SOMETHING TO BARK ABOUT

By DELL ARTHUR

           

New York City features lots of attractions. But one of the most famous is Broadway featuring theatrical shows. It is on this stage that many careers have been launched. Not only actors and musicians but others related to the success of the productions. While the performers take center stage there are many, equally as professional, working behind the scenes that are responsible for the shows becoming Broadway hits.

           

One such person is Rob Cox.

Cox is an artist in his own fashion. He trains animals and he is very good at it. “I’ve been working with dogs since 1998,” he recalled. “I started animal training with Bill Berdoni who is one of the biggest theatrical animal trainers in the business.” As a result of this association Cox has trained animals for such huge Broadway productions as Disney’s “Chitty, Chitty Bang, Bang,” “The Wizard of Oz,” and “Women in White” to name just a few.

           

In one production he was working with 17 birds on stage. In another he was working with a rat. “In this show I worked with the lead singer, Mitchel Ball who played the ‘bad guy.’ Ball had to sing a song with a rat on his shoulder and what we had to do was train the rat that at the finish of the song, when Ball stretched out his arms, the rat had to run from his one shoulder of his outreached hand across to the other hand and then finish by running up to Ball’s cheek and giving him a kiss.”

           

Getting animals to respond is a talent in itself. Early in his life Cox felt an urge to devote his career to working with pets and so began his career never expecting to wind up on Broadway.

“When I was around 24 I was somewhat aimless. I always loved animals and felt a need to work with them,” he said. It was a natural passion. His philosophy is based on the principle of trying to figure out what is it a trainer wants the animal to do. But equally important, what does the animal want to do? “…The problem is how can I make a dog understand what I want?” To accomplish this he must first put himself in the animal’s place he explained. And this is where patience becomes important. With this approach he works at shaping their behavior.

Cox uses a low even-tone moderate voice when working with animals. This was demonstrated when he was working with a shy pup that hid behind its owner. The dog was a “rescue” and obviously had no trust in people. Within five minutes Cox had this same puppy eating out of his hand.
 

In the past trainers used methods that demanded certain results to cues. It was believed that animals responded best to harsh voices and a demanding tone. Often times this type of training proved more repressive than helpful.

“Using the old method of harsh demands there is the risk of breaking the animal’s spirit resulting in an unhappy pup,” Cox said. As a result he believes that positive reinforcement gets better results and he has evidence to the prove it. “Training is all about figuring how to let animals know what you want them to do. Most dogs come from shelters and most of them are dying for love and praise.” This, he said, is important in the first step in shaping behavior

How Cox got into the theater animal training business came about when he met Berdoni at the New York animal society he related. They were both working as volunteers at an animal rescue center in New York and both discovered they both had shared interests and philosophy in working with animals.

Ever since he was a child Cox said he loved working with different animals and when he met Berdoni he was offered a challenge of a lifetime—working on Broadway. And this gave him the opportunity to put into practice his ideas on training while gaining experience working with one of the most talented and most sought after trainers in the business.

He continued working on productions but after a few years living in the “big city” the luster was beginning to wear off. Big city life had its advantages but after working in the theater field he and his wife decided enough was enough. A slower pace was in order. Consequently the couple made a decision.

Moving to Tucson, Arizona, where he was born and raised, the couple settled down and Cox continued working in the training business. The beauty of the desert with its awe-inspiring sunsets, star studded nights and warm weather was far distant from the hub, bub experienced on the East Coast. Also the family relished the slow pace of life in Arizona.

But there were disadvantages as well. There was only so much a trainer could accomplish in the community. Dog care and training centers are unique to most areas of the country and Tucson was one of them. As much as they loved the desert the couple packed up and relocated to the far part of Northwest Washington near the Canadian border where Cox continues training animals. And the move has been more than rewarding. But Cox isn’t finished; he wants to use his experience and talent to accomplish a new set of goals.
 

Next on his agenda is possibly becoming a vet technician and learning more about animal health care. With this he also intends working towards professional certification. This certification will place him with the elite of animal trainers. With his experience Cox’s success is a ticket to unlimited opportunities. And that is something to bark about.

