Pink snow in Alabama

Pink snow in Alabama




Stella was busy this morning. I got up and Mom said, “Look what Stella did.”
I looked carefully around the hall and the floor before she said, “outside.”
There was dark pink cushion stuffing in Mom’s yard, mostly around the wrought-iron patio set off the cement porch pad. But the stuff had drifted in tiny clumps all over the yard.
“What happened,” I said stupidly. I already knew that hound had something to do with it.
Mom explained that she looked out and saw Stella prancing around the yard, worrying one of the chair pads to tatters.

“She looked like she was having so much fun. Her four paws were coming off the ground, her tail was up and she just looked so happy,” Mom said.
Mom said yesterday that the 50-plus pound hound was carrying the cushion (the same one she destroyed this morning) around, and got it away from her. I suggested that we put the cushions in the storage box in the back, but Mom said “no.” She planned to replace the cushions in the spring anyway. The object of Stella’s attention already had a small tear.
I asked Mom if she punished Stella for her bad behavior.
No, she did not. Then Mom realized that if we don’t keep Stella off the cushions she is going to tear up the new ones.
So, how do we keep Stella off the cushions?
On the plus side, I was glad the dog was playing. That is something she has not done since she came here. I took her for a walk the other day, and she shied from the umbrella in my hand. It was clear someone had hit her with a stick. Mom adopted Stella a few months ago and it is clear the dog has not had an easy life.
GRRRRRR. I think that human needs some remediation. Preferably with a bigger stick.
On the other hand, I was not thrilled do be outside on a cold, damp morning picking up Stella’s mess!


Adventures in dog-owning …

Little Star

Little Star




John Ajvide Lindqvist


The dust jacket for “Little Star” promises the “next Stephen King.”

No. At least not for American readers. More on that later.

The story of “Little Star” follows two misfit teens in Sweden. One of the girls, eventually called Theres, (She will have several names as the novel progresses) is rescued by a one-time musician when the infant Theres is buried alive by someone.

Good catch, right? Well, somehow this has-been musician thinks that the baby might be a musical prodigy. So he forbids his wife to talk to her or play anything but approved music to her. Because he is afraid the authorities will take the baby, the child is hidden and when she is older, she is told a frightening tale that keeps her inside, out of sight.

This goes out the window when their grown son, Jerry, discovers the baby. Suddenly, there is talk, and unapproved music. But no school or contact outside the family. No one else knows Theres is there.

To say that Theres is odd, well, is putting it mildly. She gets near puberty and kills the musician and his wife. Jerry discovers this.

Now does Jerry go to the police? Have this dangerous person put away? No, because he’s afraid he will have trouble because he did not tell them about he girl. So he has his parents’ killer in his home.

Cue the second half of the story. Teresa is an ordinary girl. She’s a little lonely and not in the “in crowd” at her school.

Teresa sees Theres performing on a Swedish talent show. Something clicks. And so on.

Ok. It’s a compelling tale. And one that ought to be scary.

But, it isn’t. The threat of violence is telegraphed early, and the reader knows to look for more. And as good as translations can be, there seems to be a screen between the reader and Lindqvist. It keeps the reader from the oh-God-this could happen-to-us that King books often have.

The story well-plotted, and the reader wants to know what happens next to Theres. Just watch out for Teresa.

Visitor under the fence

My mother has adopted a Lab/Rottweiler mix, Stella, a few months ago. She has been great fun, scaring my cats and pulling me over when she saw a deer on a walk.


I woke up around 1 a.m. and heard a dog barking. It was close, but the bark seemed too high-pitched to be Stella. I figured it was the puppy next door. The worst, I thought, was her getting under the fence into Mom's yard and wanted to get back home. It could wait until morning.

So, I went back to sleep. It was hard with that darn dog making noise.

The dog eventually shut up and when I got up this morning, Mom had a story to tell.

It seems that Stella woke her up to go out around 1 a.m. Mom put her out, and Stella did not come back. She could hear barking (w/o her aid, so you know it was LOUD) and was over at the right-hand corner of the fence where the ground dips down for drainage. We've put some wire and plastic fencing there because I think I recall seeing a fox in the yard when we first moved in. This is where someone put the ashes from the grill.

Mom called and Stella would not come in, just continued to bark.

Mom said she got a flashlight from a kitchen drawer and shone it where Stella was. Turned out that Stella was barking and carrying on about some critter that was trying to get under the fence.

Mom said she got one aid in, Stella's leash and had to manhandle Stella (who weighs more than 50 lbs and did NOT want to go) into the house. Mom said the animal was yellowish in color, had a pointed snout and had LOTS of teeth. She said "wolf," but I think it may have been fox or coyote.

