June 6, 1944

70 years ago on the Shores of Normandy, France the allied troops began their full force conquest of ending World War II. On that day, over 9,000 soldiers gave their lives so we could live, work, and prosper. If you have not seen “Saving Private Ryan” (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120815/), the beginning of the move tries to capture what took place on the Shores of Normandy and it is one of the most powerful movie military scenes, in my opinion.  

In short, we are lucky to live in a world where we have our freedom and we should remember the soldiers who gave their lives on that day.

All Officers are Not Bad or is that just Bull?

o-DROWNING-BULL-RESCUED-facebookGenerally, when you hear the news and law enforcement in the same story it’s not good. Well this is story where the situation is different; law enforcement, Deputy Christina Ammons, was confronted with a situation and went above and beyond her call of duty. (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/blogs/gone-viral/os-drowning-bull-rescue-20140330,0,1288906.post) According to the Orlando Sentinel and Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, an elderly bull wandered into a pond and was about to drown when Deputy Christina Ammons arrived on the scene, entered the pond, and held the bull’s head up above water for 45 minutes while the Hillsborough County Fire Rescue assisted in getting the old bull out of the water. In the end, the elderly bull survived and Deputy Christina Ammons was safe.  Remember not all Officers are bad.

You can make a difference!!!

Sometimes you can feel that the world has too many problems and that you are powerless to fix all the problems that exist. One of my passions is animals and I just saw a great story of young photographer, Lauren Eggert, (http://www.hypeorlando.com/the-dog-blog/). Essentially, Lauren makes the point that companion animals that are in shelters may not portray their true selves while in care upon initial viewing.  Through her photographs she brings to light an animals true personality to shed light on the companion animal that exists beneath what may appear to be a scared or stand offish animal.  She is advocating for these companion animals through her blog.

Lauren Eggert, is an EXCELLENT example of someone who takes a negative, which are dogs that are in shelter, and makes it positive by showing a different side, or the real side, of these companion animals.  Sometimes life can be overwhelming and you may not be making a difference but remember every little bit helps!

Don’t’ forget Adoption is a Great Option for a life long friend.

Strawberry Festival in Plant City, Florida

StrawberryFestivalLiving in the State of Florida has many perks, one being the weather and the ability to be outside enjoying the beautiful weather.  If you have not had a chance to experience the Strawberry Festival in Plant City, Florida, it’s a must. Not only is it a good way to spend a few hours people watching and tasting a wide variety of food, but it is great to support the local economy.  

In addition, it’s a great venue to see amazing artists perform for a reasonable price or even for free if you are patient and willing to stand in line. I was able to see Rascal Flatts in a great outdoor venue. So if you have time, check out the rest of the schedule and scheduled performers. http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/article/345214/8/Strawberry-Festival-2014-Lineup

Blurred Lines…Divorce may be blurred…

RobinThickeRobin Thicke was on the Howard Stern show last year and Howard, as usual, had an interesting interview. During the interview, Robin Thicke talks candidly about his marriage and his life growing up with parents who were divorced. From his interview, it seems as though the he and his wife have gone through quite a bit, including him not going to his wife’s prom because of race relations in the United States. I hope Robin Thicke and his wife work things out because based on this interview they have had a long and loving relationship since they were 16 years old.

“Finding Jack”: An excellent book dealing with the Vietnam War and Relationships!

findingjack“Finding Jack”, by Gareth Crocker, is an excellent book that deals with my two favorite subjects, history and dogs. The book deals with a soldier and his time and struggles during the Vietnam War and the life long friends he makes and the friends he loses during the war. This is one of the best books I have read in recent memory. If you have the time, this is an excellent book, not only for animal lovers, but also, for people who may be going through family issues or grieving the loss of loved ones.

Trident K9 Warriors: My Tale from the Training Ground to the Battlefield with Elite Navy SEAL Canines

k9WarriorBlogAfter seeing a segment on 60 minutes almost a year ago I had the pleasure of finishing this book. This was a great book on the interaction and the necessity of military dogs in aiding the United States, not just during war but our daily lives. There were many sub stories in this book but the underlying theme of the book is TRUST. If the working dog trusts his handler than he will go to the ends of the earth to protect and fight for his handler. TRUST goes far in any relationship but is critical when you are dealing with lives.

Oh You HOA…..

HOA-PoliceSo you think you had HOA problems living in Orlando? Well, according to a military family in Lafayette, Louisiana, apparently their “Welcome Home” banner does not meet the specifications of the HOA.  

Here is the article: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/oddnews/hoa-tells-military-family-to-remove-sailor’s-‘welcome-home’-banner-193538586.html

 

If you have the pleasure of living in an area of Orlando where the HOA is present and active, sometimes you wonder who has time in their day to be concerned over petty issues and is this just a way for them to pass the time?  In life you have to pick and choose your battles and I think the HOA in Lafayette, Louisiana should avoid fighting over a “Welcome Home” banner.  That’s just my two cents….

It’s all about Relationships!

RelationshipsandDogAs we are coming off this 2014 Valentine’s Day celebration, I wanted to take a minute and share an article I read about a dog being rescued and the new relationship she has with her new caretaker. (http://elitedaily.com/news/world/woman-who-rescued-pit-bull-writes-incredibly-powerful-letter-to-its-former-abusive-owners/)

 

Essentially, the most important part of the article is in the form of a letter from the dog’s current owner to the dog’s previous owner. (http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/pet/4331740937.html) It explains how being in a positive relationship can impact the health of those involved and that we can overcome bad relationships with good relationships. Being in a relationship where both sides are VALUED will help create a long-lasting and happy relationship. So as we venture into our daily routines think about the relationships you have and whether they are valued.

 

Veterans Day

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As another Veterans Day arrives it is important for us to take the time and remember those who have served, those who are currently serving, and their families.  The sacrifices that soldiers and their families have made are noble and allow everyday Americans to live, work, and play in the United States.  Take a few moments today to remember the Veterans of these United States who have given so much because we can never repay them for their service.