Day 347

Well, I must say, I am a bit sad. Had to call the last foster of the Great Pyrenees we were trying to foster here for a while and she came and took him back with her. He just wouldn’t bond with us here. He and Sadie got along famously, but he got a little strange earlier. Found him on the bed – not okay – and had a hard time getting him to get off of it. Then he retreated into the closet and stayed there. She thinks it may have to do with his meds – he’s on steroids to get him ready for the heartworm treating. Anyway, he is back with her and she has two pyrs right now – both former rescues. Perhaps he simply missed the others as he isn’t that far away (time wise) from being on the streets.

Semester is going great – some of the best classes I’ve ever had. Good students who interact – something unusual for freshmen for the most part. Upperclassmen generally won’t shut up and are opinionated, but freshmen often think others know more than they do and don’t participate well generally. This bunch does, and it makes classes so much more fun for everyone – including me. Three are argumentative classes and I’ve been able to use local issues to advantage. There was a move underway on the campus where I teach to arm students (legally) as a reaction to the tragedy of Virginia Tech. The discussion was solid and interesting and it went extremely well.

I am a ham radio guy – yeah, I know, KL thinks it’s a little nerdy too. It is and t isn’t. The earthquake in Haiti was ham radio in action, as there was zero communications there other than the hams who live there fulltime and those who went from the US there. I am putting up a tower here – the first I’ve had up since sometime in the 80’s. I’ve used wire antennas off and on, and with the acreage here, I can finally put up a tower and a good antenna. I have friends all over the world, and King Hussein of Jordan, Andy Devine (old time TV/movie star), Marlon Brando, and Tom Christian (relative of Fletcher Christian of Mutiny on the Bounty fame), among others are, or were, hams. Anyway, I’m setting up a new station here and it’s fun for me. I do what is called qrp operating, which means low power. I can legally operate at 2000 watts, but choose to operate at 5 watts or less, and often at 1 watt. It’s a challenge thing.

Had cereal again for breakfast and skipped lunch, which isn’t really a good idea. We had pancakes for dinner. Apple cinnamon, and they were great. KL is also trying baking some apples for tonight. Should be good too and it will add to the fruit intake.
I want to up my fruit intake, but I’ve never been a fruit eater, except for apples and bananas. I’ll have to check into some other fruits to see if I can find a way to expand.

I’ve tried to introduce wine into the evening for the last few days, drinking a glass or so nightly. I have a very small collection of wines here – mostly reds and some whites, much of which was a part of a batch of wine we had made to give to the owner of the homeowner’s building company we used when we built the little (main) house. HE saved us money on several occasions, so we had his favorite (cabernet sauvignon) bottled for him with a great “view” picture from the area of our house. We are 1800 feet up on the side of a hill and have the most spectacular views and sunsets. Anyway – back to the wine. I lean toward whites, and more to semi-sweet than too dry. In Chicago, we often drink some Greek red that I like, so I’ll have to add some of that to the group here.

Tired – I guess, disappointed more than anything. The dog could have been ours. We had a Great Pyrenees a while back – Hercules – and he was super. Never had a dog so good, so I’m a little distressed that this one didn’t work out. One never knows what has happened with a rescue and I know this one has been mistreated. As I said earlier, the owner nearly starved him to death, and he apparently did something with him with water – a water hose probably. Also he had a reaction to chains and that isn’t good. Hopefully the foster who has him now can get it squared away. Hate to think he might not have a permanent home someday. Sad for me, still hopeful for him.

That’s it for now – see you later.

-Average Joe
Somewhere, USA