Man’s Best Friend

I have been observing our two corgis for quite some time now and every day I’m realizing they’re so much smarter and more human than I imagined. As I pondered more, I’m thinking, they’ve always been smart. I just never noticed, appreciated or took advantage of this.

When I was a young kid (back in the Philippines), we treated our dogs like … dogs! Our dogs only ate left-over food which usually was hardly enough. Our dogs were always skin and bones. Often they were disheveled and were infested with fleas. Going to a veterinarian was unheard of. If our dogs got sick, that would be the end for them. Despite our maltreatment, they were super loyal. They would always be so happy to see us when we arrived and would sheepishly ask to be petted. They would only impose for more attention when we petted them longer than usual. Yeah, we were not great masters. We missed out on a beautiful friendship/partnership with these creatures. I’m not proud of it. But that was the norm in our society then. It was our loss.

Why did God create dogs in the first place? According to Genesis, God created the heavens and the earth to prepare a place for man (his favorite creation). He created animals to give man his first job which was to give them a name. God could have given Adam a catalogue of His creation but no … God granted Adam the fun of discovering, analyzing and categorizing each creature. Imagine this playful scene of Adam naming the animals:

God: “Okay Adam, I just created some animals with 4 legs. What do you call that big one?

Adam: “I’ll call him elephant! Because it says ‘Ele-phhhaaannt’ whenever it talks.”

God: “That’s funny. And how about this galloping one — with the long hair that soaks up the wind?”

Adam: “That’s easy. He’s a horse!”

God: “Of course! Of course! How about this one? It looks like a horse but its neck is so much longer?”

Adam: “Gee! It must be rough to walk around with a neck like that. That’s a “Gee-rough!”

God: (Laughing) “That’s pretty clever, Adam.

Adam: “Lord, can I request a special one? I want one that will be super loyal, will always know I’m the boss, will protect me, will play with me, will make me feel better by just looking at him … he should be small enough to bring wherever I go. He should never be jealous or threatened and will love me forever and ever.”

God: “Sure. I can do that. What shall you call him?”

Adam: “How ‘bout Doug?”

God: Why not just call him DOG … it’s my name spelled backwards. He will remind you of me because I too love you unconditionally!

Adam smiled and God created dog. And the rest is history … well at least that’s my story.

I believe God made dogs to teach us kindness, loyalty, and all those amazing qualities … to mirror God’s unconditional love for us so that we may pass the same to our fellow man.

And don’t be like me in my younger years. Don’t pass up an opportunity to develop a beautiful friendship.

But this is just me. TGIF people!

“Dogs never bite me. Just humans.” — Marilyn Monroe

“Dogs’ lives are too short. Their only fault, really.” — Agnes Turnbull

“You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, ‘Wow, you’re right! I never would’ve thought of that!’” — Dave Barry

“The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog.” — M.K.Clinton

“Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love, they depart to teach us about loss. A new dog never replaces an old dog. It merely expands the heart.” — Author Unknown

JOKE OF THE WEEK

Thanks to Ed of Studio City, CA

Original art by Raoul Pascual.

Video of the Week

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Parting Shots

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Sharon of Connecticut

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to Drew of Anaheim, CA

I found these:

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with this.

SUBSCRIBE

The post The Wailing Wall appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Dog Rescue

First of all, thanks for all the heartfelt sympathies for the loss of my brother. To know there are many who are praying made this time of mourning easier to deal with.

Let’s move to a lighter topic. Let’s talk about a friend I developed in the house/farm where I stayed in Dalipuga, Philippines. The pace of life was so slow I actually befriended the local animals. One of them was a dog named Artie.

I heard a harsh bark coming from the back of the house. Sounded like an old dog straining to catch attention. What I saw was disheartening. Artie had a tight noose around her neck. Her gray-white fur was muddied and there were patches of exposed skin. Her staring eyes wondered if I was friend or foe. She cowered when I approached and moved as far away from me as the chain would allow. Slowly, I reached out my hand and pat her on the head. Eventually, I started to give her a good massage. All the while, I could see she was trying to process this strange sensation — as if, for the first time, someone actually recognized she was an animal who had dignity.

