Arkansas Blog

Brantley on vacation? From what? We didn't think he had a job. Guess his Judge wife makes good dough and invited him on the trip.

I know the subject of Hillcrest is a red flag to some out there, but I'm going ahead anyway. What is it with Metropolitan National Bank and their alleged plans to take that dump of a strip shopping area and turn it into a nice bank? How many months has this eyesore languished since their announcement that they would build there?

Let's talk about the Boulevard Bread / Adina Cafe debacle (created by the River Market manager). This morning's
Dem-Gaz says "A coffee shop being moved out of a prime position in Little Rock's River Market has asked that it be allowed to move into another key spot and wants the city to rein in potential competition. Andina Cafe, which soon must surrender its home as the east-end anchor in the cityowned River Market's Ottenheimer Market Hall (to Boulevard Bread), has asked to be moved to the west end of the building. It also would be too expensive to turn the west end of the building into the kind of shop Andina Cafe wants, Light said"

We just returned from the Farmer's Market. The West end of the building already has pull down window-walls that are lockable.

I say put the bead sellers somewhere else and let Adina have it.

Riga, great city; you'll have fun. If you can, though, cross the border and visit St. Petersburg--stunning.

RE: Hillcrest Metropilitan branch

I believe they are still working out a design that is compatible with the surrounding streetscape. Don't want a WLR type branch plopped right on a highly visible corner of Hillcrest. That is not the easiest spot to put a branch bank with drive-thru's.

Yeah, the Hillcrest Homeowners Association or whatever it is called had a cat when it learned that Metropolitan was going to put a branch there. Like that wasn't a sufficient improvement over the oft robbed convenience store that was there previously. As I understand it, the Bank is striving to come up with a design that will be compatible with the surrounding area. I guess it is taking longer than they thought it would originally.

Max, you always take the most interesting vacations. Didn't you go to Libya or Tunisia last year?

Never heard of Destin? Branson? Tunica?

OK, this early bird takes a vow right now to go easy on Warwick. Well, unless I get cranky about something and need someone to take it out on. That's the best I can do.

Jerry's Barbershop in the Heights (named AT readers' favorite a year or two ago) needs its customers & friends right now: Jerry's daughter Kim, who also works there, was in a major carwreck & Jerry's accepting donations to help her & the family. Looking @ 3-6 months rehab, and lucky to be alive, I was told when I went in for my trim this a.m. Guys, Jerry's makes us all look better than we are... time to give back a little.

A lot of double postings could be eliminated if there was a faster processing of "Post" when you click it.

Why does it take so long to process the request?

That one took 29 seconds. . .

I have the same problem, Don. Only on this site and no where else. Grind, grind, grin.

Yeah, this blog takes 10X as long, if not longer, to post as any other blog I visit.

It's too hot to post any faster.

It's not like I get paid for speed.

Nobody appareciates minimum wage blog software.

I wish I made enough to travel like Max.

In Chicago, waiting for a plane, I can contribute that I talked with a Hillcrest Neighborhood Association officer a few days ago who said the plan for the Metropolitan Bank looks great and work should begin soon. I hope that's still operative.

Yes, I'm going to St. Petersburg, too. Along with Helsinki, Gdansk, Copenhagen, Stockholm and a few others.

And I share everyone's pain on posting delays. It's the same for us in posting items to the blog. One of the reason for the quicker move of items to the archives was an effort to speed up the process somewhat. It's not something our software people can address beyond that, I'm told. If anybody has any more insight, we're open. It's something to do with how this blog software operates. I'm told you essentially rebuild the entire list with each post. Seems awfully cumbersome, but what I don't know about it would fill volumes.

Anybody know what the latest is on the judge in Perry County? Lots of rumours, but can't find much info.

Have a safe trip, Max...

