Saturday Slight

 

Okay.

This fervent ZAGS fan will just get it over first thing.

There is no joy in ZAGSville this morning. 

Our beloved team was served a giant slice of Tennessee humble pie last night deep in the heart of Texas. 

I doubt that it tasted good, and we all hope that the experience was so distasteful that they roll up their sleeves, work hard and redeem themselves. 

We've all been there, done that many, many times in our lives. 

Those of us approaching ancientville, like me, know that this too shall pass.

When players are young and playing for what is now considered a national powerhouse---no longer the Cinderella squad---last night's whooping has to hurt. 

But Gonzaga has a wonderful program, and the coaching staff and the community and the fans will help the team maneuver through the bumps and bruises that come with such stunning wake-up calls. 

I told Bill, as we painfully watched the second-half disaster last night that I was sure glad we hadn't gathered a group for a ZAGS party. 

Twas ugly.  

We've been spoiled and have become very unaccustomed to such losses, especially first thing in the season. 

But we'll all survive, as will our ZAGS. It will get better. 

GO, ZAGS!

~~~~

Okay, that said, I must talk about Miss Bridie this morning. 

It's been almost a year since we learned of her availability, picked her up in Ellensburg and brought her home to be forever ours. 

We've been through some major bumps in the road with this happy little darling. 

At times, we wondered out loud if she would ever grow up and stop descecrating the toilet paper and stealing the dish rags and, yes, accidentally going No. 2 in the house withOUT stealing toilet paper to clean up her mess.

Well, today we have some wonderful Bridie news.  

For two nights in a row, she has known the freedom of sleeping outside her crate. 

For two nights, the house and even the toilet paper have been left intact. 

Bill suggests this may not be a permanent situation with our Bridie, but as long as she behaves, she'll have that freedom. 

Also, because of her fixation with herding Liam, we have decided that it is safe to give Bridie outdoor freedom for several hours a day.

Again, she has not disappointed us, and we figure as long as Liam is her "object" of herding practice, we're in good shape. 

It's been a long year of puppydum and challenging at times, but we think our little gal is turning the corner, and we're also back to fully enjoying life as Border Collie owners. 

Our dogs are so funny with their individual personalities and their personal quirks and especially with their desire to be with us. 

They're my helpers while doing yard work (still not allowed to run free when I'm trying to start the lawnmower---crazy fixation about mechanical things like lawnmowers, 4-wheelers and tractors). 

When I'm raking leaves or cutting shrubs, their presence is both entertaining and wonderful. 

So, that's some good news to offset some of the other near household disasters we've endured with Miss Bridie. 

So, the news is not all bad on this Saturday morning.

~~~~

 Still, I keep observing the political scene from top to bottom and still want to pull out my hair, thinking of the depths to which we have come in this nation. 

It's sickening, embarrassing, scary and extremely disappointing at this point in one's life.  

Those of my age ilk have known a different kind of America for too many years to find much of anything we're witnessing in the political world as acceptable.

Yesterday, I heard a commentator say that we used to look at other countries and their debacles and feel relief that such base behavior seldom happened here in America.

Seems the tables have turned, and over the past few years, we've watched integrity, respect and dignity toward others, telling the truth, courtesy, empathy and general humanity thrown out the window. 

Granted, there is still a LOT of good in this country, but these days there's much more overtly disgusting and repulsive behavior making all the noise. 

And, as we see horrific behavior on the part of those who should know better taking additional steps, one wonders and worries about the future of this once great nation.

I hope people start waking up and realizing how close to the precipice we are at losing everything that has been and can still be sacred and appreciated about this country. 

It starts with some major behavior changes. 

Will that happen?  Guess we'll see, and we'll know with more certainty after the outcome of the upcoming general election. 

I sincerely hope and pray our electorate reassures us. 

Okay, that's enough mutterings for today. 

Things to do. Time to get started.

Happy Saturday.