Day 3327- Groundhog Day

I've always associated Groundhog Day with the Bill Murray movie instead of Punxsutawney Phil, It seems somehow appropriate that Groundhog Day takes place on Superbowl weekend this year. The Patriots keep playing in the Superbowl over and over again. A lot of things in my life seem to take place over and over again as well. Recurring events aren't necessarily bad but they do make you wonder. Is Tom Brady playing in the Superbowl again because he's the best quarterback in the league? Is there some luck involved? Why do I have a fruit smoothie for breakfast every morning when it would be easy to eat just about anything? I'd never order a fruit smoothie at a restaurant, even if it were on the menu. I've come to realize that a lot of repetition is pure laziness. Sometimes it takes a lot of dedication and practice though. I'm still trying to learn the difference.

Apparently, not everything happens over and over again. For many years, I've been going to a Superbowl Sale at a clothing store that used to be a client of mine. This was a fabulous once a year sale and it was generally the only time I could afford these type of clothes. Even though I have little need for work clothes anymore, I've continued going to this sale. Today I learned that the Superbowl Sale is gone. It has been discontinued. I don't know why I thought this would never happen. Nothing else lasts very long in today's world. Why should this odd three hour 75% off sale be any different.

Dash seemed a little better today. There was no diarrhea last night. Maybe the Metronidazole worked or maybe there was so much diarrhea yesterday that his entire digestive tract is empty. I guess we'll know when Dash poops again. That hasn't happened yet. Unfortunately, some common side effects of Metronidazole include lethargy, confusion, and loss of appetite. Dash is already dealing with these problems so it is hard to tell if Dash's difficulty in walking this morning was caused by the pills or was just something he would have experienced anyway. Later in the day he seemed fine and the diarrhea hasn't returned, so I've got to assume that the medication is working.

I think my dehumidifier has broken. It was leaking water this afternoon. The dehumidifier is meant to run continuously, but it has been running for about three years so I guess problems are inevitable. I wonder if my appliance repair guy can fix dehumidifiers? This dehumidifier has made a real difference in keeping the house livable, so I may need to buy a new one. I've discovered that the leak stops when I tilt the dehumidifier to one side. I've propped a book under one corner of the machine so it runs at an angle now. This is a temporary solution at best. It's weird that almost every single problem I've had with the house involves water. Water has become the enemy around here.

Janet has a meeting tonight so it's up to me to give Dash his evening meds. You'd think this would be easy but Dash has become very particular. Some days he will take his pills in canned dog food. Other days the pills need to be rolled up in a small strip of delicatessen turkey. Occasionally I have to use a little piece of Angle Food Cake. One way or another he always takes his pills though.

I'm sure we'll watch the Superbowl tomorrow, even though the Pats and the Rams aren't our favorite teams. The Pats are probably my least favorite team. My favorite commercial of course is the Budweiser spot featuring a Dalmatian with its ears blowing in the wind.

Jasper is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 2964 - Super Bowl Sunday

I've never been a fan of the Patriots or the Eagles, but I'll have to admit that today's game was great. I didn't know who was going to win until the very last play, but I'm glad the Eagles pulled off the upset. They might have been the underdog, but they certainly deserved this win. The commercials weren't nearly as good as the game. Most of the ads sucked. Ad agency creative types seem to have lost their sense of humor. Some of the commercials didn't even make sense. To make matters worse, the Budweiser Clydesdales didn't make an appearance at all. I guess Justin Timberlake was OK, but he didn't even come close to the epic performances of Michael Jackson and Prince.

Even though Janet and I aren't huge football fans, we always have a Super Bowl dinner worthy of the game. I went out and got several pounds of ribs from our favorite barbecue place and we enjoyed them with potato salad and baked beans. I even had beer with my dinner, which is extremely rare for me considering that I don't drink anymore. Dash got to enjoy a little barbecue, but we didn't let him get anywhere near the bones. Years ago, one of our dogs grabbed a pork rib off the table and swallowed the entire thing including the bone. We thought Spot was going to need emergency surgery, but the vet said to wait. The bone slowly dissolved and after a week or so it was soft enough to pass through his system. We were very lucky and made sure that our dogs never got near rib bones again.

For the first time in years I didn't buy a thing at my favorite Super Bowl Sale. Today's styles seem just as weird to me as today's Super Bowl commercials. Jeez. When did skinny jeans get to be a regular item in a clothing store that caters to grown ups? I'm thin enough that I can wear these pants, but they look ridiculous. The narrow legs don't cover your shoes like a normal pair of pants. They just bunch up on top of the shoes. Are you supposed to buy a shorter length or just let the fabric bunch up? I hate stretch fabric too. Men shouldn't wear stretch denim. I guess I can avoid these issues by continuing to buy regular old fashioned boot cut jeans at a western store.

