KATE QUIGLEY - KANSA CITY'S DOG LADY

By Debbie Bulloch



Reading the newspaper, or watching the news, can often lead to depression, anger and frustration – or all three of them. Stories about wars, crimes, famine, and natural disasters are enough to make a person want to run from society to hide in a cave and never come out again. From time to time, however, I come across a story that re-affirms my faith on the kindness of people and reassures me that things might be all right after all.

One such story is the account of Kate Quigley’s daily mission to bring some measure of comfort into the lives of neglected and abused dogs. Kate Quigley, who is also known as the “dog lady” or simply “Miss Kate,” is a resident of Kansas City, Missouri. For the last several years, “Miss Kate” has been hard at work to improve the lives of dogs and cats, many of whom live in some of the poorest and most crime-ridden areas of Kansas City.

Kate’s work is an example of what I like to refer to as the “power of one.” Too often we look at a problem and walk away from it because the problem is “too big” for one single person to fix. As Confucius reminds us, however, “a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.” We cannot solve all the world’s problems at once; but by taking action, one step at a time, we can be well on our personal journey of help and hope.

I encourage all of you to exercise your “power of one” to make changes that will make a difference in the lives of others – be it humans or animals.

To read more about Kate’s incredible journey to bring comfort to neglected inner city pets, go here: Dog Lady

If you wish to help homeless dogs find a loving home, go here: Help Dogs. This link is sponsored by Pedigree dog food.

Thanks for looking

BROWN PELICANS CONTINUE TO DIE

By Debbie Bulloch



This is an update to a story I brought to you last month. (Recent Storms Kill And Injure Pelicans)

California Brown Pelicans continue to die off and scientists are at a loss for an explanation for the die off. The pelicans, according to marine biologists, have some sort of substance on them that appears to be causing the feathers to lose insulation value, resulting in cold and hypothermic birds. Contaminated pelicans cannot float on the water so they simply sink. Additionally, the pelicans’ water soaked feathers make the birds heavier than usual making it harder for the birds to launch into flight.

Pelicans have been found in neighborhoods near beaches - they are often disoriented and hungry. Since mid-January the birds, many of them already dead, have been washing up on United States shores from southern California to southern Oregon.

Preliminary necropsy results show starvation has been a factor in the deaths. Scientists believe that there is a combination of factors that have worked to adversely impact on the pelicans. One of the factors involved, according to scientists, is this year’s El Niño. In addition to creating more frequent and violent storms, the weather patterns created by El Niño tend to drive the pelican's food sources into deeper than normal waters. Additionally, toxic run off from the recent storms may have contaminated the pelicans’ feather destroying their normal buoyancy.

Toxic runoff in California comes from farms, industry and municipal runoff, as well as soil erosion. Pollutants range from pieces of garbage to chemical pollutants and pathogens.

Sick and distressed Brown Pelicans have been reported all along the Unites States Pacific coast up to Oregon, where officials advised residents not to feed the starving birds. The Project Leader from the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex told reported that, "In one parking lot, there were people in cars surrounded by pelicans asking for food. We have never seen that before. These birds literally have lost all fear of humans."

The Brown Pelican is the only diving pelican. They feed on sardines, mackerel and anchovies. The California Brown Pelican was decimated by DDT back in the 1970s, forcing the government to place them on the endangered species list. Efforts to save the bird were successful, and last year the California Brown Pelican was removed from the endangered species list. (Pelicans Off The Endangered Species List)

PELICAN PATROL IN ACTION



If you wish to find out more about how to help brown pelicans, please go to the Pelican Project page from the International Bird Rescue Research Center.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the 300th post on the Between Homes blog. It has been a pleasure writing and editing the blog. The last time that I “googled” the term “Between Homes” our blog came in at number 8, out of a total of 191,000,000 similar terms. Not bad for a little blog!

A big “thank you” goes to all of you who have contributed your comments and articles to the blog - and an especially HUGE thank you to all of you who make time to follow the blog.

Love you!

VALENTINE DAY (EVENING) HIKE

By Debbie Bulloch



This Sunday evening my daughter and I went on a hike.

We have not gone hiking since last summer. With temperature around 70 degrees Farenheit (around 21 Centigrade), Sunday evening was just perfect for a quick hike in one of our local trails.

Please come along in our hike!







Here is a picture of our objective: a rock formation called Lizard Rock.



Here is the trail leading up to Lizard Rock.



Here are some of the pastures along the way to Lizard Rock. The recent rains have turned the fields along the trail into a brilliant emerald green.



We are getting closer.



By the time we got to the top, the sun had begun to set, giving the sky a nice, orange glow.



After enjoying the beautiful vistas of nearby mountains, it was time to head back to the trailhead. We were two tired, but happy, hikers - there is nothing like a little physical exertion to help parent and child bond.

And finally…

In the past, I have delighted in bringing to you photographs of the waves crashing along the local beaches. The ocean’s power is an awesome sight to see and “feel.” There is, however, always an element of danger whenever man and sea meet.

These video shots, taken from Saturday’s surfing competition at Half Moon Bay (south of San Francisco) illustrate the power of “rogue” waves – and what happens when people fail to keep a proper distance from the crashing surf.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

By Debbie Bulloch



Today is Valentine’s Day, a day for lovers all over the world to share their passion for each other.

If your sweety is next to you, hold him (or her) tightly in your arms and tell him how much you love him, today and every day of the year.

