Day 1628

Sometimes I wonder what is going to happen on Day 2000, or Day 5000. On any given day, what I write is trivial, but I keep on writing for the same reason I keep doing a lot of things. I always think that if I just continue doing what I'm doing a little longer, it will eventually add up to something. Maybe it will in this case. How many people have even attempted to document every single day of their life? Probably not many. I've only been doing this for about five years and I'm already starting to see subtle changes in the way I think and act. Maybe you are too.

Aging is a tricky business. At first you deny it. Then you fight it. Finally, you embrace it. I spent so many years in advertising that I probably held on to my youth for much longer than I should have. It's a business where youth is worshiped and age is discarded. In my early thirties, we always used to wonder where they put the 40 year old ad guys out to pasture. We never saw any. If you wanted to keep your job and prosper, you needed to figure out how to stay young.

I find that I no longer care what people think of me or how old I might appear. I've become one of those people who talks back to the television, drives slower than the rest of the traffic, and feels no shame in wearing the same shirt for days at a time. In the beginning I briefly thought that having a blog might help my business. Later, I entertained the idea that I was a humor writer who always saw the glass as half empty. Now, I realize that what I'm doing is accurately describing the aging process, one day at a time. If you only read the blog sporadically, it probably seems like an Andy Warhol movie. Nothing seems to happen. If you started reading on Day 1 and continue reading until the end, you might discover something quite remarkable. On the other hand, you might discover nothing at all. Like I said, aging is a tricky business.

Today, I opened a check from a client and discovered that it wasn't all there. I'd been shortchanged. Either this client is having money problems and couldn't send me any more this month, or they're just fucking with me. Either way, it's not a good sign. I wish money was no longer an issue, but I'm afraid it always will be. Globalization has changed everything. A few people have been able to make the transition and everyone else is fighting over table scraps. The way I see things, if you don't lose your job to someone in a third world country who is willing to work for pennies, you will be replaced by a robot.

I will never be replaced by a robot, but my writing and photography efforts have certainly been marginalized by a sea of people who have turned my profession into their own hobby. Everyone is creative these days. It's hard to compete with that. I shouldn't complain though. I'm much healthier than I ever though I'd be five years ago. I've got two great dogs. Janet seems to tolerate me. And even though the market is terrible, my financial advisor tells me that I still stand a reasonable chance of outliving my savings.

I don't believe him of course, because I know he always sees the glass as half full. Who knows what will really happen? It's all a crap shoot as far as I'm concerned. I guess you'll have to keep reading to find out.

Amy is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day

Day 1062 - Veterans Day

The weather report said that there would be severe thunderstorms with damaging hail today. We got lucky and only received a little rain. By noon, the skies were already clearing, so we loaded up the car and went to our rescue event as planned. Dot and Dash are great little ambassadors for the Dalmatian breed at events like this. All afternoon people complemented the pair on their good behavior and calm demeanor.

Considering the dire weather forecasts we were hearing yesterday, the Pet Fair event had a great turnout. There was music, food, games and lots of animals. Dash got a little too interested in a giant lizard at a nearby reptile rescue booth, but luckily he didn't get too close. An endless parade of little kids wanted to pet the dogs and we had a game at our booth where they could win a prize with a guess of how many spots Dash had.  I think a good time was had by all.

The photo gear is still sitting on the floor where I left it yesterday. Now, yesterday's clutter has been joined by a new batch of bags and boxes containing today's rescue event paraphernalia. Tomorrow will probably be a good day to clean everything up. Since many businesses get tomorrow off for Veterans Day, I doubt that there will be all that much to do anyway.

Dot is asleep under my desk right now. I think this afternoon's activities wore her out. This weekend did me in as well. I need roadies. All the gear I haul around for these rescue events seems to get heavier every year. Now I lift Dot up and down as well. She's gotten too old to jump up into the Defender anymore. Sometimes I wish I was younger, but I'm not sure I'd want to be a kid in today's world. The 60's were the perfect blend of innocence, optimism, and adventure. There's still prenty of adventure in today's world, but I think a lot of the innocence and optimism has gone.

As I walked the dogs at sunset this evening, I heard someone playing taps on a distant hillside. It was hauntingly beautiful and reminded me of my Dad. The last time I heard taps being played was at his funeral.

Dolly is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day