It's been awhile... Sad Day

You know, I didn't post anything for a couple weeks because... well... because I didn't have anything to say really. All the crazy shit going on down south really had me at a loss for words. I mean, who cares about Randy Moss and Terrell Owens and stupid decisions made by state officials when we have an entire city flooded and destroyed. Not too much seemed important. And, really, in the grand scheme of things, this Sad Day is the same. It doesn't much matter compared to all the other things going on. But, I'm sad. I'm upset. And even though there is crappy shit happening all over the U.S., I feel sorry for myself.

My dog died today. Lattimer was is his name. He was the biggest damn Rottweiler I'd ever seen. 165 lbs of dog. I'm 6'2 and when he was younger and trim and fit, he could stand on his back legs and put his front paws on my shoulders. Big friggin dog. But SOOOO loveable. Just the nicest brute you'd ever see. Not the brightest dog in the world.

He did this thing... One night, my dad was sitting out on the back patio, listening to a baseball game. Lattimer was out there with him, just laying around, being his typical good self. The light was shining from the kitchen through the window out to the patio. My dad had one foot up on his knee (kinda the man's version of crossing your legs) and was just moving his foot around a little. Lattimer happened to glance up and see the shadow of my Dad's foot dancing around on the ground. A dark spot moving around in a ray of light. Lattimer, all 150 lbs of him, jumped up and barked. My dad of course was startled. When you have a huge dog like that bark right in your ear for no reason, it's makes you jump a little. Then Lattimer POUNCED on the shadow. You know how cats will creep real slowly behind a string and then suddenly leap and pounce to get it? Imagine a 150 lb dog doing exactly that. Like an overgrown cat. Pounce. Bark. Pounce. Bark. Slobber... slobber everywhere. It drove him crazy. He HAD to get that shadow! He'd scratch at the concrete, nose right up to the ground, scratch some more, bark, chase the shadow. My dad thought it was hilarious. Of course, he showed me the "trick". And boy did I run with it. I even taught him the word "shadow". If you said that word out loud... Lattimer was looking all over the ground for a moving shadow. He wanted to get it. I'd take a broom on a sunny day and hold it up and make a shadow on the ground. Lattimer would see it and chase that shadow everywhere. I'd move it around, hide it, he'd get confused, i'd bring it back, he'd chase it some more... and of course slobber everywhere. So funny to see an enormous dog like that so crazy about chasing a little shadow.

But, even though he wasn't the smartest dog, he was something. About a year after I got him as a puppy of 6 weeks, he was pretty much full grown. I used to live in a college town and I'd take him to the bar I frequented. I'd take him on the slowest night... Sunday night. I'd walk in, the few people in there would love it. The bartender, Tom was his name, would always get a bowl of water for him. Lattimer would just sit with me at the bar or with a couple friends, always right by my side. Every once in awhile, I'd ask him if he was thirsty and get up and lead him to the water. He'd take a few drinks and then just look at me... as if to say, "we stayin or goin boss?"