Dash's appetite still hasn't returned to normal, but at least he seems better than he was yesterday. He had no interest in food when he woke up this morning, but after his walk he ate a little. He would return to his bowl and take a few bites throughout the morning and by noon, he had almost finished his breakfast. We gave him another Cerenia pill this morning and hopefully this will help stabilize his system.

I thought the gym would be empty today since it was Super Bowl Sunday, but it was surprisingly full. I had to wait to use the basketball court because there was a full court game going on when I arrived. These guys were burning way more energy than I do shooting a few baskets. The more I looked, the more I realized that everybody at the gym was working up a sweat except for me. Maybe I'm doing it wrong.

I'll probably have heartburn tonight after eating a big plate of barbecued ribs, but the meal was worth it. The game was worth it too. All in all, it was a pretty nice day. Tomorrow it's back to wondering where the next job is coming from and looking for a replacement refrigerator. If I'm lucky, the stock market sell off will stop and Dash will start eating normally again.

Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 2919 - Winter Solstice

It didn't seem like the shortest day of the year. It didn't seem like the first day of Winter either, since the temperature was over 70 degrees. Truthfully, it didn't even seem like Thursday. Instead of the sunset walks we used to take at this time of year, we take mid-afternoon walks now. I split Dash's dinner into two parts these days, since I've discovered that he's more likely to eat all his food that way. We walk between the 3 PM early dinner and the 4:30 PM late dinner. I eat much earlier now as well. By the time the sun sets at 5:30 PM, our day is already finished. I kind of miss the old sunset walks, but it is much easier to just let Dash do what he wants. With this new early-bird schedule, there are no worries about chance encounters with a pack of coyotes either.

Today was uneventful. I didn't bother to go up on the roof because it is supposed to rain all day tomorrow. I did buy a pair of pants though. Every Christmas I get a gift card from a local menswear store that says if I spend at least $100 they will take $50 off the price. This always seems like a bargain and I inevitably go buy something whether I need it or not. I didn't need another pair of pants. I didn't need shirts, socks, or shoes either. This just shows that I am as susceptible to marketing as the next guy. I bought an overpriced pair of pants I don't even need because I was convinced I was getting it for half price. I'm sure the store still made a decent profit on the transaction.

The neighbors who own the dog that bit me are doing some remodeling on their house. I watch the workmen come and go with trepidation, since they inevitably leave gates open and I worry that the dog will escape. I hate having to worry about aggressive or loose dogs. The neighborhood is full of them. There are two German Shepherds who haven't realized yet that they could easily jump over their low fence. There is a dog who was sweet as a puppy, but has become increasingly territorial as he's grown older. This wouldn't be a problem if the dog's owner didn't leave him out in their unfenced front yard in the mornings without a leash. There is one street that is so full of barking, nervous dogs that I won't even go down it anymore.

I wonder if the city realized what it was getting into when all these ride sharing bicycles arrived. There are literally hundreds of abandoned Limebikes in the park now. I think I counted almost thirty on our walk today. Downtown there are areas where sidewalks are completely blocked by these rental bicycles. I guess the concept is popular because I see people riding these bicycles all the time. I just don't understand why they are abandoned in such strange places. If you leave your Limebike under a tree in the park, where do you go from there? I don't like bicycles in general, but the Limebikes are the worst. This is just a new type of littering.

The forecast doesn't look good, but I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow. If it's a rainy day, Dash won't get a morning walk and I probably won't be able to go out for breakfast. I"m already trying to decide whether to fix pancakes, make an omelette, or have a bowl of oatmeal and fruit. I'm becoming more and more like Dash. All I really think about is food.

Willow is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 2609

Dash is not much better than he was yesterday. The doctor sounded a little disappointed when he called us this morning. Dash is still unsteady on his feet and has some coordination problems when eating. They were worried that his blood pressure is still too high, even though he has been taking blood pressure medication for quite some time. The good news is that he has experienced no further seizures. During the weekend Dash will undergo further tests at the hospital to see if it is possible to pin down the cause of his seizures. Even though vestibular disease is still the primary suspect, the doctors are now investigating whether he might have had a stroke. Evidently the symptoms associated with idiopathic vestibular disease and a degeneration of the cerebellum in the brain can be remarkably similar. I did a little research myself and discovered the vestibular and cerebellar degeneration are often misdiagnosed in humans. Even an MRI is not conclusive.

It's kind of scary to realize that serious problems are not always easy to fix. High blood pressure can definitely cause problems in the brain. I know this from experience. Before I got my own blood pressure under control, I experienced several TIA ministrokes. Luckily, this temporary lack of blood flow to the brain doesn't cause permanent damage, but it was quite sobering to have a neurologist tell me what could have happened. It's too bad that dogs can't talk. A neurological exam mostly consists of the doctor asking you questions. Without the ability to accurately describe how you are feeling, diagnosis can be quite difficult.

