Is it morning again?

I have always been an early riser. Used to be a nicotine fix necessitated an early rise. However since I quit smoking many years ago and I continue to wake up at some godforsaken times, it must be the critters fault. Mostly, I awaken to Toba, the dog, and Dahg, a cat, vying for space on the bed. It is a large bed, but they must feel an undeniable need to squish up as close to my head and legs as possible.

When they demand more attention they create enough of a disturbance that the queen of the household, Pokey, a 9 pound calico, jumps up on the bed. Now there are two cats, a dog and one tired old man on the bed and no one is happy. Further compounding the matter, Dahg really does not like Pokey and vice versa. So when Pokey jumps up the growling begins.

Two cats meowing, chirping, growling. One dog whining. A tired oldish man. And, It's only FIVE am.

Get up. Where to begin. First thing is Toba goes out to do her business. It's cooler outside and frost last night leaves the grass quite damp. She piddles right away and I am pleased. Inside I wipe her feet and let her loose.

Next, to the computer. My morning ritual includes checking emails and reading one of the local newspapers on-line. Not as easy as you'd think. Toba has energy to burn before doggy daycare. And there are so many interesting things to do toys to play with. If it was only Toba perhaps I could get through it relatively easily.

Not so, as Dahg requires my undivided attention. Without fail Dahg arrives in a flash on the top of my desk, meow-purring for my undivided attention. She is an 18 pound cat that MUST be held. There is no avoiding this. She also drinks water by dipping her paw in her water dish and licking her paw. I get the added pleasure of her soggy paws and paw prints on the desktop. It's glass.

Gumby used to be at my feet. Amazingly, with Gumby gone Pokey has actually taken up this activity. This is my clue that it is time to feed the cats, clean the litter bin, drive Toba to doggy daycare and get myself off to work.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

Who Says What's Right?

I've been reading, and contributing to, some interesting blog discussions lately. I'm amazed at the narrow-mindedness of some people.

In Lindor Reynolds Winnipeg Free Press blog "Talk of the Town" Reynolds wrote about the death of Gage Guimond in Another Dead Child. What gob smacked me were the many who blamed CFS but absolved the birth parents of responsibility. Even more perplexing was Reynolds dismissal of those whose position was contrary to hers.

In another Winnipeg Free Press blog, Mike on Crime, Mike McIntyre opined a piece on Winnipegger Kevin Hiebert and his struggles in a Greek prison. Mr. Hiebert has many friends and supporters who are intent on getting him out of Greece and home to a nice comfy Canadian prison. Their arguments include his was an innocent mistake and if he committed his crime in Canada he'd be out by now.

Most ignore the fact that this man's innocent mistake was to smuggle two KILOGRAMS of cocaine into Greece. For the imperially challenged that is 4.4092 pounds. 70.548 ounces. Any way you measure it, it is an incredible amount of drugs.

And to top it off the Greek government had the unmitigated gall to try the man in Greek. What has the world come to? Does this man not have Canadian rights? Oops, oh yeah. Pulled his little stunt in Greece don't cha know... C'est la vie.

Much like Reynolds above, Hieberts supporters dismiss contrary opinion out of hand. What strikes me is the level of righteous indignation they display towards those that don't agree with them.

We all have an opinion, some stronger than others. I've asked the same question twice now: who gets to decide who is right?

It is time we all took responsibility for our own actions.

-jwh

More on Gumby

I was called to pick up Gumby's cremated remains today. I'm not real sure what I'll do with them. It brings back to me the reality Gumby is gone..

Many, many times this week I thought about Gumby. I have no clue if this makes me weird or eccentric or normal.

There are so many things that happen around the house that make me think of my little buddy. I know I often find myself reminiscing. I think the one most haunting memory is a special look Gumby gave me. It was his "attend to me" look. Impossible to deny.

I went looking for photos of Gumby. Not enough for my liking. I think maybe now I understand why my sisters take so many pictures, annoying as it is. Better to have and remember than not. I do have one portrait that captures Gumby so well. Money well spent.

So, take care of your beloved pets. Take lot's of pictures. And remember the pure joy they bring into your life.

Gumby Hogan 1998 - 2007

It is with a real heavy heart that I find myself grieving the passing of a truly wonderful pet. Gumby Hogan passed away at 2:30pm, Wednesday, July 25, due to complications with diabetes. Gumby was first diagnosed with diabetes in 2005. He survived two prior near misses but did not win this battle.

Gumby came bouncing into my life when he was 7 weeks old in November, 1998. A charmer, Gumby was always a character, behaving more like a dog than a cat and quickly became the king of the castle. He had me at meow.

Gumby always rushed to the door to greet everyone. He supervised tradespeople during their activities. Hissed and spit at only one person in the world, other than the vet.

Gumby always curled up with me at bedtime. And woke me in the morning telling me it was time to feed him. He occasionally woke me at 3am. 4am. 5am. Whenever he felt I'd slept long enough.

Since he was the first of an eventual three cats and a dog he believed he was in charge. I sense his first companion, a beautiful little girl named Pokey (what else?), is showing signs she misses him.

It amazes me, why I'm not sure, how we become so emotionally attached to our pets. They really are like our children and our friends. He truly was a wonderful loving pet and I miss him terribly.

I'd like to thank the kind folks at the Tuxedo Animal Hospital for the care and compassion they showed Gumby.

Rest in peace Gumby, you were a good friend.

Inspiration and Other Rambling Bits

I've been searching out and reading many many blogs. I use a simple search command on Google Blog Search: "Winnipeg" and I read what comes up.

One such blog, titled Colleen's Corner, is quite inspiring. Colleen writes about her recent trip to the Forks here in Winnipeg to celebrate Canada Day festivities there. Since it was written by a fellow Winnipegger, and as it touched upon a subject near and dear to my heart, I read it. I found her writing interesting, causing me to read more of her posts. This is a nice inspiring blog to read.

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The flip side follows my encounter with a poster on Tom Brodbeck's blog Raise a Little Hell. It is not the first time I've run into such negative folk. It is the first time I've run into a poster that made it personal. My normal response to such a diatribe would be to unleash a verbal storm of invectives. But that would only fan the flames of this man's incredible anger. Unbelievably mind-boggling.

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Other blogs and internet sites have provided me with some of the neat-o tools along the right hand side of my blog. The most recent was the Flickr badge (from Colleen's Corner) and the clock (from Felyne's blog). And here is a nice photo of the Canada Day fireworks from under the Norwood Bridge, expropriated from the Winnipeg Free Press - unh, thanks..

If anyone is reading this blog, and has interesting blogs you think I should read, or other neat-o tools, please let me know.

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I recently accepted a new position with a small Winnipeg firm. The Winnipeg Free Press ran an announcement about it in today's edition. It's not everyday you get your name in the paper.

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Lastly, today is my birthday.

cheers, jwh