HoundsGood: Chronicles of a Virtual Volunteer

When I was a kid, I took to the water like a fish.  My parents made sure, even though we lived in the city, that I knew how to swim just in case anything were to happen.  We went to the metro parks on occasion, and had relatives who had cottages, and it gave them peace of mind that we would be able to right ourselves if we slipped or fell in.  The other important thing is not panicking.   Even if you know a little bit about swimming, if you panic, you can sink like a stone.   Actually, I think I took it all for granted.

There were kids that lived near us that had never been swimming before outside of a small wading pool.  I just thought it was a given that other kids could swim.   MidwestSportsFans.Com and DallasSportsFans.Com, in partnership with Generational Equity, have donated money to the YMCA to bring swimming lessons to low income areas.   Each group of children is given eight weeks of basics and survival skills.   Many children drown each year, and sometimes it is due to panic, and even having parents who cannot swim themselves.  The groups involved want to make sure the children not only have a fighting chance, but they learn a new activity that is fun, and will benefit their health as well.

 You have probably seen the commercials on daytime tv, encouraging you to find a Mesothelioma Lawyer if you have the syndrome or were exposed to asbestos. I used to shut it off, thinking it sounded like some really rare condition or something that could be avoided. After all, don’t people wear masks when it comes to asbestos exposure?

Sadly, that is not always the case. In fact, when people work in older buildings, they may not be aware that there is a problem with asbestos. I remember working in a theater once, and myself and my coworkers were not there to handle construction or asbestos. We found out the hard way when one day, some of material from the ceiling tile covered the stage like snow when things were being renovated. The theater was closed for a whole year to remove the asbestos that was in the duct work and in the soundproofing.  Untouched, it was not a hazard, but once things started to break down, it was highly dangerous to inhale or touch. I also knew someone who decided to remove asbestos by themselves, and is no longer with us. He passed away with his adventure as a big contributor.

What items have asbestos in it?  Among the culprits are: Home insulation installed in the 1930s-1950s, soundproofing materials, asbestos shingles and ceiling tiles, old duct work.   There are more, but these are the most common.

Mesothelioma is most common to people in construction or ship building. While it poses not as big a threat now if you are working with newer materials, in decades past, manufacturers knew about the dangers long before the public did. Until asbestos is eradicated in every structure where someone may accidentally disturb it, it is something to be cautious about. Luckily, the problem is now well known and there is compensation for individuals with this condition. I don’t believe in a “sue happy” society, but the money granted to those afflicted by it goes a long way in helping them and their families with medical bills and care.  If this is you, please take care of yourself and know that there is definitely assistance out there.

When I used to live in the Northeast, I brought my dog just about everywhere. Everyone in the little shops new him. One day, I had to go to the post office. Because he was with me, I opted for the outside drop. There was a mailbox in the post office’s driveway with a special chute that supposedly prevented you from having to reach awkwardly out the car window. For some reason, I just wasn’t in the right car. It seemed to have been tailored to SUV’s and the slot hit at the top of my window. I backed up, opened my door so i wouldn’t hit the mailbox and did the “lean” (one foot in the car, one on the ground, and sort of leaning over the car door.

A lady ran up to me and yelled at me for “leaving my dog in the car” on a hot day. At first I wanted to slap her in my mind.

1) The a/c was on and the key was in the ignition.
2) The driver’s side door was 1/2 open (don’t worry, my dog was in seatbelt.
3) I was within 2-3 feet of my dog

For some reason, I censored myself that day. I was glad that she cared, as it is a serious issue, but she so didn’t know she was barking up the wrong tree. I was actually ready to thank her for her concern, and that I had the same concerns as she did. That’s why my a/c was on and my car was running.

She replied that it may be so but my car LOOKED like the type of car where the a/c didn’t work. Huh?

My car wasn’t a luxury car, but it wasn’t a total wreck either. At the end of her speech, I was half expecting her to pull a Dodge AC compressor out of her purse. She assumed that because I was young and drove an economy car at the time, that it must have a neglected a/c.  It wasn’t a Dodge, either, but she assumed it was.

It was kind of a strange encounter, but looking back, I wish she lived near me when I lived in Florida.  More people there – the right people who are actually leaving their dogs in their cars – need to be shaken up.  If people don’t have time to get to the shop and have a car that they tinker with on their own, DiscountACParts.com has all the things they need to get it back in working order. If they have an internet cell phone, they can even order it right in front of her so she makes sure they get it taken care of.

Please, when driving with your dog at any time of the year, but especially now (it is still kind of cool but the temperature can sneak up on you in May), don’t leave them alone in the car.  They could get heat stroke, dehydrate, or die.  Plan your day with excursions where your dog is welcome or leave him/her at home.