I put my girl down yesterday. She was buried in our backyard by my loving husband's hands. And by admitting that I'm confessing to a crime according to our city...but I don't care. She means too much be tossed in a pile somewhere and now she'll give life to another piece of nature...I'm thinking a beautiful Dogwood or maybe a shrub like a sweet olive.

Evidently she was ill for some time before her symptoms began to show. And during the last few days of her life it became evident that there was little joy left in her and her need for release was greater than my desire to hold one for just one more day.

The first time I saw Lucky she was cowering in my teen son's girlfriend's lap. I thought 'That's the ugliest dog I've seen and I don't have time for this.' I was wrong and she was ours. Amy (that 'girlfriend') had found Lucky on the street while walking with her babysitting charges (they, being wise children, named her Lucky). Amy had been desperately trying to find her a home; but no one was interested in this 1-2 year old Heinz 57 with many negatives and few visible positives to offer. She wasn't even a cute little house dog. Though she was relatively young, she was swaybacked, aged beyond her years and a cowering bundle of fear...some one had been very mean to her. In fact, she was the most abused, downtrodden dog I'd come across...and I've been bringing home strays since earliest memories. Her fear was so tangible, so real that she lived in our home for about 3 months before she ever allowed us the pleasure of petting her. As we loved on our then current Queen, a blond cocker, Lucky would sidle up alongside and turn her head away as our hands slipped across the cocker and onto her. Twelve years later she still cowered if we raised our voices--even in laughter. But she was a far cry from that dog...she was so happy to have a home and love. I've had several dogs through the years and I've loved each one--but she was special and I will love her always.

I thank everyone for all the warm wishes and I say go to hell to the critic of my dog tale. I not only have a soft spot for dogs...animals in general, I have a soft spot for community. We're all in this together and knowing that truth somehow helps to smooth the bumps. Thank you.

I'm now waiting for the time when I don't catch myself looking for her throughout my day.

My wife just put down her sweet dog of 14 years...they went everywhere together. I only knew Tasha for a couple of years, and she didn't really like me crowding her space...but she sure loved my wife.

Maybe she and Lucky are kickin' it somewhere with biscuits and gravy everywhere...hopefully.

Very tough to lose a pup...we send our condolences...

Ahh, Zelda, I am so sorry to hear that. You were so kind when my cat was killed and your words helped. Have you heard of the "Rainbow Bridge" Google it and it's a nice story and thought. It will be awhile until you stop looking for her. Condolences and hang in there. No more pain for your baby.

Zelda, so sorry. I have a soft spot in my heart for dogs, too.

Nothing easy about putting down a beloved pet. It's part of it . . . just not the fun part. Sorry to hear about this, zelda. Thinking good thoughts and sending them your way.

And this is terrible news about Jerry's daughter, Kim. TW, if you can provide any updates please do. I'm due for a haircut next week so I'll stop in then. God speed, Kim.

Zelda, I am so sorry to hear about your dog. we lost our chocolate Lab just about a year ago. It's never easy, and you and your girl will be in my thoughts and prayers.

"Why does it take so long to process the request?"

Cause they've got people doing the site that don't know what they are doing. That's why.

Zelda--

Our dogs suffer with our pain, and we suffer with theirs. It seems that their time with us is far too short, but then we realize that they need time to rest too.

We've never forgotten the smiley companions who gave us their trust and affection. We remember, laugh, joke, wonder, and marvel over their antics. And in memory they continue to give us so much more than we could ever return.

Sursum Corda.

Zelda,
I know it hurts to lose a longtime companion and friend. My first dobie was a lot like your girl, terrified of anyone new until she was more than a year old. She's been gone nearly 18 years now and I still think of her in certain situations.
Please accept my condolences, and as Bubba said, hang in there.

Zelda -- so sorry to hear about your baby. I have a formerly abused dog with me now -- he's been here for three years, and he's finally beginning to trust. In the late and beloved Gazette, Richard Allin always said he believed people would be treated in the afterlife in the same way they treated their pets on earth. If that's so (and I hope it is), your girl will be waiting for you by the Rainbow Bridge, and those who criticized your posting of this wonderful dog's story will find themselves dealing with similarly inclined lower life forms for eternity.