Mom finally dragged Stella in and shut and locked the door. The animal was gone in the morning. Mom said she did not get back to sleep (Stella was agitated) until 3 a.m.

I asked Mom why she did not get me, and she said that if I didn't wake up with the barking, I must have been deeply asleep. (No, just thought it was another dog. Stella has (usually) a deeper bark.)

I reset the wire fence and put what potting soil we have under the gap. Mom did not want me to use the river or lava rock we have because that would get tossed by lawnmowers. I suggested getting mothballs to put along the fence line. I seem to recall that some kinds of critters do not like the smell.

The ground by that corner was all torn up and I brought in some white and black fur that was in the yard, about 5 feet from the fence. It was not Stella fur.

I don't know what it was, but something tried to get in. Yea Stella!
Oh, and the cats? I wondered why Amelia was behind my legs, under the covers.

Fifteen Digits

Fifteen Digits



Nick Santora


Poor but deserving young man is willing to work hard for a better life.

Cue Horatio Alger.

Not so fast.

Rich Mauro, that deserving young man, has just landed a job in the print/mailroom of a high-toned law firm. The job comes courtesy of a partner in the firm, a lawyer who botched one and only one case. The case involved the deaths of Mauro’s parents. Mauro is going to night school planning to get into law school. Then on to a white-shoe firm and happily ever after.

Mauro has a lovely fiancée, but her striving parents aren’t happy about their girl falling for him. It is going to take forever (Mauro thinks) to get to where he wants.

Until another lawyer in the firm shows Mauro and the others in his department how to make a small fortune, fast. It involves the confidential information that passes through the department every day. Using that information is completely and totally illegal.
What will Mauro do? What will the consequences be for Mauro and his friends?

Santora has written a fast-paced thriller that focuses attention on the people we tend to ignore. It is not a political screed, and Santora makes a few characters a little too good to be true. But it is a good read, and one that people looking for the next Grisham will want to pick up.

Sticks and Stones

Sticks And Stones: Defeating the Culture of Bullying and Rediscovering the Power of Character and Empathy




Emily Bazelon



This review is based on an advance copy provided by Goodreads. Tentative on-sale date, according to the cover, is February 19, 2013. This review is also on hte Goodreads website

Emily Bazelon, a senior editor at Slate, an online magazine, wrote in-depth stories about Phoebe Prince, a young woman who killed herself after bullying at her western Massachusetts high school. In Prince’s story, Bazelton found a perennial topic.

She went back to the Prince case through the eyes of one of Prince’s tormentors, Flannery Mullins, revealing Prince was more than a bullied young woman – Prince had psychiatric issues that made coming from Ireland to America more difficult. Add the bullying, and it was a recipe for tragedy. Mullins was criminally charged for her part in Prince’s persecution.

Bazelon adds the stories of two other bullied young people, “Monique” and “Jacob” to the mix. While not suicidal, both were bullied for being different – Monique for wearing her hair in a style that two other girls did not approve of, and Jacob because he is gay and found flamboyant ways to express it.

The stories are heartbreaking. And Bazelon is quick to say that Prince, Monique and Jacob are not alone. Many children are bullied. Some never recover.

Yes, bullying is something that has gone on since there were people. Most get over it and on with their lives. But, a modern invention, the Internet has made bullying almost inescapable, Bazelon says. It is something that does not stop when the bullied child leaves school – the abuse follows him or her into the home via the Internet. There is no escape.

Bazelon offers some solutions – parental involvement in their children’s online activities, and an example of one school group holding a “Delete Day,” where questionable Internet information was erased.

But, Bazelon has no sure-fire cure for the problem. This is a book that anyone who has a young person in their lives should read, if only to get a handle on what that young person, either as one bullied or one doing the bullying is facing.

VOTE

Yes folks, it is that simple. After all the nasty ads, the pundits punting, and the assorted craziness of our never-ending election season, it is time for us, the little guys, to make a decision.

Yes, it takes time. It took about an hour for me to get done. But, consider how many people can't vote.

Get out there!

Sandy

Sandy

I am guessing that there will not be too many revivals of “Grease” on the East Coast for a while. That is unless they rename the female lead to something other than “Sandy.”

Delicious irony here: “Sandy, can't you see I'm in misery? You made a start, now we're apart /There's nothing left for me.”

So true for many Americans. And those who are not normally flooded, are finding out that their homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage.

Yes, that’s right folks. Homeowners insurance does not cover flooding. Don’t yell at me; yell at your congresscritter and those oh-so-reassuring and funny insurance ads. Anyone laughing now?

This is something the Gulf Coast has known for a while, but I know it’s going to come as a surprise to many affected by Sandy.

I know, more misery on top of misery. And I also know that people on the East Coast are going to need help. And people are going to want to help.  

