San Francisco, Gay Rights, Star Trek and Geocaching. May in a nutshell.

I can't believe I missed the entire month of May without one entry. It's not like nothing happened in May. It's more that I have been so busy. So here's a look back at some of the things I would like to bring into focus from May. Think of it as a cluster of mini blog post.

I went to San Francisco with my best friend Joe. We went out there to visit my friends Joe, Todd and Alice. Alice's son, Mark Bingham, was one of the four people believed to have stormed the cockpit and stop the terrorists on his hijacked plane from crashing it into the White House. Mark was a man who loved life, his family and friends. Mark also happened to be gay. He was on United Flight 93 and he gave his life to save hundreds.


This leads to my next mini post. Why in the world do people feel they need to vote to let gay people marry? This is a basic right that straight people in love all have. Gay people love each other in the same way. How could one set of people decide on something so personal? How could we allow a majority vote on rights of a minority? If this was the case than we would have never seen women cast their votes in elections. We would have never seen blacks go to the same schools as white or even drink from the same water fountains. I only hope that all women and African-Americans remember this next time this question of gay marriage is brought up for vote.


As for vote. I vote that so far Star Trek is the best movie of the summer so far! This movie Rocked.


Speaking of Rocks, I have a new hobby called geocaching. It's kind of like a treasure hunt that's world wide. People from all over leave boxes hidden in different places. they mark their location on GPS and the computer and others use clues to find them. It's serious fun. Today I climbed the most rockiest trails up the side of a HUGE hill to seek out one of these caches. Well worth the climb!


Ok, that's about it. I promise I'll be back in June!

Famous Pigs

The outbreak of the Swine Flu has been hard on the people who have been stricken by it. Because of miscommunication and wrong information, it's also been hard on the pigs nation around the world.
To remind people that "pigs are out friends", I'm listing some pictures of famous pigs.
See if you could name these 8 piglet starlets. Place the answers in the comment section. Good luck

1.2.

3.

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5.

6.

7.

8.

Swine Flu Information

It's been all over the news for the last few days. The "swine flu" in threatening people world wide. I did some research and gathered some information that I hope helps everyone keep healthy.

What is swine flu?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.

What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

How does swine flu spread?
Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

What should I do to keep from getting the flu?
First and most important: wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?
Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air. Germs can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk and then touches their own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands.

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water. or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. we recommend that when you wash your hands -- with soap and warm water -- that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizer may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.

What should I do if I get sick?
If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have been identified and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact their health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.

If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.

If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

For more information about the swine flu go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

Earth Day 2009

It's our planet. It's our home. We're slowly killing it and it's time we all woke up and save it.

This is the message that has been put on the table. The words are easy to say but the mission is a tough one but not an impossible one.

We all need to act now because right now, at this very moment, the Earth's climate is changing and each and every day that we ignore this fact we put tomorrow in jeopardy for us, our children and each living thing on this planet.

April 22, 2009 is Earth Day. Let's make the other 264 days part of this celebration each year.

Here are some interesting and some what troubling facts about the way we use the world around us.

• The garbage in a landfill stays for a for about 30 years.
• In 1995 over 200 of the world landfills were full.
• Each person throws away approximately four pounds of garbage every day.
• One bus carries as many people as 40 cars!
• We each use about 12,000 gallons of water every year.
• The 500 million automobiles on earth burn an average of 2 gallons of fuel a day.
• Approximately 5 million tons of oil produced in the world each ear ends up in the ocean.
• Recycled paper requires 64% less energy than making paper from virgin wood pulp, and can save many trees.
• Every ton of paper that is recycled saves 17 trees.
• Earth is 2/3 water. but all the fresh water streams only represent one hundredth of one percent.
• 14 billion pounds of trash is dumped into the ocean every year.
• It takes 90% less energy to recycle aluminum cans than to make new ones.
• 5 billion aluminum cans are used each year.
• 84 percent of all household waste can be recycled.
• Each year billions of used batteries are thrown away in the United States. This constitutes 88% of the mercury and 54% of the cadmium deposited into our landfills.
• Approximately only 10 percent of every landfill can be cleaned up.
• Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to watch a TV for three hours - it's equivalent to half a gallon of gasoline.
• Earth Day is a relatively new holiday and was first celebrated on April 22 in 1970. More than 20 million Americans participated in this first Earth Day celebration.
• More than 20,000,000 Hershey's Kisses are wrapped each day, using 133 square miles of tinfoil. All that foil is recyclable, but not many people realize it.
• The patron Saint of ecologists is St. Francis and the first proclamation of Earth Day was made by the mayor of San Francisco in 1970.

Thank You for PLANET PALS. COM for the terrific Earth Day Facts.