NASTY 4-LETTER WORDS

By DELL ARTHUR

I don’t know about you but I find vulgar, despicable four letter words offensive. And the one that comes to mind, and at the head of my personal list, is the word “BLOG”!

            Everyone knows that writers are a sensitive lot when it comes about how their work is viewed. For those in the academic realm writing a paper describing some great discovery, theory or opinion takes pleasure seeing their articles published in prestigious publications and read only by those of similar academic interest. But for a common person as me, this reading requires a dictionary to get past the title. Yet their work can be considered nothing more than a BLOG.

And there are the science fiction writers, the novelists, the adventure story tellers, the recipe cooking books publishing their favorite recipes and dishes, and authors describing different inventions and ideas, and most of all we can’t leave out the political writers espousing their personal agendas and prejudices which most of us don’t give a toot about--all fall under one title; BLOG.

And I find this disgusting!

            Whatever happened to the romance of literature, writing and the written word? Why aren’t working journalists, columnist, poets and just plain hacks like me, afforded the luxury of more dignified titles when we publish something on line? The biographers, it appears, are the only ones specially identified as a BLOG.

It’s offensive and hurts our feelings! And in this day and age everyone knows that feelings are the most important part of our public fabric. If we hurt someone’s feelings either by hint, glair or snide remark, we most likely will wind up in court defending a lawsuit. Worse yet, it could be considered a hate crime and then we are really in trouble!

Why doesn’t political correctness fall under BLOG?

Searching Webster’s New World College dictionary, fourth edition dated 2007, the word BLOG is described as follows: 1. Biographer, 2. Biographical; 3. Biography. The question is how does a writer composing an essay (opinion) on the subject of the sex lives of sugar ants fall into any of these categories? Therefore how can such an interesting and tantalizing story be considered a BLOG?

Going back to Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary published by Merriam-Webster, Inc., in 1984, the word BLOG isn’t even listed.

Every creative writer knows what they compose readers will hold as treasured works of genius with breathless admiration. I am sure every writer believes they have yet to write the “Great American Novel,” and they are just the one to do it; it’s just they haven’t gotten around to it yet. It would make a marvelous BLOG.

Have you read a newspaper lately? Today’s journalists seem to hold that the old formula of who, what, when, why as onerous if not just plain un-necessary. Why print facts? Isn’t a news story more exciting to read if embellished with a little opinion? Perhaps this is what formulated the word “BLOG.” I don’t know.

It used to be a newspaper article had all the information in the first paragraph. “…Police report that John Doe was apprehended at 1 a.m., this morning shortly after allegedly stealing a piggy bank from six-year old Anna Marie Jones’ bedroom home, 1234 Anystreet.”

Then the story would continue with additional information. The reason stories were written this way was because of space. News stories were written so that to make an article fit into available space the editor could cut the story from the bottom and still retain the essentials of the piece.

Not so today.

The same story outlined regarding the piggy bank theft today will usually be reported as, “…A sobbing little six-year old girl awoke this morning only to discover her treasured pink piggy bank, a gift from her grandmother last year who is now recovering from a hip injury in a nursing home, that contained four dimes, two nickels and fifteen penny’s, was missing. Thinking she had merely misplaced it she spent 10 minutes searching her bedroom and under her pillow before calling her mother. Her untouched lollipop was still sitting on her bed stand.”

That is the type of lead paragraph you will usually now read in the morning edition of the “Daily No News.” By the third or fourth paragraph the name of the victim might appear as well as the suspect picked up by the police—maybe.

As written could this story be considered a BLOG?

 

Now I’m not knocking the writer for such garbage since this is the type of journalist most commonly turned out by journalism schools today. But this type of trash, I believe, would qualify as a BLOG. And perhaps this is where the description and use of the word began.

And to top it off if there is space to fill, rather insert a short news article; the art editor will simply slip in a four or five column picture of someone spinning a hula hoop.

 So much for the written word; is a picture considered a BLOG?

It is hard to imagine the works of such great newspapermen of past years as Hal Boyle, Jim Bishop or Ernie Pyle writing as a BLOG. And what about such wonderful authors as John Steinbeck, Edwin O’Conner, William Faulkner or Ernest Hemmingway? Would it be accurate to list their books as a BLOG?

