THE LAND THAT TIME FORGOT

I have found in my vast travels as a little red dog, that some places I visit are "special."  Its not that they are cleaner, prettier, or even more exciting.  I think that places have a feeling or a vibe.  Years ago, when I travelled to Colonial Williamsburg, I felt a different feeling about that place.  This feeling has lasted with me.  DisneyLand and DisneyWorld have their own vibe.  Another place that definitely has its own vibe is a little known town in Illinois; Nauvoo.  Most people have never heard of Nauvoo.  Most people from Illinois have never heard of Nauvoo.  It sounds like the name of a planet from those Star Wars' movies. 

I am pictured here at a couple of historic spots in Nauvoo.  This town has historic significance, mostly for Mormons.  It was their last resting stop before being chased all the way to Utah.  The town was forgotten for over a hundred years and really was lost in time.  No industry, no growth, nada for over 100 years.  Which was a radical contrast from the bustling burg that existed during Mormon occupancy.  The Mormons built this town into a significant city in Illinois.  Well, they are back and have restored the city to its former self.  It is a trip down the bricked road of history.  

Every time that I visit this forgotten city, I leave with a feeling of Nirvana for days afterward.  I can't explain it, but to say, "you have to experience it for yourself."

NO OFFENSE, BUT SOME PLACES ARE JUST BETTER THAN OTHERS

There are many charming and beautiful places in the world.  Many people feel like where they live is the best and most ideal place.  However, empirical evidence tells us a different story.  I  am a very well travelled dog.  I have been many places at many different times and seasons.  I try to find the best of wherever I may roam. Some places, however are just better than others.    With that being stated, there is a reason that Salina Kansas does not have a population problem.  People in Salina can probably boast that they don't have traffic jams nor are they experiencing a huge drop in property values.  That's because no one really wants to live there.  No offense to Salinians, but the reason Los Angeles has all the problems it does, is because every one wants to live there.  The high cost of housing in some of these places just goes to show that people will pay just about anything, not to live in places like Salina.  Also, look at what a city like LA has to offer:  beautiful weather, strong economy, tons of entertainment, beaches, mountains, beautiful people, and famous people.  What is not to like?  Obviously, people will endure horrible commutes, smog, and a funk in the housing market to enjoy the LA lifestyle.  Many people will say, "I could never live in a big city like New York."  You are the minority!!  Millions of people say, "I will take New York  and all of its problems any day and every day!" 

 Colorado is another one of the states that grew tremendously fast in the past two decades.  The only question is, what took every one so long to discover this place?  Awesome weather in the summer, great snow in the winter, skiing, snowboarding, rafting, hiking, biking, lots of sunny days, dry weather, golf shots that really fly, and then everything that Denver and Boulder offer (Broncos, Nuggets, Rockies, Outlaws, Avalanche, Theater, dining, shopping, CU).  Salina can't match one of the things from the Denver list.  

The real thing that people want is quality of life.  Is my quality of life better living on some farm in the middle of nowhere, where I have no commute, no traffic, and no crime?  At the same time, I have no options!!  I don't have the choice on Friday night to go to a night club, to the beach, mountain climbing, or to a professional sporting event.  Even if you never go do these things, it is nice to have the option.  People have voted and said, "I want to go out on Friday night, stay out late,  live in a big city and not have to worry about getting up early on Saturday morning to milk a cow!"

Also, Salina is kind of ugly.  Where as Colorado is beautiful.  I don't mean to pick on Salina, but if it is your first choice then good on you.  However, if some one has a choice they will choose pretty over ugly almost every time.  There are always those people who think ugly is pretty.  They own the heinous looking pets and drive cars that no one else would drive.  It takes a special person to say, "Ugly, give me all you got."  It's like living in Alaska, it takes someone a little strange to live there.  To live in Alaska you basically have to be of the mentality that you can't get enough of -40 degree weather.  

Next point:  some people get scared in big cities.  They feel like there is safety in the country.  I, personally, am much more afraid of the guy who lives out in the middle of nowhere by himself than the guy walking down the street in Chicago.  I know that there are weirdos in the city, but why exactly does that guy need to live away from everyone else.  What is he up to?  Also, the Amish tend to live in rural areas and keep to themselves.  Nice people, but shouldn't someone tell them that the whole beard and no moustache thing is kind of creepy.  Maybe it is just me.  

HUMANS WOULD MAKE GREAT PETS!!!!!

