Day 4466

Dawn wouldn't eat this morning so I had to get out the canned food. If you have a finicky eater, you always keep a little canned food in reserve. I finally got Dawn to eat and do her business, but she is not a happy camper. Despite my best efforts, she still seems stressed and nervous. I think she's given up hope that Janet is going to return and thinks she's stuck with me now. I wish I could convince her that this is all just temporary, but it's hard to convince a stubborn dog of anything.

Other than trying unsuccessfully to cheer Dawn up, it was a fairly uneventful day. I took my long walk, wondered how to eliminate my foot pain, and eventually got the star tracker out again to try to answer the manufacture's questions. The weather was quite warm today but it was really windy. I felt like I was going to get blown off the trail at some points. I walk so slow when my feet are bothering me that I don't know if it even counts as exercise anymore. You've got to keep moving though, and walking is still a great way to fill an empty day.

One of the big selling points of the star tracker was how easy it was to use. I've just about concluded that this isn't true at all. This thing is actually very hard to use and if you don't do everything exactly right and in the proper order it will crash on you. The one encouraging thing is that the software gets better with each new release. I'm probably just not used to being a Beta Tester. I think I finally found the information that Benro wants to document my many crashes, but that's as far as I went today. I still haven't taken the tracker outside at night.

I should have been down at KSC for the Artemis-1 roll out today but I wasn't even invited. Most of my rocket photographer friends were there. Why was I overlooked? Nevermind that I couldn't have gone anyway. NASA couldn't have possibly known that I was here in Dallas caring for a very nervous dog. I tend to overthink things like this. There's probably a reasonably explanation. All I know is that it took me a long time to become accepted as a member of the Kennedy Space Center press. I'd really hate to start over again at this point.

I had a virtual meeting with my financial advisor recently and for the first time I can remember he talked about moving some of my assets into gold. This has never happened before. There has been one crisis after another over the years but maybe the current one is even worse than I thought. I really don't think Putin would nuke a Western country because it would mean the end of the world. Crazy men do crazy things though, so who knows. I remember growing up in an era where all people thought about was nuclear war. People built fallout shelters in their backyards and every other Twilight Zone episode seemed to be about some kind of nuclear disaster. I remember doing the duck and cover exercises in grade school although they wouldn't have helped much. If you are really worried about nuclear war, you need to move to a remote rural area with favorable prevailing winds immediately and start stocking up on canned food and fresh water. If you wait until conditions get worse it will be too late.

I'm not going anywhere because I still think in the long run sanity will prevail. Until then I'll just keep on keeping on. I took this week's trash out to the curb tonight and I'm really hoping that Dawn's appetite will return in the morning. All things considered we've done pretty well, but she's still Janet's dog.

Allie is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4446

The cold wave continues. We didn't even try to walk Dawn this morning. She hates the cold and we don't want walking to feel like punishment. Dawn is a smart dog. I think she's realized that if she runs out in the back yard first thing in the morning and does her business quickly, she can forget the walk and spend the rest of the day resting on the bed. We were hoping that temperature would warm up enough so that we could all take a walk in the afternoon, but the weather did not cooperate. It stayed cold all day.

I typically channel surf the news channels while I'm eating breakfast and I've just about had enough. There is no such thing as objective news anymore. Everyone has a narrative they are trying to push and they gather just enough plausible information to support their pre-drawn conclusion. It doesn't matter what the subject is. Vaccine mandates, inflation, trucker convoys, January 6, climate change, and even Ukraine. Take your pick. 

There are opposing narratives on just about everything. If you don't agree with something, you just call it fake news. Although most people seem to agree that what is happening in Ukraine is terrible they certainly don't agree on what to do about it. The recommended responses range all the way from doing nothing at all to preemptively starting World War III. I remember a time when the country agreed on the important things. The memories are getting fuzzy though. It's been a long time since we've been able to reach a consensus on anything.

The trouble with pushing a narrative is that it makes it impossible to see the big picture. You only see one side of what is usually a very complex story. People are very poor students of history and they forget that what is happening now has been happening over and over again since the dawn of time. The dawn of time for humans is just a grain of sand in the ocean too. We haven't been around nearly as long as the dinosaurs.   During our short time on this planet we have been constantly fighting with each other. Archeology is basically a study of ancient conquests. The boundaries of every country on earth have been established through countless wars. You can virtue signal all you want but you can't erase the fact that humans are pretty nasty creatures.

