Your Dog Is Saving Your Life

I am proud to feature my first quest post. I am honored to have this privilege. As you know  I am a big pet lover and dogs are such a big part of our lives. So, I hope you enjoy this. Please visit www.serenityhealth.com
after to see all of the wonderful stories.




 http://www.serenityhealth.com/blog/dog-saving-life-give/

Let me introduce Amber Liddell


Your Dog Is Saving Your Life-Make Sure You Give Back


It is said that money cannot buy happiness. It is easy to argue against this old adage, mainly because money can buy a dog (or buy things to take care of a free one). Go ahead and try not to feel some cheer and mirth when your dog tries to give you a kiss, nestles their head under your hand, wags their tail like they haven’t seen you in years when it’s only been hours or minutes, etc. What many don’t realize is that dogs also make us healthier in general and help us live longer.
The Silent Killer
Recent scientific studies have indicated some unsettling things about stress. A quick Google search on “mice stress study” can quickly illustrate a range of serious concerns. It would be folly to stress about stress, but it is wise to think about solutions when chronic stress is linked to depression, dysfunctional offspring, and even cancer.
Unfortunately, avoiding stress is no easy task, perhaps especially as our society “progresses.” To quote Poe, “I think human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active – not more happy – nor more wise, than he was 6,000 years ago.” Bear in mind also that Poe’s life predated cars with combustion engines, let alone vast highway infrastructures, large enterprises, and monstrous electrical grids to support the labors of the masses. Stress is something we all come to wrestle in one way or another.
Studies have also linked depression to early death. Unfortunately, depression is also something that is difficult to avoid and we all face it in some way or another. Even if you do not suffer from clinical depression, there common things that can contribute or cause one to experience depression are all to many.
On the bright side, knowing the danger is the key to dealing with it. If stress cannot be avoided, it can be balanced or negated. Getting a canine companion may be the best way to do so.
Dogs: Pets or Heroes?
Dogs do more for us than your average pet. Even if your dog doesn’t pull your baby from a fire, they are still a life saver. Dogs help reduce stress, fight loneliness and depression, lower blood pressure, and extend your life.
Even better, they are not terribly expensive to maintain and they are not exclusive. Dogs are wired to bond with humans and perhaps we are to them in turn. After all, our species have been intertwined for thousands of years, certainly longer than any other animal on such a level. There is a reason they are known for their loyalty. If all else abandons you in life, chances are your dog will not.
Giving Back
We can give our dogs the bare minimum to survive and they will still stick by us, but that does not mean that is the approach we should have. Your dog makes you happy and healthy. It is fair to return the favor, but also rewarding to know that they are enjoying their lives and couldn’t be happier anywhere else. Their time is sadly short compared to ours, after all. Spend the extra change to make them comfortable and content.
The relationship between human and dog started off as a basic symbiosis: they helped us hunt and we helped them eat. Since, the bond has deepened to help both species in ways our ancestors would probably never have imagined necessary. What a gift.
Adam Holmes is a nature enthusiast and dog lover who enjoys communicating his passion through the written word. When he is not training or playing with his dogs, he freelances for havahart.com, which specializes in progressive and humane wireless dog fences.

Top six things

pamelarichardson.blogspot.com

# If something is going to go wrong,# it will and always be prepared for the worst.

Dealing with the public, you are open to have anything happen. With every small town, you always have the local business mogul.  You know the person that owns most of the business. In this case, it is the trash service for the whole town. They have two boys, they are hardworking boys slightly spoiled and most people know who they are. Also, there is a cousin the same age as the youngest boy. They are close and do everything together. Just like brothers. As older teens and adults, they would come into the restaurant at night from a night of snowmobiling or snowplowing. Of course, there were also the nights that they would come in after the bars closed.

So, here is the beginning of the story. The youngest boy and the cousin were not very happy with each other when they entered the restaurant. They were of age and had just come from the bars. As I walked them to their table, I heard mumblings about some woman but did not hear the whole thing. I left them to look at the menus.

