This blog feature amusing and heartwarming stories about our late Leonberger dog Bronco, as well as other Leonbergers. It also has a lot of information about the Leonberger breed, the history, care, training, Leonberger organizations, etc. I also wrote a Leonberger book, which I am featuring in the sidebar.
A little bit more than a week ago a photo of our Leonberger Bronco taken when he was three months old was stolen and used without attribution. The thief, Valerie, was the founder and administrator of a new Leonberger Facebook group. In addition, she changed his name and gender. Our breeder (well Bronco’s breeder) Julie Schaffert alerted me to the situation. I was unaware of the existence of this group. Julie knows this photo well since I’ve used it a lot on Facebook and Instagram as well as here. I think the worst part of it was that the thief manipulated the emotions of the members of the group by fabricating a story about the puppy being sick. What a dubious way to attract attention.
Photo of Bronco at three months old. This photo was copied without permission and Bronco’s name and gender were changed.His name was certainly not Gracie, and the story about being sick was fabricated. BTW this kind of emotional manipulation has become ubiquitous. Don’t believe these kinds of claims.This was Julie’s comment.
It is far from the only time I’ve had a dog photo stolen. I was (well still is) a member of a few pug groups and all of them except for one smaller group were photo theft groups. It seemed like the bigger the groups, the worse they were. The founders/administrators of the groups regularly stole the photos posted by the members and then used the Facebook approval feature to prevent the members from complaining about the situation. I had several photos of Daisy stolen.
The photo below was stolen dozens of times and passed around to several groups including groups I was not a member of. I accidentally discovered my photos in other pug groups that I was randomly browsing. Her name and gender were often changed, and it was perpetually her birthday for at least several months. She was congratulated thousands of times, which was a silver lining. At first, I played along and just said thank you to all the people congratulating her even though I was not the one who posted the photo. However, that became unsustainable as there were so many congratulations in so many places for so long and then one guy started accusing me of pretending it was my pug. Well, it was my pug. After a while I just gave up on the pug groups. It seemed to be the same problem everywhere.
Photo of Daisy’s 15th birthday. The photo was stolen dozens of times in various pug groups.
So why do people steal dog photos? It seems like in some cases it is for the purpose of selling stuff, but that is not always the case. It seems like some photo thieves just want to grow their groups and become “influencers”. I should say that one of my old on-line friends told me that he had a popular YouTube video downloaded and re-uploaded (stolen) several times. He was making money off that video so in that case it was a matter of theft of money. YouTube took down those videos when he reported them, but naturally he still lost some money.
This seems to be a problem that’s spreading like wildfire on social media. I did not use to see this, but now I see it all the time. Photo theft happens even in the beer groups I help administer. Apparently taking your own photo of a beer can is too much to ask for. Unfortunately, it seems like photo theft has become normalized behavior.
The focus of this blog is Leonbergers but sometimes I post about books that are not about Leonbergers but that I want to promote. Today I would like to promote a very good and uplifting supernatural thriller by Gwen M Plano called “The Soul Whisperer’s Decision”. I bought the paperback version.
Paperback – Publisher : Fresh Ink Group (January 15, 2024), ISBN-10 : 1958922625, ISBN-13 : 978-1958922620, 146 pages, Item Weight : 7.2 ounces, Dimensions : 6 x 0.31 x 9 inches, it cost $16.95 on US Amazon. Click here to order it from Amazon.com.
Hardcover – Publisher : Fresh Ink Group (January 15, 2024), ISBN-10 : 1958922633, ISBN-13 : 978-1958922637, 146 pages, Item Weight : 12.5 ounces, Dimensions : 6 x 0.38 x 9 inches, it cost $25.95 on US Amazon. Click here to order it from Amazon.com.
Kindle – Publisher : Fresh Ink Group (January 15, 2024), ASIN : B0CPGXLD95, 149 pages, it costs $4.99 on US Amazon. Click here to order it from Amazon.com.
Front cover of The Soul Whisperers Decision. Click on the image to go to the Amazon page for the paperback version of the book.
Amazon’s description of the book
Sarah Jameson, a nurse at County Central Hospital, survives an accident that kills her two young children. While comatose, she travels into the heavenly realm where she visits with her precious little ones. She is given a choice – return to her husband, Jack, or remain with her children in their celestial home.
