An Evening with Papa

Papa found himself a comfortable spot the other night, and he looked so peaceful I decided to take a couple of pictures. (OK, I had nothing else this week so I am using a few lame shots of Angel so that I will at least have SOMETHING to give you people. I hope you appreciate it.)

My little man, all snuggled up against his daddy's chair. There is not much else in this world that is as comforting as spending some time snuggling up with your dog. He isn't called "Man's best friend" for nothing!

Hey! Whaddya know, a picture of me snuggling up with my doggie! You know, I heard somewheres that Robert De Niro has a small white fluffy dog named, er, Fluffy! If it's good enough for De Niro, it's good enough for me.

I was originally just going to use the image of Angel on the right for this post, but it reminded me of the shot on the left taken when he was just three months old. It inspired me to combined them as sort of a before and after image. Just after what I have yet to figure out.

And because we cannot have a post about Angel without somehow including my baby Jackie, here's a shot of the two of them peering through French doors that open out into the backyard. Sister Salem is helping them grab daddy's attention so that the three of them can get in out of that awful Southern California cold weather.

So ends another fascinating adventurer in the lives of our two favorite pups, Jacqueline and Angel, with special guest star Salem. Until next week, please go check out the Carnival of the Dogs at Mickey's Musings, and the Friday Ark at The Modulator for more interesting animals, and don't forget the Carnival of the Cats this Sunday.

Me and Remote Controlled Helicopters

Since I was a kid I have always wanted a remote controlled helicopter.

In our small town, kids my age in the late 1970s and early 1980s would cruise up and down Main Street in our cars. You weren't anybody unless you were seen in a car on Main Street come Thursday and Friday nights. I worked in a fast food restaurant just a block away from the action, but our restaurant was the place to hang out in between jaunts up and down the main drag, or when the munchies truly started to kick in. Some of the people who cruised Main were pretty cool, but others thought they were God's gift to mankind, and could be really rotten to other people. It was those sorts of people that gave me the idea of modifying a remote controlled helicopter so that it could carry, and release on demand, eggs. I fantasied about taking such a device up to the rooftops of the shops that lined Main Street, and sitting up there all night dropping rotten egg after rotten egg on the hotrods of all the other rotten eggs.

But technology back then couldn't support my dream. While there were RC helicopters at that time, they were expensive affairs that demanded a high level of skill to fly them. I couldn't afford either, so my dream of bombing Main Street, much like the cruising of Mani Street, eventually died off.

Eventually cruising Main was outlawed, but today lithium battery and micro motor technology has reached the point where small, inexpensive remote controlled vehicles of all types are available to the average Joe. Over the past year especially "micro helicopters" have hit the market in a big way. I bought my first small r/c helicopter several moths ago. It was this piece of crap that was damn near impossible to control, and had a battery that wore out in no time at all.

The next micro helicopter I bought was this little guy...

This is a nice little bird, but can be a challenge to fly. Once I got the hang of it I really enjoyed flying this little guy. It fits in the palm of my hand, and is billed as the world's smallest remote controlled helicopter. The only trouble I have had with it is that after a while I could no longer set the trim on it. It is necessary to set the trim on helicopters to prevent them from just spinning around and around. This particular little helicopter needs to be trimmed out after every charge. However, recently I just can't seem to get it trimmed, so it just sort of 360s around the room. I even bought another one thinking it was just an isolated problem, but nope, the second one does the same thing! I have even tried new tail rotors, but nothing seems to work.

Now THIS baby is great...

This is the Air Hogs Reflex micro R/C Helicopter. Another great little bird that rocks! This is by far the most maneuverable micro helicopter I have owned. The two little props on either side of the main rotor are how the helicopter turns, or moves forward or backward. It isn't the smoothest of helicopters in terms of maneuverability, but it does translate your input into some accurate maneuvers.

With my Picco I almost always hit a wall, or some other obstacle in the room. (All the helicopters I have shown you thus far must be flown indoors. The slightest gust sends them traversing across the universe.) The Reflex is so easy to fly by comparison that it almost never runs into anything. It takes longer to charge, averaging around an hour compared to the Picco's ten minutes, but it flies a little longer, and has a much more powerful main electric motor. I love this thing, and fly it as often as I can. I even take it to work sometimes so that I can fly it in the very large warehouse we have.

Here is what I would like to have next...

