Recon Patrol 7/12/10

Today we had a long and rather hot RECON. I got up early and we were out the
door by 0730. We went a new route into a subdivision that's close to the house.
We climbed our 40 degree 'hill' then started exploring some different streets. The
neighborhood is a nice one with sidewalks and high privacy fences. There's even
a little park where we stop and drink water and I put some on the dogs' faces
and bellies to be sure they're cool enough.

The only problem is the privacy fences. When there is a dog inside the yard,
the Cpls cannot see him. This makes for a rather noisy passing as Bridget takes
offense at not being able to see the enemy. And some of them are quite large
and hit the board fence with enthusiasm. I even saw a German Shepard or
Malinois head come up over the 6 ft fence.

We had been going at a good clip and Bridget and I were arguing whom the
commander of this particular parade. She always wants to be in front and then
strains against the lead. Added to this was the additional stress of the
unpredictable attacks on the various perimeter fencing. Cpl Abbot as usual was
in his customary 1st Sgt's position at the rear of the formation happily
trotting his short little legs along.

Then we turned a corner to go up yet another street when I saw looming up the
hill an Samurai Sentry in the form of a huge black chow dog. He was standing
in the big middle of his front yard and giving us the evil eye. I stopped the
patrol and considered our options. We could go forward and engage the enemy,
but my two little Marines had been going great guns for 2.3 miles and were not
at their best fighting conditions. Plus, my main homicidal maniac had been
fighting me for the last mile. Nevertheless, she hit the end of her leash and
barked out her battle cry. Cpl Abbott looked at me like Longstreet to Lee at
Gettysburg and said "If you want it, we'll do 'er, but I'm not enthusiastic
about the whole thing."

As the Commander I took all options into consideration and decided to make a
dignified retreat. We had lost nothing on that street. The other soldier was
only guarding his own camp and had not made any hostile moves yet. And he was
Huge!! Even from the distance, he looked to be the size of a black angus bull.
Just a while back we'd successfully withstood skirmishes from two macho young
Pit Bulls but no actual blood had been shed. I liked out combat history. I'll
take one successful flanking movement and one peaceful outcome over a last stand
any day. My two marines have a combined weight 31 lbs, this guy probably topped
out at around 100 with or without fur coat. So we made a good about face and
headed down the lonesome trail. The Chow, like a good sentry, stayed his post and
watched us leave without comment.

We continued to back track until we hit our regular route and headed towards the
high school and then home. We made it down to the tennis courts but when we went
to cut across the high school campus at 3.07 miles, Bridget pulled back and plopped
down on the dirt. The good thing is that she picked a shady spot that we could all
enjoy the break. I pulled out the water bottle and the Home K9 Energy Edge'shake mix'
that I just got several days ago and mixed her a potion. She drank it down and lay
there happily as I washed her with the remainder of the cool water. She wasn't
abnormally hot, she just appeared all tuckered out. So we sat in the shade a while
took a short break and, when she finally got back up, made it back to the house.

I'm thinking that she's just not used to controlled marches. As a pup she just
did what she wanted and rested when she felt like it. So, since we've been
having forced marches, she just doesn't have the traveling stamina that Cpl Abbott
does. He stays calm and collected most of the time only having some mild panic
attacks when honking big vehicles come a little too close for his comfort zone.
He's only reacted violently once when a Labrador puppy tried to put a foot on
his head. When we get back from the marches he's just a happy little guy, no fuss no
muss no drama. She, on the other hand, is wearing herself out arguing with me and making promises she probably can't keep against much combatants. I mean I walk with a stick but it probably wouldn't have done much against Attila the Chow.

So that was our walk today. We actually logged 3.6 miles in about 2 hrs
including the breaks and the dramatic collapse. I'll probably take the little
darling to see her vet this weekend just to be sure there's not a real problem
that's manifesting itself as these apparent 'fainting' spells.

By the way, when we did get home, they BOTH had to run perimeter fence, chase the squirrels, threaten the Cocker brothers and argue with old Brownie. Then they came in and slept on the bed while I got ready for work. What a life.

My pit bull adventures, or a tragedy waiting to happen

This is just some experiences I myself have had.