Jack was not in the fated automobile. Though he heard the crash and ran to help, there was nothing he could do. He suffers the loss of his children, fears the potential demise of his wife, and wonders about his own sanity. His struggle with PTSD from his military years has returned and at times, he cannot distinguish between the present and the past.
An accident tragically changed the lives of this young family, but out of sorrow emerges unexpected blessings.
This is my five-star review for The Soul Whisperer’s Decision by Gwen M Plano
A Beautiful Feel-Good Story
A devastating tragedy strikes a happy family. A drunk truck driver runs a red light and smashes into Sarah’s car and kills her two young children as well as her, well sort of. Jack, Sarah’s husband is a veteran from the Afghanistan war, and he already suffers PTSD from what he experienced there, including seeing the Taliban killing children. Jack does not cope very well. Sarah visits a spiritual realm where she is given the choice of staying with her children in the spiritual realm or returning to earth. Because Jack is suffering so badly, she chooses to return to life to help him. Her physical recovery is difficult but from the spiritual realm she acquires a supernatural gift or ability, which brings to mind what Stephen King refers to as “shining”. In other words, she began to shine to use King’s terminology. Thereof the name “soul whisperer”.
The story will take you to a place of deep despair then return you to a place of hope and happiness. Not only does Sarah recover, but she is able to help her family and other people using compassion and her gift and things get better and better, like a happy dream. I think the message is that there is a bigger reality that is beyond the earthly realm, and therefore it is possible to get from a place of darkness and despair and back to happiness if you choose love. The book has a religious angle but not in a way that is exclusive. You don’t choose between religions; you choose between love or not love. The book teaches you that choosing love and forgiveness is the right choice. It was an emotive but hopeful and enjoyable feel-good story that I highly recommend.
Back cover of The Soul Whisperers Decision. Click on the image to go to the Amazon page for the hardcover version of the book.
About the Author
Gwen M. Plano, aka Gwendolyn M. Plano, grew up in Southern California and spent most of her professional life in higher education. She taught and served as an administrator in colleges in Japan, New York, Connecticut, and California. Gwen’s academic background is in theology and counseling. Recently retired, she now lives in the high desert of Arizona, where she writes, gardens, and travels with her husband.
Gwen’s first book is an acclaimed memoir, Letting Go into Perfect Love. Her second book, The Contract between heaven and earth, is a thriller fiction novel, co-authored by John W. Howell. It has received multiple awards and is an Amazon Best Seller. The Choice, the unexpected heroes, is the sequel to The Contract. It is also a thriller, involving the attempt of an unfriendly nation to take over the world. The third book in the series, The Culmination, a new beginning is an action-packed military thriller that spans the globe and involves multiple Heads of State and the threat of World War III. Only love can change the fate of humanity.
When Gwen is not writing, she’s often in the beautiful Red Rocks of Sedona, where she finds inspiration.
Regarding the daily prompt “Who is the most famous or infamous person you have ever met?”, that is former President George W Bush. I met him during a book signing at the local Barnes & Noble here in Dallas. I bought four copies of his book “Decision Points” and he signed two of them. I should say that due to the long line, he only signed two books for all of us.
I’ve also met some other well-known politicians including Senator Ted Cruz, I’ve been in a meeting with Colin Allred, and I’ve been in meetings with a few other congressmen (Pete Sessions, Sheila Jackson Lee, and met Louie Gohmert). That was because of my volunteer work for the citizens climate lobby. I should add citizens climate lobby is bipartisan and talks to everybody. I spent a week in Yellowstone with Ross Perot’s son-in-law Patrick McGee. He is sort of semi-famous. That was related to my kid’s school, St. Marks School of Texas.
Front cover of the book Decision PointsBack cover of the book Decision Points
In the photo below Ted Cruz is standing immediately to the right of the American flag and I am standing immediately to the left of it. My daughter and wife are also in the photo (to the left of me).
Citizens Climate Lobby and coffee with Senator Ted Cruz
In regard to the daily prompt “What is good about having a pet?” Pets can give you so many things, love, company, adventure, memorable moments, hilarious moments, protection, and playing with them or taking a dog for a walk is good for your health. We have dogs and have had dogs for decades. According to this article from the Mayo clinic dogs are good for your health. Dogs reduce work related stress, help manage stress, increase activity and help combat loneliness.