Have you ever seen anything so beautiful? It's the Walkera Dragonfly 35, and it is a completely different helicopter from what I have had up until now. It is much larger; almost two feet long with a wingspan of two feet, and is capable of perfect 3D maneuvers such as roll, inverted, and swoop flights. It is also much more expensive running as high as $500.00, but I have seen it on one website for as low as $189.00. All the other helicopters I have talked about are under $60.00.

The dogs aren't too thrilled about the helicopters flying around their house.In fact, they bark wildly at the things, and usually end up under a bed someplace. Ebby usually just ignores them, but Thalia, the Siamese Ninja, she tries to catch them. Goodness knows if she ever does snag one, I will be out one helicopter.

Brutus is a Brute

You may remember Brutus, our little fish that we got just before the big move? Here is a picture of him when he was a guppy, (or whatever it is you call a baby fish.)

Well, take a look at Brutus today...

Yup, that's him. Brutus the Brute. He actually KILLED all those people whose skulls are piled neatly in his tank! Can you believe that? You can tell just by looking at him he has a bad attitude.

Brutus is an Oscar, and he is also a pretty handsome fish. Just ask him. Nicely. They have a reputation of not being very tolerant of others. If you cross one, you just might find yourself "sleeping with da fishes".

I recently moved Brutus into a much bigger tank because he out grew the last one. He couldn't swim very far before running into it's sides, and he would dirty it up rather quickly.

His new tank is gorgeous, but he is forced to live in solitary confinement.

He has issues.

Look for Brutus, and tons of other lovable animals, at the Friday Ark at The Modulator. You're gonna love it.

Ebby and Angel and Jackie and Thalia

Apparently all the planets were aligned the other day. Either that, or one of the seven seals has been broken because the impossible happened in my house not once, (which could be shrugged off as a fluke,) but TWICE! And in the same WEEK!

What happened was so amazing, so incredibly spellbinding that had I not been there and seen it myself, I never would have believed it. Luckily, I was not only able to witness these events, but I was also able to document them as well. The pictures I took speak for themselves, but I added my own little quips anyway because I am really a big ham at heart...

Yep, almost every animal that is allowed in the house was in close enough proximity to one another that I was able to take a few pictures of all of them together. The only one missing was Salem, and that is why the prophesy quoted above has yet to be fulfilled, and we are all still warm and snuggly in our homes reading about this almost blessed event instead of being raptured to the Los Angeles Zoo.

The problem I have getting shots like this is that, believe it or not, all the pets don't really enjoy each other's company all that much. Ebby and Salem are true loners, and seek solace wherever they can find it. Ebby usually finds hers outside, and Salem find hers in the garage.

Thalia is very sociable, but since she is shunned by the other cats she tries to hang with the dogs. The dogs tolerate her well enough, but they will chase her off when they have tired of her company, or if they feel she is receiving too much attention from daddy.

The relationship that Jackie and Angel have with Salem and Ebby can be called, well, tenuous at best. If Ebby or Salem enter a room already occupied by Jackie and/or Angel, you can bet your bottom dollar the dogs will chase the cats out of the room. I have tried to curb that sort of behavior, but let's face it, I am not a very strict doggie daddy.

As amazing as that set of pictures is, however, it is no match for the next couple of pictures...

That's right, Ebby and Thalia sharing the same napping space! When Thali was still a kitten Ebby tolerated her well enough, but once she reached a certain age Ebby started rejecting Thali's attempts at friendship. I have mentioned before that Athena's death had a seemingly profound affect on Ebby; she seemed much more reserved, and sullen after Mama died. She no longer sought out human contact, and kept pretty much to herself. She has been more affectionate towards people as time goes on, but she still isn't interested in bonding with any of the other pets.

I am not sure how long they had been there because I found them together in that chair when I came home from work the other day. I quickly fetched my camera so I could take their picture because, let's face it, I might never have the opportunity again!

I wanted to take more pictures, and get just the right pose, but once Thalia saw me I knew my time was limited. She got up and came over to be near me, and I was only able to take three pictures. I am just glad I remembered where the camera was quickly enough to be able to get these pictures, and so I should be grateful I was able to get any pictures at all!

It's my dream to get a picture of all of our animals together one day, but trying to get three dogs and three cats to stay still long enough for a picture would be nearly impossible. I imagine that is why they invented programs such as Photoshop.

