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Now, if you’re from the South (that would be the United States of America south), you are all too familiar with fire ants but just in case you’re not, here are a few facts about them…

Fire ants create huge underground burrows called a colony where they live, work and procreate. They are a social insect where each individual ant has a function and a job. They stay pretty busy unless its dry or cold in which case they hibernate.

Fire ants are intensely protective of their colony and will attack in large numbers with no regard of self when the colony is threatened or even if a threat is perceived.

Over our Thanksgiving holiday weekend, I went to Savannah, GA for a dog show. This is one of the few remaining shows in the US that is held outdoors and it’s in a pretty little park outside the city. Savannah is on the coast of Georgia and this park is bordered by an inland waterway, so there are times and places when it’s under water or very boggy. We’ve been suffering a drought for the past 3 years in the South and Savannah has not gone unscathed, so the park has been fairly dry.

Until this weekend.

This weekend saw rain. And more rain. And yet more rain — it was like someone turned the handle on the Hansgrohe and just left — for a total of nearly 6 inches of rain by Saturday.

That meant that the ground was pretty saturated.

The show committee was prepared with bales of hay and dutifully put the hay down in the wettest of spots. That helped somewhat with the mushy ground although you and your dog got pretty muddy gaiting around the rings.

What the committee didn’t count on was the fire ants.

From the fire ant perspective, the rain was flooding their colonies, so they felt like they were under attack. When they came out of the ground they found all these people and dogs meandering over their turf, so what else were they supposed to do? They were angry and frightened over being flooded out and so they attacked the totally innocent of any ant-wronging people and dogs.

Doesn’t this behavior sound familiar?

Don’t gangs do this same thing?

Let’s look at the similarities.

• Gangs are social entities.
• They live in “underground” warrens often called slums
• Each gang member has a rank and a job.
• When a threat to the gang territory is perceived, the gang swarms out of their neighborhood and goes on attack without regard for self.
• Many innocents are harmed in these attacks.

Does fire ant bait work on gangs?

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Image via Wikipedia

There’s no denying that it’s hard times for many folk. Weather is getting cooler and heating oil and gas prices aren’t getting any lower despite the price of oil going down. It’s going to be a hard candy Christmas to use Dolly Parton’s words.

It’s not too early to start thinking about giving to those less fortunate.

If we all get together and pool our resources, I’ll bet we come up with a lot of stuff we can pass along to others — and not necessarily used items either! Besides food items, I have some clothes — a pant suit that I bought on sale (non returnable) and after I got it home, I hate it, so that can go. It’s never even been worn. I thought I saw a website with some free audio books the other day….people need more than just the basics, you know.

When we buy a toy for the grandkids, we will buy a second to give to Toys for Tots and this year instead of having the kids give us gifts, we’ll have them give whatever they would have spent on us to the charity of their choice.

I don’t know about your neck of the woods, but around here, there is a program called SHARE that you can donate to that will help people buy heating oil during the winter. Giving a few dollars out of each paycheck over the next few months won’t go amiss there.

No, Ken and I are not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination, but we both have jobs, we weren’t suckered in by the sub-prime mortgage lenders, so our house is fairly secure and we are both fairly healthy. The good Lord has chosen to smile on us and we are grateful.

While you’re making your list of those to donate to, please don’t forget your local animal shelter. Besides the obvious donations of food, toys and bedding, they can use some of your TIME. You’ll help socialize some of the animals or groom them so they can be more appealing to those coming to look for a new pet.

Thank you and God Bless.

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Image via Wikipedia

What is it with people any more? I just read over at Carl Galloway’s blog about the increasing problem with people leaving their dog’s feces on public sidewalks and greenways in Ronda, Spain. ICK! I hope they fine every one of the inconsiderate doofuses that 500 EU! They deserve it!

I have dogs and walk them in such places, but NEVER would I consider leaving behind their poo for someone to inadvertently step in! That’s just so inconsiderate! It’s no big deal to carry a plastic bag or two with you to pick up after your dog. It’s real easy to turn it inside out over your hand, pick up the pile all nice and sterile and then pull the bag back right side out, tie the top and chuck it in the waste bin. Keeps the smell down, too.

And this also brings up other rude behaviors I’ve noticed of late.

Public restrooms — people, it’s a place we all should be able to go into without finding toilet paper on the floor, toilets left unflushed and water all over the counter around the sink. No one is in such a hurry that they cannot take 30 seconds to wait for the toilet to finish flushing to make sure it all went down with the first flush. Water pressure varies in places, and sometimes despite low volume of paper or stool in the bowl it takes more than one flush to get it down. Oh — and if you’re one of those who squats over the seat, please “if you sprinkle when you tinkle, please be neat and wipe the seat” as my Mama taught me!

Water left pooling on the counters around the sink is another pet peeve of mine. I don’t particularly care to lean up against that counter and come away with a wet shirt. Being short, I’m not often given the option of holding myself away from the counter as I wash my hands, so when you’re through drying your hands on your paper towels, use them to mop up the sink area. Just as a consideration for those following after you.

It seems like people act like pieces of tv furniture — stuck in a corner with real life going on somewhere over their heads on a big screen. Wake up people! You are not islands in a sea of humanity! We are all citizens of the world; let’s try to make it a better place starting with those places we all congregate. I’m not saying you have to be Sterile Sue, but just have some consideration for the next person who comes along. Remember the Golden Rule (that would be “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” — just in case you forgot or were never taught it)?

If you’re grossed out by these things (and if you’re one who isn’t then I hope our paths never cross!), then don’t perpetuate the problem by ignoring common courtesy.

Thank you and good night!

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Hey! I just realized that I don’t remember seeing much about equestrian events at this year’s Olympics. They just sort of fell off the map I guess because they have to be done in daylight and China’s daylight hours are when America is sleeping. Whereas swimming, gymnastics and track can all be done indoors in lighted areas.

Unfortunately, it seems that doping is even present among equestrian athletes as there were four horses suspended for testing positive for capsaicin including one horse that was in the 4 horse team jumping bronze medal winners from Norway.

Team USA came away with the Gold in team jumping after a flawless jump-off against Canada, a Bronze in individual jumping and a silver in individual eventing. Not too bad a haul.

I thought the equestrian clothing for our teams was especially dashing. You can view the teams and videos of the performances over at NBC

Equestrian sports are unique for the Olympics in that they are the only sport where any athletes other than humans compete.