What The Dog And I Did Yesterday...

We took advantage of the nice weather and enjoyed the great outdoors for a few hours. First stop was Emmeneger Nature Park, a scenic patch of woods near the junction of I-270 and I-44 in the city of Kirkwood. Late in the afternoon we explored Greentree Park, on the Meramec River a few miles north. Chili was really in her element and I know she enjoyed the hikes.

You've Just Entered.....THE TWILIGHT ZONE!!!!!

Ok, the Mizzou Tigers, Illinois Fighting Illini, and St. Louis Rams all won football games on the SAME WEEKEND. I can barely wrap my head around that, folks...can't remember the last time that happened.

What's more:

- the Tigers improved to 9-1 for the first time in forever and the national championship is almostalmost within our grasp, unthinkable even a year ago.

- the Fighting Illini toppled the #1-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, stopping their 28-game regular-season win streak. This was their first victory over a #1 team since 1956, I believe. They'll likely be playing football on New Year's Day next year; unthinkable even a year ago.

- the Rams beat the Saints today to gain their FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON. That stopped a winning streak the Saints had going. Sweet was this victory for D-coach Jim Haslett because he formerly coached the Saints. They found themselves in the fourth quarter, though, nearly squandering their sizable lead.

a remarkable weekend of football, indeed.

Interesting Perspective On The Hollywood Writers Strike...

The P-D's Op-Ed page features Colleen Carroll Campbell as a guest columnist every Thursday. Ms. Campbell is an author, television host and St. Louis-based fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. She is also a Catholic who writes from a distinctly conservative point of view on a liberal editorial page. I knew her briefly when she was a P-D writer and reporter earlier in her career.

She wrote about the writers' strike going on in Hollywood this week. I really liked her approach to the subject and it's worth a read:

Maybe Hollywood viewers should strike, too

"Toking" With Lawrence Welk...

Be sure and watch all the way to the end....The Welkster was definitely the squarest of the square.

Clouds...

This was the what the sky looked like when I was leaving work just after 4:00 p.m. yesterday.

Tag. I'm It, Sort Of...

Rules: Once tagged, you must link to the person who tagged you. Then post the rules before your list, and list 8 random things about yourself. At the end of the post, you must tag and link to 8 other people, visit their sites, and leave a comment letting them know they’ve been tagged. (I was tagged by 4 Of Clubbs' Brooke) I don't have 8 people to link to but here are the 8 random things about myself:

1. I am writing this while Chili is chomping noisily on a bone on the rug behind me.

2. I just got back from my workout at the YMCA.

3. I applied a weather-sealer to my driveway last weekend, just in time for winter.

4. I am feeling sad that my grandpa's health is worsening and I am praying he is able to hold on through Christmas.

5. I wish I could find my cordless phone. It disappeared over the weekend and I can't find it anywhere.

6. I am glad my bro and sis-in-law were able to get away for their second anniversary.

7. I love the smell of fall.

8. I don't get the appeal of "The Office." I just don't get it. Am I missing something?

In The "Dog"house...

Well, folks, he had a good run. Duane "Dog" Chapman, everyone's favorite reality-show bounty hunter, has managed to blow up his career. He fell victim to the curse of the "n" word. That magic word that is a guaranteed career-killer. His son taped a phone conversation between him and daddy Dog in which daddy Dog said the magic word repeatedly. The National Enquirer bought the tape and predictably, it's all over television and the Internet. The A&E network which aired his show has suspended production of the Dog's show, of course.

Is it over for the Dog? Can he recover from this? Does anyone out there care?

Mark Lowry Talks...

in concert in Erie, PA:

Some Friendly Advice...

courtesy of The Swirling Eddies:

[1]
(la la la la ...)
Bake a cake, swim a lake
Do a jig, slop a pig
Say a prayer, cut your hair
Smell a rose, pick your nose
Take a trip, write a script
Take a course, eat a horse
Take a nap, draw a map
Do your duty, shake your booty

[CHORUS]
Something that you wouldn't ordinarily do
Something just a little bit different for you
Like forgiving a friend and an enemy too
You'll feel better, you'll feel better
When your little day is through

[2]
Smoke a cigar, drive a sports car
Read the good book, try a skyhook
Call your mother, kiss your father
Tell 'em you love 'em, clean your oven
Get up early, do a curly
Feed the hungry, spend some money
Feel the breeze, cut the cheese
Chicken walk, smile at a cop

[CHORUS]

[3]
See a show, dig a hole
Fly a kite, take a hike
Twiddle your thumbs, scratch your buns
Make a face, run in place
Play some pool, go back to school
Drink a beer, pierce your ear
Abstain from sex and cigarettes
go out to eat, soak your feet
Make a mud pie, greet a fat guy
Floss your teeth, keep the peace

[CHORUS]

[BRIDGE]
Write yourself a note that says
"Be of good cheer"
(la la la la ...)
Paint yourself a sign that says
"The beginning is near"

[4]
Wash your dog, burn a log
Visit a widow, fluff your pillow
Paint a picture, clean your dentures
Learn to surf, go to church
Have a picnic, buy a quick-pick
Join a carpool, drink a yahoo
Play monopoly, eat some broccoli
Take a bath, scratch your rash
knit a sweater, write a letter
Roll downhill, make a will
Flick your Bic, call in sick
Keep a vow, milk a cow
Start a business, make a wish list
Beat a drum, suck your thumb
Go to confession, learn a lesson
Visit a zoo, pack a mule
Go to sears, cry some tears
Give stuff away, act in a play
Plant a tree, work for free
Join a club, save your stub
visit a jail, read your mail
T.P. a house, turn-on your spouse
Plant potatoes, pick tomatoes
Sleep in late, lose some weight
Make up a dance, take a chance
Walk around nude, play with your food
Get baptized, go skydive
Cast a vote, sail a boat
Hold your breath, shop for less
Help a neighbor, do a favor
Pick up litter, eat a corn fritter ...

from the album "Zoom Daddy," Words by Terry Taylor ©1994 Broken Songs / Twitchen Vibes (ASCAP)

And I Did It All By Myself!...

My large accomplishment this evening: I replaced the belt on my vacuum cleaner after the old one bit the dust . Never in seven years of ownership had I ever popped the hood on the ol' Eureka World Vac (whose service manual Eureka thoughtfully DIDN'T MAKE AVAILABLE FOR FREE ON THEIR WEB SITE grrrr). After locating a generic replacement at my local Kmart (or is it KMart?) (which, by the way is in the midst of a total blow-up/remodel and nothing is where it used to be) it took about ten minutes.

Sometimes it's the little things...

The Journey...

The P-D's religion writer, Tim Townsend, wrote a nice column on my bro & sis-in-law's church in Saturday's edition.

