Essie, my favorite dog

Of all the dogs we own (12 on our farm plus some others) Essie is my favorite. Considering how amazing each one of our dogs are, it's hard to pick a favorite. It has to be something more than good looks, great personality, etc. There is just some sort of connection between us. Essie happens to be our largest breeding female. At over 115 pounds, she's a lot of dog. She also happens to be my favorite color pattern . . . classic black and tan (although a little heavy on the black for some people.) She's got a great build with a tall stance, straight back and deep chest. Essie has a heavy bone structure so she is sturdy and fun to roughhouse with (although she is by nature quite calm.) At 6 months, she was the youngest dog of any breed ever to earn her AKC Canine Good Citizenship at the Oak Ridge Kennel Club. She was the first dog we were able to teach to catch a Frisbee. Essie is named for Queen Esther in the Bible and she really has a rather regal air about her. And yet, for all that, she's my favorite because of all the dogs, she likes me the best. I mean, of all the dogs, she's the one who is looking at me when I get home. Of all the dogs, she's the one who want's to snuggle and give kisses. Isn't it amazing how easy it is to love and give preference to someone who loves us? . . . Sadly, it seems harder for us to love and prefer those who do not love us or treat us well. . . . And even more sadly, considering how much God loves us and lavishes His attention and goodwill on us, why do we have such a resistance to loving God with all our heart and all our mind and all our soul and all our strength? . . . . . . .

Pet Peave

I have a pet peave. It's not like I've picked it up by the road and brought it home. I haven't named it yet and I don't set out food for it nor do I buy it toys or treats. Yet I can't quite seem to get rid of it and its been with me for a long long time. SO, I guess it's become a pet . . . an annoying one, yet still a pet. Peaves can be like that sometimes.

This is related to my last post. It has to do with patriots and citizenship (or lack thereof.)

I have a great deal of respect for law enforcement officers. I was one for a short period of time many years ago (when surely I was way too young to be carrying a gun!) I am extrememly grateful for the work they do and I recognize the risks they take daily (every shift they show up for) on behalf of the citizens of a community and the peace and safety therein.

However . . . (here is the peave sneaking in) . . . have you noticed that maybe 2 out of 3 times you see a law enforcement vehicle on the open road WITHOUT lights &/or siren operating they are driving in excess of the posted speed limits . . . sometimes WAY in excess . . . enough so that if you or I did that we would be pulled over. If they had their emergency lights operating, I wouldn't give it a second thought . . . even if they were merely on their way home for lunch. But the idea of those who are charged with enforcing our laws so frequently and apparently casually breaking those laws bothers me.

BUT . . even more than marked law enforcement vehicles, I am REALLY bugged by cars with judicial or legislative plates which almost without exception are left laning the interstate and passing almost everything on the road. At such disregard for our laws, I take offense.

What does it say about attitudes in our government when those who write the laws, those who judge us by the laws and those who enforce our laws have so little respect for simple laws like the speed limit? How much harder is it for me to drive within the limits of the law when these in government won't?

A patriot loves their contry and loyally and zealously supports it. Obeying our legal* laws is a must for a good citizen and certainly for a patriot.

*[The Supreme Court has ruled that any law that is written, passed, &/or enacted which is contrary to the U.S. Constitution is no law at all. It is the courts job to make those determinations and the citizen's job to make sure the courts do their job.]

It appears to me that at even the very simple levels our nation is suffering from a lack of good citizenship and it is that which makes this otherwise insignificant matter into a peave which has become one of my pets.

Patriot

pa.tri.ot : a person who loves and loyally or zealously supports his own country. (Webster's New World Dictionary 2nd College Ed 1970)

Years ago (when I was MUCH younger) two ideologies clashed within our culture and nation. Some on either side considered themselves to be the 'true' patriots. The battle cry on one side was "America! Love it or Leave it!" The other side retorted: "America! Change it or Lose it!"

I find it interesting after all these years to find that I have gone from one side to the other and now must scream out both of these battle cries. If you don't love America (as in the United States of America . . . the sovereign nation) then you have the freedom to leave it and I strongly suggest that you do at your earliest convenience. If you don't love and loyally or zealously support this nation, then your presence here suggests mere selfish ambition to use the liberties which are guaranteed for citizens to your own personal gain shirking the responsibilities and costs of being a patriotic citizen. You are certainly no patriot! In the same breath I must also say (write) that if you truly love and loyally and zealously support this nation then you will also be severely concerned for the state that this nation has fallen to and should be actively involved in efforts to change it. For if we do not restore this nation to it's noble heritage with a government 'of the people, by the people and for the people' (rather than a government that believes that it exists for itself) then we shall certainly lose what is great about this nation (if we haven't already lost it.)

Youngest (for now) grandson and kitty

Our youngest grandson Dalton was looking out the window at their German Shepherd dog "Duke" when his kitty "Phoebe" came to see what was so interesting . . .

A fairly recent picture of me in a very casual moment. . .