Dakota

Having a pet is nothing new. Most people in the country, no the world have one of some sort. One of the interesting things about the subject is most definitely the wide range of species that people keep as a pet. This however is not about the vast diversity of animals kept in confinement. This is rather about a simple brand of pet and one that most of the people around  the globe are fairly familiar with. The dog.

Most of us have a dog growing up and if not you will not end up worse for wear. While it is certainly a privilege to have one you are not lost if you do not. I was lucky enough to have two dogs growing up. This was a joy that when I became a parent that I wanted to give to my children. Almost as much for myself as for them. As an adult I missed what having a dog brings. It wasn't until I was married more than 16 years and my oldest of three children was also 16 that we finally brought a dog into the family.

For a very small percentage of dog owners the animal is not seen as a part of the family. While that small minority does not include the dog in the family photo their are millions more that do. The dog as a pet quickly works its way into the hearts of even the strongest of wills. I was not that difficult to win over. When the dog came into the family I was ready and willing to welcome a new friend. What I did not expect was for the dog to become such a big part of my life.

There was no fight for this Boxer

We have a friend that my wife and I have known since high school. She has always been a big animal lover and recently has taken on the responsibility of trying to find homes for dogs (and cats) who have nowhere to go. It is a very admirable calling and one that she seems born to do. A couple years ago she came across a Boxer puppy that was taken from a breeding program a couple of states away that was nowhere close to being "up to code". This puppy was the runt of the litter and as such had not been sold in time for the breeder to make a profit. The dog was destined for the "long sleep".

A friend of our friend ended up taking the dog from the breeder in an effort to keep it alive. She then turned to our animal loving friend in the hopes of finding a home. She posted a fuzzy picture of Facebook at the same time that my wife and I were considering the possibility of having a dog. It was difficult to really see the dog in the picture but during an impulsive moment I told her we would take it before really discussing it with my wife. I had hoped that once she saw the dog that would be the end of the discussion.

Original FB photo of Dakota

As it turned out we had to drive four hours away to meet the rescuer of the dog halfway between their home and mine. So I told my wife I was going to pick the dog up and left before she could stop me. Although, I suspect she had already made up her mind not to. It was the last day of school for my kids and they were mostly outside with friends enjoying it. So this whole endeavor was largely a surprise to everyone except my wife and my youngest daughter.

By the time our friend and I ended up at the designated meeting spot I was fairly nervous. Then I saw the guy walking down the little hill holding a blanket in his arms with a little furry head peaking out. As soon as I got to within three feet of him and his cargo I reached out my arms and fell in love. He placed the bundle into my outstretched arms and I quickly embraced the warm blanket that held the little puppy. I looked down into the blanket and saw the cutest little dog that I have every seen. I know, all puppies are cute and I will not argue that fact. However, at that moment, looking into the eyes of this little Boxer puppy, I don't think I could have been persuaded that anything else in the world was cuter.

By the time I had arrived home with our new friend my wife had the kids waiting for the new arrival.  Of course the kids were excited and so was the puppy. The girls had decided to name the dog Dakota and no one had an argument against the name so it stuck. It did not take long for the dog to become part of the family. One thing that surely helped was the dog's breed. For people who are not familiar with the Boxer they are one of the best family dogs there are. And for a family full of people who love to cuddle, this dog was the perfect fit!

Dakota at about 5 months old.

The Breed and the Family

I'm not going to give you a history lesson on the Boxer. I don't think I would keep your attention if I did, plus Google does a fine job of giving people a place to find out about various subject better than I can. Never the less, the Boxer is a dog that has a long history of being a hunter/family dog. Back in the day when dogs were more than just a pet, Boxers were a great choice for people who had to hunt for their livelihood. Not only were they great additions to the hunting party, helping to bring down big game, but they were also great at home. Hunters would feel safe knowing that the dog that just hours ago helped to bring down an animal 5 times its size was also protecting the kids.

Boxers were and still are known for having a deep affection for the family they live with. They love to cuddle close and will protect the people in their family/pack with their life. So when the hunter would return from the hunt the dog would be happy to be home with the kids. The dog would play, cuddle, and rest with the family. But if something would threaten that  family the Boxer would go into fighter mode and keep danger far away. There are few breeds that could balance that fierce fighting spirit with love and affection and do it so well. In addition they are very agile, strong, and intelligent dogs. They almost have all of the traits that one would want in a pet and companion.

It is all of these traits that made me fall in love with the dog so quickly. Dakota rarely misses an opportunity to snuggle up close or to lay on my lap. She seeks out every opportunity to sit with one of the family and I have yet to see her want to go to a corner of the house to be alone. She does everything she can to stay by us and you can see  the love. At the same time I could see how she could be a fierce protector as well. There are times when my son and I will wrestle around (as Dad's and sons are known to do) and I'm not sure that Dakota knows we are playing. Whenever she sees my son grab or push me she will run up to him barking and push him away. Even though she seems to want to protect me, she does not try to hurt my son. She pushes with her paws and her mouth and never bites.

