From The Desk Of Lissa Uder, Your Lebanon MO Real Estate Agent

Landon's Story...A Family To Learn From

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:01:06 -0500

I first met little Landon when he and his parents came into the office to discuss a vacant lot they were interested in purchasing. It was a chance meeting, actually. Patti and Dan were looking at a lot that was listed with X company when they noticed another one in the same subdivision that they liked even better. While strolling around on it, they noticed one of my signs lying in the ditch covered with leaves and called me. It wasn't my listing. The sign had been stolen from another property about a month before. They called me. With a little difficulty, I got all the information they needed and we all met at the office.

So, what is it that makes this family so special? In the few months that I have known them they have taught me incredible lessons, without even realizing it! I have learned preserverance, committment, compassion, trust, love, the list goes on and on. This is such a strong family and the bond between them is among the greatest I've ever seen.

I am trying to organize a fundraiser for this family and asked Patti to write me a story about Landon and his life. Before reading, grab a kleenex and settle in. To be only 16 months old, this boy sure has a story! This is what she wrote:

"Landon is the only son of Daniel and Patti Stouder. Mom's pregnancy was normal, so the family found out of all the medical problems after Landon was born. Landon was born at 37 weeks and that was only because they induced due to his head size of (15 ¼) and mom's borderline high blood pressure. He was born at lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach Missouri. After trying to give birth to Landon for 18 hours between Doctor and parents it was decided that it was time to do a cesarean. Landon was in no distress but the delivery was not progressing. Landon was born with low blood sugar but with a little glucose water it came up to normal. Birth weight was 9lbs 12oz. The nursery attendants were very concerned about his breathing and called the Pediatrician in to evaluate him. Landon was retracting and breathing very rapidly. They also realized that the left side of his chest was larger then the right. Later his breathing eased and he was able to stay in the room with his parents. The next days after birth started to bare bad news but he was able to go home with Mom and Dad on the 3rd day of life. Leaving the hospital parents were informed that Landon had a large heart murmur, Hyposadis, and was a bit Jaundice. The Pediatrician set up an appointment with a Cardiologist and told parents that the murmur was probably just because of him being such a big baby.

The first appointment was just his routine newborn check up. That is when Patti expressed her concerns about the ridge going down the center of Landon's head with hard lumps on the top and that he was not eating much plus sleeping most all of the time. Patti was told that she was just being a paranoid mom and not to worry. After expressing still the uneasiness and concern again about knowing what the lumps were, they sent family to the hospital from skull x-rays. The next morning the nurse from the Pediatricians office called Mom, she asked if she was by herself and sitting down. She proceeded to tell Patti that Landon's skull was fused together and his brain had no room to grow, could result in death. Later that week the family went to see the Cardiologist and were told that Landon had a 3/8' hole in his ventricle and would need a surgical repair within 3 months. The Doctor prescribed a diacritic, heart med, and told family they needed to get his Jaundice checked out immediately . So now the family knew that their baby who was perfect in their eyes would have to have heart surgery, restricted brain growth and possible severely Jaundice. The next morning Landon was taken to get his Jaundice checked and it was dangerously high, so they emitted him to the ER and transferred him to Colombia Children's Hospital.

After the admitting evaluation the family was informed that surgery was needed much sooner than 3 months. As the next few days went by Landon's Jaundice was not getting much better. So the parents were unable to even hold him due to the need of the bilruben-lights and blanket he needed to treat the Jaundice. Landon was not eating so a feeding tube was put down his nose to give him proper nutrients. Landon was now 10 days old and had lost down to 8.5lbs. Plans are made to do surgery because Landon is now only fighting to survive and considered failure to thrive. The energy to breath and supply his body with oxygen is almost to much for Landon.

Landon's Jaundice is better now. But as each Doctor does their pre-op evaluation the decision of surgery grows sooner and finally at only 18 days old Landon underwent heart surgery. As they opened his tiny chest his heart began to fibulate and they shocked it with the paddles to bring back into a normal rhythm. The Thoracic Heart surgeon explain to Mom and Dad that Landon what much sicker than expected and if the surgery was not performed then, they could have lost him at any point. The surgeon also found that instead of 1 large VSD, he had 1 large VSD, 2 small VSD's, and a small ASD. The 3/8 VSD was patched and ASD was closed during surgery but the two smaller VSD's would close over time. In infants the sternum in sutured instead on wired and the incision is glued instead of sutured, so Landon's incision looked good, considering.

The incision was healing and but something just wasn't right. The look in Landon's eyes showed such pain and uneasiness. The nights got harder and harder to leave him until one night Landon got to coughing and his incision opened. The Surgeon said that it was best to re-open the entire wound so that they could clean it and it would heal at the same rate. So10 days after his initial heart surgery they scheduled a scar revision. But what the doctors thought would only be a minor scar revision, turn out to be the 1st day that we came close to losing Landon. His sternum had fell apart and was just laying on top of his heart. But this time the surgery was performed in the ICU room so no life saving or reviving equipment was on hand. Landon's heart was again fibulating then would drop off to nothing. The Doctor told Patti that an internal blood pressure was never lost, although at times no pulse was found. The surgeon and team worked on Landon for 8 hours, which seemed like an eternity. Dan was at work three hours away but once getting the call came to hospital to wait for the outcome. The surgical team would stabilize him and then something else would go wrong. From Landon's malnutrition the closure of his chest was so hard they had to wire his sternum up, down, and then across. To close his incision they had to pull all the extra skin and tissue to the middle of his chest and suture then staple it to keep it from re-opening. He remained in ICU and on the vent for close to 2 months before they tried to begin weaning him. During a lot of this time Mom and Dad were unable to touch Landon or even talk in the room because it would stimulate him. They had to keep Landon sedated so he wouldn't fight and cause himself more pain. When Landon was able to wean off the vent he had to get use to being held again because of the lack of interact for so long. He was trying to eat but was not able to take in enough so they kept the feeding tube to supplement what he wasn't taking in by mouth. Patti was with Landon almost day in and day out, so she learned the daily care that was going to be needed in order to take him home.

When Landon finally got to go home he had many medical attachments and devices. He went home with an external pacemaker, oxygen, feeding tube, and medicine port. (a Boravic) The family was offered nursing to help with care and relieve parents but the service did not work out. Parents, with Patti now being unable to return to work chose to take full care and responsibility of Landon. Landon was followed very closely so the family had several appointment every week or sometimes every two weeks. He was in and out of the hospital every two weeks for lung and other severe issues for months. The issues ranges from many pneumonia's to a collapsed lung. Other sickness that he was hospitalized from were a couple blood infections. The Doctor's could not explain the frequent respiratory illnesses, they always said it was due to how sick he was originally. Landon was being seen by every specialist that could possibly help him or make any suggestions in how to better his quality of life.

After consulting with a neuro surgeon parents found out that the ridging on top of Landon's head was called Sagatial Craniosynstosis. Yes it does cause restriction in brain growth but only left and right. The brain could still grow front to back. Landon's forehead was starting to protrude and his eyes started to look stretched. So after being highly recommended we chose to go to San Antonio for Landon's Strip Craniotomy. An organization called Angel Flight flew the family down to San Antonio. The Doctor who performed Landon's Strip Craniotomy invented the procedure, which is a less invasive way to remove the fused portion of the skull. The new procedure was the best know, around because the blood lost and recovery time was so minimal. Surgery went very well, but once again stuck on the vent and far from home. Landon's lungs were still having trouble clearing and it was believed that Landon had pneumonia again. The expected time parents had planned to be in San Antonio was a week including the time to fit and receive Landon's reshaping helmet. Combination of the helmet and rapid grow of an infants head in the 1^st year are the keys to the new procedure. Two weeks later parents were able to take Landon from the hospital and get his helmet. In was Christmas time and the family was going to have to spend Landon's 1^st Christmas away from home and their families. Through Angel Flight the family was not going to get to go home until after the holidays. But an individual brought plane tickets for the family for a Christmas gift, so on Christmas Eve they family flew home.

