Komodo Dragon

We went to the zoo. Africa did not. I decided that my new favorite creature was the Komodo Dragon. Am I crazy? Yes, but not as crazy as the world's largest lizard. Let me tell you why I find this species of a monitor so darn fascinating.

Their size:
They weigh around 150 pounds and are 6-9 ft in length.

Their diet:
This is where it gets crazy. You know the cute little lizards you find in pet shops munching on tiny bugs or lettuce? Not these guys. They eat mostly carrion (carcass of dead animal), but they will hunt and even ambush prey including their own kind! I was so intrigued that I came home and watched a movie about the Komodo dragons that said they are so smart that they are not only clever enough to hunt out their prey, but they are able to think ahead and memorize landmarks to efficiently get their dinner.

More amazing qualities:

• They taste and smell by flicking out their tongue frequently and swaying their head from side to side. They can detect carrion 2- 6 miles away.

• The Komodo dragon has this incredibly nasty saliva that has 57 different strains of bacteria in it. This saliva quickly turns into venom for it's prey if they are bitten and able to somehow get away. With their senses they will find the animals dead 3 days later from their toxic saliva.

• The Komodo dragon is able to run up to 12 miles per hour. They can even climb trees. A visual of this fat, long, lizard running and climbing is incredibly fascinating.

So here we have a really large dinosaur-like lizard that has large claws, toxic saliva, and a craving for rotting flesh. These facts alone make me very grateful to be a human female and not a female Komodo dragon. It is no wonder parthenogenesis can occur among this critter.

And now back to our regularly scheduled program.

Hopeful and Sleepy

In 10 days we find out if dear husband gets to keep his job as a firefighter. Thanks so much for your support!

What if Wednesday

Let's pretend we aren't friends. Forget knowing that my husband is a firefighter. Let's get real for a second.

Let's say you live in a big city like Phoenix. Let's make believe it is 2010 and the economy is still bad. Oh wait it is 2010 and the economy IS still pretty bad. If the city said they were having trouble making the budget work without serious job cuts, how would you feel about losing a significant amount of firefighters and police? How would you feel about a 2% tax raise on groceries to try save some jobs?

I am asking because obviously my husband is a new firefighter and would be the first to go and I am wondering what our chances are for his job to be saved? I am not asking for sympathy as I know many many people have been laid off already so we have been lucky so far. I am just wondering what the people of the city really think and if we have a fighting chance.

Would you be concerned if you had less of a police and fire force in your city?

Would you be upset if a tax increase was put into place to try meet the budget needs and save Fire and Police?

What solutions as citizens would you like to see happening as far as the budget crisis goes?

Thanks for pondering with me. I know how I would feel, but my vote is biased.

Wordless Wednesday

Wake me up when it's Friday!

Water Therapy For Dogs

Have you ever seen an oreo swim? Meet Oreo the dog. He is Africa's cousin by relation who lives in Colorado. One day he got to go to a spa for dogs. Here he had his own lifeguard, lifejacket, toy, heated pool, and friend. As far as I know Boerboels are not fond of swimming (correct me if I am wrong Stella and Dozer). If Africa was fond of swimming I guarantee you that should would be the first allowed to go to a spa between the two of us. Actually it wasn't very much. I believe it was 25 dollars for the first dog and 5 dollars for any additional dogs. I would check your local area for such a deal and give your dog a spa day to remember.




I'm off to beg my husband for a spa day for me since Africa doesn't swim. We're talking a REAL spa day.

How To Train Kasha

I am not giving up. I just don't want to confuse Africa or mess up her system. After 25 trips a day for 3 days we are trying grass planted in the corner with maybe some barkchip to absorb the smells and get her used to a new texture. We will also be fencing the area off as suggested.


Africa- "What are you trying to do?"

Kasha- "Teach you to go in the dirt instead of the grass so the baby has a place to play"

Africa- "He already has the entire house to play in and I usually have to stick to my two beds!"

Kasha- " You have an entire continent to play on!"

Africa- " Well since you did not make this clear from the start I will be very stubborn. I only like grass."

Kasha-" I know that. Since you refuse to go where I ask now I am going to plan B"

Africa-" What is plan B?"

Kasha-" You will see in 2 months. For now live it up sister!"

I would like to thank the following people ( two legged and four) for ideas and support of which I am using greatly:

Hsin-Yi
The Thundering Herd
Kasha The Dainty Great Dane
Huskee and Hershey
Amber and Nala
Dogslifedownunder.com
MurphyDog
Khyra The Siberian Husky And Sometimes Her Mom
Alasandra
The Army of Four
Benny and Lily
jan -reasoning with her was a fabulous idea.
Mango the Maltese kiddo
Charlie
Mango
cube
The OP Pack
Lorenza
Scout 'n Freyja
NORWOOD UNLEASHED
Marvin -The Hollow Hound
Raising Addie
Hudson

A bit about the South African Boerboel

If you were to look up the history of this breed you would find that it started in Syria and Albania called the "Bullenbijter." The Boerboel today is found mainly in South Africa. It would be difficult to find a farm there without a Boerboel . They have various jobs on the farm, but the main job is to protect the family when the farmer is away. This brings me to the point of this post:


Thank goodness for their desire to hang out and protect! I discovered a bit of spilled dog food around Africa's container and thought it would be a treat for both of us to have her clean it up instead of me. So I brought her outside to the garage and didn't have to tell her twice what to do. I then heard the baby cry and ran inside leaving her to munch away. Who knows how much later (30 minutes maybe?) I remembered what I did with the dog. My little heart fell into my toes as I remembered I left the garage door open to the outside. I ran out the garage and found it to be without Africa and spilled dog food.

Luckily she is a Boerboel (or call it personality), but she didn't take off down the street like I see some critters do every day. I ran out to the garage screaming her name and she came trotting up from the front of the house. Hallelujah! I have never been so thrilled to see my dog. I would also be really thrilled if you, dearest reader, didn't tell Africa's lover (a.k.a my husband). Crisis averted yet again.