One thing I learned today is that vestibular problems can often result from an earlier injury to the head or neck. Bingo. Many years ago, Dash was attacked and severely injured by an aggressive loose dog in the park. The large dog bit him in the neck and wouldn't turn loose. It took months for Dash to fully recover from this injury and he probably would have died if I hadn't been able to get him to a veterinarian for surgery very quickly. All the problems he's having now may be the long term result of this old injury.

Hopefully, Dash will show further improvement tomorrow. We can't visit him at the hospital on Sundays, but the doctor will call and give us a progress report. I wish she could tell Dot that everything is going to be OK. I am already noticing changes in Dot's behavior. You can tell that she misses having Dash around. She was extra needy today. I tried to vacuum the house, but every five minutes Dot would bark and demand some attention. I never ignore these barks, because I've learned that very often she's trying to tell me that she needs to pee. I did eventually get the house cleaned, but it took me all afternoon.

Sometimes I wonder why dogs are sick so often, but it is mostly because their lifespan is so compressed. I recently stumbled across one of those online calculators that converts dog years into human years. According to this website, Dot is now 120 years old. That can't possible be right, but Dot is a very old dog. If I'm lucky enough to live as long as she has in dog years, I"m sure I'll have a multitude of health problems. My Dad was healthy as a horse until his 75th birthday and then everything began falling apart quite rapidly. The guy who hardly ever had to go to the doctor eventually succumbed to prostate cancer, Parkinson's disease, macular degeneration and dementia. 

Tomorrow we'll have our Superbowl dinner for the second week in a row. This time I think we've got the date right. I may go to the annual Superbowl sale at my favorite menswear store. I don't wear dress clothes anymore, but these guys used to be a client and the special one day 75% off sale is a long standing tradition. I'll probably go to the gym as well. It's been a long, tough week. Maybe a good workout will get rid of some of the stress I've been feeling.

Duke is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 2244

The stores were filled with people getting ready for Superbowl parties today. Everybody seemed to be looking for Velveeta cheese. I grew up thinking that Velveeta actually was cheese, but thankfully I've learned to appreciate Parmigiano-Reggiano, Stilton, Feta, and aged Cheddar. I'm no food snob, but somehow I don't think I'll be having Velveeta and hot wings tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll be having more than I had today. I woke up with a stomach ache and didn't feel like eating much all day.

I probably just need to get a good night's sleep. Dot woke me up with another middle of the night accident. I don't know whether Janet and Dash were pretending to be asleep or whether I'm the only one that wakes up now. Even Dot didn't seem very awake. I carefully picked up the poop on her bed and she went back to sleep. When all this started, I would have gotten her up to go outside, changed her bedding, and immediately started a load of wash. Now, if the smell is gone and everything looks reasonably clean, I just let Dot go back to sleep and wail till morning to start the laundry. Firm poop is a blessing. Soft runny poop is a nightmare.

I went to the Superbowl Sale a day early and came home with a few great deals. I went early partially because it beat vacuuming the house and also because I knew that everything had already been priced for tomorrow's sale. 75% off without all the crowds. That sounds like a winner to me. I didn't really need another pair of pants, but I tried not to let that stop me. It was something to do on a very uneventful day.

I keep telling people that I'm not interested in the presidential debates, but I keep listening to them. I never listen to the entire debate; just bits and pieces. Tonight, I must have missed the parts where they asked Ben Carson questions, because it seemed like he didn't get any questions at all. I don't know why they didn't invite Carly Fiorina to the debate either. She isn't doing well in the polls, but neither were several of the people on stage. Everybody seems to say the same thing over and over again. It's kind of like watching Denver and Carolina play each other over and over again for the month leading up to the Superbowl. Everybody keeps talking about the undecided voter, but I think most Democrats and Republicans have already decided who they like best.

I hope the game is good tomorrow. It's one of the few times during the entire year where I watch an entire football game from start to finish. I typically tune in during the fourth quarter and watch the last ten minutes of the game. I hope that Budweiser runs an ad with Clydesdales and a Dalmatian in it. So far, that Heinz ad with the dachshunds is the gold standard. I'd like to see a few others with this kind of imagination. I don't know what we'll have for dinner during the game, but I can guarantee that it won't have Velveeta cheese in it.

Landry is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 2243

I daydream a lot eating breakfast. The music and the overheard conversations cause my mind to wander. If I overlook the hipsters at the next tables, it's easy to imagine that I'm sitting in a small roadside diner somewhere in Wyoming. This is an appealing thought. I used to love slow, pointless road trips along the back roads of Western America. There's nothing better than a great breakfast at an obscure roadside diner. I wonder if it would be the same today? I used to feel comfortable pulling over to the side of the road and sleeping in my car. Now, I'd be looking for the nearest Embassy Suites. I used to feel confident that if my car broke down, there would always be a friendly garage and a competent mechanic nearby. Now, I'd be calling AAA from my cell phone and hoping I could find a tow truck to take me back to the nearest big city. A lot of these little towns don't even have a gas station anymore. Who am I kidding? A lot of these little towns don't even exist. The interstates killed them off long ago. For the most part, the picturesque two lane highways I remember have been replaced by impersonal eight lane freeways filled with a frightening parade of eighteen wheelers.