In the almost three years that she has been with us she has not once harmed anyone. Aside from the accidental scratches from her nails when she plays, or running into someone while rushing around she has been a great dog. There have been multiple times that she has cheered me or someone else up by simply looking at one you. I would have never guessed that a dog that could look so mean and tough would be the biggest softy. There are certain things that people expect when they get a dog. Things such as barking, making messes, or destroying household items. With Dakota we do get the occasional loaf of bread in pieces on the floor but over all she has been very clean. Was house-trained within a few days and even though she loves human food she waits patiently for it to be given to her before she would just take it.

Dakota has brought a lot of love and joy into our household. My family all pick on me for the amount of affection I show her but I cannot help myself. I look into those huge brown eyes and I fall to pieces. She stares at me and then turns her head to the side, puts one of her huge paws on my knee, then turns her head the other way and I give in. She could get almost anything that she wants from me because I just cannot tell that dog no. Every time I look at her I see that little puppy who we brought home a couple  years ago. I see that face that just says it all. I remember the times she has laid next to me, looked up into my eyes and then licks my chin. I love my dog.

Slight Website Re-Structure

Tonight I removed a couple pages from the site. There was a page that loaded up a secondary website that I had setup to display the various other 'services' that I offered.

As of right now I basically offer these 'services' only through the websites that I do the work for. The 'services' that I am referring to is providing written content for various clients as well as guest and ghost posting on blogs. I do have plans to restructure the secondary website but I do not know when it will be up and live as a connection to this site. Possibly after Christmas.

In the meantime, if you find yourself in need of some writing or you have a research project that you need help with just email me. I am still offering the services that I had listed on that website, the only difference now is that I will have to find another way to market it. Over the next day or so I will put together a page that lists the services. It will service as a replacement until the new site is finished.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Tony

A Yucky Ducky? A posting of an original commentary by Tony Pronenko

I posted this article on a site called BubbleNews as well. BubbleNews is a site that gives writers a forum for posting articles and poems and other works with no restrictions. Even though it is posted there I wanted to have it posted on DBD as well because this is like my Home Base. 

A Yucky Ducky?

There is no doubt in my mind that there are probably a million other commentaries on the remarks made by Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson. Usually I try my best to stay away from mainstream articles or commentary that has already collected the opinions of the general public at large. However, there is something about the comments, the timing, and the response that has pulled me in. So on that note, I will attempt to levy my opinion on this topic in the hopes that at least one person might agree. Then again, sometimes I write just to hear myself think. Picture that!

Anyone who knows me knows that I take to heart the general ideals that caused a handful of people to raise an army to fight for independence. In their victory they established a more perfect union, in principal anyway. They had the best of intentions and they did everything that anyone could have. The problem lies in the fact that the people that fell within that bubble of righteousness were human. As humans often do they eventually adapted. They grew and changed and along with them were those ideals that they all rested on. It became clear very early on that the ideals the country was founded on were no longer a good fit for the people that were now inhabiting the land. Even 20 years after the revolution major adaptations and addendum's were added to the constitution to allow the ideals to fit the people.

There are plenty others but one of the ideals that remained mostly unchanged through the years has been freedom of speech. To give a person the right to express their opinions openly without the fear of reprisal or attack. In principal this is one of the most endearing of the rights and also the most dangerous. Sure, the right to free speech is there and everyone has it. However, it is a burden for the speaker to carry once he or she opens their mouth to express that which they think is right or that they just feel is right for them, for others will now know what side you fall upon.

Today the rules are no different than they were a hundred or so years ago. You have the right to say what you want, and you will not be put in prison for spouting off. But no matter how safe you may feel, if you offend the wrong person or group of people you will indeed feel the wrath of their differing opinion. Such is the case for Phil Robertson. Just as the many who have come before him, he too spoke his mind about a subject that some feel is a bit dangerous. He spoke his mind and as a result his employer, in an effort to protect themselves have levied punishment unto Mr. Robertson.  

Now this situation has almost taken on a life of its own. There are a great many people who support Mr. Robertson today. They offer their support not because they agree with his comments and want to rally the troops. No, they are coming to his aid because they feel it is wrong for him to be punished for making comments that people feel he has every right to make. For those reading this who may not have heard or read what exactly Mr. Robertson said, he essentially gave his opinion on why intercourse between gay or lesbian partners was not feasible in his mind. He was not rude, he did not set out to offend anyone, nor did he make any comments that could be seen as hurtful. He simply gave an opinion. 

