Children Come in All Shapes, Sizes and Fur Coverings

Amy and I have 1 dog (Dynamo), 2 cats (Kirk and Scottie – Spock died 5 years ago) and 5 chickens

Amy feeding "The Children". 

(Zooey – short for Zoolander, Matilda, Tinker, Evers and Chance. Hansel died a couple of years ago). Along with bird seeds, Amy feeds the chickens various table scraps and Dynamo steals his fair share.

Last week, Dynamo’s vet put him on a strict diet to treat a bout of Pancreatitis. That led us to answer the question “How do we keep Dynamo from eating what is meant for the chickens?”

A few years ago, Amy erected planting boxes so she could grow vegetables and the chickens love jumping into the boxes to scratch around and eat the bugs and worms they happen to dig up. In a rare moment of brilliance, I suggested Amy dump the food for the chickens in the planter boxes and away from Dynamo. Of course, that “moment of brilliance” was only brilliant in my mind, because Dynamo quickly figured out he could jump into the boxes like the chickens do, shoo them away and then feast.

So this morning, Amy threw down some food for the chickens and after I saw Dynamo jump in the planting box, I yelled from the back door “DYNAMO! GET OUT OF THERE!” which he promptly did.

Dynamo then ran quickly past me to the other room where Amy was getting dressed and gave her a look on his face that said “Daddy yelled at me! I wasn’t doing anything wrong! He’s so mean to me!”

Ah, the life of a Puppy-Parent. 

One More Pat Bartram Story

A couple of weeks ago, I told you about my friend, Indiana State Police Trooper Pat Bartram (see Officer’s Funeral Rekindles Good, Bad and Difficult Memories). This morning, I remembered another Pat Bartram story that I would like to share.

Former Mooresville Police Chief Tim Viles organized a one-day, women only rape prevention seminar. Of the 50 to 60 people in the Mooresville High School auditorium that Saturday morning, only four were men – Viles, Pat and his brother Mike, and me.

I think this was the spring or summer before Pat’s accident because Mike had just started his undercover drug enforcement work. Chief Viles told me ahead of the seminar about Mike’s new duties, and I assured Mike I would do whatever I needed to do to preserve his cover, but every time I would raise my camera, Mike would drop his head and hide his face behind his hand.

One of the female presenters was from the medical field. She spoke about the physical and psychological effects of rape. A female police officer described the steps police departments take to investigate rape cases and gave tips so the ladies in attendance would know when they’re inadvertently getting themselves into dangerous situations or with dangerous people.

Pat and Mike each have Black Belts in a number of Martial Arts. They were there to give the women defensive fighting tips should a situation get that far. But Pat’s first tip had nothing to do with fighting.

“When you are surprised by an attacker jumping out of the shadows at you and you fear you’re going to be raped, you may think you’re going to pee in your pants. If you’re in that situation and you think you’re going to pee in your pants, then do it!

“I’m a guy and if my intent is to rape you and I see you’ve peed all over yourself, then I want nothing to do with you. It is much easier to take a shower and either wash your clothes or throw them away than it is to recover from being raped.”

Pat and Mike then demonstrated various kicks, gouges, and thrusts to fend off an attacker, but the lesson was to do whatever it takes keep from being raped.