It's a dogs dinner!

You are not going to believe this shit. I don't believe this shit. It's...well...unbelievable shit.
Two days ago I was on the computer doing some research for Philip when all of a sudden Ziggy jumps at the screen door and it opens. The latch doesn't catch properly.  He started barking his usual greeting barking...which admittedly is LOUD. Barely awake, I run out the door to call Ziggy back into the house. I register that the mailman is there and Ziggy is barking at him. By this time Murphy is there too making the "marbles in his mouth" sort of growling sort of barking noise he makes which never fails to make us laugh. It seems like slow motion and I see a canister of something in the mailman's hand. That something was pepper spray and he proceeded to spray Ziggy's face and back with it. I couldn't believe what I was seeing because not only did he just spray Ziggy he was about to spray Murphy! Murphy making his warbling sound. Murphy who is 13lbs. Murphy who in his 10 yrs has not bitten or hurt anyone even if they pulled on his ears or poked his eyes...when he had eyes...he only has one now. Ziggy ran up the stairs whimpering quietly and I let him in the house.
I wanted to go in the house and take care of Ziggy but at the same time I needed to know what was in the canister and why the mailman sprayed him. This public servant said that Ziggy "charged" him and scared him and he didn't know if the animal was going to bite him. I can see that. You never know when an animal is going to bite. UNLESS you have studied dog behaviour and can differentiate between a dog that is going to bite you and one that is not. You would think that postal employees would take one of those classes. Haven't they been in a war with dogs since the beginning of door to door mail service?
By the way, have I mentioned that Ziggy isn't a rottweiller or a pit bull or a german shepherd or any sort of dog that is typically a bit more scary than other dogs? Sorry, I should have told you that Ziggy is a schnoodle. Even the name "schnoodle" is funny. It is part schnauzer and part poodle. Ziggy is maybe 18 pounds. Ziggy always greets everyone exuberantly. No one is ever scared of him. Until the day before yesterday. Unbelievable.
More tomorrow on this story....
Here is picture of my vicious hounds.

Here's the dealio...

I've been away for a bit. I just couldn't summon the energy to actually write a blog post. As I said in the previous post I had the BLUES. It was a bit more than that and the doctor put me on two anti-depressants. The medication is helping and I am beginning to feel human again. Beginning to feel my body, mind, and spirit starting to "gel" again.
That's something interesting in itself...my body doesn't like me...at all. I've mentioned previously, as well, that I have Lupus, and RA (rheumatoid arthritis), hashimoto's disease, and likely a condition called Sjogren's. When last I felt this sad and yucky I was right in the middle of finding out I had Hashimoto's disease. What that is, is a disorder where the thyroid gland is attacked by the immune system causing one of two conditions. You can go between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism (usually in what is called a "storm"). I have hypothyroidism as my thyroid gland is not producing hormone. I have never gone to the hyper side and usually control the thyroid hormone with dessicated thyroid tablets. Sometimes, the condition gets worse and you won't even know it. Your body will produce even less hormone or need more hormone or the medication is not working the way it should and you find that you are fatigued, your hair is falling out, skin is not as fresh, you are short with people, you cry all the time, etc etc etc. What does that look like? DEPRESSION!
See, I am not crazy? I had blood work done when I went to the doctor and last week the doctor's office called and said I needed to come in. I couldn't go to a regular clinic doctor at the office. I HAD to see my family doctor. Today she confirmed that my thyroid is acting up. It may be a pain response so along with the depression meds I am going back on a Lupus medication called methotrexate...or as I like to call it...METH. LOL
Hey, what to you call a female hero? Just wondering.
I also have dry kidneys (whatever that is) and that is being monitored.
Soon I will get some projects on the go so I have something to talk about here.

Coming next blog post: My community's annual camping trip and some thoughts on it.

Life is not always a bowl of cherries. Sometimes it's the pits. Once in awhile, no matter how strong you are, things get a little rough. Even for me.
See, often folks think I am a rock. That I am strong and nothing gets to me. Usually, I can handle everything piled on me. Occasionally, I cannot fight the battle without some help.
Here's the thing. Remember I told you that I have RA and Lupus? Sometimes those conditions are so tiring. So debilitating. So exhausting. So painful. Sometimes it is all that and then "life" gets in the way too and sometimes you get the blues. I've got the BLUES. 
In January I stopped working so that I could enjoy my life. At the same time I went off my RA and Lupus medications. I went off them because I was taking them to be able to work. Not working? Why take the meds?
BECAUSE THE PAIN WILL DEPRESS YOU SILLY!!!
Needless to say, I am on some medication that will assist me to get back on track. Soon (as soon as I can get a specialist appointment) I will get back to my rheumatologist and get back on my proper immune suppressants. Sucks, but somebodies got to do it.
I am slowly getting back in the saddle again.

