Three Amigo's

 cute puppies having a great time at the beach.  they were happy and tired both days we went.

 feel like i'm on the verge of a cold bug today...or it's allergies i guess.  the pollen counts are supposed to be high.  i don't think i really have allergy issues, but seems like it's pretty common so i may just ignore the symptoms most years.

 for as closely as i watch my patients, i am often less aware of my own issues.  if it's not a real issue in my day to day life i just move on.

 just checked on pups...they did not seem interested in making a midnight run outside for a potty break.

 walked quite a ways on powerline pass today with them and TO.  that is a long walk for them.  lots of folks and dogs to greet.  they did quite well overall.  Tusker is mastering "give me five" Ivy has not figured out what i'm asking for.  just figured i'd give it a shot...he just picked up on it somehow.

 other than that, i can't say i got much accomplished.  did get a list of stuff to bring out to those guys.  will have to make sure they are cool with staying through the 20th.  otherwise i'll need to call boat folks. figure i would like to call them on Tuesday either way just to make sure we are all set there.

 want to make sure i have the pets handled for the trip...always the most stressful, more stressful with babies.  they will be fine...me, well, i'll be more of the stressed out one.

 the sunset is so beautiful on Round Island cliff cam tonight . seems to have been a bank of fog much of the day.  fun to watch it roll in.

 met a few ladies on the trail today and they were looking for birds...i had to plug Round Island and the web cams...that cliff cam has all sorts of birds and bird sounds on it.  gave out my business cards to both of them, both have wanted to visit round island and i encouraged them to do so.

 this whale has been hanging close to shore all week apparently so we were lucky enough to get several sightings of this humpback.  we could see him from our camp site and did see him several times there, we also spotted him as we drove to Lowell Pt and then we saw him again when we were on the beach.  i kept not getting my camera up quick enough, but i got these.

 of course, today my friend posted a story about a cruise ship coming in to Seward today with a dead whale on the front of it.  that happens on occassion...so sad.  :-(

 also someone on facebook said they hadn't seen that mama moose in the bog the last several days and that instead there had been black bear sightings...great..hope i didn't get that poor moose killed.  it was going to get hit by a car where it was though.  don't mess with nature, right.  i'll still hope all is well and it found it's mama and that this whale above is not the whale found dead on the boat...think positive.

 great to sleep in a real bed.  the older you get the less lovely sleeping in a sleeping bag can be..it's what you do to be in the most beautiful places though.

 my friend with her older pup.  above is Blossom.  she's not young either, but i'm still hoping she lives forever...she would be the dog to clone.  don't think i have the cash flow for that though.

 enjoy each one for the time i get to.

 conversation had turned to religion a bit the other morning at breakfast.  what was I?  i feel closest to what ever God there is when i am out in nature.  if there is a God and that God had any part in creating this, would that God want trees torn down to build houses of worship? or would God prefer the trees be the house of worship?  i tend to feel that all of the beauty of nature is there to help you keep perspective in life, to find that peace and to learn the lessons.  it's all there, watch, be silent, learn.

 guess that doesn't work for everyone, but it works for me.  keep it simple.  all the analysis and debates only complicate the simple messages.  in the end....for me, it just gets down to kindness.  being kind, being accepting, not judging others.  all those details that everyone wants to prove they are right about...in the end they do not matter in my opinion.  all that will matter is what you did, how you treated people. how you cared for those weaker than you.  did you protect the earth which was created with so many tiny details and such variety and attention.  i always think, why not one butterfly instead of thousands, why not one flower, why not just cows and chickens if animals were created just for humans to consume?   not even so much what you believed.

 i feel all these beliefs  have messages that are good and can help you be better, but they all seem to get so murky and lost in all the pomp and circumstance and arrogance.  human nature makes us want to be right...but we can't always be right.  religion is a way of feeling superior i think for many.  you have the right religion so somehow you win the prize...but i just don't think it works that way. the battles and hatred caused by the various religions is always astounding to me.  history shows us some pretty dark times in most religious  groups.

