Friday, August 1, 2008

A Fractured Fairytale and More.........

Hi ta all.....



This is gonna be a long post so grab a pawtini, curl up in yer favorite easy chair .....'n chew on a bully stick.....



We're at our cottage again 'n there's a ton of wildlife around here......now there's a big puddle of water across the road from us cause they're havin' a problem figurin' out how ta drain the road water there. We saw a lot of big tadpoles swimmin' around in the water earlier this summer....'n we hear frogs croakin' there at night now.....ribbit...ribbit....ribbit.......
I always like ta think about myself as bein' an action hero and I was tryin' ta remember the story about the beautiful princess who turned the frog inta a handsome prince.


Now I wondered what those frogs across the road looked like cause we really don't see 'em .....we only hear 'em croakin.....do they look silly like this guy ?????
Or a bit cartoonish like this little fellow ?????
Or much more like a real frog.....sorta like this guy????
And if I were ta kiss 'em would they turn inta a dashing prince who would grant me my every wish????

Would he be someone like the smilin' guy ridin' a white horse......




or a tall handsome blond hunk with a flowin' cape....?????



So I was scoutin' around here ta see if I could find the frog and give 'em a big kiss and I found this guy here.......... I just had ta get 'em in my mouth a bit 'n roll my tongue around 'em and kiss 'em real good cause I really wanted that prince and the wish of my life.......( fer Jackson ta get well again)





Instead I got this.......



Did ya know that bugger was a TOAD........'n not a frog ?



A TOAD.......TOAD..........TOAD.......



Though most toads are bitter tasting and usually result in profuse drooling in any pet that tries to take a taste, only a couple of species of toads are truly poisonous. The poisonous secretions from these toads can affect animals who come in contact with them, causing a host of clinical signs.



Now we're lucky that we don't live in the part of the country where there are poisonous toads. Right after we told Levi's Mom ta watch out fer that toad that was in her backyard, I have ta go and kiss one. I was salivatin' all over the place...then I got a bit sick 'n threw up.......



Pap washed my mouth out a bit so I could get that horrible taste out of it.........
My Mom was so embarrassed that I kissed a toad instead of a frog that she curled up in the toy box and went ta sleep.....



Let this be a lesson ta me ta check the color of the hoppin' vermin before I decide ta give it a kiss....ya think I would know by now since I did this once before........



Our story was about the Toad Prince instead of the Frog Prince, I guess....we got it fractured just a bit there.....



This is Dewey Dewster reportin' from Titusville Pa on The Frog Prince.....



****************************************************************


Randy Pausch



This is Dewey's Gram here.....



Some of you may have noticed the picture of Dr. Randy Pausch on the top right portion of the blog. Many may have recognized the name and the face that went along with it and others might be trying to figure out who he was. Was he a relative of ours? ……no, he wasn’t….well…… who was he then?

Randolph Frederick Pausch was a little known professor of computer science, human-computer interaction and design at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in August of 2006 and suffered through the aggressive treatments he sought to stave off the disease in relative obscurity. That is until he gave his “Last Lecture” to a packed auditorium at Carnegie Mellon University on September 18, 2007. His cancer had returned in August of 2007 and he was told that he would remain healthy for only another 3 to 6 months.

His last lecture, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," brought him a standing ovation and was viewed by millions of people around the world. Although becoming a celebrity was not one of his life goals, he became one as he testified before congress on cancer research, threw football passes with the Steelers at a practice session, was given a role in the new Star Trek movie, met with Sting and the Police, was honored by the president of the U.S., appeared on Good Morning America and The Oprah Winfrey Show and was interviewed by Diane Sawyer on several occasions.

Each time I saw him on TV, his eyes were sparkling and his upbeat attitude was infectious….here was a man with only months to live who was showing the world how to die with grace and dignity.


I remembered my sister-in-law's ( Mary Lou Thewes) brief struggle with that deadly disease. From diagnosis until death for her was less than 2 months. She died at the end of January 2007.


On May 18, 2008 Randy made a surprise appearance at the commencement ceremonies at Carnegie Mellon. He delivered a speech after which he carried his wife off the stage with a huge smile on his face.

I made it a point to check his personal web page for medical updates and for news on what he and his family had been doing….except for the last month or so.

As I listened to the radio in the car on July 25, 2008, I heard the news that he had passed away at his home in Chesapeake, Virginia,. He had moved there after his last lecture to be closer to his wife’s family. Randolph Frederick Pausch left this world surrounded by his family and close friends and in the same manner that he began his fight against that dreaded disease, in relative obscurity. The news of his death brought renewed interest in the celebrity that he had become his last year on earth. He packed a ton of living in those last few months that he had with his wife and children and the world was watching him.

I hope that his contagious enthusiasm for life and his deep love and devotion for his wife and family will live on in the minds of all who had the pleasure of knowing him for such a brief time. He left a legacy for his three young children so that they may know the man who was their father as they grow up. He touched many lives and taught people with life threatening illnesses how to manage their last days and how to create a positive attitude to carry them back to good health.