Canada Day Fail?

Yesterday was Canada Day and I had a great day. I felt so much pride for my country. We were at a celebration in Downtown Vancouver. Yes, the same Vancouver that only two weeks ago experienced the trauma of riots for absolutely no reason. This isn’t about the riots though. It’s not about Vancouver specifically. It’s about the fact that on multiple occasions yesterday as I was sitting and enjoying the music and the weather conversations were going on all around me and many of them weren’t in English and it was so amazingly beautiful.  I heard laughter everywhere and THAT was all the same language.

This post is about another thing that happened on Canada Day in another city not so far away. In Edmonton, Alberta, my Uncle Bert decided that he would celebrate the day by going to his “local” and shooting some games of pool.

This is his story in his words...

Bert Crowfoot 

I thought I’d put on my red shirt and go out and celebrate Canada Day by going to the Gallery Bar in the Mayfield Inn and playing pool with friends. 

I’m proud to be a Canadian and always open to people from other races and culture. I really didn’t understand why some Native people still have a real hatred to white people.

Unfortunately I do now. There were three skin heads playing pool and I put my $$$$ down to play the next game. I didn’t realize they were skin heads and they did everything they could to delay the games.

When my turn came, he broke and took the 8 ball and put it in the corner pocket and said you win..AND LAUGHED IN MY FACE. He turned and he and his buddies were giving each other high fives, laughing at how they made a fool out of a person who wasn’t as pure as they were.

Man was I pissed. My first reaction was to tune him up with my cue… but I kept my cool. The worst thing was they kept laughing and pointing at me all night. I kept getting pissed off and was tempted to follow them home and show them a little Indian justice.

My friend kept reminding me that it wasn’t worth it. I now really understand how our people feel when this happens to them and the anger and hatred it creates. Coming home, I was reminded of a saying my great great grandfather Chief Crowfoot had He said, “ I have friends and I have enemies…. I have white friends and I have Indian friends…. I have white enemies and I have Indian enemies…. I have friends and I have enemies….

I just wanted to add…. “There are assholes…. There are white assholes and there are Indian assholes.… Yes there are assholes....” The world is full of them…. And I happened to meet three of them tonight.

I also remembered that I have many white friends who have treated me with respect and honor and I’m not going to let three racists ruin my day..

I hope every one had a happy Canada Day….

That happened yesterday and last night Uncle Bert posted his Story.

Then today, he posted on Facebook a comment by his friend Lyndon Oochoo

I am leaving the Facebook formatting in so you can see what Bert said and what Lyndon said.

Bert Crowfoot: After last night I thought I'd share this beautiful post by Lyndon Oochoo
once again the creator blessed us with the oppurtunity to awaken and share this world with each other, maybe we should just stop and give thanx for the way the creator has made us, it doesnt matter what size or shape we are , we are all made the way the creator wanted us to be, when someone teases or just makes remarks about ppl

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Lyndon Oochoo: they arent makin fun of the person they are talking about , they are makin fun of the work the Creator has done, and they will have to answer for it..some ppl just like going around saying mean stuff to other ppl because,of their own imperfections or because they think they are funny..they dont stop to think of the ppl they hurt with the things they say..i feel really sorry for the ppl who go around doing this, because when its their turn to leave this world they will have alot of apologizing to do and begging for forgiveness, not to us but to the spirit that made us who we are...

Lyndon Oochoo
this makes me think of the animals i work with (horses)..i have come to see and work with alot of beautiful horses in my days, horses that everybody admired and wanted..but then i also worked with horses that didnt look so perfect that ppl laffed at..the ones that were admired were usually the ones that gave me the most problems, it was the other ones that turned out to be the the easiest to work with always willing to learn and accept what they must endure in life, those are the ones that ppl will enjoy the most...those are the ones that make the BEST FREINDS...

Bert’s and Lyndon’s  thoughts are provoking and I needed to share them with you. Share this blog and/or Facebook Note (because I am putting it up on both). Let the world know what you think. Let’s stop bullying and hatred. There is no point.

It’s all about the LOVE. 

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

O Canada we stand on guard for thee.

We will go to the place of devastation only a month ago and show the World that where we live is a fun, gorgeous,and safe place to live. 

Pictures to follow.