Landon's 1st winter he was in and out of the hospital for several respiratory issues. The family spent a lot of time apart. Then spring came and the Doctor's still had no explanation of why he was continuing to have lung problems. They started by testing Landon for Cystic Fibrous which was a huge fear in the family eyes, having that Landon had been in and out on the hospital so much already. But to the Doctor's surprise the test came back fine and not even close to questionable. So they decided the then step was to do a lung biopsy and test the tissue for toxins from his heart medicine. To limit the times of intubations and anasethia they combined the biopsy, a scar revision, and bronchial scope. The scar revision was for an abscess that had came up to the side of his heart surgery incision.. The scope was to see his airway and try to find more answers as well. But since Landon's first intubation the Anasethologist knew he was a tough intubation and during the procedure again they almost lost Landon. Landon started to code, so they had to do an emergency tracheotomy. Again this hospital stay was unplanned and ended up being an entire month. Patti and Dan had to learn how to care for Landon with the trach, changing of the trach and how to handle all emergency situations.

Again parents took full care of Landon once going home. Since the trach has been placed he has continued to have many infections and hospital stays. The results of the Lung biopsy were normal and due to the emergency tracheotomy they were unable to scope Landon's airway. The abscess turned out to be a suture that had been left from his heart surgery. After months of no explanations and the treating physician being unable to practice any longer, Landon's care was transferred to Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO. Parents were tired of hearing that they had no answers or explanation for why or what was going to happen with Landon. Since the heart surgeon was not in practice no surgical produces could be preformed due to Landon still having Tachycardia. Parents did research and were going to take him to directly to Mayo Clinic in Rochester but decided to try Mercy first since it was closer to home. Even after Mercy resumed Landon's care he still had a few months of back to back hospital stays. Almost all the tests were repeated and through trail and error the ENT and PICU Doctors were able to find that Landon has Bronchial and Tracheal Myolsia. Which means that his airway is floppy/soft and when he get upset or sick it collapsed. Which now explains the frequent lung infections, Pneumonia's, and times of lack of Oxygen. But still after proper ventilation Landon continued to get sick, so in a cautionary sense the Doctors thought it would be in his best interest to hold all oral intake. Short term they put an NG Tube down his nose but then insert a Mikey. They now thought that Landon could be aspirating. So by laparoscopic they inserted a Mikey Button and done a fundoplation at the same time to prevent reflux. After surgery was completed the GI surgeon told parents that the surgery took longer due to Landon's oversized Liver. In the post-op evaluation a routine ultra sound has performed and it was found the surgery was successful and all nutrients would be given through the Mikey.

Since the Mikey has been placed and the lungs have been clearing up, due to proper ventilation Landon has been able to stay at home with only minor sicknesses. Landon still has his trach and is currently on a home vent to properly support his airway and give him the proper ventilation. Although he still has his Mikey, Landon is starting to practice eating to prepare for his swallow test coming up the first part of April. He is now starting to wean off the vent during the day. Now that Landon can be off the vent he is able to use his speaking valve and laughing out loud. No word yet but he is learn a lot of new sign language. Although his airway is still soft his last visit to ENT they were able to look down with a scoped and said his airway is getting much better. It still collapses but not completely. Since Landon has been able to stay health and no major sickness he can focus on his developmental progress. He is starting to walk with little help and ankle braces.

In June Landon is looking at a combination of the following surgical procedure; his Hypospadis repair, Bilateral Ear tubes, a Bronchial Scope, and a tissue biopsy of the trachea.

Landon is currently being followed by:

Cardiology for his Tachycardia.

ENT for Tracheal/Bronchial Myolasia, hearing, sinuses, and speech

Pulmonology for vent and lung care.

Ophthalmology for bilateral laziness of his eyes.

Urology for Hypospadis

Gastrology for GI bloating and possible food allergies

Radiology for routine Liver ultra sounds, swallow tests, and chest x-rays

Weekly the following therapies come to the house to work with Landon:

Occupational Therapy to work on fine and gross motor skills; hands and eye coordination and walking

Physical Therapy to work on gross motor skills; baring weight, sitting, and walking

Speech Therapy to work on feeding, vocalization, and communication with visual and hand signs

Developmental Therapy to help Landon to know how to react to disabilities and other children with special needs.

Landon has a daily routine of activities to help strengthen and help with his development. Through First Steps (Therapy Program) and the Insurance Company Landon has been provided with some equipment but is in need of much more to help him continue to progress in his development. After the age of 3 years old First Steps no longer with provide for Landon's needs so he will be the responsibility of the school system. The school has no way of providing equipment for every child so they each have to bring their own. Although Landon is progressing very well he still will not have the endurance to last all day at school without some equipment to help me be mobile. The family travels to KC every other week for an combination of appointment. Most of the time going up and back the same day, but sometimes having to stay overnight. With all the medical commitments the family still spends a lot of time apart. Landon is on a long list of meds for the above complications, but all seem to be helping him.

God blessed our lives with Landon and through him we will endure until the end!!! Daily he is growing and making improvements. Landon smiles even if he is having a bad day, his smile could brighten anyone's day.

Things have been hard but we wouldn't change a thing."

Every time I see or talk to this family, I learn something new. I look forward to a life long relationship with them.

Expired Home Owner, Tell Me How You Really Feel

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 07:27:15 -0500

A few months ago, I posted a blog asking how to inspire the owner of an unsold home to complete a survey. The questionnaire was intended to be used as a learning tool for me to better understand what goes through the mind of these home owners and how to better serve my clients. I received several responses from those in the real estate profession, but never expected to receive a comment here from one of these living, breathing owners. This is what the owner had to say:

"When the listing expired on our home, we received 30 calls from wanna-list realtors on the day after the listing expired -- DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE'RE ON THE DO NOT CALL LIST. The calls began coming in at 7 AM.

Hey, realtors, FOLLOW THE LAW and CHECK THE DO NOT CALL LIST before you begin harassing home owners. I didn't appreciate the flooding of calls and the mountain of voicemails.

Home sellers are intelligent enough to proceed on their own when selling their homes. STOP THOSE TACKY, INTRUSIVE, AND ANNOYING TACTICS -- THE HARASSING CALLS, THE ANNOYING MAILINGS, AND THE UNWANTED DOOR KNOCKING.

Don't call us ... we'll call YOU."

It was signed by "Realtors stop the harassment"

This is exactly the reason I do not like phone calls and door knocking. I also find them intrusive.I try not to do anything to other people that I wouldn't appreciate myself. I am guilty of the annoying mailings though. Usually a letter mailed out more than a week after it expired, followed by a weekly series of postcards that I have created. The reason the letter goes out late is because I know these people are being bombarded with these things.

I don't want to be pushy. I want to help these people sell their home as much as I want my buyer to have a selection of homes to choose from. I don't want my buyer to have to "settle" for a home when I know the one that expired last month would be perfect for them. Which is one of the areas that the phone calls the seller's get starts to annoy me. In how many of these calls does the home owner hear the phrase "I have a buyer for your home, but need to list it to show them" when they do not have a ready, willing, and able buyer for that exact home? The owner hears it so much that when I really do have a buyer, one that brought the home to my attention, even, the owner thinks it's just another ploy because they've heard it already.

I know that not every owner of an unsold home feels this way, but I thought I would share this view point with you.

Spring Storm Brings Damage To Lebanon Mo

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:58:11 -0500

It was 11:55 this morning and I heard the sound of my cell phone ring above the storm sirens that had been sounding for about 15 minutes. It was Ozzy's "Dreamer" coming through the tiny speaker on the phone and I know it isn't family calling. I have this tone set for numbers my phone does not recognize. For a brief moment, I wonder if I should stop gathering up essentials and see who is calling in the middle of the storm. I answer and hear the sound of my daughter's voice asking "Mom? You're not cleaning are you?" I have a habit of cleaning the house in the middle of bad storms and tornado watches. I chuckle and ask "where are you?". She giggles and says "under a table with everyone piled up on top of me." She was in a class at school. I feel that is a safe place for her.

A few hours later, the storm appears to be over. It had ran north of town and the severe part missed us. Thank goodness. The day can go on as usual. We have another system moving in, but it will be a little while. My husband decides he wants to go to a gun shop abut 30 miles from here, so we head out. After about 10 minutes, it starts to rain so hard we could barely see 30 feet ahead of us, but my husband being the stubborn man he is, keeps driving. I nervously sit in the passenger seat watching as the water fills yards and ditches.

