Wednesday, February 28, 2018

The Lone Ranger Rescue Mission!     
 
Forcing a dog to live outside 24/7 with little or no human companionship is one of the most psychological damaging things a human can do to a dog.  Current studies in dog psychology show that dogs isolated in backyards are highly likely to develop serious behavioral problems that often result in euthanasia for the animal.
 
 Captivity background:
 
My little friend, I call him Lone Ranger because his humans just call him “the dog”, has been penned in this concrete area 24/7 since Thanksgiving weekend. 
 
 
To date, February 28, that translates to 90 days of solitary confinement.  He sees brick walls and can peek under a 1-inch gate to see “the world”.
 
 
The humans bend over the pallet-made-fence to fill food and water bowls - when they do feed him.  On all basic requirements for any animal there is NO
·         petting – smacking him when he jumps up for attention
·         exercise - playing or walks
·         medical – dog got all wet during rainstorm and was sick – he didn’t eat for 3 days. He doesn’t use his dog-loo – it has never been cleaned so I imagine the atmosphere inside is not conducive for him to be inside. It reminds me of the California Turpin family - outside looks nice but inside it’s a filthy mess and neglect (of 13 kids) reigns.
·         love and attention
·         socialization – human found me sticking my hands underneath the 1-inch gate opening to pet the dog’s little face.  Human proceeded to let me know he could use the “f-word“ as a verb, adverb, noun, and adjective in every sentence he screamed at me.
 
The last bullet point confirmed abusive behavior was normal for the human and prompted me to talk to friends, the local shelter, and Humane Society about solutions
 
 

Your help needed for this rescue mission!
 
During the rant the human went into, I discovered he wants to get rid of the dog. I want to foster him, love him, train him, socialize him, get him the medical attention - veterinary charges, vaccinations & neutering - he needs, to expand his chances of finding a forever home.  The monetary goal will allow me to action the rescue and care of this smart, little dog while scouting a forever home.
 
I thank you so very much in advance for your support in this rescue mission and encourage you to share this link with friends, colleagues, and family.
 
 
"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do."   Hellen Keller.

 

 



 
 

 
 

Tuesday, July 25, 2017



The overthrow of America by its own President...sad

           Image result for boy scout in uniform

Although the Boy Scouts of America have issued their "we are not a political body" statement, the cheering and support of this President was louder than the apology.  It reminded me of another leader and how a country was, little by little with no resistance from constituents, led down the same  path by someone who also demanded loyalty. For the parents of these young boys, are you familiar with history?  Boy Scouts of America...not anymore.

“As the Scout Law says: ‘A Scout is trustworthy, loyal’—we could use some more loyalty, I will tell you that,” Trump said, and paused there.

 
Image result for hitler and youth audience           A Hitler Youth poses for a photograph in the Rhineland city of Bruehl, 1934. In 1939, membership in Nazi youth groups became mandatory for all boys and girls between the ages of ten and eighteen.
 
Shaping the Future: Indoctrinating Youth
“These boys and girls enter our organizations [at] ten years of age, and often for the first time get a little fresh air; after four years of the Young Folk they go on to the Hitler Youth, where we have them for another four years . . . And even if they are still not complete National Socialists, they go to Labor Service and are smoothed out there for another six, seven months . . . And whatever class consciousness or social status might still be left . . . the Wehrmacht [German armed forces] will take care of that.”
Adolf Hitler (1938)
https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007820


As someone whose mother was in a concentration camp for 2 years, the Boy Scout rally yesterday was alarming!

Friday, August 12, 2016

Teaching Children Time Management Techniques

School has started.  The mornings of sleeping in and nights of staying up are over.  The adjustment can be difficult the first weeks.  School starts the last week of August. No sooner do they start getting used to the "school schedule"  again, they have a three day weekend (Labor Day).  We have to begin all over.


Here are some tips for both you and the children to ease the stress levels that come with the return to school and teaches them life-long skills (in italics).


The night before:
 

 1.  Homework.  Teach them to do their homework as soon as they finish their snack.  Memories are fresh and they are still in school mode. It gives you time to check it and for them to make necessary corrections.  Once finished, they will feel a sense of accomplishment and can then transfer to “play” mode.  It helps them understand the importance of completing this task.  It helps them make better decisions. Remember to have them put the homework into their backpacks.  No running around looking for it or forgetting in the morning. (organization skills)




2.  Prepare next day's lunch.  Mornings can be so harried; you wind up throwing food together in a hurry.  Have them (help you) make their lunch.  It gives the opportunity to prepare healthier lunches and gives quality time for you to be together.  This will give you both extra minutes in the morning. (organization skills)





3.  Select / prepare their clothes:  Prepare or have the children pick out what they are going to wear the next day.  Have them watch the 5 or 6 o’clock weather forecast.  This gives them the information they need for their picks.  Clothes, shoes, accessories for girls (bows, earrings).  It  teaches them life-long learning planning skills.



