That one really cool holiday gift

[Bill Glasheen]

Christmas is a big deal for me, now that I am a dad. I have boys who want to have things, just like all boys who appreciate their toys. Every Christmas there's one or two gifts I give that require a lot of thought, energy, and occasionally more than a few dollars. It isn't the money per se though; it is the value of the effect the gift has on others.

I do have 2 really cool gifts I'm giving the boys this year. I won't say just yet because it isn't Christmas yet, and Santa won't tell. But I will when the day comes.

This is the placeholder. Share your cool gifts, your wonderful experiences, and whatever else makes this time of year exciting for you.

And please, please do not forget those around you who have a tough time in these holidays. Many are reminded of lost love ones, bad times and existing problems. Some people feel a heavy burden when asked to be happy at times they are not. This IMO is the time for the true spirit of Christmas to come out in you. Look first to give before you receive. Look to the need of others before you tend to your own.

Happy Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, Winter Solstice, and whatever other religious or pagan way that floats your boat. Even you, Meta!

- Bill

[-Metablade-]

Happy Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, Winter Solstice, and whatever other religious or pagan way that floats your boat. Even you, Meta!
- Bill

Merry Christmas to you too, Bill.


..And..

Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu!
(Happy New Year!)

m(_)m

[Oldfist]

m(_)m

For anyone else who was (?-?) by Meta's m(_)m here is the (\_/) key:

http://www.smiliesunlimited.com/japanes ... 20a25008dc

Now I'm 0(^_^)0 see ya later ^_^/~~~

[benzocaine]

..... )*(



ROFL

[Oldfist]

..... )*(
ROFL

(*^.^*) or (O_o)

[-Metablade-]

*\(^-^)/*

Yokatta desu, ne!


Yousha!
iikanimo...

[Bill Glasheen]

A language unto its own...

OK, so now I will share what turned out to be the number one gift that "Santa" brought this year. Sort of...

I never had pets as a kid other than the fish I chose to buy from the pet store when I reached age 12. I always wanted a dog, but it wasn't going to happen in a family of eight kids.

When I was in college, I inherited an abused puppy. It was lost and I adopted it. A year and a half later I learned what this beautiful dog was - half Afghan (by body type) and half Golden Retriever (by color). She was quite the athletic dog as a youngster, bounding through high grass fields as an adolescent like a deer bounding across a landscape. I never did quite figure that gait out... It was a most joyful thing to watch. The owner turned out to be a schizophrenic who let her go just before getting in trouble with the law - again, assuming someone responsible would find her. I did... I kept him far from her.

Later when Dominique was diagnosed with breast cancer, my sister was breeding and showing 3 different types of dogs. She sent me a most wonderful 7-month old puppy. A 125 pound Great Dane puppy. Actually she stashed him with me because her litter was from quite the lineage, and all her competition wanted to have one of those 9 puppies. Eventually Brandon left my home to go on the show circuit. He retired a champion, and now has great grandpups as champions in the US and Canada. She then sent "Big Guy" to me, who stayed with me until he passed away. Big Guy was with me through the birth of number 1 son, and my son used to crawl over and sleep inside Big Guy's "U" (the shape a dog takes when curled up on the floor).

No dogs since then. With two people working and nobody domestic in the house, it didn't seem fair.

But the boys have been campaigning for several years now to have a dog. I told them only when the house was kept clean for a year. I was a hardass... I was only trying to be fair to any dog coming in the home. That's what a dog lover does.

But this Christmas, Santa noticed some very short lists. And "dog" was on both lists. And the boys had done a lot of work on cleaning the house before I had repair people in replacing my heating and hot water system.

Hmm...

I consulted older sister. We talked for a bit. A Great Dane was out of the question in this suburbian home. In the right home yes but... Maybe one day.

I had 3 dogs in mind.

The first was a Jack Russel Terrier. It's small enough, and enough of a "guy" dog that male owner won't think he's neutered. (A poodle or "fluff" dog will NOT enter this house, except maybe as dinner to a larger dog. Sorry to you poodle and foo foo dog owners; it's my house and my personal taste. ) Jack Russels are neat enough. They love everyone, will fit anywhere, and love to run and hunt. They are short-haired and so won't make a mess. Sister thought it an interesting and good choice.

The second dog I mentioned was a Standard Schnauzer. I once had a girlfriend with a miniature Schnauzer, and that dog loved me more than my girlfriend. She chose to be with me when she was having her puppies. They also are terriers (a tenacious, warrior breed) and - best of all - they don't shed. You just need to do either the clipping or plucking thing. A Standard is a bit bigger, and won't piss your house like the toy breeds are want to do at times. Sister also thought this a good choice.

Then I told my sister what I secretly really wanted. It was one of the breeds she had showed. My sister in the 1980s owned a dog of this breed that won 7 Best In Show awards. That is highly unusual, by the way... I was thinking my sister would tell me that this might be a great guy dog, but wouldn't be good with the boys. Little did I know that my sister was about doing backflips on the other side of the phone line. "That's your number 1 choice!" she said. Funny how instinct can preceed proper research like that.