 faith is good but faith is blind.  that is a tough one for me.  i want to know, i need to know.  you have to have faith to believe in a God and you also have to have faith to be an atheist in my mind.  neither is provable beyond doubt with science.  i'm willing to accept the possibility that there is or isn't.

 i feel the same with our universe...it's beyond me to be able to comprehend the vastness of space, the lack of an ending despite my feeble understanding of all things having an end. i could make myself nuts about it or i could just accept that there are things that are beyond my rational abilities.

 of course, some things become clear. some science gets proven.  at one point the big battle raged...was the world round or flat, does the sun rotate around us or do we rotate around the sun.  no matter what evidence was shared by those who were science minded people held on to their previous beliefs.

 what we believe is comforting and when what we believe gets shaken it can be very uncomfortable.

 when you leave beliefs that were taught you your entire life it's not an easy choice.  it's scary and you flounder as you find yourself in a place of not knowing what you believe at all.  what of the things you were taught growing up still resonate with you, what doesn't.  you read and you research all the religions and then slowly, you find your way back to believing what feels right to you.

 my journey was not always easy, but it's my journey and i'm grateful that i was able to find my way through to the other side of it and find peace in my life.

 the last time i was in an actual church was for funerals.  it's required.  i did attend a service with a friend.  a attended various services in my floundering days....none of them felt right and the only thing that felt right was being in nature .

 i'll take my lumps after i pass...or not, if there are no lumps to take.  would be sad to just never rock that boat even if it makes you unhappy.  fear prevents change. we all have fears.  in my greatest changes in life, there was always fear..fear and excitement both.

 regrets...not for me.  it's all part of learning and growing.  in my mind ways are created to help us all learn the lessons we are here to learn...those lessons are not always the same for each of us...therefore judgement should be left to our maker or creator if that is how it is.  i'm on earth..i have no idea what the plan is or if there is a plan.

 i try to be kind and good, not because i have a fear of some judgement day when i pass, but because it's the right thing to do.

 the dogs make me happy.  such fun.  they are really turning out to be wonderful additions to the family.  still working on getting the dogs and cats happily blended.

 keep crating them, but i think they will be like Blossom and won't really require crating for too long.  it's a good way to start puppies out though i think.  helps me to sleep.  helps them to get potty trained as well i think.

 this afternoon i saw a flash of light and then the thunder hit.  it was loud...all the dogs reacted.  then the rain started to pour down...lightening and thunder continued.  i didn't want the pups to develop fear of the noises so i quietly settled them, shut the dog door and put them in their crates with peanut butter bones until the worst of it passed.

 we really don't get much lightening here so it was strange.

 so mixed weather today. even on our walk.  we did get a few sprinkles, but not bad at all.

 haven't looked at todays pics.

 dogs worn out at our campsite

 Happy Memorial Day...many thanks to those who have served to protect this nation and especially those who have died in that quest.  i have no served so i am dependent on others to help keep my freedom. i try to remember our military when i vote...who will think of them and their loved ones before sending them off to battle.  it is not something to be taken lightly.  yes, a soldier is aware that the ultimate sacrifice is sometimes made, but that in no way means they want their lives to have no meaning and to be thrust into wars without concern for each individual and their family and the toll that loss would be for all.

 when i think of a certain candidate slamming a decorated POW from Vietnam because as that candidate said...he shouldn't have gotten caught i think was how he worded it...this is not a person who should have the honor of running our great military.  may they protect our lands and our lives, may they come home...

 gotta have campfires...well, if we don't get more rain like we did today, we won't be allowed campfires at some point.

 Tusker was so cute in this chair.  haha.

 guess i should take some benedryl and get some solid sleep.

thankful for: A.  our military, those who have served, those who are serving and those who will serve  B. the families of those military, may they have comfort and strength  C.  those who have suffered the ultimate for their service.  those who suffer daily with PTSD, drug and alcohol issues, those who live with pain from injuries and lost limbs and suffering at the hands of those who would harm them...our POW's, both those who survived and those who were lost.  and lastly those who never come home, who are never found and who have families that hold out hope. peace should always be the goal, avoidance of force always the hope.