We make it to the store just to find them closed and turn around to head home. By this time, every 1/4 mile or so, there was 4-8 inches of water over the road. The fields have turned to rivers. Bluffs into waterfalls. I can't wait to get home. My cell rings again, playing the "Dreamer" tone. I suspect it to be my daughter telling me they have canceled her evening class due to the weather. Her phone is out of minutes and she is using a friend's. I answer and there is no body there. I try to call the number back, to no avail. A pre-recorded message stating the customer I am trying to reach is not available. Now, I'm getting really nervous. Redial. Redial. Redial.

As we get close to town, we notice traffic is backed up about a half mile outside of town and decide to divert to a road around the traffic. This one leads right in front of the school that houses kindergarden and 1st grades. It is also full of traffic and parked cars on both sides of the road. Up ahead, in the parking lot I see red and blue lights in the parking lot close to the bus shed. As my eyes search for a reason, I spot the school bus lying on it's side in the middle of the lot. Nervousness turns to near panic as I still cannot reach my daughter. This is about the time she is transferring busses at this very location. Redial. Redial....ring, ring, "Hi Mom, where are you?". Thank God! She is still at the high school. They hadn't released the students because of the weather. We make a right at the end of the street and head to pick her up. Relief washes over me as she gets into the van. Time to head home. I hear the sherrif on the radio report that there were no injuries except for the driver of the overturned bus, who had been transported to the local hospital.

After the storms are over, we head out on the road with my camera to look at the damage. The city says it was caused by 70 mile per hour wind, but it's so localized it appears to have been a tornado. There were no sirens. No warning.

5 homes are without roofs tonight. Some are covered in tarps and others with people on them trying to repair what they can. Debris lines the fences, yards, and vacant lots surrounding these homes. A carport on top of a house. Two of the school band trailers were picked up and tossed into the empty field behind the school. Total damage. The awning on the school ripped off, chainlink fence picked up out of the concrete, 1/2 inch bolts and all. Shattered glass all over the parking lot.

I am thankful tonight for many things. Primarily that there have been no fatalities reported from this rude visit from mother nature.

Evil Mutant Attack Squirrel

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:55:51 -0500

I needed to run out to a piece of land today to check it out for a client and since it actually reached 65 degrees today, I decided it was warm enough to hop on the bike for a change. I had been waiting for a rise in temp since I've only been on the bike 3 or 4 times in the last few months. It had sprinkled on and off most of the morning so I grabbed my full faced helmet and headed down the road on the ‘04 Harley Softail.

It was a beautiful ride. We're starting to see a little bit of green and the daffodils are in bloom. You can't pay for better therapy. Or so I thought!

On the way home, I took a shortcut through Lebanon on Washington Street - a nice little neighborhood with wide streets and slow traffic. As I passed an oncoming car, a brown furry missile shot out from under it and tumbled to a stop immediately in front of me.

It was a squirrel, and must have been trying to run across the road when it encountered the car. I wasn't going very fast, probably about 25mph, but there was no time to brake or avoid it -- it was that close. I hate to run over animals, and I really hate it on a motorcycle, but a squirrel should pose no danger to me and I was about to meet another oncoming car.

I barely had time to brace for the impact. Animal lovers, never fear. Squirrels, I discovered, can take care of themselves!

Inches before impact, the squirrel flipped to his feet. He was standing on his hind legs and facing my oncoming Softail with steadfast resolve in his beady little eyes. His mouth opened, and at the last possible second, he screamed and leapt!

I am pretty sure the scream was squirrel for, "Bonzai!" or maybe, "Die you gravy-sucking, heathen biker scum!" The leap was nothing short of spectacular...This was a super-squirrel!

He shot straight up, flew over my handlebars, and impacted me squarely in the chest. Instantly, he set upon me. If I did not know better, I would have sworn he brought 20 of his little buddies along for the attack. I'm almost sure I saw one taking pictures from the side of the road. Snarling, hissing, and tearing at my clothes, he was a frenzy of activity. As I was dressed only in a long sleeved T-shirt, fingerless gloves, and jeans this was a bit of a cause for concern. This furry little tornado was doing some damage!

Now, I'm just a little girl, but it takes a lot to intimidate me. But picture a 115 pound gal on a red and chrome Harley, dressed in jeans, a T-shirt, and leather gloves, puttering at maybe 25 mph down a quiet residential street, and in the fight of her life with a squirrel. And losing...

I grabbed for him with my left hand. After a few misses, I finally managed to snag his tail. With all my strength, I flung the evil rodent off to the left of the bike, almost running into the right curb as I recoiled from the throw. That should have done it. The matter should have ended right there.

It really should have. The squirrel could have sailed into one of the small front yards and gone on about his business, and I could have headed home. No one would have been the wiser. But this was no ordinary squirrel. This was not even an ordinary angry squirrel. This was an EVIL MUTANT ATTACK SQUIRREL OF DEATH!

Somehow he caught my gloved finger with one of his little hands and, with the force of the throw, swung around and with a resounding thump and an amazing impact, he landed squarely on my BACK and resumed his rather antisocial and extremely distracting activities. He also managed to take my left glove with him! The situation was not improved. Not improved at all.

His attacks were continuing, and now I could not reach him. I was startled, to say the least. The combination of the force of the throw, only having one hand (the throttle hand) on the handlebars, and my jerking back unfortunately put a healthy twist through my right hand and into the throttle. A healthy twist on the throttle can only have one result. Torque.

The engine roared and the front wheel left the pavement. The squirrel screamed in anger. The Bike screamed in ecstasy. I screamed in .. well .. I just plain screamed. Man did I scream!

Now picture a 115 pound gal on a red and chrome Harley, dressed in jeans, a slightly squirrel-torn T-shirt, wearing only one leather glove, and roaring at maybe 50 mph and rapidly accelerating down a quiet residential street on one wheel, with a demonic squirrel of death on her back. The girl and the squirrel are both screaming bloody murder.

With the sudden acceleration I was forced to put my other hand back on the handlebars and try to get control of the bike. This was leaving the mutant squirrel to his own devices, but I really did not want to crash into somebody's tree, house, or parked car. Also, I had not yet figured out how to release the throttle...my brain was just simply overloaded. I did manage to mash the back brake, but it had little effect against the massive power of the bike.

About this time the squirrel decided that I was not paying sufficient attention to this very serious battle (maybe he was an evil mutant NAZI attack squirrel of death), and he came around my neck and got INSIDE my full-face helmet with me.

As the faceplate closed part way, he began hissing in my face. I am quite sure my screaming changed intensity. It had little effect on the squirrel, however. The RPMs on the Softail maxed out (since I was not bothering with shifting at the moment), so her front end started to drop.

Now picture a 115 pound gal on a red and chrome Harley, dressed in jeans, a very raggedly torn T-shirt, wearing only one leather glove, roaring at probably 80 mph, still on one wheel, with a large puffy squirrel's tail sticking out of the mostly closed full-face helmet. By now the screams are probably getting a little hoarse.

Finally I got the upper hand ... I managed to grab his tail again, pulled him out of my helmet, and slung him to the left as hard as I could. This time it worked ... sort-of. Spectacularly sort-of ...so to speak.

Picture a new scene. You are a Lebanon cop. You and your partner have pulled off on a quiet residential street and parked with your windows down to do some paperwork. Suddenly a 115 pound gal on a red and chrome Harley, dressed in jeans, a torn T-shirt flapping in the breeze, and wearing only one leather glove, moving at probably 80 mph on one wheel, and screaming bloody murder roars by, and with all his strength throws a live squirrel grenade directly into your police car.

I heard screams. They weren't mine...

I managed to get the big motorcycle under control and dropped the front wheel to the ground. I then used maximum braking and skidded to a stop in a cloud of tire smoke at the stop light at Elm St. I would have returned to 'fess up (and to get my glove back). I really would have. Really... Except for two things.

First, the cops did not seem interested or the slightest bit concerned about me at the moment. When I looked back, the doors on both sides of the patrol car were flung wide open. The cop from the passenger side was running for his life, with the K-9 doing his best to take the lead. The cop who had been in the driver's seat was standing in the street, aiming a riot shotgun at his own police car.

