Laralei Update

We've had Loralei a short time but she is settling in.  There have been some great times and a couple of bumps.  On day two of having her here, Abby Lab got jealous of the extra attention she was getting and peed all over the only expensive rug we have.  I'm told that's common when introducing a new dog.  It's in the basement for a thorough clean and we won't put it back down until we are positive that behavior is over.

She also tried to play too aggressively with Laralei which made HER pee on the floor.

But we've settled into a groove.  The two get equal attention, and walk separately so they get some "me" time with Dad.  Loralie is 3 times the size of Abby, (who is a Lab mix and not purebred) so Abby doesn't like to be walked together.  This morning my husband said they played gently in the yard together and we're seeing some preening (grooming) behavior with one another.

We are still so happy we adopted her.  She loves being around people after living her whole life in a tiny pen as a puppy mill dog.

Friday Smiles

Because I've had a really busy workweek, plus marketing the new Kindle of True Course (and a new rescue dog which is like 100 pounds of "no!") just some Friday Funnies. (click on individual pictures to enlarge).

This photo was not photoshopped, I know the officer Aimee and she said between the flash and a yawn it was the perfect photo of her black German Shepherd named with family permission after one of the fallen from their Police Department.

Kindle Edition of True Course is Finally Availalable

The Kindle Copy of True Course - Lessons From a Life Aloft is live today and I've lowered the price to $2.99 to make it easier to get a copy. I've had several friends who are NOT aviators and they said the loved it. Thank you for our continued support of my writing.   It takes a day or two for the Kindle page to merge with the paperback page in Amazon so the Kindle page will not yet show any reviews or sales rank, but below are some of the reviews of it and my writing.  Thank you for your continued support.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S74KFZ1/

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This is a book to use as a reward for yourself - to read a little at a time on evenings when the day has gone well. It is an introspection into one person's world of flight yet it carries truths for all those who have given their soul to the wonders and mysteries of the sky - and sometimes wonder why. - Rick Durden, Features Editor and Columnist, The Pilot's Lounge, for AVweb, the Internet Aviation Magazine
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This is a book by an accomplished human being (aviator, law enforcement and other life-and-death skills) who gave herself permission to be an extraordinary writer. The result is soul-deep essays and reflections on aviation and life. Many of her descriptions--poised somewhere between awe and aching-- stopped me in my tracks as she describes: "caught in a point in your mind between immobility and motion, the taste of empty air, the color of wind."  Every bit as good as Annie Dillard, whom Brigid leaves behind in her contrail. 
- Latayne C. Scott, award-winning author
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"Johnson is a gifted writer, in the traditional sense of what works of literature are like. She is an artist with words, painting beautiful pictures, rich with vibrant description."
- Viga Boland - Memoirabilia Magazine
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"Brigid Johnson is a multi-talented lady who has been there and done that. She IS an excellent role model for young ladies everywhere! Determined to succeed as a pilot, she jumped through all the hoops and became a commercial airline pilot before changing careers to take care of family. Her writing is evocative, soul searching, and captures the essence of flying and life in snippets that leave you wanting more."
- J.L. Curtis, Best-Selling Author of Rimworld - Stranded and the Grey Man Series
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"Johnson is a wonderful writer, like good scotch on a winter night."
- Michael Bane - Producer, Writer, Actor

Hit and Mrs.

I had my annual checkup a couple of weeks ago which includes the usual "female" type checks and cancer screenings. Since I have limited family history available- since I'm adopted- we watch things close. The basic medical went just fine, blood pressure and cholesterol numbers still what they were in my 30's which is great, but we had to wait for the cancer screen results in the mail.  Good news - I got the report--excellent health and clean cancer screens and left it for my husband on the dining room table as I left for work, leaving him a message on his work phone --"female checkup report is in and on the dining room table", as he was going to get home from work before me.

Unfortunately, in the dark, what I left was not the note from my doctor-- but the note from the dog walker who takes Abby the Lab out at lunchtime each day.

 I can only imagine his face as he read this--

Wednesday -  Nice! Colder than normal though! She pooped and frolicked!

Reaching Out

I know most of you have heard of Christopher Kyle (April 8, 1974 – February 2, 2013)

Christopher Scott Kyle was a United States Navy SEAL and sniper. He served four tours in the Iraq War and was awarded several commendations for acts of heroism and meritorious service in combat. He was awarded one Silver Star Medal, four Bronze Star Medals with "V" devices, a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and numerous other unit and personal awards.

Kyle was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 2009 and published his bestselling autobiography, American Sniper, in 2012. An eponymous film adaptation of Kyle's book, directed by Clint Eastwood, was released two years later. In 2013, Kyle was killed by a former Marine with PTSD that he was trying to help.