In the Philippines a few fortunate dogs (who are owned by rich masters) are treated well and live in cages and are let loose certain times of the day. Today there is a trend among the well-to-do to get the smaller breeds for companionship. But most dogs are treated as commodities. Their main use is for security. That’s why the preference is for big scary hounds. They are tied down near the entrances to sound the alarm for any stranger coming within the premises. Some home owners build up quite a collection of these hounds. One of my cousins has close to 20 of them. When one barks the whole caboodle follow like a howling orchestra; and the neighborhood wakes up; and the lights turn on; and this goes on for several minutes.

Dogs live off leftover scraps. Many are malnourished. A few limp because they’ve been run over while crossing the busy streets. Very rare are the pure bred. Many never bathe and are filthy. Yet strangely, all dogs, worship their masters. Whether man realizes it or not, they are indeed man’s best friend.

According to Tata (our house helper) Artie was in chains since she was a puppy. I had to put a stop to this abuse and had Artie bathed and released. What a transformation. She was actually all white. She pranced around the compound like a wild stallion taking in the wind rushing down her body with her tongue hanging out. After she had done exploring do you know where she went? She nestled close to the kitchen where Tata (her master) worked. And wherever Tata would go (to feed the chickens or take the goats out to pasture) there was Artie following along to make sure things were going smoothly. Occasionally, she would pounce on Tata to give her a hug making all of us laugh at Artie’s need for affection.

I would see Artie frolicking about wagging her tongue and tail, it felt good to know I had a part in her happiness. Alas, signs of the trauma of growing up were still visible. Whenever I was alone with Artie and tried to pat her head, she would move away — just like the first time I met her. I learned to let her smell my hand first to let her know I was still a friend. Then I would give her a mean massage that she thoroughly enjoyed.

Who is more important?

Before you start criticizing the Filipinos for the way they treat their dogs, take a step back and take off your western glasses. Stop judging by western standards. We who treat our dogs better than we treat some of our fellow humans — whose culture is doing a better job of compassion? Are dogs more important than humans? Growing up, the answer to that question was very simple. Today, I’m not sure we will agree.

There is a mention of a dog in the Bible in Matthew 15:21-28 — a desperate Canaanite woman asked Jesus (a Jew, her sworn enemy) to help remove a demon from her daughter. Jesus seemingly insults the woman — essentially saying “why must I help you? Shouldn’t I help my own people first? Let the Jews eat first and you can eat the crumbs that fall on the floor just like a dog would.” In genuine humility, the woman admits she is a dog but like a dog she will still be content with just the crumbs.

So, even during those times, dogs have been treated so badly. It is only today that we give them so much importance.

To choose who is more important is difficult. But it’s not difficult to show kindness to anyone — humans or dogs. If we show kindness to both, then perhaps we won’t have to choose.

TGIF people!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Peter Paul of South Pasadena, CA for this joke.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Jacqueline of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Rodney of Manitoba, B.C.

I found these series of dog jokes to fit our topic today

The post I know the whole truth appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Doctor Ka-Ching

Do you like your doctor? If you know me, you know that I don’t really care for my doctor, Dr. Ka-Ching. He treats me like a number. And I don’t blame him. I don’t take him seriously and so he doesn’t take me seriously. When I go to him I prepare a list of things that I feel needs attention. And he goes down that list like it’s the funny papers — the silliest things in the world: “Dry skin? Nah! Don’t worry about it! There’s always skin lotion. Thinning hair? That’s normal — you’re old! Pain in your back? Just exercise! .. take 2 of these and you’ll be fine in the morning … next patient!”

A lot of help he is, huh? The only time I think he is truly happy is when he discovers something wrong with me because it means he can recommend more pills or get more commission referring me to a specialist. He’s recommended pills and physical therapists — none of them I agreed with and never followed up with. So every time I come for a checkup I get this disappointed face because even though I didn’t follow his advice he sees that I am still healthy.