One night, I brought him into the bar. Let me give you the layout of this place... it was tiny. Walk in the front door and 5 feet in front of you is the short side of the bar. Turn to the left and there was a walk way with some chairs. Go about 15 feet to the left and you'd hit the wall. Turn to the right and you'd have another 30 feet in front of you to the back wall. The bar was shaped mostly like an "L" with the front door at the bottom of the L. So, I walk in with Lattimer in tow. A couple people I knew were in there and they all said hi from their seats and a couple people got up and petted Lattimer. He nuzzled their hands and loved the attention. A guy and girl I'd never met were sitting at the bar on the long side. Lattimer hadn't seen them yet. The guy gets up and comes over and asks about the dog and asks if he can pet him. I say sure, he won't bite... and the guy bends down and holds out his hand. Lattimer sniffs him a sec, then nudges his hand... "yeah, you're ok... now pet me." So the girl gets up and starts to walk over. Lattimer lifts his head up and takes a step back. He looks at me, looks back at the girl still walking towards us. He turns and comes and stands right next to me, almost in front of me. Leaning on my legs. The girl comes around the corner of the bar and he rumbles. I don't know if you've ever heard a 165 lb dog growl... but it's not just a growl... it's a rumble. It's deep. The girl stopped in her tracks. I put my hand on his head, petted him and told him it was ok. She was ok. He just rumbled again. She started to put out her hand, he rumbled deeper, louder, a little flash of teeth. I was shocked. He didn't have an issue with any other women/girls he'd been around. He didn't have an issue with the GUY this particular girl was with. He just didn't like HER. I told her I was sorry, I don't know what's wrong with him. She kinda looks at him, he rumbles again, and she turns and goes back to her seat at the bar. Now, on all other times we'd been in this bar, he'd wander around, say hi to a few people, but mostly just sit near me. This time, he stood at the corner of that bar, and looked down the bar at that girl. If she got up for any reason, he'd rumble at her. If she looked at him... he'd rumble. Finally, more because I knew the girl was getting scared than because I was ready or wanted to go, I left. I told Lattimer it was time to go and he took one last look at the girl... wuffed... not a full on bark... just a wwwwuuuuffffff... and turned and walked out with me. I'd never seen him react that way to ANYONE before or since. No idea what it was about her... I never will know. But Lattimer didn't like her. I guess that was my que to stay away from her.

Lattimer used to sleep in my bed with me. Luckily, I had a decent size bed because I'm a fairly big guy and he's a friggin big dog. He was such a bed hog too! I swear, I'd wake up some nights and he would be all sprawled out on the bed, me sleeping on just the edge. I'd push him over, call him a bed hog and he'd just grunt at me... "Oh shut up and leave me a long... I'm sleepin". But when he was ready to get up... boy did I find out about it. He'd do the potty dance for just a few seconds. You know how dogs do it. Then he'd jump on the bed and stand over me. If I didn't get up then... he'd lay on my head. Yup. That damn dog would just plop right down on my head. He wouldn't move either. I'd be pushing him, telling him to get up... if he didn't think I was going to get up, he'd stay right there. And when I got out from under his 160 poundness, he'd have that cheezy dog grin going... you know the one. He KNEW what he was doing, the shit. He knew and he thought it was funny.

He'd been living with my mom and dad for several years. About 3 years after I got him, I went into the Air Force (long story, didn't last, was back home in two months). When I went, my Mom agreed to keep him for me. When I got back, I immediately found a job travelling all over the country. She agreed to keep on keeping him. Finally, after another 2 years and that job was over and I was at a job that kept me home, I was able to get a place that I could have him back. Basically, the answer my mom gave me when I went to get him back was, "Go to hell, he stays with me." Now, my mom is the sweetest woman in the world and she didn't actually say that to me, but she let it be known that Lattimer was staying with her and that was the end of the discussion. So, he was still my dog... but living with my Mom and Dad. He'd still look for me though. My old bedroom that I had, even after I was gone and not living there, he'd scratch at the door, just too look in and see if I was there. He missed me. But, honestly, I knew he'd be much happier out in the country with them. So, he'd been there for years. Slowly growing older... and fatter. He got so big at one point, the vet ORDERED my mom to put him on a diet. He slimmed down some, but was still a hefty dog. His back legs were starting to give out. He had aches and pains... especially after my kids were out there playing with him. He'd sleep most of the next day to recupperate from when the kids were there.

So... Lattimer died today. My Mom and Dad had him put to sleep. His stomach turned over on him and he was in alot of pain. I'm really sad that I didn't get to pet him one last time. Say goodbye to my dog. My big oaf. He loved it when I came to see "him". He'd be so happy and wag his butt (no tail, was snipped... but boy would his butt wag!). I wish I could have seen him do that one last time. At least if I could have given him a big bear hug (he loved those) and said, "goodbye Lat... I love you". Maybe he can still hear me. Well, he'll just have to wait for a few minutes because now I've made myself cry.

RIP Lattimer. I Love You.

Thank You Ben Stein... Thank You.

