Thursday, January 17, 2013

The Slow Bone... Dallas Tx.

Jack Perkins owner of "Maple and Motor Burgers & Beer" will soon be opening "The Slow Bone BBQ".  Located at 2234 Irving Blvd., Dallas.  Hopes to open late Feb or early March.  Lots of work to do on the building but soon should have the look and feel of a "BONE"-afide Bar-B-Q shak.  Can't wait.   

Avila's homestyle tex-mex cooking...

   Last night was our 27th wedding anniversary, so Avila's was the perfect spot for dinner.  Homestyle tex-mex cooking perfectly describes Avila's fine food.  Small and cozy tables but large on flavor and ingredients.   

 Papito's Special
 one cheese enchilada, one beef taco, one soft cheese taco, and a guacamole tostada, rice and beans

 Avila's Mexican Restaurant on Urbanspoon

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Maple & Motor Burgers and Beer... Oak Lawn Dallas Tx.


 Today was a long awaited weekend lunch trip to Maple and Motor.  Many have written of a superb hamburger just like your homemade burgers are cooked on the grill at home.  Man o' Man do I agree.  Fresh bread and veggies along with a perfectly cooked great tasting hamburger meat in between.  Honestly one of the best burgers I've ever had.  Fun atmosphere and lots of happy faces all around.  Had a great time and can't wait to go back.  Two burgers, fries, tots and two sodas $21.00.  Big Thumbs Up Mr Jack.  Big Thumbs Up.

Follow Mr Jack Perkins @MAPLEANDMOTOR
All North Dallas residents go North Dallas Tollway South, exit Wycliff Ave. and turn right on Maple.  20 minute drive from Frisco.    

 Maple & Motor Burgers & Beer on Urbanspoon


Sunday, January 6, 2013

Not the Way it Was Supposed to Be...

 
  On my way out of the shelter I saw something that just broke my heart. Walking in a single line heading into the shelter was a kennel worker with an old dog on a leash, following them was an elderly man and behind him and older lady carrying a blanket. The employee said goodbye to the man, the woman (with tears in her eyes) dropped the old blanket into the plastic trash bin in front of the shelter. I noticed the old dog looking back at the man and woman as they turned back toward their grey car. As the kennel worker walked the dog through the front door of the shelter he handed the leash off to another employee. That’s where I first met Indigo, a 16 year old dog who walked slowly but every so intently. I believe he knew what was to come before the girl ever uttered the words to me, “Indigo is a 16 year old dog dropped off for Owner Requested Euthanasia.”
I looked with despair at the dog walking along the cement sidewalk on this sunny day. He stopped along the way to take his last smell of the grass next to the walkaway that led to the last building he would see in this life. He marked the grass with one last long pee. I asked the employee if I could take a quick photo of Indigo and say hello – she complied.
His eyes were heavy as he turned to look at me, I snapped my picture and he was off. He didn’t pull on the leash, but didn’t lag behind either. He had spent 16 years on this earth, dedicated to (maybe more than) one family, maybe not. No one really knows his truths but him. He never gave up on his people but his people did. Last night he slept in a house probably on a bed or maybe just a comfortable corner of the room never knowing that today would be his last day and that he had just awoken from his last sleep. He went for a ride with the people he loved and those he grew to trust. It could have been a ride like any other but it wasn’t. This is a ride that only led one way for Indigo. Once he stepped out of that car he wouldn’t be stepping back in.
There were no goodbyes, no last petting, no kisses – just a handoff of the leash. Within minutes he would be alone in a room with people he’d never met before, but people he trusted just as well – because that’s the way dogs are. Someone would hold his leg and give him an injection, not like the ones he used to get at the vet, but a last injection. He would get sleepy and close his eyes for the very last time. His last vision would not be of the people that he shared his life with, but rather a cement wall in a shelter that was probably not too far from where he used to play and walk.
Within a few moments he would drift off and his body would become limp, as his spirit left his body the employees would take his body and discard it with all of the other animals that no one loved – in a barrel. Piled one on top of another; there was certainly a body under his and more than likely a few above him. Perhaps after passing along he looked down into the room with relief or maybe sadness thinking to himself “This is not the way it was supposed to be.”
For those of us that have mourned the sickness of a beloved pet or struggled with the decision to put a suffering animal down this may not make sense, but it is a sad reality for countless animals every day. I don’t know if there was great pain on the side of the people who dropped Indigo at the shelter, but I know the sadness and pain that Indigo must have felt – I saw it in his eyes. Alone, as an old man, walking through a place he’d never known with someone he’d never met, now his final steps without the loving hands he’d grown to trust.
This is a painful reality for people who work at the shelter who have no choice and an even more painful reality for a loving pet who has nowhere to turn.
When the day comes to say goodbye won’t you please be there every step of the way for your beloved pet. Let his last sound be your voice, he last sight be your tear filled eyes and his last touch be the beating of your heart as his takes its last beat…
Godspeed Indigo…. See you on the other side!

