin Books. I brought up the subject of blogs and web sites for as-yet unknown authors and was told that any book promotion should be held for when a book will actually come out. The publisher takes on that type of PR as part of the deal.

Thinking about it now, I realize that it makes a lot of sense. Why start buzz for something still in the works, especially if nobody knows who the heck you are? I had been holding back posting on this space until I found an answer that would give me guidance and that was it.

The chat session with editors, Kathy Pories and Charles (Chuck) Adams was sponsored by the Raleigh, NC Write2Publish group, of which I am a member. I am amazed by the number of talented writers living in the Piedmont area of North Carolina. My favorite groups are the Write2Publish group and Ladies Of The Write. The former offers a wide variety of events geared to writers and the latter is a small group of five who read our works-in-progress and then share feedback.

After the meeting, some of us went out for a late night bite & conversation. I enjoyed chatting with author / singer / songwriter Jon Batson and his lovely wife Eileen, a marketing and PR specialist. Author Stacey Cochran was there with Michael Graziano , another author/musician/film person. Stacey is a whiz at generating buzz about projects and lining up events. His most recent project, an interview program for cable television featuring authors, is starting to take off. If Stacey ever wants to sit on the other side of the writer’s desk, I can see him becoming a successful agent or promoter. Some people just have a talent for it and he is definitely one of them.

Another writer at the event was Dawn Taylor. She is a member of Ladies Of The Write and quite gifted with words. I look forward to our LOTW meetings so I can hear the latest work on her novel. I can’t help feeling inspired by her and the other fab writers I’m getting to know.

©2007 Barbara Dolny

1 July (already!) I am waiting for my new writer’s software program (Power Writer) to arrive before moving forward with the mystery. After a somewhat frustrating several days with a demo software program that had my computer locking up, I finally managed to get the program to work and am quite happy with it.

Power Writer is primarily a word processing program with development extras. It allows the author to set chapters up, work on characters, and write the story at the same time - something that many other pricier programs do not. Once that is in place, I should be good to go with the book again.

In the meantime, I am working on a children’s easy-reader, which I hope will be picked up; several guided meditations for an audio project; rough layout for a television show that I got an idea for when I was working at one of my infamous jobs-from-hell; and a bit of poetry. All in various stages of completion. Ideas come easily to me - it’s working through them to the end that I tend to have trouble with.

I also recently wrote a “(So You Want To) Be An Author” guide for the Amazon.com site. Since it was a guide (I suspect to help sell their materials), I only touched base on areas I feel are important. No pay in it on this end as there are about a zillion guides on there that anyone can write, but I did get to choose the items that I wanted to recommend and it is nice to see something other than a review I wrote about a pair of Clark’s shoes on the site.

©2007 Barbara Dolny

Many thanks to my dear friend, Juergen, for setting up this site and being the wonderful guy that he is. He is one of those people that bring color and good energy into this world - just thinking of him makes me smile. He is brilliant, talented, and the only person I know with a life crazier than mine.

A truer friend one could never know…

©2007  BADolny

I uploaded the nice slideshow for you

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