I think about things like this while I am walking. Probably even more so while I'm looking at the stars at night. What I see is only a tiny fraction of the know universe. The earth and its inhabitants are almost inconsequential. Humanity is here for a while but our fate will probably be just like the dinosaurs. Something else will replace us. This is why it is so insane to spend so much time fighting. In cosmic terms we are only here for the blink of an eye. Why can't we enjoy and make the most of the short time we've been allotted?

I'll admit that I didn't have a lot of deep thoughts on my walk today. It was so cold that I just concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. I don't do a lot of sightseeing or even hear much on cold days like this. My parka restricts my hearing and side vision. I'm usually just looking at the trail immediately ahead so that I don't trip on anything. It's still peaceful walking in the woods though. Even the coldest day outside is better than watching the news on TV inside.

After hauling the week's trash out to the curb in the cold last night, the trucks didn't even come to pick it up today. It was this way last week as well. Getting back to normal after Covid is proving to be much more difficult than many people expected. Admittedly, these are first world problems. I'm worried about garbage pickup while on the other side of the world people are wondering if they've got a country left.

Cookie is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4445

Another very cold day. We got up later than usual, but the temperature refused to rise. When we took Dawn on her morning walk, she quickly did her business and returned to the house. She had no interest in completing our normal one mile loop. Dawn is the smart one in the house. She is comfortable sleeping on the bed all day. Janet and I feel compelled to stay busy.

I didn't really want to take a long walk today, but I was bored doing nothing. I waited quite a while but it never got warmer. Actually I think the temperature dropped a bit after breakfast. Eventually I put on my warmest clothes and took my long walk. I walked my entire six mile route without encountering anyone. Actually I did see one person on the way home. As the red parka came closer I realized it was Janet. Her gym was closed because of icy roads and she decided to take a walk too. We were the only two people in the park.

Oddly my feet didn't hurt too much today. Maybe they were just numb from the cold. I haven't seen the eagles since their nest fell, but I did see the geese and Muscovy Ducks. There were only five pelicans at Sunset Bay. I wonder where the rest went? Most of the Double Crested Comorants were gone as well. Clearly birds have contingency plans for the weather but I wonder what they are? The pelicans would have had to fly a long way to escape the cold.

Janet and I didn't drive anywhere today but both started our cars in the driveway and let them warm up. I don't know if this helps anything, but we started doing this during last winter's extreme weather and it has become a habit. I hate the sound of an engine that won't turn over on a cold day. When I was growing up in Alaska, all cars had crankcase heaters. You always plugged your car in when it was not running and it would easily start even if the temperature was 40 below. I remember that all the parking meters in Fairbanks had electric outlets so you could plug in your crankcase heater while you were shopping.

The roof leak has returned in the office. How is this even possible? The temperature didn't even get above freezing today. I guess the heat from inside the house caused some of the ice on the roof to melt. For some reason freezing weather in the Winter causes more leak problems than hot weather in the Summer. The leak wasn't bad and has already stopped dripping. I'll have to leave the bucket out though and hope that I don't trip over it if I get up to go to the bathroom at night.

I don't think conditions in the world are going to improve tomorrow, but maybe it will get warmer in Dallas. The world may be doomed, but it's still easier to deal with on a nice day.

Nora is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4443

The weather was crazy today. It seemed unseasonably warm when we walked Dawn early this morning. The temperature was 70 degrees and we didn't even need jackets. We returned home thinking that it was going to be a nice day. I was dumbfounded when I walked outside again after eating breakfast and the temp-erature has dropped to 38 degrees. What happened? This sudden change seemed almost instantaneous. Oh, well. I put on some warmer clothes and took my long walk. The weird thing about this sudden change of temperature was that it wasn't accompanied by a lot of wind. It didn't even feel like a front was moving in.

I walked early today because it was time for Janet to have cataract surgery on her second eye and I was the designated driver. I was a little surprised that they scheduled both eyes so close together, but that's the way they do it these days. The whole procedure is amazingly fast. It was almost time to return to the surgery center by the time I drove home. I've been dreading having cataract surgery myself, but Janet's success with these procedures makes me feel a little more confident. The first surgery has already dramatically improved her vision and she said the second surgery went well too. 