The Journey, and others like it, aiming to reach younger people

My First Crude Attempt At Moviemaking...

It's not great but, hey, even Ron Howard had to start somewhere.

Tired Doggie...

I'm taking some time off this week, so Chili is getting more exercise than usual. Today we did lots of running and squirrel-hunting in the back yard. Later in the afternoon we hiked at Castlewood State Park. Now, she's all tired out!

Sunday Evening, Late...

It's 10:36 p.m. CDT in St. Louis and this blogger is wishes the midnight hour would come around in the next minute or two. The Sunday night shift for a Tech Services support technician at the P-D is a pretty durn quiet affair, folks.

Not much has been happening lately. I started working my new shift a few weeks back. It's 4:00-12:00 Sunday nights, 10:00 - 6:00 Mondays, 8:00-4:00 Tuesday-Thursday. I'm gradually adjusting my life to the new schedule. The Sunday nights have been quiet, the Monday hours make it harder to get to bible study on time, and the other three days are hard in the mornings but nice in the evenings. The 8:00 start time gets me a good parking space closer to my building but it's a noticeably more crowded commute on I-55.

Chili and I had a private, one-on-one obedience lesson on Friday afternoon. It was very beneficial for her and her owner. Her owner learned what he was doing right and wrong in teaching her the necessary skills to pass the next test. Chili discovered that she likes stuffed animals and will play "fetch" with them. Her owner was suitably overjoyed at this and bought Chili her own stuffed duckie to play with. It it stuffed with a "crinkle" material and squeeker that keeps her busy.

(Aside: did you know that dog obedience trainers have their own association? It's the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and their annual convention is in Portland, Oregon this week. I guess that's the kind of convention that the Portland, Oregons of the world get.)

..............

Back in August, you may recall I had a rotting maple tree cut down in my back yard. My dad had the tree service guys save 2 large logs of good wood for his adventures in carpentry. We made a valiant attempt to get those logs home with him that day but they were just too much for the two of us to load. Those 2 large logs subsequently lay in my back yard until just last Friday. Dad and I wrestled the logs into the back of his pickup with the help of two hand trucks and winch straps. Fortunately, neither of us was injured in the process.

............

On Saturday her Chili-ness and I enjoyed a late-afternoon Fall walk at Whitecliff Park in nearby Crestwood and along Grant’s Trail near the Grant’s Farm horse pastures. She warily went nose-to-nose with a giant Clydesdale that was grazing near the fence line.

............

I bought my first Willie Nelson CD last week. It's "The Troublemaker," his mid-70s country gospel album. I've enjoyed bopping down the road chorusing with Willie on "Unclouded Day" at full throat.

............

No matter how many times "Apollo 13" is shown on Bravo, I still enjoy watching it.
............

Idyllic: Devouring the Sunday paper big crossword while sitting in a cushioned patio chair on your deck under a shady oak tree, your dog a few feet away taking in all the smells wafting in on the not-so-gentle breeze under a sunny, cloudless sky.

Jive-talkin' the Alphabet...

YouTube goodness: Richard Pryor reading the alphabet on Sesame Street.

Dad Playing With The Granddog...

My dad got in some quality time with Chili at our family gathering last Sunday. Turn your sound up REALLY high to hear the audio. My first experience with Windows Movie Maker wasn't pretty and I accidentally recorded over the original on tape.

The Tail End...

Chili's tail had recovered nicely last evening when I got home. I was going to call and cancel the vet appointment but then she scooted her bottom across my carpet. That usually means her bottom's "stink" glands are blocked up, so off to the vet we went. She got her bottom squeezed, and her nails trimmed. All is well once again in Chili's world.

I think the tail episode was a result of her simply wagging her tail so much and so furiously that it strained its muscles. A couple of days' rest is all it needed.

I shot some video of my dad playing with Chili on Sunday. As soon as I can get it off the camera I'll post it.

Got Her Tail All Out Of Joint...

Chili's got her tail literally all out of joint over something. I noticed this morning that her tail has gone limp and she won't allow me to get near it to feel around. When I look at her and call her name, her tail usually wags furiously, but not today. It's obviously drooping and she'll be visiting the HSMO vet tomorrow.

***EDIT***

I did some research into limp/drooping tails today. This site suggests that it may be nothing serious. I'll have to wait and see.

Family Ties...

My parents hosted a family gathering at their house in Festus today. My grandpa has doctor appointments in St. Louis tomorrow, and with several upcoming birthdays to celebrate as well, it was a happy time. Chili came with me, of course, and she behaved herself quite well. She met several new family members who were all glad to make her acquaintance!

Speaking of family, it was good to see my bro and sis-in-law again. They are six months into their pregnancy experience and my sis-in-law is visibly pregnant but looks really great. They brought an album of ultrasound images that prove their little alien is developing normally! : )

You Oughta Be In Pictures...

Since I've had Chili, I've been thinking about getting a digital camcorder to shoot videos of her and other fun things. My research intensified while I was off last week and I finally made a purchase yesterday. One of my co-workers recommended the Sony DCR-HC38 model Mini-DV camcorder. He said he was happy with it so that's what I got. It came in really handy when my Dad was playing with Chili this afternoon. Getting the video off the camera and onto my computer will take some extra, costly doing but I think it will be worth it.

New Phone...

I spent most of Saturday running around trying to find the best deal on a new cell phone and looking at digital camcorders. The phone I ended up with was a Samsung "Sync." I have AT&T as my carrier and I visited their retail store near my house first. The price was $159 after rebate with a bundled package of charger, case, and Bluetooth earpiece.

Radio Shack, however, had the EXACT SAME PHONE for $49 BEFORE a $20 rebate and a special deal of 3 accessories for 30% off each accessory. The Sync is more phone than I need right now, but it's a good investment for the future, and besides, the selection of phones wasn't that great.

Watch Out For Round Flying Objects...

I had a close call while playing volleyball on Thursday night. One of my teammates served from behind me, but served too low. Wouldn't you know I turned at just the wrong time and the ball smacked me directly in my left eye. Luckily, my glasses took the brunt of the impact, flying off to the other side of the net. I'm fine and so are my glasses. I think I may be done with volleyball for the year, though!

For reasons known only to Chili the dog, she confused my cell phone for a chew toy after I got home Thursday night. Either the phone fell out of my shorts as I entered my bedroom or she grabbed it off my dresser. After I showered off, I found the phone lying on the floor in front of my bathroom. I'll have pictures in another post. It was rendered almost totally inoperable. I could still make calls and talk to people, but the earpiece was punctured through and I couldn't hear the person on the other end. I was eligible for an upgrade anyway, so it was sort of convenient timing.

