Need a new hero?

You might consider Brian McKeever. He's the first athelete to compete in both the Olympics and the Paralympics. In 1998, he was diagnosed with Stargardt's Disease. It takes away most of his vision. He compares his vision to looking at a doughnut, but only seeing the very outside rim of the doughnut, not the hole or anything inside the doughnut. It's a genetic disease and his father has it too.

Brian has competed in 2 Paralympics and won 7 medals. In this Olympic games, on the last day of competition, he will ski in the 50 kilometer cross country race. In the Paralympics, his brother is allowed to help guide Brian through the course. Brian will not have any such help in the Olympics. So he'll have to try to follow the blurry shapes to the finish line. It won't be televised, he won't win any medals. But he'll be out, doing his best, pushing himself. Not for glory, not for endorsement deals. For himself. I don't know if I'll be able to find out if he was able to actually finish the race, but I'll be rooting for him. After all, he's already a champion.

I saw a story about people trying to get an animal abuse registry in page, much like the sex predator registry we have now. I kind of like that idea. That way, pet stores and people looking to find animals a good home will have another safe guard to keep the animals safe.

It's a good think I like my Pip a tiny bit. Otherwise, she might have been kicked to the curb. I was taking a shower a few days ago. I could hear Pip playing on the bathroom floor, but didn't think too much about it. Until I stepped out of the bathtub and saw a tiny little mouse scurry out from underneath the bath mat!! Pip was hot on its tail, but I think Pip and I need to have a long talk about putting her toys away, so I don't step on them in the middle of the night! Silly Pip!!