About the time of my last post, Ben Stein wrote an article that was much more eloquent than mine. Of course, he is a lawyer and a former presidential speech writer, so that kindof makes sense. So, giving all credit where credit is due... and because I couldn't have said it better myself... here is his article. (see http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=8693 for the original)

Special ReportGet Off His Back
(Updated)By Ben Stein
Published 9/2/2005 11:59:59 PM
***UPDATED: Sunday, Sept. 4, 2005, 2:13 p.m.***
A few truths, for those who have ears and eyes and care to know the truth:
1.) The hurricane that hit New Orleans and Mississippi and Alabama was an astonishing tragedy. The suffering and loss of life and peace of mind of the residents of those areas is acutely horrifying.
2.) George Bush did not cause the hurricane. Hurricanes have been happening for eons. George Bush did not create them or unleash this one.
3.) George Bush did not make this one worse than others. There have been far worse hurricanes than this before George Bush was born.
4.) There is no overwhelming evidence that global warming exists as a man-made phenomenon. There is no clear-cut evidence that global warming even exists. There is no clear evidence that if it does exist it makes hurricanes more powerful or makes them aim at cities with large numbers of poor people. If global warming is a real phenomenon, which it may well be, it started long before George Bush was inaugurated, and would not have been affected at all by the Kyoto treaty, considering that Kyoto does not cover the world's worst polluters -- China, India, and Brazil. In a word, George Bush had zero to do with causing this hurricane. To speculate otherwise is belief in sorcery.
5.) George Bush had nothing to do with the hurricane contingency plans for New Orleans. Those are drawn up by New Orleans and Louisiana. In any event, the plans were perfectly good: mandatory evacuation. It is in no way at all George Bush's fault that about 20 percent of New Orleans neglected to follow the plan. It is not his fault that many persons in New Orleans were too confused to realize how dangerous the hurricane would be. They were certainly warned. It's not George Bush's fault that there were sick people and old people and people without cars in New Orleans. His job description does not include making sure every adult in America has a car, is in good health, has good sense, and is mobile.
6.) George Bush did not cause gangsters to shoot at rescue helicopters taking people from rooftops, did not make gang bangers rape young girls in the Superdome, did not make looters steal hundreds of weapons, in short make New Orleans into a living hell.
7.) George Bush is the least racist President in mind and soul there has ever been and this is shown in his appointments over and over. To say otherwise is scandalously untrue.
8.) George Bush is rushing every bit of help he can to New Orleans and Mississippi and Alabama as soon as he can. He is not a magician. It takes time to organize huge convoys of food and now they are starting to arrive. That they get in at all considering the lawlessness of the city is a miracle of bravery and organization.
9.) There is not the slightest evidence at all that the war in Iraq has diminished the response of the government to the emergency. To say otherwise is pure slander.
10.) If the energy the news media puts into blaming Bush for an Act of God worsened by stupendous incompetence by the New Orleans city authorities and the malevolence of the criminals of the city were directed to helping the morale of the nation, we would all be a lot better off.
11.) New Orleans is a great city with many great people. It will recover and be greater than ever. Sticking pins into an effigy of George Bush that does not resemble him in the slightest will not speed the process by one day.
12.) The entire episode is a dramatic lesson in the breathtaking callousness of government officials at the ground level. Imagine if Hillary Clinton had gotten her way and they were in charge of your health care.God bless all of those dear people who are suffering so much, and God bless those helping them, starting with George Bush.
****UPDATE: Sunday, Sept. 4, 2005, 2:13 p.m.
More Mysteries of Katrina:
Why is it that the snipers who shot at emergency rescuers trying to save people in hospitals and shelters are never mentioned except in passing, and Mr. Bush, who is turning over heaven and earth to rescue the victims of the storm, is endlessly vilified?
What church does Rev. Al Sharpton belong to that believes in passing blame and singling out people by race for opprobrium and hate?
What special abilities does the media have for deciding how much blame goes to the federal government as opposed to the city government of New Orleans for the aftereffects of Katrina?
If able-bodied people refuse to obey a mandatory evacuation order for a city, have they not assumed the risk that ill effects will happen to them?
When the city government simply ignores its own sick and hospitalized and elderly people in its evacuation order, is Mr. Bush to blame for that?
Is there any problem in the world that is not Mr. Bush's fault, or have we reverted to a belief in a sort of witchcraft where we credit a mortal man with the ability to create terrifying storms and every other kind of ill wind?
Where did the idea come from that salvation comes from hatred and criticism and mockery instead of love and co-operation?