Years ago I was enjoying a great summer evening riding around in my handlers convertible, when a song by a band named Porno for Pyros, came on the radio.  The song is titled, "Pets," and tells the tale of aliens coming to Earth and finding that humans would make great pets.  I have often thought about that, and I have come to the same conclusion.  Humans do the crazzziest and most entertaining things.  If you spend one evening watching "America's Got Talent," you will see what I mean.  Wouldn't it be great to have a pet that can do acrobatic tricks, sing, dance, and grill a salmon all at the same time?  Humans are show stoppers!  People are inventive, funny, and hardworking.  All great attributes for a pet.  The attached photos are some of my handlers/pets.

SERENITY AND TERROR

The images of beaches bring to mind leisurely walks, cool breezes, nighttime fires with friends, and sure death silently lurking just below the surface.  It is all Steve Spielberg's fault.  He has forever changed the phobias of people every where.  Jaws has scared everyone out of the water.  Shark week is upon us and the carnage is real.  Mr. Spielberg was just the tip of the iceberg.  Sharks are deadly, but just one of the millions of awful ways to die in the ocean.  We all know about drowning in riptides and undertow, but how about getting stung by a ray?   Step on a rock fish and you are done before you know that you are done.  I just saw that there is a massive increase in the population of box jelly fish.  That's just what the world needs.  

Human beings and dogs have really no chance in the water.  It is not our domain.  On land we can run, stand our ground, or call for backup.  In the ocean you can't out swim any predator, there is no standing your ground, and good luck with calling for backup.  Let's face it; we need to stay out of the ocean and just enjoy it from the safety of shore.  Let the nasty mammal killing machines own this piece of real estate.   

Everyone who Steven Spielberg scared out of the ocean should be thankful.  You are living a better life just watching from the shore.  

IT DOESN'T GET ANY HOTTER THAN THAT!!

My handlers use the word hot to describe lots of things.  Other people, like Daniel Craig is so "hot."  I also heard the alpha dog refer to some article of sporting wear as being "hot as a $3 bill."  However, this morning after my a.m. jaunt, I was chillin' on the coach when I looked up and saw this on the TV.  It was a touch warm this morning, but it sure didn't feel like 85 1 degrees.  Celsius or Fahrenheit, that is warm!!  I wrote on an earlier blog about the heat here, but this is threshold of Hades hot.  I hope the boy member of our pack is OK at his football practice today.  Take that Texas!!!

LAX: NATIVE AMERICAN WAR GAME!!!!

Lacrosse was originally known among Native American tribes as Baggataway.  Only later did the French name it Lacrosse, probably because of the stick (crosse).  I am not big on anything french, except french toast, but the sport really has nothing to do with our hygiene impaired allies from Europe.  This game was originally designed to prepare troops for warfare.  It is commonly referred to today as the "fastest game on two feet."  The only people who don't like Lacrosse are the ignorant masses who don't know anything about the game.  What is not to love, hard rubber ball traveling at the speed of sound, sticks with nets at the end trying to catch and fling this ball, physical contact(except in the women's game), and incredibly fast paced.  Plus, for those of you who want to feel like you are a part of the past, its the oldest sport on this continent.  A good time is guaranteed for all.  Except for the losers.  I think that according to the Natives, the losing team was sacrificed to pagan gods.  We are way too civilized to do that today.  No, we just second guess and criticize the losers until they grow jaded and hateful.  

Lacrosse is a fast growing game, too.  It is available to play in most places in the United States.  However, the East Coast is a hotbed of Lacrosse activity.  It is rumored that babies born in the state of Maryland, are born with a tiny Lacrosse stick in their hands.  

Most people who try Lacrosse, never go back to any other sport.  It is just too much fun.  It's main competition is the American past time; baseball.  I think that baseball is past its time.  Even baseball players find baseball boring.  Baseball is not even as American as Lacrosse.  However, I like Lacrosse being a little bit niche.  It is still cool and not so overly saturated with popularity that kids are buying Lacrosse shirts, just because its cool.  I don't want it to be trendy, just cool.  If you are a teenage boy and you want to impress a hot girl, what would be better than LAX.  If she asks you what you are into and you respond something like, "soccer."  How lame.  Everyone has played soccer.  But if she asks you the same question and you say, "Lacrosse!"  Now you have something to talk about.  Your follow up would be, "Its a Native American game of war.  Nothing really.  I'm lucky to have survived this long, playing such a dangerous game."  Now you are the cool guy that plays the non traditional cool sport with a little bit of danger.  You have now set yourself apart as the cool guy, who is a little bit different.  Not pink hair and a face that looks like you fell into a tackle box different, but cool different.