Voices became loud and then there was shouting. I looked through the door into the dining room, just as I poked, my head out I saw plates and bodies flying.  The two had escalated to a fistfight. From somewhere a plate of fries and ketchup flew. It landed in the face and chest of a man sitting in a chair next to the cousins.  Shortly after this the youngest boy land in his lap. 

#Stay calm and clear-headed at all times.# That has always been my motto especial working in a bar rush. Now I had known these boys for years and knew they were good boys just drunk, young and had testosterone flying.

“What in the hell are you doing” I yelled at them.” Get off the floor and pick this shit up now,” I yelled at both of them. Apologize to this poor man and clean up this mess or I will call the cops. I did not really have to call the cops. One of them was already there. He had come in while I was seating them. He know them and was waiting to see what I did.  The rest were due to come in for break in a few minute anyways.

#Be a part of your community.# Also, be known as being a good person. Being a night waitress, I spent many hours sitting with the local law on their breaks. They knew me well and know I could handle things. Of course, I knew I could call them and they would be there in just a few minutes. One time a customer called the cops about an incident, another customer was being unruly.  I did not make the call so they did not come in right away. I was a little concerned but handled the unruly customer. The officer on duty came in an hour later for break. Why didn’t you come in when we were having a problem? ‘I asked.

“Because you did not call.” He said.” I heard the call but I figured you could handle it and if not I was right across the street. “I know if it got out of hand you would have called” He went on to say.

#The sordid side of life exists and there is nothing that can be done about it.# So just, get on with it and deal with it.  They only come out at night. People with their affairs, you also got vampires, yes vampires some of them had their teeth worked on to have extended fangs. There are also witches, warlocks, Goth and just your average nut cases. Some nights a regular parade would go on for hours. Forget diversity this was all of the other forms of life.  I do not know what their parents were thinking.

After the bars closed and the bar rush was over. Then the owners of the bars/strip clubs would come in. Sometimes the strippers themselves would come in. I always felt sorry for them; young pretty girls that just had a bad childhood.  As they sat there and discuss their events of the nights so did the law. Most time they talk amongst themselves. Occasionally they sat with the local law enforcement. Maybe discussing a new predicament, they had found themselves in.

 It was better than a soap opera. This was real life unfolding in front of you.  I sure miss those days. Really I do. I just do not miss staying up all night.

Life is hard and we need to laugh at ourselves. All of this took place over 20 years ago. I am sure all the vampires, witches and Goth are now executive somewhere or at least I hope so. Along with that, I hope the strippers are happily married with children. Again, I surly hope so.   

#Nothing is free.# Unless a plate of fries come flying into your lap and you get your meal on the house. Then again, it did cost you a new white shirt.

P.P.  Three years ago in the middle of February I need to find someone to dig us out with a bobcat. Our local plow guy could no longer plow the snow in our driveway. It was a record year for snow. An employee said she knew of a guy so I called him up. The name sounded familiar but then there were a lot of people with that last name. Sure enough it was the youngest boy. He gave me a discount for not sending him to jail that night.

 

 

Feeding Gods creatures

On my weekly shopping trip to my local grocery store, I was standing by the bulk isle. I was getting my supplies for my granola. One of the employees came up to the bin next to mine and said what a waste. This bin contained candied bananas and stuff. There was about 2 cups worth lying in the tray below it. (I am sure there were kids involved.)  "This is why the cost food is so expensive," she said. 

I just looked at her shrugged my shoulders and smiled.  It was a, I understand smile.  I remember when I worked there year ago and I took a tour of the facilities. The produce manager showed us around the dept. He took us back to where they put all the produce that was to ripe to sell. “We use to be able to send this to the local pig farm but now we cannot even do that anymore,” he grumbled.

I was surprised “why not” I asked, “what is wrong with pigs eating ripe produce?”

“Contamination or something like that” he said back.” I do not know why we cannot send it to the food shelf either” he went on to grumbling. “It is such a shame”. “I know they do send day old bead to the food shelf.” You could tell he was down hearted about the whole thing.