God speed Randy Pausch….may you rest in peace………


And Mary Lou.....if you're reading this from above.........we will always remember you and that smile that always filled your face....


Here's hoping that there is soon a cure for all cancers but we are praying for something that prolongs the lives of those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.



*****************************************************************************



Jackson We Love Ya !!!!



Now our friend Jackson got a spot of bad news last week ( hell it wasn't a spot, it was a boulder ) and we are all hoping that there is a treatment that will help cure him of his problems and that good news arrives at his house soon .



If everyone paws it forward and sends those healing vibes across the waters to Jackson, we know he will be OK.



Get Well, Jackson....we love ya !!!!!!



**********************************************************************
Another Award fer the Terriers


Our friends, Momo and Pinot the Cavs in Toronto have passed on the big puffy red heart award ta us. We are proud ta accept it and send many thanks yer way...........


Didn't I tell ya this was gonna be a long post ?

Hope ya had enough bully stick ta last thru the whole thing........



This is Dewey Dewster signin' out from Titusville, Pa.


Have a Great Day Everyone !!!!!!!!

******************************************************************************

18 comments:

Asta said...

Dewey
I'm sowwy he was a toad n ot a fwog pwince..but maybe he'll still gwant you youw wish fow Jackson..at least I hope so!!!
I hate all this sadness and loss..thank you fow telling us about that bwave young man..we can all leawn fwom him..it's not the length of time , but the quality of it that mattews....
Stay healthy and stop embawwasing youw Mom..smoochie kisses
ASTA

Eric said...

Dewey... Bad luck pal, I wouldn't have noticed the difference either. But hey every toad has a silver lining....you could have kissed a froggie and it might have turned into Casanova Petey!!!

Those healing vibes are all arriving here for Jackson,Dewey, I can see and feel them all around.. with us all rooting so hard for him he has to be ok.

Thanks for the info on Randy Pauch, I was going to ask you about him. That's a humbling story .. I had sort of heard a bit about him .but will go and check out those links.

Remeber to bark for Jackson too.

Your pal Eric

Koobuss said...

Hi Guys,

Loved your post...

Dewey, don't worry about mistakenly kissing a toad instead of a frog. Anybody can do that. But, sweety, if you want to kiss a frog, my blog is full of them, and they are safe. Just kiss any of the zhabas (frogs), or even me! I will be happy to have your kisses, but I won't turn into anything spectacular. I'll still be me, plain old Koobie.

That was quite a story about Randy Pausch. My mom knew of his plight and marvels at his strength and courage. What a tremendous man he was!

We are sorry to hear about your gram's sister-in-law, and how she suffered. My mom lost a friend to that ugly, hideous pancreatic cancer not too long ago. It wiped out their whole family, father and two daughters.

As for Jackson, we are praying and rooting for him as hard as we can. He has battled through more than his share of health issues and suffering. He is a survivor. But he has another battle and we know that he will give it everything he's got. He's like that.


Love and Koobuss Kisses,
Koobie

pee ess Wonderful job on the post.

Molly the Airedale said...

Know what? Mom saw that Oprah show with Randy Pausch! She was instantly in love with him! He was a wonderful upbeat hooman being! He will be greatly missed! Thank you for telling us about him, Dewey!

Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch

Abby said...

Hi, Dewey...

Sorry about the Toad...It didn't look like it tasted too good...

My Mom saw Randy Pausch on a few TV shows & was sooo impressed by him & his positive & courageous fight...He obviously truly loved life & his family...

My Mom knows a bit about that horrible disease, too...In May of 2007 she lost both her Mom & her brother just 10 days apart...

If I ever find a frog, I'm gonna kiss it & wish that we could rid the world of this terrible disease...

We keep praying for Jackson...It's been a tough week on DWB...

Abby xxxooo

Joe Stains said...

Mom is so super creeped out by frogs and toads she just had to skim that entry because it gave her the willies!!!

Mom watched that Dr. Pausch video and really loved it. Its so sad when the world loses a great person!

Agatha and Archie said...

Ahh another informative post my boy.Now as for that frog/toad...did ya get all foamy and stuff?We had a friend who did the exact same thing...Your Mom really likes bowls huh??! She is a riot. PL2 was following Dr Pausch and thought he was an unbeibvable man. Because PL2 is a nurse she was really touched by how he handled his life and disease. She always says live each day to the fullest, and that he did...Love and kisses A+A

JB's Big and Small Worlds said...

You sure had a lot to report on today. The toad story is a great report....you know I love animals but don't like to kiss toads I think! I am purring and purraying for Jackson too.
--JB

Chef said...

Hope you stay away from anything that looks like a frog or a toad from now on, Dewey because you never can tell which one is which.