I walk several miles a day with my two Jack Russells. I'm 57 years and cannot run so anyone/thing I meet must be dealt with.

Several weeks ago I was walking in a field near a residential area. A beautiful silver pit bull puppy started following us. I believe he'd been at the park getting water from a leaky fountain. He had no collar or tags. I only had my two little dogs and they were very adamant that he was the enemy and should be fought off, but he was totally non agressive and backed away at my insistance. He headed back into the residential area and hopefully home.

Two days ago, Saturday night, I was walking at the high school across the street from us when another young rednosed pitbull started following us. My two again began the growling barking thing and I tried to run him off too. He actually rolled and showed his belly. When I did get him to leave I watched in horror as he ran out into traffic and nearly got hit. Becoming frightened he came back to me.

Being a complete sucker, I pulled my emergency lead out of my fanny pack and looped it around his neck. He had a fancy collar but NO TAGS! I dropped my two Jacks off with my husband who was a bit surprised to see my new friend. Did I mention that my female Jack had already bitten the poor guy once before I realized that she could get to him. Again, no agression on his part.

I took him down to a house on my street that I knew had pitties. They didn't know who he was but had seen him in the neighborhood recently. Luckily the man was willing to take him from me and keep him. He works in a 7-11 store and said he'd post pictures of him around. He like me just thinks the boy got out.

The point of my stories, why in less than a month was I acosted by pitbulls? Now, I love pitbulls, I'm not afraid of them, these were both young dogs, both had collars but no ID tags, both were intact males. Both were playful but non-agressive. I didn't turn them into the pound because of the euthanasia practices against pitbulls. Both times ended as well as could be expected.


I do not understand the thinking of these owners. Do they not think they can get out? Do they not care that their dogs run the risk of death on the streets or death at a pound? Both beautiful young dogs. Both friendly. Both doomed by their owner's lack of care and attention.

Its a trajedy waiting to happen.

SIT-REP Comanche Lookout Park

DATE: 7 Jul 2010

SUBJECT: SIT-REP Comanche Lookout Park

TO: All JRT USMC on the dirt, in the water and in the sky.

FROM: Cpl Abbott (with help from Cpl Bridget.)


Today Papa got up real early to go to 'work' and he woke us all up at 0400. After he left Mama couldn't go back to sleep so she put us out in the dark while she futzed around the house. Then she called us in and put us in the Yella Jeep.

We rode a little ways and stopped at COMANCHE LOOK OUT PARK !!! Yeaaaa!! Its a great park that we'd been to once before with Nature Hounds.

http://www.texasescapes.com/SanAntonioTx/Comanche-Lookout-Park-San-Antonio-Texas.htm

The trails are really cool here. I mean really...there's lots of trees and picnic benches and places to sit and drink water. They're kinda rough hard stuff Mama called asphalt with lotsa gravel. Good grip for paws and tennis shoes. We walked and walked and there were lizards and rabbits and squirrels everywhere. There was even other prints that Bridget said was deer tracks.

We met several other doggie people out with all different kinds of dogs. There were just people walking themselves and some people were running. I think they are called joggers. Bridget wanted to go with them or for Mama to run but Mama says NO, Our Mama doesn't run. And guess what! Today she didn't fall oops at all. And Bridget didn't get too tired either.

We even went up the big hill to the tower. It's not a real castle, somebody just built it up there but its very nice looking. And you could see a long ways off from the bluff just past it. And there's even a water fountain up there with a doggie fountain too. Then we came down the hill and walked some more. We took the easy way down. Mama says there are some motivated people that go up and down the bluff face, but she wasn't that enthusiastic.

When we got back to the jeep, Mama said we walked 2.6 miles in about an hour. Then we had to come home cause she has to take a nap before work today. But we had a really good time and then we came home and we got raw beef heart for our dinner. It finished a perfect day for us.

Bridget and I are expecting Mama to be crashing for her nap soon. We will snuggle up to her and make sure she is comfy. She likes us to do that

So that's my sit-rep. It was a great morning and we'll sleep all day on the bed while she goes to work. I wonder what work is anyway.

