Fluent Pet Unboxing! The Buttons Are Here!

 So in the last few years I have become OBSESSED with the talking dogs who use AAC devices to communicate. If you ever doubted dogs are sentient beings, you would most certainly change your mind when you follow some these pups. I've seen dogs "talk" about their day, express likes and dislikes. One of the pup recently informed their "mom" of a UTI! It's utterly fascinating.   

And as Maizy True is so freaking smart and I love her so darn much, I really would like to know what she has to say! So we are all in. Here is the unboxing vid and we have recorded a "outside" button and it's by the back door. 

I will say, the "Chinese rubber" smell is UNBEARABLE to someone with my allergies so all the pads / button holders are detoxing and off-gassing on the back porch! Anyone know how long it takes for the odor to dissipate? 

Here we go ya'll!

Facebook Community Standards and the Southern Vernacular

 I was kicked of Facebook twice in recent months. It would seem they think I'm a violent person. I'll wait while you laugh...

 But what the real problem is comes down to Facebook Community Standards lack of understanding the Southern vernacular. The things I said are harmless in the Southern Vernacular but "Bless Your Heart" is deadly on the tongue of a wicked woman.

Here's what went down: 

Scenario 1 - last fall: My cousin posted a video of fake snakes dropping from trees over inner tubers. 

There is nothing I find more terrifying to me than snakes and this joke is particularly upsetting to me. I still remember when I was about 12 and a king snake (not that I stopped to notice his pedigree) fell into our boat on Dixie Springs Lake in Summit, Mississippi. It was mere moments later when I decided I could walk on water. My poor step dad was wrestling a snake with one hand and holding on to the waistband of my jeans with the other! Needless to say, this joke is a worst nightmare for me.

So I commented on my cousin's post, "I would have to kill somebody!" 

Which, if you know Southern vernacular, I doesn't mean I want to harm anyone. It simply means, I gonna get you back for that...probably with an equally horrible joke!

What Facebook doesn't know is my cousin is cop and mandated reporter. If she thought I was a threat to anyone, or myself, she would have done something. She laughed at my comment and my suspension.

Within seconds of that post, Facebook has already made my post invisible and sent a message that I had violated community standards. OK... I'll remove it. But NOOOOooo. I can't even see the post again! What a stupid way to deal with that! But life goes on...

Scenario 2 Late January- A sorority sister who is outspoken and has sass for days posted a meme to the effect of "I don't need a vaccine. I've got the "Freedom Virus!""   Minutes before, my mom's nursing home had called to inform me of her Covid positive test. I was livid. I thought my mom had received her 3rd shot last fall, but no, she had not. It had only recently been approved in Mississippi (months after the CDC approved it!).

I also am shocked that workers in nursing homes are not required to be vaccinated. Visitors are not required to be vaccinated. I find that appalling! I was hurt, worried and angry.

I replied to the post with: "Just found out my 98yo mom has covid. I guess I'm going to have to kidnap her across state lines to get her properly vaccinated!" 

Which, if you know Southern vernacular, "kidnap" is as common as a birthday party! I actually did kidnap my college friend to take him to his surprise birthday party....blindfold and restraints were used! But we also were making no effort to hide our voices and lit his cigarettes for him. He wasn't scared at all! 

But it's nothing to say, "I'm just gonna kidnap you and go have lunch and mani pedis one day!" 

I was immediately "banned" from Facebook for 2 days. Ok. That's fine. But I am a scarred and wrecked individual who has had to deal with rejection my whole life. If you don't want me...I don't want you for longer! So I decide Facebook gets a 3 x ban. I would go for 8 days. As FB lost over $200 BILLION while I was gone, I willingly accept full credit for that! LOL!

What Facebook doesn't know is that thread was full of other sorority sisters who know I have power of attorney over my mother and it's MY business where I take her and if I choose to get her properly vaccinated.  