So, the cops were not interested in me. They often insist to "let the professionals handle it" anyway. That was one thing. The other?

Well, I could clearly see shredded and flying pieces of foam and upholstery from the back seat. But I could also swear I saw the squirrel in the back window, shaking his little fist at me. That is one dangerous squirrel. And now he has a patrol car. A somewhat shredded patrol car ... but it was all his.

Thank goodness this light takes forever to turn green! I think once I got stopped I was almost frozen from fear. I took a deep breath, as I slowly looked back to make sure the squirrel was not about to launch another attack. The cop from the passenger side and dog were running down the street as the one with the shotgun pumped another round into the back seat of the car, screaming like a little girl.

Just as the light turned green, I regained my composure and headed in the direction of home. I have never been so happy to park the bike in the garage. Then it was off to a shower, antibiotic ointment and lots of bandaids.

Note: Although I did get out for a ride today and looked at property, I did not encounter any attack squirrels. It was a beautiful and relaxing ride. This is my version of another persons story.

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs (Part 4) Cleaning Up

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 06:50:59 -0500

A generalized cleaning will not remove the toxic waste and chemical residue of Meth production. Do not try to clean it yourself! Even law enforcement and other first responders face health risks when they enter a lab before it is cleaned or ventilated, unless they are protected by Haz-Mat gear. If not properly decontaminated, anyone who moves into a former lab site will be exposed to all the health dangers associated with Meth, as mentioned in part 1 of this series.

There are five major methods of an indoor meth lab cleanup. The method used will depend on the what chemicals are found, the processes used, and how long the lab was active. It is possible in rare cases, that the building be demolished in order to clean up the contaminates. Most situations, though, will require a combination of the following recommended measures.

Ventilation: When solvents and other chemicals that may have soaked into the walls are slowly vaporizing indoors, ventilation may reduce contamination and decrease odors.

Removal: Furnishings, draperies, carpeting, paneling, wallpaper, and other porous items that evaluators believe cannot be cleaned using other methods must be disposed of according to the type and degree of contamination. Some materials may not be suitable for landfill disposal but will have to be disposed of by a licensed contractor.

Neutralization: Where acids or bases have been used, the potential for harmful effects may be reduced or removed through neutralization. Acids may be neutralized with solutions of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), and bases may be neutralized by using weakly acidic solutions of vinegar or acetic acid in water.

Detergent-Water Washing: Some nonporous and semi-porous surfaces, such as floors, tiles, walls and ceilings, can be scrubbed with detergent and water solutions.

Encapsulation or Sealing: For some surfaces, contamination may be covered with layers of oil-based paint, polyurethane or other approved materials.

It is important to keep in mind that the type(s) of cleaning necessary depends on a variety of factors. What may be appropriate in one situation will not be acceptable in the next.

After the residence has been cleaned using these guidelines, it is advisable to have your property evaluated and tested. Especially If you are concerned about any remaining contamination, or if your property still has an odor, visible staining, or causes physical irritation to those exposed. Also, if you are concerned with liability issues, you should consider having the property tested. Sampling is an expensive option, but may provide peace of mind for property owners and families. You may want to contact your insurance carrier for advice and assistance.

If you fail to disclose the meth history of the property and/or fail to have it properly cleaned, the matter could end up in litigation. If you find a meth lab on your property, please save time, money, stress, and possibly the life of another by having it properly cleaned.

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs (Part 2) Common Ingredients

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs (Part 3) Recognizing A Lab

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs (Part 3), Recognizing A Lab

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 06:35:18 -0500

The ingredients used to make methamphetamine in clandestine laboratories are generally household products that by themselves present little danger, but when combined can have serious toxic and explosive effects.

If you came in contact with a methamphetamine lab operation, how would you know it? What ingredients and equipment would be present? What should you do if you find a meth lab? Learn the signs of a potential Meth lab to protect your family and your property from catastrophic damage:

A strong smell that might resemble urine, or an unusual chemical smell like ether, ammonia or acetone.
Little or no traffic during the day, but lots of traffic at extremely late hours.
Extra efforts made to cover windows or reinforce doors.
Residents never putting their trash out.
Lab materials surrounding the property (lantern fuel cans, red chemically stained coffee filters, clear glass jugs and duct tape).
Vehicles loaded with trunks, chemical containers, or basic chemistry paraphernalia - glassware, rubber tubing, etc.
Laboratory glassware being carried into the residence.
Inhabitants smoking outside due to fumes.
Propane tanks with fittings that have turned blue.
An usual amount of cold tablet containers that list ephedrine or pseudoephedrine as ingredients.
Jars containing clear liquid with a white or red colored solid on the bottom.
Jars containing iodine or dark shiny metallic purple crystals inside of jars.
Jars containing red phosphorus or a fine dark red or purple powder.
Coffee filters containing a white pasty substance, a dark red sludge, or small amounts of shiny white crystals.
Bottles containing sulfuric, muriatic or hydrochloric acid.
Bottles or jars with rubber tubing attached (including soft drink bottles).
Glass cookware or frying pans containing a powdery residue.
An large number of cans of camp fuel, paint thinner, acetone, starter fluid, lye, and drain cleaners containing sulfuric acid or bottles containing muriatic acid.
Large amounts of lithium batteries, especially ones that have been stripped.
Soft silver or gray metallic ribbon (in chunk form) stored in oil or kerosene. Secretive/protective area surrounding the residence, like video cameras, alarm systems, guard dogs, reinforced doors, electrified fencing.
Iodine or chemical stained fixtures in the kitchen and bath in sinks, tubs, and reddish stains in carpets or on wallpaper.
Excessive yellow stains on walls and wood work due to exposure to iodine.
Corrosion of metal fixtures (vents, vent hoods, etc.) due to exposure to iodine.
White powder spills on countertops and floors.
Excess coffee filters, plastic baggies, match book covers with striker plates removed, torn lithium battery casings, antifreeze containers, lantern fuel cans, drain cleaner and duct tape.

If spray starch applied to such carpet or wallpaper stains turns purple, the stain is caused by iodine, a key ingredient in Meth manufacturing. The presence of such stains may indicate previous Meth lab activity in the home.

Signs of Meth lab activity outside a home include burn piles, dead or dying vegetation or buried trash piles.

If You Find a Lab

Do not touch anything in the lab area and do not sniff any containers. Do not turn any electrical power switches or light switches on or off. Do not open or move any of the containers with chemicals in them.

Whatever you do, do not smoke, eat or drink anywhere near a methamphetamine laboratory.

If you come in contact with a meth lab, you should decontaminate yourself and your clothing as quickly as possible, and wash your hands and face thoroughly. Call your local authorities immediately and explain your concerns. Do not attempt to gather evidence on your own and never handle any of the materials that may be associated with a lab.

Cleaning up a clandestine meth lab is a dangerous and complicated process which should be handled by trained professionals. Do not attempt to clean up or dispose of a suspected meth lab yourself.

Visit my next blog and we will discuss the methods of decontaminating meth labs.

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs (Part 2) Common Ingredients

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs (Part 4) Cleaning Up

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs (Part 2) Common Ingredients

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 06:43:41 -0500

Common Meth Ingredients

Would you swallow a spoonful of drain cleaner? Does the thought of injecting brake fluid into your arm appeal to you? Care to top off your dessert with a bit of rat poison? How about a big drink of starting fluid to start the day?

These are just a few of the common ingredients in Meth. One reason behind the explosive growth in Meth labs is the availability of the components. When users smoke, inject or drink Meth, this is what they are sending to their brain, cardiovascular system and throughout their bodies:

◙Alcohol - Gasoline additives or Rubbing Alcohol
◙Ether (starting fluid)
◙Benzene
◙Paint thinner
◙Freon
◙Acetone
◙Chloroform
◙Camp stove fuel
◙Anhydrous ammonia
◙White gasoline
◙Pheynl-2-Propane
◙Phenylacetone
◙Phenylpropanolamine
◙Rock, table or Epsom salt
◙Iodine crystals
◙Red Phosphorous
◙Toluene (found in brake cleaner)
◙Red Devil Lye
◙Drain cleaner
◙Muraitic acid
◙Battery acid
◙Lithium from batteries
◙Sodium metal
◙Ephedrine
◙Cold tablets
◙Diet aids
◙Iodine
◙Bronchodialators
◙Energy boosters

Lab equipment including tubing, unmarked Mason jars with tubes attached, stained coffee filters, 2-liter pop bottles, blenders, camera batteries, wooden matches, propane cylinders and hot plates are tip offs to the production of Meth.