A Little Concert Action...

One of the cool things I did was hit the Duck Room at Blueberry Hill to catch Over The Rhine's concert on Wednesday night. Since I didn't have to get up early to go anywhere the next morning, I stayed for the whole show. It was my first time to see them live and they didn't disappoint. They managed to work through almost all the songs from their latest record, played many of their older hits, and closed with a sublime cover of Gillian Welch's "Orphan Girl." I wish I'd brought my camera!!!

Sunday Night; Let's Blow Off The Dust

Yeah, it's been a while.

Let's see, when I last updated, a lot of friendly co-workers had left the building. Well, the world didn't stop turning and the paper still got published. New job assignments, reassignments, blah blah blah, we made it--let's get on with life!

I worked straight through from Friday until the following Tuesday because my new shift started on Sunday night. It still feels weird working on a Sunday night but I'll get used to it in time. I took the rest of the week off after Tuesday. It was one of those times when I could sense that I needed some time away from the office. It also just happened to be the week when those readers who faithfully clipped their "Millionaire" money out of the paper since July brought it all down to our office to be counted. The crowds were tremendous. All the division of the P-D had to volunteer workers to help count. The fact that I took off during that mess is purely coincidental, truly.

Tough Day Today...

Today was one of the toughest days I've had in ten years at the P-D. As I mentioned in a previous post, another early-retirement incentive was offered, this time for 60 people company-wide. Our new fiscal year begins in October, so today was the last day for the majority of the early-retirees. Our newsroom took the biggest hit by far, with over 2/3 of them coming out of there. Many talented writers, reporters, photographers, and editors are now gone. I mean, the guy who answers the phone in the sports department is gone. What stings the most is the loss of 6(!) photographers, all of whom I was well-acquainted with because I support their Macintosh computers. They were more than just users, or "customers" to me.

[A real "sucker-punch" came in the form of a company-wide e-mail that was sent from our CEO this morning. I'm Not Kidding - it was in the form of a press release, detailing exactly how much money this buyout is costing the company but also trumpeting the amount of money that this buyout will save the company. I'm no expert, but I'd have saved this e-mail for next week]

Bill McClellan sized up the situation pretty well in his column today. Basically, the Internet has changed the way people get their news, plain and simple. Less people buy newspapers, thus advertisers spend less on print advertising, thus profit margins are reduced, making newspaper company stockholders very nervous, creating a need to cut costs wherever and however possible. I don't attempt to understand the logic of it all, I just know a lot of good people are leaving their newspaper careers too soon. I don't blame them for taking an offer they couldn't refuse. Moreover, this is not unique to my employer; it's happening to large newspapers all over the country. Here's a link to Bill's column. It's well worth the reading.

The evolution of newspapers can be traced to two meteors

Anybody Know Hoss Cartwright's phone number?

One of the more bizarre headlines ever to appear on Stltoday.com:

Stray Bull Roams Downtown

and I'm off work today, too. I'd like to see the St. Louis Metro Po-lice try to round up that angry lil' steer!

Fantastic News!...

This makes me glad the bottom dropped out of my voice in high school!

Deep-Voiced Men Have More Kids

"Studies conducted by David Feinberg of McMaster University in Canada have shown that women are more attracted to men with deeper voices, judging them to be older, healthier and more masculine than their higher-pitched rivals."

can't argue with science!

Nothing Like A Good Horror Film...

My bro had tickets to the Cardinals ballgame tonight that he couldn't use so the parents and I will be going to the game with his tickets. This will be like having good seats to watch a 3-car accident. I'll be watching with morbid curiosity.

Just Call me '"A"-Game'...

After I finished my part of worship rehearsaI, I stopped off and played an hour of sand volleyball with the usual Thursday night crew. I hadn't played in a few weeks but was only a bit rusty. I somehow got on a roll and managed to hold serve about 8 or 9 points in a row. The other players were amused and amazed simultaneously.

At Home in Malden, MO...

Chili's obedience class is on hiatus this week and next so I took the opportunity to drive down to Malden for the day. I enjoyed a heapin' helpin' of Earnhart's ribs for lunch. That, with a side of potato salad and King's Hawaiian Sweet Rolls and Crystal Light lemonade to drink, made for a perfect lunch. Chili enjoyed chomping down on a couple of rib bones. I felt personally gratified that she was able to enjoy what I've enjoyed for so many years! LOL!! While the grandparents napped, I dropped in at the home of Kmom to visit with her and other members of the Cook clan. I had the pleasure of meeting my newest cousin Sammy, son of Whitney and Jon, nephew of Cooks In Kansas. Lil' Sammy is about 10 kinds of adorable, at only three months of age. He's going to be a fine little boy! Of course, they all got to meet Chili. She behaved herself but I had to restrain her enthusiasm in "kissing" Sammy! : )

I said a quick goodbye to the grandparents and headed for home. Once home I made a quick supper of soup and sandwich and headed to church for Quest worship rehearsal.

Because It's International Talk Like A Pirate Day...

September Swoon...

It's officially ugly for the Cardinals. They're currently experiencing a death spiral not seen in this town for many years. Losers of something like 13 of the last 14 games, they're officially "playing out the string" now. Nagging injuries are finally claiming the last of our starters. Somebody named Todd Wellemeyer was our starting pitcher last night. He lasted 2 innings, giving way to Kip Wells, who has lost 800 games for us this year. Remarkably, last night's game lasted 14 innings, and 5+hours. AND WE LOST.

I would say bring on the Rams, but so far, they stink too.

Upgraded The Blog...

I have upgraded my blog template....whaddya think?

New Quote...

Thanks to Bob of 4 Of Clubbs for providing me with the new quote underneath the blog title. He came up with that in response to my new tough-guy look!

That's One Happy Dog!...

Happiness Is...

walking down a sunlit path, cool breeze gently blowing through the trees, your dog at your side.

New shift - Pros/Cons?...

One of my co-workers is taking the early-retirement buyout and will be leaving at the end of the month. Since we don't know if we will be allowed to hire a replacement, one of us has to take over his weekly shift. This morning, I was asked to be that person.

Here's the deal; he works Sunday night 4 pm - 12:00 am and then Monday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm, then Tuesday-Thursday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm. I would be off Friday and Saturday.

I basically have until the end of the week to decide. The only obvious bad thing is that the Monday hours would make it almost impossible to continue with my Monday evening bible study. That starts at 7:00 pm.

Other than that, I wouldn't be able to walk the dog in the morning, but I would have time for a longer walk in the afternoon. I would have to get up earlier and FORCEMYSELFTOGOTOBEDEARLIEROMIGOSH but I would have more time in the evenings.
The Sunday night shift would be easy but the late night isn't appealing. It might be nice to have Friday/Satutrday/Sunday afternoon off; almost a 3-day weekend.