 4.  Iron clothes.  It takes time to set up the board, plug in the iron, wait for it to heat up, iron, unplug iron, pick up iron and board.  These 10 - 15 minutes are extra minutes you will gain in the morning. (scheduling skills)

   

5.  Sleep.  Too many kids are falling asleep in the classroom.  They are tired!  It is critical they get at least 8 hours sleep.  They are up early, they have a long day of learning, so make sure that 9 pm is sleep time (adjust depending on age).  Start at 8:45.  Have them take their bath, brush their teeth, go to the bathroom, read them a story, and then it's light's out. (execution skills)

 
Now, you have your time to do whatever it is you want or need to do and you know that tomorrow morning should be calm for both you and your children.  (stress management)

Friday, February 5, 2016

Lady Flo

Florida J. Wolfe
El Paso Black Society Queen


Many of El Paso's city’s founders have been laid to rest in Concordia Cemetery. Florida J. Wolfe, also known as “Lady Flo,” was one of the most remarkable, resilient, albeit mysterious Black women to live in El Paso, Texas.  Consort and common law wife to Irish Lord Delaval James Beresford, who owned cotton plantations and cattle ranches in Canada, the southwestern United States and Mexico, Lady Flo was a proud African American woman who flaunted tradition, but in her good-hearted, generous manner earned the inexorable respect of citizens on both sides of borders of the bi-national cities of El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

Born in Illinois, in the town of Salem, daughter of David, born in Virginia, and Nancy, born in Indiana, Wolfe, a black family, Florida, “Flo” grew up in Salem, where she and her family were known as “genteel blacks”.  Florida ended up in Chihuahua, Mexico working as a nurse for the family of the US consul.  It was there in 1886, she met Lord Delaval James Beresford, the brother of the Lord high admiral of the British navy.  She nursed him back to health from an illness and soon became his housekeeper/companion.  Fluent in Spanish, Lady Flo was often described as “looking Mexican.”

Lady Flo’s relationship with Lord Beresford made it easier for them to live in Mexico as Texas law in l893 prevented interracial marriage or cohabitation. The couple frequently traveled between Ciudad Juarez and El Paso in a multi-person entourage. Lady Flo gave grand parties and made contributions to the El Paso Fire Department and Police Department. With Lord Beresford’s death in a train wreck in Minnesota in December l906, Lady Flo claimed his property as his common law wife.
 
Using her knowledge of ranching and farming, she expanded the ranch's production after his death. Lord Beresford’s family in Ireland contested Lady Flo’s claim and after a protracted court battle she received only $15,000 and a “few hundred head of cattle.” 
Rancho Los Ojitos
Region: Northern Chihuahua, Mexico  
Nonetheless Lady Flo spent the remaining years of her life in El Paso, Texas, attending regularly the Second Baptist Church and giving away what was left of her fortune to the poor and downtrodden.
The Second Baptist Church, the oldest black Baptist church in El Paso, Texas,
 opened in 1884 and its building, at 401 S. Virginia, was constructed in 1906. 
Florida J. Wolfe developed tuberculosis and died in El Paso in May 1913.
Lady Flo's gravesite
Concordia Cemetery
El Paso, Texas
The prominent Black physician, Dr. Lawrence A. Nixon tended to Lady Flo and ultimately signed her death certificate.
 

Nixon, Lawrence Aaron (1883–1966)

Lawrence Aaron Nixon, physician and voting-rights advocate, moved to El Paso, Texas in December 1907 where he established a successful medical practice. In 1914 he helped to organize the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
 

  Lord Delaval Beresford’s gravesite
Clonegam Co, Waterford, Ireland  Born: 1862; Died: 22 December 1906  


 Irish Royal Lord Delaval Beresford was killed in a train wreck on his way home to Mexico from his ranch in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada where he had sold one of his ranches.  He described Florida Wolfe, his 20+ year partner, as his wife.  She was referred to by the royal title, Lady.
.
Edward K. Warren
 Australia Newspaper :  June 15, 1910
“The Beresford 110,000 acre Ojitos ranch was purchased for $190,000 by Edward and C. K. Warren, of Three Oaks, Michigan, who owns an adjoining ranch of 120,000 acres."
___________________________________________________________________________

You're never too old to learn new skills.  One of mine, storyteller, came to fruition with the opportunity to take on this role of Lady Flo.  To hear more about Lady Flo, listen to the interview
 firefox and internet express browsers

Patricia