In the presence of Mickey

“Wes, you just got back from war. What are you going to do next?”
“I’m going to Disney World.”
The Army sent Wes to Afghanistan for a year, and now it is sending him and Cheryl to Orlando, Fla. for long weekends of seminars and site seeing. The weekends are designed to help with the “reintegration process” for the soldiers readjusting into civilian life and their families regetting used to them being back home. But through this whole process, the Army has forgotten about the dogs of deployed soldiers. We should be invited on these trips to Florida, too. No. 1, Duchess, Lexie and I missed our soldier as much as the people did. And No. 2, we could benefit from some PowerPoint presentations and small group discussions on what we went through. And No. 3, Duchess really could use some doggie therapy for her separation anxiety issues. And No. 4, I really, really want to meet Mickey Mouse. I guess we’ll just have to start our own support group and a fan club. In the meantime, here are some photos of a therapeutic trip Wes and Cheryl took to Downtown Disney.

Lexie would love to sink her teeth into this bone!

The boat Forrest Gump named "Jenny"

Apparently the water monsters eat the boats in Downtown Disney.

Balloon ride anyone?

I’m proud of my newspaper, The News Herald, and its staff, including my person, Cheryl. Read about their recent awards here: News Herald staff collects four press awards morganton.com

Turkey vultures

Big black birds have been hanging out in the tress in our backyard and in the neighbors’ yards. They identify themselves as turkey vultures and talk of feeding on some poor dead creature along the creek. Lexie not only is a bit weary of these ominous looking creatures, but wonders how these turkeys survived Thanksgiving. I tell her we don’t have anything to worry about, but Duchess on the other paw, might. Those birds could easily mistake her for a little, white rat and swoop down and grab her with their talons. I told my people I was willing to risk life and limb to put my body between the vultures and Duchess, that is until I realized how sharp those talons are. So until they move on to a greener feeding ground, my suggestion is we keep Duchess on a short leash.

The Blizzard of 2011, or not

Needless to say, last night’s snow wasn’t exactly at blizzard levels. In fact, the mere dusting disappeared by mid-morning. It was still enough to prompt the school system to call at 5:30 a.m. to inform everyone in the house of a three-hour delay. Oh well, at least pantries all across the land are stocked with enough bread, eggs and milk to make French toast every morning until the next forecast of snow.