My Jeep Wrangler

The year was 2001. I was driving up Branford Hill when I passed a Jeep dealership. In the corner of my eye I saw a bright yellow Jeep Wrangler on the lot. Without as second thought, I pulled into the dealership and knew instantly that I wanted that Jeep.

The thing is, ever since I was like 8 years old I wanted a Jeep. I don't know if it was the fun I thought I could have with a vehicle that could plow through deep mud on woodsy trails or the idea of pulling off it's soft top in the summer and being total open to the air around me while driving to the beach. What ever it was, I knew that this was the Jeep I wanted and I was getting it.

The "Wave"

The first thing I was told when I bough the Jeep was that Jeep owners had a secret wave. It's true! When two Jeeps pass each other, it's proper Jeep form to wave to one another. Not to wave back is a down right insult and in time I actually felt that insult when my wave wasn't returned. The "Jeep wave" happened when I passed my first Jeep and it has happened hundreds of times since.

I quickly learned that owning a Jeep was special. It was almost cult like with other owners. The moment you met someone that said they owned a Jeep you were guaranteed to open a whole conversation about it. I understood the "It's A Jeep Thing" slogan and realized the people who didn't have a Jeep would never get it.


People say that everyone's Jeep has it's own personality. Mine was known for it's bright yellow paint and the Superman "S" spare wheel cover. The Superman "S" was special made for me by my friends and became a part of my Jeep that would stand out among other Jeeps.

Not to sound obsessed but I fell in love with this Jeep. There wasn't a moment that I regretted paying what some might feel was far too much money for a car it's size but I didn't care.
Sure I sometimes wished I had a trunk to store something bigger than a shoebox and yes, the sound of the wind slapping on the soft top made it nearly impossible to have a conversation with a fellow passenger when riding on the highway. But that didn't matter much, because the best times I've had with this sun yellow Jeep was usually me riding alone, with the top off and heading toward some adventure somewhere in the country.

"Adventures and Journeys"

I remember the first long road trip I went on was a sunny day in September when I decided to drive from Connecticut to Knoxville, Tennessee to visit a friend. Even as I drove through the twisting roads of Pennsylvania and the green and brown hills of Virginia, I knew this trip was something I would always remember. The highlight was driving through the Smokey Mountains, taking in their wondrous beauty and charm as I could feel the air cool around me as my Jeep drove high up the mountain's road.

My Jeep and I saw the field where United Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania. We drove through many chilly October days doorless and with the top off just to have autumn's colors surround us. We plowed through the worse that winter could throw at us. We watched some of the most incredible sun sets while driving and some of the most promising sunrises. This Jeep was my ride through life's adventures and I loved every single minute of it.

"The Long Road"

It's now eight years, hundreds and hundreds of waves and 130,000 miles later. Even though I've taken incredible care of my automobile love, time is starting to take it's toll. There's not a scratch or dent on it's still shinny yellow exterior but it's transmission is starting to slip. The ride is far more rough than I like it to be and on the way to the airport last week she overheated, causing me to miss my flight.

I stepped back and took an honest look. Gas prices are high and my Jeep's 17 mpg is tough to deal with. She needs a lot of work and money put into her. I knew it was new car time but hated thinking about it.

I ended up buying a small Honda with a 33 mpg gas mileage. I admit I love my little car but I don't deny that I don't miss my yellow adventure rider very, very much.
Let's face it, I'm a total Jeep guy and I'm riding in a Honda. That's tough to swallow.

You may ask why I didn't just get another Jeep. My answer is that I had my time with the perfect Jeep. It was a one and only and I have no desire right now to replace it. I think I need some "car" time right now. Something with low gas mileage and a smooth ride. I'm OK with this decision...for now. Maybe down the road I'll feel different but for now I'm going to hang on to the incredible memories and fun that I had and only hope to ride a new road to new adventures with my little white Honda.
OMG, just saying that makes me miss my Jeep.

Earth Hour 2009

VOTE EARTH

YOUR LIGHT SWITCH IS YOUR VOTE

This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming.

For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.

This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard.

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.

In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday.

We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations.

VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour.

A Loss Of A Loving Pet

I felt I needed to follow up my last posting, where I wrote about a loss of a very good friend's loving dog, Sheffield.

Sheffield's death and the grief that followed in my friend and myself made me take a look at what people go through when they lose a pet they love and care for.

The grief and the pain that follows is completely normal. Don't ever let anyone tell you how you should feel after a death of a pet.

Some people don't understand. They may never had the experience of the love, companionship and joy a pet could bring. In some ways, that fact is kind of sad to me.

I have so many terrific memories of pets I've own and been in the company of throughout my years. I've done some research online about losing a pet and how to cope with it. I came across some terrific advice from Moira Anderson Allen, M.Ed.

• Many people go through guilt and the "if only I had been more careful" syndrome. It's pointless to dwell upon the guilt of an accident or illness that claimed your pet's life, and only makes it more difficult to resolve your grief.