While I was off Facebook, I started on all the taxes: mine, the business, Mom's. It went quick. I didn't miss it. But 8 days later I was back on for 1/2 a day when "Facebook Community Standards had reviewed my account" and saw that first post and decided I needed a time out for 2 weeks for "repeated violations." My posts would be visible on my wall but would get "pushed down" in the feeds of my friends. 

So...2 weeks for me and 6 weeks for Facebook. I've been off for two months and I honestly haven't missed it! I don't miss "doom-scrolling" for hours on the weekends. My birthday came and went and instead of the uncomfortable bombardment of messages, I had the peace and quiet I crave with only a few calls from my closest friends. I realized the illusion that I have so many "friends" ...is just that. 

I have found I really enjoy actually watching some things on the telly...instead of ignoring it while I scroll on Facebook. I actually love doing Sudoko and Mah Jong puzzles on my ipad. I've taking drawing classes on Youtube. I've made some jewelry for the first time in years! I've enjoyed just sitting on my porch and watching the birds at sunset. 

I've realized what a time suck Facebook is... and a not very pleasant one! There are some pages I miss.  I really love the local Buy Nothing group. The generosity of my neighbors astounds me and I miss the free produce I got there. My favorite gift was the couple who bought a huge wedding cake to celebrate their son's elopement with a few family members. They gave away slices of wedding cake to everyone in town! (Pre-pandemic!) I also really love the Schitt's Creek group...happiest show on television = happy people on Facebook! I miss seeing the baby pictures of all the kids in the family too. I also started following my favorite talking dogs on TikTok and Youtube. (Maizy is getting buttons for her own AAC device! Stay tuned!)

I also learned how much I miss only sharing on Facebook. You rely on random "memories" to pop up and you can't search your own wall.  I ran across a story about Macy Blue that made my heart sing. And it made me angry that I had forgotten about it and that I never shared stories HERE where I could find them again! 

Macy was playing with a toy on the sofa. I took it. She got up and got another toy. I took it too. Unfazed, she got up and got another toy from the toybox. I took it as well. I was thinking she would engage in play with me or take them back...like Mabel would have. Instead she lay there looking at me for a moment and then, with her paw, raked the tv remote close to her and placed her paw on top of it. "Yeah lady! You take my stuff, I'm gonna take yours!" 

Stories like that should not be wasted on "Crapbook!"

I need some rules: I'm going to try 20 minutes total and NEVER on weekend if and when I'm ready to go back.  

Unless Facebook learns the vernacular of our different regions - which, why would they? Unless, they allow people to edit or delete when the violate some standard, they are going to continue to loose viewer hours and visits. It certainly doesn't instill a feeling of goodwill. People are always looking for the next fun thing. Bless your heart, Facebook. Bless your heart.

RIP Bart Barticus Farticus

Bart, Mabel Lou's brother from other pawrents, passed away on 10/2/20. We recently learned Bart was 15!!! We found that someone else had him for two years before he lived with the neighbors for 3 and the bestie has had him for 10! 

He could not have lived with the neighbors long before he started running away to my bestie's, letting himself in through the doggie door and spending the day at her feet before he would amble home around dark. Years went by with Bart showing up every day to spend it with the nice neighbor lady before he finally returned home. 

 

About three years into this, I invited the bestie to dinner. She arrived. She was sad. Bart had been taken to a farm. There was a look of sheer horror on my face. She tried to reassure me. "He can run and roam and play.." More horror. "There are other animals... WHAT?? Why are you making a face?"

Knowing my friend was first generation American and not familiar with the lies people tell their children, I exclaimed, "That's what parents tell their kids when they're getting rid of their dogs!!!"

"No...it's a lovely farm..."

"NO! BART'S IN JAIL!!!"

I ran down the hall to my office and pulled up the website for the local pound... and THERE HE WAS! I screamed! The bestie came running in and saw him on the screen. "NO! What time to they close?"

I looked on the website as she looked at her watch. "Right now! I cried." 

