tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32611225909810342232024-03-13T11:19:11.983-07:00ScoontemplationsRandom thoughts, memories, and observationsscoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606301310053730258noreply@blogger.comBlogger456125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261122590981034223.post-14946476638803873052023-07-26T10:50:00.000-07:002023-07-26T10:50:17.653-07:00Sometimes a painting just needs tweaked. <p> I do a lot of paint and wine classes, sans wine. Sometimes a painting will look okay when I leave class but later I will realize it's not quite what I wanted. This is one of the reasons I have paints at home. </p><p>For example, we did this mermaid tail at our last class. Not bad, but for one thing, the littlest starfish blends in with the tail. And the shells don't look right. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiT3s7pM_NXdtMDEuqpelHcwbzVyuCsrrL4pOEJOS7OKJGRMB3gc_BFZK0sTkxPLdc-IjQJRqSnulKSGXrsqfkM-ffb69IkU_OmkXwz4bfVzM3_vaIUZUbfo_bWzowwahO9yvAFzqz8FW_wXib7vFY_0eJqw4K2GmyfiYXxNX_gYwkblhSFwiFimcObdY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="717" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiT3s7pM_NXdtMDEuqpelHcwbzVyuCsrrL4pOEJOS7OKJGRMB3gc_BFZK0sTkxPLdc-IjQJRqSnulKSGXrsqfkM-ffb69IkU_OmkXwz4bfVzM3_vaIUZUbfo_bWzowwahO9yvAFzqz8FW_wXib7vFY_0eJqw4K2GmyfiYXxNX_gYwkblhSFwiFimcObdY=w307-h400" width="307" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I looked up some images of starfish and shells online (which I should have done while in class). And I changed it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEih8t2maoofMJIXVv3_WpO3tmtffW2C9zN7bXoD0fNO1431RTfzkw81TT9qHHK77leLIPfPGoSKBXv7RVDlTSov-YQcx5GcbAxh5erMPL2Tb63n8gmzDl6WDcOAWYXJ7-dYMHl8V6OnSAbSVj1U7PRuZ_SZeEa8BENvjkkQglHXmcPcmeLjoy9sbx9zZFs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="709" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEih8t2maoofMJIXVv3_WpO3tmtffW2C9zN7bXoD0fNO1431RTfzkw81TT9qHHK77leLIPfPGoSKBXv7RVDlTSov-YQcx5GcbAxh5erMPL2Tb63n8gmzDl6WDcOAWYXJ7-dYMHl8V6OnSAbSVj1U7PRuZ_SZeEa8BENvjkkQglHXmcPcmeLjoy9sbx9zZFs=w303-h400" width="303" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>I like the new version much better. And I'm glad I didn't give up on it. <br /><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>scoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606301310053730258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261122590981034223.post-72363124718592845672022-03-03T13:14:00.002-07:002022-03-03T13:14:34.018-07:00There is STILL no dark in my house<p> It's been just over 10 years since I posted <a href="http://www.scoontemplations.com/2011/02/there-is-no-dark-at-my-house.html">There is no dark at my house</a>. Had you asked me then if the problem would get worse or better, I would have probably guessed "better". As in fewer lights. <a href="http://www.scoontemplations.com/2011/02/there-is-no-dark-at-my-house.html"></a></p><p>And I would have been wrong. </p><p>In my prior post, I listed everything by room. Not going to do that this time. But suffice to say, for every thing I eliminated that had a light, I added two that lighted up. </p><p>The Roomba charging light. At least it's not on all the time. </p><p>There is a strip of white light on my replacement printer that stays lit all the time. "They" tell you a printer works best if left on. So this light is always on. </p><p>Working from home now so add a work computer with a little red light. </p><p>Replacement cameras, still with lights. Added smart plugs, with lights. Phone charger, NO light. Yay!</p><p>No more cable so the lights on the receiver are gone. There are small lights on the streaming devices, but they are hidden behind the TV. So they probably don't count? </p><p>Add to that, my neighbors have gone all out with the exterior lights. There were some decorations stolen this past Christmas, so I don't blame them. </p><p>But of my 10 closest neighbors, 6 have exterior lights on all the time. Another two have motion sensitive lights. And we're not talking one porch light. Most have porch lights plus lights on either end of the garages. </p><p>Another neighbor in the back across the retention basin installed an LED light outside that shines right into my bedroom. Luckily, they turn it off at a reasonable hour. Usually. </p><p>What is my point? Not sure I have one. It would be nice to sit out on the patio and see the stars. I can understand why astronomers complain about light pollution. </p><p>But on the plus side, I don't have to worry about stumbling over any furniture in the middle of the night. </p><p>And when Moana and I walk in the early winter mornings, there is plenty of light to see our way. </p><p>If the next ten years follows this same pattern, I think dark (at least in urban areas) is going to be as rare as quiet. </p><p>But that's a tale for another day. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>scoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606301310053730258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261122590981034223.post-35715838300304615242021-12-08T08:20:00.000-07:002021-12-08T08:20:48.993-07:00Moana and her collar<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AFvKYAevkDM/YbDEuaEXdNI/AAAAAAAA1hE/zSsnc0bNTB0GQe_OjJTYBFL6gDVArcaNQCNcBGAsYHQ/NoCollar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="1136" height="148" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AFvKYAevkDM/YbDEuaEXdNI/AAAAAAAA1hE/zSsnc0bNTB0GQe_OjJTYBFL6gDVArcaNQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h148/NoCollar.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Moana is the only dog I've ever had that is like this. All my other dogs only wore their collars when we were out walking. Never in the house. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I took her collar off the other day to wash it . She stood right next to me at the sink and stared as I scrubbed it. Then she followed me when I got a towel to dry it.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">She seemed so relieved when I put it back on her. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7v3A9nhZKeQ/YbDF8HWvKRI/AAAAAAAA1hM/GjU3QMlqQ1knqEuaje99U3-uHOpRFwIIgCNcBGAsYHQ/PXL_20210815_124934385.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7v3A9nhZKeQ/YbDF8HWvKRI/AAAAAAAA1hM/GjU3QMlqQ1knqEuaje99U3-uHOpRFwIIgCNcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/PXL_20210815_124934385.MP.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></span></div><br /> <p></p>scoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606301310053730258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261122590981034223.post-37661025963139354682021-10-04T14:16:00.001-07:002021-10-04T14:16:23.706-07:00Life with Moana<p> It's been almost a year since I adopted Moana. She's gotten more confident and sadly, less cuddly. Although I'm not sure that isn't because it's been hot. </p><p>She still wants a lot of attention and interrupts my work. But she doesn't lay on the couch with her head on my lap hardly at all. </p><p>Like Bogie, she will lay on the floor with me nearby petting her. But I'd be more comfortable if I could get her onto the couch. </p><p>She has decided it's her job to guard the house. She sits in the upstairs window and watches the street. Barking at people and dogs going by. I have managed to get her to stop barking once I acknowledge she is doing her job. </p><p>However, there are a few things that make her bark extra crazy. A specific German Shepherd she's never met but has taken a dislike to. Ditto a small dog that is frequently walked by our house by a woman in a wheel chair. </p><p>Recently we had some nasty weather. More rain that usual. And Moana particularly objects to people standing on roofs. At least 4 of the houses in her eye range have been inspected. And no amount of assurance will calm her down until the people are off the roof. </p><p>She sleeps in the bed with me. Sometimes I make her move if she takes my spot. Most often I find alternate open space on the bed. At least she doesn't kick in her sleep - very often.