Where Has Stubby Been?

I'm sure you guys must be wondering what happened to me this week. It's called neglect. Yep. I have been neglected all week because Mom has been busy working and Dad has been busy traveling.

Dad was in Miami at the beginning of the week and he didn't even have time to visit Coco. Sheeesh. I hope Coco understands that Dad was in Miami on a business trip and that he forgives me. Yesterday, Dad was in Minneapolis and he didn't have time to visit Walter. Dad was in and out of Minneapolis so fast yesterday that he didn't even have time to eat. What? No time to eat? That would never have happened if I had been with him but I can't fly so I stayed home - all by myself.

To make up for the neglect I've experienced all week, Mom and Dad decided to give me a special treat this morning - whipped cream. My new friend Penny is obsessed with whipped cream and I told Mom and Dad that I would like to try some since Penny claims it is the best thing in the world. Since I was looking particularly sad and depressed this morning, in addition to mumbling something about running away, they decided to let me try some whipped cream. Mom didn't think I would like it but she was so wrong.

I didn't know what to expect when Dad put the whipped cream up to my face. He was holding Mom's phone while she was holding me and screaming about not being in the picture. We had just woken up and Mom was looking pretty scary. Mom thinks I look like an alien in this picture. I'm not sure if that's a compliment but I don't have words to describe what Mom looked like.

I hesitated at first because, well, it's a texture thing. And because I thought Dad was trying to trick me - you know, give me a pill or something. He gets pretty creative when he wants me to take medicine and I told him that I wasn't going to fall for his tricks this morning. After he assured me that there was nothing in the whipped cream, I dove in.

Mmmmm. Penny was so right - this stuff is delicious! I'm not sure how I got some on my nose but of course Dad had to take a picture of it.

Nom, nom, nom - very creamy, sweet, and oh so good! The pictures are a little blurry because I was squirming a lot and because Mom's camera phone is not that great.

Did I mention that this stuff is a little messy? Maybe it's just me. Whatever the case, I didn't care if I made a mess because I was loving this stuff. Thanks Penny for opening my eyes to my new favorite treat. Now I wonder if I can get Mom to take me to Starbucks to get the real stuff.

Do You Recycle Batteries?

I'm so confused! I read an article the other day about battery recycling that threw everything I had ever heard about it out the window. To recycle or not to recycle. Which is it?

The article said that rechargeable batteries and button cell batteries can and should be recycled. All other single use batteries? These can be tossed in a landfill. Confused? Me too! This article was from a very reliable source and after reading it, I decided to do some research on battery recycling because this new information goes against everything I know about it.

Have you ever heard of the Battery Act of 1996? I wasn't even born when this was signed into law, so that is my excuse for having never heard of it. Okay, that's really no excuse, is it? I mean, Mom wasn't around for the Revolutionary War but she's heard of and is familiar with it.

The purpose of the Battery Act was twofold: phase out the use of mercury in batteries, and provide for the efficient and cost-effective collection and recycling or proper disposal of used nickel cadmium (NiCad) batteries, small sealed lead-acid (SSLA) batteries, and certain other regulated batteries. Rechargeable batteries and SSLA batteries contain toxic heavy metals such as cadmium, mercury, and lead that are not harmful to humans while the batteries are being used but can cause seriuous harm if not properly disposed. If these batteries end up a landfill, the heavy metals can slowly leach into the soil and water. Yuk! If burned, the heavy metals will end up in air. This is not good either.

So what about single use batteries? Single use batteries such as AAA, AA, A, C & D no longer contain mercury due to the Battery Act, so they are not toxic by themselves. They do contain a metal (steel) casing, so they can technically be recycled with scrap metal, but they must be completely dead (fully discharged) prior to recycling. So we are suppose to recycle them right? Yes, according to the EPA's website that said several reclamation companies now process these batteries.

After the batteries have been collected, they are shredded and neutralized in an acid bath. The material is then run through a kiln to be dried and pressed into magnetic bricks, which are then transported to a steel mill for processing. At the steel mill, they are placed in the furnace where zinc is fumed off into a vacuum baghouse, recovered, and sold as zinc-oxide. The manganese dioxide is then used to in the production of re-bar steel.

But who are these reclamation companies and where are their drop-off locations? Through my research I only found companies that charge a fee for a battery shipping container plus a fee for the shipping itself. Mom used to deposit her batteries in the zoo's collection containers, but I have no idea what happened to them after Mom dropped them off. I am going to email the zoo to find out who recycles the batteries.

Button batteries can be taken back by electronics retailers, hearing aid stores, hospitals, jewelers, or pharmacies for recycling. That's good news. If you have rechargeable batteries, you can search Call2Recycle to find a recycling location near you. Call2Recycle is the only free rechargeable battery and cell phone collection program in North America. Since 1994, Call2Recycle has diverted 50 million pounds of rechargeable batteries from landfills and established a network of 30,000 recycling drop-off points.

The EPA estimates that on average each person in the U.S. discards eight single use batteries per year. A great alternative is to purchase rechargeable batteries and a recharger. Rechargeables last longer, reduce waste, save money, can be recycled, etc. The list just goes on. They are truly better for the environment and they are much better than they used to be years ago.