I've done the research. Now I know this is the breed.

Santa did more research. Santa located a breeder on the east coast who has been in the business of producing these dogs since 1959. I believe he's the oldest. And one of his dogs was a granddad of my sister's great champion. Small world... And the man had a litter of puppies that were 3 weeks old. They will be ready for a home soon.

We will go visit them tomorrow, and see if we can find a match. Meanwhile, I left the boys with a picture inside a gift-wrapped box. Yes, they are psyched.

I leave it to you dog people to figure out the breed. Here is one of the puppies in the litter. And yes, everything you need to know to nail the breed is right there in the picture.



I can't believe I did this. I can't believe the boys broke me down. But I know George believes it...

- Bill

[William]

A Ridgeback....

[Bill Glasheen]

You obviously saw mom behind the puppie. That's the big clue!

You got it!

Here is a picture of my sister's all-time winner. A link to his BIS wins is on his name.



Bronco

- Bill

[CANDANeh]

Cute and what ever it maybe...love it

[benzocaine]

We saw a RR at the park one day while walking our Basset Hound. She was in love... rolled right on to her back and looked up with him with those big hound dog eyes.

What an interesting puppy that would have made.

Bill, Were not RR's bred to hunt Lions?

[Bill Glasheen]

The following exerpt comes from rrcus.org. It is about the history of the breed.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a native of South Africa. The breed's long history dates back to early in the 16th century when the first European men explored the interior on the Cape of Good Hope and found with the Hottentot tribes a domesticated dog with the hair on his spine being turned forward. This is the condition which we now refer to as the "ridge." The only other known dog which has the peculiarity of such a ridge is found on the island of Phu Quoc in the Gulf of Siam. It has never been definitely determined whether the peculiarity of this ridge originated in South Africa or on the island of Phu Quoc, but the evidence available seems to indicate that it originated in South Africa and that specimens of dogs with ridges were transported from South Africa to the island of Phu Quoc.

It is not known where the Hottentots first obtained these dogs. It is common knowledge that the Hottentot had pronounced Asiatic features and that his ancestors probably hailed from the East. If this is so, it may be assumed that the ridged dog accompanied him on his peregrination until he finally reached Africa.

Hunter, Guard and Companion
The foundation stock of the Rhodesian Ridgeback was developed by the first European settlers in South Africa to fill their specific needs for a serviceable hunting dog in the wilds. The Dutch, Germans and Huguenots who migrated to South Africa in the 16th and 17th centuries brought with them Danes, Mastiffs, Greyhounds, Salukis, Bloodhounds and other breeds. However, for more than 100 years from 1707, European immigration was closed; consequently, the importation of additional dogs of these or other breeds was not possible. Good hunting dogs, therefore, became hard to come by and their value was high. The settlers needed a dog that could flush a few partridge, pull down a wounded stag, or guard the farm from marauding animals and prowlers at night. They also needed a dog that could withstand the rigors of the African bush, hold up under drastic changes in temperature, from the heat of the day to nights below freezing, and go a full 24 hours or more without water if need be. They required a short-haired dog that would not be eaten alive by ticks. In addition, the settler needed a companion that would stay by him while he slept in the bush and that would be devoted to his wife and children. Out of necessity, therefore, these settlers developed, by selective breeding between dogs which they had brought with them from home countries and the half-wild ridged dog of the Hottentot tribes, a distinct breed of the African veldt, which has come to be known as the Rhodesian Ridgeback. The Hottentot dogs played the most important part in the development and ultimate characteristics of the new breed. Throughout all of the interbreeding and crossbreeding between these native dogs and those of the settlers, the ridge of the Hottentot dog was respected and retained. In due course, the Hottentot dog established the foundation stock of our present day Rhodesian Ridgeback.

- Bill

[Bill Glasheen]

More, which answers Ben's question.

Their hunting characteristics have also proved to be useful in hunting native game in other parts of the world. Intelligent and ever alert, their heads are held high with pride and, with a set of feet that will carry them over any sort of country, they are the only breed of dog in the world that can keep a lion at bay for the hunter to kill....and live! The Rhodesian Ridgeback has also been used very successfully for hunting bobcat, mountain lion, bear, coyote, deer, wild boar and raccoon in the United States, Canada and Mexico. There have also been reports of Rhodesian Ridgebacks having been trained to point upland game and retrieve game and fowl.

- Bill

[gmattson]

you and the boys, Bill.

Its about time. Next. . . its time for that sports car you always wanted. . . I see an Audi in your future!

You deserve it. (Or something as nice)

[-Metablade-]

That's a good lookin' dog there Bill!
I'm sure your boys have seen it by now, yes?
What was the reaction?

Here's the one I'm getting:



Shiba inu