<br /></p><p>Our daily walks are calmer. She doesn't freak out when she sees unknown people. But she still barks at them, as she is walking up to be petted. Everyone we've met has been wonderful with her. And that has helped build her trust. </p><p>Overall, she's a great companion, pushing me enough to get up and around. Keeping me company. </p><p>Driving me crazy. :-)</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JdzqUPAYjwE/YVtusF14z2I/AAAAAAAA1So/oQSFaLbBhw4_G1P_g-Cw9sL7bwUgOyZ0QCLcBGAsYHQ/PXL_20210815_124934385.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JdzqUPAYjwE/YVtusF14z2I/AAAAAAAA1So/oQSFaLbBhw4_G1P_g-Cw9sL7bwUgOyZ0QCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/PXL_20210815_124934385.MP.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p><p><br /></p>scoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606301310053730258noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261122590981034223.post-30037645764756308232021-04-13T13:42:00.007-07:002021-04-13T13:42:58.568-07:00<p>When Bogie died in October 2020, I convinced myself that I was going to wait for the end of that horrible year before getting another dog. I'd spent the past couple years taking one or both dogs in for weekly vet treatments. I wasn't ready for another. </p><p>I was still taking my daily walks, but I missed having a companion with me. So after a couple weeks I started looking for rescue Danes. </p><p>The first I chose was pronounced not a good fit since I didn't have any other dog companions. The second was a "foster fail" and no longer eligible. For the third I made a 3 1/2 hour round trip to Tucson to meet her. </p><p>And Moana was a sweetheart. I admit the name concerned me since I'd never seen the movie. But it took a couple more weeks for the process to wend it's way to completion, and I got used to the name. And made a point of watching the movie. (very cute). </p><p>I got Moana the day before the Thanksgiving holiday and had the four day weekend to acclimate her. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aXiD9BYt6Lw/YHYAH7lhaFI/AAAAAAAA0W0/hEdPC3-sR6Y7McIaapekOHzZYmqszDXtQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/PXL_20201127_142257867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aXiD9BYt6Lw/YHYAH7lhaFI/AAAAAAAA0W0/hEdPC3-sR6Y7McIaapekOHzZYmqszDXtQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/PXL_20201127_142257867.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>She's a now-3 year old Great Dane who's been marvelous company for me. Her color is called Piebald and the gray spots you see are her skin, not her hair. <p></p><p>She's kind of a blend of Angel and Bogie, very cuddly but also a little willful. Luckily she'd had some training so I didn't have to start from scratch like I did with Bogie. </p><p>It helps that I work from home and don't have to leave her. She's not happy when I leave her, but she's not been destructive. </p><p>There seems to have been some abuse. She was terrified of men at first. Especially men with beards. But now she is anxious to meet anyone we encounter on our daily walks. Although she tends to bark at them as she is walking towards them. "Pet me, but I'm tough"?</p><p>I'm lucky to have her. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>scoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606301310053730258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261122590981034223.post-58737512518965467962020-10-18T14:05:00.011-07:002020-12-14T14:38:15.668-07:00My Bogie BoyWhen Angel died in March, I thought I would have a couple years of solo time with Bogie since he was only 9. He didn't need a lot of attention, which was good because Angel demanded attention. I wanted to make it up to him. <div><br /></div><div> But it wasn't to be. What had been noticed a couple years ago as a dragging of his back feet, became more serious. Degenerative myelopathy. He began to not only drag his feet, but have trouble getting up. And standing up. </div><div><br /></div><div> We tried swim therapy. And he seemed to like it.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3o7v0oOsLws/X9fU5oAzW3I/AAAAAAAAzz8/n-YtyfTQEEc9U6O-KBq6ipr1qZMFufclwCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/IMG_20200905_102058.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3o7v0oOsLws/X9fU5oAzW3I/AAAAAAAAzz8/n-YtyfTQEEc9U6O-KBq6ipr1qZMFufclwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/IMG_20200905_102058.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But getting into and out of the car did more damage than the therapy helped. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So we muddled on the best that we could. The final straw was when he couldn't get up. And I couldn't help him up. The panic on his face crushed me. He eventually did get up, but that was a portent of the end. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On October 17, I took him in to the vet, held him close, and let him go. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vLSUm2I7myo/X9fWf62WLxI/AAAAAAAAz0E/L09MYzf9F_ESXKlg8xmMeGbBEFC5jI0JQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1410/CroppedBogieSide.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1410" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vLSUm2I7myo/X9fWf62WLxI/AAAAAAAAz0E/L09MYzf9F_ESXKlg8xmMeGbBEFC5jI0JQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/CroppedBogieSide.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sweet, smart, stubborn, and stoic, he is sorely missed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><sweet and="" he="" is="" missed.="" smart="" sorely="" span="" stoic="" stubborn=""><br /></sweet></div></div>scoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606301310053730258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261122590981034223.post-30843333953539955512020-04-28T14:55:00.000-07:002020-04-28T14:55:39.521-07:00Quail baby rescueYesterday afternoon, while I was fixing Bogie's dinner, I looked out the window and saw a quail pair approaching the ground level bird bath. Sweet. Wait. Something else is moving. At least 20 little puffball babies. <br />
<br />
Bogie was distracted by eating, but I was afraid he would want to go outside afterwards. I watched the babies go back under the gate. Whew!. Wait. Mom and Dad didn’t leave. Babies came streaming back into the yard. Bogie laid down with no plans to go out into the heat.<br />
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Babies scurried back under the gate. Yay! Again, Mom and Dad didn’t leave and the babies came streaming back. I opened the patio door, hoping the noise would send them all under the gate.<br />
