the real doglover

Thanks Fox6 for putting this photo on the main page.  I thought I would just share a little story behind the stool.

My son and his friend painted it in art class last year.  His friend is from Korea and was just here from one school year.  I thought the painting of the world was an interesting one.  It is also interesting to me, how kids can put all the world troubles a side and be friends with a person because they are a person - not because of race, social status or language.  Language?  Well his friend came here knowing no english, but from the start - they could communicate no problem!  Sometimes life's lessons can be learned by children and this stool will be in school for many years to come.  May future friendships be made around this stool - From the Moon and Back.

We are thinking of going to the Chicago Botanical Gardens on Sunday.  I told my mom, I would check the weather on myfoxchicago.com.

Clicking on the weather button, I found that the Chief Meteorologist is Amy Freeze.  I got a little chuckle out of that, since her last name is FREEZE and being involved in Weather.

I do have a Doctor and his last name is Heal.  There is a Dr. Foote, but he is an eye doctor.  We have our very own Amy Kant, who is a "doer", but do you know someone, who's last name coincides with their profession?  -  I would love to hear them if you do!

I receive a regular email from "Dog Age" - I think it is a magazine.  They are always offering tips and suggestions.  Today's email was how to exercise your dog and keep it cool.  The survey says.......

DogAge® Tip of the Week Dog Days of Summer August 23, 2007
Wondering how other DogAge members and their pups are spending the dog days of summer and how they're keeping cool? Here's what a recent poll revealed:

Top 10 Ways to Exercise in Hot Weather
Morning walks: 31% (sometimes as early as 4 a.m.!)
Evening walks: 14%
Taking a swim (in the ocean, lake, pond, or river): 14%
Playing hide-and-seek indoors: 10%
Taking a dip in a kiddie pool: 7%
Paddling around a swimming pool: 6%
Playing fetch indoors: 6%
Chasing laser lights: 4%
Running through a sprinkler: 3%
Walking in a shaded park: 3%

Best Ways to Cool Down
Eating ice cubes: 55%
Getting hosed off before exercising: 20%
Using cooling vests: 15%
Wearing wet towels or doggie tees: 10%

Here he is one morning (with the A/C on) his head is on his pillow and his arm was around his blanket....  I got up to grab the camera, he stayed like I said - but not in the exact position I said.

Our dog walks down the slip and slide and has his own pool... How about your pets, what fun do they get in the summer to stay cool?

The Northern Cross Science Foundation had an event this evening at Bayshore Mall.  Three telescopes were available to view Jupiter - (Venus was scheduled but unviewable because it was hidden behind the clouds).  What a beautiful sight!  Each telescope had a different strength - the best was one a man made himself from a kit! 

The group is viewable on the web at www.ncsf.info .  Their mission is public education and they have various public viewings at Harrington Beach throughout the year.  Their next event is August 17th & 18th from 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. at Harrington Beach.  You should check them out!

About 7:00 I was pretty warm.  The kids were playing outside. I walked to the corner store and it started raining.  By the time I got to the store it was raining just enough that a was slightly wet.  I did my shopping, and walked home, completely dry.

We checked the radar on the weather tab - looked like the rain would be north of us.  At 8:00, we started a fire - seemed a bit to warm for it to be quite honest.  The kids were still running about the neighborhood.  At about 8:40 we had somores - it was hard to stand by the fire pit -- still very warm. By 9:00 we had our first drop in temp. and our neighbor put on a coat.  The boys were now inside watching mythbusters.  By 9:30 it got even colder and I put on a coat. By 10:00 the wind picked up, a "spit of rain"  - we had to put out the fire, and everyone went home. (sigh)

And now we are in the house with three boys for a sleepover.  Good thing it is bed time soon! Sigh - Wisconsin Weather