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Am I Famous Now...

I was born today. One of 10. My daddy was very famous. I have lots of half brothers and sisters. My mother is very famous. Since she got famous, she has only had puppies. No more loving hands, no more fun trips... just puppies. She is always sad when they leave her.

I left home today. I didn't want to go, so I hid behind my mama and my three littermates that were left. I didn't like you. But one day they said I would be famous. I wonder; is famous the same as fun and good times? So you picked me up and carried me away, even though you were concerned about me hiding from you. I don't think you liked me.

My new home is far away. I am scared and afraid. My heart says be brave. My ancestors were. Did they go to good homes like mine? I'm hungry because I can't eat too much because it will be bad for my bones. I can't bite or snap when the children are mean to me. I just run and play and pretend I am in a big green field with butterflies and robins and frogs. I can't understand why they kick me. I am quiet, but the man hits and says loud things. The lady doesn't feed me good things like I had with my mother. She just throws dry food on the ground, then goes away before I can get too close for touching and petting. Sometimes my food smells bad but I eat it anyway.

Today I had 10 puppies. They are so wonderful and warm. Am I famous now? I wish I could play with them, but they are so tiny. I am so young and playful that it is hard to lay here in this hole under the house nursing my puppies. They are crying now. I am so hungry. I scratch and worry my fur. I wish someone would throw me some food. I am also very thirsty. I now have eight. Two got cold during the night and I couldn't make them warm again. They are gone. We are all very weak. Maybe if I take them out on the porch, we can get some food.

Today they took us away. It was too much trouble to feed us and someone came to take us away. Someone grabbed my puppies, they were cryin and whimpering. We were put in a truck with boxes in it. Are my babies famous now? I hope so, because I miss them. They are gone.

The place smelled of urine, fear and sickness. Why was I here? I was beautiful, like my ancestors. Now I am hungry, dirty, in pain and unwanted. Maybe the worst is unwanted. No one came though I tried to be good. Today someone came. They put a rope on my neck and led me to a room that was very clean and had a shiny table. They put me on the table. Someone held me and hugged me. It felt so good!!! Then I felt tired and laid over the last one who cared. I am famous now. Today someone cared.

Cynethia

Friday, January 4, 2013

Private Facebook Settings...

Hello, my FB friends: I want to stay PRIVATELY connected with you. I post shots of my family that I don't want strangers to have access to!!! However, with the recent changes in FB, the "public" can now see activities in ANY wall. This happens when our friend hits "like" or "comment" ~ automatically, their friends would see our posts too. Unfortunately, we can not change this setting by ourselves
because Facebook has configured it this way. PLEASE place your mouse over my name above (DO NOT CLICK), a window will appear, now move the mouse on “FRIENDS" (also without clicking), then down to "Settings", click here and a list will appear. REMOVE the CHECK on "COMMENTS & LIKE" and also "PHOTOS". By doing this, my activity among my friends and family will no longer become public. Now, copy and paste this on your wall. Once I see this posted on your page I will do the same. Thanks!!
 
copied from a friends FB page...