Snakes, water buffalo, and cows? Indeed sad, I could maybe understand the cows and buffalo because they are large animals, still sick though. When I first saw this I didn't realize it had taken place in Columbia until I looked it up on the web. I guess it just really hit home with me because I'm an animal lover and have two labs myself, when they showed the dogs at the airport they looked to be only about eight months old, and I had never heard of this. I guess I do lead a very sheltered life! We don't usually hear of this kind of news on Canadian t.v. What we hear on the news I'm sure is only the tip of the ice burg.

This thread is remarkable. Since I am constantly surrounded by children, the only media that I see or hear is programming aimed at children. So Dr. Laura is an unknown to me. However, I do see the truth in the words in her book. From where I stand, not here on the forum but in my family and among my friends, women/wives tend to drive the relationship. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, that's usually a good thing and that's often why men get married in the first place, the trade-offs vis a vis personal freedom versus companionship and a secure life are well worth it. I think that Dr. Laura's point is that increasingly, women in unstable relationships sometimes drive so hard that they ignore the needs of their husband, assuming that he'll enjoy the ride just because he's in the car with her, regardless of where that car is heading. I think you could compare it to a parent/child. THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT THE WOMAN IS THE PARENT AND THE HUSBAND IS THE CHILD. But that for the first few years, a parent is simply delighted to do whatever with or for their child. But after 10 or 15 years, it becomes more draining then life-giving.... the umpteenth ballet recital or the x-th soccer tournament just isn't as exciting as the first ones were. In the case of the couple, the love that bound them in the beginning fades and those feelings are replaced by resentment and anger. But where I don't agree with Dr. Laura is that she places a great deal of responsibility on the woman to be aware of the man's disposition and feelings. I think that's rather unfair. However, I haven't finished the book, so I don't know how she'll wrap it up. Regardless, what I have read struck a chord with me. Yes, my husband is fairly simple. His emotions run deep, but he doesn't complicate things by acting on them in harmful ways. So by simple I guess I mean that I don't have to try to figure out what he might be telling me and I never, ever have to worry about manipulation, hidden messages, games. He's honest at every level. Anyway, I don't know where I am going with this, I've forgotten because my four year old has interrupted so many times and I need to drive him to school. Jane, I must admit that I do seek your good opinion of me and now I find myself apologizing again on this thread for having offended you as well. Thank you for your gracious remarks in the post just above this one. I'll check in later, I'm running late. My son is actually in the parked van in the drive-way honking the horn!

Sorry it's taken me so long to check back on this post! Lydia, how claustrophobic are you? I am some, in certain situations and it doesn't bother me. Mom on the other hand, doesn't even like the scenic rail excursions. Coach, you should be fine, sounds like business class you would be also. If you go with a roomette, take the bottom bunk! DH has never had a problem until he tried to sleep on the top bunk. It didn't bother me, but space is very cramped up there! He had better luck squishing into the bottom bunk with me after he calmed down, than he did up top. I took his place up there the next night and just needed help getting down for a bathroom run! On tv last night, there was a clip on Amtrak up the coast of CA to Seattle. It looked beautiful! Asked DH if he was ready for another long train trip. From OH to LosAngeles to Seattle (that way we get to stop and see family!) Tami

I just got back from the vet where I mentioned that my dog has started getting me up in the middle of the night to take her outside to urinate. She is 5-1/2 years old and had never done that before. The vet checked her for a UTI and while she didn't have that, she did have lots and lots of struvite crystals. Not the stones yet, but the crystals. I had changed her food to a "no grain" salmon dry food and the vet had me change her to a chicken and rice dry food and add warm water to it. To say all this is just to say that maybe a trip to the vet is in order to rule out any physical problems. I hope you find a good answer.