If my fantasy still existed, it would be fun to wander from one obscure diner to another, sharing brief conversations with fellow travelers, eating tons of home made pie and pancakes, and stopping along the way to photograph amazing things I stumbled across. I'd never be in a hurry and I'd never really have a destination in mind. Since this is just a fantasy, I'd pay for my travels with a credit card that didn't need to be repaid and there would always be a comfortable, clean bed nearby when I felt tired. I would take tons of cool pictures and upload them to Google, so they wouldn't disappear, but I wouldn't try to sell them. There are never clients or money in my daydreams.

Since my mental road trips are about as real as a ride down Route 66, I am content to spend an hour a week daydreaming in a little restaurant near my house. I eat, I daydream, I always get a final cup of coffee to go, and I pick up groceries for Friday dinner on the way home. I'm usually back before the dogs have finished their morning nap.

There were more websites to update this morning, but no writing jobs. Writing jobs have been scarce this year. With extra time on my hands, I've been trying to stay busy. Today, I cleaned the utility room. This small room has become the repository for everything that won't fit in the rest of the house. The top of the washer and dryer are filled with empty Tupperware containers, half filled bottles of bleach, seldom used cookware, oven cleaner and Windex, and old dog toys. There is a heavy orbital floor polisher in a corner that we used to use years ago to wax the brick floors. I don't think the bricks have been waxed in ten years. The utility room is hard to clean and when you finish, it looks just as bad as it did before. I know that there's a lot of stuff in this room that could be thrown away, but I'll leave that to Janet. I'm terrible about throwing things away.

It's Superbowl weekend. I'll watch the game, but I can't say I'm excited about either team. I do like the Heinz commercial with the stampede of weiner dogs. What could be better than dogs in costumes running through an open, grassy field into the arms of a family of giant Heinz condiment bottles? I'll probably go to the Superbowl sale at my favorite clothing store. Everything is 75% off for a few hours just before the game. 75% off is the only time I can afford these clothes anymore. I can't believe it's Superbowl 50. I was already a college freshman when they played the first Superbowl. I think I listened to the game on the radio. Jeez, I'm getting old.

Zorro is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 2054

I repaired something fairly complex today by watching a YouTube video. I set my laptop next to the project and every time the guy on the tape said to unscrew a certain bolt or grab a wrench, I would pause the video and do that step exactly the way he said. The whole process took about 45 minutes and worked like a charm. I'm going to start looking for YouTube videos every time I need to fix something. Watching someone else repair the exact same thing you're trying to fix is so much easier to understand than reading poorly written instruction manuals, or my time honored method, taking something apart without following any instructions at all. I think Ikea should include an assembly video with everything they sell. Trying to assemble something using those cryptic numbered drawings Ikea uses to avoid translating the instructions into forty different languages can be maddening. At any rate, YouTube has become my go-to source for learning things these days. I've managed to find detailed instructions on everything from designing mobile websites to fixing the refrigerator.

As I suspected, it was a slow day, so I went out and bought a pair of shorts and some new shoes at an end-of-Sumner sale. I didn't really need any new clothes, but 70% off is hard to resist. I don't think Summer is ending any time soon in Dallas, so I ought to get a lot of use out of these bargains. I also picked up some groceries for the weekend while I was out and about. No bargains here, but I always find it easy to rationalize purchasing the tasty things I find at Whole Foods and Central Market.

Maybe I'm watering the lawn too much, because I'm starting to see mushrooms growing in the back yard again. I always try to remove these as soon as possible, since I don't know my mushrooms well enough to recognize the ones that could be harmful to the dogs. Dot probably wouldn't eat mushrooms, but Dash would. He'll eat just about anything under the right circumstances. If mushrooms are an indication that the yard is too wet, the frogs that appeared out of nowhere to get under the sprinkler while I was watering shrubs this morning, are an indication that things are too dry. I'm never sure what to do about the lawn. I try, but I definitely don't have a green thumb.

Dot pooped in her bed again. There is no rhyme or reason to these accidents. Today's accident happened right after I'd taken her outside, so it caught me by surprise. I need to get one of those "Shit Happens" bumper stickers. This is quite literally what happens in our house these days. I try my best to be patient when Dot has an accident. She can't help it. I just hope the same thing doesn't start happening with me a few more years down the road. Getting old basically sucks, no matter who you are.

The weather forecast said there was a 20% chance of rain this afternoon. No such luck. After all the complaining I've done about rain over the years, you wouldn't think I'd be wishing for a downpour, but I was. It's gotten way too dry. The dogs hate the heat. The plants are dying. I'm ready for some rain.