In addition, our late Leonberger dog Bronco protected us and our neighborhood from a trespasser and a peeping Tom who was terrorizing my wife and other women in the neighborhood. A Leonberger is very large dog, like a St. Bernard. The police could not solve the problem. The private detectives I hired did not catch him, despite the fact they were hiding in our backyard at night. However, one time when the peeping Tom showed up, I sent Bronco after him and that took care of the problem. Bronco probably just wanted to say hello, but a big bear-looking dog dashing towards you in the darkness can be unnerving. That scared him off for good. Bronco saved the neighborhood.
Bronco also saved other dogs and pets on several occasions. He detected when our Labrador Baylor was about to have an insulin shock. He protected our pug Daisy from an attacking German Shepherd. He found our runaway hamsters on a number of occasions. Below are some photos and illustrations of our dogs.
Our Leonberger Dog Bronco at 3 months oldMe with our Leonberger Bronco. He was not yet fully grown.Our large but cuddly 167lb Leonberger Bronco is sitting nu my wife Claudia’s lap.The stalker / peeping Tom is sitting on a lawn chair and looking through our bedroom window at night. Illustration by Naomi Rosenblatt.After the police and private detectives all failed our Leonberger Bronco is chasing off the intruder for good. Illustration by Naomi Rosenblatt.Our Leonberger Bronco is carrying two hamsters in his mouth. Don’t worry they were fine. Illustration by Naomi Rosenblatt.Our Labrador Baylor and German Shepherd Baby. They were both rescues.Our son with our pug Daisy when she was a puppy.Our Japanese Chin Ryu and our Pug Daisy are protesting our travel by sitting in our suitcase. They want to come with us.Our Leonberger Bronco with our new puppy Rollo, a mini-Australian Shepherd.Rollo, our mini-Australian Shepherd could be a pest. He loved biting Bronco’s tail and even swung in it as if it was a swing.Our Pug Daisy and our mini-Australian Shepherd barking at people passing by our house. Notice the joke.
The focus of this blog is Leonbergers but sometimes I post about books that are not about Leonbergers but that I want to promote. Halloween is over but I would like to promote a great thriller or horror story taking place at an astronomical observatory in New Mexico, The Astronomer’s Crypt by David Lee Summers. It is an action packed and fun story that is not as heavy as the previous book I reviewed (Mr. B. Gone).
Paperback – Publisher : Hadrosaur Press (June 2, 2020), ISBN-10 : 1885093918, ISBN-13 : 978-1885093912, 256 pages, Item Weight : 11.7 ounces, Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.64 x 8.5 inches, it cost $12.95 on US Amazon. Click here to order it from Amazon.com.
Kindle – Publisher : Hadrosaur Press; 2nd edition (June 2, 2020), ASIN : B089LRV6BC, 258 pages, it costs $3.99 on US Amazon. Click here to order it from Amazon.com.
Front cover of The Astronomer’s Crypt. Click on the image to go to the Amazon page for the paperback version of the book.
Amazon’s description of the book
Two years ago on a stormy night, in the dead of winter, Mike Teter experienced something that would change his life forever. Mike was a telescope operator at the world renowned Carson Peak Observatory in New Mexico. We won’t tell you what he saw that night on the mountain nor what happened afterward on a dark stretch of highway, because it would haunt you just as it has haunted Mike. But what we will tell you is that Mike is back at Carson Peak. And what he witnessed that night two years ago is about to become a reality…
An Intense and Fun Horror Thriller Taking Place in an Astronomical Observatory
The protagonist Mike Teter is a telescope operator at a fictitious observatory in New Mexico, the Carson Peak observatory. The Carson Peak observatory features two large buildings hosting a 5-meter and a 2.5-meter telescope. It is located on sacred land adjacent to an Apache reservation. There are caves nearby that host ancient sacred artifacts that should not be removed from the caves. The observatory is a labyrinthine and dangerous place that appears to be haunted. There are long corridors and hidden rooms. The observatory has a history of deadly accidents. For example, a Dr. Burroughs and a graduate student had been killed there.