So there we have yet another exciting chapter in the lives of Jacqueline and Angel, with special guest stars Ebby and Thalia. Until next week, please go check out the Carnival of the Dogs at Mickey's Musings, and the Friday Ark at The Modulator for more interesting animals, and don't forget the Carnival of the Cats this Sunday.

Ebby is the Smartest Cat in the Universe

Ebby is the only one of our cats that we allow outside. She was a stray when we found her, and she is rather comfortable outside, unlike Thalia who sort of freaks out when she gets out.

Ebby seems to enjoy getting away from the rest of the pets, and so we let her out often. She never goes very far, and is content to stay near the front of the house napping in the garden or elsewhere in the yard.

A few days ago my stepson noticed that Ebby's collar was missing. I checked her out and sure enough it was gone. I buy the type that break away easy so the pets don't get caught, or hurt should their collar snag on something. I went and looked for the collar our front, but didn't see it and decided I would get a new one next trip to the pet store.

Well, yesterday when I came home from work, Ebby again wanted to go outside. I let her out, fed the dogs, and busied myself with some mindless enterprise or another. I think it was Mythbusters. Soon, I heard Ebby yowling at the front door. I wasn't sure at first if it was her or Salem, our other cat, so I went to the garage to make sure Salem was alright. She was, but I heard the yowling again. I was sure where it was coming from this time so I rushed to the front door to make sure Ebby was OK. I looked through the window in the door, and there she was, on the porch, and with her collar dangling from her mouth! At first I thought it was a lizard because she and Thalia have been bring a lot of lizards to people's beds lately. (Thalia finds her's in the garage.) But when I opened the door, Ebby dropped the collar right there on the porch.

I was so amazed I ran and got my camera to take these shots. She played with it for a bit, and the dropped it again at my feet.

I was really amused by the whole thing, and am still wondering if somehow she knew she was supposed to be wearing her collar, and so brought it back for me to put back on her.

Cats are great, too.

More cats can be found at the Friday Ark at The Modulator, and the Carnival of the Cats this Sunday.

Playing Fetch with Mariah in the Backyard

The other afternoon when I came home from work, I went out into our backyard to spend some time with my stepson's dog, Mariah.

Mariah was part of my wife's family even before I came onto the scene. She was a puppy when I first met her, and she has always been a sweet, good dog. She is a little large to be in the house, however, and so she has always lived outdoors. She has a comfortable dog house, and when it gets too cold we let her sleep in the garage. I have gone so far as to take an old blanket, and tucked it in between the two halves of her doghouse so that it can fold over the top. It adds a little extra insulation, and the end of the blanket hangs over the front opening of the doghouse enough that Mariah will grab it, and tuck it around her body so that it seals the opening, and keeps her warm.

She's a smart dog, and she has always looked out for the other animals. When Athena was still alive, if she some how got out through the sliding glass door that opened up onto the back patio, Mariah would bark in a particular way to alert us, and would simultaneously herd Athena back towards the patio door. She has done the same thing with the other cats, and we could always tell when one got out by the tone of Mariah's bark. I trust Mariah to guard our house while we are away, and to take care of Jackie and Angel as well. I honestly do consider her invaluable.

When I went out to see her, Jackie and Angel of course wanted to go outside, too. Angel busied himself by sniffing around the bushes, but Jackie wanted to horn in on the game of fetch I was playing with Mariah. We have a small patch of grass in our backyard that ends just under the shade of the avocado tree. (If you know anything of avocado trees, then you know grass doesn't grow under one.) The previous owners put bark under the avocado tree, so it is a bit tricky for Jackie to navigate through it on her spindly little legs.

When I would throw the tennis ball, Mariah would take off like a shot. Jackie understands the concept of a handicap, so she stayed way down under the avocado tree so she could make a play for the ball when it got down there. You might think that it is dangerous for a sixty pound dog that can run very fast to compete with a six pound dog for a ball in a game of fetch. But Mariah is very conscious of Jackie's size, and goes out of her way to avoid hurting her.

It's great how well these three dogs get along together. I also find it a hoot that the smallest of the three, Jackie, is the dominate dog in the pack. She sleeps where she wants, eat when she wants, and pretty much keeps the other two in line. When Mariah starts barking at some intruder, either real, (possum,) or imagined, Jackie is right there next to her yapping away as if she were ten times her own size.

Dogs are great.