• The most important step you can take is to be honest about your feelings. Don't deny your pain. Only by examining and coming to terms with your feelings can you begin to work through them. You have the right to feel pain and grief. Someone you loved has died, and you may feel alone and bereaved

• Locking away grief doesn't make it go away. Express it. Cry, scream, pound the floor, talk it out. Don't try to avoid grief by not thinking about your pet; instead, reminisce about the good times. This will help you and others understand what your pet's loss actually means to you.

• Some find it helpful to express their feelings and memories in poems, stories and even letters to their pet. Others rearrange their schedule to fill in the times they would have spent with their pet. Some also put together a memorial such as photo collages and talking with others about the loss.

• Sometimes to the surprise of people who have multiple pets and lose one, they find the surviving pets may go through a grieving process. This is normal and yes, they do grieve. Pets often form a strong bond to one another. The surviving pet may need a lot of extra attention and love to help them through this period. Giving this extra love is not only good for the surviving pet but it's also wonderfully healing of your own grief.

As I look back at the pets I've lost and my friend's dog, Sheffield, who I loved as though he was my own, I think to myself that even though the pain of losing them is almost unbearable, the love and happiness they gave when they were with us by far makes up for it.

The post below I dedicate to Sheffield, one of the most loving dogs I ever had the pleasure of meeting. I'm so thankful for the time I had you in my life.

For more information about coping with the loss of a pet, please go to : http://www.pet-loss.net/

To Sheffield, With Love

I first met Sheffield when he was about a year old. My friend Gary told me about his yellow lab retriever and how much personality he had. With in minutes of meeting Sheffield I knew exactly what Gary was talking about.

Sheffield was a medium size lab with a whitish, yellow coat, small floppy ears and a brown line running down the front of his face. His dark brown eyes seemed to talk to you when he wanted something.
Sheffield's facial expression were with so much meaning that one could actually understand what this dog wanted by just looking at him.
He had attitude unlike any dog I've ever seen. He would love to play but when he was done, everyone was done.
He would turn his nose up at you in a second if he didn't like the way things were going.
He would watch over his younger brother George and would immediately alert us when George was misbehaving.
This is how he earned the nickname "Sheriff Sheff".

He would patrol the entire outer boundaries of his fenced in back yard. He loved to play catch, tug-o-war and go for rides in a car. But what Sheffield loved the most was a good swim. He loved the water.
Gary once told me how, when a puppy, Sheffie jumped into a lake and swam out until he was nearly gone from sight.
From a plastic pool in the yard to a filled bath tub, he loved the water.

Gary and Sheffield were made for each other. Both had very similar personalities. Both were loyal, trusting friends. Both loved each other unconditionally.
Sheffield was Gary's child, friend and companion.

I was struck by the way Gary cared for Sheffield. Sheffie was his main focus and love. His true best friend.
Gary's eyes would light up when talking about his four legged buddy and Sheffield would spring to life when Gary walked through the door.

When Gary brought home a brother for Sheffield, in the form of a over stuffed, hyper lab puppy named George, Sheff at first seemed unforgiving.
He wanted nothing to do with George, except to cover him with saliva and rough house him.
After a good few hours of this, suddenly Sheffield ran to a long stick, picked it up and brought it to the puppy George. Right away we realized that this was a "welcome to the family" gift.
From here on in Sheffield was the older brother. He would lead George, even though Geroge would out size Sheffield by a good 30 pounds.
Sheffield guided him, kept him in line and was a huge part in training along with Gary.

Sheffield was the watcher of the house. He was always alert and ready to pounce at any movement from outside, especially his arch enemy... the groundhog.
Sheff made this fat groundhog's life pure misery. Sheffield would run as fast as he could to the groundhog's hiding space every time he was let out into the backyard.
Every once in a blue moon Sheffie would actually see, and chase this huge rat like creature and even once caught him. Sheffield had no idea what to do once his nemesis was caught. He kind of studied him and then let him go.

Sheffield was a people's dog. he loved them and people loved him. He had manners and was distinguished. I always thought that if Sheffie could talk, he would have an English accent. Rarely would he beg for food. Instead he would find a way of slowly cuddling up to you and then would flash his big brown loving eyes your way in hope of going through your heart for his stomach.

In the last week, Gary noticed Sheffield was breathing funny and he wouldn't eat. It was obvious that something was terribly wrong with his faithful friend.
Gary had to wait five days before the vet could actually do an ultra sound test to Sheffield to see what was wrong.

In the true fashion of a devoted friend and father, Gary made Sheffield's world his world.
We were both afraid of the results. Gary would never let Sheffield see him cry. He reassured Sheffie that he loved him but there was no need for that because Sheffield always knew how much Gary loved him.
Gary was Sheffield's world.