Shelby is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 1874 - Superbowl Sunday

So, we're eating dinner and watching the big game and the power goes out. What? It was a clear, pretty day with no weather issues at all, so this was a big surprise. I'm pretty sure I know what happened. The power service to our neighborhood is so pitiful that it just wasn't up to the challenge of everybody cooking dinner and watching TV at the same time. I went out to the back to make sure that we hadn't just thrown a breaker switch somehow. All my neighbors were doing the same thing. Who would have thought the power would go out on Superbowl Sunday right in the middle of the game? I'll have to give the power company credit though. They restored power in less than an hour, which is record breaking time for them. I bet they got a lot of angry calls.

They must have aired all the good commercials while our power was out because I certainly didn't see any. The commercials this year were even worse than last year's lackluster showing and last year was pretty bad. Nobody seems to have a sense of humor anymore. The half time show seemed more like a Fourth of July fireworks show than a concert. I'm sure that Katy Perry got rave reviews from her fan base, but this Superbowl performance didn't hold a candle to Michael Jackson and Prince in my somewhat long-in-the-tooth opinion. The only thing I did like about this year's Superbowl was the game itself. It was a great game, although I still can't believe that the Seahawks didn't win. They had so many chances to put this thing away and they still managed to lose.

Earlier in the day, I went to the legendary Superbowl sale at my favorite clothing store. The last thing I need are more clothes, but I came home with a shirt and a nice pair of shoes anyway. The store was really crowded today. There's something about 75% off that seems to attract people. I can't say that I understand my attraction to nice clothes, since I seldom wear them. I walk the dogs in my oldest, most comfortable jeans and some well worn hiking boots. The jacket I wear on cold days is probably fifteen years old and I could run my business in my underwear, since I seldom leave the house. If there's ever an occasion to dress up though, I'm prepared.

Today was a good day to get the water off the roof, since it was clear and sunny. There was an enormous amount of standing water, but it's all gone now. I didn't make it to the gym this week at all, but my water removal gymnastics should count as a pretty good workout. I ought to make a workout video. Pushing hundreds of pounds of water off the roof with a push broom is really hard work.

After breakfast this morning, I reviewed the pictures I shot yesterday, made my picks, and burned everything to a DVD. I hope everyone likes the pictures, because it would be hard to recreate them now. I'm glad to have this job behind me, even though it was interesting and kind of fun. Now it's time to start editing the video I shot just before leaving for Vandenberg Air Force Base.

I miss the small, very talented, group of space geeks I met in California. I'm sure there are a few folks like this in Dallas, but I certainly haven't met them.

Myles is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 1873

Today's photo shoot went well. I think everybody involved was very happy with the results. In a couple of weeks or so, these images will be featured on thousands of posters and postcards. The young puppies and kittens I photographed were surprisingly well behaved. Nobody tried to chew the leather saddle. Nobody peed on the backdrop. And nobody chased the cat. The little kitten was fearless and clearly wasn't intimidated by dogs. Doing a photo shoot with puppies is always a dicey proposition. The won't stay in one place more than two seconds and seem to pee every five minutes. To even attempt something like this, you need a wrangler for each animal. The small cowboy hats were constantly falling off and needed to continually be repositioned. Puppies and kittens get tired quickly too, so there is always an optimal moment between crazy exuberance and deep sleep were you get your best pictures. All in all, I think I did pretty well today.

The SMAP spacecraft had a successful launch this morning. The four or five people from our group who had flexible enough schedules to stay in the area for the launch all said it was spectacular. I wish I could have been there too. I did get up early and watch the launch on TV and everything seemed to go perfectly. The network news channels only showed a few seconds of the launch, but NASA TV broadcast the whole thing live for over an hour. I was mesmerized. I don't think I'll ever look at those short clips of satellite launches on the evening new the same way again. Now, when I see a rocket go up, I'll be thinking of the hundreds and hundreds of people that it took to get it off the launch pad.

The animal rescue community is all abuzz about the new GoDaddy commercial depicting a puppy who falls off the breeder's truck, gets lost, and eventually finds his way home, only to discover he's been sold. It didn't take long for rescue advocates to get this spot pulled. I saw the commercial and agree that this definitely looks like a puppy mill breeder. A responsible breeder would never ship a bunch of puppies of in a truck and wouldn't sell them online either. Many rescue advocates think all breeders are evil and that you should always get your dog from a shelter. I've been involved in animal rescue for many, many years and I don't necessarily agree with this position. Responsible breeders are wonderful people who understand their dogs, keep them healthy, and always find them great homes. It's easier to buy a house than it is to purchase a dog from a very good breeder. They are very particular about who gets their pups. Dot and Dash were both rescued from shelters, but we've gotten dogs from breeders as well. If your have your heart set on a particular breed, there is nothing wrong with getting your dog from a good breeder. Puppy mill breeders are cruel to their animals and should be eliminated, but responsible breeders should be your friend. They are actually some of the biggest supporters of rescue efforts. Nothing is black or white, except Dalmatians of course. I hate to see issues like these polarize people.