Shame, shame, shame!

To me the word BLOG connotes no more imagination than moss growing on a rock. The word fails to exude any sense of excitement or interest. In fact it is best associated with another four letter word, BLAH!

So, life being what it is I’ll just continue to BLOG along.

VETERANS IN NEED

By DELL ARTHUR

             For many veterans returning to civilian life following active service it can sometimes be a bit disconcerting and overwhelming. Taking off the uniform and picking up where they left off prior to military life can, and in many cases, be a bit disturbing. There is a big difference between soldering and going back to a nine to five existence. For some vets the adjustment is a huge challenge and many of these folks find it nearly impossible to adjust.

 

            Regardless what position they held during their service—everything from a sailor, marine, cook, orderly, mechanic, airman or rifleman, no one comes home without some need to adjust. Being away from the familiar surroundings of home and family for months or years takes its toll no matter how a person tries to adapt. But the comforting thing about it is there is help. And a lot of that help comes from people like Jim Pace.

            Pace serves as an accredited Service Officer for the American Legion and also works as a volunteer councilor with the Vet Center located at Bellingham, Washington. He knows first-hand the problems many of these people face. As a former combat Vietnam veteran himself (he also received a 100 per cent service connected disability as a result of battle injuries), he believes it’s his job to help these honorably discharged servicemen and women.

            “We work under the Washington Department of Veteran Affairs and the Vet Center here is good enough to furnish us with office space,” he explained. Many of the people he finds in most need are those who belonged to reserve units such as the National Guard, Air Force Reserve or Navy and Marine Reserve who were called to active service during emergency times. As a result most left wives, husbands, children and jobs resulting in many hardships. Once relieved from active military duty trying to pick up where they left off can be exasperating he noted.

            And this doesn’t take into account those who suffered devastating wounds as a result of combat. Many of the wounds aren’t necessarily physical—some resulted in psychological scars that will never heal. And like Pace said, “Our job is not leaving them by the way-side. We make an effort to right a wrong but some can’t be helped.” As a counselor it’s his job to try to help pick up the pieces. This is where his unique abilities come into play. Like he says, “…for 24 years I have advocated for veterans nationally and in my home state of Washington to get them the rights and benefits they and their families have earned.”

            Pace, along with three other councilors, have a case load of some 3,000 clients. Some of the veterans he works with go as far back to the Korean and Vietnam service. It’s his job to help them find the proper services. For a lot of the more recent discharged vets readjustment is helping them in every area as housing, jobs, or education. But with this high number of people looking for help the workload is suffocating. Pace said that in his office there is almost a two month backlog of people who have made appointments. On top of that are the “walk ins” also seeking help. The result is you can usually find him on his “days off” working at his desk.

            For a lot of veterans Pace works with problems can range from anything from lack of proper paperwork to homelessness. Most of those of the latter are the result of medical concerns including narcotic addiction or alcoholism. Pace said there are many programs designed to help such folks.

            Most recently it has been reported that many Veteran hospitals have been unable to serve veterans in most need. Many of these men and women died while waiting to be admitted because of bureaucrat ineptitude and long waiting times. As a result a new temporary program titled “Veterans Choice Program” has been inaugurated to help solve the problem. Instead of having to wait for admission to a VA hospital, qualified veterans can receive health care from an outside eligible provider. More information can be obtained from Pace’s office.

            Today the military ranks are filled only with volunteers. Unlike past times when Universal Military Service was required, now there are no draftees. Everyone who puts on the uniform does so for their own personal reasons. For some it is for the promised benefits such as education or learning trade skills. Others serve simply for love of country and there are those who do so for “adventure.” Those who choose military service for the latter part can usually find more “adventure” than they bargained for!

            “Our nation does take care of our vets,” Pace stressed. In his office female counselor’s work with female veterans who have their own unique needs.

            But it is surprising that so few veterans are aware of these Vet Centers or what the centers can do for them. “A lot of information is passed around by word of mouth,” Pace explained. “A lot of the older vets help the younger guys.” The result is there are a lot of success stories.

            Yet no matter how hard Pace and his colleagues try there are also other stories that weren’t successful. He recalled one young Marine whose mother died and his despondency took him to the bottom. The result was he left a note asking to be buried next to his mother and then committed suicide.