My Mama also knew about Randy Pausch and saw parts of his last speech on TV. What an inspiration he was. I think the whole world loved him. He was a very special human being.

We adored this post, Dewey....we adore ALL your posts but this one was exceptional. Have a great weekend.

xoxo
* Praying for Jackson *
Chef

Noah the Airedale said...

We were wondering who Dr Randy was. Thanks for filling us in. He sounds like a very special person.

Dewey, unlucky matie. Hopefully the next amphibian you kiss is a frog.

Tail wags
Noah

Oorvi said...

Hi Dewey,

I am sorry to hear about the case of mistaken identity. It would have been hilarious had it not been for the bad after-taste. Don't worry about the lost opportunity, who knows, a frog may decide to come and kiss you; and she may turn into a dog princess of the Terrier kind:)

Many thanks to Gram for that excellent writeup about Dr. Randy Pausch. As she mentioned, I did wonder about him...and I thought that he was probably your Doctor who had treated you real well. I also noticed that he was quite young when he died, so I felt sad about it...but then I really didn't know how to ask.

His story gives us the courage to go on despite adversities...I know it's easier to be courageous when you know that things would be okay in the future, but to be brave in the face of a terminal illness is very difficult. I admire Dr. Pausch and your Gram's sister-in-law for their courage and their love for life and happiness.

Congratulations on your awards...Dewey! You've got many fans, and that's no surprise because you write so well:)

The butterflies are still there and a couple of new clocks are being made blog-ready...we can expect some action on my site in the coming couple of days!...and yes, the puzzle has been correctly solved by all those who attempted it, including Eva...so if your answer matches Eva's or Charlie's you got it right:)

I am going to take your advice and help Mercury when she makes her next puzzle...this puzzle isn't challenging enough...what do you say?

Licks n wags,
Oorvi

Misadventures of Widowhood said...

Randy Pauch really was a man who really knew how to enjoy life and was a great teacher.

You'd better carry a photo around of a toad so you don't try the kissing trick again although I did enjoy your prince story a lot. Hope you are feeling better now. Levi found a second toad last night and I had to put it in the relocation program.

Love the photo of your mom sleeping in the toy box.

Levi's mom

Lorenza said...

Hi, Dewey!
Thankfuly that was not a poisonus toad! I really don't know the difference between a frog and a toad!
Thanks for sharing the story of Randy Pauch. Sure he was a great man.
Congratulations on your Award!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Luna "The Scruffy Yacht Dog" said...

Dewey,

Yuck! Toad, blah! I sure hope that hose helped wash that nasty taste out of your mouth. Sounds like you all are having a good time. Your Mom looks very comfy in the toy box. Thank you for the blog award. That is my first one. From my special dude in PA.

Luna Licks

Scruffy, Lacie and Stanley's Place said...

Hey,Dewster, waz up?????????

Great postie, Man...we've all kissed a ton of toads...but no one's ever tossed their cookies over one. Frankly, I think Lacie ate one last summer when she was a pup. Maybe that's why she acts like she does now!!!

Great reportin' on Prof. Pausch...we watched the special on him not too long ago...had no idea he had a web page...will go there after this and check it out...

We've got our paws crossed for Jackson, too...

Barkin' at ya Dewey...
Scruffman

Jackson's J1 and J2 said...

Hey pals, bad luck with the toad/frog situation. I've never seen either in my garden so I'm sure I wouldn't know one from the other.
Dr Randy sounds like a pawsome bloke, a true inspiration.
Congrats on your award and thank you for your good wishes and checking up on me! J x

Jake of Florida said...

Dear Pals,

This is a multi-purpose pretty long comment, so pick up that pawtini you were recommending.

First, here in South Florida, we have poisonous bufo toads -- so our humans are always on the alert to prevent our irrepressible terrier curiosity from getting the best of us when we see one. Glad your experience turned out OK.

Second, we didn't know Dr. Pausch either until he died -- but your close encunter added a dimension to what we had heard from the media.

And third, and most important, since Dewey Dewster has given me permission to seek a date with his Mom, here I am humbly asking Ms. Asta Marie if she would consent to such a rendezvous. My history with the female of the species is unblemished. Except for falling madly in love with an older woman -- a beagle named Lucy -- on one of my first walks when I was a puppy -- I have led a solitary bachelor life. My human Mom has taught me to be respectful of all creatures (except cats) and I would treat Ms. Asta Marie with the respect she deserves. If we banish my goofball brother upstaira, we would have lots of fun though -- in a doggie way -- running circles on the golf course, playing with all the toys that my brother usually confiscates, having a special round of tug-a dog, and going out for dinner at one of the nearby restaurants that allow our kind -- one in particular called Grumpy Dick's where they serve yummy seafood.

What say you, Ms. Asta Marie?

Anticipatory woofs,

Jake

Toffee said...

I was looking back on your blog for something and came across the news about Randy - I was away and had no idea that he had passed away...what a truly wonderful human being and spirit.

Contributors