The surgery center is super efficient and they always send the designated driver lots of messages about how the surgery is progressing and when and where to return. Some of these messages arrived while I was in the car driving back to take Janet home again. Much to my chagrin I realized that I've forgotten how my paired phone works in the car. Nobody calls anymore and I never listen to the radio. When the calls would come in I would press the green button on the steering wheel and couldn't figure out why I couldn't hear anything. The call was connected but I could barely hear a voice. How do I make this thing louder I kept thinking? After several dropped calls I finally figured out that you controlled the volume on the phone with the volume dial on the car radio. The volume dial was multi-function and controlled all the car's audio. Since I had turned off the audio months or even years ago, I'd almost forgotten that this button existed. When we drive to visit the kennel Dalmatians in Janet's car she listens to the radio. When I drive, we don't listen to anything. I've forgotten how to program stations in my car's radio. Basically I like silence. When I drive out to West Texas, I make the entire long drive in silence.

Apparently, another arctic cold front is headed our way. This seems a little strange because it feels like it is already here. Nope. According to the forecast it is going to be even colder tomorrow. It is supposed to rain as well. I just hope that we don't have any more freezing rain. If history is any guide, we will have to endure this erratic winter weather for another month. Occasionally we've had some really bad weather in March. I'll be glad when April arrives. It's officially Spring in April and wildflowers are everywhere.

I hope we don't allow ourselves to be dragged into another needless foreign war. Haven't we learned our lesson by now? I'm an unabashed isolationist and think our country would be a lot better off if we just minded our own business. The Vietnam era was pointless. So were the endless wars in the Middle East. I can understand why Putin would like to recreate to old Soviet Union. Maybe he succeeds and maybe he doesn't. I just don't understand why we are obligated to get involved. Let the Europeans handle this. I don't even understand why we are a member of NATO. Sadly the only thing that Democrats and Republicans seem to agree on is foreign wars. They both love a good foreign war. It's a perfect distraction from all our domestic problems.

I was able to walk three miles today. I guess that's progress. I was struggling to walk two miles yesterday. It's sad that my two regular activities have lost their magic. What would I replace them with though? Walking keeps me moving and blogging keeps me thinking. I still believe that physical and mental activity are equally important so I'll keep on keeping on. I have a feeling that tomorrow is going to look a lot like today.

Maggie is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4309

Last night's big storm didn't really amount to much. We got a lot of rain, but it was all over in less than an hour. It was pretty quiet at our house even though some people might have experienced a lot of wind. The roof didn't leak, there were no downed trees, and the pumps on the roof were still working in the morning.

I got all my walking in early today, so we could go visit the rescue dogs at the kennel. Dawn is definitely more adventurous now. At least every other day she's been walking longer and exploring some new territory. Today was a good day and we ended up walking almost two miles. I hit the trails again right after breakfast and had a nice long walk while the temperature was still pleasantly cool. I always count the resident geese and the Muscovy ducks when I walk and nobody was missing today. It's a simple thing, but I feel better when everything is in it's proper place.

Janet says I'm not doing my share of the driving, so I drove to the kennels today. We learned that the new girl who just entered the program wasn't going to be arriving until this evening. I guess I'll take her picture next week, assuming that she isn't already adopted by then. We were greeted by Charlie and Oliver. Although Oliver is a very young dog, he's large like Cooper was so I got the two mixed up for a while. I should have known the difference right away. Cooper could catch a ball like a champ. Oliver is a big, clumsy puppy who can't seem to catch anything. He has lots of fun trying though and makes us both laugh. We've finally gotten to know Charlie well enough that we can spend a few quiet moments with him.  He's usually like a coiled spring when we first see him and literally bounces off the walls chasing and catching things. After a while though he will sit on a bench with us and let us pet him. This is progress. I still think Charlie would make a great pet for the right person. You wouldn't want him sleeping in bed with you though.