I'm still a little confused about single use battery disposal because some research I found claimed that single use batteries are not even recycled despite recycling efforts. This is due in large part because the process of recycling is cost prohibitive for the small amount of recoverable material available in each battery. I am going to do more research on this because I don't want to put anything in a landfill that can be recycled. If you have any information about their disposal, please leave it in your comments. All of us want to do the right thing, so we must all work together to get to the bottom of this.

Get Sea Turtles Off The Hook!

Mom was so excited when I found a press release the other day about Kate Walsh and her involvement with Oceana, the largest international organization focused solely on ocean conservation. In case you aren't familiar with Kate Walsh, she is an actress on the show Private Practice.

Kate Walsh is a long time Oceana supporter and she will be featurned in a public service announcement (PSA) that encourages people in the U.S. to get involved and to help save sea turtles. Mom has been trying to get get people involved with sea turtle conservation for years but she's never made a PSA. Hmmm. Mom will never be Kate Walsh but she could make a PSA. I could even be in it even though I'm not a sea turtle!

The campaign is called "Getting Sea Turtles Off the Hook" and it can be seen in print, on TV, and on the Web. The title refers to the fact that lots of sea turtles get caught on hooks hanging off of longline fishing nets, and get trapped in trawl nets and gillnets. Longlines are the worst and are strung across the oceans with baited hooks at intervals. They can stretch for up to 75 feet! That's crazy! These hooks attract everything to them, not just fish. Sea turtles, birds, and even marine mammals get caught in them and die. This is so sad because there are so many animals that are endanged and dying on longlines for no reason. The campaign is focused on gaining stronger protection from fishing gear as well as protection for key habitat areas. Oceana is also working to persuade Congress to pass comprehensive sea turtle protection legislation.

Last summer, Walsh traveled to Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge on St. Croix where she filmed her PSA. This refuge is an important nesting location for leatherback sea turtles and Kate was there during hatchling season. How excited she must have been to witness baby sea turtles emerge from their nests and make their way across the nighttime beach toward the ocean. Mom remembers the first time she saw this on Wassaw Island. She was amazed that these little sea turtles could find their way to the ocean, but it made her sad to think about how many of them would never make it to adulthood. She was in awe of them and is still in awe of them. It never gets old to her and she could watch them every day for the rest of her life.

When you're in the Caribbean you have to swim and that's just what Walsh did - with sea turtles. "It was such an amazing experience to see green sea turtles gliding through the waters," said Walsh. Oh how I wish I could swim with sea turtles! Mom tells me that they not only glide through the water but they also stop and feed, bobbing here and there with the waves. I know that Mom will be swimming with them next month and I hope she takes pictures so I can post them for you to see.

Walsh goes on to say "We need to raise awareness about sea turtles because most people don't even know that they're in trouble. If people know about what's actually happening in the water, it will encourage them to take action to help save sea turtles." Exactly! Only when you know and understand what is happening in the oceans will you get involved in conserving ocean species and their ecosystems. Even if you don't live near the ocean, which we don't, what happens in the oceans affects you. It affects us all and all of us are responsible for caring for them.

After you watch this short video of Kate Walsh's trip to St. Croix, please visit http://na.oceana.org/en/turtlesoffthehook to see additional pictures of her trip and to learn what you can do to help sea turtles.

Operation Migration - Inspiration For Us All!

Does this picture look strange to you? If it does, then you are not familiar with Operation Migration and the work they do every year with whooping cranes. Mom is a bird lover and she especially likes cranes. Each year along with her fellow former docents from the zoo, they travel to Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Refuge in Indiana to witness sandhill cranes flying into the refuge to roost for the night. Jasper-Pulaski is just one stop on their migration route from Canada to Florida and seeing thousands of them fly into the park is magical. Occasionally a whooping crane will fly in among the thousands of sandhills, but Mom has never been there when it's happened.

As of today there were almost 11,000 at the refuge. During the peak of their migration through the refuge, mid-November, up to 20,000 cranes will arrive at sunset, calling as they land in open fields. It is truly a spectacle to see but as you might have guessed, dogs are not allowed. Yep. I don't get to go on Mom's trip. I am a little upset, but I understand that I might scare the cranes and I wouldn't want to do that. Mom's trip is scheduled for this Saturday and I will be resting at home while she is gone, anxious to hear all about the cranes. You can read all about last year's trip here.

Back to Operation Migration. Whooping cranes are the only crane native to North America. Larger than their cousin the sandhill crane, whooping cranes were on the verge of extinction in the 1940's primarily due to habitat destruction, hunting, and shooting by farmers who saw them as destructive to their crops. There were only 15 left in the wild and things were looking very bleak. Incidentally, though the sandhill crane is not threated as a species, the three southernmost subspecies are quite rare. The most abundant subspecies, the lesser sandhill crane, is hunted today in several states across the U.S.

The days of the whooping crane seemed to be on the verge of collapse when organizations dedicated to wildlife conservation stepped up and collaborated to bring them back. Efforts were slow at first but gradually, after many protective measures and educational awareness of the situation, their numbers increase. The situation was still tenous at best, but work continued to ensure their survival.

The only known migratory flock of whooping cranes back then were those that nested in the Northwest Territories of Canada and wintered at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas. Fearful that disease or human disruption might knock out this flock, leaving only captive birds in zoos and breeding facilities in the U.S., the Whooping Crane Recovery Team established a non-migratory flock in Florida in 1993 using cranes hatched in captivity. This flock of 30 cranes call Florida their permanent home today.

