Brodie hunts down political speak

My golden self devotes time to expanding my vocabulary.  This requires my ears and hearing ready and open…and my dog brain engaged to learn.  So…I heard this the other day on a major network “scurrilous lies….”I had no idea what this “s-word” meant, so I went to Webster’s.  Scurrilous means “making or spreading scandalous claims about someone with the intention of damaging their reputation.”  What an epiphany I had…this handy adjective clearly describes political antics of today.  So…then I looked up the antonym for this “s-word” and found polite, clean and decent.  It’s never too late to change it up.

Let’s all, everybody… go for the paradigm shift in politics by changing our political conversations and behaviors…thereby rendering this “s-word” obsolete.

Ears up.

Brodie sniffs out “the claw back”

I enjoy the political rhetoric as it heightens and tightens…accuses and abuses…pivots and swirls…yes this is quite an arena of huffers and puffers…who remain ready to blow this presidential campaign…this loaded march…a fast march carrying a heavy load… from here to where and back.

My golden ears keep hearing about both candidates having the need to “claw back” this and that…getting something back with great difficulty.  Ok…let me spin this another way…I feel qualified, as I have four clawed paws and I understand how they work.

There are typically 319-321 bones that make up the skeleton of a dog with seven bones in the front paws and six in the back.  My dog paws have 5 different components: Claws, Digital paws, Metacarpal pad, Dewclaw, and Carpal pad…all of which serve me well. Now we find the political candidates needing claws to take back something that’s not easily done.  The way this works for me is the following:  someone trims my claws on a monthly basis… so I don’t have sharp and long nails that I could use to dig up something, scratch something, somebody or a fellow dog/cat, harm the hardwood floors, etc.  So…I am cared for in such a way as to not make it possible to claw back anything…I am relieved of these unwanted situation.

My golden self suggests that both candidates frequently trim their nails and carefully choose their words.

 

 

 

Brodie fills up his bucket

A few days ago there was a political conversation about a basket being filled up with “deplorables.”  I’d like to change-up that conversation…spin it positively for the Lady…after all we all make mistakes and we all say things that we wish we could take back…so here goes…

Golden Brodie encourages political donkeys & elephants to read a book about kindness.
Golden Brodie encourages political donkeys & elephants to read a book about kindness.

I have a bucket and I strive to fill it up everyday.  I fill up my bucket through being respectful to others, by being a responsible golden dog and by caring for others and their lives.  See…each day I strive to fill up my bucket (my heart, my beliefs) with kindness..I become a “Bucket filler” and I glow golden.  Folks that choose to bully and hurt others, be a name caller…those folks are “Bucket Dippers”…folks that engage in taking from others…taking and being hurtful.  Which one do you live up to???? ….a filler upper or a bad dipper?

So…all of you donkeys and elephants out there…consider reading this book to help you get started.  And don’t get turned off because it’s a kids book…there is great wisdom in these pages.

“Have You Filled a Bucket Today?  A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids” by Carol McCloud.

Brodie’s Political Quiz: What is Aleppo?

Answer this question if you can…background first …today a third-party candidate/Libertarian  candidate…running for the Office of the President of the United States…if you know his name…you get some points for that one…because the press has given little show time to this man/former governor…anyway…when asked…this candidate… on a major televised network…he got the question…there was a moment of silence and then an honest confession of not knowing.  All reporters, stations, the whole reporting world jumped all over this fellow.

So…let’s see if you know: What is Aleppo? Hint…It is not a variety of dog food (I thought that was the answer…OK..OK…my bad.) and it is not a thing, an object or a do-dad or a whatamacallit.  Ticktock, ticktock…  And the answer is: Aleppo is a major Syrian city.  Google it.  Perhaps we could all benefit from understanding Aleppo and its struggles and its global implications.  I’ve learned from this man today who did not know the answer…a man who told the truth…I’m thanking him now …he raised my golden curiosity and as a result I am more informed.

Brodie turns up allergic again..this time to nuts!?

Six days ago I had a reaction to political shenanigans that resulted in very irritating hives.  Done with that…But no…this morning my golden dog body had an allergic reaction to nuts…that’s right nuts…nuts baked into these political cakes we’ve been yelping about.

Totally my fault…totally…I went for the cake…just sitting there…snatched the political cake and who knew…there were nuts…so many different kinds and types of nut-cases in that cake that I needed a Benadryl.  Dogs are especially allergic to nuts and the only type of nut, according to Internet research that dogs can eat are Hazel Nuts. (But… avoid them as they can cause a dog to choke.) The nuts I consumed in that political cake had different proper names…no Hazel in there…but names familiar to you.

Be golden in your thoughts and don’t work the table and don’t “take the cake.”  Don’t expect disclaimers or warnings.