Individually, each product is legal and useful. But when mixed together and processed, the results are deadly - to the producer, user and innocent bystanders.

When the ingredients are combined, they can ignite, causing explosions, fires and the release of toxic fumes. Many times, the waste material is dumped outdoors, causing irreparable damage to the environment and drinking water. Vapors seep into plaster and wood. Harsh liquids that are dumped or spilled can remain for a long time as residue in bathtubs, toilets or sinks.

Visit my next blog to learn how to spot a meth lab on your property.

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs (Part 1)

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs (Part 3) Recognizing A Lab

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs (Part 4) Cleaning Up

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs (Part 1)

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 07:29:37 -0500

Meth can be manufactured anywhere, including in a "cook's" home. This may be a property you own and are leasing to the "cook", or a house that you are considering purchasing. These home labs leave contamination and severe health risks even after the drug is no longer being manufactured in the residence.

A methamphetamine laboratory is typically not a large, permanent facility. It can even be manufactured in a coffee pot. The ingredients are common and generally easy to come by. In fact, meth can be made in makeshift labs small enough to be stored in a suitcase and set up anywhere. These labs have been discovered in the country, in small towns and in the largest cities, in homes, garages, apartments and motels.

Being in or near a Meth lab is extremely dangerous. The toxic nature of the ingredients leaves behind hazardous waste - six pounds of residue are generated by each pound of Meth manufactured. Clean up of a meth lab can run as high as $10,000.

The toxic effects of exposure to Meth lab chemicals depends on three factors: the lab process and chemicals used, the amount of chemicals and length of exposure, and the age and health of the person exposed. Chemicals may enter the body by being breathed, eaten or absorbed through the skin. Short term effects of exposure to the lab chemicals or byproducts include shortness of breath, a cough, chest pains, dizziness, skin lesions and/or burns to the skin, eyes, nose and mouth. Over the long term, the health risks of even low level exposure include brain, liver and kidney damage, cancer, birth defects and death.

Meth Manufacturing Contaminates Indoors and Out

Outdoors, Meth lab contamination results from manufacturing or the dumping or burning of waste on or near soil, surface water, groundwater, sewer or septic systems.

Contamination caused by the "cooking" and disposing of Meth inside a home will affect: floors, walls, ceilings, working surfaces, furniture, carpeting, paneling, wallpaper, draperies, blinds, light fixtures, kitchen appliances, plumbing fixtures and drains, vent fans, ceiling fans, heating and air-conditioning vents, clothing, toys, etc.

Disclosure of Meth Labs on Property

Missouri statutes require that the present or past existence of meth labs on any property sold, leased or transferred must be disclosed.

Applies if meth is or was produced on any part of the property, inside or out.

Applies to the sale, rental, exchange, lease, or any other transfer of real property.

Applies whether the property had a structure on it or not - improved or unimproved property.

Requires that the owner, seller, landlord or other transferor make the disclosure.

Applies if the owner, seller, landlord or other transferor has or had knowledge of the prior methamphetamine production.

Disclosure is required regardless of whether the persons involved in the production of the methamphetamine were convicted for production.

In my next blog, we will discuss common ingredients used in the production of meth.

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs (Part 2) Common Ingredients

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs (Part 3) Recognizing a Lab

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs (Part 4) Cleaning Up

'Twas The Day Before Easter

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 14:07:48 -0500

'TWAS THE DAY BEFORE EASTER

'Twas the day before Easter
..and all through the woods,
The bunnies were busy
packing their goods.
The eggs were all colored
so pretty and bright,
All things were "go"
for the big, special night.
The baskets were waiting,
all decorated with care,
In hopes that the Bunny
soon would be there.
My little brother Sam
was asleep in his bed,
While visions of Easter eggs
rolled round his head.
And I in my pajamas
with the cat on my lap,
I had just settled down
for a quick little nap.
When outside the window
I heard a great noise,
I sprang from my chair
and jumped over some toys.
As quick as a flash
to the window I flew,
I pulled up the shade
and, OH, what a view.
The moon on the meadow
cast a bright golden glow
And the wind blew the flowers
to and then fro.
Then all of a sudden
from out of nowhere,
Came some lively bunnies,
hopping here, hopping there!
Leading the group
with ears long and funny
Was a plump, all-white rabbit...
That's right...the EASTER BUNNY!
The bunnies hopped past,
one, two, three, four,
The rabbit called out
and then there were more.
"Come, Peter!, Come, Flopsy!,
Come, Benny!, Come, Joe!
Now hop along! Hop along! Hop along! GO!"
So up on each doorstep
the bunnies did hop,
With baskets of eggs.
(Let's hope they don't drop)!
Just at that moment,
on the porch down below,
Came the stomping of feet
'Twas the rabbit, I know!
As I stepped from my window
I heard a loud sound.
Through the door came the rabbit
with a leap and a bound.
He was furry and soft
from his head to his feet.
To see him so close
was really quite neat.
He was surrounded by eggs
that had been carefully dyed.
Easter eggs galore he soon would hide.
His eyes were all twinkles,
His nose was so pink,
And I can't be too sure,
but I think he did wink.
He had a kind face
and a big fluffy tail
That bobbed up and down
like a boat with a sail.
A twitch of his nose
and a flick of his ear
Was his way of saying,
"You've nothing to fear."
He uttered no sound
as he hopped all about
Hiding the eggs and leaving no doubt,
That the Easter bunny had come
like he does every year...
Bringing baskets of happiness
to children so dear.

Author: Shirley?

My Lil' Green Eyed Monster

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:51:43 -0500

The absolute, most important person in my life is getting ready to turn 16. Conversations that used to include topics such as ipods, clothes, and music have turned into discussions about getting the driver's license and sweet 16 parties. 16 years. Wow!

I knew that this child would be very special to me more than sixteen years ago, but I had no idea just how special. Already having a son, I desperately wanted a girl. 5 ultrasounds all revealed that my little bundle of joy would be another bouncing baby boy. I knew that I would love him just as much, but admittedly, felt disappointed. 5 weeks before he was to make his arrival into this world, things started happening. I ended up in an out of the area hospital because I was visiting family on my son's 5th birthday. New doctors, new nurses, all with the same question: "do you want a boy or a girl?". Because of complications, four days later my baby was ready to be introduced to us all.

Then the announcement as the baby was laid upon my tummy. "You have a beautiful baby GIRL". What? A girl? All I could do was stare at her. She IS beautiful! 5lbs 12oz and 17 1/2 inches of pure beauty!

With a little time, her eyes turned the most gorgeous color of green. When she entered the terrible two's, I nicknamed her "My Lil' Green Eyed Monster".

Looking back brings tears to my eyes. Some, tears of joy, and some well, let's just leave it at tears of joy. As I think of all she has become and all she has accomplished in such a short amount of time, I am proud.

This is a girl that as a young child, would to follow her big brother around collecting the elderly neighbor's trash to take out. Today, she visits our elderly neighbor every day just to check on her and always takes her a smile. (This neighbor lost her husband a few months ago.)

This is a girl that can make you laugh without even trying, and not realizing she's being humorous. (She's kind of random) Her own laugh is so contagious that when she starts, you'll spend a good 5 or 10 minutes laughing hysterically over nothing.

This is a young lady who doesn't understand the other girls her age that are being promiscious. She does her best to give them confidence and self respect.

This is my A-B student that does her best to help the others that don't quite understand.

This is the young lady that tries to comfort me when I'm having a bad day. She offers trememdous support. In turn, she talks to me about everything that goes on in her life. (whether I really want to hear it or not.)

This is a girl that tries to find the positives in everything, regardless of how difficult it is to see.

