...good news and bad news...

First the bad news...the sad news...our beloved Pekingese Pokey, was finally relieved of his pain on Tuesday, November 7th. I credit our dear veterinarian, Pokey's doctor of many years, Dr. David Morris, for his support, his thoughtfulness, his clear explanations of Pokey's deteriorating health, his incredible patience and kindness as our family worked through our grief, guilt, our collective inability to make this decision, and his love for all of the animals in his care and their caretakers. Each member of our family is dealing with our loss in our own way. You'd never think the death of an animal would affect you this way...after all, we are looking forward to eating the flesh of a dead turkey in a couple of weeks, and we love to watch rodeos and horse races. But Pokey was not just another animal. He has been part of our family for the past 15 1/2 years. Often where we have gone and for how long has been predicated on if Pokey was to go with us (vacations, of course), an out-of-town wedding (not necessarily), who will be here with him if there's a thunderstorm (he stressed out with the lightning and thunder). He was a part of our family, always here, always loving and always loved, always in the middle of things, and now he will be always missed. Our baby, Pokey, May 7, 1991 to November 7, 2006. He lives on in the hearts he leaves behind.

Now some excellent news!!!!
Elections are over. And "Macaca" is history! We can only pray that Jim Webb does right by those of us who supported him and hope to see some genuineness in his efforts in Washington, that he puts on his "thinking cap" and listening ears" and remembers that we sent him to do the right thing. Let us all hope that the changes that have taken place across the country have signaled the beginning of the restoration of a decent reputation for the United States across the world.

AND...

We get our televisions, telephones, radios, newspapers, and highway medians and shoulders back!!!!! You know, the city of Virginia Beach (and other communities) could make big bucks if each of the candidates was fined for each frigging campaign sign left standing in the ground after election day. I say, give them one day to celebrate, one day to sleep it off, one day to clean it up, and then: my plan can be tried. I love this: either way the city wins. Each sign that is turned in to the city gets the "turner inner" $5. The city can turn around and fine the campaigner $7 per sign that has been turned in. Each day the sign remaina in the city's custody, storage fees apply. We can each earn a few bucks for de-littering, the city can make a few bucks, and our city landscapers don't have to deal with having to get off their mowers to remove and dispose of signs before they can do their work. It'll make those working for the various candidates more responsible about clean-up time, because the candidate can deal with this issue however they want to...I am sure they don't want the fine or the bad press. Maybe an award can be issued to the best cleaner-upper and the worst violator by the local newspaper. Increased readership! And maybe an "awards ceremony" at the new and improved convention center that the city went ahead with despite the fact that most residents did not think it was necessary (we already had a convention center at the same location. So the admission to the "Delittering Awards Ceremony" might be a way for the convention center to make a few bucks and earn its keep, and great entertainment for all of us. It could even be televised. Maybe commemorative souvenirs could be sold by concessions in the lobby.

And finally...

I hear it's a bit chilly in my hometown, Chicago. A friend of mine in exile in Phoenix sent me this this morning, and it is so true...I don't know who wrote it and I don't want to get sued for copyright infringements. I did not write it and am not taking credit for writing it. I'm just passing it along for entertainment, and to tweak the hearts of other former Chicagoans.

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May, you
live in Chicago.

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't
work there, you live in Chicago.

If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in Chicago.

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed
a wrong number, you live in Chicago.

If "Vacation" means going anywhere south of I-80 for the
weekend, you live in Chicago.

If you measure distance in hours, you live in Chicago.

If you have switched from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back again, you
live in Chicago.

If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard
without flinching, you live in Chicago.

If you carry jumper cables in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you
live in Chicago.

If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you live
in Chicago.

If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph -- you're going 80 and everybody
is passing you, you live in Chicago.

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow,
you live in Chicago.

If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road
construction, you live in Chicago.

If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in Chicago.

If you find 10 degrees "a little chilly", you live in Chicago.

If you actually understand these jokes, and forward them to all your friends & others, you live in Chicago.