Huckleberries Online

Hump Day Wild Card — 8.19.09

Posted by DFO

Aug. 19, 2009 5:45 p.m. • 27 comments

After reading Dogwalk Musings today, I’m sad to report that DM’s beloved Saint Bernard, Bacchus, has died following a lengthy struggle with health issues. Bacchus, of course, inspired DM to launch her blog as a place to put down the thoughts she had during walks in her neighborhood with him. DM got Bacchus as a puppy during a tough patch in her life, I believe. Which makes the bond between them even stronger. Remember DM in your thoughts today. You can see her post about Bacchus here.

27 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

Phaedrus on August 19 at 10:19 a.m.
Here is the right way to answer some of the folks at your local Town Hall meeting:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/19/barney-frank-confronts-wo_n_262682.html
Arpie on August 19 at 10:31 a.m.
Does anyone else see a danger in what is a growing trend of people showing up armed at rallies and town halls when the President is speaking? First, a handgun in New Hampshire, next some semi-automatics in Arizona. I’m certainly not going to argue that these people don’t have a right to do so. People who don’t like Obama have been arming themselves to the teeth since last November when he was elected. It makes sense that they will want to show off their new weapons to like minded people. A new arms race. This is a trend that seems destined to continue until someone decides to use one of these guns. It will not end well.
JeanieSpokane on August 19 at 10:38 a.m.
Wow, Arpie. I just received an email from my brother on this exact same subject - and you are right. It bodes ill.
Joker on August 19 at 11:41 a.m.
Check this out, G-Men gone wild. This would never happen around these parts…

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9A5GCC80&show_article=1
Charles_Dixon on August 19 at 11:46 a.m.
Well, do people showing up to a polling place with night sticks and telling voters there it’s time for change bug you? Because apparently Obama is OK with that.

He’s also OK with the people showing up with guns at rallies.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/18/AR2009081803416.html?hpid=topnews
ReggieH on August 19 at 12:05 p.m.
“Well, do people showing up to a polling place with night sticks and telling voters there it’s time for change bug you?”

Yeah. That didn’t happen. I heard about some racists trying to spread stories that big black men did that, though. I heard it was an effort by racists to stir up racial tensions. Why would racists do that?

But yeah, let’s defend the idea that crazy people should show up at Presidential townhall meetings with assault rifles. That’s not a dumb idea at all. I mean, it’s not like this country has a history of assasinated Presidents or anything . . .<facepalm>
spokelooneh on August 19 at 12:16 p.m.
Joker on August 19 at 11:41 a.m.

Check this out, G-Men gone wild. This would never happen around these parts…

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?…”

“… In June, Turner urged his readers to “take up arms” against Connecticut lawmakers and suggested government officials should “obey the Constitution or die,” because he was angry over legislation—later withdrawn—that would have given lay members of Roman Catholic churches more control over their parish’s finances.
…”

What a strange story. And this item about legislation governing Catholic parish finances? Hey, that’s probably a good idea to allow more control over finances by lay parishioners, however I don’t know how in the world under the separation of church and state such legislation would be constitutional.
mike_s on August 19 at 3:26 p.m.
August. So I’m sitting on the beach where the sun warms and the guys next-door have a lively game of horseshoes going on when I realize I can’t concentrate on my book. Smiling a little, I send a text to my friend in Portland who gave me the book to tell her that this horseshoe game is distracting me from the poems. Her message back was appropriate and I even returned to the beach later in the evening and noticed that the nerdy kid whose family has a pretty nice boat had even found the groove of August. He’s cruising slowly around the lake with a girl, playing country music and the two of them are singing at the top of their lungs. No one is much on the water, maybe a canoe or two, and the exuberance can be heard as far as the opposite shore. When the boat putts past my place “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” is cranking from the boat speakers and they are two-stepping on deck. August is the month where summer fits like an old pair of hiking boots and the frenetic days of July are long past and I think of my friend in Portland who manages grant funds for a major university and her reply to my text. “Gee, I feel so sorry 4 U.”

August.
DFO on August 19 at 3:43 p.m.
MikeS; thanx for the nice post re: a lazy summer day on Twin Lakes. I still have those 2 terrific, scenics you snapped a coupla years ago from that neck of the woods. I’ll see if I can dig one up, to publish.
Cindy_H on August 19 at 3:53 p.m.
Very cool August reflection MikeS. Though rather cruel to those of us stuck behind our desks :-(
Stickman on August 19 at 3:58 p.m.
Dogwalk: Sorry to hear about Bacchus, such a great friend. I posted something on your blog but I didn’t know if it came through.
mike_s on August 19 at 4:10 p.m.
Thanks, those are some of my favorite Twin Lakes photos ever.
Truly on August 19 at 4:24 p.m.
Is anyone else dealing with 20 something year olds going back to college this weekend?? I swear on my mother’s ashes in the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River - I am sitting with held breath and counting the minutes!!!!!

