Since the format change...

I turned 42 last month and know about half of what I thought I did at 18. I learn something new in my job everyday. I learn something new at idog everyday, even if it's just a different approach to an idea or concept, which also happens in my job. In one day, I can learn a neat trick from a 2 year helper and at the same time, I probably know more than the 20-something engineer that drew what we laughingly call prints. But through it all, I have to deal with people. I have more experience than my boss and I have the biggest license there is, without which, he couldn't operate the company. Yet, he has the contacts and the "people person" personality that gets the jobs. It's actually a winning combination. He gets the jobs and we have the ability to make good on the contract. Yet my job, which includes being service department manager, requires dealing with clients and not upsetting them or making them feel like idiots. They are paid for what they do and I'm paid for what I do and the name of the game is to find out what they want or need and do it for them. I mention this because, the better I get along with people, the more successful I become (theoretically).
 
Even though we are anonymous or not to whatever degree with which we are comfortable, a little social skill goes a long way.
 
Hugs and chocolate for everyone.
 

Ron, I'll accept cyber hugs, but please PM me for an address to send the chocolate!!

I never really feel my age.  When my best friend and I get together we still have as much fun and act as silly as we did in our 20's.  But every now and then something will happen to smack me with a dose of reality.  A couple of month's ago my step daughter moved into a new apartment in an old building...5 floors up, no elevator, small and winding staircases.  You know that you are getting older when you look through your address book and you can't find a single friend who you could possibly ask to help with a move like that for fear that they would hurt themselves too badly. 

Thanks for starting this thread, Lazlowe
 
I really didn't post much on the other board, (before the format change), because I didn't want people to think I was stupid or uninformed or whatever. For some reason the tone is different than the other board- perhaps because we lost some people along the way.

I've said this before, I'm the type of person who would run and head for the hills before getting into a fight. That's why I mainly lurked, because I didn't want to get anybody's "knickers in a knot" when posting controvercial topics like breeding and nutrition. hey, before lurking here, I thought Ceasar Milan was a great trainer. (see, I've learned from my mistakes!).
 
There will always be somebody to stir the pot, and we just have to deal with it the way it comes. (not naming any names, but remember the poster who used to hang out in the behavior forum and get everybody riled up). 
 
The particular erson that we are talking about told me that I killed my dog- end of story. Gee, I have absolutely no guilt because of it anyway, thanks. That's what made me angry. Sandra, you went through just about the exact same thing that I did- what would you feel like if somebody said that?  I believe in telling people the truth, but if it will hurt them, then don't.
 
Okay, really bad analogy coming, so beware!
 
Just like a wife asks a husband if she looks fat in a particular dress and it is rather fitting on her, and makes her butt look big, but the husband shouldn't tell her point blank "Yes honey, you do look fat in that". Instead, he should say something like "oh, honey, I like the (insert color/style here) dress on you better."
That spares feelings on both parties- hopefully! []

 
 
 
 
 

Knotted knickers, now there's a fashion statement. I think I'll try wearing that under my kilt, to show off my manly legs.
 

I use to work in the sporting goods (avid hunter and fisherman--I am so old fashioned i prefrer not to be called fisherwoman) ane i know what you mean about dealing with people.  This was back in early 60's.  Well, some knucklehead would come and want to by a 12 ga. shotgun for his 6 year old son.  Remember back then we didn't have the gun laws we have now.  I knew a 12 ga. was to much gun for a kid just learning to shot.  A .410 would be much better, or maybe at the most a 20 ga. ( a pellet gun would actually be the best.) You start them out on something smaller that won't knot the do-diddle out of his shoulder, etc.  But how do you convince the knucklehead dad of that.  You hint and tell stories of your first gun (my first was a .410 at age 10) and hope he listens. You show him the .410's you have or even the 20 ga. You sure don't tell him he is a knucklehead or ignorant, etc. And in the end he will buy which ever he choses.  And it may work out just fine for him and his son no matter which way he goes.
 
Another thing, I listened to stories old timers told about fishing and hunting.  I learned from not only my life experiences in hunting and fishing, but also old timers.  I learned far more that way than from any reading books. I am not saying you can't learn from books---far from it.  I love to read, history has always been a favorite of mine.  I am just saying you learn a lot from just living and observing and not trying to force your opinions on others.  Like it is my opinion that fresh caught and baked fish is probably the best thing your dog can eat ( in limitation of course) especially since my rheumatologist told me to eat fish several times a week.--which I don't do as i dont' like fish., but i don't insist everyone go out and catch, clean and bake fish for their dogs.
 
I came to this board 2 1/2 years ago  after losing my Hunter and I have leanred a lot here about a lot of things.  I have also been able to tell of my experineces with knee surgeries for luxating patellas, thyroid problems, bone cancer, heartworm treatment for our adopted golden mix,  allergic reaction to annual vax, allergic reaction to ground wasp sting,  ear hematoma, etc, etc.I am no expert on any one of those things by any means, but I have experinced them all.  I probably know more about Proheart6 and Fort Dodge and way they work than anything else.

I have a fudge recipe that will knock flat on your butt. My old friend, Lee, the one who passed away in Feb of last year gave it to me. So, I always called it Lee's Kick Yo' A** Fudge, even though it actually comes from Eagle Brand.

I know exaclty what you mean. When you are hurting so bad from the loss, the last thing you need is some to say you killed your dog.  And it is extremely, extremely cruel for anyone to ever say that.  Luckily noone ever told me that---except myself.  I was feeling so guilty for ever believing my vet who believed the salesman who believed the company that PH6 was perfectly safe.  I carried that guilt for 8 months,.  Now i know of course it wasn't not fault, I didn't killed my Hunter and you didn't kill your Candy...right, you are Candy's Mom?  It was ProHeart6 that killed them.
 
This was a case where i switched to what was suppose to be the best and in Hunter's case, it wasn't.  No wonder i stick with what has always worked for my dogs.
 

I second what Glenda said about sending me chocolate.  I am a real chocoholic.  Always loved it, but after I quit smoking (last cigarette June 30, 1999 after smoking 28 years and was doing 2 packs a day) I ate everything in sight that was chocolate.  often keep Hershey kisses in desk drawer to eat while on this machine.

I know how you feel , Sandra. After many nutritional debates here, I began to think I was doing wrong feeding Nutro, even though he was doing fine on it. So, I tried Innova. For two weeks, he was having sneezing fits, 15 in a row, several times a day. I put him back on Nutro and it went away and he's been fine ever since.
 
That was my fault and I privately beat myself for it. Once bitten, twice shy. I decided to keep him on what he does well on and only change later if his needs change later. Fortunately, for me, that was the worst of it. I don't think Nutro is better than any other brand, it just appears to be more appropriate for him than other brands or formulas. I don't feel the need to defend it but will continue to mention it only as an example to others that you do what works. My dog's life expectancy is 12 to 14 years. He will be 3 in July. If he lives another 10 years, that's about the best I can ask for, on whatever he eats.
 
Who knows? I may one day learn enough to switch to homecooking, which is the only thing I would consider as comparable or better than kibble, ala Glenda.
 

As I posted to Glenda, I have a fudge recipe that will knock you silly.
 

Uhhh so are you going to share it with the rest of us or do we have to threaten to shorten the hem of your kilt?

Hey, I'm BUMMED!!  I thot I was gonna get chocolate in the mailbox and, typical man, he wants me to COOK!!!

can I attach a txt file to a pm or should I email it to you?
 

Post it so we can all enjoy it!