After the success of the non-migratory flock in Florida, the Recovery Team decided to establish a second migratory flock in 1999. They determined that the flock would be taught a migration route with central Wisconsin as their northern most point (near the International Crane Foundation), with the west coast of Florida as their wintering grounds. Ultralight-led migrations would be used to reintroduce the birds to their wintering grounds with the hope that they would retrace the route they took in the fall from Wisconsin back to Wisconsin in the spring to breed. Operation Migration was then born and has been working hard to establish this new flock.

Fast forward to today, its ninth year establishing the new flock, and there are now 77 migratory whooping cranes in the wild in eastern North America. This includes the first whooping crane chick to hatch in the wild in Wisconsin in more than a century. Hooray! Yippee!

But the work continues today. The Recovery Team has established a target number of at least 125 individuals, including 25 breeding pairs, migrating every year via this route in order for the flock to be considered self sustaining. There are only about 500 whooping cranes in existence and only 350 of those are in the wild. A lot of work still has to be done to bring these gracious birds back from the brink of extinction and that's what the dedicated individuals at Operation Migration do. Each and every day of every year they work with the whooping cranes so that you may one day see them in the wild.

This year's cranes to fly with Operation Migration consist of 20 birds that left the Necedah Refuge in Wisconsin on October 23. Captive bred at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, MD, and at the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, WI, these cranes will following the ultralights, traveling over 1,200 miles to their winter home at the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, located approximately 65 miles north of St. Petersburg, FL. After wintering over in this 31,000 acre refuge with 250 species of birds, 50 species of reptile and amphibians, and 25 species of mammals including the endangered West Indian Manatee (how cool is that?), they will retrace their migration back to central Wisconsin next spring where they will hopefully breed.

These dedicated people set up camp on each leg of the migration, stay with the birds, and then break down camp once the birds are airborne and on their way to the next stop over point. This is hard, back breaking work that few people are willing to do, but that must be done. Mom knows first hand how hard field work with endangered species can be, but for her it is the most rewarding work she's ever done.

In her latest book Hope For Animals and Their World, Jane Goodall talks about her experience flying in an ultralight alongside the cranes. Her words echoed what most of us would feel given the same experience:

"It is hard for me to describe the emotions that went through me as I sat there behind Joe (the pilot). I felt so much part of the whole scene, flying in that frail little machine above the wildlife refuge, the other ultralights like huge birds, each with its cranes strung out behind, the glory of the morning with its after-rain freshness and rising sun and golden clouds. The reflection of plane and cranes shone in the calm surface of the water below. I developed a new feeling for the cranes themselves on an almost spiritual level of connectedness."

This connectedness the Jane felt is what we all need to feel in order to save endangered species from extinction. Mom is always telling me that you can't teach someone to save an animal until you teach them to love it and I believe this to be true.

This year's flock is currently at their stopover point in Winnebago County, IL, about 1 1/2 hours from our house. They arrived there last Thursday and have been grounded due to unsuitable flying conditions. No chances are taken with the birds and when conditions are not perfect, they don't fly. Tomorrow's forecast looks good and Mom has talked Dad into going out there tomorrow morning to see the cranes take off and fly toward their next stopover point, LaSalle County, IL. Keep your paws crossed that the weather cooperates and that the cranes can fly. Mom has wanted to see this for so long and is so excited at the prospect of witnessing it tomorrow.

This short video is a public service announcement from Operation Migration. Mom tears up every time she watches it because she knows that only with the work of truly dedicated individuals do these birds have a chance for survival. Please watch the video and prepare to be inspired.

This is Not a Good Idea

I was so upset when I read last week that Hawaii regulators approved the building of the nation's first tuna farm in waters off the Big Island. Why do we need a tuna farm? We don't. Or do we?

Billed as being an environmentally friendly open ocean farm, the farm is being built to satisfy the world's appetitie for bigeye tuna, a favorite source for sushi and sashimi. But why do we need a farm? Because bigeye tuna has been overfished in the wild. This is not a good thing.

Without top predators like tuna in the ocean, entire ocean ecosystems can and will change. A delicate balance exists where top predators feed on smaller fish, which in turn feed on plankton. Disrupt any piece of this puzzle and ecosystems collapse. Ecosystems that people depend on for their livelihoods. Ecosystems that depend on us for their lives. A world of destruction because of sushi and sashimi. The word sashimi reminds me of the word ashamed. We should be ashamed of what we are doing to the oceans so that people can eat sashimi.

Most people see fish farms as a great alternative to catching fish in the wild. Hmmm. Let's just overfish everything in the oceans and then create farms where we can raise fish. I have a better idea. Let's be proactive, instead of reactive, and not overfish in the first place. What a concept!

As the world population increases, so does the demand for fish. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that the demand for fish will increase by 40% by 2030 and that fish farming is the only solution to feed this need. The demand for meat is just as great and we know what that has done to the planet. Fish farming is equally as destructive but most people aren't even aware of it.

The farm will consist of three large underwater cages. The tuna will be artifically hatched at a lab at the University of Hawaii in Hilo. This is unlike most tuna farms that simply capture immature tuna and fatten them up. Is one way really better than the other? The jury is still out on this.

After the fry (baby tuna) grow to a certain size, they will be taken to the one of the giant cages about three miles offshore where they will grow until they reach 100 pounds. These are really big fish that live a long time in the wild. They are not sexually mature until the age of four and this is why they have been overfished. Fisherman don't give them time to reproduce.