Today they found a soft ball sized tumor near Sheffield's heart. There wasn't much that could be done except for a very brave and humane decision Gary had to painfully make.
Sheffield, Gary's lovable 6 1/2 year old puppy passed away while Gary stood by his side. With a kiss from Sheffield to Gary, he gently closed his eyes and said good bye.
Sheffield was so lucky to have Gary in his life and Gary was so lucky to have Sheffield. They both complimented each other unlike any human could do.

Gary did an incredible job in raising Sheffie and Sheffie did an incredible job in making Gary into who he is today, which is a man with an wonderfully big heart which now and forever will have a beautiful yellow lab in it named Sheffield.

Our hearts are broken without you and we'll never forget you my handsome puppy. I'll miss you more than I could ever say.

Happy Valentine's DayFrom Rick's Time On Earth

Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th. Thought to be by some as the most unluckiest day of the year. Not much is known on why or how this day ended up to be known for it's black cats, broken mirrors, day of dread and most recently, a machete wielding, hockey masked maniac. There are some theories on how it all started but the bottom line is, if you're superstitious then this is the day to stay in bed, pull the covers over your head and wait it out. Here are a few facts about how the number "13" effects us today:

• More than 80% of high rises lack a 13th floor.
• Many airports in the United States skip a 13th gate.
• Airplanes usually don't have a 13th aisle.
• Hospitals and hotels usually don't have a 13th room on a floor.
• Italy omitted the number 13 from it's national lottery.
• Many major cities don't have a 13th street or avenue.
• Some towns in Italy don't allow a number 13 for a house address. The house between number 12 and 14 is marked as 12 1/2.
• People who fear Friday The 13th are called "paraskavedekatriaphobia".
• The British Navy named a ship "Friday The 13th". On it's maiden voyage it left port and was never seen again.
  

While we're on the subject of superstitions, here are a few well known and not so well known good luck charms, signs of doom and other things to avoid on Friday the 13th:

• A acorn should be carried in your pocket for good luck.
• Spit on a new baseball bat before using for the first time to bring good luck.
• It's bad luck to put a hat on a bed.
• It's bad luck to put shoes on a bed.
• You must get out of bed on the same side you got in or you'll have bad luck.
• A bird that flies into your house is a sign of bad luck or death.
• If someone is sweeping the floor and sweeps over your feet then you'll never get married.
• Never take an old broom with you when you move into a new house or apartment.
• Three butterflies seen flying together is good luck.
• If a black cat walks toward you it's a sign of good luck. If it walks away from you it's a sign of bad luck.
• A cat on a ship is good luck.
• It's bad luck to light three cigarettes with the same match.
• It's bad luck to pick up a found coin if it's tail side is up.
• Dropping a comb while combing your hair is a sign of misfortune.
• Crickets in your house is good luck.
• Dogs howling in the dark of night,howl for death before daylight.
• It's bad luck to count cars in a funeral cortege.
• It's bad luck to wear new shoes to a funeral.
• It's bad luck to cut your fingernails on a friday or a sunday.
• It's bad luck to start a trip on friday.
• It's bad luck to kill a lady bug.
• It's bad luck to let milk boil over.
• Unless you were born in October, it's bad luck to wear opals.
• It's bad luck to see an owl in the sunlight.
• If you spill pepper you will have a serious argument with a friend.
• It's bad luck to get up from a rocking chair and let it continue to rock.
• Put salt on the doorstep of your new house for good luck.
• Placing a show on a table is bad luck.
• It's bad luck to leave a shoe upside down.
• The color blue is good luck.

With these small slices of wisdom I wish you all the best of luck this Friday the 13th. Oh yeah, avoid any crazy looking guys wearing hockey mask.

Vintage Valentine's Day Cards

The Valentine's Day card has been around well over one hundred years. I remember as a child in the 3rd grade we would pass out little cards with cartoon characters on them. Each card would have it's own snappy and witty saying such as "There's Snow doubt I want you to be my Valentine". Of course this would be above a picture of a snowman with a huge heart on his chest.

Here's a small collection of vintage Valentine's Day cards from yesteryear.

(Click on the card to see full size.)

Vinegar Valentines and Penny Dreadfuls

There was a time when love wasn't in the air when it came to Valentine's Day. This was a dark side of card giving that even Hallmark would want to forget.

In the late 1800's and early to mid 1900's some people would send a Valentine's Day card that was nick named "Vinegar Valentines" or "Penny Dreadfuls". These cards were usually sent anonymously to a person who wasn't so dear to the sender's heart. The card inside was usually on a single sheet of colored paper with a less than flattering poem written on it along with an even more insulting picture.

Here are some examples of the Valentine's Day cards that were sent, minus the love. (click on the picture to see full size.)