Day 1341

Today was a bit different. Janet and I went out to eat at a nice restaurant and then went to a friend's birthday party. The dinner menu at Central 214 featured items like Kobe beef pot roast, bacon wrapped rainbow trout and dinosaur kale. The party afterwards was a little more elaborate than the Sprinkles cupcakes and dog biscuits we typically celebrate with as well. There were at least seventy-five guests, an open bar, tons of food, and a fabulous band called Spector's Gun Collection. The name must have been a reference to the Phil Spector murder trial, but the songs were pure British Invasion. When I closed my eyes I could have sworn I was listening to Eric Clapton or The Who.

I was a bit nervous leaving Dash alone for so long, but it was nice to get out for a change. I felt a bit out of place pulling up at the valet park stand behind a Porsche, a Lexus, and a Mercedes. Then I realized I was still driving the Range Rover loaner car, so I guess I fit right in. If my memory was better, I probably would have recognized more of the guests. I probably worked with a lot of these people twenty years ago, but other than the birthday boy and his wife, I couldn't remember who anyone was. It was still a fun party though, even though we mostly just stood around aimlessly, ate cake, and listened to the band. It's a shame I can't drink anymore. The liquor was flowing pretty freely at this party.

Although the day ended with birthday cake and loud music, it started pretty simple. I was up on the roof at 7 AM, sweeping off yesterday's rain water while Janet walked the dogs. The weather was nice and cool this morning, so the dogs got a nice long walk and I got a dry roof. After breakfast, we went up to the Dalmatian Rescue kennels and took pictures of Logan, our newest member of the rescue program. Rescues are doing well this Summer. The pair of dogs we photographed last week have already found a home.

Hopefully, after a week on phenobarbital, Dash will have stabilized a bit and be able to enjoy his trip to the dog park tomorrow. Last week was a disaster, but he's seemed completely normal all week. Here's hoping for the best, anyway. The dog park is usually Dash's favorite event of the week.  I'm cutting it pretty close tonight with all the festivities this evening. Looks like I'm going to make my deadline though. Still haven't missed a day.

Toby is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 1285

The first rule of home improvement should always be that after you buy the tools and supplies you need, you should never wait ten years to use them. I waited too long and none of the projects I started today turned out well as a result. I went back to Home Depot and got more supplies, but by then I was too tired to do the work. Oh, well. Probably these new supplies will suffer the same fate as the old ones I replaced.

Janet took me out for a birthday dinner tonight. She's been so busy that this was the first time she's had the time to go out in several weeks. We had a lovely, relaxed meal. It was probably as close as we've come to having an actual date for a long time. I had Wagyu Bavette with an arugula salad, asparagus, new potatoes and jalapeño cornbread. Wagyu Bavette is a lot like Japanese Kobe beef and is absolutely delicious. I drank sparkling water while Janet enjoyed a Cosmopolitan, but it was a small price to pay for having a functioning liver.

There are bees in our yard again. I don't know where the bees are coming from this time, but they sure seem to know how to find me. I've looked all over for the hive, but can't seem to find it anywhere. I wore long pants and a jacket in the 100 degree heat to avoid being stung while I was working on the house this morning, but the bees still hovered around, looking for an opportunity. Why is nature so adversarial? I always seem to be faced with stinging bees, grubs eating the grass roots, or poisonous snakes slithering through the yard. Oh, and then there are the cockroaches. I can't even begin to tell you how irritating the cockroaches are. When there are millions of them outside, there seems to be no way of preventing a certain percentage of them from getting inside.

From time to time I wonder about where I'd like to live next. I'd like a place filled with serene beauty, without being hassled by critters and bugs. Living on a beach would be nice, if it weren't for hurricanes. Living in the mountains would be nice, if it didn't get so cold. Living in a beautifully appointed high rise would be nice, if it weren't for the disagreeable homeowner's associations that come with these types of buildings. Been there, done that. I don't want a disagreeable homeowner's association questioning every move I make ever again. Maybe Shangri-La doesn't even exist. The sad truth is that I need to start seeing the glass as half full instead of half empty, and that's very, hard for me to do.

Tomorrow is dog park day. Dot and Dash have no problem enjoying simple pleasures like a trip to the dog park. Of course, they also have no problem abjectly hating simple chores like getting a bath. Maybe we aren't all that different. Life never gives you everything you want.

Kirby is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 1105

It was a nice relaxing day. We got up late and had a hearty breakfast. Janet made a pumpkin pie. We both did a little shopping and wrapped packages. The dogs enjoyed having everybody home and alternated between chasing squirrels in the yard and sleeping on the bed. For the first time in quite a few years there were no Christmas Eve fundraisers for Dalmatian Rescue, so it was nice to have a day with no agenda.

My Jewish clients were still working today. I think I'll wait until Wednesday to start their assignments though. Jeez, they practically had the entire month of September off for their religious holidays. I need a few days off myself.

We opted to go out for dinner instead of cooking this evening and it was a good choice. We enjoyed an absolutely delicious dinner at Central 214. Janet had a Berkshire Pork Chop with Cream Cheese Grits and I had Wagyu Bavette Steak with Black Truffle Potato Puree. Yum! Since it was a holiday, I even had a Cosmopolitan before dinner. It's been over a year since I've had a martini, and depending on what the liver doctors say, it might be even longer before I have another one. Basically abstinence sucks. I really used to enjoy having a drink every evening before dinner. It was one of the most relaxing parts of my day.

We got the dogs all dolled up in their Christmas scarves for their evening walk. I'm not sure that anyone even saw them though. The park was empty. I guess there aren't many picnics in the park on Christmas Eve. It was cold today too. I don't think we saw another person on the entire walk. According to the weather forecast, we might even get a little snow tomorrow. It's been quite a while since we've had a white Christmas in Dallas. Whatever happens, I'll be watching the Dr. Who Christmas special tomorrow evening. I'm not sure what you guys will be doing, but I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas.

Dot is today's Dalmatian of the Day

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