The fish farm will be unlike others around the world. Traditional fish farms consist of huge underwater cages where fish are packed so tightly that the cages become a huge pollution problem. The Hawaiian fish farm will be an 'oceansphere' which looks like this:

Designed by Hawaii Oceanic Technology, the oceansphere is said to be a revolution in open ocean aquaculture. Fish will not be as densely packed in the cages, thus they will not have the same problems that traditional fish farmers face namely diseases. Because the ocean is 1,300 feet deep at the location of the oceanspheres, the strong currents will sweep away fish waste and uneaten food. This will prevent the pollution of the ocean floor. Or will it? The jury is still out on this too.

So how much fish will be farmed in these oceanspheres? Would you believe 6,000 tons a year. That's a lot of fish! Diners in Hawaii, the U.S. mainland, Japan and other parts of Asia will be the
recipients of the fish.

But why even worry about a little fish farm in Hawaii? Because what happens in one area of the oceans affects all areas. It even affects the land masses that we live on. Critics of the fish farm are worried that the fish could escape and contaminate wild fish. Good point. What happens then? They are also worried about how the farm will obtain its fish and its feed. Another good point. Will they import them? Let's face it - this is just an industrial feed lot. It is just like factory farming for beef, pork, and chicken. It's the same thing only it's in the ocean.

Though the company has vowed to only purchase feed made from sustainably harvest fish (is there such a thing?) and has said it won't feed its fish antibiotics, how long can they maintain these promises? If factory farms didn't use antibiotics they would be out of business. It factory farms had to purchase feed from sustainable sources they would be out of business. I think it's only a matter of time before they uncross their fingers and start farming like the big guys do.

Mom and Dad will be on the Big Island one month from today and Mom plans to visit Hawaii Oceanic Technology. She is going to find out as much as she can about the oceansphere that will soon be in the waters off her favorite place on Earth. A place that will soon be turning out bigeye tuna by the ton to feed the needs of people who have no clue where their fish comes from and what it is doing to the planet. The planet we all live on. The planet we must share. The planet we are all responsible for. The only planet we have. If you must eat fish, please make sure you know where it came from, how it was caught, and it's impact on the environment. It's your right to eat fish so make it your responsibility to be informed.

Busy Saturday

I am going to sleep in tomorrow because I had a busy day today. There's always so much to do on the weekend and my parents try to squeeze 4 days worth of work into 2 days. Duh! That's not going to work.

I didn't know where we were going when we left the house this morning, but our first stop wasn't far from home. Mom and Dad had been running around the house before we left putting stuff into boxes and all I could hear was something about everything being expired. What does that mean? Soon after we left the house we pulled into the train station parking lot in our town and the scene looked something like this.

This is a Swalco collection event. Swalco (Solid Waste Agency of Lake County) holds several collection events all over the county. The purpose of the events is to collect hazardous waste from the residents in the community. Waste that would otherwise be disposed of incorrectly. Waste that needs to be disposed of properly.

The event was for Illinois residents only, but you did not have to be a resident of the community or county to drop waste off. The event was free and the lines were a little long when we got there because it was about 65 degrees and sunny. What a beautiful day to collect waste!

Dad cleaned out the garage last year and took a lot of stuff to an event last year, so all we were taking this time were expired medicines and a few aerosol cans. Swalco accepts the following items at their collection events:

Aerosol products

Antifreeze

Asbestos

Batteries: Rechargeable (NI-CAD), Lithium and Metal Hydride (No alkaline or lead-acid)

Drain Cleaners

Driveway Sealers

Fertilizer, Herbicides

Fluorescent Lights and CFL's

Fungicides

Furniture Strippers and Varnishes

Garden and Lawn Chemicals

Gasoline

Hobby Chemicals

Household Cleaners

Insecticides and Pesticides

Mercury (including thermometers and thermostats)

Metal Polishes

Motor Oil

Oil-Based Paints

Paint Removers

Pool Chemicals

Prescription Drugs (for people and pets), Over-the-counter-medicines and supplements

Personal Care Products (including cosmetics, skin care products, shampoos, etc.)

Solvents

What a list! What a scary list. Scary because all these items are hazardous if disposed of improperly. Scary also because some of these items are used with water that ends up going down the drain like household cleaners and drain cleaners. Fertilizers are okay to put on your lawn but not okay to throw away? Pool chemicals are okay to swim around in but not to throw away? I just don't get it. Why are we using things are that hazardous to being with? I need answers!

Mom tells me that in the old days you would just pour stuff you didn't want down the drain or flush it down the toilet. Yikes! Were you crazy? I asked her. She told me that this is what everyone did and that they did it because: a) they didn't know any better and b) because there wasn't such a thing as a solid waste agency. Thankfully times have changed and people have changed along with them.

The mission of SWALCO is to implement a solid waste management plan, which includes facilitating an efficient, reliable and environmentally sound waste disposal system. They also educate the public about the implications of solid waste disposal. Everything that gets poured down the drain or flushed down the toilet ends up in a water treatment plant where it must be filtered to remove the hazardous waste. Most of the hazardous stuff gets filtered out but then where does it go? It ends up in streams, rivers, and lakes, in our soil, and in our air. Proper disposal of hazardous waste is the only way to ensure these toxic substances don't end up in your drinking water. Please do not pour or flush any of the items listed above. Doing this is not only bad for you it's also bad for animals.