I've never been a political person, but I hate what is happening in this country right now. I don't think any administration could make this many horrible blunders accidentally. Someone is doing this on purpose. These are people who hate this country so much that they are willing to tear the entire institution down in hopes that they can impose their own social order on the rubble and ashes that remain. The country was established as a republic instead of a pure democracy because the founders wisely valued individual freedom and didn't want to give the central government too much power. The battles we are seeing now are not really between Democrats and Republicans. I am neither. I see this as an epic struggle between people who think their own tribe or group matters more than the individual and people who still believe that the individual matters most. This country was built on the idea of individualism and it will be destroyed by tribalism. If tribalism and government mandates are what you want that's fine; but don't expect me to be on your side. I still believe in individual excellence. I basically just want to be left alone to talk about dogs, but if you keep poking me with a stick, I can be your worst nightmare. I don't think I am alone in this. Just look at all the Southwest Airlines pilots and staff who walked off the job recently in a massive "sick out" to protest their airline's vaccine mandates. I'm fully vaccinated, but that was my choice. Everybody should be able to make their own choices. 

I have no idea why anyone still reads this blog. I'd be the first to admit that it's pretty boring. I do know a small handful of progressives who read everyday and probably think I'm on their side. Nope. You got that wrong, just like everything else.

Katy is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 4255

More rain today. We didn't think Dawn would walk at all this morning, but she surprised us and did pretty well. The skies were dark and ominous looking all day, but by carefully watching the weather radar we were able to take our sunrise walk a little later than usual. I was also able to take my long walk later in the day, although I did get a bit wet.

I always watch the morning news while I drink my smoothie and today's news was as dismal as the weather. I felt foolish complaining about anything as I watched what is happening to those people in Afghanistan. Was this preventable? Probably. Will it get even worse? Definitely.

The people in Haiti aren't doing too well either. Janet knows some people from her home town who run an orphanage in Haiti. They keep hanging in there through one disaster after another. I wonder what gives people the resilience to deal with impossible conditions. I cope with prosperity fairly well, but I don't know how I'd deal with sustained adversity. A little roof leak is enough to send me over the edge.

With no work projects to speak of and little to do around the house, I depend on daily walks. I set out on today's walk without waiting for the rain to stop. There was a light drizzle for the first few miles, but it actually felt pretty good. It is almost unheard in Dallas of to have temperatures in the 70's in August. This was the first time in ages that I was able to complete my long walk without getting hot and sweaty. I did get wet though. The local ducks and geese were all in their usual places, but they looked pitiful today. Some of them looked too wet to fly. It makes me wonder where animals go during a bad storm. They must have a place to hide.

I'm glad the pumps are still working. I just don't have the energy to climb up on the roof and monkey around with them anymore. I can't believe that I used to occasionally go up on the roof during a storm. In a few more years I probably won't be able to go up there at all. It's not that safe on the roof and my balance isn't as good as it used to be. It would be nice to live in a brand new house without any problems, but that ship has sailed. It's not going to happen. I don't think a problem free house exists anyway. It's a fantasy.

I made reservations for dinner tomorrow. We don't do much these days, but we do still celebrate birthdays. Time passes so quickly. We were the youngest people in the neighborhood when we moved here and now we're the oldest. We're both still fairly healthy though and have a lot to be thankful for. Janet is two months younger than me but often seems years younger. I guess a positive attitude is beneficial after all.

I'm still a little worried about Dawn's vet appointment on Friday. If they aren't successful at flushing out her bladder stones, I think they are going directly to surgery since she will already be under anesthesia. The surgery is considered very safe, but I always worry about surgery. It would take a lot to get me to consider any type of elective surgery. I think I'd rather live with a bad knee than have a knee replacement.

Hopefully the weather clears up a bit tomorrow. We've definitely had enough rain.

Lucy is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 3203

Another month has come and gone. It's getting harder and harder to give Dash his monthly heartworm pill. The pills are large and it is difficult to hide them. When we finished the morning meds and cleaned up the poop on the floor, the first of October was pretty much the same as the end of September.

I saw some people setting up what appeared to be a small circus while Dash and I were out walking this morning. The circus folks better hope it doesn't rain. They were putting their tent in an area that routinely floods. October is packed with outdoor events. The State Fair has already started and in addition to the small circus, there was an Octoberfest celebration going on in another section of the park. I studiously avoid all these events. I don't like crowds. When the dogs were young, we took them to a few outdoor events. They usually had fun because there was almost always food involved. I don't know when the circus starts, but we'll probably change our route for a few days. It's a lot easier to deal with a dog who can barely walk and is likely to poop on your shoe in an area devoid of other people.