However, things were different last month. I told him I was feeling pain near my groin every time I tried to get up. Ka-ching! His eyes lit up. “Drop your pants! Cough! Aha! You have a hernia! You need a surgery. (Oboy!) They’ll have to cut you open, put a mesh, sew you back together. You’ll feel pain for a while (Yes!) and that’s it!” 

Maybe I was imagining it but he really seemed to relish my impending suffering. I know for sure he loved saying “you have no choice but to have surgery” — that echoed several times in my head. Checkmate! He got me!

So here I am, waiting for a few more appointments before the big “snip snip” day. I’m not afraid of the operation. My biggest concern and regret is Dr. Ka-Ching having the last laugh. And if that’s my biggest worry, this shouldn’t be too bad.

TGIF people! I hope you take better care of your health. And if you feel sick, remember, I can always recommend my doctor. Not!

“I learned a long time ago that minor surgery is when they do the operation on someone else, not you!”
— Bill Walton

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Naomi of North Hollywood, CA for sending this joke.

Videos of the Week

Toothpick Man
Sent by Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Watch Jeanne Robertson, a masterful storyteller, who shares her encounter with a guy with a toothpick on his mouth.

WATCH VIDEO

We Made It!
Sent by Charlie of New Jersey

With so many safety regulations, you wonder how we survived when we were kids. Think about it. Is the world getting more dangerous or are we just getting stupider? Where does personal responsibility and common sense kick in?

WATCH VIDEO

Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

Heavy Thought of the Week

Sent by Tom of Pasadena, CA

Parting Shot

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. who shared this.

The post Creation Retold appeared first on Traveling Archive.

It’s vacation time here in America.. I enjoy looking at travel pictures but you know what? I bet nothing can compare with a video I watched recently about the pictures taken by twin travelers way way past our atmosphere.

I’m talking about Voyager 1 and 2. These glamorized robotic space photographers were only supposed to transmit deep space images for 4 years but it’s already been 4 decades since its launch in 1977 and it’s still sending images. Pretty cool for a machine equipped with a computer with 2,400 times less memory than our cell phones. Traveling 38,000 miles an hour, they estimate it is currently midway between our sun and the next sun (Alpha Centauri) which is 4 light years away. Now that’s what you call traveling!

What do the closeup images from Voyager tell you? For me, it shows how insignificantly small we are and how magnificently awesome God is. I think this is how God is kinda showing off.

John the Baptist (remember him?) said “He (Jesus) must increase , but I must decrease.” I think we should do the same — recognize this disparity between who we are and who HE is.

Of course, some may disagree. Despite all those incredible lessons of creative genius in pictures, some believe these mind boggling celestial bodies are a consequence of an impersonal Big Bang. They laugh and say believers of an intelligent being that orchestrated this dance of gravitational pull between planets requires a lot of faith. But the evidence from my neck of the woods tells me these scoffers may be the ones brainwashed in their brand of faith. In fact, it may not even be FAITH but a simple case of DENIAL. What do you think?

But you know what’s even more amazing than all those pictures? It’s realizing all of that was made for you and me. Makes you feel special doesn’t it?

Of course, this is just me.

“He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.”
— Psalm 147: 4-5

TGIF people!

Murder Mystery at the Golf Course

Shared by Don of Kelowna, B.C.

Here’s a classic:

Candid Camera: Scratched Car
Sent by Art of Sierra Madre, CA

“Sorry, I hit your car.”
Different reaction from men and women.

WATCH VIDEO

Removing the Cast
Sent by Don of Kelowna, B.C.

The patient meets her handsome doctor. Short and funny.

WATCH VIDEO

Gordon Ramsey’s Perfect Burger
Sent by Sam of Los Angeles County

Gordon’s really enthusiastic about teaching you how to make his “perfect” burger. I admit it looks delicious … gi-normous may be a better term. Then he starts bragging about his famous neighbors.

WATCH VIDEO

Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

Parting Shot

Thanks to Naomi of North Hollywood, CA who shared this photo

The post Deadly Golf Gun appeared first on Traveling Archive.