After a guy in a hazmet suit came up to the car to get our stuff, we were on our way out of town. Where were we going? At this point I didn't really care because I was loving life. I love riding around in Mom's car with the windows open and the breeze blowing my cute button ears. I was having such a good time in the car that I didn't even realize it when we pulled up to the Dog Wash Express. I was very confused because I didn't need a bath. I had gotten one a few months ago and was still really clean but Mom and Dad told me I was stinky. Stinky good, right? Wrong!

Thankfully, Mom didn't have her camera or cell phone with her to document my bath. The place was crowded so we were in and out in record time. I was a little upset when we left but I thought for sure we were going to visit the drive-thru of my favorite restaurant. Right. Because Dad is on this 'lifestyle program' he no longer eats fried chicken. I could never be on this program because I would die without my Popeyes. We headed for home - me mad and starving, Mom trying to get my hair off of her, and Dad ready to clean the car.

With Dad in the garage cleaning the car, Mom and I headed to the backyard to fill the bird feeders. I was trying to dry off outside but I needed a little nap so I decided to lay down on the grass. I was sleeping peacefully until the mailman arrived.

I love the mailman because Mom loves him. She waits all day for the mailman but I have no idea why. What does he bring her? What is she waiting for? I have no answers to either of these questions but today he brought me something.

My good pal Emmitt and his mom Melissa sent me a little note and a little button! I was so excited to receive them because I hardly ever get any mail.

Isn't the button cute? It looks just like me. I am so lucky to have such great pals like Emmitt and Melissa. I hope one day I can visit them (when there's not 20 inches of snow on the ground) and eat meatloaves with them.

Thanks Melissa and Emmitt. You guys made my day!

I Can Sing!

My good pal Emmitt is working on a new song for the new bears his mom Melissa is making for the Mother Bear Project. Emmitt is a really good singer and those bears just love him.

After reading Emmitt's post today I started thinking that maybe I should start writing songs. I sing all the time, but I never really put much thought into it, so today I had Mom video me singing my latest song. It doesn't have a title yet, so I'm looking for some inspiration. Let me know what you think I should name this tune.

Got Leftover Halloween Candy?

Mom bought some Halloween candy weeks ago and had been slowly eating it. She went back to the store last week and decided to buy something healthy for all the trick-or-treaters so she bought these. She thought she was so smart until Dad asked her if she really thought that parents would let their children eat them. Why wouldn't they? Duh! The little boxes are not sealed/wrapped up in plastic. They are not psycho-proof. Great. So Mom made an 11th hour trip to the store yesterday and bought a 3-pound bag of goodies. Goodies that she doesn't like. Good.

We had a steady stream of trick-or-treaters yesterday, but we still have lots of leftover candy. Since Mom doesn't like the candy and shouldn't be eating it anyway, what is she going to do with it? I can't eat candy and Dad started a 'lifestyle' program last week so he can't eat it. Hmmm. Someone must want it.

Instead of taking leftover candy to work or using it in baked goodies, I found several places that would happily take candy off your hands.

Most shelters, food banks, and soup kitchens would welcome your candy. Shelters always have kids in them that would love to have candy. Getting candy can really make a kid's day. Food banks are places where people come to get food if they can't afford to go to the store to buy it. While people go to food banks to get essential items, picking up a little candy will make not only the kids who are going to receive it happy, but also the parents who will be giving it to them. Soup kitchens provide meals to those in need and having a little candy for dessert is sure to make everyone's day.

Do you live near a Ronald McDonald House? No, not the restaurant, the charity. There are Ronald McDonald House Charities all over the world that provide housing for parents of children staying in nearby hospitals. They would love to have your candy, but please contact them for any candy restrictions before dropping your goodies off. You can visit http://www.rmhc.org/ for more information.

There are so many courageous men and women serving in the armed forces in places far away from home. They are in situations that none of us could ever imagine and having a candy treat from home would be something they would surely appreciate. They also give candy to the children they meet on the streets as these children probably never get any sweet treats. Operation Shoebox is the organization which sends care packages and letters to U.S. troops stationed abroad and they welcome your candy with open arms. Due to the fact that the candy will travel long distances to warm climates, hard and heat-resistant candies are the best to send to them. Check out http://www.operationshoebox.com/ for packing and mailing information. You can even get free flat-rate Priority Mail boxes from the post office to send your treats in.

Even if you don't have enough leftover candy to warrant a trip to a shelter, food bank, etc., I'm sure you have friends and neighbors who are in the same situation you are. Combine all your candy and you've got enough to really make a difference. A difference in someone's life who might not otherwise get a sweet treat. A difference that will make their day and make yours as well.

Oh No - It's Frankenpug!

Mom thinks I'm the cutest Frankenpug ever and I would have to agree with her. This is me hanging out by Dad right before the fun began. Mom was going crazy with the camera on her phone and she even took some videos of me. Luckily, none of the videos look good so I don't have any movies to show you of Frankenpug in action.


Unlike last year when I had a few incidents with some trick-or-treaters, this year I had no problems. Even though it was only in the 40's and crazy windy, we had a pretty steady stream of ghouls and goblins.


Lots of trick-or-treaters took my picture. Mom didn't even have to pose me because my costume doesn't allow for much movement. Mom even got in some of the pictures, much to her dismay. Two people even told me they posted the pictures of me they took last Halloween on their Facebook pages. Baby, I'm a star!

