Today would have been my Pembroke Welsh Corgi’s 17th birthday. He had to be sent to the rainbow bridge on January 27, 2007. So to honor his birthday, I share with you a Youtube video that I came across recently, along with the poem I finished the same day last year.

And the poem

There is a story, sometimes a poem.
It’s been put to music, and maybe been sung.
In your loving heart, it calls itself home.
It comforts your soul, when your head is low hung.

It’s about your pets, your closest pals.
Be it dog, cat, ferret or fish. Any pet will do.
It’s premise is good, you’ll love its locales.
It’s about a bridge, red, orange, yellow and blue.

You may have heard of it, but then maybe not.
It’s called “The Rainbow Bridge,” a place of fun, a place of love
For those who are new, read on for more than the plot.
For those who know by heart, a version that fits more like a glove.

There is a place called The Rainbow Bridge.
It lies between Heaven and Earth.
This place surely lies upon a ridge.
And always has a door on our hearth.

Our pets go here and regain their strength.
They recover their youth and their health.
All have the choice to lie alength,
perhaps even play with some stealth.

Regardless of whatever should pass,
There is surely one thing that happens.
One day they stop and they sniff, but not at the grass,
For with the wind, someone’s enthusiasm deepens.

As you approach, your pets break from their groups.
They know you’re there and can’t wait to reunite.
As fast as they may, they run to you as a troupe.
Together again you gaze at the bridge, marveling its height.

After several joyful hours of reunion,
You all crossover as forever companions.

Well, actually my mom does and it’s not even the 10th delivered to residents of our area.

It’s been popular in Europe for many years and now is available in the USA and is capable of 30-50 miles per gallon, depending on driving habits.

Find out more at smart USA and Smart Car of America.

Yesterday, Frugal Dad asked “Is it easier to lose weight or pay down debt?” One thing that stands out to me his is comment “…if we focus on one plan or the other we seem to have success, but we struggle when trying to work on them concurrently.” This one comment made me think about an article I had to read for class, ” Slow Down, Brave Multitasker, and Don’t Read This in Traffic,” published by the New York Times on March 25, 2007. Though it focuses on dangerous multitasking, one paragraph seems to corroborate Frugal Dad’s observation…

The human brain, with its hundred billion neurons and hundreds of trillions of synaptic connections, is a cognitive powerhouse in many ways. “But a core limitation is an inability to concentrate on two things at once,” said René Marois, a neuroscientist and director of the Human Information Processing Laboratory at Vanderbilt University.

While attaining healthy debt levels (i.e. $0) and attaining a healthy weight are distinct and generally done at different times of the day, they are also both rather abstract concepts requiring concentration on the details of attainment. I would also posit that trying to reduce debt and eat healthy can often times clash, since the healthier alternatives are often times , though not exclusively, more expensive than the not so healthy alternatives. As an example, take a look at your local bread selection, you’ll notice those 100% Whole Grain breads are generally more expensive than the plain old white breads, which I really question, since whole grain flours just need grinding, while white flour goes through grinding; sifting to remove hulls, etc., and bleaching. Now, I said not all healthy alternatives are more expensive, I say this because where I live, fat free milk is cheaper than whole milk. This again is counterintuitive to what you’d expect based on the level of processing, since by nature the only processing whole milk goes through is pastuerization and homogenization, while fat free milk must be filtered and pasteurized.

As for the answer to the question, I think debt reduction is easier. Reducing debt accomplishes one of our basic emotional needs, security. Having that emergency fund and not worrying about covering debts in unforeseen events makes us feel more secure. On the other hand, weight reduction goes against one of our biological needs, “When will I next eat?”