Friendly Pet Owners

People who have pets seem to be more relaxed and congenial. So it ‘s not hard for pet owners engage causal conversation with strangers, particularly other pet owners.

The other day at the store buying some supplies for the kitty, the customer in front of me asked me to take her place to pay for my purchase, a heavy box of kitty litter. It happened she is also a pet owner. I was so envious of her when she told me she and her family live with two dogs and two cats. Of course, I am most appreciative of her kindness to let me get out of the store sooner.

On another occasion during a visit to the vet, while waiting for our turn an elderly lady with her calico cat told me not to feed the cat dry foods. She said dry ones are too hard. I did not get the chance to ask why her cat was at the surgery. I bet her pretty cat, cuddled up to the back of her carrier, was suffering some kinds of dental problems from devouring on too many hard kibbles. She said to mix some wet ones with the dry foods. It happens gum disease is no stranger to me. One of our kitties, Purdy, the super mom, suffered this painful disease before she disappeared. She overindulged on dry foods made specially for senior cats. Luckily, that particular cat food is no longer available for sale.

This kind lady also took upon herself and moved my pet taxi. She put it right outside the exam room. So my gravely ill cat could slip into his carrier without being spooked by the dogs in the waiting room.

What a thoughtful person that kind lady is! - Ayee

A Perfect Gift for A New Mom

I have just discovered a new gift item for expecting parents.

We all know breast feeding is back. And many of these nurturing activities are taking place in public. Just the other day, I saw two young moms sitting in the seats outside of an ice cream parlor. One of them was feeding her baby. Both the mother and the child were strategically covered under an Afghan. But this white blanket with green trims was not big enough to reach the mother’s back. Unknowingly, the nursing mom exposed her entire backside.

After I passed by that young parent, I was thinking that she could have used a bigger blanket to avoid such embarrassing moments. Immediately, a poncho came to mind. A poncho is a simple overgarment natives of Central and South America wore to fight off the chill in the Andes. It is made from a piece of heavy clothes with a hole in the middle. It has also been made in other durable materials. Like a cape, it’s loose. So a poncho can discreetly keep the bonding between a mother and her baby comfortably away from the general public. - Ayee

An Ideal Corporate Director

Recently corporate governance is in the news again. CEO and director compensation remains a thorny issue. Top executives and board members are important members of a corporation. By all means they should be paid adequately but not extravagantly. And the board’s duty to appoint and fire top executives makes its effectiveness crucial to a company’s well-being. Therefore, shareholders should not take their right to elect company directors lightly.

Probably most shareholders do not personally know the individuals who run for corporate directors. Personality issue or showing disrespect is never the factor in the shareholders’ minds when voting for directors. Choosing an effective board has become a serious business decision.

If I am asked to choose a board member today, I think my ideal director will be an engaged one. This individual is not a CEO or COB of other public company. He or she does not spread his or her times too thin by sitting on too many corporate boards, particularly the ones outside his or her expertise. My ideal director should not have to travel a great distance to attend board meetings either. Lastly, this individual must have a genuine interest in the company. - Ayee

Food for Thought (III)/Parsley Tea

One of our senior family members is under the weather. It is our near 20-year-old kitty. Due to a thyroid medication he is on, his kidneys are not functioning as well as they were a year ago. In addition to many jars of baby foods that contains salts, he is also on a low-protein diet. Unknowingly, a compromised kidney condition together with low-protein intakes has made him prone to a health condition called edema.

The vet, a locum, after many x-rays, decided our cat did have too much water in him. The excess fluid in his abdominal cavity has caused sudden weight-gain. It has also impeded his breathing. However, before additional tests that determine the causes are done and assessed, the vet would not use any diuretics on the poor cat. Instead, he recommended keeping our kitty in an oxygen tent for the next 24 hours at an emergency animal hospital. Somehow the vet thought using of diuretics, an effective and common treatment for edema, would be harmful to the patient.

Making a long story short, I decided to look for some natural diuretics before a visit to our regular vet. Certainly I do not want to jinx my dear cat’s recovery. But I did come upon a simple parsley tea* in Myra Cameron’s book, Lifetime Encyclopedia of Natural Remedies(1993). Soon after feeding my cat his normal food spiked with a couple spoonfuls of the said tea, our kitty seems to be feeling better. He becomes more responsive when speak to. Evidently, the parsley tea has worked on him.

In my search of a natural product for my cat, I have also discovered that parsley is full of beneficial properties like potassium, and vitamins A and C. Among many other indications, this humble herb can also provide aids to our digestive system and thyroid functions. - Ayee

*Parsley Tea:
"Add one cup of chopped fresh parsley in a quarter of boiling water, simmered for 40 minutes. Strain and drink a cup with each meal."

