ABSILVER's World

We all can learn from DaisyBelle, about bias and tolerance. For many people, across the street or walking the trail, she is a mix of American Bulldog and Pit Bull.  There are words often repeated, about these dogs being violent and biting people and getting into tussles with other dogs.  Let’s be clear, she is a strong dog and we know it.  All dogs can be trained to bite and be aggressive from the chihuahua to the largest German Shepherd but these dogs of late are judged as rottweilers were in my youth.  But, there is another side of her.  Her breed was bred to be nannies and caregivers.  If you paid attention walking her you would notice how her ears perk up when she hears children.  You would see her gentleness and her joy in being pet by children or getting a chance to kiss them as we walk down the trail.  You would see her kindness with Lucky, our cat that she helped find, and how she runs into the yard to protect her if she thinks there is a...

I sit here on a Saturday morning, in Longview, TX where there is a chill in the air, 47 degrees.  I realize for the first time in many years we are experiencing fall.  We lived in South Florida where the sign of fall is the beginning of early snowbird migrants for the winter.  In Austin, a bit south of, I don't remember the fall weather as sharp and crisp as it is here in Longview.  Daisybelle chose a shorter walk this morning in the chill, and we are all enjoying the change of temps as the leaves on the trees are beginning to show it is time to prepare for winter. It was around this time last year we decided to make a move.  We enjoyed Austin.  Work had been productive and our home and neighborhood were quite special, but Austin was changing quickly.  I felt the energy was more akin to San Francisco and that caffeine driven energy that I had experienced over the years.  I appreciate the energy it drives, the innovation, and creativity but honest...