Readers - any other pros or cons that you could help me out with?

It's Over...

The Rams and Cardinals....bleh, I'm over them. The Male Sheep laid a predictable egg on Sunday and the Birdos are finally succumbing to a snake-bitten season. They made a last desperate push towards the top of the NL Central but I think they're out of gas. Yesterday's loss to the Cubbies was proof enough for me. Injuries have hurt us (and the injured) terribly this year and I think we should just play the rest of the season at the fields in Forest Park, so as to be nearer Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

First Taste Of Fall...

Mother Nature teased the St. Louis area today with a first taste of Fall today. A cool front passed through overnight and left in its wake a cool breeze and puffy clouds. It was a pleasure to walk the dog this morning.

See What Dog Hath Wrought...

This actually happened a week ago on Labor Day, but I left my camera down at my parents' house all week. I left the blind down a little bit too low when I shut up Chili in her room while I did some shopping.

She either got mad or overanxious at my leaving and my expensive window treatment took the brunt of her emotion. Fortunately, 3-Day Blinds had my original order on file and they're shipping me a replacement, for $142.

She's expensive, but I still like her! : )

It's Been A Long Season...

For the Cardinals. A pitcher was killed, several other players suffered season-ending injuries, a player is in drug rehab at the moment, their young pitcher-turned-outfielder phenom is now linked to a steroids investigation, I could go on...

They have managed to stay in the race for the NL Central division title, despite all that AND a pitching rotation that is in flux. As Dan O'Neill put it in today's Eye Drops column:

"— The Milwaukee Braves had "Spahn and Sain and pray for rain." The Cardinals have "Wainwright and Looper, then get out the scooper."

Nuclear Bombs Mistakenly Flown Over The U.S. ...

It's in the news today...see it here. What you won't hear, however, is that the plane landed one bomb short of a load. Luckily, a spy satellite captured this footage that tells what happened:



(THIS IS A JOKE, OK!)

Is The End Near?

WWE Suspends 10 for Drug, Steroid Use

professional wrestling policing itself for substance abuse? what is the world coming to?

The Graduate...

Chili successfully passed her skills test for Family Dog 1 obedience class today! We'll move up to Family Dog 2 next week.


I wanted to take a picture of her with a cap and gown, but alas, she wouldn't stand still! : )

My Home County...

This from a town near Festus, my second hometown:

DE SOTO, Mo. (AP) - The naked truth: Three eastern Missouri men were willing to go to extreme lengths to get some beer.

That's the accusation after an incident in the early hours of August 18th at Fish's Quick Stop in De Soto. Store clerk Vicky Gaines says a masked man walked in and began doing the hula dance.

Police say the plan was for the naked dancer to create a distraction while another man took a case of beer from the store. It didn't work.

Gaines called police. As the naked man and his accomplice joined a third man in a car, a customer got their license plate number. All three were caught a few days later.

The men, ages 19 to 23, face charges of shoplifting and indecent exposure.

---

Information from: KMOV-TV, http://www.kmov.com/

There you have it, folks...a naked, masked man doing the hula dance. at a convenience store in DeSoto, MO. Amazing.

Words To Ponder...

I've mentioned a few times that one of my favorite bands is Over The Rhine, the husband/wife team of Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist. From time to time Linford writes newsletters that go out to their e-mail list. The latest edition came out today. In it, he writes these words:

"We were talking a lot about Home the last few weeks. Karin and I have chosen a life where pretty much every day we get to spend at home is a prize, a rare gift, something we worked for, an event drenched in gratitude. And yet, maybe home is not really about geography or air quality, or moonlight, or being in the city or out of the city, or in a red state or blue state, or in a music town or a working class town. Maybe home has more to do with the work we've all done as individuals to increasingly become people we can live with. Maybe home is the desire to live soulfully, the tiny ongoing decisions we make that allow the soul room to breathe."

wise words...

OK, I Am DONE Spending Money...

I think (well, HOPE) I am done spending large amounts of money. This summer I:

fixed my leaky basement (planned)
got a new driveway (which has developed a crack, I noticed last night) (also planned)
bought a new air conditioner and gas furnace (SO unplanned)
had my trees trimmed (and removed, in the case of my unfortunately rotted maple)(also unplanned)

my neighbor is satisfied now that my oak tree branches are no longer drooping on his roof. The tree service guys managed to leave multiple rust trails across my driveway. I guess that happened from them dragging the brush across. Thankfully, a couple of hours with straight bleach and a scrub brush made them disappear. The situation was partly my fault because I haven't gotten around to sealing the driveway, which would have prevented the stains.

My dad was up on Friday because he wanted any good parts of the maple tree that could be harvested. He is a woodworker in his spare time and green maple is of great value to him. He got 2 large logs that should serve him well. Only trouble is, they were far too heavy for the two of us to load into his truck so they are still laying haphazardly in my back yard. While the tree trimmers worked, he and I set to hanging the one remaining 6-panel door that we didn't do last summer. We wrestled with it for several hours, trying to make it fit in the un-square doorframe of my bathroom. Ultimately, we were unsuccessful, as time got later and later and we got more and more tired. My dad finally left, in temporary defeat. I am left, meanwhile, with a door that doesn't shut properly. He will ponder on the situation a while and return soon, I'm sure.

I went out to lunch with some friends after church at The Daily Bread. TDB is basically a local version of St. Louis Bread Company. The BBQ Beef sandwich I had was quite good. The Dog and I then spent a couple of quiet hours at Bee Tree Park (site of Cooks In Kansas' nuptials many moons ago.)

back to work tomorrow...

Happiness Is...

Spending a couple of hours under a shady tree in a park, my dog beside me. We devoured the Sunday paper and did the big crossword puzzle. Chili wasn't entirely calm and collected the entire time, but she couldn't go far, tethered to the tree as she was. The weather was downright balmy today, an change from the soupy heat that has plagued us recently.

Random Things That Disturb Me...

Halloween is still over two months away, right? Then why is the Halloween Express store near my house already open for business?

Why did Nicole Richie and Lindsay Lohan skate through the judicial system with barely a whiff of jail? Nicole Richie was in jail for about 5 seconds before being released, no joke! Lindsay Lohan will do a day or so. The law enforcement out in La-La land insists that they received no special treatment.

Right.

You,Too, Can Be A Rapper...

Old-school rapper Biz Markie, he of "You Say He's Just A Friend" fame, is doling out the beats on Nick Jr.'s "Yo Gabba Gabba"

I Took The Plunge...

