The pot of coffee is always on [even after 2 years have passed]. Come on in. Sweet ice tea too.

[spankybird]

Good Morning All,

NE Ohio has an overcast cool day with temps in the mid 60’s and a high of 73 today. Mother Nature has turned on it A/C, which will save me mine.

No big plans for today, so all be safe.


tom

[ChiefEagles]

Here it goes again: I psoted and it is not there. I went to another foruma nd came back. still not here. Lets see if it shows up later like before. It did not move it up on the list either. [V]

Slow hree today. Been raining and looks like more [but is not]. Maybe train time today. God bless all.

[spankybird]

Good Morning all,

It’s a Rainy Day Monday, in NE Ohio with temp of 65 and a high of only 65. Gee we are already there. I guess then it means that it’s all down hill today.

From how the Interstate was this morning, too many people watched the NASCAR race and believed they were part of it.



tom

[FJ and G]

My buddy & I are launching into powerlifting/bodybuilding. Eschewing sugars, ice creams, chocolates, and all of the good things in life to get buffed. Hoping to buy an Olympic set and power rack soon. Going hard core. Getting ripped.

BB the beagle performed some magic on Saturday. I take her for wilderness jaunts for several hours a day, as she is in her Born Free element. A spoiled pooch for sure!

In the thick, dark forest, sometimes hard to spot her dashing about so my favorite spot is near a small river. With the river to her back, it limits her forays, as she isn't too fond of water and swimming, unless there's a rabbit convention within sight on the other side. But that just doesn't happen.

So, you can imagine my surprise when her howls became more distant. Had she crossed the river of no return? And if so, would I have to swim across the slimy, snapping turtle, leech infested waters to retrieve her?

But, there she was, zigzagging back and forth on the other side, in pursuit of rabbit trails. And not even wet! You can imagine my amazement. I must be in for some newfound wealth, for a magical beagle would command a good audience.

Headline: BB the Beagle Walks on Water

or perhaps:

Headline: BB the Flying Beagle

Now a flying beagle would also be a horrifying thought. As she tears around the house destroying everything in her path, like Sherman thru Atlanta, imagine what a set of beagle wings would do. I would hate to speculate on the devastation it would bring.

While these thoughts were passing thru my mind BB was happily yelping and flagging her tail about in all directions having the time of her life, and I was stuck on the wrong side of the river, wondering how to retrieve her. What to do?

So I waited for her to fini***he scent she was on and then, observe her flight or water walk. After about an hour or so, I tapped on the plastic portion of her leash with the snap buckle. That sound carries thru the woods and signals to her that I'm decamping for home (she ignores it if she's "on scent").

Out she pops near the river looking about, realizing that the river is too wide to swim so she heads upstream, and I the same on opposite bank.

A ways up, there was this very thin tree that must have fallen across during a recent storm. Up she leaps and like a tightrope walker, she daintily tiptoed across, using her tail as a balancing stick, sort of like a monkey. Didn't slip or fall, making it safely across.

A real show stopper. She has circus potential, I tell ya. Maybe she will someday make the Spankyville Circus big top?

Dave V.

[jonadel]

David,

Great story about BB the wonder dog, time well spent for the both of you.

Power lifting suggestion: get a membership at a gym with all the equipment and take advantage of a trainer, THEN (after six weeks) if you still feel the need to buy equipment go for it. I've worked out at a major gym for 7 years now and I can't imagine buying the necessary equipment and working out at home and not being able to use the resources of a trainer. The six week marker--that's typically when most people stop working out and bag it, I see it every January. I also enjoy the social part of talking with other's at the gym, lot's of insight shared.

Good Luck,
Jon

[FJ and G]

Thx. John,

I work out w/my buddy; a certified (and degreed) personal trainer & nutritionist.

Glad you like the BB saga.

[ChiefEagles]

BB is a wonder. I love beagles and wish I was back in the country so I could have a pack. Spent 16 years with as little as 6 and as many as 16 of those little dynamite dogs. Love to listen to them on the chase. One of the boys that lives near the pond has beagles. He will turn them out for a chase while I'm fishing. Great, fishing and listening to beagles. All have a great day and God bless all.

[spankybird]

Good Morning all,

It’s a cloudy, rainy cool day in NE Ohio. Therefore, we might as well be at work.

Dave, BB can try out for the Spankyville circus anytime she is in town. We would love to have her.

All have a great day.

[ChiefEagles]

Busy today. Going to do some running around. Suppose to rain [they said that yesterday and it did not, should have fished]. Have a good one gang, God bless all.

[FJ and G]

Spanky,

Haven't really taught her any tricks. Getting her to come when I call her would be the #1 trick. She eventually comes, but not until her sniffing excursions are over.

