Chengdu Diary

As some of you know, I’d been tentatively scheduled to go to eastern Tibet in June 2009 for nearly 2 years. Tentative. The key word. The region of Kham opens and closes at the whim of the Chinese government. Primoz Peer, the gentleman that has exported several Tibetan Terriers from the region, was to be my host. He has traveled to various areas of Tibet since 2000. Among factors taken into consideration when tentatively scheduling June 2009 were the Olympics, the possibility of finding puppies and my finances. Life got in the way, it seems. With our country’s economy currently in the tank, construction near an all-time low, there’s no way I can afford to make the trip. Nevermind that Ponya’s c-section wiped out my funds. We were to fly into Chengdu and travel by vehicle from there. It was a year ago – May 12, 2008 – Chengdu sustained a deadly earthquake, killing thousands, destroying buildings, leaving millions homeless.

This week, while driving to work, I heard a segment on NPR, an interview Melissa Block. She was in Chengdu last year during the earthquake and, as part of NPR’s All Things Considered, went back to China’s Sichuan Province to report on developments in the past year. Chengdu Diary is a blog with regular updates from this trip.

Kathy on…photographing your pet

Deb,
This is a great and concise guide on snapping terrific photos of our 
pets.
Kathy

This photo, taken by Mary Shemo prior to Takpa coming to Colorado is one of my favorite photos…

Marsha sent me….snow rollers

From the National Weather Service Forecast Office’s site:

On the evening of March 31st, 2009, Tim Tevebaugh was driving home from work east of Craigmont in the southern Idaho Panhandle (see map below). Across the rolling hay fields, Tim saw a very unusual phenomenon. The snow rollers that he took pictures of are extremely rare because of the unique combination of snow, wind, temperature and moisture needed to create them. They form with light but sticky snow and strong (but not too strong) winds. These snow rollers formed during the day as they weren’t present in the morning on Tim’s drive to work.

Vickie sent…Tibet, A Light in the Darkness

Alan and I saw this a few nights ago — Tibet, A Light in the Darkness — at the Lincoln Center in Fort Collins. I picked up the DVD, thinking it may be good for a presentation at some point …

http://www.collegenews.org/x8892.xml

http://www.lcsc.edu/CollegeInfo/viewitem.asp?ID=1791

He’s done a great job on the filming/editing. Cassidy also discusses the oppression of the Tibetan people/culture by the Chinese. While it leaves the viewer saddened by what’s been lost, one can’t help but admire the Tibetans for surviving and thriving in a place most find it difficult just to breath.

Cassidy, on stage last night, told of one of the blind children in the film. This young boy said that “one of the blessings of blindness was being able to walk through the marketplace without having earthly desires” … that much closer to enlightenment.

V

Rod sent a Karma and Dawa update…

Debby,

 I just wanted to give you an update on our two little rascals. They are both doing well and having lots of fun chasing and chewing on each other. It is clear she is trying to take dominance over him, but he is having nothing to do with that; he basically gets atop of her and lies down with her trap between all four legs and just holds her there while he chews on her. Their antics are quite amazing and they have some much love to share when I come home from work or travel. The one thing we have noticed in difference between the two is she certainly shows signs of being more timid and has a tendency of nervous barking. We are working with the trainer to help build her confidence, but I would like any recommendations you may have? Thanks!

 Rod & Olga