So there we have yet another exciting chapter in the lives of Jacqueline and Angel. Until next week, please go check out the Carnival of the Dogs at Mickey's Musings, and the Friday Ark at The Modulator for more interesting animals.

Scanning Old Photographs

I have been scanning a lot of the pictures my parents have of the family etcetera that they have been collecting over the course of their almost fifty years of marriage. Some pictures even date back further, if you can believe that. (I have always had a tough time grasping the concept of my parents existence prior to my own birth.)

Anyway, my dad has always been a semi-professional photographer, meaning he has made a little extra side money taking photographs. So, he has always had some pretty damn fine camera equipment, and has taken some pretty damn fine photographs. I take "pictures", my dad takes "photographs".

Here is one I found of my sister and me walking along together when we were quite young.

I am not sure why, but I really, really love this picture, and wanted to share it with the few of you that drop by.

Jackie and Angel Go For A Walk In The New 'hood

This might seem hard to believe, but yesterday I finally took Jacqueline and Angel for a walk around the new neighborhood.

I know, I know, we moved in back around Christmas, so why did it take me so long to take the dogs on a walk? That's an easy question; I am lazy!

Really, though, I think the real reason has more to do with routines. You see, when we lived at the other place, we had a routine. I would come home, and first thing off the bat I would take the dogs for a walk. After the move, when I would come home from work, I would start putting things away that were still in boxes. After a a little while longer, after most of the stuff was put away, I would do other things, like sit in the living room and watch television. But I would ALWAYS first feed the dogs.

It got to the point where the dogs expected me to feed them as soon as I walked through the door, and being the weak daddy that I am, I would oblige them. Well, yesterday on my way home from work I finally committed to taking them on a walk around our new neighborhood. So, as soon as I got home, I dug out the leashes, found some pepper-spray and some old doggie bags, hooked up the dogs and left for our walk.

Angel remembered right away how to put on his leash; he lifted his left paw so I could hook it around to his back. Jackie also seemed to remember the routine, and let me put her leash on without a complaint. Both seemed excited at the prospect of going for a walk, and as soon as they had their gear on, they headed straight for the front door.

It was unusually warm yesterday, and I think they are both a little out of shape. (I had to open Papa's collar up a little so it wouldn't fit him so tightly.) We walked around the block, but it is a large block that is probably about one and a half times as large as a normal block around here. They both seemed hot by the time we got half way around the block, and I had to carry Jackie for a little while, but all in all we did well and had a good time.

Here's what we saw around the new neighborhood.

I need to take them on more walks, and eventually I hope to get back into the routine of walking them every evening after work.

So there we have yet another thrilling chapter in the lives of Jacqueline and Angel. Until next week, please go check out the Carnival of the Dogs at Mickey's Musings, and for more interesting animals, the Friday Ark at The Modulator.

Happy Anniversary Jacqueline

Three years ago today we brought home a little bundle of joy. And by "little bundle" I mean Jacqueline.

Jackie picked me to be her daddy after my wife and I went to a pet store in Camarillo to see another dog that my wife was interested in. That story can be found here.

From the moment she came through the front door, Jackie had a spot amongst the other pets, and in everyone's heart. She is a feisty little dog, and despite her small stature, she pretty much runs the show around here. She keeps angel in line, herds the cats, and even takes the largest doghouse for herself when she goes outside. (Mariah is easily ten times Jackie's size, but all Jackie has to do is stand at the entrance of the doghouse Mariah is in, and Mariah gets up and out of her way.)

But, even though she at times rules her domain with an iron paw, she can be very sweet. She loves her daddy, and when I come home she sticks to me like glue. Angel is right at her side, but after they have been fed, and settle down, it is Jackie that most often follows me from room to room, or wants up on my lap.

Even with all that devotion, it is clear the one soul she loves the most is her big brother, Angel. She may follow me around the house, but she can most always be found near Angel. They do spend their entire days together, so of course they have bonded well.

She has had her share of problems. Her first real medical emergency was a run-in with a bee, and then I was careless, and dropped her, but the scariest time of all is when Jackie got into some heart medication.

Today Jackie is as healthy as a small horse, and happier than ever in her new house, with her big backyard. She goes on more adventures in her backyard than she ever did on our old walks. I am sure if she could speak she would say she couldn't have found a better home because in our home, she is never without someone she loves.

So, Happy Anniversary, my little baby. And try to stay out of trouble, OK?