Chief,

At first, I wondered why someone would want to keep 6 to 16 beagles like you used to have. The answer occurred to me last night in the rain, slogging thru the woods getting cut up with thorns and making myself a feast for all of the insects and wilderness critters.

It takes a pack to have a first-rate hunt (not only that, you get the benefit of a whole choir).

During a rabbit chase last night, BB was in unusually thick undergrowth, so thick, in fact, that a few times she got trapped in the weeds, her legs flailing in the air after a series of leaps failed to clear the matty vegetation. The tiny rabbit she was chasing, OTOH, fairly flew thru the thickets, in fact nearly running into me. Had I had a catcher's mitt, I possibly could have captured the line drive, and won the game by a hare.

The shocked rabbit nearly stopped on a dime (actually skidded to a stop in the wet grass), made a 90-deg turn, hightailing it for home and hearth. BB was just no running match for that rabbit , who had the advantage that day of knowing the lay of the land and the best route thru the undergrowth.

A pack of beagles, OTOH, would have had more angles on the rabbit, with much greater chance of success. But, if I had a pop gun, the rabbit would have been stew. I'm leary, however, about hunting the rabbit, as I don't want to nail the beagle.

Hunting rule #1. Don't shoot the pooch.

Dave V

[jonadel]

Dave,

I REALLY enjoy your dog stories, I have a big soft spot in my heart for man's best friend, I'm very tempted to go get another one but I don't want to go throught the pain of saying good bye again.

30+ years ago I was duck hunting with some friends at probably one of the best National Wildlife sloughs in the mid west, if you haven't tried it once you should. About 50-75 yards away from us was another group with a new black lab that had not been trained enough. We were all sitting in the tall grass on the edge of a water way when the ducks and geese began to set their wings and begin to land on the water. "Mike" the lab got so excited he took off before shots were fired and course scared all the winged warriors back into the air. We were laughing so hard we had tears in our eyes, the owner was less amused. He yelled and whistled for "Mike" to no avail, he finally fired a shot about 10' over "Mikes" head, Mike quickly returned to the blind. It's funny, I can't remember what I had for lunch yesterday but I can recall that moment like it was yesterday. Labs have to be one of the nicest pets out there, right next to German Shepherds and Beagles!

Jon[:)]

[FJ and G]

Jon,

It's amazing how happy animals can be with very simple things. Something to chew on, snacks, running and fetching, and occasional doggy style lovemaking.

Sometime, I think our world is too complicated and we miss the simple things in life.

[ChiefEagles]

Got a black one that is 90% lab with a little shepard. He was a wild dog puppy that my wife rescued the litter when they were just weaned and about to die from starvation. They girls were all adopted out and are great family dogs. Burg [for the town of Louisburg where he was rescued] was the only male. Unbelievable fellow. Black all over except a tiny spot of white under his neck has the lab features and sheds in summer just like a lab. Fast, he catches squirrels on the ground and rabbits too. He digs up moles by listening [you see him turn his head back and forth] and then digging one tiny hole and out it comes. He can hear a cat walk across the concrete pad while noise is on in the house and rush barking to the back door. Stranger comes and hair stands up and barks make them aware. Then when he knows they are OK, he will lick them to death. The only person he hates and tries to bite is the UPS man [not the FEDX man].

This was taken one snowy day a couple of years ago. Burg is a little heavier now. The brown Peek is no longer with us due to kidney failure in March.

Since some may have just joined us, below is BB the Beagle

David's terror for rabbits. [:D]

[spankybird]

Good Morning All,
It’s another very cloudy day with a chance of rain and still cool, temp 62. Sounds like yesterday. I am sure summer will return.

Chief, great pics of the dogs.

All have a safe day.

tom

[FJ and G]

Chief,

Sorry about Peek. Nice picture.

Nothing much to report last night, but I did realize just how much dogs are men's best friends after an incident occurred, which I'll get to shortly.

While BB was looking for rabbit tracks yesterday evening, I was happily munching blackberries and mini cherries from wild cherry trees. They have these trees all over the woods, perhaps left over from when farmers planted them. Course there aren't too many farmers left in these parts, as developers have pretty much banished them.

While researching my Civil War screenplay, I read that Confederate soldiers during the battle of Manassas (forget if 1st or 2nd), were so hungry and thirsty, that they could be seen picking blackberries during the fighting firing and loading their muzzleloaders and then picking and eating more.

During another battle, a Reb had a bead on a Yankee, but just then spotted a wild turkey and shot it instead, so famished were the troops, many of whom were also barefoot.

The more I read about these things, the more I'm amazed at the courage and privations they endured. Thorn scratches and bug bites seem so inconsequential to me now as I roam the backwoods with BB.

While following her last night on a rabbit trail, she suddenly froze. Stopped so quickly in fact, that I nearly tripped over her. She then backed up and started whinning, something she rarely ever does. Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I glimpsed a snake in the underbrush, but I cannot be certain of that. I quickly made a detour and BB joined me, happy to leave that spot.