I was disappointed to learn that none of my trains sold in September. I was getting used to consistent sales and a check at the first of the month. Maybe October will be better. These trains would make a great gift for a railfan. Hopefully, my friend can sell quite a few during the holiday season.

I had to go to the storage warehouse and bring home another rug for Dash. Pretty soon all Dot's rugs are going to be back in the house. They're ugly, but if they help keep Dash standing, they're worth it. I took some little rugs back when I picked up the bigger ones to avoid unnecessary clutter. I got ahead of myself though. I had to go back to the storage warehouse and retrieve the little rug to fill a slippery place in the kitchen. Hopefully all is well for at least a few more weeks.

Dash has another big exam at the cancer center later this week. I wish there was something they could do that would actually make him better, rather than just monitor his decline. I hope Dash doesn't suffer from Peripheral Neuropathy in addition to all his other ailments. He's certainly starting to exhibit a lot of the classic symptoms. He definitely has a problem with his mouth. If it's an abscess or a decayed tooth, I don't know what we are going to do. Most of his doctors don't think he could survive anesthesia.

I applied for the NASA event in Houston later this month and paid a few of the early October bills. There was some last minute paperwork I needed to sign with the auction house and some routine correspondence that needed to be answered. I didn't have the energy to fight with the roofers again. I'll grit my teeth and try to do that tomorrow.

I'm glad they got a trade deal settled today. It was certainly good for the market. I'm glad Elon Musk got his problems resolved as well. I don't think he was treated fairly by the SEC at all. Few people noticed these events because everyone was fighting about other things. So far the confirmation circus has only succeeded in raising my resting heart rate. I can't think of anything else that might have caused this.

Tori is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 2405

Things didn't go exactly as planned today. My blood test took forever. The clinic wanted me to fill out new paperwork. Why? "I've been coming to see you guys for over fifteen years," I said. "And nothing has changed. "Oh, we're just updating our records," a nurse told me. I guess she didn't understand. As I said, nothing has changed.

I asked the guy drawing my blood what my blood type was. I've had hundreds of blood tests, and I still don't know what my blood type is.  "Oh, we don't normally do this test," he told me, "because insurance won't pay for it." You've got to be kidding me. I find it hard to believe that insurance will routinely pay for dozens of weird esoteric tests that might not have any real value, but they won't even tell you what your blood type is.

The weather looked fine when I arrived at the clinic early this morning. By the time I left, there were dark, ominous looking storm clouds to the North of me. I checked the weather radar on my phone and they were definitely headed my way. Since my storm phobic dogs were home alone, I decided not to go out for breakfast this morning and headed straight home. Five minutes after I pulled into the driveway, the wind picked up and a major downpour started. It's been a long time since we've had this much rain in July.

The refrigerator is always pretty empty at the end of the week, but I did manage to find a package of toaster waffles in the freezer. I would have preferred Eggs Benedict, but frozen waffles will have to do this week. Breakfast wasn't all that great, but the dogs were glad to have me around. Dot and Dash both stayed calm and by noon the unexpected rain was over.

It's seems like there's a new catastrophe every day. Today there was a military coup in Turkey. This is so confusing. The Turkish army wants to preserve the country's secular heritage, destroy ISIS, and restore democracy, which is something you'd think we'd approve of. The current elected president is well on his way to becoming a dictator and is doing his best to turn Turkey into an Islamic state. So, who does our president support? Well it isn't the army. It wouldn't be the first time we picked the wrong side. It's almost impossible to tell who the good guys are in the Middle East anyway. Maybe there aren't any good guys.

I'm starting to see Jimson Weed flowers in the park. This plant always makes me nervous because it is so toxic. All parts of the plant are highly poisonous and you definitely don't want your dogs to be eating them. People have died from mistakenly using Jimson Weed leaves to brew tea, or from eating the roots. It's odd that the flowers are so pretty. Nature can be deadly, but I'm still more worried about people.

Lots of poop to clean up today. I guess with everything I've been seeing on TV lately, this is a very minor problem.

Lizzy is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 1772

I'm beginning to think that time is relative. Even though a loud wall clock in the kitchen ticks off the seconds at a constant pace, some days seem fueled by adrenalin, while others seem excruciatingly slow. Today was one of those slow days. The dogs dawdled along on their walks, stopping to smell each and every tree along the way. Breakfast took longer to make, even though it was only my regular oatmeal and fruit. My writing assignments took almost twice as long to complete, even though they were almost identical to the ones I finished yesterday in record time. Such a slow day! Even dog training class seemed to crawl along in first gear, since Dash wasn't in the mood to do anything right.

