After discussing our life with dogs, let me switch to fishing. We bought a condominium years ago while I had my Medical practice in Franklin Park. Having a condo in Fort Lauderdale, FL we made a lot of winter trips for R&R. These were short periods, like five or six days, and our friends knew about them. Once a very good priest friend of ours was down there at the same time. Now Father Bill stopped by the condo,and asked if he and I could go deep sea fishing. He said that he had never had been fishing before, so this would be an adventure. The charter fishing boats work this way. The charter captains take you out for a few hours on a larger boat that holds about 6 or 7 fishermen, and they furnish everything. All the tackle, all the bait, all the set-ups and everything are supplied. So all you have to do is hold the fishing pole that is given to you. The town just North of Fort Lauderdale had a harbor where these charter boats would sail out from. The next morning, Father Bill and I were on boat fishing way offshore, in the Atlantic Ocean. There were a few fishes being caught, but Father did not catch any. Later on the skipper said it was time to return to the harbor, so the skipper turned the boat around and started back. In just a few minutes, Father Bill's pole bent way down, and he started reeling a BIG fish. It jumped out of the water, did the "tail walk" and the skipper announced that it was a sail fish.The skipper then had to turn the boat back out to sea in order to play this BIG fish.
So after about 15 minutes, Father got the fish alongside the boat. Now the skipper said that this fish has to be released or it had to be mounted. I was busy telling Father Bill to say he would have it mounted. He asked, "what would he do with it if it was mounted", he was a priest, afterall, and a trophy sailfish might not go over real well back at the rectory. I felt like I was the devil, tempting the priest keep the trophy. I told him that I could put it on a wall back in my office, and I would pay the expense. This was a large fish, over 7 feet long with a large dorsal fin about 2 feet high. We were able to have a picture taken of us and all the fish caught that day including the sail fish, when we got back to the harbor.
When the mounted fish arrived about a month later, we were really excited! The crate was really large because the mounting board had to be larger than the fish. Fortunately, I had a large wall in the reception area that was the perfect size to display the fish. It looked so impressive! We had the picture taken at the harbor hanging right below the fish. Father Bill was so proud of his first time fishing success that he would bring many people to see it.
Many people came through my offices and could view this mounting. One day the temptation was too great. I got to the office and noticed that father's fish was stolen by some pranksters. I found out about ten years later, what really had happened.
It was a regular day at the office, and I recieved a letter with the return address of a seminary. In the letter was the following story. The writer introduced himself, and said that he was a seminary student, and he had to tell me something. He began confessing that he had stolen the fish years earlier and he had used it to play a trick on someone he knew, that had owned a pool. He stole the fish and threw it into the pool! Imagine waking up to a 7 foot long sailfish in your swimming pool! I laughed out loud and continued reading. He mentioned that he needed to confess his transgressions, as part of his advancement in the seminary. I never answered his letter.
Another fish story next. Stay tuned.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Animals Continued with Dogs
Brozville in Minocqua, Wisconsin, was originally a three season arrangement,and we had to close all the buildings and drain all the water pipes each fall. Then in the spring in late May, we would open everything and hope no water pipes were broken. Then, when summer vacation started, Dorothy and the children with San dog would move from Hillside, to stay there for the summer. San dog enjoyed the area, and she loved drinking the lake water right from the lake.
Later when I retired,and San dog getting older, I noticed a tumor in her abdomen. She was not eating her food, but she was drinking a lot of lake water. At this time our finances were very strained, and our dog seriously ill, going to the Vet was not financially possible. Dorothy told me that her father would put their sick dog to sleep by using the exhaust from the car. She said that he would put a tarp over the tail pipe of the car and the dog, and then he would start the car. So I thought I could that so I got it all set up. Then I started the car and covered San dog with the tarp. I held her there until there was no more movement. Then I started to cry. All the while I was digging her grave, my face was wet with running tears. I told myself that I would not ever want to do that again, and did not want any more dogs.
Not so. A few years later my daughter and her family were visiting when our church was having a chicken cook out, and we were one of the last ones to leave. Somehow a small dog evidently smelling the food got into the basement hall where they were serving the meals and he followed us out. We were thinking that he would head for his home where he belonged, but to our surprise, instead he jumped into our van through the open back door. Trying to get him out, he jumped into the middle seat. The children pleaded not to chase him out, because the other animals would eat him up seeing that we are living in the woods with black bears. So reluctantly I kept him in the car hoping that someone would claim him in a day or two. No one showed up. so we had another dog. This was a male miniature apricot poodle, a rather expensive breed. I named him Jacque Pierre, because one of the girl's name was Jackie.
My experience with poodles was that they like to run away,and that is how I got this one.So whenever we went out, I would put on a leash on Jacque, because by nature,poodles are hunting dogs.After several months of walking him on a leash so that he he would know where he lived. So one day we are out for a walk I let him off the leash. He ran up the hill, I called his name, and he stopped, looked over his shoulder, and then continued running up the hill. I was still outside when I heard the yelping of a dog. I could recognize his voice, and sure enough, he came running back down the road with a clump of fur,1 inch in diameter, missing from his rib cage. I believe that some raccoon got a mouth full of Jacque's fur, pulled right out without tearing the skin.