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Mom and Dad flew over the wall. The babies scurried away – into the yard. I made sure Bogie couldn’t get outside, then I went out to gather up babies. I found where some were hiding and herded them to the gate. Score! They went under. <br />
<br />
But wait, others went the opposite direction. I caught one and put it outside the gate. And it tried to come back into the yard! I deflected it and put it further outside.<br />
<br />
Herded the rest toward the gate. Caught another and deposited it outside. Didn’t see any more and went inside to find Bogie completely uninterested in what was happening. <br />
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As I cleaned his bowl at the sink, I saw 3 more babies scurry along the wall and under the gate. I watched a while longer, but nothing else moved. All babies safely outside the yard.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KZeKH--s1rM/XqilzmnSTTI/AAAAAAAAyZY/918nGLoOLjIBUtyNaaFndXs4xu0ZdwR1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Quail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="266" height="229" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KZeKH--s1rM/XqilzmnSTTI/AAAAAAAAyZY/918nGLoOLjIBUtyNaaFndXs4xu0ZdwR1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Quail.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not my photo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />scoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606301310053730258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261122590981034223.post-80648239962650348162020-04-05T08:05:00.000-07:002020-04-05T08:05:15.214-07:00Unexpected spring visitorI was reading curled up on the living room couch. Bogie was sleeping on the throw rug in front of the open door. The screen door was shut so he couldn't get out.<br />
<br />
Suddenly I see a movement. A lizard scurried from under the couch! It saw me as I saw it. It hurried under the hutch. Then when I tried to catch it, it scurried under the camelback trunk. I didn’t even know there was room underneath.<br />
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Throughout this, Bogie seemed completely unaware until I moved the trunk a little to see the tip of a tail. For some reason, instead of “helping” he went outside to sleep in peace. Thankfully.<br />
<br />
I found some empty plastic storage containers and a cardboard box and surrounded the trunk. But there were gaps. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to scare it out into the open where Bogie could get it. So I went next door to get my teenage neighbor, since he has lizards. <br />
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He came over with me. Said if we pick up the trunk he’ll grab the lizard. Happily, the trunk was empty. We lifted it a bit. The lizard skittered. My neighbor tried to grab it and missed. The lizard ran right into one of the storage containers. Luckily it was pretty deep. <br />
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I wasn’t sure what to do with it. He suggested out the back gate. But his mom had wondered if it came in through the gap between front door and screen. So I thought, out front where he probably came from. <br />
<br />
As we stepped outside, another lizard scurried from the base of a tree to the pile of rocks by the sidewalk. Spouse? So I let the one we’d captured go by the rocks. He didn’t want to leave the container. I had to dump him out. And he scurried to safety between the rocks. <br />
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Whew! <br />
<br />
He was about 8” long, half of that tail. My neighbor said it was probably a whiptail. It looked very much like this. <br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-InB6Xt3ApsM/XonyZnAE3hI/AAAAAAAAyHA/fwQnL7xwAogUqEK5fswLkNpU_ttkgomVQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/lizard.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-InB6Xt3ApsM/XonyZnAE3hI/AAAAAAAAyHA/fwQnL7xwAogUqEK5fswLkNpU_ttkgomVQCK4BGAYYCw/s320/lizard.jpg" width="320" /></a>scoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606301310053730258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261122590981034223.post-24912596065634372532020-03-07T14:23:00.003-07:002020-12-14T14:36:44.463-07:00Angel girl<p> Angel was a Belgian Malinois, Great Dane mix. A real sweetheart of a dog. She thrived on attention and was always by my side. Until near the end. </p><p>By the time she was 12, her arthritis got so bad she had trouble getting up and moving around. She let me know she was done taking walks with me and Bogie by turning around and walking off when I tried to put on her leash. </p><p>We did laser therapy to try to ease the arthritis, but physical therapy wasn't an option. She'd had cancer in her thigh so there wasn't much muscle to rehab. </p><p>On March 4th I took her into the vet for her final appointment. I took Bogie too so he could see she wasn't coming back. (That didn't work out at all). </p><p>Letting a beloved dog go is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I miss my shadow so much. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9J7ciqJzu-U/X9fZK0FeF0I/AAAAAAAAz0Q/LQu7kWYHsKI5IRYxDDP6gh0ClEBXSxDpQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1348/CroppedAngelFace.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1348" data-original-width="1318" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9J7ciqJzu-U/X9fZK0FeF0I/AAAAAAAAz0Q/LQu7kWYHsKI5IRYxDDP6gh0ClEBXSxDpQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/CroppedAngelFace.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Angel in name and demeanor. <div><br /></div><div>I calculated that I had had Angel for 10 years, 5 months, and 14 days<</div>scoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606301310053730258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261122590981034223.post-47370648093829903302019-12-28T11:04:00.000-07:002019-12-28T11:04:49.554-07:00Refurbishing a feathered dream catcher<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-owtayMZD5V0/XgeXkM540CI/AAAAAAAAxxc/UvF3pdvN89Ae6SfpiDbUxU3r5ILrIdZawCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_20191226_131710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-owtayMZD5V0/XgeXkM540CI/AAAAAAAAxxc/UvF3pdvN89Ae6SfpiDbUxU3r5ILrIdZawCK4BGAYYCw/s640/IMG_20191226_131710.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Many years ago I was given a dream catcher made from an antler and some sort of stone or bone circle. I don't remember the occasion or the giver but it held a place of honor on a wall in my house.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xt6jnxqe5tY/XgeVGD9Om9I/AAAAAAAAxws/W23tH8UfbgESus53BveEvBg11P3xVSywACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/OriginalAntler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xt6jnxqe5tY/XgeVGD9Om9I/AAAAAAAAxws/W23tH8UfbgESus53BveEvBg11P3xVSywACK4BGAYYCw/s400/OriginalAntler.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
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Years later the day came when I rearranged my wall art and noticed the feathers were sickly and covered in dust. I hanged it outside so the wind could blow the dust off.<br />