Did you like the pictures of little Jackie, and would you like to see more little doggies and animals like her? Well, then, head on over to the Friday Ark at The Modulator.

What am I Obsessed?

I cannot tell you why I have such an affinity for Disneyland, (the one in Anaheim, California,) but I can tell you when it started.

It all started when I was eight years old, and my parent's took my brother, sister, and me to Disneyland. If my parents can be believed, we had all been before, but to tell you the truth, I really cannot remember any trip there before I was eight or so. I reckon the reason I started to really dig on Disneyland by eight years old is because I started to put it together that the man who built the place was the same genius that made Sunday nights my favorite night for television, and was also responsible for some of my favorite movies as well. There was something about the stuff that Walt Disney produced that touched me in some odd, intangible way that no other entertainer, not even the Disney of today, is capable of.

So, I imagine for those reason, and because I tie Disneyland with some of the happiest times of my childhood, that I wax nostalgia about the place and how it once was. It really was a magical place back in the sixties, and it really was the happiest place on earth. Back then, when Walt Disney's touch was still ingrained into everything inside the park, the attractions were more than state of the art, they were almost mystifying. They were certainly mystifying to a young mind such as my own. Walt Disney was able to create things like robots that looked and sounded more human than anything else at the time. Even today the Audio-Animatronics, which is the registered trademark for the robotics created by Walt Disney's Imagineerings for the attractions at Disneyland, that Walt Disney created in the sixties are still the best thing going in any amusement park in the world.

When I was a kid, the stuff I saw at Disneyland blew my little mind. In the course of a day I was treated with ghosts, travailing the high seas with pirates, riding a river boat like the ones that Mark Twain wrote about, listening to, and WATCHING Abraham Lincoln as he gave a speech, and I could even be shrunken down to the size of a nucleus of an atom. It was better than a movie because I actually could experience these marvelous things first hand.

Disneyland was a safe, fun place to go and forget about all your troubles, even for a little kid. There were no teachers, no textbooks, no chores, no bullies, none of the rotten stuff that goes with everyday life, and that stood between me and a good time. It's no wonder then that I would want to bring a piece of it home with me after it all ended way too soon.

I remember each family trip to Disneyland from the age of eight on, and how quickly it seemed time passed while I was there. It was almost as if time acted differently inside of Disneyland than anywhere else in the world. The only worry I had in the world while I was there was I had to pack as much fun as I could into my day before it all ended, and that meant not wasting time shopping for stuff when I could be on some ride having the time of my eight year-old life.

It wasn't until I was much older, fifteen to be exact, that I discovered the notion of enhancing my memories of an event by anchoring them to some fifty-cent item I could buy at that event. So, when my dad said it was time to go after a family trip to Disneyland in the fall of 1975, I just had to get to a souvenir shop and grab something to take home. What I got was, in my mind, the perfect item to forever remind me of Disneyland, and the great memories I made there with those that I loved. And, it was even LESS than fifty cents! It was a twenty-five cent map of the entire park.

When I got that map home the first thing I did was tack it to my wall. I was careful to place the tacks as close to the edge as I could because I wanted it to last forever. At first I didn't even put tacks in the bottom corners because I wanted to minimize the damage as much as possible, but the map was printed on fairly thick stock, and even the mildest gust, such as that generated by a swinging bedroom door, was enough to tear the map from it's tiny moorings. I eventually secured the map sufficiently enough by the strategic placement of tacks in each corner that it didn't pull away from the wall anymore.

In 1991 I had my map professionally framed, and today that same twenty five cent map hangs in a place of honor over my fireplace.

Right next to my album, "The Story and Song from the Haunted Mansion," an earlier attempt of mine to bring home the magic of Disneyland.

It cost me two-hundred dollars to have my map framed, but it was worth every red cent. My map, (and the original receipt,) is safely protected from dust and light in an acid-free, archival quality frame, and is up on my wall for my enjoyment whenever I please. I often look at my map, and remember not only the trip when I bought it, but subsequent trips with family and friends, and all the fun we had.

After that trip I started to go to Disneyland occasionally without my folks. After a while, the feelings I got when I would go to the park sort of wore away, much like the excitement of Christmas does for many people. I still would enjoy going, and even though I resent what has happened to the park over the years, (especially to the parking lot after they tore it out to make way for "Disney's California Adventure",) I still like to go, and it is still the recreational destination I most like to attend. But, I find myself turning to my treasures of time past in an effort to stir those childhood feelings of anticipation, excitement, and wonder that have become oh so elusive.