As years go on,dogs age quicker then men, 7 for 1 year for man, he was showing signs of old age. He developed cataracts in both eyes, and he was losing his hearing. It was time to put him down. Dorothy said she would take him to the Vet. while we were all crying at home. She was the brave one. No more dogs.
Later when I retired,and San dog getting older, I noticed a tumor in her abdomen. She was not eating her food, but she was drinking a lot of lake water. At this time our finances were very strained, and our dog seriously ill, going to the Vet was not financially possible. Dorothy told me that her father would put their sick dog to sleep by using the exhaust from the car. She said that he would put a tarp over the tail pipe of the car and the dog, and then he would start the car. So I thought I could that so I got it all set up. Then I started the car and covered San dog with the tarp. I held her there until there was no more movement. Then I started to cry. All the while I was digging her grave, my face was wet with running tears. I told myself that I would not ever want to do that again, and did not want any more dogs.
Not so. A few years later my daughter and her family were visiting when our church was having a chicken cook out, and we were one of the last ones to leave. Somehow a small dog evidently smelling the food got into the basement hall where they were serving the meals and he followed us out. We were thinking that he would head for his home where he belonged, but to our surprise, instead he jumped into our van through the open back door. Trying to get him out, he jumped into the middle seat. The children pleaded not to chase him out, because the other animals would eat him up seeing that we are living in the woods with black bears. So reluctantly I kept him in the car hoping that someone would claim him in a day or two. No one showed up. so we had another dog. This was a male miniature apricot poodle, a rather expensive breed. I named him Jacque Pierre, because one of the girl's name was Jackie.
My experience with poodles was that they like to run away,and that is how I got this one.So whenever we went out, I would put on a leash on Jacque, because by nature,poodles are hunting dogs.After several months of walking him on a leash so that he he would know where he lived. So one day we are out for a walk I let him off the leash. He ran up the hill, I called his name, and he stopped, looked over his shoulder, and then continued running up the hill. I was still outside when I heard the yelping of a dog. I could recognize his voice, and sure enough, he came running back down the road with a clump of fur,1 inch in diameter, missing from his rib cage. I believe that some raccoon got a mouth full of Jacque's fur, pulled right out without tearing the skin.
As years go on,dogs age quicker then men, 7 for 1 year for man, he was showing signs of old age. He developed cataracts in both eyes, and he was losing his hearing. It was time to put him down. Dorothy said she would take him to the Vet. while we were all crying at home. She was the brave one. No more dogs.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Broz Animals Part 2 Dogs Continued
After a few years with San Dog settled in as part of our family, we were on vacation at my brother's place in Spring Lake, Michigan. They told us that their neighbor who had a pure bred miniature apricot French Poodle, just had a litter of pups. They said that they were very pretty. and we could go and see them. Also they were for sale. When we got there, we saw these cute white puppies, and Dorothy said, "I want one." So the owner picked one up, and said that this one had a very pretty face, and she named it, "Angel Face," because it was female. Then Dorothy said that she wanted that one. So now we had two dogs. However this poodle had a temperament that was just the opposite to San Dog. This poodle had quick movements and was always moving around. When we got home, she took over the whole house. She went everywhere,and when we brought San Dog in, they sniffed at each other but Angel Face went on her way.
Our home was multi-level, actually there was four, and no dogs were allowed on the upper level because all the bedrooms were at that level. I shortened the poodle's name to Angel, but she was no angel, just the opposite. She did learn that she was not allowed on the bedroom level, but she evidently was upset when she was home alone. She would leave a bm deposit under our baby grand piano before we would get home. I would scold her and put her nose toward it, and she stopped doing it there. Later I found out she was doing it by the outside door in the basement.
She also had a roaming desire, and she would run away when she got loose. I would go looking for her in the neighborhood calling, " Angel, Angel," until I realized I looked pretty silly walking down the street in my bathrobe, calling for angels. Most often she would come back by her self. With her frequent excursions she met up with a male dog because later she had miscarriage. I saw her shortly after as she was taking care of the remains. The next day she had a fever because her nose was hot. So I figured out a small dose of penicillin , and gave it to her for a few days.She returned to her old habits of running away. When she was gone over night, I called the police to see if they had any knowledge of a stray dog. They said that had her at the station, and I could come and pick her up. When I got there, they said she was in the garage with the fire truck. I found her there, and she had black grease on her from the truck.
During the summer when the nights are warm, I would leave her outside on a leash. One morning when I went to bring her in, she was gone. The leash was broken at a connection, so she had one half of chain attached to her collar. So as before, I called the police, but they had no knowledge of our dog. So I called the neighboring town to see if they had any knowledge of our dog. He hesitated but he said it is not good news. He said the dog is dead. When I got there the chain was still there but her neck was broken. It is my impression that she was chasing some animal and a car ran over the chain.