One day Mike has what seems to be hallucinations. A large ancient evil creature looking like a mix of a dinosaur and a bird appears before him, and he encounters a talking coyote that gives him a warning about the sacred portals, he sees the ghost of Dr. Burroughs, and he witnesses the gruesome death of his friend the Astronomer Dr. Wallerstein. He’s had enough and he quit his job only to return to it at a later time. He thought that the things he saw were just nerves. However, this time things really go amiss. A creepy but wealthy lawyer by name of Mr. Vassago is trying to acquire sacred artifacts. There are drug cartel thugs, greedy adventurers, freak accidents, severe storms, hostage situations, ghosts, and ancient evil monsters. Mike Teter is faced with a very complicated and nightmarish situation.
The story is action packed, suspenseful and features a lot of plot twists. The characters are well-developed, relatable and multi-layered. The observatory is realistically described, and it is obvious that the author is very familiar with astronomical observatories. As you read this book you will learn something about observatories as well as the job of telescope operators. The author skillfully creates a chilling scenery of a dark haunted observatory, which brought my imagination to the spaceship in the movie Alien. It is obvious that the author is highly intelligent. A lot of things happened in just a few pages, and it was difficult to put the book down. It is one of the most intense and fun horror thrillers I’ve ever read, and I highly recommend it.
Back cover of The Astronomer’s Crypt. Click on the image to go to the Amazon page for the kindle version of the book.
About the Author
David Lee Summers is an author, editor and astronomer living somewhere between the western and final frontiers in Southern New Mexico. He is the author of twelve novels. His short stories and poems have appeared in numerous magazines including Cemetery Dance, Realms of Fantasy, Star*Line, and The Santa Clara Review.
David also edited Tales of the Talisman Magazine for ten years. When he’s not writing, he operates telescopes at Kitt Peak National Observatory.
The focus of this blog is Leonbergers but sometimes I post about books that are not about Leonbergers but that I want to promote. Since it is Halloween, I decided to post a review for one of the most disturbing horror books that I’ve ever read. The book is Mister B Gone by Clive Barker, and it is the memoirs of a Demon. If “Clive Barker” does not ring a bell, his novel Hellbound Heart was the foundation for the Hellraiser series of eleven movies (with Pinhead). Clive Barker’s books have spawned dozens of movies.
Warning
First a warning. As you read this book a demon from hell will start speaking to you inside your head. It happens to everybody reading this book. The book also contains information about good and evil not meant for humans. Ask yourself, do you really want to know? In fact, the first words of the book are “Burn this book. Go on. Quickly, while there’s still time. Don’t look at another word. Did you hear me? Not. One. More. Word.”
Unlike many other books by Clive Barker, this book is not about gore and the macabre. It is not disgusting. However, it is very creepy. The narrator of the story is a demon from hell by the name of Jakabok Botch. He is evil and he eats babies, but he’s got a lot of interesting things to say. The question is whether you can stomach it. I should say I got the hardcover version.
Paperback – Harper Perennial; Reprint edition (October 21, 2008), ISBN-10 : 0061562491, ISBN-13 : 978-0061562495, 248 pages, Item Weight : 10.4 ounces, Dimensions : 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches, it cost $ 14.39 on US Amazon. Click here to order it from Amazon.com.
Hardcover – HarperCollins; First Edition (October 30, 2007), ISBN-10 : 0060182989, ISBN-13 : 978-0060182984, 256 pages, Item Weight : 1.1 pounds, Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.95 x 8.25 inches, it costs $17.03 on US Amazon. Click here to order it from Amazon.com.
Kindle – Publisher : HarperCollins e-books; Reprint edition (October 13, 2009), ASIN : B000W9661Q, 258 pages, it costs $1.99 on US Amazon. Click here to order it from Amazon.com.
Audio – ASIN : B000Y4RRZ8, Narrator : Doug Bradley, Listening Length : 6 hours 28 minutes, it costs $0.99 on US Amazon. Click here to order it from Amazon.com.
Front cover of Mister B. Gone. Click on the image to go to the Amazon page for the paperback version of the book.
Amazon’s description of the book
From Clive Barker, the great master of horror and the macabre, comes a brilliant and truly unsettling tour de force of the supernatural—a terrifying work that escorts the reader on an intimate and revelatory journey to uncover the shocking truth of the battle between Good and Evil.
“Burn this book!”