I saw a recent survey that said 58% of people are convinced that the world is going to hell in a hand-basket. I'm surprised the percentage isn't even higher. Every time I turn on the TV there's breaking news about some new plague or atrocity. I wonder when folks are finally going to realize that all wars from now on out are really wars of the future against the past. If the human race is going to continue, it's imperative that the future wins. I'm continually baffled why the United States, Russia, and perhaps even China, can't put their differences aside and realize that they all have enormous common interests. China and the U.S. are great trading partners already. Russia and the U.S have worked together on the International Space Station with great success for over a decade. The world's industrialized nations need to quit their petty bickering and use their vast resources to totally eradicate the medieval belief systems and third world diseases that are dragging us down. Science and good hygiene can eradicate Ebola. Terrorism might be a bit tougher, but I bet the thought of the US, Russia, and China all acting as one to get rid of these cockroaches might get someone's attention. When you've got all the nukes, people listen.

Dash has diarrhea again. He's got such a sensitive stomach that the least little thing can upset the balance. I don't know what caused things to head South this time. I don't think he ate anything bad in the park, but we did put him on a probiotic recently. Maybe instead of curing his problem, it actually made things worse. I'm not sure what is wrong this time. All I know is that if he wakes me up tonight and appears restless, I'm going to get him outside as quick as I can.

I hope that Thursday will be more interesting than today. It would be nice if I could zip through all my chores and assignments in record time. Maybe if I got caught up on things, I could even watch a few of those Dr. Who shows I've been recording on the DVR. Now that I think of it, tomorrow probably will go quickly. My writing assignment will take me through the morning. Then Dot's physical therapy session and acupuncture will take me through the afternoon. All I've got to do after that is remember to take out the trash.

Dot is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 1388

Dot is much better today. With both dogs, if you didn't actually see the seizures, you'd never believe they actually happened. When the dogs have recovered from the seizure, they are completely normal again. Even though I have experienced multiple seizure episodes with both Dot and Dash, it is still hard to know what to do while the seizure is happening. It is important to leave the dog alone during the seizure, but equally important to get them to the vet immediately if the seizure lasts too long. Where do you draw the line? I guess the next step with Dot is to schedule an MRI scan of her brain. It would be nice to be able to rule out a brain tumor as the cause of these seizures. Of course, if she does have a brain tumor, what do you do then? I'm not sure subjecting a very old dog to aggressive chemotherapy is the answer either.

It's a good thing I don't fret about my own health as much as I worry about the dogs. There's so much wrong with me that I'd probably be totally dysfunctional if I worried at all. The dogs are different though. I feel like I'm their protector. You want to do everything you can to keep them healthy, but there's only so much you can do. Unfortunately, life is just as unpredictable for dogs as it is for people. The pretty little flowers I photographed today are called Crow Poison. They are toxic and should never be eaten. Of course, these little flowers bloom everywhere in the park right after a rain. One more hazard, in a long list, to watch out for.

Recent events have made me realize that life is chock full of unexpected hazards. You shouldn't have to worry about being attacked by a motorcycle gang while you are minding your own business driving home with your wife and two year old child. You probably shouldn't be shot and killed either, just because you forgot to take your meds and happen to drive your car into the White House gate. I was really surprised today to discover that the cause of all the panic in Washington DC was a 34 year old dental hygienist driving alone with a small child. She didn't even have a gun. Couldn't the police have just shot out her tires?

It's probably a good thing that I spend most of my time sitting at a computer and writing. If I knew what was really going on around me in Dallas everyday, I would probably be appalled. Janet and I hope to retire to an idyllic, small town with no crime someday. The only problem will be in finding such a place.

Until then, I'll just keep on working. I did some major website updates today and then wrote an article that will have to be completely re-written tomorrow because I managed to get all my facts wrong. Oh, well. At least I have something to do tomorrow. I had an out-of-the-office meeting this afternoon where I found myself actually recommending Wordpress as a solution to the client's problem. I was astounded and somewhat mortified to hear the words come out of my mouth. Was I possessed by the devil? Jeez, I hate Wordpress. Too bad it works so well

Hobbs is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day