This is a teenager that can be overheard telling her friends that "my mom's cool". She never fails to give me a hug (in private or in public) and tells me she loves me at least twice a day.

She is definately not afraid to speak her mind and always gets her point across. (I have taught her to be strong, she has taught me to be stronger.)

We have spent countless hours of time crying at movies, laughing with each other, shopping (I hate shopping, but that's her favorite past-time), all night giggle sessions, and talking about everything from shoes to the important issues in life.

Just as when she was born, I still catch myself staring at her with adoration. She is even more beautiful now as a young lady than she was on that day. If anyone were to ask me what the one thing in my life would be that I'm proud of, I'd have to say My Lil' Green Eyed Monster.

Group With A Different Concept....Silver Lining

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:20:33 -0500

So you got out of bed this morning, wiping the sleep from your tired eyes, only to trip over the blanket that has somehow made it's way off the bed and right into your walkway in the floor.

You make it through your shower without incident and don your favorite blue button up shirt only to find it missing a button. Being in a hurry to get your coffee and start your day with Active Rain, you pull the next best thing out of the closet and sigh as you put it on. Finally. The computer is running and you have a minute to relax. After reading a few blogs you notice the clock and realize you should have left 20 minutes ago to get to a meeting at the office.

Now you're driving in traffic in pouring down rain, get to the red light which takes forever to change that highly anticipated shade of green, and someone coming from your right doesn't realize that their light has turned red. You swerve to avoid them and almost hit the car beside you. Then there's a break in traffic. Your mind is so focused on being late that your right foot grown a mind of its own and presses the gas pedal without you even realizing it. And you hear the sirens behind you. Lights in the rearview. Crap! It's going to be one of those days! Or is it?

Sometimes, life's stresses simply can't be avoided. I have created for you, a group to post these or any other catastrophic events that get you down. The objective of this group is for the commenters to find a "Silver Lining" to your story and place only positive comments related to the problem at hand. My hope is that we can all learn to focus on the positive, even in negative situations.

Please join Silver Lining and let's help each other find the positive in order to better deal with our stress.

Guidelines For Posting To Silver Lining

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 08:31:45 -0500

Positivity-Noun 1. A quality or state characterized by certainty or acceptance or affirmation.

One tip on how to remain positive...Talk to others about how you are feeling. This will help you to feel less alone.

We all have bad days once in a while or something we need to talk about. Usually, it's hard to see that each negative can be an educational experience. Feel free to post these things to this group and we will try to help you see it in a different light.

Please post to this group seperately from the others. Comments from the other groups may not reflect the concept of this group.

Please note that all posts must be a negative experience. All comments to the post are to be something positive that can be taken from it. Please do not post listings, tips, etc. to this group.

Let's help each other find the silver lining to whatever it is that brings us down. Everyone is accepted here as long as you stick to the guidelines.

Dog Bite Prevention Part 5, OUCH! He Got Me!

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 06:56:54 -0500

OUCH!!! He got me!

Sometimes, no matter how careful you are, a dog will bite. If you do suffer a bite, get to water and wash the wound immediately. This will decrease the chance of infection. Seek medical care as soon as possible.

If it was your own dog that bit you, confine it and call your Vet to check your dog's vaccination records.

If someone else's dog bit you, contact authorities and tell them everything you can about the dog, including owner's name (if known), color, size, and breed of dog, where the incident took place, circumstances leading up to the attack, and any ideas you may have on where the dog may be.

What if my dog bites someone else?

Even if the bite can be explained or was provoked, it's important to take responsibility for your dog's actions.

Restrain the dog immediately. Separate it from the area attack.

Check the victim's condition. Help them to wash the wound. If serious injury has occurred, call emergency personnel. Encourage the victim to seek medical advice to evaluate the severity of the wounds and risk of infection.

Provide important information. Your name, address, and information about the dog's vaccination and health history are crucial. If your dog doesn't have a current rabies vaccination, it may be necessary to quarantine him until a diagnosis of rabies can be ruled out.

Report the bite to your insurance company. The costs resulting from dog bites can be quite overwhelming.

Comply with local ordinances regarding the reporting of dog bites. All bites should be reported to authorities immediately.

Consult your Vet or a trainer for advice about dog behavior that will help prevent similar problems in the future.

Things to remember

Although there are guaranteed methods for preventing dog bites, following these key rules is essential to reduce the risk.

*Don't let your dog run freely.

*Teach children safe and appropriate behavior around dogs.

*Keep your dog in optimal health.

*Don't run from an aggressive dog.

*Refrain from putting your dog in uncomfortable situations.

*Learn to read your dog's body language.

*Provide positive social interaction for your dog.

*Train your dog in basic obedience.

*Love your dog and have fun with him.

Dog Bite Prevention Part 1, Statistically Speaking

Dog Bite Prevention Part 2, What Made Muffy Bite?

Dog Bite Prevention Part 3, Practicing Safe Behavior

Dog Bite Prevention Part 4, OH NO, Here Comes Butch, And He Doesn't Look Happy

Dog Bite Prevention Part 4, OH NO! Here Comes Butch, And He Doesn't Look Happy!

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 08:33:54 -0500

OH NO!! Here comes Butch, and he doesn't look happy!

There are usually warning signs before a bite occurs, but these can be very subtle and might be missed. Signs that the dog is telling you "I am nearing the end of my patience" may include:

He turns his head away from you or gets up and moves away.

He looks at you with a pleading expression.

He yawns, licks his chops, suddenly starts scratching, or licking himself when you're approaching or interacting with him.

He is wagging his tail with a slow deliberate wag with the tail held straight and parallel to the ground or high over the back. A nervous dog may also wag his tail between his legs or just wag the tip of his tail.

If he lowers himself to the floor and stares at you, chances are he's getting into a position to jump at you. On the other hand, if he lies down and rolls over showing his tummy, he's probably asking for a good belly rub.

Snarling, growling, barking, and showing teeth should always be considered as signs of aggression. It is best to leave the animal alone and not try to physically comfort him.

It is natural for us, as humans, to run from things that frighten us. Bad idea! So, what should we do when an unfriendly dog approaches us?

Don't run away crying or screaming, no matter how scary he seems. If you try to walk away backwards, you may trip and fall. You'll make yourself prey. Butch's instinct is to chase, attack, or tear the prey apart.

"Make like a tree". Trees are boring. The dog will lose interest and go about his business. To assume the "tree" position, cross your arms over your chest with your hands under your arm pits. Stand very still and look away from the dog. Stay in this position until it is safe to leave the area. Remember to walk away calmly.

If a bite seems inevitable, put anything you have in his mouth. Let him bite your purse, hat, jacket, grocery bag, whatever. Try to remain calm.

If he knocks you to the ground, get on your knees and bend over. Fold your arms behind your neck to protect your face, ears, head, and neck. Try to be very still. Stay in this position until the dog has left the area.

Visit my next blog to learn what to do if you or someone else gets bitten by a dog.

Dog Bite Prevention Part 1, Statistically Speaking

Dog Bite Prevention Part 2, What Made Muffy Bite

Dog Bite Prevention Part 3, Practicing Safe Behavior

Dog Bite Prevention Part 5, OUCH! He Got Me!

Dog Bite Prevention Part 3 Practicing Safe Behavior

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 08:16:47 -0500

Practicing Safe Behavior Around Dogs

Not only do we need to train our dogs to behave properly, we need to train ourselves safe dog practices. Just like with a dog, after a little practice, these things will be second nature. Don't forget to train the kids too.

NEVER leave a small child unsupervised with a pet or let your dog sleep in the baby‘s room. It is natural for a child to want to hug the dog, but dogs don't necessarily want to be hugged. The bite that may occur will most likely be in the face since this is the closest part to the dog. 77% of injuries to children are facial. That's approximately 44,000 per year. Remind your child not to pull on the dog's ears, tail, or fur and not to sit on the dog's back. Dogs don't like to be confused with horses.

Teach your child not to tease dogs behind fences. He may not be behind the fence when the child is passing through tomorrow.

Behave calmly around the dog. Excitement, loud voices, and anger may trigger a bite.

Avoid running past a strange dog. Keep in mind that you cannot out-run or out-bike a dog, so don't try.