            Pace was one of the pall bearers.

            But as long as there is need of a military, veterans can count on people like Pace to help them in their readjustment. Like he said, “…veterans take care of their own!”

DIRT FISHING ADVENTURE

By DELL ARTHUR

Life has its ups and downs and Gerry Allen has had more than his share. Allen spent most of his career as a captain for Canadian Airlines flying 747 airliners everywhere from Europe to China out of his home base at Vancouver, British Columbia. His last task, before retirement, proved monotonous since the flights consisted of one takeoff leaving Canada and one landing arriving at his destination at Hong Kong, China. After a rest period of a couple of days the 14 hour or more flight took off again to repeat the same span with the exception that he was returning home.

But when he had the opportunity to retire he jumped at the chance, hung up his uniform and re-entered the real world with his feet firmly planted on the ground.

Adjusting to a new life didn’t prove too difficult. Allen’s interest in real estate led him to a new opportunity in life and he has capitalized on it. Additionally the benefits proved more than being successful in his new career, he could plan his free time, but what to do with It? Contemplating the problem he decided he needed to make another adjustment—he needed a hobby.

So with purpose he discovered “dirt fishing.”

Actually the term “dirt fishing” is associated with using a metal detector to find hidden treasurers. Sometimes these treasurers are worthless bottle caps, tin cans or even hair pins. But now and then a real discovery pops up.

“I’ve found a lot of rings—some not worth much, but a few gold or silver pieces,” he recalled. At first he merely scanned beaches not knowing exactly what he was doing. But he quickly learned that there is more to the sport than just swinging a metal detector from side to side. His efforts quickly changed with experience.

From his condominium at Cabosan san Lucas, Mexico, he said he can walk outside and enjoy the cloudless blue sky while meandering down the breach swinging his metal detector. “You have to know what you are listening to. Different metals emit a different sound. You can easily be fooled if you don’t know the difference,” he said. Then he learned another facet of the sport; exploring underwater.

He quickly learned his real love is wading off the beaches in the surf waist high with his detector. With his scoop he is able to latch on and recover some mighty nice pieces as silver bracelets, rings and other objects worth keeping. 

“Water exploring is my favorite method to dirt fish,” he explained. “I love beach detecting but water detecting is the best.” For this he has three different detectors specially designed for this type of hunting.

Allen has been doing this for a number of years now and has gained a lot of experience. Does he make any money at it? “Naw, not really,” he said with a laugh. “It’s the fun of finding something. I have a lot of rings that I’ve found. Occasionally I have found something special like a few gold rings.”

Yet this hobby has more than paid for his vacation. Allen figures that he made enough on his last trip to pay the majority of expenses.

“When I started in this business my first find was a gold ring,” he recalled. Another time he found a women’s gold ring with three diamonds mounted on it. But the real fun in the sport is simply the adventure of discovery. Where do you find treasurers? The best places to search are beaches, parks and trails he said.

Allen recalled when he and a friend were out searching at a park. His friend said he was going to look around the shower area and left Allen meandering about the grounds. A little while later the friend returned and told him he had something in his eye.

“I looked in his eye and couldn’t see a thing. Then while he was holding the lid of the eye down my friend said ‘…take a closer look.’ I looked again and still couldn’t see anything in his eye. Then he said ‘look at my finger!’ Then I saw he had a diamond ring, later valued at $3000, around his finger!” His friend had just discovered the find moments earlier near the shower area where Allen intended to search.

Sometime later this same friend and his wife were vacationing at a resort. “His wife told him not to bring his metal detectors but he did anyway. He told her, ‘Take as much money as you want, go shopping and have fun. I’m going detecting.’ So the wife went her way and my friend spent the next week or so exploring. At the end of the vacation they returned home with over $20,000 worth of objects he had found!” Allen said.

It goes to show, you never know.

But the beauty of the sport is anybody can do it. Allen said he has met doctors, lawyers, mechanics, salespeople and retirees who spend their time getting exercise and having a lot of fun doing simply by scanning with their metal detectors. Also, he said, there are clubs where enthusiastic folks meet, trade stories and generally have a good time.