I never would have sensed the danger, lacking the refined sense of smell of a beagle.

Like I said, a dog is a man's best friend.

Dave V.

[ChiefEagles]

Morning gang. Yes David, they are real smart critters. Suppose to rain. [sun is out as usual] It did not yesterday as forecast but did have a few showers last night. Where is Buckeye, Dr. John, Pigseye, Dougdagrump, CNW and all the others? Well have a good one and God bless all.

[cnw1995]

Just enjoying reading these posts, Chief and learning on these dogs. I figure I can set at the table with you without my jawing all the time ;) It's another atypical beautiful day here - I walked over yesterday from work during lunchtime to this big new Millenium Park in the middle of downtown Chicago. Quite a nice public space. See http://millenniumpark.org/ if you care to peek. Interestingly, the old IC / South Shore tracks and station are still under there somewhere... I just got invited to go to Hong Kong for a project in a month or so. I was there for a month back in '01 - have to remember where the trains stores are - lots of N gauge...

[ChiefEagles]

Finally got in the site. Just finished installing Norton 2004 with spam blocker, popup blocker and internet security. Started this AM. Ran into probelms with download from their site [not cd]. Took for ever to get in. Then guy was not the ral one I needed. Got lady late this PM [all in California] that was a whiz. Then loaded this site and it said slight security risk. Then would not load. Now I'm in but it runs slower. OGR and others run faster. My Outlook Express is a lot faster. I have it check all incoming and outgoing emails. Its so fast now I do not get to see the out going banner unless it has a big attachement. Well, lets hope this is going to work OK on this site. Was getting real worried for awhile. [:(][:(][:(][:(] but now[:D].

[spankybird]

I glad to see that you are up and running Chief. Next question is, will it still work tomorrow[?][(-D][(-D][(-D]

[ChiefEagles]

If not, I now know how to turn off Internet Security but Norton Anti-Virus is still on. [:D] It is still real slow loading this forum but, once in, it works.

[spankybird]

Since they did the upgrade, I have noticed that I get "can't dislpay page" when changing threads about 5 % of the time. I get this both at home and at work, so I don't think it's on my end.

I am glad that you are back, up and running.

[FJ and G]

BB didn't get her usual walk last night as I had a Marine Corps Combat Correspondence Association meeting last night in Alexandria. My guest speaker was Joe Galloway, the only civilian awarded a Bronze Star w/V from the Army while serving in Vietnam (4 tours).

His book, "We were soldiers once...and young" made the NY TImes book list and a movie w/the same title starring Mel Gibson. He had some colorful things to say at the meeting. He works for Knight-Ridder News Service and has been on the cutting edge of getting reporters to embed with the troops during operations.

When you see him, he appears to be just an ordinary, down to earth guy. But one very ordinary person can often do extraordinary things and make a big difference.

dav

[ChiefEagles]

David, bet you enjoyed that meeting. Well we got the big rain about 3PM yesterday. Did it flood some of the time. Packing for the Classic today and garden to pick. Don't know if the grass will dry enough to mow today or not. Cloudy now and may stay that way. My Uncle [Mother's brother] died yesterday. He is the one that showed me how to setup and wire my frist Lionel "electric train" [I was 6 and Dad was not electrically inclined]. He was a top mechanic at the local Chevrolet dealership. He tought me a lot of my mechanics. We were good buddies for years but as we grew older we grew apart. Strange how that can happen. All have a good day and God bless all.

[ChiefEagles]

Just removed Norton 2004 and reinstalled. Great system but has to be just right or it will not work.

[cnw1995]

Boy, I've just ended a long enjoyable period without a TV - coming back from the local Best Buy with a new one. The tuner in our TV finally died - I've replaced it once already - then the kids would just play video games or DVDs off it - then the video game died. And it's true, without the TV, they actually read books, played games, etc... But the lure of the big box was too much for certain other members of the family who will go unnamed - and after saving up seemingly forever, I broke down and got a new one...I sure would've loved to spend this money on a engine or a whole lotta 027 track.

[ChiefEagles]

I can guess who's name you did not call. Better sleeping in your bed than in the dog house. [:D]

[cnw1995]

Yup. Good guess. And true too. Took four of us to move this monster into the house...and it's not even a real big TV - now to figure how to set it up.

[spankybird]

Hi All,

Had a busy day at work, so this is the first chance we had to post. Looks like rain out, with temp of 79.

Dough, you got your TV just in time to see Trains Unlimited on the International History Channel next week.

[ChiefEagles]

Tom, when will it be on???????

[spankybird]

OK on Wed. Aug. 4 at 4-5pm and 11-12pm and again Aug. 5 at 4-5am on Steam Trains and again on Aug. 11 at 4-5pm and 11-12pm on Railway Marvels

tom