Dog races

One friend in Skypeland works on weekends at a dog race track run by her grandmother. It is not like the dog tracks in the US, where things are very competitive and dogs are treated cruelly. Any dog can run at her grandmother's track, even old dogs. They chase a sock with a "squawker" in it, around and around. Some dogs get smart and cheat, and run to the finish line by taking a short cut so they can get the sock first. Once in a while dogs strain their muscles and need to have massages and pain killers. It sounds like fun.

A dog and cat hotel

I met a nice lady from Israel whose family runs a dog and cat hotel in the north of Israel. It sounded very interesting. They have room for 20 to 30 dogs and cats at any given time. She takes the dogs for walks 3 times a day. She does not walk the cats, so they have large cages. Her speciality is to clean up the poop. Her aunt has an orange cat who learned to use the toilet himself, with no training. The funny thing is, she is allergic to dogs and cats.

US military

In Skypeland, I have met several people who are currently serving in the US armed forces. Some are in Iraq and Afghanistan, and some are stationed in other places. They have invariably been intelligent, well-mannered and well-informed. It is an honor to meet them and I salute them for their service to our country. I am proud to have them representing us.

Grateful Irish

I have met a person from Ireland that is grateful of the current peace in Northern Ireland. He has told me several times that he is glad that the US "knocked a few heads together", and brokered a peace accord.

Iran and Iraq in favor of peace

I have met several from Iraq who are glad that the US is helping them move towards democracy. I have also met several people from Iran who want the US to do the same thing for them.

Palestinian Israeli peace

I have met some people from an organization promoting peace in Palestine and Israel. It is good to hear people from both sides promoting peace together and cooperation.

A world famous chef

I met a chef from Perth, who is now working in Florida, and was trained in Europe. He told me how rigorous the training program was in Europe to be a chef. He confirmed for me that the best garlic in the world comes from China. I am still not quite sure why this is.

He also told me how he met his fiance. He met her, cooked her a dinner, with a nice chocolate desert. One meal was all it took, I guess...