I have joined Facebook... : ) several of my friends, including Bob of 4 Of Clubbs, are there already and I wanted to see what all the fuss is about.

_______________

nothing much more to report, really. My home is nicely air-conditioned since Friday. I was in sticker shock for awhile. I like to do product research before making a major purchase and this time I had to decide quickly. The service company I called is a distributor for the Fedders brand of furnaces and ACs. They're not well known but they seem to build quality products.

I am trying a Gentle Leader head collar on Chili. It seems to work wonders for dogs who pull on their leash and Chili has to get past that if she wants to test out of obedience class.

My employer has offered an early-retirement buyout. Of course, I am not eligible but many good people are signing up to leave. My department is losing 2 technicians, one of whom I have worked with closely since I've been here. It's going to be a bumpy adjustment as I will undoubtedly get much of his responsibility. He has promised to be available whenever I need him, though. The newspaper industry is in a bad place right now. It's a digital world now, and the traditional media is feeling the effects. Advertisers are pouring their money into internet and other new media outlets. Thus, newspaper advertising revenues are down at papers all over the country. My employer is being polite by offering the early retirement. Other newspapers are simply laying off workers. My job is safe but it may be time to start looking around...

The Dog Finally Receives A Proper Bed....

And she is pleased!

Her owner got it monogrammed with her name!

The Heat Wave Claims Another Victim...

And this one hits way too close to home! : ) The fan stopped working on my home's outside A/C condenser unit this morning. The unit is of questionable age (i.e. it's OLD) and off-brand. Bottom line, the repairman couldn't replace the fan motor because it's so old and antiquated and I'm getting a whole new heating and air conditioner system. The system was old when I bought the house 7 years ago and was likely on its last legs anyway. I could have replaced just the outside unit, but risked dire incompatibility consequences down the road, so I decided to just bite the bullet and replace the entire system. I'll realize big savings with a modern, efficient gas furnace, anyway.

The company I called is a Christian-owned business and the repairman is a church-going guy so I feel certain they're not ripping me off. This is just one of those unexpected major expenses that always comes at the wrong time.

The blower motor still works but I'll be contacting the Matlock Hilton in Festus about overnight accomodations for a couple of nights until the new system gets installed.

ARGHHHHH!!!!!!

The Hottest Day Of The Year...

And I'm parked in our farthest parking lot, 2 blocks away from the building. 103 degrees, a new record for this day!

If I evaporate between here and there, will someone please take care of my doggie?

Chili In Live Action...

Uncollared!!

Chili was able to shed her "Elizabethan" collar today after the HSMO vet determined that her leg wound had healed sufficiently. He let me keep it just encase she starts licking at it again. She had also started scooting her bottom across my floors. Turns out, her anal glands were blocked up and had to be "expressed." to relieve the pressure. The vet said there was a lot of stuff in them, and we'll leave it at that. He examined an old scar and noted "She's the kind of dog that goes through things, rather than around them." That's my dog!

She did better at obedience class today. Her command response is better but her walking definitely needs work. The trainers gave me a special collar to keep Chili from pulling at her leash.

Yearly eye exam today: no problems found!

Good Times With The Dog...

Chili and I had some good times last night and this morning. We worked on our obedience "homework" after supper last night. I had bought a "stadium beef hot dog" during my weekly grocery shopping and I diced it for use as rewards during obedience work. It worked very well as Chili responded nicely to my every command. I need to test her with better distractions and I'll try to get her over to Grant's Trail tonight when it cools off some. As dusk approached, I watered my flowers. I let Chili off her leash because she doesn't usually stray too far. Her curiosity began getting the better of her so I ended up tieing her leash to my belt loop so she'd stay by my side. She'd done pretty well so I misted her down with the hose nozzle to cool her off.

We went on our usual morning walk, shorter this time because it's so muggy and when we returned, she ate all her food! I had brought more hot dog along on the walk and rewarded her periodically so maybe that awakened her taste buds. She laid quietly by my bed as I did my morning devotional and watched curiously as I got dressed for work. I loaded up her Kong with some doggie biscuits to keep her busy while I ate breakfast.

Very satisfying times, indeed.

Collared!...

Chili is wearing the collar. She has a bad scrape on the inside of her left rear leg and she was licking it. After obedience class today, we stopped in at the HSMO vet and got her fitted for an "Elizabethan Collar" as they call it politely. It will be on her for the next 7 days as I treat the scrape with Neosporin ointment.

We did start obedience at HSMO this morning. Their classes are run by the Greater St. Louis Training Club. There are 3 other dogs in the beginners' class with Chili. She was predictably excited and distracted but she handled herself well overall. I have a list of basic concepts to work on with her so we can test out to the next level. I don't know how successful we will be with the collar on her but I'll work as hard as she will.

Completely unrelated: my home-improvements aren't quite done. The other day Chili and I were out in my backyard and my retired neighbor waved me toward the fence. He pointed at the branches of one of my oak trees. "These branches, on my roof, it's no good!" (He's of eastern European background.) The problem is my oak trees are mature and massive. Their branches are far-reaching, and do droop onto my neighbor's roof. In the interest of being a good neighbor, I called a tree service and got an estimate post-haste. The arborist looked at them and estimated trimming them and removing a dying maple that's planted in an odd place anyway. Looks like that'll be happening in the near future.

Happy Monday!...

I hope everyone's weekend was good. Today was noticeably cooler and less humid, but the week will be a hot one. It must be mid-summer or something!

Chili went to the vet at the HSMO to get her leg checked out. She got really agitated as we approached the building. I think she was really worried that I was returning her! : ) I assured her that was not the case as we proceeded to another part of the building to see the vet. It turns out she just got a really bad scrape and it should heal with time and Neosporin. We stopped off to watch some friends play softball on the way home.

She will be starting obedience class at HSMO on Thursday. They have four levels of Family Dog classes and I'm starting her out at level 1. She already knows some basic commands like sit, stay and come but she selectively listens and obeys so some refresher training should do her good.

We made a trip to Petsmart yesterday to get doggie food and some sort of pooper scooper. I found a really great soloution to the poop issue: Dispoz-A-Scoop bags. You simply scoop the poop, push down on the frame of the bag, and the bag seals up. It keeps my hands away from the mess! I am finding out that a dog in a pet store is like a little kid in a toy store. They want to be in anything and everything!

We may have made a breakthrough on playing with toys. I bought a rope tug that has 2 rings of dried meat around it. Chili made quick work of one of the meat rings and when she showed interest in the second, I took it from her and went outside with it. She followed and we managed to do a game of keep away and tug-of-war for a while. She also did pretty good at fetching it, though she didn't bring it back to me. I think the trick is to associate the toy with food. I'm sure the obedience trainers will have good tips for this as well. This had been a real frustration for me and if we can get this going, it will make me really happy.