So warns Jakerbok, the spellbinding narrator of this fabulously original “memoir,” a tale of good and evil deliberately “lost” for nearly six hundred years. Jakerbok is no ordinary soul; he is a minion of hell with a terrifying plan to cast the world into darkness and despair—a plan thwarted by a young apprentice of Johannes Gutenberg who buried the one and only copy of this damnable manuscript that his master printed in 1438.
Compelling and direct, Jakerbok shares the secrets of his life, going back centuries to recall the events that shaped his childhood, including the traumas he suffered at the hands of his parents, super demons themselves. He explains how he rose from “minor” to “major” demon status, and gleefully reveals his nefarious plot to “invade” the minds and hearts of unwitting humans everywhere thanks to the ingenious Gutenberg and his invention. “Burn this book!” he advises throughout—a taunt, a warning, and a command that will actually unleash the evil with which he has hidden in every word and every page, infusing the very ink and paper upon which they are printed.
Inventive and irresistible, Mister B. Good reaffirms Clive Barker is one of our most brilliant and original voices, an artist with a keen insight into mysteries deep within the human heart.
Below is my review written for this blog post. I have not yet written a review for Amazon.
This is a quite unique book. It is both a story about a demon and a disturbing conversation with that demon. The demon, Jakabok Botch, escaped the ninth circle of Hell in the 14th century. He has been with us ever since and if you buy this book and read it, he will be with you too. Clive Barker has made sure, through his writing style, that you will hear the demon’s voice. He will be much closer to you than you could guess. Jakabok Botch is ugly, severely burned, he has two tails, he hates mankind, and he likes to take warm baths in the fresh blood of infants. He had a hellish childhood so despite him raising hell on earth and being so cruel, you also feel sorry for the demon, and you sort of start liking him too, like a beast you feel close too.
In the book there are several requests to stop reading the book and burn it instead. This may seem odd, but it sets the tone for the book. The book tells a strange and disturbing but good story. It is creepy as well as philosophical. The demon, Jakabok Botch, asks the reader at some point why demons are condemned to hell, but humans are given a chance to escape hell, when humans can be just as evil. The demon had just witnessed people in the 14th century lustfully murder and torture each other, including burning pregnant women as witches. He thinks he can’t do any worse himself, so why shouldn’t all humans be with him in hell. No wonder he hates humans. What choices do we have, and what choices do demons have?
An episode in the book that I found to be quite intriguing was the war and the subsequent negotiation between the angels of heaven and the demons of hell over the written word at the time and place of Gutenberg’s invention. This event determined our future, and this book also has a in this history.
I found the book to be interesting and creative. Clive Barker’s imagination is amazing. The comparisons between the heartless barbarism of people in less enlightened times, as well as today, and that of demons in hell were enlightening. Is earth just like another circle of hell in which we are our own demons? I think this book was an attempt by Clive Barker to reach a wider audience. A lot of people cannot stomach his gory, macabre and often disgusting stories. This book did not have much of that. Instead, it focused on maximizing the creepiness factor. Therefore, I highly recommend this book to horror fans, even those who are turned off by the gore in Clive Barkers more typical stories. However, be aware, it is very creepy, and you will hear the voice of a demon in your head.
Back cover of Mister B. Gone. Click on the image to go to the Amazon page for the hardcover version of the book.
Today’s writing prompt is “Describe a Family Member”. This family member is good looking, fun to be around, and he is a loving character. He loves to play ball, he is very curious, and he loves to eat. However, he is anxious and easily frightened and he can also be a bit of an a-hole, and he hates dogs and cats. Can you guess which family member he is?
Three family members, but there are more of us.The answer is Rollo our mini-Australian Shepherd.
You may ask yourself, but he is a dog, how can he hate dogs and cats? Good question, but I don’t think he knows he is a dog. I think he thinks he is a little person. He prefers human company. He got along well with our late Leonberger Bronco and our pug Daisy, but he hates every other dog and all cats.
Rollo loves rolling and chasing balls.As I mentioned, he can be a bit of an a-hole.As mentioned, Rollo is anxious and easily frightened. Daisy’s stroller is a good thing to sit in for such occasions.Today and the last few days Rollo has been wearing a cone. He had to extract a tooth on Thursday.
