W. T. F.

Meals on Wheels? for real? Now they want to stop funding Meals on Wheels.  I am SO confused by these hateful people. Let's destroy the planet. Let's let crazy people have access to guns. Let's rip apart families to make sure we keep people who are "different" out of the USA. Let's make health insurance so expensive that we're going to end up a nation of sick homeless people (unless, of course, you're sure you or your partner is never going to get sick and lose your home because you can't pay the medical bills). Let's call the cops to charge into bathrooms in the once great state of North Carolina to pull a woman out of a stall for being mistakenly identified as "maybe not really a woman." Take all funding away from the arts - who needs 'em, right?! Just like children - ALL children - don't need or deserve a hot lunch - THIS after insisting every baby MUST be born. What the ever lovin' fuck has happened to this country? Do not DO NOT tell me these are the same people who want God "back in our country." They're money grabbing hypocrites bowing to a pussy grabbing crazy man who bows to nothing but The Dollar.  

Annabelle Learning "sit" and "down" - Serious stuff!

Annabelle thinks about coming down the stairs

and changes her mind . . . 

Sunday with Annabelle

Reposted from Jungle Red

SUNDAY, MARCH 5, 2017

"Oh, Kaye!" chats about politics and puppies

This past month has been a busy one.

Being mom to a new puppy (sometimes referred to as Princess Piranha) has kept me on my toes.

Anyone reading my Meanderings and Muses knows what I mean.  Puppy and Politics, that's what it's all about for me these days.  Who would have guessed?

Getting more and more involved in local political activities is keeping me busy - remember, "It's a marathon, not a sprint!"  There is much to do.  

One of the local events was a visit to Rep. Virginia Foxx's office.  She was not there, but her staff was expecting us and they were kind and courteous to all 180+ of us who presented individual letters addressed to Rep. Foxx.   

The other was a tea and cookies event held on Saturday.  She declined this invitation also, even though she was just down the street a couple blocks at a speaking engagement right before the event started

The tea went on as planned and was a huge success.  Rep. Foxx was represented by a photo and an empty chair.  Too bad she chose not to attend, there were excellent points made by attendees and questions that deserved answers.


I have strong feelings about all this.  I happen to think elected officials have an obligation to listen to their constituents.  To answer questions.

Silly me.



So.


Moving along to puppies . . . 



Puppy Kindergarten started this week.

Oh, laws . . .

Let me tell you about Puppy Kindergarten.

It's basically a dog obedience class except it's for puppies only.  Puppies who have about an inch long attention span and very sharp little teeth.

The woman who owns Woof Pack Pet Services is an amazing woman who teaches a variety of classes, has a puppy day care facility, a boarding facility for dogs, and another for cats.


So.  Thursday night was our first class.

Here's our pack -

An adorable mix of pups - all sweet as pie.

The class is based on "Positive Reinforcement."

I love that.


We have been to various classes for dog training in the past - and left - because we did not care for their training philosophy.

This one just seems, to us, to be just right.


So there we were with out itty bitty little fluff ball and all these bigger, but oh so sweet, dogs.  And because they're all puppies, they all have the same issues.  Short attention spans and sharp little teeth.  

Some, however, are already better trained than others.  I'd have to say Annabelle was not as well trained as some, but perhaps a little better trained than others.


But, once she got tired, she was done with learning.


She didn't care if she was being offered a T-bone steak for "down," she was not interested.


Donald is acting as "handler" since he possesses all the patience in the family.


My role is cheerleader and photographer.


That suits me just fine 'cause I get to watch all the other puppies while Don does all the work.


And I smiled and I laughed and I had the best time.


And you know, it's nice to put the rest of the world aside for an evening to watch the simple joy of puppies.

Do what you can in solidarity

Annabelle, the Water Baby

She loves to play in the water - even the water in her water bowl

I cannot wait to see this little girl at the beach!

"Oh, Kaye!" day at Jungle Red

Today is the first Sunday of the month.

My day to play at Jungle Red where I'll be chatting a bit about politics and puppies.

I hope you'll drop by and say "Hey!"

Come Have Tea & Cookies with Rep.Virginia Foxx (not)

Even though Rep. Foxx will be in Boone Saturday, and speaking just a couple blocks away from where we'll be having tea and cookies, she has declined our invitation (see below).

"Concerned constituents are inviting Representative Virginia Foxx to a nonpartisan, informal reception immediately after her appearance at the county Republican Party convention. We would like to learn more about the House Committee on Education and Workforce, the powers of her chairmanship, and what bills we can expect to emerge from the committee. 

Our goal is to be better informed citizens. We hope that Representative Foxx will attend, but if she does not, we will discuss the topics without her. 

Tea and cookies will be served and voter registration available. 

Organized by High Country Forward, a grassroots group of local citizens interested in civic engagement.

We want to thank F.A.R.M Cafe for the use of their space, however this not an official F.A.R.M Cafe program."

Guess Who's Eligible for an Anthony Nomination this Year?

wow.


Me.


After years of having the privilege of submitting names for various mystery award nominations, I have a short story that's eligible.


This is a first. A very fun first.


It feels very odd, but kind of delightfully odd, to be able to say to you, if you read and enjoyed "Voodoo at the Jitterbug," I would appreciate your consideration.


From the Bouchercon 2017 webpage: "If you were registered for Bouchercon in New Orleans and/or are signed up for Toronto this year, your Anthony Award nomination ballot will be arriving in your email box on Tuesday, February 28.

The nomination form will be coming from SurveyMonkey. If you don't see it in your inbox, please check your spam/junk folder. If it's not there by Wednesday, March 1, please message us.

Anthony Award nomination forms are due back by April 30. As soon as all nominations are tabulated, the 2017 Anthony Award Nominees will be announced."


AND - the anthology, Blood on the Bayou, 2016 Bouchercon Anthology, edited by Greg Herren, is also eligible for nomination.


Thanks, everyone!!

Moral Resistance Congressional Visit to Rep. Virginia Foxx

Well, actually, it was a congressional visit to Rep. Virginia Foxx's office in Boone, NC since she was not there.  

Her staff, however, was expecting us and they were extremely courteous in allowing the almost 200 visitors to their office to hand deliver individual letters addressed to Rep. Foxx

Todd Carter and the local NAACP chapter are to be congratulated on a successful and well organized, peaceful afternoon.

It's a shame Rep. Foxx was unable to join us.