I love all the pets I got from all the kids. Most of them said 'awwwww' when they saw me. Mom even left the door open and I could hear the kids shouting "Hi Frankenstubby!" from across the street. Everyone knows me in the neighborhood and everyone stops by to see me. It's like I have my own fan club.

Handing out candy and visiting with my fans is really hard work. I am so exhausted! I told Mom that I want to sleep in tomorrow, but she told me that I have to be up at my regular time because we are going to a bonfire. A what? What's a bonfire? She wouldn't tell me but she did tell me that there's going to be lots of food there. Food? I'm there!

Help Community Gardens

The season for giving isn't really a season, is it? It's really a year round effort and some companies are getting very creative in their efforts to reach out and get people involved in their causes.

One such company is Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi. Even if you're not a wine drinker, chances are you've heard of Robert Mondavi wines. After founding a successful winery in Napa Valley in the 1960's, Mondavi opened Woodbridge in 1979, outside his childhood hometown of Lodi, California. Fast forward to today and Robert Mondavi is one of THE names on the California wine scene.

Giving Through Growing is Mondavi's way of giving back to the community, specifically community gardens. If you're not familiar with community gardens, these little pieces of paradise in the middle of urban sprawl are what brings people together and gets them involved in their community. By teaching people to garden and grow their own food, the community feels not only a sense of pride in their surroundings, but also a sense of purpose. They are contributing to the success of the community while contributing to the success of themselves.

Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi is partnering with the American Community Gardening Association (ACGA) through their Giving Through Growing program. The mission of ACGA is to build community by increasing and enhancing community gardening and greening across the United States and Canada. This non-profit works with professionals, volunteers, and supporters to turn the dream of a community garden into a reality.

You can help the cause by sending an eseed. Eseeds are virtual seeds you grow in few clicks. Simply go to www.woodbridgewines.com/CBICMS/woodbridge/garden/index.html and enter your date of birth (you have to be 21years of age to send an eseed). Enter your name and e-mail, and the names and e-mails of people you wish to send eseeds to. Then pick the type of seed you would like to send. Mom chose basil because it smells so sweet. This is the message that is shown next to the seed packet:

With this little eSeed I’m helping grow entire communities. For every virtual eSeed I plant, Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi will donate $1 to the American Community Gardening Association, a nonprofit group that supports community gardens around the country. And I think that’s a great cause – community gardens encourage neighbors to work together to grow fresh produce and flowers in unused outdoor spaces.

$1 is donated just by sending an eseed. How easy is that? Participating in this program is a great way to help out communities without even leaving your house. Mom calls this virtual volunteering at its best. I call it a great idea.

Wednesday Wag Out!

Nut Perfume

Mom doesn't wear traditional perfume anymore due to the chemicals they contain. These days she wears essential oils but she was really interested when I showed her this nut perfume.

This nut perfume comes from the Creme Perfume Company. They work with perfumers and local artisans in France to develop nature identical oil blends using certified organic ingredients. By using pure plant and fruit extracts, they create perfumes that are phthalate free and that contain no sulfates, petro-chemicals, synthetic dyes, etc. The bottom line is that there isn't anything harmful in the perfumes.

The perfumes are also cruelty free which means they weren't tested on animals. Yeah! Animals don't wear perfume and I can't believe that everyone doesn't know this. We have a nice, natural odor that is way more stinky than any old perfume.

There are many delicious scents to choose from and Mom is putting the one shown above, Forest Terre, on her Christmas list. Can you believe that you can get this cool perfume at Sephora? It's true. Mom tells me that they're getting lots of eco-friendly products and this makes her very happy.

Recycled Rubber Purse

Mom's Christmas list just keeps growing and growing. I guess I am partly to blame for this because I keep finding cool things for her.

In the past couple of years, Mom has been limiting the amount of leather she buys. She still has a few pairs of leather shoes but she doesn't carry leather purses anymore. This great looking purse may look like leather but it's made from used inner tubes. What a great way to upcycle!

The idea behind the handbags at English Retreads came when Heather English, owner and designer, was floating down Boulder Creek in an inner tube. Heather was a vegetarian that needed a new handbag, but she didn't want another leather bag. This is when the light bulb went off and the next thing you know, she's making handbags.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that this company is based in Boulder, Colorado. There are so many eco-friendly businesses in Colorado that it makes Mom want to move there. Wait. Didn't they just get a foot of snow in Denver? Knock yourself out Mom because I'm staying here in Chicago!

The coolest part about these handbags, besides the style, is that the inner tubes come from truck

stops in the Boulder area. Heather says it the best when she talks about the inner tubes. "Just think of all the places these tubes have been," she says. "Now it's your turn to add to their miles and adventures." I couldn't have said it any better. Head on over to http://www.gogreenitems.com/ to get a handbag that has been around the block

Dog De-funkifier

I try not to take it so personally when Mom tells me that I smell. Of course I smell! I have a very unique pug odor that the chicks dig. This is why I never want to take a bath. It was not my idea to add this item to my list today, but Mom insisted that dog owners everywhere would be interested in it. Whatever!

Who would ever think that there would be a Dog De-funkifier? The name alone makes you want to check it out, that is unless you're a dog. This light cleansing mist doesn't cover up odor. Nope. It actually helps remove odors by using plant extracted essential oils. A couple sprays and your coat will be shiny, fresh, and conditioned.

