"I thought it was God, but it turned out to be Michigan"

Walking throught the living room in mid-commercial I had an interesting experience.

The TV was on and a commercial showed many Lighthouse images, and although I wasn't listening closely, the voice-over seemed to be in favor of light over darkness - good, positive, imagery.

At the close of the commercial, when the viewer is being invited to experience the light, I was expecting the name of a Church, or the Latter Day Saints, to come up - when instead it turned out that this was a tourism ad for MICHIGAN!

Not sure what to make of that shocker - mainly it was good for a laugh. It was about the 100+ actual lighthouses in The State Up North. Even though I bear the same last name as legendary tOSU Coach Wayne Woodrow, I can actually say some good things about the place. I have known some very fine human beings who originated there - many of whom still have a fondness for the place.

But if this commercial wasn't going to turn out to be about God, couldn't it at least have been about - oh, I don't know - Wisconsin?

My quandary over the lack of a lesson in this scenario reminds me (as SO many things do) of a Peanuts cartoon. Once Snoopy found his water dish empty and there were no humans around. He picked up his dish in his mouth and went and stood under a faucet (which was turned off). As he stood there, it began to rain, & his bowl filled up and he got his drink. In the last panel, Snoopy's thought balloon says, "I'm going to have to think about that one for a while."

Same here.

Also, of course, the title of this piece owes some debt to the classic Children's Sermon story, where the minister asks the kids, "What has a cute fluffy tail and scampers up and down trees and hides acorns?" One kid, obviously a veteran of the front Sanctuary steps where these encounters take place, responded, "Well, it sure sounds like a squirrel, but since this is the Children's Sermon I know it's Jesus."

God - Michigan. Way different.

When I figure out a lesson here, I'll get back to you.

[As always, if this is your first visit to "Leaving Nadderby", I suggest that you click on February 2008 and go down to "Looking Back" as an introduction to the site. I hope soon to figure out the intricacies of RSS & to again let the world know that this is online.]

We have no King (of the dogs) but Cesar

One of the great discoveries in my life in 2009 is Cesar Millan.

For those who don't watch the National Geographic channel, his name might be a mystery. To those who do watch, you might recognize him as "The Dog Whisperer".

My family is weary of hearing me extol his virtues, but when someone has had a positive effect on your life, you should bear witness. Toby (7-year-old Lab/Weimaraner mix) & I can now take walks in town together - something impossible for most of Toby's life due to his enormous strength and insatiable curiosity (coupled with my lack of strength and/or patience).

Now he will walk beside me with a slack lead. Now he is willing to suspend his lifetime agenda of saying 'hello' to every person/dog/animal on the planet one being at a time. Now he doesn't strain and cough and choke. How is such a miracle possible?

The Dog Whisperer.

Cesar has a mantra that he repeats over and over to the owners of the dogs with which he works:

• Exercise
• Discipline
• Affection

IN THAT ORDER.

He points out over and over that American dogs get plenty of affection, but their main needs are for Exercise & Discipline (knowing who the "pack leader" is [me] and who the pack leader is not [him]). You can check out Cesar at http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/.

Not a bad approach to life in general. My kids can laugh at me all they want. Since I've been able to walk Toby more easily (without the need to head for the woods), I've been able to increase my own excercise & discipline.

Toby is irresistible - he will always get tons of affection. It is not true affection, though, to let dogs think they are in charge - they're not really up to it. My fond hope is that America (and the world) will discover the Dog Whisperer and apply his tenets to life in general.

It could result in much better kids.

[As always, if this is your first visit to "Leaving Nadderby", I suggest that you click on February 2008 and go down to "Looking Back" as an introduction to the site. I hope soon to figure out the intricacies of RSS & to again let the world know that this is online. ALSO, stay tuned for more wisdom from Cesar in future posts (I'll go ahead & apologize to my family in advance - sorry guys).