The blame game

The news is saturated with articles on a child killed by an alligator in Florida. Social media is calling for people to stop blaming the parents. I understand that and I know they've suffered an unbearable loss. I can't imagine their pain and I know it was a tragic accident. ACCIDENT. If you believe it was an accident (as I do), you can't blame Disney either. It's Florida. Home to millions of alligators, snakes, and mosquitoes. There's a risk of coming into contact with any of those things on a daily basis. I don't think warning signs would have stopped this from happening. If alligator warning signs were up, it could have been a python. I have been to Florida only a couple of times and have seen large snakes and alligators  on the side of the road. People find them in their houses, under cars, and in the most unusual places. They are everywhere.
My hope is that a lot of education comes out of this tragedy. Alligators feed at dusk. They are more active during the nesting periods of late May, June, and July. No pet or small child should be allowed near the waters edge-not a man made lake, canal, pond, creek, or standing mud puddle especially at dusk. It's against the law to feed alligators because they will approach other humans for food or as a food source.
If you're traveling, please look into the dangers of where you're going. Are there wild animals that you're not used to dealing with? What kind of poisonous insects and snakes are common in the area? What do you do and where do you go if bitten? What about weather? Do you have a safe place? A back up plan?
A little bit of education can go a long way.
And accidents happen.
Tragic accidents.
And when they do, no one is to blame.

TBT a memory

So I didn't get up early enough to find a picture for TBT so you're stuck rehashing a memory with me. Let me explain. There's a huge box in my office for people to drop off shoes for children starting school in the fall. They've requested certain sizes that must tie. Both girls and boys need size one so I didn't bother to write anything else down and went shopping. Do you think I could find two pairs of size ones? Noooo much less cute ones or cool ones which brought up that memory I mentioned.
All the way back to 1995, when Beth started first grade and Paul started kindergarten. My brother was concerned about their shoe situation. They had shoes, but he wanted to make sure that they had "cool" shoes and took them shopping. He did this for years. Never asking my permission or asking for anything in return.
So I'm going shopping for school shoes for kids that aren't mine and I'm blaming my brother.

The Journey

Today I start another journey. It's not one that I haven't done before, but this time it's a little different. I'm not alone, but there's a little bit of fear involved. I've decided to breed Dixie. Not as a professional, but as one of those back yard breeders. Before you give me any lectures, let me remind you that there are bad people in any profession-look at the police and the priesthood. To label us all in one category is wrong. I've done a lot of research and put a lot of thought in to this venture.
The "date" is set for tonight and I may still back out-if he's not as pictured, if he's too big, if he doesn't act like a gentleman, if he treats Dixie badly, if she gives me "the look", or if she whines-it's off. I've searched for the last six months and this is the only acceptable male I can find-and he comes with a lot of good recommendations, but if he can't treat Dixie properly it's off. Not joking. I love Dixie more than a lot of people love their kids (sorry it's true). My own daughters can rebuff me when I tell them what a thrill it is to be a mom, but Dixie gets to do it at least once. I will feel terrible if she doesn't have a good pregnancy or enjoy the pups, but she's an adventurer and loves life so I think she will be ok.
If not ice cream will make it better or some really good treats (sorry Dad no chips after pregnancy is confirmed). Dixie will be really glad that it gets her out of the tight dresses and onesie dog sleepers for a while.
I have an emergency vet and a back up. I have a breeding mentor. I know that dachshunds typically have between two and seven pups their first litter. I have seven really, really good people that want a puppy. I'm prepared if they back out.
If tonight's date goes as planned, the puppies will be born the first week of August.