This is as list of organizations stolen shamelessly from NBCnews.com of groups that can help. But, the saw is charity begins at home, so while it does not affect Sandy’s victims, we can all make the world somewhat better.

Here’s the list: By Suzanne Choney, TODAY.com

If you want to help those hurt by the storm, you can donate to these organizations; some of them have options to donate via text message, as well as by phone or online:
AMERICAN RED CROSS
The Red Cross is providing shelter, clothes, supplies, food and blood, as needed, for the victims of Sandy. You can donate blood, but in terms of items, you'll be doing more for those in need by donating money instead of physical goods.
Text message: Text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. As in the case with other donations via mobile, the donation will show up on your wireless bill, or be deducted from your balance if you have a prepaid phone. You need to be 18 or older, or have parental permission, to donate this way. (If you change your mind, text the word STOP to 90999.)
Phone: 800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767); for Spanish speakers, 800-257-7575; for TDD,  800-220-4095.
To donate blood: Visit this Red Cross Web page.
Online: American Red Cross
SALVATION ARMY
The Salvation Army is providing meals and shelter. "At this point, in-kind donations, such as used clothing and used furniture, are not being accepted for hurricane relief. However, these items are vital to supporting the day-to-day work of your local Salvation Army," the organization said Tuesday in a press release.


Text message: Text the word STORM to 80888 to make a $10 donation. To confirm the donation, respond with the word “Yes.”
Phone: 800-SAL-ARMY (800-725-2769)
Online: Salvation Army; here's the organization's New Jersey site, and its Greater New York site.
HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES
Many pet owners were able to take their pets with them, but for those who were not, the Humane Society's Animal Rescue Team is assembling staff and equipment to help rescue pets in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
Phone: 301-258-8276
Online: Humane Society of the United States
AMERICAN HUMANE ASSOCIATION
The association is helping animals that may need rescue or shelter.
Text message: Text the word HUMANE to 80888 to donate $10.
Phone: 866-242-1877.
Online: The AHA's website for donating is here.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Habitat, an international organization, helps those in need rebuild their homes after disaster strikes.
Phone: As of Tuesday morning, Habitat's online donation system was not available. If you want to make a donation, you can call Habitat's Partner Service Center at 800-HABITAT (422-4828). Press "0" when prompted and representatives will take your donation information over the phone.
Online: This is Habitat for Humanity's main website.
COMMUNITY FOODBANK OF NEW JERSEY
This group coordinates efforts with the state's Office of Emergency Management, as well as with state and local nonprofit organizations.
Phone: (908) 355- FOOD (3663), ext. 243.
Online: Community FoodBank of New Jersey
FEEDING AMERICA
The organization will deliver food, water and supplies to communities in need through its network of food banks and the agencies they serve.
Phone: 800-910-5524
Online: This is Feeding America's main website.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES USA
Catholic Charities provides emergency food, shelter, direct financial assistance, counseling, and support "regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds."
Online: More information here; main website here.
Phone: 800-919-9338
AMERICARES
This group provides emergency medicine and supplies. Donations are accepted on its accepts donations on its website.
Phone: 800-486-4357.
NEW YORK CARES
This local NYC program is "the city's largest volunteer organization, running volunteer programs for 1,300 nonprofits, city agencies and public schools." It is recruiting volunteers to help with Sandy relief efforts, and is also raising money.
Online: New York Cares; donation page here.
Phone: 212-228-5000
You can also approach the city government directly to volunteer, by emailing nycservice@cityhall.nyc.gov with your name, email address and borough.
DIRECT RELIEF INTERNATIONAL
The organization provides medicine and supplies to partner health centers and clinics.
Text message: Text the word RELIEF to 27722 to give $10.
Phone: 805-964-4767.
Online: Direct Relief International is the main website; go here to donate online.
NYC MAYOR'S FUND
The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City charity supports "impactful public programs serving some of the City's greatest needs."
Online: The Mayor's Fund website is here.
WORLD VISION
Describing itself as "a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families" and communities, World Vision provides flood clean-up kits, hygiene kits, blanket and food kits.
Text message: Text the word GIVEUSA to 777444 to donate $10.
Phone: 888-511-6443.
Online: For World Vision's Hurricane Sandy relief, click here.
UNITED METHODIST COMMITTEE ON RELIEF
Provides immediate relief, assistance with cleanup and rebuilding, pastoral counseling and support for children and youth who have been through trauma.
Text message: Text the word RESPONSE to 80888 to give a $10 donation.
Phone: 800-554-8583
Online: United Methodist Committee on Relief
JEWISH FEDERATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA
The Jewish Federations of North America Hurricane Relief Fund will contribute to recovery and rebuilding.
Text message: Text the word RELIEF to 51818 to pledge a donation.
Online: The Jewish Federations of North America.