Dog Story (II)

While waiting for friends at a local park, I saw two dogs, one, a black Labrador, and another, a German Shepherd, chasing a tennis ball in a grassy area outside the fenced-in tennis courts.

They were running after the ball their owner volleyed into the air with a tennis racket. Eagerly they ran side by side until one of them brought the ball back for the next round. The two mates were not competing against each other. They were just enjoying a friendly game of run and fetch on a sunny day at the park.

But if they were, the Lab would definitely be the undisputed winner. He scored all the runs. His mate, the scoreless Shepherd, was always a head-length behind him. After a few more runs, the Shepherd somehow gave out an impression of defeat or maybe fatigue. He was crestfallen for not being able to fetch the ball even once until an errant tennis ball flew right over a metal fence. It landed near where these two dogs were. And I could see right a way how excited that Shepherd was when he saw there was another ball nearby. He was elated. Finally when he ran toward his owner with that stray tennis ball in his mouth and his wooly head high, he was kind of telling the onlooker: "See, I can fetch too!"

Unfortunately it was not a good day for the Shepherd. Celebration for his home run was brief. The ensuring tug-a-war between the beast and man was laborious. The poor dog was so adamant about returning that slimy ball to its rightful owner.

What I observed of these two dogs romping around in the park may be so inconsequential. But the spontaneous smile and laughter their innocent acts brought out of me are simply priceless. - Ayee

Food for Thoughts (II)

Recently, I rediscovered a perfect snack in popcorn. For years, I have deprived myself of this simple pleasure. In addition to its nutritional value, the puffed up corn kernels are delicious and are very low in calories. No matter how the cloud-like popcorn is seasoned, it is always a welcoming treat. Moreover, a cup of plain corn kernels has only *27 calories. Corn is also a good source of fibers and many other beneficial nutrients including protein and Vitamins.

The other day, I decided to get some new crunchy snacks. So this armchair-golfer would have something different to munch on while watching the PGA competition on television. A bag of white cheddar cheese popcorn seemed to fit the bill. I do realize store-bought ones may contain too much salt and extra fats. But I am certain this healthy snack will not harm my body and spirit if I choose carefully for what I buy and I do not overindulge myself on them. Since corn is a veggie, consuming some popcorn now and then will definitely help me add more vegetables in my simple diet.

Popcorn is an inexpensive treat too. It does not break our piggy bank when we decide to pop a batch of the crunchy morsels ourselves. A half cup of corn kernels in a few tablespoons of cooking oil can yield a bucketful of the fluffed up goodies. This perfect snack has also being used in making cakes, granola bars and even Christmas decorations.

Now let us get ourselves some tasty popcorns and be aMAIZEd - Ayee

* From Frances Towner Giedt’s POPCORN!,1995

Doggie Story ( l )

This is about my neighbor’s two gentle dogs.

Skipper, a Keeshound, is the older one. His pal, Bear is a cream-color Samoyed. Their dear owners tethered them to a sail boat berthed in front of their garage. The lengthy ropes on the dog’s collar allowed the pair to wonder around the unfenced yard. There was also a homemade dog house in the yard. But their favorite spot appeared to be a cement block in the shade of the sail boat.

During the summer months, the retired couple would pitch a tent on the north side of their bungalow. To escape the stuffy heat, they lounged there with Skipper and Bear by their side. A portrait of a happy and content family never failed to bring smiles from the neighbors passing by.

Both Skipper and Bear looked very healthy and were well adjusted to each others. They, like many other dogs, barked perfunctorily when neighbors walked by. Now and then when I knew I would be passing by their house, I always remembered having a few dog biscuits for them. They seemed to know I was their friend. And our milk bones fortified relationship flourished for many years until one day I saw Skip, with Bear next to him, in great pain at the pair’s favorite spot.

On that day I was on my way to run a few errands. When I was near Skip’s house, I heard him howling. I found part of Skip’s body was covered in his own blood. Without hesitation, I alerted Skip’s owners of their pet's desperate call for help. Extremely unfortunate for Skip, because of the hefty vet bills, my elderly neighbors decided to let Skip go in peace.

Of course, I was saddened by the loss of an otherwise healthy dog. And Bear lost his long time pal. Not long after Skip died, I went by to visit Bear one day. It was hot and muggy. I saw Bear, the gentle giant, lied on his side napping on the lawn in the shadow of a camper. This time he growled at me when I pet him. I did not know if Bear was upset by the fact that I was the one caused Skip to disappear or the fact that I woke him up from his afternoon nap. I thought memory of the tasty treats would make bad feeling more tolerable. But there was a clear message from this wooly doggie that suggested "LEAVE ME ALONG OR ELSE." Tell me animals have no feelings!

I have not returned to visit Bear and his elderly owners since I moved a few years ago. But the fond memory of being friends with Skip, Bear and their dear owners always made me feel blessed for having neighbors like them. - Ayee