Certain things irritates me. How about you?

I think we all have certain things that really bugs us, almost to the point of blowing our stack. As a MUCH younger person, I was sort of a hot head, which I regret. But as I aged, I guess I mellowed out some. But I have to say, there are some times I lose my 'cool'. I don't mean anything like road rage or physically harming anyone. Just muttering about an idiot or saying something to myself about someone when I am in the car by myself.

People that shoot off their mouth with their opinion before they look around, or maybe don't care who they hurt or insult. Unfortunately that maybe considered a form of 'bullying' and being judgmental. Both are unexceptable. Bullying is a major cause for many teen and adolescent suicides. No matter how you classify it, it's just not right. Just because someone may seem slow, or dress different, or speak different, or anything other than what you think is correct, it does not give you the right to judge them, or influence others to judge them. 

It's not only bullying that irritates me, but age discrimination, sexual harassment, prejudice against other races and nationalities, religious beliefs, sexual preferences, body piercings and tattoos, or their color of hair. They are ALL WRONG!

Ok now, let me be clear, I dislike all of those but, when people threaten someone's life or property, that I will say something about. Case in point, erratic, inconsiderate and irrational  drivers. I guess that is why I dislike driving in big cities. Everyone is in a rush. And the things people do while driving drives me insane. It's not only talking on their phone, but feeding their child in a car seat in the back seat? Getting dressed, putting makeup on while looking in the rear view mirror, shaving, and of course texting. The stop sign reads and means STOP! Not coast through. The biggest comment the Police officers get is "I am late."  Start earlier folks. Sorry, not an adequate excuse. Non-usage of turn signal use is another of my pet peeves. 

Here's one for you, how much do we see or hear advertising? We are overloaded with advertisements. Not only on billboards, radio and TV commercials, newspaper ads, internet, social media, on the side of buses, cars, trucks, on T-shirts, jackets, on uniforms. We even collect advertisements. How many "Coca-Cola" articles do you have in your home? 'Lady Bird Johnson' (the late President Lyndon B. Johnson's wife)  tried to eliminate advertisement signage from the highways back the late 70s. That did not last long.

All-n-all, I must sound like a really angry person, but actually I am not. Just had to get something off my chest. We are not different (in that respect) than any other country in the world, maybe not as bad. I get it, our society is still a work in progress, and that some things we just live with and except it for being daily living, but I don't have to like it. And neither do you. Maybe if we start with ourselves and display good judgement in front of our children and other adults, they'll get the message and straighten their act too. Let's hope.

So go back to the 35 minutes of that one hour long TV show, and disregard the crazy driver who cut you off a minute ago, and don't pay any attention to the jerk who mouths off about the election being robbed. It's just everyday life. 

"Never judge a man (person) by the way they look or the clothes they wear. Judge them by their words and their actions toward others. Only God has the final say for all of us."   Anonymous

When does an individual become family?

We all are born with a family. And, sometimes we have extended family members, or marital family, or people who feel like family and you want to trade them for your original family. Those all have happened to me, and I am sure you have been touch by that also.

As some of you may know, I took on a restoration an all original 1965 Malibu Super Sport. The man who brought it over, trains protection dogs for celebrities, sport stars and other people with money and NOT folks in my tax bracket. This man and I agreed to trade skills and now he is training our 7 month old Goldendoodle (Cooper), and I work on his car. The agreement has been good for both parties, but Cooper is smarter than Nancy and I. So the training has become train the owners of Cooper, which is interesting. 

Besides being very cute or handsome, he also know how to play us well. Ok, let me stop here and backup a little. Cooper IS NOT going to be a guard or attack dog. Nancy has decided to have him be a 'therapy dog'. So when we get through the obedience part, sit, down, heel and place (go to his bed), he will be taught to greet people, let them love on him and make them happy and loved too. He is a real people dog.

But I am off point here. Cooper, in his short time with us, has picked up on our weaknesses and how to do things he wants, and look cute doing them. He is a player. Like dropping is tennis ball and kicking it under the couch or chair, so we have to get down on the floor and reach for it. Meanwhile he liens down and give us a juicy lick with the remains of his last water bowl visit still in his beard. Oh yeah, his a player.

Sometimes he is stubborn and just lays when he knows he should sit or heel. As he is being walked, he'll come to a stop, look at passing cars and then glance at me as if to say, "Do you like that car Dad?" Oh yeah, he's a player.

But the thing that got me as the trainer trains us is, "They are like a 4 year old children." It really hit home and flashbacks to our young children stubborn days, and how they played us too.

But all-in-all, Cooper is doing great, and the guy car is doing well too. The trainer has told us  Cooper is as smart, if not smarter that the dogs he sells for $75K or more to celebrities. he says we are very lucky to have a dog that catches on to commands so quickly. I hope Nancy and I can keep up with Cooper.

Cooper bonded with nancy right away. i am just a playmate. But either way, Cooper is family now. His dog tag even says COOPER SHELL. 

One thing that was apparent right away was that Cooper loves his tennis ball and fetching them is his joy and rewards, along with his torn-up stuffed toys. 

Cooper Shell ... too darn smart and too handsome for his own good. But is is family and loved.

Cooper in his favorite place of relaxation and listening to us.