A hospital that deals with vets with PTSD and addiction has been established in Anchorage and with his family's blessing bears his name.  A wife of one of the gun bloggers in our community works there.  At her request, I sent a couple copies of my books for their patients to read (if you've read The Book of Barkley, I've dealt with PTSD among my team members and even myself due to the nature of the work).

https://chriskylepatriotshospital.com/

I found out there was a waiting list for my books, so I sent them a big box of them last week.

Thank you Chris Kyle Patriot's Hospital for what you do for our Veterans.
-Brigid

A Toy! A Toy!

Our new rescue (from a puppy mill) Loralei is loving playing with her new toy. It's one that Abby's playmate Frankie Furter sent to Abby.

The reason Abby Lab looks so concerned as Dad was making his sandwich in the kitchen which is now gated as Loralei likes to plop down right behind you, making a tripping hazard.  Abby was afraid with the gate she wouldn't get her daily little slice of cheese from the sandwich making.  (she did).

Loralie is getting lots of exercise (new to a dog that had been in a small pen her whole life) so she should trim down soon, but she is very happy to be here.

The Element of Surprise

One of my longtime readers and friend on Facebook who runs a laser business in Indiana surprised me with a sign for my office that I had mentioned in a FB exchange after I sent him an autographed copy of True Course. It was truly a kind gesture and much appreciated.

The elements are "made up"  as there is no "D", "R", or "J" on the Periodic Table of Elements but if you are a fan of Star Trek or the book Atlas Shrugged, you will get it.

Thank you Bob!

Dr. Johnson (otherwise known as Brigid)

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

$360 Dog Bed with Memory Foam

 Rescue Dog that Prefers the Floor by the Box.

Miss Loralei Arrives Home!

Meet and Greet.

Loralie arrived home the first week of May five years after we adopted Abby Lab who was a puppy mill dog. She was owned by breeders who surrendered her to Lab Rescue when she didn't produce enough puppies.  She's only 5 years old and a purebred yellow Lab.

She's definitely going to be a Daddy's girl. (look at the hypersonic tail).

Her foster Mom brought her rabies tag and microchip info as well as all Vet updates since she was rescued.  She also left a full bag of her food so we could slowly change her over to the grain-free brand Abby Lab is on.

Her foster mom said she did great in the house, so curious about EVERYTHING (she'd never lived in a house) and one day she was printing something off in the other room and suddenly Loralei came running through the room with the printed paper in her mouth with a cry of Sparta!!! She's curious, but she doesn't chew stuff.

She plays really gently with Abby, who is loving the companionship and she went right in her crate while we made dinner. (I try and keep the dogs out of the kitchen when I have boiling water on the stove for pasta).

She just had a litter of puppies a few months ago but is in excellent health and at a healthy weight.  Not all breeder dogs get into rescue cared for as well as she was health-wise, but the dogs are starved for affection and attention and make great rescue dogs.  Thank you Chicagoland Lab Rescue!

Revolvers And Cheesecake - A Girl's Best Friends

1999 Colt Magnum Carry.

A 357 powerhouse

Adrenalin Junkie Cheesecake

A chocolate covered espresso bean/cookie crust, filled with  cheesecake made of two kinds of dark chocolate with a dollop of espresso and a bare hint of  Madagascar vanilla.  Topped with a deep chocolate ganache and served with whipped cream and espresso sugar.

WEEEEEEEE!!

If you can find it, the Sharferbergs chocolate for the filling and ganache is worth it.  It's very complex, Figs and red wine, honey, and spice with just a hint of coffee. I'm not sure as to the spice, there's a bite that lingers on the tongue that stems off the natural bitterness of dark cocoa.  Cheaper chocolates will load up a bar with sugar to dull that taste,  Not this one.  It makes for a glorious cheesecake.

Go on make a batch, everyone has room for one last bite.

Updates

As I go into the weekend starting with a head cold and sore throat topping a lousy work week, which included the news of the shooting in Highlands Ranch, where both of my granddaughters attend school (they are fine), I have some things to say, to just make a short post.

First, Happy Mother's Day to all tomorrow and warm thoughts for those like myself who lost their mother way too young.

Secondly, thank you, folks, who have shared my new book and especially sent me an email or a FB message as to how much you are enjoying it as it hit #1 at Amazon.  I'm getting a bunch of copies directly from the publisher sent out to VA hospitals. (I was told there was one in Anchorage that has a waiting list for The Book of Barkley, so they were sent many  more copies). Those don't count in my Amazon sales numbers, obviously, but I can buy them for 50% off to ship in bulk.

