The first winter metro commute for this season.

Sigh....
And so it begins, this seasons frustrations and aggravations of winter commuting in a suburban region. 
I was born and raised in the snow belt of western PA.  There was 2" of fresh snow on the ground (and test course) when I took my drivers test at 16 y.o.a.  Pennsylvania is notorious for it's limited snow removal/ road treatments.  Driving in snowy conditions is something I've been accustomed to from the beginning. So yes, I get a little annoyed at some of the other drivers on the road in the areas in which I must now commute.
Some thoughts and comments stemming from this frustration rant;

• If you are uncomfortable with road conditions and/ or your driving skills that you feel the need to drive 20 mph slower than the rest of traffic with your 4 way flashers on, STAY HOME!  You are an impediment to traffic and creating a danger to yourself and others, especially the (seemingly majority) ones that are only aware of whats 10' in front of them.
• Speaking of the "just beyond your bumper" drivers, while on the open highway should you feel the necessity to keep tapping your brakes due to the vehicle in front of you, BACK OFF!  Yeah, you do this in the rain, too, moron.  Do you really think that you're going to have the reaction time (or ability) you need to stop or maneuver without colliding into what suddenly stopped in front of you?
• Everyone has their own level of comfort of driving speed on potentially slick roads.  I get that.  That doesn't mean that you need to ride the center and left lane of the highway.  But I know that's really asking too much, since that is just an extension of your typical driving habits anyway.
• And finally, just for honorable mention, a 4 wheel drive vehicle can get you going faster on slick roads, but it doesn't stop you any sooner.  I did not see any of that this morning, but I know I will before winter is over.

Be careful, be aware out there.

Hope springs eternal

But not always met with success.

Much to her chagrin, Maggie did not get a cinnamon roll.

Things that make you go "hmmmm?".

This sign is on a door in one of the buildings at work.
No, there is no powered opener attached to this door.
I'm guessing that by slapping this sticker on the window, someone thought that would make it comply with ADA requirements.
Don't know, but I chuckle every time I see it.

Happy Anniversary Maggie!

Here it is, one year ago that we adopted Maggie from Animal Control.  We couldn't ask for a better dog.  Any of her shortcomings I truly believe is us, not her.
She is an Australian Cattledog mix, with what we think may be some Lab.  Guesstimations was that she was around 9 months old when we adopted her.  Animal Control had picked her up wandering around as a stray 3 months prior, around the end of Oct.  Hard to believe that this beautiful dog spent three months in the shelter without anyone claiming her.  Our gain. 

Here she is, her last little bit of time at Animal Control.  I had just given her an extremely cold bath that she was not at all happy about, yet she looks as though she's still smiling at me.

 First stop on her journey to her forever home, the veterinarian to be spade.  While there, we met up with Miss Memphis Belle and her human.  Belle had to undergo treatment for heartworm that was undiagnosed prior to being adopted.  Fortunately, that procedure was successful, so Miss Belle can continue to keep everyone at The Lair on their toes.     Belle and Maggie had been kennel mates for a while.

        Hi Miss Belle!  I haven't seen you in awhile.  Can you tell me what's going on here?


When we picked Maggie up from the vet's, we were instructed to keep her calm and quiet for a couple of days to allow the incision to start healing properly.

                                                Anesthesia makes me woozy and tired.... 

Maggie recovered quite well from the surgery.  Enough so that the following morning she caught a mouse and dropped it on the kitchen floor at my wife's feet.  Then sat, wagging her tail  She was very proud of herself and rightly so, except that my wife doesn't do well with dead critters.  But everyone got past that little hurdle.  We didn't even know we had mice!

I sometimes wonder if she shouldn't have been named "Cato Fong" as she frequently lies in wait as I go in and out through the gate.

                                              C'mon!  Let's play!  I'm going to attack you!


Maggie loves to go for rides in the Jeep.  When she follows me out into the garage, she will look at me, then to the Jeep, then back at me, in hopeful expectation  She really gets excited when I pick up her harness, as she knows that means she's going for a ride.  I keep her secured with a short lead.  Otherwise she would lunge out at things (usually trucks) that she thinks she needs to chase. 
                                     

There is a friend from the fire department whose family has a cattle farm and they allow me to go there and cut firewood.  I have taken Maggie with me several times.  She has always been curiously interested in the cattle, but they had never been closer than 20 yards or so.
One day, there was a bull next to one of the gates I had to pass through.  Her initial reaction to this huge beast right next to us was priceless and I'm sorry it happened too quickly to capture it on camera.  She gave a jump of surprise when I stopped to close the gate and she first noticed the bull.

                                      


                                      

 The initial shock is over, but the look on her face says it all.  Some Cattledog!

                                     I'm not too sure about that thing, Dad.  It sure is big!

                                            Yes I have big ears.  Don't make fun of them!

The "Queen" on her throne.  A tree stump right behind the house.  The dark spots are the screen in the window.

 Probably one my favorite pictures of Maggie.  It captures the ever present look in her eyes, how she has a way of seemingly looking right into your soul.     
                                          

                                               MMMMM!  Love me some peanut butter!  
                                               Thanks for the empty jar, Dad.  Can you
                                               leave more in it next time? 

                                                   I've got my favorite toy..  Lets play!


Yeah, we love this dog.  But it's not as though she's spoiled.....

      What?!....   Can't you see I'm trying to sleep?  Yeah, I know it's your pillow.  What of it?

Random picture

Any takers on guessing what this is?


It's called a "K tool".  Used by fire departments as one means of forcible entry.  It has two knife edges that get forced onto a door lock cylinder and then the cylinder face gets pried off, exposing the lock mechanism, which can then be manipulated with standard tools to unlock the door.  It's intended to minimize damage during forcible entry.