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And forgot it.<br />
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Recently I noticed the feathers had not weathered well. Only the spines remained.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mj5qA5KxoZ0/XgeVf2rd6rI/AAAAAAAAxw4/F-F7Ydcn_zcCipKf9ph8Sc9tUSfBgOj3ACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_20191130_110107.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mj5qA5KxoZ0/XgeVf2rd6rI/AAAAAAAAxw4/F-F7Ydcn_zcCipKf9ph8Sc9tUSfBgOj3ACK4BGAYYCw/s320/IMG_20191130_110107.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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I looked briefly into finding replacement feathers, but what I found wasn't satisfactory. I had other copper hanging ornaments I had purchased. So I decided to make copper feathers. <br />
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Finding a good weight copper was tricky. I ordered a sheet online but it was much too thick. Luckily it arrived bent and I was able to return it.<br />
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I visited a metal distributor but their stock was also too thick. Finally I found a web site that advertised copper sheeting the thickness of 1 1/2 sheets of paper. And it was perfect. <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #26422e; font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.nimrodcopper.com&source=gmail&ust=1577642120374000&usg=AFQjCNFNVqpDt6uArO-6qj9RR5qG44IwWw" href="http://www.nimrodcopper.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.nimrodcopper.com</a></span></span><br />
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I was able to cut the feathers out with titanium scissors, The cutting action even flexed the feathers to give them a textures look.<br />
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While attaching the replacement feathers to the existing beads, the leather holding the feathers disintegrated. So I replaced that as well. I didn't have any brown suede on hand, but I think the green looks fine.<br />
<br />Close-up of a copper feather. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D8aUQCkWoms/XgeV7wFoCJI/AAAAAAAAxxE/KPbbAoCkvjMpqbps29Jndt2j_rJISnFKQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_20191226_131721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D8aUQCkWoms/XgeV7wFoCJI/AAAAAAAAxxE/KPbbAoCkvjMpqbps29Jndt2j_rJISnFKQCK4BGAYYCw/s320/IMG_20191226_131721.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The refurbished dream catcher.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XmvjhD7d-mA/XgeX0-770pI/AAAAAAAAxxw/BuJAhkd_AnEnUNgEQB2QF5PSjB_-yr-pgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_20191226_131752.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XmvjhD7d-mA/XgeX0-770pI/AAAAAAAAxxw/BuJAhkd_AnEnUNgEQB2QF5PSjB_-yr-pgCK4BGAYYCw/s320/IMG_20191226_131752.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />scoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606301310053730258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261122590981034223.post-23180874400517514072019-05-13T14:46:00.000-07:002019-05-13T14:46:53.644-07:00It's my house and I'll do what I want with it. So once I got over my obsession with decluttering (<a href="http://www.scoontemplations.com/2019/03/obsessed-with-getting-rid-of-stuff.html">Obsessed with getting rid of stuff</a>), I moved on to some simple remodeling.<br />
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I wanted to replace the 21-year-old carpet in my office with tile to make it easier to clean and easier to roll from my work computer to my home computer. Cleanliness is also why I had tile put in 2/3 of the bedroom.<br />
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But I wanted carpet along the one edge of the bedroom and office and down the stairs. For lots of reasons. For the dogs to lay on. For my Great Dane to do zoomies on. For me to do my yoga on. And to give the stairs more grip and cushioning.<br />
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The tiling contractor informed me that blending carpet and tile in the manner that I wanted would affect the resale value of my house. Negatively. <br />
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Then I called an electrician to put multiple extra outlets in my office so I wouldn't have to string outlet strips and extension cords to connect my computers. <br />
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The electrician informed me that adding so many outlets to the room would negatively affect my resale value.<br />
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I suppose they both thought they were being helpful. But am I supposed to forego the livability of my house due to an ever-changing criteria of what is salable? I have no plans to move as long as I can navigate the stairs. I want my house to work for me and my family. <br />
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I was recently told by a new neighbor that gray houses are currently the most popular. By the time I get ready to sell, maybe blue houses will be popular. Maybe carpet will make a resurgence. Maybe tile and carpet will become a thing.<br />
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Shrug. In the meantime, I had both the carpet/tile and electrical outlets done my way. <br />
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And I am very happy with the result.<br />
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scoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606301310053730258noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261122590981034223.post-19695983031289429072019-04-10T06:50:00.000-07:002019-04-10T06:50:23.344-07:00Bogie’s 8th birthdayYesterday was Bogie’s 8th birthday!<br />
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Well, the birth date that the vets and I picked when I rescued him. They estimated he was 15 months old and counted back from the date of the vet appointment.<br />
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He loves sticking his nose out the window and watching the activity on the street.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dc5xFS_42s0/XK30CidhTbI/AAAAAAAAwS0/8HrC7zUeT8kTt5QFVvULKI0LKnZxXMr7QCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_20190328_062316_1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dc5xFS_42s0/XK30CidhTbI/AAAAAAAAwS0/8HrC7zUeT8kTt5QFVvULKI0LKnZxXMr7QCK4BGAYYCw/s400/IMG_20190328_062316_1.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<br />
I only open the window halfway because Angel tends to lean on the screen. Not so much now that I put the bench in front of the window. But one day I came home and the screen was hanging half out of the window. I shudder when I think she might have fallen out.<br />
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Bogie has been a joy and a pain.<br />
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Until he was properly trained - a literal pain.<br />
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Pain in my shoulder from him pulling on the leash. Pain in my knees and hands from falling when I tried to stop him from chasing cats.<br />
