'Halo 3' finally in sight

“Halo 3,” probably the most anticipated video game of the year, makes its way to stores for the Xbox 360 in late September (provided it isn’t delayed, which often happens). Many, many kids – and adults – are going to want a copy.
This is, after all, the first next-generation version of the game in this series that cemented the Xbox brand name. Parents should remember this game will sport an M rating, meaning it’s intended for folks 17 and older. These “Halo” games aren’t as offensive as some other M-rated games on the market, but it’s the parent’s call as to whether or not this game is appropriate.
I know my nephew will end up with a copy. He’s only 15. But he’ll wear down his parents by September.
I’m personally excited about this game, but my Xbox 360 was the only thing that didn’t survive the move to Shelby. Thank goodness I had an extended warranty. It should be up and running again shortly.

The whole rabies story

I got a lot of questions after I posted a blog item on getting rabies shots. I decided to write this column that appeared in The Star this week. For what it's worth, here it is:

These rabies cases cropping up in Cleveland County are awakening some ghosts for me.

A number of years ago on a peaceful Saturday morning, while I still resided in Gaston County, I took my dogs outside in the serenity of my privacy-fenced yard so they could do what dogs generally do when they go outside.

Instead of taking care of business, one of my dogs makes a beeline for the stairs to my porch, where three feral cats had sought refuge from the rain. Instead of finding refuge, one of the cats gets attacked by my overprotective dog, Rocky, now a proud new Cleveland County resident himself.

I don’t really like cats, but I wasn’t about to watch Rocky attempt to eat one for breakfast. So I pry the cat from Rocky’s jaws. Newly rescued, the cat then shows his (or her) appreciation by attacking me. Then his two friends join the vicious attack. I end up with a mauled arm, but I manage to get the cats safely away.

Since we had a rabies problem in Gaston at that time, I sought medical treatment. Before I know it, the doctors are calling the police department, which is calling animal control, which is calling the health department.

And almost as fast, I’m taking antibiotics and animal control moves in to set up traps in my yard to catch one of the cats and check it for rabies. It’s the only way I’m going to avoid getting numerous doses of rabies shots. The traps come up empty and the health department orders (or strongly suggests) that I undergo that horrible series of rabies shots.Rabies is fatal. If you get it, you’re toast.

I reluctantly agree and the shots start within days. They don’t seem so bad at first, even though the first series is a real whopper.

They inject you with a lot of stuff. As I have to keep going back for more shots, the pain gets worse and it lasts long after the needle stings. I’ve heard the shots have gotten much better since.

The dogs, even Rocky, get off relatively easy. They just get a booster shot since they were current on their rabies vaccinations. Without those vaccinations, the dogs would have been euthanized or quarantined for six months at my expense. I don’t like the term “put to sleep” for “euthanized,” since I’m unaware of any dog put to sleep ever waking up again.

Meanwhile, one of the cats turns up dead a few houses down from mine. I think this is my salvation from more shots as animal control dutifully collects the cat and sends it off to Raleigh for a rabies test. But the results come back inconclusive and my shots continue.

My story is a good reminder that keeping your pets updated on their rabies shots can save their lives. As for their owners …

'Practice' makes perfect

I'm really trying to stay away from pop culture on this thing, but it's worth noting that one of the most under-appreciated shows on TV, "The Practice," has finally made its way to DVD. This show explores the ethical dilemmas of the justice system better than any TV program before it. The FX network on cable now shows this now-canceled show in syndication, but the entire first season is now available on DVD to both people who might be interested in it.

This show is like a Lay's potato chip. After one or two, you're hooked. It's worth noting this once-great show morphed into the abysmal "Boston Legal."

Those rabies shots hurt

Reading the recent rabies stories in The Star brings back bad memories. I was attacked by three cats (of all things) a few years back. I ended up having to take the series of rabies shots. At the time I was living in Gaston County. The shots are both expensive and painful. I hear they used to be worse.

Fear of a speeding ticket

The N.C. Highway Patrol really appears to be stepping up patrols as the Memorial Day weekend approaches.
Tuesday, on U.S. 74 between Shelby and Kings Mountain, I saw an active presence. At one point, a trooper took off from the median and approached my car. I thought it was over -- I was going to get my first speeding ticket. I pulled from the middle lane to the right lane to prepare to pull over to the side of the road.
To my relief, he got the guy three cars up from me instead. I'll definitely watch my speed on Wednesday (and every day that follows). My car was absolutely packed since I'm moving stuff from Gastonia to Shelby all week. If the trooper had pulled me over, it was going to look like I had just robbed a store or something. I'm keeping my house-closing documentation in the car all week -- just in case.

I just paid what for gas?

I just paid $3.19 a gallon for regular, unleaded gas on Monday evening. It's a good thing my commute to work is going to get much shorter next week. We had a post on our message board of "Gas is $2.77 in Grover." That post was made just two days ago. I wonder what that station is charging now?

Bears, bleeding, blogging and moving

It's funny the things that happen when you're moving. As I'm dragging out stuff to the road in my soon-to-be-former residence, people are picking it up as I go.

But you actually meet a lot of nice folks. One guy, who promised to restore my grandmother's old porch furniture that I was throwing away, turned out to be someone I rode the school bus with in elementary school. We grew up in adjacent neighborhoods and he even helped me carry stuff out to the road that he didn't want.

Of course, not everyone you run into turns out that polite. You have to be careful and use your best judgment.

Also, not everything goes smoothly. The glass tabletop to a piece of furniture I own, unfortunately, is now in a million little pieces. A bad tumble down the stairs did the trick. I doubt anyone is going to want those little items.

Now I'm updating the bear story online while trying not to bleed all over my computer.