My wife, Joanna, and I have been active participants in Catahoula
Leopard Dog rescue efforts since approximately 2000. In addition to fostering ~5 of these dogs, we have rescued and
then transported ~40 of these dogs from various "kill" shelters to forever homes throughout California, Arizona,
Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. In addition, we have evaluated and provided advice regarding several forever homes
for adoption suitability (fencing, other onsite pets, children, etc.), so that potential problems can be minimized
to allow the adopted dog to stay at the new home forever.
We
currently work closely with Janeen Jackson of Janeen's Catahoula Leopard
Dog Rescue Network located in Roundup MT. Janeen is involved in rescuing several breeds in addition to Catahoula Leopoard
Dogs, as all dogs deserve a chance to be adopted into a forever home. If you are interested in adopting one of these
wonderful dogs, you can review available dogs online and contact Janeen directly via cutting&pasting the following URL
into your browser: https://www.facebook.com/JaneensCatahoulaRescue or clicking on the following link:
Janeen's Catahoula Leopard Dog Rescue Network website
If you wish to donate to Janeen's efforts while buying products at Amazon.com,
go to Smile.Amazon.Com instead, where you can use the same login/password information to enter the site. Then, simply
"pick up" her website by entering "Janeen's" into the window and select her website. Very easy way
to donate to her efforts.
Who knows, Thom
and Joanna might even deliver your adopted dog directly to you, or at least participate in its transportation...
Vintage Volkswagen Restoration
Through the years, I have owned, and in some cases restored, several
vintage Volkswagens ranging in production year from 1958 to 1968, including a 1958 "lowlight" Karmann Ghia, a 1959
"ragtop" bug, a 1960 hardtop bug, a 1963 13-window kombi micro-bus, a 1965 hardtop bug, a 1967 fiberglass dune buggy,
and a 1968 squareback. I am also looking for my Dad's dark blue(?) 1955 Porsche Pre-A 356 Speedster that he raced amateur-class
at Riverside International Raceway and other southern California racetracks during the mid- to late-1950s, as well as my parent's
black 1955 hardtop bug (1956 CA license plate "FWC 201" or "FWG 201", using an old fuzzy slide) and agave
green 1957 ragtop bug (1956 CA license plate "LFK 734").
I still like to "turn my own wrench". Thus, my two current, and seemingly permanent, projects include
a 1958 "lowlight" Karmann Ghia (also known as a "poor man's Porsche", bought in 2012), a 1959 "ragtop"
bug (bought in 1979 while attending California State Polytechnic University, Pomona CA), and my wife's 1967 dune buggy.
The following photos show the Karmann Ghia at the 2014 Inland Valley Volkswagen (IVVW) Springfest that was held at Wolfsburg
West in Corona CA, and the ragtop Bug after its pan-off restoration during early 2020.
1958 Karmann Ghia (the "Chili Pepper")
1959 Ragtop Bug (the "Mango")
For those interested in this hobby, please visit the very best air-cooled
vintage Volkswagen (and Porsche) site at TheSamba.com at the link shown below. Sign up is free, they never send spam,
and it's an excellent site for buying/selling parts and/or entire cars from daily driver to concours quality, and sourcing
technical information.
TheSamba.com
Patents
I like to solve problems outside of the work environment as well.
My first two patents are for two pet-related inventions and the third patent is for a drip irrigation-related invention.
The following lists the inventions from newest to oldest:
Tired of wrestling with your drip irrigation couplers? Then you need our hand tool! SevehahLLC (www.sevehah.com,
see link below) will soon be selling this simple, easy to use hand tool for removing a coupler from drip irrigation tubing/tape
by using just one hand, instead of wrestling them apart manually that can cause injury via sudden release, or by using a combination
of hand tools (my favorite was a pair of channel locks) that can damage the coupler and/or the tubing/tape, requiring replacement
and resulting in additional costs. Our hand tool is also designed to separate emitters/couplers from the 1/4" "spaghetti"
tubing that is used to place water directly at the plants. Patent Number 9,527,195 was issued to me by the USPTO on December
27, 2016. We have recently submitted a Continuation-In-Part patent application (patent pending) for recent changes to
the original design.
www.sevehah.com
If you've ever driven long distances on a bumpy road with a rattling
animal carrier gate, you'll like this simple device that locks onto the gate. I plan to sell this device within the
next couple of years via Sevehah LLC (see above, website will be updated when this device is available). Patent Number
8,888,080 was issued to me by the USPTO on November 18, 2014.
All
animal carriers are tall enough to allow the confined animal to stand properly, yet virtually none are designed to provide
sufficient floor space for the confined animal to sleep properly. This can be problematic for animals that are nursing
their young, recovering from surgery/illness, or simply advanced in age. This essentially 2-in-1 telescoping animal
carrier can be expanded from the "standard" floor space to double its size to provide additional space when needed.
I plan to sell this carrier within a couple of years via Sevehah LLC (see above, website will be updated when this carrier
is available). Patent Number 7,681,532 was issued to me by the USPTO on March 23, 2010.