Remember 15 April 1898

Earlier today we followed Dad into to the WABAC machine.  Once again it was set to the year 1898, location Havana, Cuba.  We get out and sniff around the area.  Suddenly at 9:40 PM we hear a loud explosion.  We run over by Dad and hide behind his legs.  

We bark out "What made that loud thunder Dad?"  

Dad replies, "You remember a couple weeks ago we were in Key West to watch the USS Maine leave Key West?"

We nod our heads yes.

"The USS Maine just exploded.  Of the 355 members of the USS Maines crew, 261 crossed the Rainbow Bridge.  Six days later, the US went to war with Spain."  We couldn't find any reports of a dog being aboard the ship, but there could have been one.  

The Wreckage of the Maine in Havana Harbour

That event changed a lot of things in USA.  We had territories half-way around the world and would become more involved in global events.  We join Dad in a silent prayer at Angel Paws.   After today we too will "Remember the Maine."  

USS Maine Memorial in Key West Cemetary

Dog Speed,

Gemini and Normandy

24 January 1898

There is a creaking noise in the house.  Gemini's tail starts to wag.  We ramble over to a big door and see Dad turning some dials.  I bump Gemini and give her a quizzical look.  Gemini barks out "It’s the WABAC machine Norm!"

Gem explains the collies would join Dad and go back in time using the WABAC machine. I listen as Gem woofs about previous WABAC adventures.  Dad turns the dials to 24 January 1898, location Key West. 
 
We arrive in Key West.  There are no cars and people dress funny.  We see lots of horses and hoomans walking.  Dad says “Today the wheels of history start to turn.  Several weeks from now, the trajectory of US history will change furever.  The US will start to get more involved in world politics.  In a several weeks we will use the WABAC machine again to witness the event that starts that avalanche and begin that change.”

The USS MAINE - 1898 - Library of Congress

We watch a ship start to slowly leave port, belching smoke into the air as it moved.  We read the name the “Maine.”  Dad looks at us and states, “The Maine is heading to Cuba.  Captain Charles D. Sigsbee is the commander.  The Maine will arrive in Havana the next day, 15 January, around 10 AM.  In a several weeks, we get in the WABAC and go to Havana Harbor.  We will watch, listen and we too will remember the Maine.”

USS MAINE Entering Havana Harbor - 15 JAN 1898

Dog Speed,
 
Gemini & Normandy

Lipoma

Well Dad got the news from the Doctor.  He has lipoma.  Lipoma is a benign tumor of fat, formed between the skin and the underlying muscle.  We all exhaled after Dad got the results.  To celebrate Dad took us to Angel Paws on time.

  

Norm & Gem Chilling Out

After receiving the good news, we chilled for a short time before Dad took us to Angel Paws to celebrate.  Now Dad is off to the next project.  Appreciate everypaw thinking of Dad and praying fur him.  We love our Dad.

Dog Speed,

Gemini & Normandy

Surgery

Well cyber-pals Dad is going to have surgery today.  He felt a couple bumps on the back of his neck the second week of December.  He went to Urgent care and they referred to another place.  That Doc saw him and scheduled him fur surgery.  Being the holiday, he ended waiting until after New Years.  They are going to put Dad under, which he isn't thrilled about, but do what you have to do.  He reports in at 7:15 and should be out before 10.  

Dad will walk about 15 minute to the place that does the surgery.  Copper's Dad will pick him up to take him home.  We were extra good during our walk and told Dad not to worry.  Dad will worry anyhow.  When Dad gets home we'll post to let you know how he is doing.

Dog Speed,

Gemini, Normandy and Dog Dad

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UPDATE:  11:00 AM

Dad is home and doing well.  He is under the loving supervision of Gemini and Normandy.   No Angel Paws today,, but we will get extra time tomorrow

We will get results of what the lumps were sometime in the future.  He is scheduled to see the Doc again in around ten days..   

2022 in Review

There were quite a few things that happened last year.  Nothing much going in Key West.  Dad still masks in public, and he got his Covid booster shot in December.  We spend a lot of time enjoying Angel Paws and taking care of Dad. 

