Sheilding

I really hate my father's dog. There I said it. Don't get me wrong, I love animals. This is a pet of my father that he lost control of. Maybe I should say, he won't admit he can't control.

My father's only companion is a dachshund. He looks cute but don't try to pet him, he will bite you. He doesn't want anyone to come in the house; he is overly protective of my father. You can not touch my father if the dog is in the room. Once the dog jumped at me and was hanging from my t-shirt sleeve. He will stare you down. I was told not to stare back at dogs so I try to ignore him. When he wants to rest, he lays on my feet so he will know whenever I move. He nipped my foot once when I pushed him away. My father thought that was funny. He doesn't bother my youngest sister nor her little kids, which is a good thing. He hates my middle sister the most. He will focus more on her than me. He will lay at my feet and stare at her. Whenever she moves, he follows her everywhere around the house. He chewed a shoe of hers. We tried playing with him and bribe him with food to befriend him. Instead, he took his toys and hid them from us. My sister tried taking him for a walk. If anyone other than my father is holding the leash, he won't move. She dragged him to a spot for him to go. None of us were brave enough to pick him up. So she dragged him back to the house. I have to say it looked awfully cruel and ridiculous. We have told my father this is not good, the dog is not property trained, and it is dangerous that he's like that. My father laughs that we're afraid of a little dog. He makes excuses and believes the dog is simply protecting his territory. My father is of age. If something happens to him, none of us want the dog. He got offended when I told him I was staying at a hotel on my next visit. You can't go to the bathroom without the dog barking at the door and then growling and nipping at your feet when you come out. I carried a rolled up newspaper for protection; I really wanted to swat my father with it.

I'm due to see my father in two weeks. I'm planning on keeping my hotel reservation.Any advice on how to deal with this dog? Thank you.

I sought permission to take Anatomy and Physiology I and II concurrently since they will be the only courses I will be enrolled in. The instructor of A and P II advised against it unless I have a strong biology background. The lectures are online (I have self-studied before) and there will be 3 labs for each course on campus. I have to go before the Dean to get permission. Maybe I'm getting over my head on this. If you have taken the courses before, tell me something before I step off the cliff. Thank you!

Okay this is a weird question in regards to flatulence. Yeah farting. Have you ever farted out loud in public, what did you do?

I was trying to get to the bathroom when my tail honked. I heard my boss coming up behind me but I got out the door before she could see me. At least, I thought she didn't see me. When I returned in a different direction, I could smell Lysol.

Um, I don't make stink.

I rather call this a tradition rather than superstition. It's a New Year tradition in my family's home that the first guest allowed in the house shall be a man. It use to be that he walk through the front door and out the back door. I'm not that strict, he only has to come in the house. One of the reason I keep the tradition is because a great uncle built this house and he is the only man to ever live here. He passed on about 30yrs ago.

Have you ever heard of such tradition, do you have one for your home?

Happy New Year

I need a fitness routine to do at home. The Crunchless Abs commercial makes the workout looks worthwhile. If you have the video, do you like the work out? What other fitness video routine or activity do you do?

Why can't you sleep without it?

Not your own of course. I have a crazy friend who asked me this question. Not the toes that come out of steel boots every night and looks like it come from the creature of the Black Lagoon. I don't know if a weekly pedicure would help work up my appetite.

People would say actors don't play a particular part well will mess up the rating of a movie. Such as Will Smith in Six Degrees of Separation.

Sometimes it's the opposite where no matter what movie the actor is in, s/he is great though the movie flops anyway. Sean Connery and Meryl Streep are movie actors whom I believe are the greatest. Denzel Washington is another person. The role Denzel played in The Bone Collector wasn't believable to me. All others he was excellent.

Any other actors?

During the summer, I noticed that four of my trees have been invaded by poison blackberries, poison ivy, and poison oak vines. To add to the matter, there is a wasp's nest. It is the reason I need to tackle this project while it is cold.

I've read how to protect myself and how to dispose of the poison stuff. And I've tackled a wasp nest during the winter before. I just don't know how to start with the thorns and poison. Do I spray with herbicide first, or do I clip at the bottom and pull them out the trees?

Now that you've opened your Christmas gifts, which gift did you pretend to like and you really don't want?

A coworker/friend gave me a 18x20 painting. The painting is really nice I must say. The insult, it was dusty. I hugged and thanked her. I have vacuumed the dust off and re-wrapped it. I will give it to my great aunt who will love to have another portrait of Jesus Christ.

I was watching a marching band and noticed that none of the majorettes nor the drum major knows how to twirl the baton properly. The drum major threw his baton up in the air and got out of step to catch it. Tsk tsk.

No I don't know how to either. I just couldn't get the rhythm of it.

What is the origin or language of the name Bartininkas?

My buddy says German, I think not. I really don't have a clue but guessing that it's a Slavic name of sort. I wouldn't be surprise if we're both far off the map.