Author: hankkalet

Hank Kalet is a poet and freelance journalist. He is the economic needs reporter for NJ Spotlight, teaches journalism at Rutgers University and writing at Middlesex County College and Brookdale Community College. He writes a semi-monthly column for the Progressive Populist. He is a lifelong fan of the New York Mets and New York Knicks, drinks too much coffee and attends as many Bruce Springsteen concerts as his meager finances will allow. He lives in South Brunswick with his wife Annie.

Same-sex marriage before two legislatures

Maine has introduced legislation that would allow same-sex couples to marry, making it the second state after New Jersey to introduce such legislation. The question, however, is whether either state is really any closer to passing the legislation.

I don’t know enough about Maine politics to know whether the bill — “An Act to End Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom” — will go anywhere. But according to a letter from Shenna Bellows, executive director of the Maine Civil Liberties Union, that was posted by Pam Spaulding on Pam’s House Blend, it could happen.

Democrats have a 20-15 majority in the State Senate and a 95-54 majority in the House. Some House Republicans are backing a constitutional amendment to ban marriage for gays and lesbians, but we’re hearing quiet support from unexpected allies on the right.

The referendum process, however, could mean a reversal if it comes to that, but we remain a long way off.

As for New Jersey, where Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, D-Mercer, has introduced a bill, it is unclear when — or even whether — the Assembly will get to hear it and discuss it.

Doggie diary: The story of Rosie and Sophie Day four comes to a close

The puppies are sleeping at the moment and I’m taking the time to watch some television and blog. We’ve been taking them outside in the yard, trying to get them housebroken, and they seem to be picking things up more quickly than I accepted.

Rosie (right with Annie) is a little tease, loves to nip at Sophie (above with me) as a way to start wrestling. Sophie, on the other hand, will square up and then tackle Rosie, using her size to pin the smaller dog.

Rosie and Sophie, remarkably, remind me of our past dogs — Honey and Benny. Rosie will eat just about anything and try to steal Sophie’s food; Sophie is picky. Rosie is constantly curious, Sophie more reserved. Rosie is sneaky, quietly ripping the newspapers in their pen, while Sophie makes no bones about what she’s up to.

I love to watch them, especially outside as they roll on the compressed snow in the yard and battling to establish their pecking order. Every time that it appears Sophie is ready to be the alpha in this relationship, Rosie surprises and puts Sophie on her back.

People at Dow Jones have been commenting on the pictures Annie has been posting on Facebook, telling her how happy we look. That’s probably true, though I don’t see anything but exhaustion in our eyes in these photos. But we are happy to have dogs back in our house and in our lives.

***

Sophie is slowed a bit by whatever has been ailing her and still is not eating. They both have kennel cough, as well. We’re taking both dogs to the vet on Wednesday.

(I have a cold coming on, as well, which is weird. It makes me wonder if I have caught their cough — sometimes I cough and it hurts. This is pretty silly, of course, but nevertheless….)

The snarker in chief

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It is difficult to believe that this snarky, snotty underachiever actually served as president of the United States for the last eight years.

Runner’s diary, Monday

We have another one of those weeks ahead, a week during which my running schedule is likely to be off-kilter. Today, however, I managed a three-mile run in 25:48 with splits of 8:54, 8:15 and 8:39. Tomorrow, I have some errands that have to be run and Wednesday we have to get the pups to the vet.

iPod: no iPod today, because my headphones died. And I was hoping to listen to Rafael Saadiq.

Doggie diary: The story of Rosie and Sophie The illness chapter

Sophie and Rosie have kennel cough, but Sophie’s been having a more difficult time of it, at least today. She’s been lethargic and hasn’t eaten, a bit of diarrhea and she’s hacked up some phlegm.

I think she’ll be OK, but I can’t help but worry.

We knew very little about kennel cough until yesterday, when we picked up the pups. So we hit the trust internets (or is that the interwebs?) and found this:

‘Kennel Cough’ is the term that was commonly applied to the most prevalent upper respiratory problem in dogs in the United States. Recently, the condition has become known as tracheobronchitis, canine infectious tracheobronchitis, Bordetellosis, or Bordetella. It is highly contagious in dogs. The disease is found worldwide and will infect a very high percentage of dogs in their lifetime.

The symptoms include

a dry hacking cough sometimes followed by retching. Many owners describe the cough as having a ‘honking sound.’ A watery nasal discharge may also be present. With mild cases, dogs continue to eat and be alert and active. Many times, there is a recent history of boarding or coming in contact with other dogs. In more severe cases, the symptoms may progress and include lethargy, fever, inappetence, pneumonia, and in very severe cases, even death. The majority of severe cases occur in immunocompromised animals, or young unvaccinated puppies.

Part of me wishes I hadn’t read this — the worst-case scenario is difficult to get out of my head. But it is best to know what we are dealing with.

She’s on antibiotics — both of them are — and we’ve boiled up some chicken and rice to see if she starts eating tomorrow. We’re keeping our fingers crossed.