I don't know who to root for at tomorrow's Superbowl game. Neither the Seahawks or the Patriots are teams that I'm particularly fond of. If Dallas couldn't be in the Superbowl, I'd much rather root for Green Bay or Pittsburgh. I'll watch the game and eat more than I should like everybody else, but what I'm really interested in is the Culwell and Son Superbowl sale. These guys were a client of mine for many years and once a year they mark everything down up to 75% off for just a few hours on Superbowl Sunday. Since it's the only time I can actually afford these expensive clothes, I never miss this sale.

Cooper is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 1508

No wonder athletes get hooked on steroids. That cortisone shot I got yesterday really took care of the pain in my shoulder. I'm feeling pretty good today, but as the orthopedic surgeon I saw yesterday told me several times, "Just because you feel better, doesn't mean you are better." I need to remember this, because the last time I injured my shoulder, I didn't let it heal properly. I'm not going to repeat that mistake.

I woke up with a dead phone this morning. I'm such a creature of habit that when I used the x-ray of my shoulder for yesterday's blog post, there was not a need to sync the phone with my computer to transfer the day's pictures. This is usually when the batteries get recharged. It never occured to me that I could just plug the phone into a wall socket like a normal person.

The phone is recharged now, and by all appearances, so am I. After a mercifully good night's sleep, I woke up ready to get caught up on things. I updated my client's websites, finished all my writing assignments and even had time to do a little shopping. My favorite menswear store always has this annual Superbowl sale where for a single afternoon they sell their normally hugely expensive merchandise for 75% off. I knew the guys were pricing things for the Sunday sale today so I went down and picked up a great looking pair of Robert Talbot jeans for $39. No more relaxed fit for me. I've lost enough weight that I can wear skinny jeans again.

I really miss not being able to walk the dogs. The long morning walks are typically the most relaxing part of my day. Janet was able to walk Dot and Dash again today and we'll probably select a dog walker over the weekend. I'm not a very trusting person, so it might be hard to find a dog walker that I have any faith in. "Don't ever let Dash's leash get out of your hand," I'll say. "He'll run away and you'll never see him again." "Dot is very frail. Don't let her trip on a rock or get tugged around by Dash." "Don't ever let Dash eat horse poop. He has a sensitive stomach and he'll throw up in the bed the next night and leave a horrible mess for me to clean up." I've spent so much time around the dogs that I'm convinced that I can read their minds and anticipate their actions. I'm not sure anyone else will have this ability.

Tomorrow I'll be shooting Valentine's Day pet pictures for a Dalmatian Rescue fundraiser. We always do a ton of Christmas events, but this is the first Valentine's Day photo shoot we've had since 2010. Janet and the volunteers will help me load and unload the heavy equipment, so I should be fine. If the camera pulls my shoulder out of joint again, I'm in worse trouble than I thought.

The stock market had another terrible day. They say as January goes, so goes the entire year. I hope that's not true. Things certainly aren't looking very auspicious at this point though. Maybe this isn't the year to fret about money. If I can finally rid myself of the Hepatitis-C virus I've been carrying around with me for 30 years, it will be a very good year no matter what happens with the market. The older you get, the more you realize that health actually is more important than wealth.

Cooper is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 1304

Dot's weather predicting nose told her that there was rain in the vicinity today and she made sure that I was properly warned. It never did rain in our neighborhood, but that didn't stop Dot from barking. The girl is loud. I feel like I've been sitting in the front row at a rock concert. Although I'm never a big fan of rain, I'll admit that we could have used a little moisture. It's been hot and dry for several weeks now and the plants in the back yard are starting to droop and wither.

I finally got around to sanding last week's Sheetrock repairs. The ceiling looks pretty smooth now, so I might just skip the subsequent steps and paint it now. The older I become, the less of a perfectionist I am

Dash's Allopurinol finally arrived this morning, so I made a trip to the vet to pick it up. Since I was already out and about, I drove over to Culwell & Son afterwards and picked out a new pair of Hiltl jeans for myself. I've lost enough weight recently that most of my existing pants are starting to look a little baggy. I'm not getting rid of the old pants though. I have a feeling that my waistline could easily revert to its old dimensions the next time I'm invited to a good barbecue.

One of the things on today's to-do list was fixing one of Janet's watches. A few years ago, I convinced myself that I'd make a good watch repairman and bought some watchmaking tools. It didn't take long to discover that I wasn't cut out to be a watch repairman. I'm just too clumsy. Watch parts are extremely tiny and delicate. All it takes is a random sneeze to scatter tiny screws everywhere. I pretty much limit myself to replacing batteries now. Even something as simple as changing batteries has its perils though. Once you take the back off a watch, all sorts of small things can fall out and disappear forever.

I've found that writing about watches is a lot easier than repairing them, so that's what I did today. I used to write a whole lot about the oil and gas industry and very little about luxury items. Now, its the other way around. As long as the writing jobs keep coming, I don't really care what I write about. I need to do something and I think I proved today that I'm not really cut out for tape and bed work or watch repair.