Last Saturday my wife and I and our daughter visited Screams. It is something we tend to do around every Halloween. Screams is the world’s largest Halloween theme park. It is located half an hour south of Dallas in a small town called Waxahachie. The park features a haunted cemetery, five haunted houses, a horror museum, games, live shows, horror movies, dozens of eateries, restaurants and pubs, and other entertainment. There are a lot of dressed up actors walking around and scaring people. You are not allowed to dress up yourself as that can cause confusion. The actors will never touch you, but you can’t guarantee that there will not be problems if visitors are allowed to be dressed up as well.
My wife Claudia and me at Screams. I am holding a milk stout from Left Hand Brewing in my left hand (where else).My wife Claudia and our daughter in the spooky tunnel.
At Screams, there are several places to buy a drink or get something to eat. However, in the middle of the park there is a dedicated area with restaurants and several places where you can buy Mexican food, Greek food, corn dogs, turkey legs, sausages, hot dogs, hamburgers, funnel cake, desserts, beers of various kinds including craft beer, German beer, cocktails and other drinks. On each side of this area there are covered seating areas. The restaurant naturally has its own indoor seating area.
A portion of a children’s playground. It had a large inflatable (not shown). In the background is an eating area for several restaurants and bars.A portion of the haunted cemetery. It was dark and it was very difficult to take photos with my phone camera unless the objects were nearby.The haunted castle is one of the five haunted houses. It is very big and features several floors. It might be the biggest haunted house I’ve been to.
It is a fun place to visit even if you don’t like haunted houses. There are a lot of less extreme entertainment to choose from.
Another spooky thing happened this evening. I took a swim in my in-law’s swimming pool (not heated so a bit cool). As I was swimming, an owl flew right above my head and sat down in a nearby palm tree and just sat there and stared at me. As I continued swimming I was attacked by this big black thing. I thought it was maybe a big insect or a black bird, and I thought it tried to bite me. Then I realized it was a leaf. I decided to take a photo of the owl who was still staring at me. So, I went inside the house to get my phone. As I came back out and approached the owl, he kept staring at me. In should have taken a photo at this point but I kept getting closer to the owl and unfortunately it flew off before I could take a photo. The photo below from pexels will do.
The incidence was a little bit creepy because according to Scandinavian folklore an owl that flies right above you or in front of you is a bad omen. Typically, someone will die. My grandmother died the day an owl flew in front of my dad. Anyway, if I’ll make another post tomorrow, you’ll know that I am still alive.
Last Friday I got a few phone calls from NBC Universal. NBC Universal is a large media company that is a merger between NBC news and Universal Studios. I did not expect a phone call from them and since I am getting a lot of spam calls, I assumed it was bogus, so I ignored them. However, unlike most spammers they eventually left a message, which I listened to during the weekend. They said that they had been reading my Leonberger blog and were interested in a post that I had made about the tornado that ripped through Dallas on October 20, 2019. They wanted to interview me and asked for permission to use a few of my photos. I can add it was not my latest tornado post but a previous one.
Seeing myself on the TV was a bit surreal. Click on the image to see the interview. My interview starts at 1 minute and 11 seconds.Here I am with NBC journalist Katie Blake. Click on the image to see the interview. My interview starts at 1 minute and 11 seconds.
I would like to stress that there are thousands of people whom they could have interviewed. Thousands of people who probably would have been better candidates. What made all the difference was the post I made on my blog. Therefore, fellow bloggers, perhaps this is an example of the fact that blogs bring attention. By the way, the photos below were taken with my old Samsung Galaxy S8+ phone.
NBC used this photo. A neighbor’s house the morning of October 21st, 2019. Again, click on the image to see the interview.NBC used this photo as well. Inside Claudia’s (my wife) parents’ house. This was the morning after. In the photo we are walking into their house to check on them (that’s my wife). Again, click on the image to see the interview.
Today, October 20, 2024, is the 5-year anniversary of the EF3 Tornado that ravaged our neighborhood. Our chimney was smashed by a piece of concrete flying off a neighbor’s house, our roof was damaged and needed to be replaced, our garage door was destroyed, and the wiring and pipes in the attic were destroyed. In addition, our fence was damaged, and my grill flew across the yard. The cost of the repairs was $50,000.00. However, we were lucky compared to many of our neighbors whose houses were destroyed.