Yours Truly
Cpl Abbott and Cpl Bridget
Firebase Cole , TX

Poem for Trooper.

I am a huge fan of Terrierman.com. I wrote this for Trooper, Patrick Burns' 16 year old Border Terrier that recently passed. I guess I have enough ego to post it here also. Saylor was his JRT packmate and they hunted together for many years.
--
Debi
I know God loves us, he gave us dogs.


Poem for Trooper.

Run, run, run to the bridge.
Greet your packmate Saylor.
Wag your tail and bow to her
be again the rollicking player.

You will be missed on this plain
of earthen warrens and pipes
where your master still listens
for your voice amongst the dykes.

For you are now one of legend
to those of us who know your name.
Your stories still we will hear
your life is now one of fame.

Be you proud, if dogs are proud,
where game is fast and burrows deep.
Sound off Trooper, nice and loud,
so Master may find you when he sleeps.

A commentary on LOYALTY and our little ones.

A commentary on LOYALTY and our little ones.

True loyalty is a very rare commodity in today's world. A companion who will
always stand by you is a 'pearl of great price' and is of untold value. There
is an ancient bond between mankind and our canine companions that was struck in
the ancient darkness of time immemorial. Many people have forgotten and violate
the pact by ignorance and heartlessness. Some dogs don't take it as seriously
as others. They will run and hide in times of violence or danger to them. But
not the Jack Russell. The old Parson would still be proud of the strain that he
developed from his great lady bitch, Trump.

One of the things I seriously love about Jack Russells is their undying loyalty
and their tenacity. We're always hearing about the ones who go down a hole like
Alice and can't get back. Or they get lost in the woods and have to be found.
There are even unfortunate stories of them attacking other small pets like cats,
ferrets and gerbils. These are true due to the innate nature of this little
rascals, because they were bred to be brave beyond common sense and savage to
their prey.

On the other side of the coin, however, there have been many many true stories
of the little ones standing by their owners/masters/parents to the bloody end.
There's the story of George who won the Victorian Cross for saving a group of
'his' children from attacking dogs. There's the story of the South African JRT
who remained to guard his master's body after he was killed by rebels in that
country's civil insurrection. There was the JRT who in England, saved his
Mistress from a rapist by viciously attacking the man after being kicked
numerous times. Then the story of the JRT who defended 'his' pub from burglars.
These news stories are becoming legendary.

Even television has given them a bow. There were the too perfect versions such
as Eddie and Wishbone. But then on Law and Order there was an episode where a
woman jogger was attacked and killed by an attack dog that had gotten loose in
Central Park. The investigating detective sadly commented on the death of her
little terrier dog who had fought the much larger dog to protect her.

I believe that if Nicole Simpson had possessed a JRT, there would have been
proof of her murderer because he would have sustained injuries. The dog would
not have been found wandering the streets in confusion. A Jack would have saved
her or died with her.

Oh, yes. We know they have their problems and not all human and canine personalities mesh successfully. You can have a JRT who doesn't work out for you. Something in
their background may interfere with the bonding. Or they may be too high energy
for your circumstance. If that happens, all you can do is return or rehome the
dog. They are too strong willed to conquer if the relationship doesn't take.
But we know that when we find them, or they find us, that we have a soul mate
for life. We are blessed with our little hairy Angels. And the loyalty they
give to us can only be returned as fully and as tenaciously as we can.


Debi
Cpl Abbott and Cpl Bridget.
and Scarlet the dependable Horse Marine.

Semper Fideles which means (of course) Always Faithful.

Why some people should be hurt.

In my humble opinion, there are people who should be hurt.

I'm on a list for a dog rescue group. So, I often hear about dogs that need help and people who need hurt. A good friend of mine often states there are too many people who need killing, but not enough bullets or time.

Today I learned of a 13 year old lady dog who was turned into a shelter because the owner, a Minister by the way, got a calling from her god to go and do something else with her life. Notice this god is in small letters. I do not accept nor respect a god who calls someone to desert a helpless animal at a shelter.

Can you even imagine how this poor little angel must feel? Thrown into a cold cage and surrounded by others in the same plight? Abandoned by the only people she had ever known. People whom she had loved deeply and faithfully. My heart breaks for her. Even if adopted she will take a long time to recover.