Encourage children not to approach any dog that does not belong to them. Always ask permission from the dog's owner before petting. It's also a good idea to ask the owner to retrieve a lost item that may be on the dog's property.

Approach the dog calmly. Rapid movements may frighten or excite him.

Look at the dog's paws when you greet him. Some dogs may interpret a direct stare into his eyes as a challenge or threat. By looking at his front paws, you can still watch his expressions without eye contact.

Be sure the dog is aware you are approaching. Avoid walking up from behind as this may startle the dog. Senior dogs can have failing eyesight or hearing and may not realize you're close until you're too close, too fast.

Stand with your shoulder facing the dog. Sideways is less threatening to a dog and avoids the possibility of leaning over the dog.

Extend your hand held in a fist for the dog to sniff before touching. If the dog bites, damage would be less than if the fingers are extended and puppies are less likely to nip at a fist than fingers. Make sure not to move too fast or pull your hand away while he's sniffing. This may be considered a threat.

Crouch sideways to greet small dogs or dogs that are lying down. This is less intimidating and avoids bending over the dog.

Pet the dog on the side of the neck closest to you or on the chest. Some dogs find it threatening for the hand to come over its head.

Move your hand away slowly when finished petting a dog. Remember, sudden movements are intimidating.

Drop treats and toys in front of the dog. If you must let the dog retrieve an item from your hand, offer it with your hand flat.

Don't put your face right up to a dog's face. This may annoy the dog or you may receive a playful nip.

Avoid placing your hand into a car, crate, or pen where a dog is confined. He might bite out of fear or protecting his property.

Respect a dog while he's eating, drinking, chewing, or lying beside any object. Respect his nap time also. You could startle him or he may be dreaming of being a great hunter and you could end up as his prey.

Be cautious of a Mommy dog and with her puppies. The mommy dog can be very protective of her babies and may not understand that you only want to pet them.

NEVER try to physically break up a dog fight or interact with dogs that are play fighting. Spray them with a water hose if available. This will have them running in opposite directions and keep you safe.

Visit my next blog to learn how to tell a dog is losing his patience and what to do if approached by an angry dog.

Dog Bite Prevention Part 1, Statistically Speaking

Dog Bite Prevention Part 2, What Made Muffy Bite?

Dog Bite Prevention Part 4, OH NO! Here Comes Butch And He Doesn't Look Happy!

Dog Bite Prevention Part 5, OUCH! He Got ME!

Dog Bite Prevention Part 2, What Made Muffy Bite?

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 06:26:09 -0500

What made Muffy bite?

A dog's tendency to bite depends on such factors as heredity, obedience training, socialization, health, and the victim's behavior. Dogs believe that they own things. Their toys, food dishes, you. It is their natural instinct to protect their belongings. Their resting place and your property are also its possession. When it comes to children, the dog considers itself dominant. Sometimes, a little nip is nothing more than "behave" from the dog's point of view. It can also be a "hey, that hurt" when you accidentally step on its tail or pull on its ears. Accidental bites when you offer it food or a toy can be prevented by teaching the dog bite inhibition. He isn't trying to take your hand off in this situation, he simply doesn't understand that he is biting too hard. Serious injury often occurs when the dog is frightened and someone startles him. Of course, it's possible that he's just old or grumpy and having a bad day.

So, how do we prevent dog bites?

One key is responsible ownership. Keep your dog on a leash when it's outside, or in a fenced area. Remember that an electronic fence might keep your dog in your yard, but it won't keep people or other animals out. Make sure to ensure proper nutrition. A dog that isn't feeling well can be quite aggressive. We'll touch more on that later.

Start your dog with a strong foundation on which to build. Socialize him. Ordinarily loving dogs may bite out of fear of strangers. Teach your dog the basic obedience commands: "sit", "down", "heel", and "no". It's also a good idea to train your dog to drop its toys on command so that you don't have to reach into his mouth for them or to retrieve items that they shouldn't have. While you're training, teach him not to jump on or paw at you for attention.

Don't set your dog up for failure. Be cautious when introducing your dog to new situations and be ready to respond to any signs of the dog being uncomfortable. Avoid situations where your dog could feel threatened or be teased. Don't play aggressive games such as tug-of-war, chase-me, or wrestling with your dog and expect him to NOT get aggressive. Find non-contact games that your dog can enjoy without getting overly excited. Don't encourage aggressive behavior or barking.

Visit my next blog to learn safe behavior practices around our canine friends.

Dog Bite Prevention Part 1, Statistically Speaking

Dog Bite Prevention Part 3, Practicing Safe Behaviors

Dog Bite Prevention Part 4, OH NO! Here Comes Butch, And He Doesn't Look Happy!

Dog Bite Prevention Part 5, OUCH! He Got ME!

Dog Bite Prevention Part 1, Statistically Speaking

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 06:23:05 -0500

Dogs are great, aren't they? What would you do without your dog? He's always there when you need him. He calms your mood, is a great playmate, and hunting companion. And regardless of what your husband or wife is mad at you for, your dog still loves you!

We have shared our lives with dogs for over 12,000 years. More than 53 million dogs in the US have human families! That's about 1 in 3 homes. Evidence shows that this companionship has contributed substantially to our quality of life. They truly are "man's best friend".

So, why are we here? We have invited you to my blog today to talk a little about dog bite prevention. Dog bites have become a serious public health problem in the United States. The number of dog bite instances continues to climb. About every 40 seconds someone in the US seeks medical attention for a dog bite related injury. Nearly 5 million incidents of dog bites are reported each year with nearly 800,000 of those requiring medical treatment. The majority of dog bites are never reported.

Statistically speaking

About 70% of dog bites occur on the owner's property. Outdoor dogs are more likely to bite than indoor dogs because they are more socialized. With that being said, a chained dog is 2.8 times more likely to bite. Believe it or not, dogs with identifiable owners bite more frequently than "strays". Only 10 -20% of dog bite victims don't know the dog that bit them.

Although all do not require medical attention, approximately ½ of all children are bitten by a dog before they hit the teenage years. According to the American Medical Association, dog bites are the second leading cause of childhood injury. That's about 20% more kids injured by a dog than playground accidents. Approximately 60% of all dog bite victims are children under the age of 12, especially boys between 5 and 9. Watch out guys, males are 2 times more likely to get bitten than females, regardless of your age. When a child less than 4 is the victim, the family dog was the attacker half the time and the attack most always happened in the family home. People over 70 comprise 10% of those bitten and 20% of those killed.

Dog bites cost society well over $1 billion a year and account for a most 1/3 of all homeowner's insurance liability claims. Our insurance companies are paying out roughly $1 billion per year alone. That averages about $17,000 per claim. Medical costs for dog bite victims is more than $165 million a year. Added to the cost are medical insurance claims, worker's comp claims, lost wages, and sick leave.

So, which dogs bite? Any of them! The media likes to portray big dogs as the aggressors, but that isn't necessarily true. It only appears as though large dogs are the problem because naturally, a bigger dog has a bigger bite. That's not to say that small dogs can't cause injury, however. Children could be at greater risk from breeds with reputations for nice temperaments and little furry balls of love since they tend to be less cautious with these than big dogs. Not to pick on a particular breed, but studies have shown that Pit Bulls make up 1-3% of the overall dog population and are reported to cause more than 50% of serious attacks. When they bite, 1 in 16 will inflict serious injury. There is an 8 of 10 chance that the biting dog is male, with a 6 out of 10 chance that he hasn't been neutered. Any dog that hasn't been sterilized is 3 times more likely to bite. Dogs between 1 and 5 yrs. seem to be more involved in dog bite instances.

Visit my next blog to find out what makes your cuddly friend want to bite.

Dog Bite Prevention Part 2, What Made Muffy Bite?

Dog Bite Prevention Part 3, Practicing Safe Behaviors

Dog Bite Prevention Part 4, OH NO! Here Comes Butch, And He Doesn't Look Happy!

Dog Bite Prevention Part 5, OUCH! He Got Me!

The Pink Ribbon

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 10:50:25 -0500

A handsome, middle-aged man walked quietly into the cafe and sat down. Before he ordered, he couldn't help but notice a group of younger men at the table next to him. It was obvious they were making fun of something about him, and it wasn't until he remembered he was wearing a small pink ribbon on the lapel of his suit that he became aware of what the joke was all about.