The company that makes Dog De-funkifier, Dancing Dingo, is based in Austin, Texas and they are committed to giving back to the community. A percentage of all of Dog De-funkifier profits go directly to organizations dedicated to caring for homeless and in-need animals.

I'm not sure if any dogs out there want this Dog De-funkifier, but I bet their parents will. If so, they can buy it at http://www.econsciousmarket.com/, an online retailer that also gives back to the community. This Boulder, Colorado company lets you choose which non-profit organization will receive up to 10% of your purchase. How cool is that? A double win-win for everyone!

Meet Baxter!

Mom picked this book up from the library yesterday and it's already making her cry. She's going to read it to me but I don't think I will cry. At least, I hope not.

Isn't Baxter cute? He's a therapy dog that visits hospice patients and this book is about his adventures in that role. He's also a rescue dog and the book talks about how he got into the therapy business and how he got certified through Therapy Dogs International. Mom grabbed this book as soon as she saw it because it reminded her of the days when I was a therapy dog.

Baxter become a therapy dog when he was 14 years old. I became one before I was a year old. I didn't visit hospice patients but visited residents in a nursing/ rehabilitation facility. Some of the residents were only in the facility for a short time but some of them lived there for a long time.

I was part of therapy group that visited the same facility every month. Our group consisted of a Great Pyrenees, two Yorkies, a Beagle, a Cairn Terrier, two Old English Sheepdogs, and a Cocker Spaniel. There were lots of residents that were afraid of the bigger dogs, but no one was ever afraid of me. Whether I was walking down the hallways, sitting on a lap, visiting residents in the tv room, or laying on a bed, I loved every moment of my therapy work.

There was one resident in particular that I remember quite well. His name was Steven and he was 20 years old. He was in the military and was the designated driver of a car that was hit by a drunk driver. Steven was paralyzed and could only blink his eyes when I first met him, but he made lots of progress and was soon sitting up in bed moving his fingers. He couldn't speak but eventually could use a computer via a special device.

Steven's accident caused such problems for his family that his parents ended up getting divorced. His mother was at the facility every day taking care of him. She was completely dedicated to him and his care. She was an amazing woman.

I visited Steven every time I was at the facility. The nurses would always tell me that Steven was waiting for me and I would walk into his room and Mom would put me on his bed. Even when Steven couldn't pet me I would just sit on his bed and visit with him. I think I made him feel good just by being there.

Steve had progressed to the point where the facility had done all they could for him, so he was going to be moved to another facility far away. The last night I visited him Mom put me on his bed as usual. By this time, Steven could move his fingers and pet me. He pet and pet me as Mom talked to him and told him that she was going to miss him. When it was time to leave Steven's room he wouldn't let me go. He kept shaking his head and holding on to me because he didn't want me to leave. Mom had tears in her eyes because she felt Steven's pain. He was so comforted by me and he didn't know what the future held for him.

Steven finally let me go and we said our last goodbyes as we walked out of his room. Mom was crying by then and I was walking just a little slower than usual. Steven needed us and we would never see him again. I think about Steven a lot and I hope that he is doing okay.

Mom doesn't have any pictures of me doing therapy work, but this book is full of pictures Baxter visiting his patients. Pictures that tell the story of an extraordinary therapy dog and the joy he brought into the lives of those he touched. His story is told in a collection of moments, 36 of them in all. I love how each chapter is a moment because that's how life is measured, in moments.

I can't wait to hear Baxter's story because I know I will love it. I can't promise that I won't cry as Mom reads his story to me. I know that Mom will cry because she knows just how important therapy dogs are to patients in need. I know how important dogs are to everyone they meet because I have touched many lives. I'm just a pug that loves people and loves to be loved in return.

Shop Independently Owned Businesses

This past Saturday was International Day of Climate Action. The purpose of this day was to raise awareness of the climate change happening around the world and to introduce the number 350 to people. 350 is the most important number in the world and it's what scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. But don't think of 350 as simply a number because it's really more like a symbol of what we need to do as a planet.

Parts per million is simply a way of measuring the concentration of different gases, and means the ratio of the number of carbon dioxide (CO2) molecules to all of the molecules in the atmosphere. We need CO2 in our atmosphere because without some of it and other greenhouse gases, our planet would be way too cold for us to live on. It's a delicate balance this CO2 stuff. We need some, but not too much or problems happen like they are today.

According to 350.org, our atmosphere contained 275 parts per million until about 200 years ago when things started to change. All of sudden we started burning coal, gas, and oil to produce energy and goods and the amount of carbon in the atmosphere started to rise. We were taking millions of years worth of natural resources that had been stored underground and releasing it into the atmosphere. Fast forward 200 years and today there are 390 parts per million CO2 in the atmosphere and this number is rising. So the number is higher, but is it too high? Scientists say yes and they claim that today's climate change is the effect of this high number. We need to lower this number to 350 to get things back in balance.

Lots of people gathered on Saturday and the number 350 was spread all over the world. More people than ever were made aware of this number and its impact, and hopefully they are making changes in their lives to help reduce this number. While Mom and I viewed pictures of celebrations, listened to reports, and watched video highlights all centered on 350, there was another 350 that we were introduced to. This other 350 is something we had thought about but hadn't realized a movement was started to do something about it. Do you know about this other 350?