And for those who are interested in the hobby Allen and his friends are willing to help novices learn the tricks on how to become successful explorers.

“There are so many things you need to know,” Allen explained. “Different metals give off different sounds. I remember taking several different metals and practiced sweeping over them just to learn the different sounds they gave off.”

All of this added to his knowledge. For someone new to the hobby they can spend a lot of wasted time just trying to learn how to identify objects he cautioned.

But as Allen said, a lot of this frustration can be offset by working with more experienced explorers. “Everyone I know who is in the sport is willing to help. New people interested in the sport should look up a local metal detecting club and join in,” he advised.

And who knows? According to a lot of the old timers the mother lode is still out there undiscovered!

MY PUBLIC CONFESSION

By DELL ARTHUR

            Being a proud father and uncle I have to tell you about my son David and my niece Diane. Both are extremely talented in many fields and like most people their lives have taken a series of twists and turns they never thought of.

            Dave holds a degree in environmental health from Boise State and loves his job. But there is also another side of him that tugs at his heart. He loves dogs. He loves them to the point that he is a certified United Kennel Judge and goes all around the eastern states and Canada judging dog shows. In addition he has developed a line of standard poodles that have achieved championship status.

In addition to this he is also a prolific writer and author of two published books and is working on a third. His one book, “How Much is that Doggie in the Window,” is a must read for anyone contemplating on becoming a “pet parent.” His books are available on Amazon and worth the reading.

            I recall when he was about nine years old coming home with a stray mutt that appeared to be Shepard and whatever. He told me at the time that the pup had followed him home and he didn’t know what to do about it. It seems the story was partly true; the dog followed him home alright attached to a rope and being reluctantly pulled along! So that is how “Lady” came into our household. I might add that she became one of the most loving and loyal canines that ever benefitted our home.

            But to get on with David; his interest in dogs really took hold when he acquired a Shetland sheepdog a few years ago. This interest in purebred dogs led him to the world of dog shows and this proved to be a completely new adventure for him. Later on he specialized in standard poodles and has now developed a line of breeding that has significantly improved the breed. Today much of his time is going from dog show to dog show, judging, showing his own pups and generally living the life of a happy dog owner.

            As for my niece Diane; like her mother, my sister Carmen, she is a gifted portrait artist in demand. Her paintings are so perfect and life-like that she once was accused of just painting over photographs. Not so. Her works demands high bucks and according to clients she is worth every penny. 

In addition to her art work she is also a master at training cats and as a “cat person” she now has accumulated nine! How this came about was when she was living in Boise, Idaho and her neighborhood was plagued with a bunch of feral cats running all around the place. They would rob and tip over trash cans, bawl all night, get into fights with every dog or cat in the area and were nothing but a nuisance to everyone.

            Finally it got to the point where something had to be done. Some folks suggested that they set out some poison meat; others thought a bullet in the head was the answer but Diane had another solution—set out some traps. So with purpose in mind she contacted the local animal control people and borrowed the necessary traps.

            Sure enough, after putting out the traps with enough food to lure the kitties she found six trapped the next morning. But now what to do with them? She knew that since they were as wild as March hairs they would most likely be put down as soon as they were turned over to the animal control people. So, with her usual emphatic concern she decided to keep them!

            For the next couple of months or so the cats were restricted to a single room. There they roamed about, got on cabinets, hissed and growled whenever someone came into the room, and finally learned how to use litter boxes. But with patience it got to the point where she could enter the room without their going bananas! From there on the task was to socialize them. With patience she coaxed them, gave them treats and sure enough they responded. A few months later you would not recognize these bundles of fur.

In addition to this group kitties Diane has also acquired three more tabbies making it a total of nine!

            These once wild cats now do tricks. They roll over on command, jump through hoops, meow on command and do other things as well. You would never have believed it.

            So you would think that this is a couple of success stories. I thought so also at first. But then after reading, and reading the above copy, it occurred to me that something terrible has happened that has brought great shame to the family! As a result I am compelled, as a truthful person, to make a public confession to the world. And it is this:

            It is apparent that my niece is running a cat house and my son’s life has gone to the dogs!

            What else can I say…?