Starbuckaroo's first stint as a ther-roo-py dog!

Starbuckeroo making friends and trying on heart-shaped glasses at The Denali Center:


She loveloveloves her job as as a ther-roo-py dog with Companions, Inc! She sits right next to her elderly friends and rubs her head against their hands for pettings. :)

And what would these pretty things be?

Found 'em growing on the East side of a building on campus. They look like a string of decorative lanterns!


Except up close, they look like Valentine hearts throwing up their hands in surprise!


"Oh my word!"

From darkness, light

Today I have received mass emails expressing love, acceptance, and compassion from my two more conservative alma maters. Although since my third alma matter is Berkeley, "more conservative" probably doesn't mean much! Nevertheless, Santa Clara University is Jesuit, and UAF is the flagship University of a "red" state. And from them we have these words:

Message from UA President Johnsen: salute to the victims of hatred

Outside of every public building where the State of Alaska and the U.S. flags fly, you’ll see both are at half staff today – a somber salute to the victims of hatred and terror perpetrated on Sunday in Orlando, Florida against the LGBT community. I join you in expressing my deepest sadness for those lives lost and for those in the LGBT community including our students, faculty and staff who are traumatized by this horrific act. The University of Alaska works hard at being inclusive and safe, and offering an environment where you can be who you are. Today, please join me in showing our respect and support for diversity and inclusiveness, and please extend your kind words and thoughts to your LGBT friends, co-workers and family.

Jim



Sympathy for the Victims of the Orlando Shooting

Dear Santa Clara University Alumni Community,

The joyous weekend celebrating Commencement was darkened by the hateful attack on a LGBTQ nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Forty nine people were murdered, at least 53 wounded and countless families impacted for the rest of their lives. Our prayers are with those who have lost their lives or were injured and their families and friends.

As a Jesuit institution that upholds the inherent value of each and every person, we condemn these shootings as a violation of human dignity not only of the victims but also of the entire LGBTQ community. This horrific act intended to instill injury, terror and helplessness among innocent people makes us all poorer by stripping us of our common humanity and breaking apart rather than building up our communities.

On behalf of the university, I wish to express sympathy for the victims and their families, and offer prayers for all who have been affected by this tragedy. To our LGBTQ campus colleagues and SCU alumni who face hatred and prejudice, I extend my support. As a Catholic community we can take action against these baseless acts of violence by making certain that care, compassion, respect and love are given to everyone regardless of their sexual orientation, religion or ethnicity.

To honor the victims and their families of the Orlando mass shooting, we are holding a vigil service today, Monday June 13th, at 4:45 p.m. in front of the Mission Church. Tomorrow, Tuesday’s 12:05PM Mass will be offered for the victims and their families. In memory of the victims, we shall fly the flag at half-staff through the week.

Please join me and the Santa Clara University community as we draw together in mutual support of those whose lives have been diminished by this unthinkable and targeted violence.

Sincerely,

Michael E. Engh, S.J.
President

It's all very touching, no?

Drug management, pi, and Roo!

Linden messed with her stitches from her last tumor removal. She'd never done that before, so we weren't so vigilant with the cone. She removed several of them, and the wound got infected. Now she's on antibiotics, and it's healing up nicely. The one extra pill added to our twice-daily routine has sent me over the edge, so I developed this temporary organization system:

Elderly care requires a lot of organization!

A friend's adult daughter is visiting this week from Idaho. She is homesick for many native Alaskan foods, so her parents dug through the freezer and cooked up moose and salmon; I made a blueberry and a lingonberry pie:






I caught Roo yawning in a photo:


Roo sez, "I will be the new Head Spokesdog for this blog!"

Miscellany

1) The wild roses are out:


2) A chill couple at the laundry room, just hangin' in their lawn chairs at 9 a.m.:


3) My vet once told me that he kept my girls' tumors he removed, in case he ever needed to examine them again. I expressed curiosity to see 'em, so the receptionist brought me this:


Apparently, one of Booger's latest... but I suspect that it's the benign fatty lipoma. I mean, surely a cancer tumor receiving a blood supply would look bloody and vascular, right?

Dogs pondering the Meaning of It All

Autumn pondering the Meaning of It All:


Linden pondering the Meaning of It All:


Starbuck pondering the Meaning of It All:

Baby mooseypants!

Baby mooseypants got borned in the parking lot of an Anchorage Lowe's.

Here is my favorite photo of the many:


You must click to the article and see them all! Mooseyness!