I feel like today went well. Everything on the to-do list got done. The lawn has been watered. Even the trash has been taken out to the curb for tomorrow's weekly garbage pickup. It's time to start daydreaming about what to have for breakfast tomorrow. I'm in an adventurous mood. Maybe I'll even look for a new restaurant.

Sophia is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 1146 - Super Bowl Sunday

We left Shreveport behind this morning. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that most of my fears about traveling with the dogs were unfounded. Dot and Dash definitely stepped up to the challenge. They both proved themselves to be great little travelers. With an abundance of dog friendly hotels and roads leading in every direction, who knows where we'll go next.

After we returned to Dallas, I made my annual pilgrimage to the Culwell & Son Superbowl Sale. I go to this extravagant sale every year, because although I no longer go anywhere and don't have money to waste, I still like really nice clothes. I walked away with a couple of great looking shirts and a pair of khakis and went home to watch the Super Bowl.

We usually pig out and eat enormous amounts of meat on Super Bowl Sunday, but in honor of my new found desire to live a healthy life, Janet fixed a delicious and equally nutritious meal. I think she is happy that I'm giving up bacon, ribs and eating half a loaf of bread at dinner. Janet and the dogs have always eaten healthy meals. I've always been the anchor that kept this family's health boat from sailing. Now, maybe with everyone on the same page, doing the right thing may be a little easier for everybody.

You may wonder why I waited so long to do something so obvious. Part of the answer lies in the charmed life I've led. For most of my life I've been able to do all the wrong things and still land on my feet. I ate atrociously and never gained weight. I was a horrible employee and still managed to land a long series of really good jobs. I won't even tell you some of the other things I did, but I can assure you they weren't good. It is becoming increasingly obvious that I've used up eight of my nine lives. I can be foolish and frivolous, but I'm a realist. The time has come to make a few changes.

When I was watching the Super Bowl this evening, I was amazed at how much a power outage at the stadium changed the whole momentum of the game. The Ravens seemed invincible before the power outage knocked out the stadium lights. It was just a random event that delayed the game for fifteen or twenty minutes, but it changed everything. The Ravens floundered and struggled after the delay destroyed their momentum and barely managed to hang onto a narrow win in the game's final seconds. I think life is like this a lot. Random outside events can confuse you and quickly change everything. I guess the lesson of this game is that when life throws you a curve, the only thing you can count on is discipline. You've got to keep plugging away until luck shines on you again. A little simplistic, perhaps, but it worked for the Ravens.

Casey is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 782 - Superbowl Sunday

It was a good game this year. Actually, it was a great game. These weren't my two favorite teams, but they both played the kind of football that kept you on the edge of your seat until the final seconds. This year the game itself was a lot better than the commercials and halftime show. Madonna was a bit of a disappointment. Aerosmith, Michael Jackson and Prince were much better. Call me old fashioned, but the commercials have been going downhill for quite a while now. Nothing this year even came close to Apple's classic 1984 commercial or Coke's 1980 Mean Joe Green spot. Even last year's Darth Vader spot for Volkswagen was better than anything I saw this year.

Before the game I went to the Culwell & Son Superbowl Sale. I love this sale and go every year. The sale only lasts five hours, but it's the only time of the year when I can really afford these clothes. After I stocked up on bargain Robert Talbot and Ike Behar shirts, I noticed that my car was parked right next to a shiny new Fisker Karma. Jeez, what was someone who could afford a $116,000, 125 mph electric hybrid doing shopping at a 75% off sale? I backed out of my parking slot real carefully, because I definitely didn't want to hit this car.

The dogs had a great time at the dog park today. It was colder than usual and the cool air made all the dogs frisky. Even Dot was in a playful mood, which is almost unheard of. We stayed at the park longer than usual, but Dot and Dash still weren't ready to go when we finally left. I think if we left things up to them, they would have stayed the entire afternoon.

All in all, it was a great day. The dogs are happy. We watched some exciting football. I enjoyed a couple of Shiner beers with some fabulous cheeseburgers. I scored some great bargains on my favorite menswear. I even took a nice moonrise picture on our evening walk. Tomorrow it's back to reality.

Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 738

The week is over, but somehow it feels like the entire year is over. Most of my clients have already left for the holiday. I still have some unresolved issues with several jobs, but I have a feeling that it's going to be hard to get an answer to my e-mails until the first of the year. None of this slowed me down today, however. I kept right on writing watch articles and I think I'm finally up-to-date on most of my website revisions.

I send my last file out about 3 PM today and then went over to Culwell & Son to get that pair of shoes I've had my eye on. I really don't buy many clothes anymore, but when I do, I almost always go to this store. Most of the salespeople have been working here for twenty years or more, and they remember everything about you. I almost always walk away with something nice, because these guys won't let you leave the store wearing something that makes you look stupid. Since I often make bad sartorial choices, this second opinion is often invaluable.