The man brushed off the reaction as ignorance, but the smirks began to get to him. He looked one of the rude men square in the eye, placed his hand beneath the ribbon and asked, quizzically, "This?" With that the men all began to laugh out loud.

The man he addressed said, as he fought back laughter, "Hey, sorry man,
but we were just commenting on how pretty your pink ribbon looks against your
blue jacket!"

The middle aged man calmly motioned for the joker to come over to his
table, and invited him to sit down. As uncomfortable as he was, the guy
obliged, not really sure why. In a soft voice, the middle aged man said,
"I wear this ribbon to bring awareness about breast cancer. I wear it in my
mother's honor."

Oh, sorry dude. She died of breast cancer?"

"No, she didn't. She's alive and well. But her breasts nourished me as an
infant, and were a soft resting place for my head when I was scared or
lonely as a little boy. I'm very grateful for my mother's breasts, and her
health."

"Umm," the stranger replied, "Yeah."

"And I wear this ribbon to honor my wife", the middle aged man went on.

"And she's okay, too?", the other guy asked.

"Oh, yes. She's fine. Her breasts have been a great source of loving
pleasure for both of us, and with them she nurtured and nourished our
beautiful daughter 23 years ago. I am grateful for my wife's breasts, and
for her health."

"Uh huh. And I guess you wear it to honor your daughter, also?"

"No. It's too late to honor my daughter by wearing it now. My daughter
died of breast cancer one month ago. She thought she was too young to have
breast cancer, so when she accidentally noticed a small lump, she ignored
it. She thought that since it wasn't painful, it must not be anything to
worry about."

Shaken and ashamed, the now sober stranger said, "Oh, man, I'm so sorry
mister."

"So, in my daughter's memory, too, I proudly wear this little ribbon,
which allows me the opportunity to enlighten others. Now, go home and talk to
your wife and your daughters, your mother and your friends."

"And here," the middle-aged man reached in his pocket and handed the other
man a little pink ribbon.

The guy looked at it, slowly raised his head and asked, "Can ya help me
put it on?"

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It's A Great Time To Buy A Home In Lebanon Missouri

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 06:06:33 -0500

It's the time of year in Lebanon Missouri when things are heating up. Today has been a beautiful day with sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 70's. Yes, Spring is right around the corner.

Not only are things getting warmer with the weather, they are in the Real Estate Market as well. As of this afternoon, there were seven hundred, thirty four (734) properties listed with the Lebanon Board of REALTORS. That's $116,122,555 worth of land, commercial, industrial, multifamily, and residential property just waiting for the right people to come along and snag them up.

If you're thinking about purchasing a home for your family, now is definately the time! The interest rates are still fairly low and there is plenty to choose from. Four hundred and twenty nine (429) of these listings are residential homes ranging in price from $25,000 to $1,400,000. That's an median price of $137,500.

Curious about what's available in your price range? Allow me to break it down for you.

$0-$50,000 35 Listings

$50,001-$100,00 107 Listings

$100,001-$150,000 103 Listings

$150,001-$200,000 62 Listings

$200,001-$250,000 34 Listings

$250,001-$300,000 39 Listings

$300,001-$400,000 20 Listings

$400,001+ 29 Listings

Visit my website to find your dream home today.

Puppy Love, Or Is It?

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 07:24:13 -0500

About 6 months ago, a family purchased a house on the same block as I live on. Their back yard runs with mine, with a privacy fence between. With them, came the most adorable little poodle mix puppy. He was sweet as could be, very playful, and just melted my heart everytime I saw him outside.

For the past month, this puppy has been thrown out the door and left to bark for hours. Even in 20 degree temps with 3 inches of ice on the ground. I caught a glimpse of him the other day and was shocked at his appearance. He is filthy, caked with mud, and his fur is all matted together. I was even further disturbed to see one of the young boys in the home throwing a ball at him.

I don't want to start a dispute with my neighbor, but I am finding it difficult to keep my mouth shut. It is taking alot of energy to not go to the neighbor's house, knock on the door, and say "excuse me, but if you don't want to take care of your puppy, I'd be more than happy to take care of him for you".

Attack of The Killer Commenter...I'm On My Soapbox

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 07:21:19 -0500

Yesterday morning, I began my day with my usual routine. I got out of bed, hit the power button on my computer, grabbed a cup of coffee and settled in for a relaxing morning walking around in the rain. I was reading through blogs with titles that grabbed my attention and came across one regarding low-balling. Okay, I've had clients that have insisted on trying to get something for nothing, so I thought it was a must read. Interesting enough. A cliffhanger. Lets read the comments. Then it really grabbed me. Fourth comment down. The writer of the blog was being accused of not doing her homework like a "good realtor". Time to read the blog again. Maybe I missed something the first time. Nope.

I started to feel a little irritated that this commenter would engage in a personal attack on the writer. I wrote my own comment, clicked on the little box that sends you e-mail notifications of new comments, and moved on to the next interesting title. Then came the next killer commenter accusing the writer of trying to "control the price" of the listing because she lives in the neighborhood. Later, this same commenter began arguing that we are required by law to present all offers. Okay, lets read it yet again. I don'tremember anything being said to indicate the writer wasn't going to present any and all offers given. Nope, nothing there. I couldn't believe what I was reading! Who are these people to personally attack the writer just because she was curious to find out if the buyer was going to write a "low-ball" offer?

I sat there in amazement wondering how these people act in their everyday lives. How do they react with their own clients and family. Do they do this in order to make themselves appear more knowledgeable? Do they not see that launching personal attacks on others makes them appear as the idiot in this situation? Did they not care that it was not a "members only" post?

To all who have been victim of a killer commenter, I say...

For the killer commenters here in the rain, I suggest the following reading. These are just a few terrific writings on the subject. Please feel free to search for and read all you can.

Linda Futral Courtesy, Civility, and Just Playing Dang Nice

Rich Jacobson "Playing Fair in the Blog Sandbox" - ActiveRain Guidelines Re-Visited

Jeff Turner Like A Dark Cloud: When Comments Get Ugly And Personal

Handy Cleaning Tips

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 12:44:22 -0500

I thought I would share a few of my handy cleaning tips with you. Feel free to pass them along to your sellers.

Dirt:
Layers of dirty film on windows and screens provide a helpful filter against harmful and aging rays from the sun. Call it an SPF factor of 15 and leave it alone.

Cobwebs:
Cobwebs artfully draped over lampshades reduce the glare from the bulb, thereby creating a romantic atmosphere. If your husband points out that the light fixtures need dusting, simply look confused and exclaim "What? And spoil the mood?" (Or just throw glitter on them &call them holiday decorations)

Pet Hair:
Explain the mound of pet hair brushed up against the doorways by claiming you are collecting it there to use for stuffing hand-sewn play animals for underprivileged children. (Also keeps out cold drafts in winter)

Guests:
If unexpected company is coming, pile everything unsightly into one room and close the door. As you show your guests through your tidy home, rattle the door knob vigorously, fake a growl and say, "I'd love you to see our den, but Fluffy hates to be disturbed and the shots are SO expensive."

Dusting:
If dusting is REALLY out of control, simply place a showy urn on the coffee table and insist that "This is where Grandma wanted us to scatter her ashes."

Smears on Walls :

These can be difficult to remove. Simply explain them as Little Annies wall art. If you wash them off, it will hurt her feelings.

General Cleaning:
Mix one-quarter cup pine-scented household cleaner with four cups of water in a spray bottle. Mist the air lightly. Leave dampened rags in conspicuous locations. Develop an
exhausted look, throw yourself on the couch and sigh, "I clean and I clean and I still don't get anywhere."

As a last resort, light the oven, throw a teaspoon of cinnamon in a pie pan, turn off oven and explain that you have been baking cookies for a bake sale for a favorite charity and haven't had time to clean...Works every time.

Another favorite:
I think from Erma Bombeck, always keep several get well cards on the mantle so if unexpected guests arrive, you can say you've been sick and unable to clean. You figure if you can live in it, they can surely stand it for a 30 minute visit!