One of my past times , and I need to get more into it is scuba diving. I was a leisure diver, and I was also a recovery diver pulling people from water and rivers that were unfortunate. I was also a recovery diver for a dog team.Hence the magnificent air scent-er Lars that is a talented dog that could follow live scents through anything.
Another thing I did before I got into Real Estate is I went to school for Chemistry. I sure liked the schooling, but I sure hated the politics that came with companies. I was into food chemistry and polymer chemistry. I ventured to work with different companies, and contemplated my own ventures.
Another job I did, which really sucked, but it I had to work with my uncle Charlie was working in concrete. These guys would drink beer starting at 10 in the morning, yuk. I was the mud mixer so I was as close to as a working dog you could imagine. I would always go and work out at my Karate studio at night. Some nights when I got there I could not even put my kickboxing pants on. Do you think those guys worked out? Heck, four o'clock came around and it was off to the bar.Yet every morning my uncle would be in my driveway in North Lake at 6:00 am, with Tammy Wynett or Porter Wagner blasting, and that kool cigarette hanging out of his mouth. Just when I thought he was pretty much toast the night before it was like nothing ever happened.
I DO NOT MISS THAT AT ALL!
My wonderful Search and Rescue dog Lars, as well as Lars being a therapy dog.I have a Search and Rescue dog named Lars. he is an air scenter and is trained to find small children and challenged or lost people. My dog can climb step ladders, walk beams. crawl through tunnels, obey me totally by sight and hand gestures, and truly is loyal as they come. I was married at one time and even Spencer's Mom says that if she could had changed my approach to the same as the dog's that she could have worked harder on a marriage. I remind her that she is making an assumption that says the dog would be happy, and that the dog had a name. Lars has also had FEMA training. After 9-11 the government had many people that wanted to help with dogs but the quality and training of the dogs was, or could have been, in question. The National Association of Search and Rescue was contacted by the American Government to assist (FEMA). It was better for security reasons when a space shuttle went down, Public buildings got bombed, and for the CIA and FBI, as well as other reasons to institute a program that would train, use, and incorporate outstanding and loyal animals and teams to now assist the Government. Hence, enter Lars the German Shepherd. Lars started as a 10 week old puppy when we had him learn the concept of scent articles, tracking, and instilling a component that would make him second to none.He would obey all hand commands even if he was up thirty feet in the air on a beam. He trusted me so much that one wrong move and he would have dropped to his death. He would wear a black lightning harness which looks like a harness that went over and around his body. The minute I would take his regular leach connection off and clip it to the harness back he knew it was work time. I would train him in Japanese. When I wanted him to start I would say "Hajime" and stop would be a simple "Matae". He has great agility and can even climb a step ladder.This guy is hanging out with me most of the day, if not all of it, and I must confess, I have been pushed aside in favor of Lars.I laugh when a customer or client calls and confirms our appointment. The end of the conversation has an attachment such as "don't forget to bring Lars", or "Has Lars had his lunch already", or " My kids are here waiting to take Mr. Moose for a walk" or "Hi Tom how are you?, I am really looking forward to seeing Lars, and you"
No one will ever know how much I held on to my dog when there was no where else to go, and I was sick, and at the ends of my ropes with pain, and exhaustion. It was him that gave me that extra boost of will to make it. My son as well was a major inspiration, but there is a connection between Lars and I that some could never understand.I think he was what kept me alive, and I thank you Lars. My forever friend Jo Smith from Ontario would know what I mean. She knows me better than anyone ever could, yet I have never met her. Jo, you and I got to know each other over our animals.My forever friend you mean the World to me, and when we are two crows one day on a park bench we will have plenty to talk about. You are one of the smartest and kindest persons that could have ever entered my life. Thank You.It was the beat of Lars Ulrich that he use to to bob his head at when I would listen to Metallica CDs that gave me the idea for his name.
German Shepherds are smart. Really smart. I have a bumper sticker that says "My German Shepherd is smarter than your Honor student" This sticker gets laughs, and at times it is not so well received. Someone gets jealous of my dog? Give me a break, heck, give Lars a break. He just wants to be a dog. My dog Lars is really an amazing individual. I love my dog so much that if I had to put him up in a Motel 6 and sleep outside the door I would do it. Some people start their day getting a kiss by their spouse, children, or anything else. Not Tom Braatz. I have a 120 pound handsome German Shepherd licking my nose and saying "Get up pal, we have a day to greet! I was the recovery diver for the Search team. It was my job to locate missing unfortunate people. I would always pop my head up and there was Lars in the boat patient as ever. Jumping into water that had a temperature of 35, 36 or so degrees, and being in water that was like being in the inside of a washing machine left no room for error. Even though my dog was an air scenter and not a cadaver dog, I could always see that he wanted to jump in and help. Highly trained dogs like Lars are as loyal as they come. he just obeyed, and sat until he was needed. Lars is also a highly trained therapy dog which likes the hospital and nursing home environment. Any time any one of you are in Wisconsin and would like to go with me to see people you are welcome. I guarantee you will find it humorous when you see this wonderful canine interact with everyone. Sometimes cancer patients, or others that have had their share of recuperating avenues just want to be at peace and the thought of hanging out with something as in the likes of Lars can be a welcome attraction. I could walk down a hospital wing and stop into a room. I would then ask if they liked dogs and if so, would they like to have a very friendly large nosed friend hang out with them. I can introduce them and then I would usually walk away and give someone time to enjoy him. It does not take much to be very thankful, and become all tear eyed when you hear someone that may be older, or very sick, start talking to Lars and saying such things as "I had a dog like you when we I was younger" or "You are a handsome boy, give me a hug" or 'I wish you could stay here with me, or I could take you home" It is very touching. My dog lives for hugs!!!!!!!!