She made a plan to be there when they opened. The question she most laughed at was his name...they encouraged her to change it! "No...his name is BART!"

She was actually concerned that Bart would go "home" at sunset as he had every night for three years. But, it turns out, he was just going home to eat! Once there was food at the bestie's house, there was no need to go to the place where he ate. Bart had chosen his Mom and his home and was just waiting for a good meal! Poor baby!

It wasn't long before I would pick him up most days when Mabel Lou and I hiked. They became siblings. Mabel was much bigger than Bart and would pick on him mercilessly. There were times I wondered why he even got in the car with us...she was just awful to him.  But, when any member of the larger dog pack tried the same, OH NO! Mabel was not having it! Bart was hers and hers alone. She could pick on him, abuse him, take the best sticks and toys but NO ONE else better dare to do that to Bart. And Bart seemed to understand this sisterly love long before I did. 

My favorite funny Bart story was the time there were the big dogs running around that we didn't know. Bart and found a dead rabbit and I'm certain he didn't want Mabel to have it. But he really didn't want those dogs to take it! As I was leaping through the tall grass, trying to leash up Mabel and find Bart, I hear the owner of the two dogs shout, "There's a dead dog over here!" 

Terrified either one of them had gotten hurt, I ran over and found Bart, playing dead! On top of his dead rabbit! 

It's so sad to me as Mabel's pack members die off. It's like I still get to see parts of her when I see them! But Barticus Farticus (stinkiest dog farts efur!!!), you were so loved! I know you and Mabel Lou are running a river in Heaven. 

 

Pandemic Fail: What Trump Did Wrong

{Updated 10/1} If you are a fan of the guy in the White House and a friend of this blog, you may want to skip this one. I don't mean to offend a friend.

I blame Donald Trump and his incompetence for the Pandemic. A teacher friend shared that when people say that, it devolves in a screaming match and she never really learns why someone blames him. So I thought I would explain why I blame him for chaos we are living under. 

First some background. I worked in the film industry and education among other fields. I can move an army through the desert. I understand logistics and purchasing. I've collaborated with the Army, Navy and Secret Service in my career. My family background includes construction (which I have helped in) and law enforcement. I've lost my job due to COVID, so I have some skin in the game. 

So this is what should have been done by a TRUE leader: 

1) Don't tear apart the Pandemic Team. The history of our Pandemic readiness as a nation dates back to George W. Bush. He was on vacay at the ranch and read a book on the 1918 Pandemic. (A President that reads...how novel!) He read that they occur every 100 years or so and was looking at the calendar and came back to Washington and gave orders to start preparing. Obama continued and enhanced. Trump tore it apart. Gotta love a lack of foresight and planning on a leader's part. 

2) Freeze the borders immediately. Donald's excuse: "Well if they are Americans, you have to let them in." So quarantine them on an army base or hotel or outpatient hospital. Hawaii is doing this. Other countries did this. 14 days and a clear test and DONE. 

Los Angeles' own patient zero was from Wuhan who flew into LAX TWICE while ill... the second time, he was too ill to move and had to be hospitalized. Think of the plane-loads of people he infected. This should have never been allowed to happen! 

3) Mask mandate. Fauci / Birx et. al have openly admitted they did not suggest masks because they knew there were not enough and feared medical personnel would have NONE.  This is where LEADERSHIP is crucial! A good, effective leader could prevent panic by saying the following: 

"Listen folks, we believe a mask is crucial to stopping this, but PLEASE do not run out and buy an N95. We are desperately trying to make sure our medical teams have those. A simple fabric mask will do. So I'm going to call on all the fabulous makers and sewers we have here in America. Get that quilting fabric you've been stashing away out and SAVE LIVES! The CDC is posting patterns on their website and the White House website will have it too. Please make masks for all your friends... and honestly we are so short on N95s, make some covers for your nurse and doctor friends too! THIS COUNTRY NEEDS YOU!