What has the US become?

I've been putting off posting for a week or so now. I just didn't have much to say, especially with the devastation in the Gulf. Many things take a back seat when catastrophe's like this occur. Sporting events are put on hold, news organizations take over prime-time TV. The world watches. That's why I'm embarrassed as hell.

You know, a few months ago when the Tsunami hit, the world watched in horror as the devastation piled up. Body counts soared and people were fighting for their lives. The world watched humans floating in flood waters right next to garbage and debris. And the world responded. Every effort was made by people around the world to help. And the people that were hit... the ones that survived... the lived on. They struggled and will continue to struggle to stay alive. They work with each other to fix what once was.

And then we have New Orleans. Thugs swim the flooded streets in packs, looting, pillaging, robbing and... who knows... murder? At least attempted. Jesse Jackson is on his way there, screaming racism. Bad words are flying, accusations are made. Several message boards I've seen have been full of *nigger* this and *nigger* that. This isn't about the color of anyone. The word "nigger" is a term I don't fully understand. I know it is a derogatory term used to describe blacks. I know it is used freely amongst the black community, but its more than taboo for white's to say. So, to me, "nigger" is merely a word that I have no real context for, other than to assume it is like calling someone an asshole. So to me, that word certainly doesn't apply to this situation. The people (be they white or black or latino or asian) causing the problems are, to put it simply, trash. They are scum. They are despicable human beings with no concept of right and wrong. The fact that the majority of the people committing these acts are black is only causing more problems.

And then we have the liberal assholes, holding these fuckers hands, coddling them, telling them they are just a product of their environments. They were brought up poor, no chance to get out. It's not their fault. BULLSHIT. My wife... she was brought up poor also. She had very little in life as she grew up. Her dad was an alcoholic, her mom to caught up in her own life to care about her kids. She had it rough. Just like these fuckers. But you know what? She made something of herself. She went to school, got an education, held down a job. What can't these people? Why can't they? No money? Student loans. I got one. My wife too. No opportunities? Bullshit. There are more and more scholarships offered for "non-whites" than ever before. They are simply lazy. They don't want to work. They don't want to go to school. They only want to leach off the populace in general. Again, this has nothing to do with race. I see plenty of whites and blacks doing this.

To top things off, now I'm reading about how this is Bush's fault. Yep. Blame the president that a hurricane hit. Blame the president that the CITY of New Orleans and the STATE of Louisiana were NOT prepared. Some will say, well President Bush cut federal spending to repair and replace old levies in and around New Orleans. I say New Orleans is a big enough city and has enough casinos and sports franchises to make enough money to fix their own damn levies. Those levies have been SINKING for years, along with the rest of the damn city. So they are pissed the government wasn't paying for them to fix their own levies around a city that was fucking built UNDER SEA LEVEL?

Look, I would never wish any of this destruction upon anyone. The fact is, it happened. There is NO BLAME. And, if there is blame, it is on the city itself for not being prepared. There were no trains, busses, planes, taxi's, car pools... anything... out of town for those that did not have the means. There was the state telling everyone... "hey, ya better get out, we're going to get hit by this hurricane. but, if you can't... well... screw ya. We don't have the time or the patience to help."

So it goes on. The looting, the muggings, the rape (now accounts of rape are coming out of New Orleans), the carjackings (really, stealing a bus from an old-folks home and kicking all the old people off the bus? really???? WHO would do that?)... all surrounded by one of the worst natural catastrophe's ever. It ALMOST feels like one of the seven signs of the apocolypse.

Really, not much else to say. I pray for those innocent people stranded in New Orleans and I pray the military wipes out those fuckheads that are screwing everything up.