Then there's the browbeaten woman who's getting a divorce and her estranged asshole told her to 'get rid of the dogs or he'd do it for her'. My first question is if she's getting a divorce why the hell should she do anything he tells her to do? I have a few others but they get pretty messy. I've tried to get in touch but to no avail so far. My husband is not happy with me. I want both dogs. Well, I want them both safe.

I deal with stupid people every day. I think that humanity took a biological diversification along about the beginning of the 20th century. We split, just like the Neanderthal and the Cro-Magnum did. Before then, people who were that stupid and mean were usually killed by some lawman or someone meaner and smarter than him. But starting about 1890 the law came to the land and a 'kinder gentler' time began. They didn't hang people anymore for murder, rape or horse thieving. They went to jail and continued to spoil the gene pool. I'll have to put the whole thing down again for the blog.

Anyway, I have a real hatred for these types who demonstrate a complete lack of morality and sensibility. I guess I can state is succinctly by saying...

Yes, I'm a prejudiced person. Now, I don't care what color, race, ethnicity, financial class, religion or nationality you are. However, I am deeply prejudiced against Assholes. If you are one, please stay far away from me, or I will hurt you.

Stargate SG1 Story

I haven't written one in a while. This is Gen so I feel comfortable posting this here.



Title: New Beginnings
Author: Debi C
Spoilers: New Ground
Category: Written for the Other Character Challenge. Not beta'd.
Warning: Gen. G-rated.
Summary: A new immigrant makes a decision.
Disclaimer: Not mine, wish they were, but then someone left them alone and I‘m letting them out to play.


What was this place anyway? It was dark and cold and sometimes dank. He had left his world because it was no longer safe for him. He was a traitor. He was despised. And now he was here, a stranger on a strange world.

He had left his world to come with a man of intelligence, courage, and wisdom to this new life. But it was difficult and he didn’t know what to expect. This friend, also an alien, had told him of freedom of body, spirit and mind. Time would tell if it was a lie.

Now, this man was taking him on another journey through halls, corridors and tunnels. It was a difficult trip but finally, at the end, a huge metal hatch was opened and they climbed out to an incomparable spectacle.

It was fantastic, it was magnificent, and it was awe inspiring. They were on a mountain top looking at a glorious view of sweeping vistas, splendid trees and a never ending sky. The sun shown warmly down on the craggy landscape. There was birdsong in the air. The wind gently moved his hair with soft fingers as if to welcome him.

“Look around you, Nyan of Bedrosia. Is this not a beautiful world?” Teal’c looked at him knowingly.

“Yes, Teal’c.” He replied to his fellow alien. “It is indeed that. But will it welcome me?”

“You must keep the secrets of the SGC but, yes, it will welcome you. There are several aliens who abide here in complete anonymity.” The big man replied with a smile. “This can be your new home also if you wish it.”

“But how will I live?”

“Daniel Jackson had applied for you to be allowed to work with him here. You will be suitably recompensed and you will learn much from him. He is a good man.”

“As are you my friend.” Nyan replied with a smile. “I think I would like to stay and learn about this planet and the universe.”

“Then, stay.” The two friends stood and looked at their brave new world.

“Oh, there you are!” A familiar voice called out to them. “Nyan, Teal’c c’mon. We’re going out to dinner. My treat.”

They turned to greet O’Neill who was leaning on a friendly tree. “Geez, Teal’c. Did you have to come all the way up here? Next time take it easy on an old man.”

“You are not old O’Neill,” the warrior responded kindly to his commander. “And yes I did.”

“So what do you think, Nyan?” O’Neill swung his arm to take in the entire view. “Think you’d like to live here?”

“I think I would.” He replied steadily.

“All right!” the Colonel said enthusiastically, “Daniel will be happy about that. He’s been wanting someone like you to work with. C’mon then, Daniel and Carter are waiting for us. Let’s go get some steak.”

“And cake O’Neill?” The big man asked with a smile already knowing the answer.

“Teal’c, there should always be cake.” The Colonel turned and led them down the mountain to their new lives.