I went ahead and made the little contest video about opening a B&H package. It took me longer to submit my entry on the B&H website than it took to make the video. Once I submitted my entry, I realized that I didn't have a ghost of a chance of winning. It turns out that this was another of those contests where the winner is determined by who gets the most votes online. Dalmatian Rescue has entered some of these type of contests in the past to win pet food or money to help the dogs, and it's just about impossible to win. You need to find thousands of friends to vote for you. At any rate, I've embedded the video below in case you want to hear what my voice sounds like. The rules for the contest were simple enough: just make a short video of a package you received from B&H being opened. Since you can only open a package once, the video is a one take wonder. Feel free to leave comments. I don't have any YouTube comments yet.



We gave Dot and Dash a bath this evening. They're both getting pretty savvy about baths now. Dot refuses to even get out of the car and Dash starts howling loudly as soon as he's in the stall. They're both clean now and ready for their role as Christmas Eve ambassadors tomorrow. For quite a few years, Dalmatian Rescue has done gift wrapping at Barnes and Noble stores during the holiday season as a fundraiser. We've discovered that if you bring real Dalmatians with you to the gift wrapping event, people are much more generous with their donations. We took Dot and Dash with us last Christmas Eve and they were actually quite well behaved. Of course, we took a big bag of dog treats with us to bribe them with.

Ziggy is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 585

Dot and Janet left earlier in the day for a dog show in Houston with their friends Willow, Pat and Ann. Dash and I stayed behind to eat frozen pizzas and watch late-night science fiction movies on TV. Dash was beside himself when Dot left. He's kind of an insecure dog anyway and always likes to have another dog nearby. It's too bad he couldn't have gone to the dog show too, but he never would have made it as far as Houston in a car. One of the reasons we've been driving to a dog park in far North Dallas every week is to get him used to traveling in a car. We usually can't go five miles before he starts howling and acting like the sky is going to fall. The one time we tried to take him on a long car trip, he got so upset that he had a seizure the next day.

My favorite clothing store was having a big sale, so I went and picked up a couple of new shirts this afternoon. I don't know why I even bother to buy clothes anymore. I never go anywhere and typically end up wearing the same things over and over. The dogs certainly don't care what I look like. My clients don't really care either, since I mostly just communicate with them over the Internet. Oddly, I still like the idea of nice clothes, even though I usually just wear jeans and left-over t-shirts from Dalmatian Rescue golf tournaments.

I'm still kind of fascinated with Google+. I find myself being drawn into conversations that I would never have on Facebook. It's so easy to comment on someone's post. I wish that blog comments were handled this way. When you try to leave a comment on someone's blog and you have to cycle through a dozen different cryptic looking captchas before you can find one you can actually read, it hardly seems worth the effort. I think Google+ came along at just the right time to give my mind a little jump start. Once I started checking in on foursquare, I was afraid I had begun that long downhill spiral that could only end at the gates of Mafia Wars and Farmville.

I'm wondering whether to take Dash to the dog park tomorrow. He dislikes riding in my car even more than riding in Janet's car. We'll see how brave we both are.

Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 418 - Super Bowl Sunday

I felt a lot of sympathy for those guys who were trying to get all the ice off of the Superbowl roof yesterday, because today I was doing exactly the same thing on a much smaller scale. The temperature was in the mid 50's, most of the snow was gone, but I still had three inches of solid ice covering my roof. The fact that I was up on the roof shoveling ice while wearing shorts and a T-shirt is all you need to know about Texas weather. Our weather makes no sense at all. It took most of the day to get all the ice removed. I couldn't break it up by pounding it into little pieces with a shovel like I did with the driveway ice. It would be pretty easy to break through the fragile tar & gravel roof and have an even bigger leak than I started with. I was careful though and now the dripping water in the living room has finally stopped.

With my home maintenance duties out of the way, I went down to the Culwell & Son Superbowl Sale and bought some clothes. I don't need any more clothes, but I go to this unique five hour sale every year because it's hard to resist 75% off the regular price. I got a great deal on a couple of sweaters that I'll probably be wearing pretty soon. The weather forecast says it's going to snow again before the end of the week.

It was a good game tonight. Even though my team didn't win, it looked like they easily could have several times. The game was close enough that it kept my attention until the final minutes. I can't say the same thing for the commercials. This year's batch of ads weren't all that good. The only commercial I saw all evening that deserved to be in the Superbowl hall of fame was the Volkswagen "Darth Vader" spot where the little kid thinks he has used the force to start his Dad's car. This commercial made me smile. Most of the others just left me scratching my head. I guess Chrysler's homage to Motor City was pretty good too, but that's only two out of literally dozens of heavy-handed clunkers. There seemed to be an awful lot of car commercials from recently bankrupt companies this evening. I bet they were paid for with stimulus money.

Here's hoping it doesn't snow again this week. I don't want to spend the day shoveling ice on the roof again for a long time.

Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day