On a slightly different dog note, from Reuters:
Woman in doghouse over Jehovah's Witness sign Fri Jul 28, 10:12 AM ET

A British woman has been ordered by police to take down a sign on her garden gate which read "Our dogs are fed on Jehovah's Witnesses."

Janet Grove, who owns a terrier puppy called Rabbit, insisted the sign was a gentle joke to discourage callers at her front door.

Her late husband put the sign up more than 30 years ago when members of the church called at their house on Christmas Day.

But police were forced to act after receiving a complaint.

"We were informed by a member of the public who found the sign to be distressing, offensive and inappropriate," a police spokesman said. "Officers attended the address and the sign was voluntarily taken down."
________

Poor taste? Yeah, but I believe I would have insisted on keeping the sign and knowing who complained. I might even have gotten a bigger dog. I guess it's a good thing I don't live in England.

While I usually don't explain my dog's preferred diet to strangers, I have been known to allude, usually with a smile, sometimes with an evil grin, to "fresh meat" when persistent strangers are at my door and the dog is salivating in the background. (He actually prefers leftover steak and fries we bring home in a real doggy bag. And he expects a treat every time we come home. If we don't go to a pig-out restaurant prepared with a plastic bag fit for stealing a doggy treat, we have to stop at McDonald's for a hamburger.)

And he doesn't even rule the household. The cats do.

Zelda,

I am so sorry for your loss. I had to put down my dearest Lady two years ago after 15 years of joy.

We brought her home from the local shelter, she had been abused at one time. I had to make sure she was out of the room before I could sweep a floor, as brooms terrified her. But, oh, did she love car rides!

Zelda

So sorry to hear of your loss. You have lost a member of the family. The death of pets is something most of us have experienced and we grieve with you.

Different subject--the CSPAN schedule--Comcast 52 in the Little Rock area--says Hillary Clinton will be on its Road toi the White House program at 5:30 p.m. our time Sunday. Repeats are at 8:30 and 11:30.

Zelda,

That dog was lucky in more than name. Dogs need more folks like you.

Zelda,

I'm thinking of you. I've been down the same path more than once. I know the special diet and care you gave her near the last made a positive difference, and I know you made the right decision on the timing to end the beginning of her misery.

"Why does it take so long to process the request?"
Cause they've got people doing the site that don't know what they are doing. That's why.
Posted by: Anonymous

I use "Blogger" for my own blog, and when you update it says "this make take a few minutes if you have a large blog".

The problem with slow posts is that it's republishing the entire blog every time somebody posts. Ideally, it should only append the new comment text to the one page being updated, rather than handling all updates "blog-wide".

I guess it's not as easy as it sounds or they'd already have fixed it. Blog software is still in the developing stages.

Zelda - I am sorry to hear about your loss. The pets that come into our lives are as special as the people, sometimes more than the people. They provide us with warmth, laughter, and a special feeling. As with any loss, embrace those memories. Remember them, hold onto them, and cherish them. I hope in time the memory of this pet doesn't hurt, but rather gives you a smile and twinkle in your heart. Until then, we all grieve with you.

Zelda,

My condolences on your sweetie. It's always so difficult to lose a pet.

I've never seen my husband cry as hard as he did when our black lab died several years ago. That dog's brother (a yellow lab named Snappy) is still with us, and fortunately he's not a runner. That's how Blacky died - highway 65 is not a good place to roam. Now Snappy stays on our little plot of land over a mile from that dreadful highway. He never wanders far away.

I hope you find peace sooner rather than later.

For Zelda, Rosso, et al: sorry to hear of your losses. Came across this piece on the net, it may help: www.kelrobin.com, a touching tribute from someone who relally loved their dog.