I bought other maps during other trips to Disneyland, and Now I even buy sculptures of the park's architecture. I imagine one day I will have a complete replica of Disneyland inside my house! It will just be in miniature, is all.

Drat.

Trip to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

This past Saturday my wife suggested we take a drive out to Simi Valley, and go the the Reagan Library. She knows ever since the arrival of Air Force One I have been wanting to go again, so I took a shower, got dressed, and off we went.

Simi isn't far from where we live in Ventura, so even though we left after lunch we were still able to get there before 1:00pm. When we arrived I noticed a bus off to one side of the visitor parking area. After we parked and started towards the entrance of the library we saw a gaggle of geriatrics that were all gathering together for a group tour. We quickly made our way to the cashier to purchase our tickets so that we wouldn't get caught up with the older set. Overall, however, we got lucky as far as the crowd goes. There wasn't a lot of people there that day, so we were able to wander through the exhibits at our own pace, and unencumbered by other bodies.

We have only been to the library once before when there was an exhibit on the life and times of Walt Disney. That was a great exhibit, but by the time we finished with it my wife and I wanted to go home, and so I never did get to see the permanent, Ronald Reagan exhibit. This time we were there mostly to see Air Force One, but we went on the self guided tour through the Ronald Reagan exhibit anyway, and I am glad we did, but I think we both sort of hurried through so we could get to the main attraction.

As soon as we entered the pavilion, we were greeted with a grand view of Air Force One, and a panoramic view of the surrounding valley. I had made sure before we left to set up my camera for taking indoor shots without a flash. I anticipated correctly that the library doesn't allow any flash photography anywhere within the buildings of the library. Unfortunately, I didn't realize my flash was still on, and I took three pictures of Air Force One before I realized my mistake. My wife was the one who pointed it out, and the only reason she knew was because a man who appeared to be ex secret service was yelling at me from a desk that there are "no flash pictures!" When I finally caught on, I turned and looked at him, meekly waved and thanked him. (Why I thanked him I will never know.)

From there we walked along the balcony to the path that leads to the boarding platform of the plane. You can have your picture taken boarding the plane, but we opted not to. I was going to take a few pictures inside of the plane, but you are not allowed to take any pictures for security reasons. I swear that is what they said! Any schmuck can tour the plane, but you can't take pictures because of security risks. I guess they are afraid some Ruskie might time travel here from the 1980s and figure out all of our military secrets by taking pictures of the contents of the plane, and then returning to the old Soviet Republic.

The plane was very cool. Visitors enter the door nearest the nose of the aircraft, and the first thing you see is the cockpit, which is much smaller than I imagined, and full of switches and dials. Next on the tour is the area where "the football" was kept. There are period laptops on a small desk, and what appeared to be a complex communications system. In other words, more switches and dials. What was also interesting was the three clocks that kept the exact times for the current location of Air Force One, Washington time, and the time of the next destination.

From there you walked down a narrow corridor to the president's state room, which is hardly more than a desk with a few chairs, telephones, and an old television and VCR. Aft of that is accommodations for the president's staff, the media, and a galley. It really isn't very luxurious, and I wondered as I walked through it how Reagan must of walked through the plane hunched over as I did since he was about the same height as I am, as you can see in the next picture. (He was 6'1", I am 6'2".)

After we left the plane, we walked down and took a look at Marine One, the helicopter Reagan used, and the Limo he used to cruise around in.

The view of this aircraft must be fantastic at night. There are lights embedded in the floor that are directed at the underbelly of the plane. I would really like to visit one night when the plane is fully illuminated.

My back and neck won't allow me to walk around much like that, so we made a beeline for the little souvenir shops because we just can't leave a place like this without shopping. It was in one of these shops that I finally had to sit down because I was starting to feel the pain, but I did leave with a nice shirt.

I had just enough left to go out and see the section of the Berlin Wall that is out in the garden area, and just down from there is where Reagan is interred. It is a really nice spot. The view is magnificent, but the pictures I took certainly don't do it justice.

I always enjoy going to the Reagan Library, and I hope to return soon. My wife is not as enthusiastic about going, but she is gracious enough to go with me once in a while. As I mentioned before, this trip was her idea and that means more to me than I can tell you.

