Hello and welcome back to the wonderful world of the Dogpound. Well, I finally did it. Yes I did! I have mentioned before about the sorry state of my billfold and how it is the nature of males to hold on to their wallets as long as possible. So, I finally came to a decision last week… and… and wait for it… I gave up and duct taped my wallet. Yes! I just had to get a few more months out of my wallet so I cut some strips and refortified the corners so my credit cards will no longer…
Browsing: Commentary
Leg cramps are a common medical malady that can affect all ages. Many individuals experience leg or muscle cramps in relation to specific activities, for example during exercise. However, in others, pinpointing the cause of a cramp may not be so straightforward. Muscles are designed for locomotion. That is, they allow movement of the body by moving the bones to which they are attached. Each muscle is attached via a tendon to a bone at one end, its “origin;” and to another bone at its opposite end, its “insertion.” Between the two bones is a joint. When the muscle contracts,…
Spring is soon upon us and so is lawn season. I had the pleasure recently of visiting The Diamond to discuss turf care with Steve Ruckman, Sports Turf Manager for the Richmond Flying Squirrels. Steve was gracious with his time and we chatted about grasses, soils, drainage, irrigation, and turf mowers. He is a turf professional and was willing to share some of his knowledge. The turf at the Diamond is a combination of perennial rye grass and two types of bermudagrass. Rye grass is a cool season grass meaning it grows primarily in the fall and spring. Bermudagrass is…
Last Wednesday was an unusual weather day in Virginia. Seven tornadoes ravaged different parts of the state, causing loss of lives, multiple serious injuries and extensive property damage. Though I applaud our local news agencies for moment-by-moment reports, I do not believe that we are ready for this type of weather, in this part of the country. I was working on August 6, 1993, when the tornado hit the Walmart in Colonial Heights. What I remember from that experience was that the people inside the Walmart played a major role in the rescue efforts, immediately after the tornado struck. From…
Hello and welcome back to the wonderful world of the Dogpound. Been thinking…I know..dangerous stuff here…but I was thinking back to the Super Bowl. Yes, thrilled that Manning and the Broncos won, but was kind of wondering about which advertisement was the best and more importantly memorable. And for the life of me I really could not think of one…at least not one that rose to the old standard like the Coke commercial with “Mean Joe Green.” Now that I think about it, they did not even have one ad featuring the old Budweiser standard… the one with the Clydesdale…
I just cannot stand how fast my children are growing up. It is truly a desperate time in my house, I am losing it. Instead of relishing in each new growth spurt, every new activity, milestones being reached; I am instead screaming in my head, “No, no, wait!” It is excruciating watching them grow up and away from me. I know, believe me, I know that I sound like a lunatic. Of course I love when they try something new and adventurous, when they go above and beyond my expectations of them, when they are daring and strong. But (there’s…
To implore means to beg or ask repeatedly. The issue that I am imploring about seems like a “no-brainer,” but some people obviously have to be reminded constantly. The other night, a minor accident on 288 turned into a major accident, when a vehicle careened into the accident scene from the other side of 288. The conditions were extremely hazardous due to ice on the roadway. The first accident was caused by icy conditions and resulted in two vehicles ending up in the median. Though I am not certain of all of the details, an engine, ambulance and state trooper…
Hello and welcome back to the wonderful world of the Dogpound. The Super Bowl is over, Valentine’s Day is done, no one really cares about President’s Day (we don’t even get the day off), and it is way too early to get excited about March Madness… so what should we talk about? I guess we could venture into the presidential politics… but not so sure that is a good thing. Many folks take a side… whether it be Republican or Democrat… and they are like concrete in that stance. They live as if their party has all the answers, all…
To the Editor: It was such an honor and great experience to serve as the 2015 Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Christmas Mother. Serving as ambassador for this wonderful organization allowed me to speak at many civic organizations, businesses, clubs, church and youth groups. Participating in five parades and being at an elementary school where we received 365 books along with hugs from the children to share with children less fortunate has to rank high on my list of favorite experiences. The generosity of our sponsors and donors who have contributed $216,000 to date is overwhelming. This total includes $54,000 from our auction…
Cancer is a very ominous word. It literally means “crab,” and usage of the word aptly describes the way a malignant tumor attaches and holds on to its victim. There are as many types of cancers as there are types of cells in the body. Some are more common than others, such as lung, colon, breast and prostate cancers. Each cell in the body has a specific function and is under strict genetic and body system control. Each cell grows, divides and dies in a predictable manner. A liver cell, for example, looks the same as every other liver cell…