What his employer, A & E television has done in response is sadly just a sign of the times. For the past decade our society has been scared. We are scared to offend anybody and we are scared to say the wrong thing. This is mostly, I believe, because during that same time the people who found themselves in minority groups were starting to stand up and be proud. This was a sharp detour from the way people would see themselves prior to that change in attitude. People in minority groups would feel afraid. They would feel as if they are doing something wrong or that they were broken. 

It took words from strong leaders and for the majority groups to lead themselves from ignorance. It was ignorance that would cause much of the hate crimes or just the overwhelming fear of people who were different from themselves. Fear is the common theme here. It was fear that caused both sides to act in the manner that they did. It was fear that kept minority groups from stepping forward and it was fear that caused the majority groups to push back. Once that fear was erased through knowledge and mutual experiences both sides were finally able to see people for who they were, not what they were. 

As these changes finally started to take place everyone was scared to offend anyone else. A new fear crept in and it was a fear of hurting someone. When this became commonplace it spread all over the country. It became a morality crime to say the wrong thing to the wrong person and people and companies everywhere looked for ways to stem the tide. Eventually they found a way and that way became avoidance. If someone said something that another group felt was wrong or an incorrect way to speak that person or group of people would look to put as much room in-between them as possible. This way they could claim indifference. "It wasn't me who said that, it was him. And we will separate ourselves from that person immediately"

This happened over and over again for years and it still does today. It happens with racially motivated comments and actions as well as that against or about gays and lesbians. This my friends, is what happened to Mr. Robertson. He was made a leper for his comments and his employer looked to say, "It was him, not us and we will put as much space in-between ourselves as possible." The hope here with A & E is that people will see them as good and kind towards the offended group. The problem is that they reacted too quickly. The leapt before they looked over the side of the cliff. The comments that were made were almost benign. If I had to guess I would say that the gay and lesbian community might not even be offended by the comments. These are the comments of an old man who generally grew up in a different age and has different thoughts about certain things. At least, in my opinion, he had the decency to make his comments in a manner in which he did not blatantly offend someone. What I mean is he was not an ass about it. 

Look, the thing is, we have a lot of things in this world that could use some work. We have just started over the last few years accepting the gay and lesbian community into the rest of the community. Their allowed finally to be married. We have people in prison because they carried a half-ounce of marijuana while real criminals walk the streets. Speaking of which, the legalization of marijuana is way overdue. It is rather ironic that weed is illegal but alcohol is legal. Scientifically marijuana is less harmful than alcohol yet there is a liquor store on almost every corner. We have wars all over the world and homeless vets living in the American streets! We should spend more time fixing these issues rather than worrying about what some guy says in a magazine article. America, we have our priorities backwards and until we get them fixed we are going to lose those ideals that this country was founded on over 200 years ago.

Keeping Everything Under Control

Again I have let more time than I wanted to go by since my last posting. I have been trying to get my other site, Looking For Earth moving. Over the last few months there has been little to no action at all. In a way, it could be said that my lack of commitment to the site is the reason why there is not much going on. I mean, in order for people to get on and read they first need something TO read. Right?

I find myself often in a chaotic mess. This is ironic actually coming from me. If you knew me on a personal level you would know that I am generally one of the most organized people you could meet. I have more things organized then is necessary. Yet, when it comes to the projects that I have on the computer I cannot seem to get my stuff together. Here I am again, complaining about my "mess" to all of you on this blog. Is this a cry for help? is this a way for me to force myself to do something about what is troubling me?

I have made it clear what this blog is for many times. The name that I have chosen for both my fledgling business project as well as my blog is Diverse By Design because I am handling a diverse set of projects. As a matter of fact, everything that I am doing of late is diverse. From the types of things that I write about to the variety of skills that I can employ during the day. Everything is diverse.

Yet again, I cannot keep everything in order. At the end of the week I have this overwhelming feeling that things are out of control. This feeling that I am missing something, forgetting something, or that I just neglected something all together. It sucks, plain and simple. It sucks.

I guess there is one good thing that has come out of this. The fact that I have now realized what is happening. I mean for a while there I would get that I forgot something feeling at the end of the week and I would have no clue why or what was going on. However, I now have it figured out and because of that I feel like I can fix things. And that is precisely what I am meaning to do. I have started making a list of various things that I am doing during the week as well as the things that I need to do. This way I will know at any point in time exactly what I am missing  if anything.

Being diverse in many ways is a huge advantage that I hold over my direct counterparts. At the same time it can be a curse because all of that diversity, if you cannot keep it under control and organized can be the death of you. Now that might be the case for others in this position but I have a plan. I have everything worked out and I have been taking some notes on the wide variety of things that I have been taking care of. This way I can remain consistent and consistency is the key. Between the two blogs, my freelance writing, and my computer repair work, I think I can keep it all organized now that I know what is going on and have a plan.