A neighbor’s house the morning of October 21st, 2019.Another neighbor’s house. This house was about 100 yards from our house. It took a direct hit from the tornado.
The house of my wife’s parents was more severely damaged than our house. The wind from the Tornado lifted my 89-year-old father-in-law up in the air and he was hit by a broken marble table that injured his back. He had a sore that was about one foot long. He did not go to the hospital. The school where our boys used to go, St. Marks School of Texas, was badly damaged and the walls of the gymnasium blew away. The neighborhood looked terrible afterwards.
Inside Claudia’s parents’ house. This was the morning after. We are walking into their house to check on them (that’s my wife).
It was also a tough time for our Leonberger dog Bronco. He was more than 12 years old, which is old for a Leonberger, and he had various age-related illnesses. Earlier in October he had amputated a toe due to a type of cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. One week after that we discovered a large deep ulcerous sore on the same paw a few inches above the surgical scar. Fortunately, it was not cancerous, as we first thought, but we would have to treat this sore in addition to nursing him back from his amputation. In addition, he also had the first signs of geriatric-onset laryngeal paralysis polyneuropathy (or GOLPP).
Bronco our Leonberger and Daisy our Pug the evening before the big storm. None of us suspected what was about to happen.
We lost power for four days due to the tornado and about one week after the tornado Bronco had a congestive heart failure. He eventually recovered but October 2019 was a very difficult month for him.
Bronco had just had a toe amputation. He did not blow down our fence.We had to change Bronco’s bandages every now and then but Rollo, our mini–Australian Shepherd made sure we did it right.Bronco and Rollo a few days after the Tornado.
I remember October 20, 2019, as if it was yesterday. I was sitting outside in my backyard drinking my favorite SMASH IPA, Yellow Rose, from Lone Pint, Texas, ABV 6.8%. IPA stands for India Pale Ale, a type of beer that contains a lot of hops. SMASH IPA is an IPA brewed with one type of Malts and one type of Hops (Single Malt, Single Hop). The single hop in this case is Mosaic. My phone started making a loud sound. It was an alarm announcing a tornado warning and, in the distance, I could hear a faint tornado siren. At first, I thought it was nothing but when I saw the lightning approaching, I decided to go inside. Two minutes later a hailstorm made things very loud, the wind was strong, and the house shook, and then we heard a loud explosion. That was a concrete block that had smashed our chimney.
I was sitting in my backyard drinking Yellow Rose my favorite SMASH IPA, not knowing that a tornado was advancing down the street nearby.
After the wind had died down a bit, I opened the door to the backyard, and what I saw shocked me. My gas grill had flown across the patio. There were bricks and pieces of concrete all over the patio and the lawn. There was a big sheet of metal lying on the patio. Big tree branches covered the lawn. There was debris everywhere. We had also lost power. It turns out that the EF3 tornado had gone through our neighborhood and passed within fifty to one hundred yards of our house.
Another neighbor’s house (a bit further away from us).
My wife Claudia asked me to go check on her parents. I drove about 50-100 yards when a neighbor’s roof lying across the road stopped me. I turned around but this time I was stopped by a large pile of trees lying across the street. So, I started walking, but this time I was stopped by a group of firemen telling me that it was too dangerous to be outside. They told me to go back home, and I did.
This is the next-door neighbor of Claudia’s (my wife) parents.
I can add that we got some unexpected help from our congressman at the time, Colin Allred, congressional district 32. My wife left the neighborhood in her car, but the police would not let anyone back in. This made it difficult to, for example, go shopping. I complained about this on Colin Allred’s Facebook page and within hours I received an email from Colin Allred’s legislative director (Judith). They had contacted city hall and the police and now the police would allow residents back in the neighborhood as long as they could show ID. Colin Allred’s office had my email from a previous communication. I did not leave that with my Facebook comment. My wife was happy since she now could go shopping.
Below are some additional photos that I took, showing the carnage in the neighborhood.
The remains of the Gap, a store at a nearby shopping center.Destroyed house in the neighborhood.View of the shopping center in our neighborhood.This was a school bus belonging to the school where my boys went.Streetview from the neighborhood.Another house in the neighborhood.The remains of the veterinary clinic where we used to take our dogs. Luckily there were no animals staying overnight at this time.Our street, just two/three houses down from us.
Leonberger Life 