Another real problem I had over the weekend was more emotional and mental. My pre-dog life was "chafing" at the new routine this dog has brought to my life. I think I was experiencing something of a post-partum doggie depression similar to what some mothers experience after giving birth. I was feeling overwhelmed and frustrated and oddly sad at times. After our play time last night it got better. My outlook is as sunny as the sky this morning.

Chili Met The Parents...

Chili met my folks tonight. They love her! I discussed Chili's lack of interest in playing with her toys with them. I had a maple bacon-filled rawhide bone lying around and my dad got her interested in it almost right away. She ended up chewing the heck out of it!

Maybe it's ME who needs to learn how to play! : )

Chili will also be making her first trip to the vet tomorrow, at HSMO. She managed to gash the inside of her left leg on something and it looks nasty.

First Accident...

I came home tonight from volleyball and found a surprise waiting for me on the basement floor. A surprise of the solid waste variety. Oh yeah! looks like I didn't wait long enough for Chili to do her business after our walk. Well, at least she had the good sense to do it down there instead of elsewhere in the house. Live and learn!

Happy Girl!

At Rest...

Chili went on three walks today, morning, early afternoon, and evening. That, along with romps in the backyard, has tired her out. Her master is tuckered out, as well.

First Night With New Dog...

Chili and I made it through our first night together. I let her sleep on the rug next to my bed as she is not crate-trained yet. She began pawing loudly at the rug at around 1:30 a.m. so I kicked her out of the bedroom. I found her this morning sacked out in the hall in front of my bedroom door. We went for a brisk walk first thing; I've taken to using a head halter on her because she doesn't have good leash manners, i.e. she pulls! Her previous owners must not have been big on walks. She was resistant at first, as all dogs are but she's getting used to it slowly. It did slip off near the end of the walk and she took off briefly. Fortunately, she "comes" well and I got her back on leash with a little cajoling. I'll have to watch her closely, as she appears to have no "street sense."

One Of My Favorite Calvin and Hobbes Comics...

That's CHILI, As In DOG!!!...

Poochquest '07 has finally come to a successful conclusion! This morning I adopted Chili from The Humane Society of Missouri's headquarters branch in St. Louis. Chili is a 4-year-old female Labrador/Weimeraner mixed breed. Her fur is chocolatey like a Lab's but has lots of lighter brown and white running through it. It turns golden in the sun. She weighs in at 64 lbs. I can already tell she's going to be a great dog. She was surrendered last week when her previous owners didn't have enough time to care for her. I first saw her last Friday after I returned Poncho to his shelter. HSMO's headquarters is right down the street so I stopped in to see the doggies. I knew when I saw her that she was special. I had to work Saturday and would be busy Sunday but if she survived the weekend (without being adopted) I wanted her. She was still there this morning and I snapped her up right after the shelter opened.

We've already explored my backyard and the inside of my house. One thing was apparent, the collar I bought was too big so we made our first trip to Petsmart together to exchange it. She does pull on the leash so I bought a head collar to try and stop that. Other than that, I think we'll have great fun together. She wants to be around me as much as possible but that's no problem as she just lays down beside me wherever I am. She doesn't seem to be too keen on toys just yet, though. I think I can bring her around!

More pictures here:

Chili

Another new blog link

I have added a link to another blog I found about today. My friends Ben and Christi Andress moved out to Colorado from St. Louis about a year and a half ago. They are both fun people to know and I was sad to see them go. Can't help but be jealous of the gorgeous scenery they get to live with every day. : )

Bizarre Death Of The Week...

Tulsa Drillers first-base coach Mike Coolbaugh was killed last night in the line of duty - a batted ball nailed him in the head and down he went. Very bizarre...

Tulsa is the AA affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.

Official soundtrack to Summer '07

Down to the Bone - "Supercharged"

my soundtrack to Summer '07. I picked it up at Borders last Sunday afternoon and I lovelovelove it. DTTB lays down the funk.jazz.soul.groove thang nice and thick this time around. It just don't quit! Every song is infinitely danceable. This CD should come with a complimentary dance floor but alas the listener has to groove wherever they're listening to it.

(cross-posted to MyToonz)

Poncho is going back...

I have decided to return Poncho the dog. He is simply too much for me to handle. He wants to be near me ALL THE TIME and gets frustrated when I can't be around. He is also more active and higher energy than I have time for and it's obvious our lifestyles aren't the same. He deserves a better life than I can give him and he will certainly get it from another owner. He is super affectionate and smart but he's just not the dog for me. I have not become attached to him at all so this will be easy for me, probably not for him though.

(case in point - he decided he needed to go out again last night around 11:00. While we were out in my backyard, he had a sudden burst of energy, pulled on the leash, and his collar slid off. He took off and Poncho The Formerly Stray Dog almost became Poncho The Formerly Stray Dog Who Unfortunately Became Stray Once Again. I caught him but I knew right then that he wasn't going to work out.)

Much of what is troubling me about him could be worked out in time with proper training but as I mentioned, I'm not attached to him and can't see myself investing any more time in him.

He was a valuable learning experience for me, though. I know have a keener sense of just what I am looking for in a dog. older, mellow, calm, not so active etc...

Introducing Poncho!...

I am entertaining a pooch-guest for the next few days. His name is Poncho and he is a two-year old Terrier-Boxer mixed breed. I have him as part of Stray Rescue of St. Louis' "Rent-A-Pet" program. Some of their dogs have this option that lets you try them out for a few days to see if they work with you. I saw him on their website on Saturday and he came to an adoption event on Tuesday night. I applied for him and was able to pick him up early this evening.

He has a couple of scratches on his nose from another dog reaching out and touching him recently, so he's on an antibiotic while I have him. Stray Rescue provided a leash and collar, food, and some of his blankets and toys. We went for a walk on Grant's Trail this evening and we'll try a game of fetch soon. So far, he seems to be a really sweet, affectionate dog, if not a bit "clingy." His fur is brown with black brindle stripes throughout. He was rescued off a parking lot on a hot day last month.

One thing that was obvious from the start - he loves go through life with his tongue hanging out--he drooled all over my car on the ride home, and come to think of it, he was all over my car on the ride home!

See more of his pictures here. His story is here.

Dangerous...

One of the most dangerous places in all of St. Louis for me is The Record Exchange. It's over 10,000 square feet of music heaven! The danger for me is that I could spend a LOT of money there if I didn't watch myself. They deal in used CD's of every genre and also have one of the largest vinyl record collections in the country. I could spend hours in there just browsing the stacks of weird and wacky album covers. Just tonight, I found a copy of Crowded House's second CD, "Temple of Low Men" that I have been meaning to buy for a long time.