And just like Hannibal used to say in the A-Team:    "I love it when a plan comes together!"

Prompt 1: There Are Only 7 Minutes Left....

There are only seven minutes left until the train leaves. I have so much to do and I will never make it. That is what is ringing through my head. I have never been a very positive person. I always see things as going wrong. So of course when I noticed there was only a few minutes until departure everything went through my head that could go wrong. Terribly wrong.

My boyfriend trusted me to get this set of blueprints back to him. His boss told him they must not leave the building and he will definitely be paying attention to where they are. Hell, just him trusting me enough to let me have them for the weekend was great. I was able to show my father the plans that his company has for the building on 1435 S. Wabash. Now he can underbid the competition because he knows exactly what will be needed. I owe Marty for this one and I will repay the favor, that's for sure.

The train! The buzzer in the station that notifies passenger that there is only five minutes remaining until departure just went off. It was so loud. There is no doubt that if you are waiting for a train and you fall asleep that you will hear the buzzer. I needed to get all my things together. I still need to make it to the lockers to retrieve the blueprints. If I don't make it there and back in five minutes and I miss the train it will be over. I must hurry!

I ran as fast as I could through the station, that is until one of the security guards spotted me and instructed me to slow down! I quickly slowed to a very brisk walk and as soon as I was out of his sight I ran again. I could see the lockers just ahead. There is a big crowd of people because the lockers are right by one of the ticketing stations. If I can make it through the crowd and to the lockers I might just make it. I reached the crowd and it was thicker than I thought it was.

I weaved my way through the crowd. I don't think that I have ever said "excuse me" so much before. Whatever. It does not matter because I made it through! I reached the lockers and put my hand into my pocket to retrieve the key. "223. Where is 223! Oh my God! Oh.. there it is.." She took the key and put it into the lock and turned it. The door popped open just a crack. She grabbed the handle and swung  the door open the rest of the way. "There they are."

She grabbed the blueprints and closed the locker leaving the key in the slot. She turned around and the first thing she saw was the clock. There was a very large clock hanging from the ceiling right by the ticket station. Looking at the clock she could tell that she only 2 minutes to make her way back to the train departure area. She lept into action running past the few people that were still in front of her by the ticket station.

Running towards the train was not hard at all. Now that she had the blueprints she felt much better. All she had left was to make it to the train and hop on. As she ran she got closer and closer. She could see the conductor waving to the engineer telling him that it was clear. They were making their last calls and the final departure buzzer rang out again. It was so loud and she hated it. That buzzer did nothing but remind her how little time she had and how close all this was to a big failure.

She finally approached the train and immediately let out a huge sigh of relief. "Oh my God, I made it." She said as she stepped onto the first couple steps. She slowly walked up to the second level and found a seat in a section that was almost completely empty. As she sat down and started to relax she started placing her bags and the blueprints on the seats next to her. She figured she would take a quick nap then get a bit to eat. She put the blueprints behind the seat she was sitting on and used her purse for a pillow. All she could think about was how close all of this was and how bad she would have ruined everything had something gone really wrong.

New, Better Writing Project

The sheer variety of ideas and topics that I have written about so far on this blog has eclipsed what I had imagined originally. This was not my first blog, but it was one that I had told myself I would dedicate time to. So far I have kept my promise, for the most part.

I recently stated that I would use the blog as a repository for my writing. Although I had not done this entirely how I had planned, I kept the idea in my head. A couple weeks ago I mentioned an idea that I had about a series that focused on two older gentlemen having weekly conversations. While I liked this idea then (and still do) I realized later that it was not a practical idea for me at this time. So I pushed this one aside for now.

The site itself can use a little work. There are multiple spots that I would like to restructure and then some that I would like to completely redesign. Of course I am limited in the fact that I am using the Blogger format, I can still do some things that I want. I just have to find the time to do them. So this brings me to my new idea, and this one I like for a couple reasons. This one is both practical for the time that I have right now and will also keep the blog active with new content way more often than before.

Using this site again as a repository for my writing, I will make this new project something that will keep my writing sharp, keep the site more active, and also give me an opportunity to create more pieces that have absolutely nothing to do with any of my ongoing projects, research, or work. In my opinion that type of writing will be fun to both write and read.

So what I am going to do is take prompts from a random source. Either from a small software program that spits out various prompts or from one of the many writing websites that run creative writing programs. If I end up doing the latter I will probably get a link or get that site involved with my little creative writing thing or join one of theirs and link my blog to it. We shall see which way it all turns out, but for now at least I have an idea of what I want to do and how it will work - generally.

Since it is Monday and I plan on doing one a week, I will say that by Friday end of day I will have the first story posted. Of course, all standard copyright rules will apply.

So until then...