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But since his training, he's been a joy. A big cuddle-bug. A great walking companion. A social butterfly eager to say Hi to everyone we meet. And most of them are happy to pet him.<br />
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Happy Birthday Big Boy! I hope we have many more together.scoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606301310053730258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261122590981034223.post-18280537326699507162019-03-22T12:28:00.000-07:002019-03-22T12:28:20.463-07:00Obsessed with getting rid of stuffI had never heard of Marie Kondo. But I had read about Swedish Death Cleaning. Both are similar in that you get rid of stuff that you aren't using, don't need, and are taking up space. Or in the case of SDC, that you don't want your heirs to have to deal with.<br />
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My first foray in November was to realize that 13 plastic containers of Beanie Babies were doing no one any good. (But they're so CUTE!.) My final impetus was finding a group that sends the beanies to the troops in care packages. <br />
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I gave away <b>450</b> beanie babies. I got a lovely thank you from the charity group. And regained an entire shelf in my closet. Which is now where I store the paintings I've painted until I find somewhere to hang them.<br />
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Yes, those paintings bring me joy.<br />
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The act of giving away my beanies seemed to break down a dam. I boxed up 11 banker boxes of books for a book charity. And still have 15 shelves of books. If it wasn't likely I would ever reread it, it went in a box. <br />
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I cleaned out drawers and non-book shelves and filled 5 more boxes for charity. From what I understand, charity donations are booming. I hope someone else can put my stuff to good use.<br />
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All that gave me room to move knickknacks and books from my office. And gave me the incentive to completely dismantle a built-in filing cabinet bookshelf combo. I've gained 2 feet of space and opened up the room. And I realized that because I had the storage space, I saved WAY too much paperwork.<br />
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I was also inspired to finally make arrangements to have my 20-year-old carpet replaced upstairs. Haven't done it yet. But I've chosen a contractor and the tile for the office part. And will choose carpet once the tile is laid. <br />
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Haven't even finished the office yet and I am eyeing my craft room. New shelving? New cabinets? Only time will tell.<br />
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I am thrilled with the results so far. <br />
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And all it took was finally deciding to get rid of my beanie babies.<br />
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<br />scoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606301310053730258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261122590981034223.post-56274179386021050372019-03-09T07:00:00.000-07:002019-03-09T07:00:13.508-07:00Me and Alexa <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">I bought an Amazon Echo with no real expectation that she would be useful. Honestly, I felt like I was behind the curve because everyone else I know has some sort of AI. Yes, I succumbed to peer pressure. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">But she has become part of my daily life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">My
routine has become to ask Alexa “Good Morning”, then she tells me something
about the day and sometimes makes a joke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> One day was</span> National Free thought day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (</span>Why that
would have been established is beyond me.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Alexa's free thought? “if life gives you lemons, you should be grateful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most people have to pay for them. “<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Yesterday was the birthday of Dr. Seuss, followed by Alexa reciting an appropriately Seussian rhyme.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">After that I play Question of the Day. If I get the first question right, I get a second
question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I accumulate points, but have
not investigated what, if any, use they are. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">I've found I know more geography than I realized. I attribute that to Parts Unknown and to the Mrs. Pollifax books. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Sometimes I play Jeopardy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> T</span>here were 12 questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know next to nothing about
sports, but am thrilled if I get 9 of 12 of the questions right. A couple times she's ruled me incorrect when I felt I was right. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">She is good with reminders, but most often I ask her about the temperature and humidity, or to turn
the lights on or off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I haven't gone whole hog on the automation. </span>I only have lamps
plugged into two smart plugs. But they are the lamps I often forget to shut off. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">I like her "human" touches. She has a handful of responses for Thank you and for Good night. She tells pretty good "dad" jokes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">And she has multiple responses if you ask How are you this morning? For example, this morning her response was, You caught me in the middle of doing the Hokey Pokey, so I'm all turned around!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Overall, I like having her around. And yes I do think of Alexa as her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
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<br />scoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606301310053730258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261122590981034223.post-78445282736876092482019-03-02T07:00:00.000-07:002019-03-02T07:00:11.528-07:00I hate when advertisers misuse words. <span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Life Alert commercial - "The following is based on reality. You MAY be offended."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;">Cut to an elderly woman laying at the foot of the stairs, crying pitifully for help. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Per Google search, <b>Offended</b> means "<span style="color: #222222;">resentful or annoyed, typically as a result of a perceived insult".</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">How particularly can anyone be offended by this. There is no insult. There is nothing to resent. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">It's sad, yes. It can be scary to think of. But it is NOT offensive. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">This reminds me of the Click Bait articles that abound on the internet using inflammatory words to trick you into clicking their links. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">On the off-chance that this wording wasn't intentional, how about the copy-writers do a little research into word meanings? </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">How about Appalled - "greatly dismayed or horrified"?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;">Or Distraught - "</span><span style="color: #222222;">deeply upset and agitated"?</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;">Or even Outraged - "</span><span style="color: #222222;">an extremely strong reaction of anger, shock, or indignation."</span></span></div>
scoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606301310053730258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261122590981034223.post-18526189082009440342019-02-23T06:48:00.000-07:002019-02-23T06:48:15.135-07:00Winter Wonderland painting So a few days ago, I went to <a href="http://thebrushbar.com/">The Brush Bar</a> by myself to do a painting. My usual cohorts couldn't attend, but I'd been wanting to do this painting.<br />
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I am generally an introvert, but I feel quite comfortable at the Brush Bar. And the people at the table where I sat were friendly and funny, laughing, complimenting everyone's paintings, singing and chair-dancing to the music.<br />
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The instructor painting had only two colors, but I thought there needed to be green in the painting. Quite pleased with the result.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I0tQnoq0v3I/XGl0A7yfY2I/AAAAAAAAwKo/EIw7ArnG2aIswLU_Qah3QuTlmKWvBwLLwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_20190209_054405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I0tQnoq0v3I/XGl0A7yfY2I/AAAAAAAAwKo/EIw7ArnG2aIswLU_Qah3QuTlmKWvBwLLwCK4BGAYYCw/s400/IMG_20190209_054405.jpg" width="325" /></a></div>
scoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606301310053730258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261122590981034223.post-45400489919856850802019-02-16T07:47:00.000-07:002019-02-16T07:47:03.581-07:00Lego Pet ShopMy latest Lego build was the Pet Shop. Kit 10218. 2,032 pieces.<br />
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It is assembled on 2 separate bases. One for each side of the duplex. Although connected at the base of the buildings, the split base makes it a little tricky to move.<br />
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Still, it was a fun build. Pet shop on one side. Office or apartment on the other. I like the touch of having a display bin in the front with a ball and bones.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ErTTl_asYT4/XF29rN7XOMI/AAAAAAAAwH4/p6zLolhyFe0tCwbgnWKuY7lyfoTujIDagCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_8988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ErTTl_asYT4/XF29rN7XOMI/AAAAAAAAwH4/p6zLolhyFe0tCwbgnWKuY7lyfoTujIDagCK4BGAYYCw/s400/IMG_8988.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front with display bin, mailbox, father and daughter bike lesson.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f_Eu24MGUw8/XF299yLbo0I/AAAAAAAAwIE/1ml2FQuKge4i5LzNvj1Tu3GYiN50nCbqACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_8989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="371" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f_Eu24MGUw8/XF299yLbo0I/AAAAAAAAwIE/1ml2FQuKge4i5LzNvj1Tu3GYiN50nCbqACK4BGAYYCw/s400/IMG_8989.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back with cellar door, garbage cans and a rat, plus a rooftop garden.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l2MqKgm4Zpk/XF2-lkBAbAI/AAAAAAAAwIY/JC2ofMzoumgI9X4N27jdOKMfnt4ifecYACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_8991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l2MqKgm4Zpk/XF2-lkBAbAI/AAAAAAAAwIY/JC2ofMzoumgI9X4N27jdOKMfnt4ifecYACK4BGAYYCw/s400/IMG_8991.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Top floor, looks like storage for the apartment, but roof top garden.<br />
Small bedroom above the pet shop. For the owner maybe?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second floor apartment being painted, spiral stairs on left.<br />
Kitchen or break room with straight stairs on right. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First floor pet shop on right, apartment on left.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The inside of the pet shop. Cat to the left playing with the rat tail, fish at upper right, <br />
and the barest bit of the dog in the kennel bottom right<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The two roof tops.</td></tr>
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scoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606301310053730258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261122590981034223.post-64332291377858761942019-02-09T07:23:00.000-07:002019-02-09T07:23:28.509-07:00Les Ballet Trockedero de Monte CarloLast weekend, we went to Chandler Center for the Arts to see Les Ballet Trockedero de Monte Carlo.<br />
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It’s an all-male ballet where the men do all the on pointe dancing. Which I guess is not supposed to be possible. Or at least not believed back in 1975 when the troupe was created.<br />
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While we waited for the show to start, we read the program, which we almost didn’t pick up. There were faux biographies of all the “female” dancers with names like Dumbchenko, Laptova, Namethattunenova, Leftova. Very creative and entertaining. Plus real biographies of the dancers, most classically trained ballerinos. <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><br />
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None of us have seen a real ballet – unless you count the bits I’ve seen in old MGM musicals. But this was impressive.<br />
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From our seats we couldn’t see house right. But the rest of it was sublime. Excellent dancing. Enough humor to be entertaining. All dance-based humor. Non-verbal. Like bumping into each other, a foot sliding out of position for a background dancer, an arm out of place.<br />
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From the audience reaction, I would say some attendees actually understood ballet. There was applause for different moves, like sequential pirouettes. Just watching the dancer’s spin made me dizzy. I can’t turn around even once. One dancer did at least 10 spins.<br />
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There was a weird, humorous modern dance bit in the middle, with two performers doing various odd sound effects for three dancers. One sound effect was accomplished by the performer laying on his back and gargling. Maybe you had to be there, but it was hilarious.<br />
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And an enchanting bit based on the Dying Swan where the dancer comes out to perform, shedding feathers from the tutu the entire time.<br />
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No idea how they manage to get the feathers to not fall all at once, or not at all.<br />
