Dear Friends,
Before I tell you why you need to clean up after your dog, I want to call your attention to my conversation with Iowa State Senator Dennis Guth (R-Hancock County). That begins at the 13:46-minute mark. Dennis is a farmer and supports the ethanol industry. Yet he’s strongly opposed to building CO2 pipelines across Iowa. I’d love your feedback on our discussion.
Iowa State Senator Dennis Guth (R-Hancock County)
So, on Christmas Eve Day, Kathy and I took a beautiful woodland walk. Well, beautiful until I stepped in dog crap, partially concealed under some fallen leaves.
Arriving back at our car in a huff, I spent 15 frustrated minutes trying to dig the product out of my shoes, with minimal success. When I got into the car, Kathy cringed at the smell that accompanied me, and we drove off with windows wide open.
To make a long story short (hear the full version at the 2:26-minute mark), a mile down the road, I realized I’d lost my wallet and phone, presumably on the wall where I’d attempted to clean my shoes.
But no, it was worse than that. Turns out I’d left them on top of the car. After a good twenty minutes of muttering expletives and driving around in search of the lost items, I found the wallet in the middle of a busy street. (Note: If you’re inclined to lose your wallet, I recommend disguising it as a piece of trash. Excessive amounts of duct tape can accomplish this. See photo for guidance.)
My phone was discovered later, after it had been run over who knows how many times. Remarkably, it still worked, and I was able to transfer my data to a new phone before it died.
Hours later, I had to admit that the lesson from this experience isn’t that dog owners should clean up after their pooches. Sure, that’s a given. The real lesson is I shouldn’t have lost my cool over what was, really, a first-world problem. If I’d kept calm, I probably wouldn’t have lost my wallet and phone.
The experience brought to mind words of wisdom occasionally offered by a friend, Clark McMullen, who passed away several years ago. Clark contended that there were two important things to remember as one faced the challenges of the day.
One: Don’t sweat the small stuff.
Two: It’s almost all small stuff.
Thanks for reading, listening, and taking action to stop the massive build-out of CO2 pipelines. (Tell your state rep and senator to sponsor legislation restricting eminent domain to public purposes.)
Remember, if you appreciate these blogs, our work, and this talk show, consider a donation. We can’t do it without you.
Thanks! — Ed Fallon
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(02:26) A Christmas story: Why you should clean up after your dog;
(13:46) Hancock County Republicans oppose CO2 pipelines, with Sen. Dennis Guth;
(38:00) Climate change takes a bite out of 2022 food crops;
(54:54) Don’t just plant when you’ve always planted, with Kathy Byrnes, Birds & Bees Urban Farm.
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Ed Fallon