Finally, since at 60 I can be considered officially "old" and cranky, I plan on going into my Monday work week like Otto above.

Otto is my hero.

First Book Review

The First Book Review is in. From Rick Durden - renowned aviation attorney, author, and

• Senior Editor, Aviation Consumer Magazine
• Features Editor and Columnist, The Pilot's Lounge, for AVweb, the Internet Aviation Magazine
• Contributor: AOPA Pilot Magazine, IFR Magazine, IFR Refresher Magazine, Plane and Pilot Magazine and Pilot Magazine, (UK)

"Five Stars.  This is a book to use as a reward for yourself - to read a little at a time on evenings when the day has gone well. It is an introspection into one person's world of flight yet it carries truths for all those who have given their soul to the wonders and mysteries of the sky - and sometimes wonder why.

In one of Johnson's comments to her flight students regarding the process and challenges of learning to fly, she adroitly summarizes what it takes to reach what is meaningful in life: ". . . the journey will not be quick, as no journey that leads to our soul's longing ever is."

The titles and arrangements of the chapters gave me a bit of the feel of reading Gibran's "The Prophet" updated to the 21st century and the majesties of humans moving about the skies. I liked her chapter "On Patience," something of great importance to pilots, but rarely mentioned as pilots tend to portray themselves as hard chargers, pausing for nothing. Johnson sees through that, recognizing that becoming a pilot is a complex, challenging ordeal that requires everything a person has and determination to achieve goals while accepting that, on top of it all, the learning takes time, "True patience is making the decision to keep on going when the going is difficult and slow".

Labs and Hockey Pucks

Angel Barkley

A friend, who is a member of this outdoor forum, sent me this link about Labrador Retrievers and all they will eat.  It's hilarious.   https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/13791951/all/unplugging-a-labrador

The thread is like a pinball game. It goes all over the place. You will learn the merits of canned pumpkin and that a Lab can ingest a hockey puck. Everything else is a bonus.

But I guarantee you will laugh.

What Are You Waiting For?

This Week Only - the #1 Amazon New Release True Course is only $10.85 for the Paperback. Save $6.00.

https://www.amazon.com/True-Course-Lessons-Life-Aloft/dp/1977211151/

Thanks to all of you that support my writing efforts. All sales go to Animal Rescue, Lutheran Church Charities K9 Comfort Dogs, and Search Dog Foundation.

Click to Enlarge and Read Book Description

RIP Peter Mayhew - Actor, Animal Lover, And Barkley Supporter

Actor Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca in the Star Wars series died this last week.  I met him through a rescue dog group that The Book of Barkley contributed to that he and his wife volunteered at.  I donated because a gal friend volunteered there and I  had no idea he was part of the group.   He was kind enough to take a photo with his autographed copy of TBOB to promote the sales.

After the picture posted it went to #1 in four countries which meant a LOT of donations to animal rescue.  Bless you, Peter.  You will be missed.

Welcome to the Newest Member of the Johnson Household.

Welcome to the newest member of the Johnson household.  Meet Loralei. The photos were taken at her foster Mom's house and she will join us tomorrow.  She's a 92 pound 5-year-old breeding dog who was surrendered as she wasn't producing enough puppies.  Fortunately, she'd had decent vet care even if she lived in close quarters with minimal people contact, so she is well fed and very healthy.

I fell in love with her when I saw her post up on the rescue groups Facebook.  Her foster Mom said she has a goofy, gentle personality, loves kids and dogs, and loves to play fetch.

Abby was also a breeding dog.  They tend to be very loving and gentle.

My husband took time off from work so we could get a home inspection and after they talked to our references and our Vet we were approved. The volunteer brought over her very large retriever to see how Abby reacted and they were instant best friends. Abby loves other dogs.

She will be here tomorrow and a big Orvis bed is being air shipped to be here tomorrow so she has her own bed. And we have a crate for her if she needs it for overnight comfort.

I think we nailed the home inspection when in the spot usually reserved for a giant TV was a big dog crate and a pile of toys (we gave our TV away to make room for dog stuff).

Loralie was her name at the breeder's.  The foster Mom says she doesn't react to it, (very little human interaction) but we will keep it for now.  Abby and Loralei have a nice ring to it. Thank you Chicagoland Lab Rescue.

You Were Supposed to be Home HOURS Ago!

I was an hour late getting home from a meeting due to traffic and some localized flooding that closed one of the roads I normally travel on.

Needless to say, based on the location of the contents of my magazine/video basket and contents of the small office wastebasket, Abby Lab was NOT happy I arrived home post food o'clock.