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Overall, very much recommend it if you get a chance.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://trockadero.org/">https://trockadero.org/</a></span></div>
<br />scoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606301310053730258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261122590981034223.post-52634068060487722862019-02-02T08:56:00.000-07:002019-02-02T09:37:57.848-07:00Lizard stained glass panelIt's been a long while since I've done any new stained glass. Painting is quicker. And less painful. ("paper" cuts from glass and copper foil, burns from the solder if you aren't careful). And it's easier to fix mistakes in a painting.<br />
<br />
But there is nothing quite like the look of stained glass art.<br />
<br />
I kept track and this one took me 27 hours to complete from design to putting the hooks on. I<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">t's a 20" x 30" panel consisting of 100 pieces. </span><br />
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I made this one for my office window. Then realized it didn't look good there and moved it to the family room where it gets more light.<br />
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It's a two piece project. The wall and leaves are one panel. The lizard is separate and soldered over the top.<br />
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In hindsight, I probably should have made the glass behind the head clear. When lit from behind, it makes it look like his head in in shadow. However, a friend told me that "To me, it looks like the lizard is headed into the foliage so its head is in shadow.” I like that.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2N-okzIb49w/XE3AlV4yIgI/AAAAAAAAwG4/RO5f_Y_ZRSIdv7KVAvJuXg19U2dHvdcXgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_8982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2N-okzIb49w/XE3AlV4yIgI/AAAAAAAAwG4/RO5f_Y_ZRSIdv7KVAvJuXg19U2dHvdcXgCK4BGAYYCw/s400/IMG_8982.JPG" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Against a white wall. I may still move it back here. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j440WcRCv_c/XEyQWY8I-UI/AAAAAAAAwFI/bw56BK7XBYcpt09s80Au_2p3tBYxDG57wCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/MVIMG_20190125_054903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j440WcRCv_c/XEyQWY8I-UI/AAAAAAAAwFI/bw56BK7XBYcpt09s80Au_2p3tBYxDG57wCK4BGAYYCw/s400/MVIMG_20190125_054903.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Without sunlight</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OqyRKi5yBLM/XEyQf5n0EzI/AAAAAAAAwFQ/LRUA9PKLCOQsg_dWEhVKhJMO0yffTL34ACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_8984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OqyRKi5yBLM/XEyQf5n0EzI/AAAAAAAAwFQ/LRUA9PKLCOQsg_dWEhVKhJMO0yffTL34ACK4BGAYYCw/s400/IMG_8984.JPG" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With sunlight behind it</td></tr>
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<br />scoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606301310053730258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261122590981034223.post-46487597572918098022019-01-26T07:30:00.000-07:002019-01-26T07:30:09.384-07:00Do dogs have names for themselves? Two of my favorite comic strips are <i>The Other Coast</i> by Adrian Raeside and <i>Dogs of C-Kennel </i>by Mick & Mason Mastroianni.<br />
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In them, the dogs frequently call each other by name. Their human bestowed name.<br />
<br />
How do they keep their human names straight? Dogs with multiple owners have had multiple names.<br />
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Bogie was a found rescue, so, of course, had another name although I don't know it. Angel has been known as Peanut, Tiny, and Angel by her various humans. In both cases, I kept the name they came with, but I have changed a dog's name before. </div>
<br />
Even dogs that have only had one owner have multiple names. <br />
<br />
For example, Bogie is Bogie, Bogie Boy, Baby Boy, Baba, and Dude. Angel goes by Angel, Angel Girl, Angel Baby, Baba (it's a multi-use name), and Pretty Girl.<br />
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Do dogs just shrug and somehow figure out what their humans call them? I had a friend who was a pet psychic tell me that they know because you are thinking about them specifically. It's as good an explanation as any.<br />
<br />
Do dogs have their own private name, shared only with other dogs? A mother dog has to have some way to differentiate her puppies? Doesn't she? If only puppy 3 is biting too hard while nursing, would the mother dog just yip at all puppies? Seems ineffective.<br />
<br />
When Bogie introduces himself, does he tell the other dog his name is Bogie? Or does he tell them his name is Lord Tall Who Reaches Cupboards?<br />
<br />
Well, that wouldn't have been a puppy name. That's a grown up skill.<br />
<br />
Maybe it's more like Smell 04526 With Dark Spots?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B9eM8DrZ5SU/XEIOX588qhI/AAAAAAAAv5w/rQHlepa7DB09UGMZmtwSFT0iT9Y7qSHQACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/CroppedBogieSide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B9eM8DrZ5SU/XEIOX588qhI/AAAAAAAAv5w/rQHlepa7DB09UGMZmtwSFT0iT9Y7qSHQACK4BGAYYCw/s320/CroppedBogieSide.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smell 04526 With Dark Spots</td></tr>
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scoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606301310053730258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261122590981034223.post-7904494247948459252019-01-19T09:34:00.000-07:002019-01-19T09:34:06.612-07:00It's the little things in life - literallySo I wash most of my dishes by hand. Yes, I know that dish washers are more efficient, but I have to wash the dogs' bowls out twice a day anyway. So I wash up mine as well.<br />
<br />
I stack the drying dishes in the left side sink. Not sure why it bothers me to have a rack on the counter, but it does. <br />
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Previously, I would angle the dog dishes, then layer my dishes around those. Made it impossible to get to the dog dishes for the next meal. And it looked really messy.<br />
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But I found a small in-sink drainer. It fits perfectly into the sink well. There is room for the dog dishes, a rack for my dishes, and even a cutlery holder. (The ceramic knife always goes up top so I don't accidentally grab it.)<br />
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Much more organized. Satisfies my need for order. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2IZ55ZIVlcA/XDtnms4MelI/AAAAAAAAv3Q/B372VP3RCCc2s-P8P4UFiVmoH51_J4fFQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_20190110_053111.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2IZ55ZIVlcA/XDtnms4MelI/AAAAAAAAv3Q/B372VP3RCCc2s-P8P4UFiVmoH51_J4fFQCK4BGAYYCw/s400/IMG_20190110_053111.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />scoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606301310053730258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261122590981034223.post-72937373261972675332019-01-13T09:26:00.001-07:002019-01-13T09:26:21.515-07:00Mountain Oasis paintingFor January, there was only one painting we wanted to do. Well, two, but no time for the other. It was a fun class and I really liked the result.<br />