The most interesting part of the story was that Jack had to take care of her corpse, and it was during the wintertime. The ground was completely frozen, so burial as out of the question. In lieu of a burial, he decided to wrap her up neatly in a cardboard box and put it out on top of the garbage cans outside the back door. He figured that on garbage day, he'd take her box, along with the rest of the trash, out to the street for the weekly pickup. Well, that last part never happened because someone stole the box from off of the trash cans. Imagine their surprise...
Our home was multi-level, actually there was four, and no dogs were allowed on the upper level because all the bedrooms were at that level. I shortened the poodle's name to Angel, but she was no angel, just the opposite. She did learn that she was not allowed on the bedroom level, but she evidently was upset when she was home alone. She would leave a bm deposit under our baby grand piano before we would get home. I would scold her and put her nose toward it, and she stopped doing it there. Later I found out she was doing it by the outside door in the basement.
She also had a roaming desire, and she would run away when she got loose. I would go looking for her in the neighborhood calling, " Angel, Angel," until I realized I looked pretty silly walking down the street in my bathrobe, calling for angels. Most often she would come back by her self. With her frequent excursions she met up with a male dog because later she had miscarriage. I saw her shortly after as she was taking care of the remains. The next day she had a fever because her nose was hot. So I figured out a small dose of penicillin , and gave it to her for a few days.She returned to her old habits of running away. When she was gone over night, I called the police to see if they had any knowledge of a stray dog. They said that had her at the station, and I could come and pick her up. When I got there, they said she was in the garage with the fire truck. I found her there, and she had black grease on her from the truck.
During the summer when the nights are warm, I would leave her outside on a leash. One morning when I went to bring her in, she was gone. The leash was broken at a connection, so she had one half of chain attached to her collar. So as before, I called the police, but they had no knowledge of our dog. So I called the neighboring town to see if they had any knowledge of our dog. He hesitated but he said it is not good news. He said the dog is dead. When I got there the chain was still there but her neck was broken. It is my impression that she was chasing some animal and a car ran over the chain.
The most interesting part of the story was that Jack had to take care of her corpse, and it was during the wintertime. The ground was completely frozen, so burial as out of the question. In lieu of a burial, he decided to wrap her up neatly in a cardboard box and put it out on top of the garbage cans outside the back door. He figured that on garbage day, he'd take her box, along with the rest of the trash, out to the street for the weekly pickup. Well, that last part never happened because someone stole the box from off of the trash cans. Imagine their surprise...
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Broz Animals Pa rt 2
When our children were young, they started asking why we don't have a dog? I explained that I did not have extra time to take care of a dog, because they need attention and have special needs. That satisfied them so I thought. However on my next birthday they said," Surprise, look what we got for you. A cute little puppy." I sure was surprised as they handed me a puppy which was about 2 months old. I told them that I really did not have time to take care of it. They reassured me that they would take care of the dog if we could keep it. With that understanding, I agreed, but it would have to be an outdoor dog.
That started a flurry of all sorts of planning and shopping for dog needs. I have to admit that I did like the little puppy. So now that this dog is a member of our family, we needed a name for it. I turned to Dorothy and asked her if she would pick a name for our new addition. She came up with, "San Francisco." It wasn't long before it was shortened to, "San Dog." This was a female who was a mixed breed with brown and black coloring. She was very gentle, easily trained, and very careful around children. She was very obedient, and she learned what "no" meant very quickly. She also was basically a quiet dog with just occasionally barking usually for a reason.
Since my birthday is in July, all the children were on summer break,and the next project was to build a dog house. Now the older children were familiar with wood construction.They were able to see how it's done. This was going to be a first class dog house. There was double walls on three sides, a gable roof with green shingles. The wood siding was painted bright red, and a yellow half moon shaped sign was hung over the door with San dog's name on it "San Francisco".The floor was elevated on cement blocks and was carpeted wall to wall. When completed it was work of art. There was a heavy wire strung from the dog house to the house, so the dog leash could ride freely back and forth. San dog loved that dog house, and she stayed in it every night winter or summer. To be continued.
That started a flurry of all sorts of planning and shopping for dog needs. I have to admit that I did like the little puppy. So now that this dog is a member of our family, we needed a name for it. I turned to Dorothy and asked her if she would pick a name for our new addition. She came up with, "San Francisco." It wasn't long before it was shortened to, "San Dog." This was a female who was a mixed breed with brown and black coloring. She was very gentle, easily trained, and very careful around children. She was very obedient, and she learned what "no" meant very quickly. She also was basically a quiet dog with just occasionally barking usually for a reason.
Since my birthday is in July, all the children were on summer break,and the next project was to build a dog house. Now the older children were familiar with wood construction.They were able to see how it's done. This was going to be a first class dog house. There was double walls on three sides, a gable roof with green shingles. The wood siding was painted bright red, and a yellow half moon shaped sign was hung over the door with San dog's name on it "San Francisco".The floor was elevated on cement blocks and was carpeted wall to wall. When completed it was work of art. There was a heavy wire strung from the dog house to the house, so the dog leash could ride freely back and forth. San dog loved that dog house, and she stayed in it every night winter or summer. To be continued.
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