If your sweety is far away, don’t let the miles get on the way – send him a big, warm virtual kiss and tell him how much better your life is for knowing him.

Finally, tell all the important people in your life, how much you love them and how wonderful life is now that they are in your world.

Here are four love songs to help you enjoy the day.

GERRY RAFFERTY – Right Down The Line



ALABAMA – Take Me Down Tonight



JEFFERSON STARSHIP – Miracles



LUIS MIGUEL – Sabor A Mi (This is my favorite Spanish love song.)

WEDNESDAY NIGHT BRITISH ROCK - THE WHO

By Debbie Bulloch



Following the British “invasion” by The Beatles, a steady stream of English rock acts, including The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Moody Blues, The Who and Cream, made their way to our shores.

Please join me in enjoying some of the best from The Who. If you like what you see and hear here, then please be sure to watch this Sunday’s Super Bowl XLIV – not only will you get to see great commercials, but you will also get to watch Roger Daltrey and The Who perform during the half-time show.

Enjoy!

THE WHO – Baba O’Riley (This song is used as the theme song for the very popular show CSI: New York)



THE WHO – Behind Blue Eyes



THE WHO – Who Are You?



THE WHO – Pinball Wizard



THE WHO – I Can See For Miles

IT'S OFFICIAL - SIX MORE WEEKS OF WINTER!

By Debbie Bulloch



The Prognosticator of Prognosticators, Punxsutawney Phil, the world's most famous groundhog has seen his shadow. So, six more weeks of winter.











For those of you who do not know who Punxsutawney Phil is, or what Groundhog Day is, here is a brief description (from the Wikipaedia).

Enjoy!

Groundhog Day is a holiday celebrated on February 2. It is held in the United States and Canada. According to folklore, if a groundhog emerging from its burrow on this day fails to see its shadow, it will leave the burrow, signifying that winter will soon end. If on the other hand, the groundhog sees its shadow, the groundhog will supposedly retreat into its burrow, and winter will continue for six more weeks. The holiday, which began as a Pennsylvania German custom in southeastern and central Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries, has its origins in ancient European weather lore, wherein a badger or sacred bear is the prognosticator as opposed to a groundhog. The holiday also bears some similarities to the medieval Catholic holiday of Candlemas. It also bears similarities to the Pagan festival of Imbolc, the seasonal turning point of the Celtic calendar, which is celebrated on February 1 and also involves weather prognostication.

Modern customs of the holiday involve celebrations where early morning festivals are held to watch the groundhog emerging from its burrow. In southeastern Pennsylvania, Groundhog Lodges (Grundsow Lodges) celebrate the holiday with fersommlinge, social events in which food is served, speeches are made, and one or more g'spiel (plays or skits) are performed for entertainment. The Pennsylvania German dialect is the only language spoken at the event, and those who speak English pay a penalty, usually in the form of a nickel, dime or quarter, per word spoken, put into a bowl in the center of the table.

The largest Groundhog Day celebration is held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where crowds as high as 40,000 have gathered to celebrate the holiday since at least 1886. Other celebrations of note in Pennsylvania take place in Quarryville in Lancaster County, the Anthracite Region of Schuylkill County, the Sinnamahoning Valley and Bucks County. Outside of Pennsylvania, notable celebrations occur in the Frederick and Hagerstown areas of Maryland, the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Woodstock, Illinois, and among the Amish populations of over twenty states and Canada. The University of Dallas in Irving, Texas has taken Groundhog Day as its official university holiday and organizes a large-scale celebration every year in honor of the Groundhog.

HERE IS LOOKING AT YOU KID!

By Debbie Bulloch



I make no secret of the fact that I am an unabashed romantic. Alas, we seem to live in an era when romanticism appears to be dead – or at least terminally ill and on life support. Let me then take you with me to a time and place when men were noble and heroic and women were both soft and also incredibly strong.

The time is 1942, and the place is Casablanca, in Vichy-controlled Morocco. The men are Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), an outwardly cynical American expatriate living in Casablanca. Rick owns and runs "Rick's Café Américain", an upscale nightclub and gambling den that attracts a mixed clientele. In spite of his rough exterior, Rick has a big and generous heart.

The other man is Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), a fugitive Czech Resistance leader long sought by the Nazis. Victor is legendary as an "anti-Nazi underground hero" who is in Casablanca, a safe-haven from the Nazis. The Nazis fear Victor’s courage and strength.

Caught between these two bigger-than-life men, is the beautiful Ilsa Lund (played by Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman). She is the Norwegian wife of Victor Laszlo. Ilsa is at times vulnerable (especially when her heart is torn between the two men she loves). Ilsa, however, can also be incredibly tough - willing to stand up to the Nazis.

“Casablanca” is my all-time favorite movie – watching it takes me back to a time when men were men and women were glad of it. The movie won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Its characters, dialogue, and music have become iconic; in the years since it debuted, “Casablanca” has grown in popularity to the point that it now consistently ranks near the top of lists of the greatest films of all time.

Here are some scenes from “Casablanca” – enjoy!

CASABLANCA – Play it, Sam (As Time Goes By)



Embedding was not allowed for the following clips – you need to click on the link to view the video.

CASABLANCA - La Marseillaise (Long version.)

CASABLANCA - La Marseillaise (Short version.)

CASABLANCA – Here Is Looking At you Kid (End of movie.)