I have not ever been a very politically active person, but I understand why some people think Reagan was the greatest president of our time, but I also understand why others feel he left a lot to be desired. My main interest in such places as the Reagan Library is the history that can be found there. For instance, not only did Air Force One 27000 ferry around Reagan, but it began service under Nixon, and was also used by presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and George H.W. Bush until it was replaced by a pair of 747s in 1990.

That is why I find the Library to be such an exciting place. The history to be found there is just fantastic. It is for that reason I hope to one day visit Washington DC.

I have twice been to Georgia, and have seen many of the Civil War sites there, and the feeling that comes over me is indescribable. I somehow connect with historic objects, as if I can see in my mind like a movie the events and people that once took place at a historical site, or around a historical item. While on Air Force One I was very aware that I was walking where once seven of our presidents had walked, (George W. Bush also once flew in SAM 27000,) and was touching items they had once touched. That sort of thing is rather thrilling for me.

Two Faces

Before we get to this week's adventure, I thought I would mention that most every week for the past few years I have taken gobs of pictures of our pets while trying to capture that one special moment that stands above the rest for inclusion here at Athenamama. Like many professional productions of this magnitude, much of the photoage taken for this blog ends up on the cutting room floor, or in this case, a folder on the hard-drive of my computer designated as the photo archive spot. I have saved virtually every photograph I have ever taken of our pets, and of our family.

The reason behind this obsessive compulsive behavior stems from when Athena died, and I realized that every moment shared between two souls is precious. I reasoned in that twisted way I have that if such moments can be captured and saved, then they should be whenever possible. That philosophy compels me to save every shot of the people and pets in my life that I love. No matter how lousy, if it is blurry, too dark, washed out, or whatever, it is a moment saved from their life, and therefore it is precious to me.

Recently a very special, and kind friend of mine gifted me with a Flickr-pro account, and I have been uploading the lion's share of those pictures that didn't make the cut here on Athenamama. Now, for the first time ever, you can see what kind of hard work and great talent goes into creating the brilliant, and highly entertaining posts you have come to love each week here on Athenamama. You will also be privy to the more private moments in the lives of the two main stars of Athenamama, Jacqueline and Angel. There are moments of joy, sadness, love, and even silly outtakes that will have you standing on your chair, and cheering excitedly as you click through picture after picture at your computer monitor for minutes on end.

So, take a moment and click on our Flickr Badge in the side bar on your right, and enjoy all those not-so-great photos that you heretofore only wished you could have seen. (It's the one right under the Tupperware link.)

We now return to our regularly scheduled program...

Like most everyone else, Jackie and Angel have a morning routine. The very first thing our two favorite little dogs like to do is to go out into their backyard, and survey the land for any intruders, or stuff to eat. They might have other business to tend to while they are out there, but I figure that is their personal business, and so the subject never comes up between us.

While they are outside doing their thing, daddy head straight for the coffee machine, and grinds up a fresh batch of beans for the morning coffee. By the time I get that situation under control, and the coffee starts to brew, Jackie and Angel are usually knocking on the French doors in the living room asking in that cute way that they have to be let back in. When I go over to oblidge them, here is what I see...

So there we have yet another exciting chapter in the lives of Jacqueline and Angel. Until next week, please go check out the Carnival of the Dogs at Mickey's Musings, and for more interesting animals, the Friday Ark at The Modulator.

Tupperware and YOU!

I think I may have mentioned earlier that my wife has been selling Tupperware. I have to admit at first I was a bit leery of the idea because I thought Tupperware was one of those things that you bought once, and never had to replace ever again. That would mean no return customers, and therefore sales would eventually dry up. But, my wife is an amazing person, and already she has made way more money than I ever would have expected. And, she is getting a lot of repeat business, and the reason for that is because Tupperware has a lot of other cool items for sale other than the typical burping bowls.

So, if you are looking for some Tupperware for yourself, or maybe your wonderfully deserving mother, (remember, mother's day is approaching,) then take a gander at my side bar to the right, and click on the retro looking Tupperware button. It will take you straight to my wife's Tupperware site where you can browse, and buy Tupperware to your little heart's content. If you are really daring, you might even consider selling a little Tupperware yourself. If so, I am reasonably sure there is some information on my wife's site about how you, too can become a Tupperware consultant.

And now we return to our regularly scheduled blogging.