The 3/50 project is very different from the 350 project. Where the 350 project raises awareness about CO2 levels in the atmosphere and changes you can make to help lower this number, the 3/50 project raises awareness about shopping independently owned businesses to help the economy. Started just seven months ago, this movement has been slow to catch on but is starting to gain momentum.

The 3/50 project's motto is "Saving the brick and mortars our nation is built on". They ask the question "What three independently owned businesses would you miss if they disappeared?" Mom started to think about this and the more she did, the more she realized that things have really changed since she was a child.

Back in the day, say the 1970's, you shopped for groceries at an independent grocery store or at a local chain grocery store. You bought food, paper goods, cleaning supplies, etc. at the grocery store. This is very similiar to today except you probably shop for these items at a big chain store. Even our local grocery stores, Jewel and Dominick's, were acquired by large corporations a few years ago.

If you needed medicine, you visited a pharmacy that was independently owned. You knew the pharmacist and probably spoke to him each time you visited his store. This was the case in Mom's neighborhood. The pharmacy was on busy corner in the neighborhood and it was really the only place to go to buy your medical needs. Dad even worked at this pharmacy when he was in high school. Despite the fact that Walgreens started in Illinois, not too far from Chicago, Mom cannot remember going to a Walgreens until the 1980's.

When you wanted to eat out, which wasn't very often, you dined at an independently owned restaurant. There were many in Mom's neighborhood, including diners, pizza parlors, and taverns. In the 1970's McDonald's even moved in the neighborhood, but you only went there occasionally. Mom says it was a big deal to go there and back then they didn't have drive thrus. Huh? No drive thrus? I'm glad I wasn't around back then.

The bottom line is that every time you needed something, be it a product or service, you shopped at independently owned businesses because that really was your only option. Today the number of these businesses is rapidly dwindling. Is this because the large corporate stores and big box stores moved in forcing the little guys out? Yes and no. Why did people stop shopping at the independently owned stores and taking all their business to the big guys? Better product selection? Better prices? Convenience? All of the above? Yes and no. There really is no single answer.

Back to the 3/50 project. The 3 is for the question about the 3 stores disappearing, but what is the 50 all about? According to the 3/50 project website, if half the employed population spent $50 each month in locally owned independent businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue. That's a lot of money! That would really help the economy and keep independent businesses in business.

But there's another number to this project and that's 68. For every $100 spent in locally independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend your money at a chain store, only $43 stays local and if you shop online nothing goes to the community. This is really eye opening and again you can see how this affects local economies. This idea conflicts with what we have been taught about shopping online and how it is better for the environment to do so, but this model only really works when there is no alternative.

It's time to really think about what you buy and where you buy it. Let's say you want to buy a book. Where do you shop? What about electronics? Shampoo? Wrapping paper? School supplies? Dog food? Light bulbs? Toilet paper? Jeans? I'm betting that most of us buy these items at the big stores like Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart, Office Max, PetSmart, Home Depot, and Old Navy.

So what to do? We live in the suburbs where there are hardly any independently owned stores in which to buy your day to day needs. There are some local grocers and Mom does shop them, but for the most part if you need what you need you go to the big guys. But there are ways to support local businesses aside from shopping. Most dry cleaners are independently owned. That's a good thing. Mom and Dad both get their hair cut at independently owned salons. Dad gets the cars washed at place that is independent. I think you guys get the idea. There are ways to spend money at independently owned businesses without shopping.

But this movement is really about shopping independently owned businesses. It's not about not shopping at the big guys but about committing $50 each month that you normally spend at the big guys and shopping at the independently owned businesses. You may have to go out of your way to find these little guys, but hopefully they are out there. And they will remain out there if you shop them. Pick 3, spend 50, and save your local economy.

This movement is about raising awareness of the need for independent businesses and how vital they are to our local communities. Without these little guys our foundation is unstable. Like the motto says, these stores are what are nation is built on. Without a stable foundation, a building will collapse. Without a stable economy, our communities will collapse. Both 350 projects are vital and more important today than ever before. These projects need us to get involved, spread the word, and take actions to ensure the future. Think 350 and 3/50 and be part of the change.

Puglet's No-Contest Contest

Remember my friend Puglet from the Hansen's soda contest? Well he didn't win that contest and then he entered another contest, but things got ugly. Puglet is not one to give up very easily so he decided to create his own contest.

Puglet's No-Contest Contest is his way of getting back at the man. Contests are suppose to be fun free for alls and that's exactly what this contest is. This is a cute photo contest and all you have to do is send Puglet the cutest photo of yourself. That's it. Winners will be chosen randomly by Puglet and he will even post of video of the selection process.

But what would a contest be without prizes? Puglet thought of everything, I tell you. There is a prize for first place and also for the three finalists. Puglet has even so graciously offered up a prize for a the best non-dog winner. Isn't he the best?

Puglet has received so many cute photos already and he even received an entry from Romania. I don't know where that's at but it sounds like it's far away. You will be amazed at how many times you say "awwwww" when viewing the online gallery of contestants. This is the photo I submitted because I think I look really cute in it.

This photo was also made into an Andy Warhol-esque canvas that I gave Dad for Christmas a few years ago.
Head on over to http://www.dailypuglet.com/ to enter the No-Contest Contest today. The contest closes on Halloween at the stroke of midnight (PDT) with the winners being chosen the following day. Good luck!