I'm going to take a break from fighting the bigger war to address a smaller one - because the smaller one is adding fuel to the war itself.

For some time now we've had the 'pet owning public' and the 'show folk'. Somewhere along the line things got twisted up a bit,… Read full post »

The problem is - **numbers**.

For the show breeders of large breeds which can have large litters, one or two litters a year can sound fine. For the toy breeders, which may be lucky to have two or three pups in a litter, one or two litters a year may not get… Read full post »

It's difficult to carry on a conversation and not tar all with the same brush when using a term, isn't it?

'Rescue' does leave a bad taste in the mouth of many breeders, because many rescue *individuals* are still yet unaware-uneducated-whatever about the BSL that is sweeping the US (and many other… Read full post »

(Now that I have your attention ;)

Requesting forgiveness up front for this 'information dump' of sorts.   The following posts are from my now-closed Dog Blog and will probably be of interest only to those with pets.   They date back into '08, I'm parking them here 'cause this is… Read full post »

Inspired by a recently read blog post here at OS (sorry Becky Boop, your blogpost was fine, really ;).

Warning, rant!   

Surely I can't be the only one who's never had a second thought about being wolf-whistled at as I walked by large groups of men working outdoors?   I never saw… Read full post »

Marjorie Walker

23rd December 1938  -  8th July 2011

When you have the time, perhaps a little now, and a little then, if not all in one sitting, visit her blog @

http://open.salon.com/blog/marge_walker

I think everything she had to say here was worth reflection..

Than… Read full post »

Go see Marge folks, go see Marge..

http://open.salon.com/blog/marge_walker/2011/07/01/thanataphobia_fear_of_death Read full post »

Once again an email I received has inspired me to thought.   I won't reprint it because it comes from an e-list and while it was a 'reprint' there, I'm not going digging for authorization to reprint it here :).   Suffice to say the subject matter concerned a young person of the… Read full post »

Arvil's life of 73 years touched many, during the 25 years he was employed at Boeing Company, 1st in Wichita Kansas, then in Bossier City Louisiana at the Barksdale A.F.B., through the years following his retirement and move to Russell county, in Kentucky.

Born in Lincoln county Ky in… Read full post »

Here, within our OS family, ones I wish I had found sooner..

http://open.salon.com/blog/ronansmom

Small dramas to us, enormous dramas to them, playing out every day around us.   Find the time my friends, go look.   Listen..

There must be others here that I haven't foun… Read full post »

Hi all, thanks for visiting - I planned to respond to the responses on the previous post but decided that it needed it's own post due to length  :).

We have such an across the board mix of folks here at OS, and honestly the various religious and spiritual sensibilities - or… Read full post »

A response to ALL of those forwards that appear in my inbox from well meaning but misguided acquaintances.

Again, and again, and ...

Subject: FW: thought for today...
 
This kid got an A+ for this paper       
BY A 15 yr. OLD SCHOOL KID       
~~~~~~~~… Read full post »

My modem died on me toward the end of last month and I just managed to get back online (in case anyone happened to notice I was gone ;).

Good Gods you should see my OS inbox...

But I didn't flounce, and I am back  :D. Read full post »

(image credit scenic-wallpaper.info)

{right click, view image to see bigger card}

For Scanner

(hope this works!) Read full post »

I went to bed last night (early this morning actually) apparently more disturbed than I realized.

What follows first is the very first thing I did this morning.   I usually read my email before venturing out into cyberspace   And often, like this morning, I'm reminded of just how s… Read full post »

If the reader has seen some of my commentary, has noticed my avatar, or read some of my blog, that I have been a part of the dog show fancy may be something you know about me :).   For those more normal folk who love their pets and have no interest… Read full post »

Dust ups.   Flame wars.   Whatever you choose to call them.

I'm ranting two posts worth because I'm tired of being one of those who is caught between people who's writing I enjoy who can't seem to agree to disagree, let alone get along.   And because of intolerance and pa… Read full post »

A mouthy newcomer, that's me - and this baby's going to be long, sorry 'bout that, so I'll break it into three parts.   

I was fortunate to have been raised by two people who instilled quite a bit of confidence in me, perhaps spoiled me in some ways as well (there… Read full post »

A little background.

I've raised and shown dogs for nearly twenty five years.   Part of that was the reponsibility toward the breeds I'd chosen as my own, not just my own dogs, so I was involved in breed rescue and foster care.   I also worked with the stray animal problem in my… Read full post »

Thunder is rumbling south of here, it's getting pretty dark, they're calling for some nasty weather this afternoon and looks like we're going to get some - it IS the season.  

I wanted to drop this post off while I can  :).

 I have avoided reading any of the 'sponsored… Read full post »

Ya gotta love this place.

 I've been hanging out on bulletin boards and email lists since I got my first 'metal monster' in '93.   Admitted that nearly all of my experience has been canine related, but as it turns out a good preparation for hanging out here at OS.  … Read full post »

{{sound of rushing footsteps}}

{{sound of door slamming shut}}

{{sound of heaving panting breath}}

{{sound of heavy body falling heavily into the nearest chair}}

Good God/s almighty people!

This post has absolutely nothing to do with anything important - so don't w… Read full post »