Firehouse Angel Status

US$500.00 would feed a great many kids for quite some time in Africa.

Or it would buy two really superb bottles of wine, or half a well-bred purebred dog. Get over yourself! *grin*

Elizabeth (who has spent well more than $500 on dog training and trial entries this year, not to mention stash)

I never spend that on wine, trust me! Half a dog ?? Trouble is, which half are you suggesting I receive ?

I'm just sayin' we could criticize where other people spend their money til the cows come home and those kids would still be starving in Africa (because even if you sent them $500, you couldn't guarantee they'd get it, but that's another issue). Maybe you don't spend so much on wine, but you just came back from a long trip across the continent... and on and on. If people want to donate for framing the Angel, who are you (or I) to go through their accounts to see what else they might have donated to?

And I don't give nearly enough to charity, but we're working on it, although we much prefer to give locally rather than send it abroad.

Elizabeth

I am merely suggesting $500 is excessive, lovely framing comes far less expensive than that.

I concentrate on two but always do local things as well - the best thing to do is pick the ones who do not do telemarketing, who don't do mass mailings with stamped envelopes etc. and always, always, read their end of year reports to see what the bottom line was and where the money was paid out. If it's going on management, won't see my money again lol

You still did not tell me, which half of the dog am I going to get ?

Good -- then give them $500 -- I would hope that you support the charities you want. Just so long as you allow others to spend their money in a way they want, there won't be any disagreements here :-). CiaoMeow >^;;^<

OOO -- you're supposed to say you feel like the red-headed step-child :-)! Besides, how could you feel left out?? You control the web page -- and do it quite nicely too, I might add. Actually -- for others reading this, Dianne e-mailed me and she's now on the volunteer list :-). OK, by way of explanation for those who might be wondering, here's the problem -- and I'll use Dianne's case as an example. At least ten people have e-mailed me throughout the last year to tell me they will volunteer if needed. We haven't needed anyone until now. Our lives change and just because a person told me several months ago that s/he wanted to stitch on the Angel, this doesn't mean that s/he is still in a position to be able to stitch on the Angel. People post here but I don't always read all the posts OR read them all the way through. Dianne has likely *posted* that she wanted to volunteer but until I get an e-mail the name doesn't go on the list. This is just to be fair to everyone else. From day one, I have insisted that people e-mail me with their request to be put on the volunteer list. Dianne e-mailed me today and she's now on the list. That makes four new people and we have three previous stitchers who have volunteered to have another "go" at the Angel if need be. Hopefully, we will be able to get the Angel finished with the four new volunteers but if not, I'll ask if anyone else wants to volunteer. If not, then I will start using the previous stitchers :-))). Thanks again to everyone who has stitched, donated $$ and just given us moral support. ALL three things are VERY important to the success of this endeavour. CiaoMeow >^;;^<

I'm going to respectfully disagree with you. I stitched Mirabilia's Waiting for Ships for my sister several years ago and spent over $300 to have her framed. It was well worth the money in my book. I'd spent a long time stitching her and thought she was worth the frame I had her put in. And I don't for one second imagine that you scrimp on displaying your goldwork once it's finished, not to mention the cost of supplies in the first place.

Iffen they harrass me too much, they won't see my money again.

Tonight, you could have all of Cash, but you'd have to come get him.

Elizabeth (and I might change my mind by the time you get here)

Preferrably the half you *don't* have to clean up after?

Just my .02 :D

There's a half you don't have to clean up after? Damn. Your dogs have stronger stomachs than mine. LOL.

Elizabeth

That last piece of silverwork had to be framed so it is pretty airtight (otherwise the silver threads will tarnish with time) and with a nice silver look frame and spacers to hold the glass off the threads, CAN$90.00

Our gas has just gone over the dollar per litre, so I can't take that chance lol Besides which, Bucket would resent either half I think !

Then I would have to feed it lol

I was thinking that the half you don't have to feed would be the better half to have. Clean up is easy and no food to buy! Cheryl

Oh dear, what did Cash do? Or eat or bring back up?

Cheryl

I should give up, if I were you - she`s going to moan whatever you say! LOLOL!

Pat P

Oh dear - my heart really BLEEDS for you! ;-)) Ours is nearly £1.00 a litre!

My reaction is like Elizabeth`s with regard to pouring more money into Africa - unless the people handling the money actually go out and insist it goes where it is supposed to go - it just never gets further than people like Mugabe. That`s why I`m so indignant at the idea of cancelling their loans. Africa is totally different to India - mostly, if you give an Indian a start they`ll start off a business and employ others, but, generally speaking, in Africa they don`t seem to have the same incentive. It`s the same when they come over here, it`s the people from the Indian sub-continent who start the businesses and work hard and contribute.

It`s TRAGIC seeing all the starving African babies, but it has been going on for many, many years and throwing money at it just seems to make no difference. More help with birth control would be of far more value.

Another thing that strikes me about those skeletal children, is the fact that the parents are never as thin.

Pat P

Pat P

Actually, Cash almost never throws up. That's Harry's trick - at least once a week.

But Cash has decided that he would really like to spend all of his time outdoors please, including overnight. Which we might consider if he could be trusted not to bark. The deal around here is "you bark, you come in" and he's quite the barker so there's a lot of in and out involved in a day with him. Insolent little git stands there and refuses to come in the house when we go to get him for bed. Won't come in for DH at all and I have to go down and use my most threatening tones to get him in. It's quite a pain. And never mind bribery. He's not bribable about this.

Elizabeth

Oh no! Dakota got his "hands" on a chicken leg last night. Swallowed the thing whole it appears. It passed already though!

And he's loud too as I recall. Go out, grab the collar and haul his tush in!

Last night, DH took Dakota out for a late night pee. DH is in just a pair of gym shorts, standing on the deck, when Dakota takes off, barking like we are about to be invaded by aliens from Mars. Nope, just my neighbor bringing down her recycling (in case the truck comes at 7 AM again).

And her first thought is it that the dog has spotted a skunk and is chasing it her way.

Cheryl

*Snicker* You've clearly never tried to grab the collar of a dog that doesn't want to be caught. He's lots faster than I am and thinks it's a great game. Puts his butt in the air, wags that tail, grins "come get me" and is off in a flash. Nuhunh. I'm not teaching him that game is ok. He does it if he's out just before we go anywhere, as well. Hates to ride in the car (makes him queasy, I've discovered) even though he loves what we do (agility, obedience, tracking) at the end of the ride. So I have to yell at him to "down" and walk up to him (which he will mostly let me do). But clean as I keep the yard, I would still rather not walk after him at night.

Elizabeth (and yes, he does bark loudly)