On the home front, I know I have a waste problem also. As I write this (well actually I did throw it out prior to writing this) have some kale (that has turned yellow) stuck in the back of the fridge. I put it in the compost bucket. That is taken to the compost bin though. It is outside where birds and other creatures can dig in and feed off what they want. All our food waste goes outside to feed God’s creatures. The crows really like it when I have a cake or bead that we really do not want to finish.  Therefore, I do not look at our food waste as anything more than feeding God’s creature.

I remember when my nieces and nephews were young (I love them dearly). They would come over and we would have family meals. Of course, we used plastic plates and plastic forks for convenience. Plastic utensils and plates can be recycled or washed and used again. My biggest problem was my nieces and nephews filling their plates and then just taking a small bite of everything. Then they would throw everything in the trash, food and all. There was enough food there to feed six people.

I think of this because of my day’s when food was scarce and I did not know where my next meal was coming from.  Thank God for the food shelf. The problem is what can be given to the food self. I stopped buying the prepackaged food shelf-bags.  Everything is processed food. Just because someone cannot afford food does not mean they do not care about what there is to eat. So, I buy canned tuna or salmon, canned vegetables, Jars of fruit and whole-wheat pastas.  I then put it in my local food bin box at the store.  I also volunteer at fare share. They give out fresh produce.  

Please help in the fight to stomp out hunger.


 http://mnfoodshare.gmcc.org/index.php

 

 

Real love

pamelarichardson.blogspot.com

 Do you ever wonder what happened to the couple that rode off into the sunset and lived happily ever after? I love a good romance movie. The good guy gets the girl in the end and they receive all the benefits of love. It is a world of eternal bliss. It makes me feel like all is right with the world. An added bonus, I feel more love towards the C.O. I would think this is a good sign. If I did not think we had a good relationship I would be like, “Why can’t you be that way”?
                                                                                    pamelarichardson.blogspot.com

 

Where the problem comes in is you never get to see what happens five or ten years down the line. I think that is why we have sequels. Shrek is a great movie.  I liked the premise of it. He is a big ugly ogre and she is the Princes.  Deep down Princes Fiona is just like him.  In addition deep down he is a Prince and a man of honor.

Princes Fiona concealed her true self from the world until she met him. Shrek let her know that he understood. He made Princes Fiona feel safe and alive.  She now was able to reveal herself as she really was to the rest of the world.

                                                                                        pamelarichardson.blogspot.com

Shrek 2 is also good. Most sequels are disappointing but Shrek 2 is good.  Shrek 3 I thought was overdoing it.

They say you have a better chance to live a long and healthy life when you are married or in a long-term relationship.  I have to wonder why.  My guess is because you want to outlive the other person just so you can say I win. Seriously, no I do not think that. It is because you take care of each other

In real life, couples get irritated with each other. The stresses of everyday life start chipping away at the magic invisible shield. The shield that keeps the outside world from touching the bond they share together.  

Nobody ever knows what is around the corner, sickness, death, betrayal.  I think this is why we like fantasy so much. It gives us hope. It reminds us of our own beginning of our current relationship. It gives us hope that there is love out there if we are not in a relationship.

 Relationships are hard, day in and day out. Heck, reality is hard and if the person you need to be there for you is sick, dead or worst of all a liar. A thief of your heart that takes it and  just stomps on it like it was nothing, it can take a big toll on you.

I know this is going to sound terrible bad of me. I have always thought it was romantic when a couple after being married for 50 plus years suddenly one of them dies. The other one follows within 6 months.  He or she could not live without the other. They were probable known to others as the Bickersons. Although, in their quite moments together, they were each other’s life, both depended on the other.  

pamelarichardson.blogspot.com

I like to believe they rode off into the sunset hand in hand. Looking back and waving  goodbye. GOOD LUCK!  you can hear them shout out back to us.  And they lived happily ever after.