I was also a Farmer that raised Jersey steers, Hampshire lambs, Muscovy ducks, White rock chickens, Plymouth rock and red rock cocheral laying hens, as well as being an avid bee keeper
I became very sick in 2004, and it really took some time to bounce back from a septic coma, kidney failure, joint replacements, and an accelerated neuroloical disorder. My blood sugar was skying, and I had also went through some pretty serious therapy to remove growths of my liver and kidney. I really needed something that would allow a different direction for Lars and I to regroup and get in touch with our inner selves again. Lars and I were always together. I think when I was in a coma for awhile it really test him and put him in a very uncompromising situation. At one moment we are together, and at another an ambulance takes his friend off and leaves him to wonder what was going on. I guess he was very sad, and when I finally had the chance to regroup it was very emotional. Any one that just says something like "Oh, it is just a dog" has not had the chance to really feel the love a dog can give, the support and bonding that comes with it, and the friendship that occurs like no other friendship could or can. Lars and I lived in Cedarburg and had a large farm that was very private, peaceful, and was giving to us a chance for two guys, one with lots of hair and a big nose, and his dog to really do something different. I enjoy farming and it hurt when we decided to stop. The daily ritual of playing soccer with the sheep, the exercise course for the ducks, and Lars, following a tractor around 50 acres that had paths, surrounded by thousands of unoccupied acres was like out of a book, sitting in the barn in the hay room while the big browned eyed, beautiful Jersey steers, named Rodney, Moe, Curly, Larry, Sour Dough, Geddy Lee, and more, watched the NASCAR race on the television with me. I always had a built in audience, like no other audience or gig, I ever played when it came time to wail on my vintage 1964 Fender Telecaster, or my black beauty Les Paul. The steer would actually sit, watch, and line up for the Star Spangled Banner. They did not mind the volume either. We also would sit in the field under the trees and watch the rodeo on a portable TV. They had their favorite. When the clowns would get chased they would jump around in circles and get this grin on their face. I suppose they had their heroes also.
I would always have about 200 bales of hay in my hay room, and it was not unusual for Lars and I to sneak a nap on top of the hay. We would paint in acrylics or oils and the hay room had enough dampness in it that would allow paintings to dry without adding too much liquin to it.
Our farm had it's own pond which allowed Lars and I to jump in when needed. Does anyone else reading this have a dog? If you think your dog gives this kind of persistent whine when he or she wants a treat wait until they do it until you go for a walk and jump into the pond.
I would often look out the window and see Lars smiling as he sat next to the sheep and they said bah, bah, bah to him. I think it must have been something nice. He always went back to visit them and kiss them.
I would also raise 150 or so White rock chickens for food every 13 weeks or so. I just liked doing it. Heck, I got a reputation for giving 10-15 pound dressed birds to people. People loved that. It also gave Lars and I a chance to give back to a lot of people that would not have had the chance for such good meat, or could not afford it.
I loved my sheep. If they broke out of their 4 acre pen they just wound up sitting next to the summer kitchen, or the large house. They were not going anywhere. When I wanted to get them back in the pen I would just take some protein pellets with me as a treat, they were seriously on my heals at that point. The bee keeping was an enjoyment. Bees are really a major joy, and to understand what they do, how important they are in the World, and the joy they bring as a hobby and business is really like no other. If anyone one has thoughts of getting a rewarding hobby they may want to get into bee keeping. It does not take much to get started. you can do it as small or as large as you want to, and you can do it if you live in a fifty story high rise, large city, any climate, and opposite of what you may have been lead to believe, they are harmless. Wasps, hornets, yellow jackets and such have given honey bees a bad rap. If you were so lucky to get a sting it would actually be helpful to your health. MS patients can send off for honey bee packages so they can benefit from the slight sting. If you are ever so curious about such a rewarding hobby give me a call or email and I will send off some information to you. It is a very addicting and rewarding hobby. Not to say what it will do for your garden, plants, and yard!
My son Spencer, and I like to go to Northern Wisconsin in a remote area called Washington Island. We have a large boat there we keep in the marina and it has a bedroom and bath on it. My son and I like to travel on Lake Michigan in it. The Island is absolutely charming.It gives us a chance to just be hanging out and doing nothing. Our peace of the World.
Whether it is sitting and Salmon fishing, or going to the Ostrich farm, my son and I have our own little solitude we call Washington Island. Here we have the chance to hike or walk. We can go visit the old fishermen, and even get a lunch of lawyers. Yes, that is right, a fish called lawyers. They are named so because the lawyer fish has it's brains in it's rear end. True story! We enjoy the ferry ride as well; it usually takes a half hour and goes by light houses and Islands. My son has a fascination with ice cream. If you asked him he would tell you it is on the top of the food chain, right up there with pizza. Lars likes it because he can go swimming in pristine water and hang out on the beach. The tourists eat him up. They cannot believe how big he is.This place is like no other. So nice and peaceful. When I was sick and really did not know my out come I told people I wanted to be buried here in the local cemetery. It is right next to the beach. My son said it would have been too cold in Winter. Oh I love my son; talk about looking out for his dad. My strength, my pillar!!
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