 

Brodie yaps about “baked into the cake”

Short and golden remarks…You hear this often in the written and oral press…”Is it baked in the cake?”…or “It’s bake into the cake.”
According to Urban Dictionary, “baked into the cake” refers to “a situation that is so involved and interwoven which is basically impossible to be fully extricated.” So in other words, there is so much controversy swirling on both sides of this presidential campaign…that both have left a “trail of cakes” so wide and long that Americans could gorge on these political party pastries until the elephants, donkeys and others come to vote…or not.

The key word here is “extricated”…meaning to release or to remove or to extract or to free…think of the issues and you decide what’s in that cake that’s going nowhere.

Brodie breaks out in hives

I had no idea what was happening to me.  There came this itch that I had to scratch…an itch that could not be relieved.  Scratching lead to more scratching…followed by an oatmeal bath…followed by popping a few Benadryl. Nothing brought relief… And then and only then…when I was able to isolate the reason(s) for this sudden on-set of misery…did I finally embrace relief.

So what was the diagnosis?!…Viewing extreme political antics and rhetoric backing up into bleach washed “e-mails that even God cannot view”, resulted in my extreme case of politically enhanced hives, vengeful hives, that my golden self could not overcome…shirk off…deny…Now I know how to avoid these hives.  1) Limit political reading to credible resources (still seeking a reliable pill with limited side effects to take for this.) 2) Conduct my own research. 3) Refrain from political conversations during dinner and socializing times.

In closing, hope you never suffer this like I did… beware… we have a long way to go in this 2016 race to the White House.  Stay healthy…

Golden outlook on Battle or Swing States

Let us get right to it.  I had to do some golden research regarding the meaning of “battle ground”  verses “swing” states or vice a versa in this winding down race for the office of POTUS.  Findings:  Battle or Swing…same, same.  These are purple states (blending red and blue results in purple) that represent the states where no single candidate or party has overwhelming support in securing that state’s electoral college votes.  Presently, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin are the purple beauties…

So, I prefer “swing” verses “battle”…who cares?!?..My golden self would favor swinging back and forth, pumping and enjoying the breeze…up until November 8th.  It’s just not in me to “battle”…

Everyone should show up and vote whether you live in a projected red, blue or purple state.

Brodie discusses the flip-flop

I listen to the news on a daily basis, paying particular attention to the presidential candidates… where they campaign…what they say…what their doctors say…what issues are beginning hammered on any given day…what is the mantra, the speak…who has their mojo working.  Lately, the speak dances steadily around “the flip-flop.”  Each candidate owns beaucoup (I’m practicing my french.) flip-flops, yet neither candidate acknowledges having flip-flops.  Well, allow me to tell you about my golden experience on this one.

When I was a young pup, learning my way…training, messing up…messing around…I had experiences with flip-flops.  My birth month is May, so being a golden pup my first summer posed many challenges.  Learning to hydrate… dealing with the summer heat…staying in the shade…keeping my mouth shut in deep water… waiting on and watching my people…avoiding hot car situations and keeping my self-destructive chewing at a minimum.  One of my biggest slip-ups involved the flip-flop.  I had this thing about chewing them up…screwing them up…tearing them up…and then hiding the leavings…very cheesy behavior that I had to over-come…and I’m not proud of this. Flip-flopping got me into big trouble…

So…these “want to be” POTUS candidates hopefully understand about what’s at stake when they make a reversal of their position, …when they volte-face (French practice again)…I’ll offer that it’s politics…it’s called blowing with the wind…going for the vote…working the polls…calling in the chit…  Alas, the flip-flop is here to stay…get over it…and continue listening carefully during these last 70 plus days until election day.

 

Brodie covers… “off-putting” Presidential Candidates

Some folks find Mr. T’s (R candidate) eating habits “a little more than off-putting.”  Examples of what he consumes are McDonald’s, overcooked steaks, bacon and over-well eggs, taco bowls and foods on sticks.  Other says that the Lady’s (D candidate) “sharp lecturing tone” is off-putting… so off-putting that folks who are open to her message…they can even tune out…missing her message due to her penetrating tone.  Let’s examine this.

Mr. T’s food choices are fine with me.  There is not one single food item on his list that I would turn down…and I’d for sure drag all of these dishes out of my kitchen trash can…but then I’m a golden.

The voice of the Lady…well, we should all strive to listen to each other.  Maybe…just perhaps…when becoming passionate about her topic… she can’t help but raise her voice to make a point.  Now…I will also offer that my trainer and my people find me more cooperative and responsive to an even tone that allows me to slow down, relax and listen…but then I’m a golden.

“Off-putting” is a weird combo of words.  The “off” I totally understand…but when teamed up with the “putting”…well…it’s just offensive to my golden sensibilities.