This Is Just Disturbing!...

From today's Dear Abby:

KIDS' ROUGH-AND-TUMBLE GAME POSES THREAT TO TINY GRANDMA

DEAR ABBY: My friend "Nora" was very shaken by something that happened to her recently. While her six grandchildren were visiting, the oldest boy (age 13) shouted, "Let's take her down!" and all six of the children attacked her, knocking her to the ground, then groping and hitting her.

Nora is 73 and only 5 foot 2. Her oldest grandchild is 5 foot 7 and weighs 140 pounds. All of the grandchildren are large for their ages. The youngest, who is 7, weighs well over 70 pounds.

My question is, what can elderly people do to protect themselves? Nora felt helpless. She took the beating because she was afraid if she fought back, she'd be turned in for child abuse. I told her I'd have whacked that 13-year-old monster so hard he'd think twice about ever pulling a stunt like that again.

Now she's afraid of her grandkids because, even though their parents eventually pulled them off her, they did nothing to punish the children for their aggressive behavior. Is there anything older people can do to defend themselves against delinquents? -- SHOCKED IN TOPEKA

EDIT: DEAR ABBY'S REPLY:

DEAR SHOCKED: Are you talking about delinquent children or delinquent parents? Nora's grandchildren were obviously never taught by their parents the importance of behaving respectfully around adults, particularly elderly adults who can be fragile. They could have caused their grandmother serious harm. That the behavior went unpunished is extremely disturbing because if parents don't bother to teach their children right from wrong, their misbehavior could escalate.

..............

that makes me grateful for the raising I had. Until I was 12, my grandparents were literally a mile away. They loved me and I loved them and that contributed to my happy childhood.

Liberia or Bust!

I've added a link to a new blog - Liberia or Bust! My friend Molly K. left yesterday for a two-month mission trip with Mercy Ships. Mercy Ships is a ministry that operates charity hospital ships. Molly is a nurse by trade and will be using her mad skillz to minister in Liberia and Mongolia.

Close, But No Pooch!...

Bad news, gentle readers. No doggie for me today! I got to the HSMO shelter where my prospective dog was, a few minutes after it opened, only to find that another person was already waiting to adopt him. As it is first come, first serve, I found myself out of luck.

I'm disappointed, but it's not the end of the world. I spent the remainder of today touring various shelters and adoption events, undaunted am I.

PoochQuest '07...

looks like the dog I've been looking at at HSMO is still available! so tomorrow I'll be at the shelter as soon as they open to apply for the adoption. I am officially committed to doggie ownership, regardless; I visited my local Petsmart on Wednesday night and invested in a whole cartload of doggie supplies. I have a crate, doggie shampoo, doggie treats, a leash and collar, and some toys. I'll wait to find out what he's been fed at the shelter and continue that diet.

Wish me luck!

iTunes On The Go...

After I received an iPod for Christmas last year, I bought a Griffin iTrip Auto radio transmitter so I could play it in the car. Unfortunately the iTrip doesn't work really well in urban areas where the radio dial is cluttered with many stations. I returned it and hadn't tried anything else since.

Last night i got a hankerin' to try again so i purchased a Monster iCarPlay cassette adapter. After a few volume adjustments, the iCarPlay produced CD-quality crystal clear sound. It's very cool to be able plug in and have most of my CD collection at my fingertips.

Darn the Luck!...

I brushed my teeth really really well, swished with mouthwash, and even FLOSSED for crying out loud! I was all prayed up and psyched up to take on the dentist when....

my car wouldn't start.

Darn the luck! : )

luckily my brother's new office is a short distance away so he came by and jumped me so I could go get the battery replaced.

Tuesday night...

Hello, faithful readers....just a few things tonight.

I have Flickr'd all my pictures from Yahoo! Photos, as Yahoo! Photos is going out of business soon. The transition was seamless. There are a good many more pictures of my kitchen remodel project and my BVI sailing vacation with my family. Looking back on my kitchen remodel from 2 years ago, I am still proud of how it came out.

The dog I want is waiting patiently for me at the HSMO county shelter, he just doesn't know it yet. I can't get off work at all this week so I will have to wait until Saturday....I'm crossing my fingers he'll still be there. I figure if he's still there on Saturday, we're meant to be. I visited him on Sunday and I think he's the one. More details later if I get him! I made a pre-emptive visit to Petsmart tonight to figure out what I'll need.

teeth-cleaning at the dentist first thing tomorrow....ugh..

all is still well with my bro and sis-in-law and baby-to-be. they're preparing to sell their townhouse and scouring the internet daily for new listings.

4th of July Post-Mortem...

I hope everyone's 4th of July was whatever they wanted it to be and more...Both of the gatherings I attended were lots of fun. Some pictures:

A certain co-worker had the most patriotic feet in town!


The spread at the second get-together!
(burgers and dogs/brats are under the blue/red napkins!)


The finale of the fireworks show at Kirkwood Park

I uploaded some more fireworks shots here.

Wildflowers!...

I uploaded some more pictures of yesterday's nature photo shoot/bike ride that I did.

Wildflowers!!!

Meetup.com

The newspaper ran a piece last week about a local volunteer group that formed at Meetup.com. I checked it out and signed up for that group and several other social groups. I'll report on my experience if I ever take part in an event.

TAG!!!!!!!! I'm It...

Bob over at The Four of Clubbs has tagged me with a meme of 8 Random Facts about Yourself.

1) Swing Out Sister is my official Guilty Pleasure.
2) I'm seriously anal about some things.
3) It took me two tries to pass Trigonometry at NMSU/Truman State U.
4) I just took over the task of scheduling the weekly tech help for my worship service at church.
5) Burger King would be my official Guilty Pleasure if SOS wasn't already.
6) I once spent a horrific week working at a Big Don's fireworks warehouse.
7) I became a Christian on the evening of New Year's Day in the year 2000.
8) I lovelovelove red grapes. I have always loved grapes, in general.

A Little Piece Of Heaven...

The St. Louis area weather today was gorgeous, sunny skies with low humidity and a gentle breeze. I took the opportunity to take an early-evening bike ride at nearby Cliff Cave Park. The trail I rode is only a couple of years old and is a really nice trip. It winds through the bottomland of the Mississippi River, with a large corn field on one side and wetland wilderness on the other. Towering above are majestic bluffs with expensive homes looking down from them. Of course, the mighty Mississippi rolls on just to the east. After my ride, I pulled out my camera and spent an hour just taking pictures of the wildflower patches scattered around the park area.

The weekend just passed...

My cousin J visited on Friday night and we enjoyed dinner at Tucker's and "Shrek 3" at the Crestwood Plaza cinema. I thought "Shrek 3" was cute, but not overly amusing.