And I know it's uncomfortable to wear them but the thing is, you can be spreading the virus without having ANY symptoms! So please do your part and wear a mask! I'll wear mine every time you see me in public. Just know when you see me wearing a mask, I'm doing my part to save the lives of my family and wonderful staff. YOU DO THE SAME and we'll get through this quickly!"

And then you wear a mask everywhere. Be photographed in it. Make it normal! Make it heroic! And never, ever make fun of anyone who choses to be so heroic!

4) Purchasing clearinghouse. The USA had the ability to order supplies: PPE, masks, gloves, gowns, ventilators etc. in bulk at a Federal level. If I were purchasing on this level (for 50+ states and territories), I would have worked on percentages. Ex: If New York had 55% of the cases, NY would have first crack at 55% of whatever we bought on a given day. If CA had 20% of all cases, they could have 20% of available PPE. If someone had enough gowns, they could just stay in inventory. 

Items would be sold to the states at cost.

As it was, states were bidding against one another and would think they had locked in supplies only to be outbid again. There were stories of comptrollers being lead to parking lots by highway patrol to get to the PPE first. California was paying $5.50 for N95 for healthcare workers when the going rate was half that.  Desperation breeds fear and costs money. By having the Federal Government work as a centralized clearinghouse (something our military has vast experience in), it prevents panic and saves money. 

5) Standardized Re-opening plans. If the Federal Government had set a clear standard for what the numbers of cases should look like before you open restaurants / bars / gyms / churches / schools, there would have been far less pushback. They don't have to mandate but come up with a plan. Even the Department of Education HAS NO PLAN. Everything is left up to the states.  What could have been standardized across the country is willy nilly and based on politics, not saving lives. Which leads to spoiled baby Americans saying, "Why to they get to go out to eat when I have to stay home." More discord and pushback. 

6) Let the science do the talking. Trump made every press conference about HIM. A genuine leader with concern for his people would have popped in and said, "Ok, this is what we are looking at today: {Update on numbers}. We have cut a deal to {buy PPE / manufacture vents}. Wear your mask folks and now, I'm going to let the scientists fill you in on the rest. 

Talk about what the government can do (your strength as a leader) and let the smart scientists do the heavy lifting, without regard to your own electability! 

7) Just be honest with us. I know that's a hard thing for dear misleader to do with over 20,000 lies on the books (Why are we o.k. with that?). Americans will tolerate a lot. They will band together and pull off AMAZING things, when under clear, direct leadership. 

8) Pay people to STAY HOME! (Can't believe I left this out!) Other countries did this. In Korea, they basically paid for groceries and utilities and that's it. All rent / mortgage's suspended. Did you skip the key word there: mortgages. I'm a landlord. I rely on my rental income to make MY bills... my mortgages were not suspended (Heaven forbid we hurt the big, bad banks!) but my rental income was. It just makes no sense the way our Government has tackled this! How's the whopping $1200 you got way back in April holding out??? 

How different would things be if we had someone kind and compassionate in the White House? 

I can only imagine... but I do know this for sure. We would all be out having a cocktail or lovely dinner after getting off of work if these things had been done. 

TV Dog

 I've mentioned Maizy True loves to watch TV. It's a most annoying habit as she barks at any dog that is not her or her friends. (My TV defaults to my Amazon Photos when there is no input.) This makes me think she has a sense of self and what she looks like. 

She knows commercial music that will have a dog in the piece and comes trotting in to bark at the tv. It makes it impossible to have the tv on when I'm working from home.

She really enjoys watching the pibble show "Pittbulls and Parolees" but she will bark so incessantly, I can't enjoy the show! Unless, I slip down onto her bed and wrap myself around her and quietly explain the show to her. "Those people are going to be Ollie's forever home!!!!" "Tia's gonna make sure he can ride on a boat cause the potential pawrents fish all the time!" 

If I do this, she simply watches the show! What a weirdo!