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6 January – Actor Sidney Poitier crosses the Rainbow Bridge at 94.

20 January – Rock superstar Meat Loaf crosses the Rainbow Bridge at 74.

24 February – Russia invades Ukraine.

12 March – Our coconut tree goes “timber” 

1 April – Our pal Bear moves next door.

Bear

12 April – Three dead, 29 injured in New York City subway shooting.

14 May – Buffalo Supermarket Shooting.

16 May – Eva, the Belgian Malinois, saves hooman from mountain lion.

26 May – Actor Ray Liotta, who played Shoeless Joe Jackson in“Field of Dreams” crosses the Rainbow Bridge at 67.

31 May – Our pal Bear moves to a new home in Key West.

18 June – Bangladesh floods, millions of homes underwater.

13 July – Our pal Enu crosses the Rainbow Bridge.

Enu

31 July – Bill Russell, basketball player, crosses the Rainbow Bridge.

1 August – Bandit, the calico cat, thwarts robbery in Mississippi.

8 August – Oliva Newton crosses the Rainbow Bridge at 73.

23 August – BeauDee comes to live with Enu’s Mom.

BeauDee

8 September – Queen Elizabeth II crosses the Rainbow Bridge at 96.

28 September – Hurricane Ian slams Florida’s west coast.

27 October – Elon Musk Takes Control of Twitter. 

29 October – Seoul, South Korea – 156 dead in deadly Halloween crown crush. 

11 November – FTX files for bankruptcy, the crypto currency crashes.

16-20 November - Buffalo hammered by historic snowstorm.

28 November – Artemis, Golden Retriever, barking leads Louisiana rescuers to his small hoomans.

16-27 December – Copper visits us.

18 December – Argentina wins the World Cup.

23 December – The Great Buffalo Christmas Blizzard.

28 December – Pele, Brazilian soccer legend, crosses the Rainbow Bridge at 82.

29 December – Barbara Walters, TV broadcaster, crosses the Rainbow Bridge at 93. 

30 December – Pope Benedict XVI crosses the Rainbow Bridge at 95.

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We wish everypaw a very Barky New Year.  Hopefuly, "The Year of the Rabbit" 2023 is a pawtastic year. 

Pele Crosses The Rainbow Bridge

Pele crossed the Rainbow Bridge today.  The name brings back memories of High School and College.  Dad remembers reading about him in High School.  After Dad graduated from High School, Dad watched him play for the NY Cosmos on TV.  Pele's coming to the US brought soccer to the nation's conscience.  

Pele-1963 

Dad managed to convince Grand Paw to take him to watch the Cleveland Professional soccer team when he was in High School.  The team was named the stars and was later named the Cobras.  Below is a sticker with the Stars logo and a Cobras logo.  There was no soccer team at his high school, but one of the reasons Dad chose the college he went to was that they had a geology program, and they had a soccer team.  It was a silly reason to choose a school, but no one has ever said a High School student normally make logical decisions.  Dad was never a very good soccer player, but he always tried his best.   That trait of to keep trying has served Dad well.  As for the collies, Normandy's favorite toy is a felt squeaky mini-soccer ball.

Cleveland Stars

Cleveland Cobras

The world will miss Pele.  He influenced a lot of people during his lifetime.  Soccer couldn't have had a better ambassador.  

Dog Speed,

Dog Dad

Merry Essexmas - 2022

We want to wish everyone a Merry Essex-mas.  We are fine and the temperature is a cool 57 degrees.  We totally enjoy that temperature though Dad finds it a little cool.  We spent some time at or favorite place in Key West, Angel Paws Dog Park.  This is an Angel Paws pawtograph from today.  We are sitting pretty waiting for a treat.

Chucho, Normandy & Gemini Sitting Pretty

Dad will try to do a couple of posts before the year ends.  There hasn't been a lot happening lately.  Dad has a lot of cleaning to do.  

Merry Essexmas,

Gemini, Normandy & Dog Dad