Saturday, I slept in, got a haircut, worked out at the YMCA, then had lunch before making a trip to the St. Louis City dog pound and Humane Society to peruse their pooches. I applied to become a volunteer dog walker at the city pound. HSMO had 2 male blond golden/lab mixes, one 18 months and the other 3 years old. I'm also considering a 3-4 year old female Walker Hound that Stray Rescue has available.

Barber Roulette...

I started going to a different barbershop a few months ago, as I became dissatisfied with my previous barber. The new shop is a little out of the way but so far it's been worth it. Its 4 chairs are manned by a rotating cast of barbers who work on the "take a number" system. Consequently, I've had 3 different barbers cut my hair since I started going there. So far so good, though. Only thing is you can't say "just give me the usual" when they don't know what "the usual" is. I do believe I will continue to go on Saturdays, though...there was this pretty young female barber working and maybe next time, well, never mind...

It Must Be 4th of July Time...

because my neighborhood sounds like a war zone at night...random POP-POP-POP volleys of Black Cat firecrackers pierce the night air. I'd be annoyed except that they remind me of my childhood.

I have 2 4th of July get-togethers to attend on Wednesday. A co-worker is having a bash at her new place in the city and then I will be off to the party I have gone to for the past several years, hosted by an old friend in Kirkwood.

My Prayers Have Been Answered...

The Spice Girls Reunite For World Tour

(turning flippant mode off, yet again)

Quick Trip to the Hometown...

I had the day off today because I have to cover the night shift this Saturday night. I decided to drive down and check in on the grandparents in Malden. It had been a couple of months, and even though my mom had just been down last week, they hadn't seen ME in a while. I had a nice visit with them and my uncle at his job. My grandpa and I spent some quality time grilling burgers on his Weber kettle for supper. Funny grandpa/grandson moment: his wife left us alone while she went to get some groceries for lunch and supper. I'm not the most talkative person in the world and my grandpa's communication skills have diminished since his stroke so there was a lot of silence but I know he appreciated me being there.

I stopped off and talked to my mom in Festus; I stayed a bit too long because on the way home I ran into a heavy rainstorm that made driving a bit tricky, shall we say. WOW that's an awful feeling, to be so blinded by a rainstorm that you can't tell where you're going. I prayed quickly and thankfully the rain stopped after about 10 minutes.

I arrived home to a nice surprise - my porch pillars were put back in place by the concrete contractor, after 2 weeks. Now, if they would only deliver the dirt to fill in where the concrete forms were....small victories, small victories.

Say Uncle!...

I'd better get used to the idea, because it's going to happen at some point during the first week of 2008! That's right, my bro and sis-in-law are expecting! They actually told my parents and I on the day they introduced us to their puppy a few weeks ago. We were ordered to keep quiet for a few more weeks until the pregnancy was a little further along. This will mean a bigger house for them, certainly, because their little townhouse isn't quite big enough for them, a dog, and a baby.

(kmom: if you haven't heard this from my Mom yet, you certainly will shortly, so act appropriately surprised when you get the news, mmmkay? Thanks! : ))

This was the significant announcement previously advertised. No Paris Hilton-related news, I'm afraid.

Significant Announcement coming...

Stay tuned for a Significant Announcement coming tomorrow in this space.

Weekend plans...

1) sleep late!
2) have a leisurely breakfast
3) bathe self
4) replace burned-out switch that controls my outside electrical outlet and post light
5) continue quest for the perfect pooch for me, the usual adoption events, plus HSMO and APAMO
6) try to find a copy of the new Polyphonic Spree record
7) refrain from cutting grass because it hasn't rained in a couple of weeks!
8) take in the Ambassadors of Harmony spring show at the TouPAC in the evening
9) Sunday church
10) Sunday relax in the afternoon
11) Sunday evening prepare for the week

The Visionary...

Below I have embedded my friend Ben Muehleisen's entry into the recent St. Louis 48 Hour Film Project 2007. Ben gathered up a group of friends to write, film, and produce a short film in the space of 48 hours. This film makes more sense if you know that: all films had to mention "entomologist" (a bug person), the phrase "don't look now, we may have trouble!", the names "Ryan Coccinelle" or "Rita Coccinelle" and had to have a doll as a prop; all these among other things that I can't remember. Sadly, Ben's film didn't make the top 15 films, but it was a worthy entry nonetheless. Enjoy!

Happy Father's Day!!!...

Haven't truly updated in a while, so here goes...

My home-improvement projects for the year are now done. My basement is waterproofed with two inside cracks sealed and an outside drainage system installed. I also had my driveway and front porch torn out and replaced. With these projects have come the inevitable inconveniences; the waterproofers plugged something into my outside electrical outlet that broke it and the post light wired into it. Hopefully that will get resolved this week. I also can't drive on the new driveway until Wednesday at the earliest so I'm parking in my front yard.

I hope all my readers appreciated their fathers appropriately today. I hosted a late afternoon dinner for my folks and bro/sis-in-law. Speaking of the bro/sis-in-law, they adopted a German Shorthaired Pointer pup named Ruby a few weeks ago and they brought her along. This pup is a female, 11 months old and weighs 45 pounds. As a typical GSP pup, she is full of energy and always ready to play. She is a handful but a lot of fun to have around. I can see she's a bit too young and active for my lifestyle so I definitely will shoot for a 2+ year old dog when I adopt a pooch.

(EDIT: whenever I think of Ruby, I automatically hear Kenny Rogers singing "Ruby, don't take your love to town" in my mind. creepy!)

(EDIT #2: Unfortunately Ruby had to be returned to the breeder from whence she came, due to allergy problems she inflicted on her new owners. : ( (6/27/07)

Congratulations to my friends J and G, married yesterday!

Understatement of the Century!!!...

From ABC News comes this quote from the unfortunate Miss Hilton:

"I used to act dumb"


a masterpiece of understatement.

Gettin' The Funk Out ON SESAME STREET!!...

Indulge me another YouTube post--I couldn't believe what I came across today..Stevie Wonder dropping a serious funk bomb on Sesame Street in 1972. Un-believable. On Sesame Street!

Didn't Talk To Anyone!...

I had the day off yesterday because I work on Saturday this week. Something very odd happened - I managed to go the entire day without speaking to anyone. Not a single soul! I stayed in most of the morning, made a trip to Home Depot for a new hose nozzle (self check-out), cleaned up my grill, bagged up several bags of yard waste, made a trip to the grocery for hamburgers/hot dogs (again self-check out), then did my usual evening bike ride. Through all that I didn't talk to anyone.

has anyone else had a day like that before?