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The instructor painting had "M" birds, but I went with a sprinkling of stars instead. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LErchFbPoa0/XDtl-bes1QI/AAAAAAAAv3E/5TGDE2M0ztknUalSCbKmUrQ0Tffj7ASpgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_20190111_054203.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LErchFbPoa0/XDtl-bes1QI/AAAAAAAAv3E/5TGDE2M0ztknUalSCbKmUrQ0Tffj7ASpgCK4BGAYYCw/s400/IMG_20190111_054203.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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Done at <a href="http://thebrushbar.com/">The Brush Bar</a>scoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606301310053730258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261122590981034223.post-39459412077810156502019-01-04T10:00:00.000-07:002019-01-04T10:00:39.527-07:00Best New Year's Eve in several yearsNew Year's Eve is one of my least favorite holidays. Of my last 6 dogs, four have been freaked out by fireworks.<br />
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And boy does my neighborhood like fireworks. This year they started around 7 and went to 12:15. Last year they started at 5:30 and went to 1:30.<br />
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Yeah, I don't get much sleep on January 1st.<br />
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Currently I have two dogs. Angel is the Belgian Malinois/Great Dane mix and is almost 12. Bogie is a Great Dane and is 7 1/2.<br />
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In year's past, I've had to hold Angel (all 100 pounds of her) and reach to pet Bogie.<br />
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For some reason, in 2018 Angel decided fireworks no longer bothered her. Yay! Going deaf? I don't think so. She can still hear the pantry door open from outside.<br />
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I don't know which of the several things I did helped Bogie this year, but he did better than he has since I got him.<br />
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1. I increased his evening dose of CBD oil in the hopes it would calm his anxiety.<br />
<br />2. I kept the door closed to keep him from running outside to bark.<br />
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3. I put a series of movies on with the volume louder than usual.<br />
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4. I sat on the floor with him most of the night, petting him, and holding him tight when he tried to jump up in response to an extra loud boom.<br />
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Mostly I think the solution was 1 and 4. <br />
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There were definitely fireworks. I could hear them, even over the TV.<br />
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But Bogie was a lot less stressed. And that made me a lot less stressed.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-buLqdY9tIgg/XC-Qxz6ewLI/AAAAAAAAv1Y/qShPjAnJ9C4a0VhWuUEVowFrhbMTBYrjQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_20180927_082917.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-buLqdY9tIgg/XC-Qxz6ewLI/AAAAAAAAv1Y/qShPjAnJ9C4a0VhWuUEVowFrhbMTBYrjQCK4BGAYYCw/s320/IMG_20180927_082917.jpg" width="240" /></a>scoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606301310053730258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261122590981034223.post-70821896952810904532018-12-30T08:54:00.000-07:002018-12-30T08:54:34.573-07:00Christmas Cactus paintingEvery year our paint place (<a href="http://thebrushbar.com/">The Brush Bar</a>) posts at least one new Christmas themed painting. This year, I made custom greeting cards (<a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/">Shutterfly</a>) from two of the previous years' paintings. <br />
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This year's offering was a cheerful Christmas cactus. Quite appropriate in a state where people actually do decorate their cactus. <br />
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This one will definitely be next year's greeting card.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pwB1TgmF_fA/XCjplTXgJyI/AAAAAAAAv0U/NVmVZarKEfU4KpIezreivg8OqhMWBcKVACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_20181218_114703.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pwB1TgmF_fA/XCjplTXgJyI/AAAAAAAAv0U/NVmVZarKEfU4KpIezreivg8OqhMWBcKVACK4BGAYYCw/s400/IMG_20181218_114703.jpg" width="300" /></a>scoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606301310053730258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261122590981034223.post-17968856770960784162018-12-26T15:53:00.000-07:002018-12-26T15:53:41.344-07:00Inattentive drivers paying no attention to pedestrians<br />
It's a scary time to be a pedestrian, even in the suburbs.<br />
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Bogie and I walk daily pre-dawn. Our route often takes us past the driveways to a gas station and to a grocery store.<br />
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Too many times, drivers pull into, or out of, these driveways without even looking. I've had to pull Bogie up short so he wouldn't be hit. Or hustle to cross so we wouldn't get run over.<br />
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Yes, I know it's dark out. But there are lights illuminating these driveways. And Bogie is big. And white. Hard to miss if you are looking at all.<br />
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Do drivers not expect there to be pedestrians? Is there an arrogance of driver versus pedestrian? The knowledge that a car trumps a pedestrian in any encounter so why should the car pay attention?<br />
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Or are they so anxious to get to their cup of coffee or gas tank fill that they don't even bother to look? Am I expected to hear them coming from behind me?<br />
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Another place that is risky is a parking lot. Walmart or the grocery store, I park my car away from the entrance, usually because I have the dogs in the car. <br />
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Drivers should expect pedestrians in a parking lot. How else do people get from their car to the store, and vice versa? <br />
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And especially in the *specially marked* crosswalks. I mean, that's why they are there.<br />
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But there have been many, many times I've had to abort my progress because a moving car made no attempt to stop, or even slow, for the pedestrian in the crosswalk.<br />
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Is it rudeness? Inattention? Is their time more important than the rules of courtesy?<br />
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I don't know the answer. I just know that I have to be extra-aware, because other people aren't aware at all. scoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606301310053730258noreply@blogger.com0