Peace to ya all in the mean time:)))
KevinTaylor on August 19 at 4:26 p.m.
Damn fine writing, Mike.
Truly on August 19 at 5:13 p.m.
PS: I think DFO we need to have a parent’s day or night get to gether so celebrate the returning kids back to college and a break for us! What say you?
Cindy_H on August 19 at 5:51 p.m.
Dogwalk: I’m sorry for your loss. Bacchus is irreplaceable.
Me on August 19 at 5:57 p.m.
So so sorry DM. I know how much he meant to you.
Charlie on August 19 at 6:11 p.m.
It is difficult when any member of your family departs and pets are family. We send our condolences and good will.
hmoffsuite on August 19 at 7:41 p.m.
Firms with ties to Obama are profiting from his push for his health care agenda. Anybody surprised?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090819/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_health_care_consultants
idawa on August 19 at 7:45 p.m.
hmo - it’s not like the oil industry, with ties to the Bush/Cheny whitehouse, didn’t profit enormously during that administration - do you have a point? And didn’t you swear off this place a while ago?
hmoffsuite on August 19 at 7:50 p.m.
idawa. Political shenanagins always get my attention. Even when it is the sitting President guiding political gain to his cronnies. Geez, you’d think this was Chicago. Oh, I forgot, it is.
Frum Helen Back on August 19 at 8:22 p.m.
Dogwalk, I’m so sorry to hear about Bacchus. When animals become an important part of our lives, it’s so hard to say goodbye.
Kendramama on August 19 at 9:33 p.m.
Merry Hucksters, I apologize (if anyone even really noticed and/or cared!) regarding my long neglect of not only this blog but my own SoulDoubt. If anything, I think it’s been a combo of quitting my job due to the utter quiescence/torpor of working from home for almost two years (yeah, the money was great, my boss rocked, but I was going freakin’ nuts never leaving the house, stuck in front of the computer with a toddler every day battling for my attention!); plus the profound depression leading up to and culminating with my grandmother’s death- other factors too, but I digress…
So, to cut a long winded story short (me, long-winded… nah..!) I just couldn’t find the energy or inclination, no, make that inspiration to post anything worthwhile for months!
Now, I am once again vowing to turn over a new leaf. Lots has changed in my life- I am working two part-time jobs cleaning businesses and high-end residences: the money’s not great and the work is utterly back breaking- not to mention humbling- and if anyone has any other suggestions, please feel free to advise and/or refer…
BUT: my proudest achievements have been getting into counseling, realizing I need it, plus can’t just pizzle away my life (after all, I’m gonna be 33 on the 28th- yikes!) so… I also took the big step of enrolling in NIC late start this fall semester, 3/4 time. Full time come Spring. For now, lots of online courses, a few actual classroom classes, and mainly a bunch of pre-reqs to knock out of the way to pave the way to my double major in Education and Social Work.
To read more, check me out (DFO, I reneged on my deal to post once a week, so I know you re-deleted my blog, but whosever still interested in my semi-recovered success story (clean, but sometimes still acting like a drug-using idiot) on http://kendramama.blogspot.com, and I hope the update will cheer up those who’ve rooted for me from day one.
Thanks for reading, missed you guys.
christiewood on August 19 at 9:46 p.m.
DM I am very sorry about Bacchus. Dogs capture our hearts and it is painful when they leave us. Oscar moves a lot slower these days and is having trouble with is eyes. I dread the inevitable. He is sitting next to me snoring loudly as I type this. You and your sweet dog are in my thoughts.
DFO on August 19 at 9:57 p.m.
Gracious, HBO gets Kendra & Christie back within 13 minutes! Good stuff! Missed both you gals. Kendra, I’ll re-link you (with the usual request that you post once a week, of course). BTW, i’ll overlook lack of blogging for more frequent posts. You still have many fans in HBO land. Both of you.
IdahoDad on August 19 at 10:38 p.m.
The Dad’s Diner blog is also back after a long absence. He reviews one of those Government Way hot dog shacks.

http://dadsdiner.blogspot.com/
Charles_Dixon on August 20 at 8:28 a.m.
“Well, do people showing up to a polling place with night sticks and telling voters there it’s time for change bug you?”

Yeah. That didn’t happen. I heard about some racists trying to spread stories that big black men did that, though. I heard it was an effort by racists to stir up racial tensions. Why would racists do that?

––––—

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neGbKHyGuHU

Nope. It was all done by CGI. And the fact that the Obama DOJ stepped in to dismiss charges against these imaginary people—that was fake too, because they figured they needed to do a fake dismissal of this fake case, because it all was fake.

But keep throwing around the allegations of racism. Because that adds to the debate in a meaningful way.

« Back to Huckleberries Online

You must be logged in to post comments.
Please create a profile or log in here.

About this blog

D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.