...In Bed

Daisy has been jumping up to see what's on the counter an awful lot lately.

We had Chinese food one night last week. I left the two pieces of paper from the fortune cookies on the counter. I came back a few minutes later and there was only one on the counter.

I'm pretty sure Daisy ate this missing one.

The fortune?

"You will travel to interesting places."

If only that fortune knew how right it was.

Gardening Report

It's nice to have a yard. I'm kinda surprised by how much I'm enjoying the whole gardening and landscaping thing. I've been out there almost every night cleaning up the back yard and getting the garden ready over the last few weeks. (Well, I was... at least until I got poison ivy... then I cut myself and needed stitches... but that's a different story...)

The onions, broccoli and spinach are in the ground. I couldn't wait any longer. But now I'm worried we may get get a little frost later in the week.

The pumpkins and sunflowers are still on the back porch. Maybe I'll get them in the ground next week.

Pictures coming soon.

Dogs at Work


There's a piggy under my desk.

Just wondering...

Has anyone else ever considered buying a multi-family house and not renting out the other unit? Surely, I can't be the only one who has thought about having two kitchens.

Magic 8 Ball, am I too old to wear a Guinness t-shirt?

IT IS DECIDEDLY SO.

Having a Dog

Of all the cool things I enjoy about having a dog, I wouldn't rank walking around in the rain for 10 minutes saying "C'mon Daisy, make a poop!" anywhere near the top.

Early Plantings



I'm very eager for spring to get here. The weather has been unseasonably cool.

I've started a batch of flowers and vegetables on the back porch. My broccoli is growing much faster than anything else.

What does this mean? That I'm turning to my father.

The Doggie Backpack


We finally got our backpack last week. This may be the most useful tool the in dog owner's bag of tricks. Sure, Daisy tries to eat it at first, but once we're out walking, it tires her out much faster. Excellent!

It Probably Went Something Like This

England, 1809. Four well dressed gentleman walk the countryside on a hunting expedition.

Gentleman 1: My good fellows, I'm almost finished with my latest batch of dogs. You will be amazed at their loyalty and affection, and their capacity for absolutely disgusting behavior. Put your orders in now, for they will go fast. And if you have any last minute requests for desired traits or characteristics, please let me know.

Gentleman 2: My brother-in-law has a dog that sniffs butts and licks his own balls. Will you be able top that?

Gentleman 1: Absolutely. My new breed will go well beyond mere butt sniffing and ball licking.

Gentleman 3: I need a dog that will clean up after my cat. Can you breed me a dog that will happily eat cat feces?

Gentleman 1: Consider it done.

Gentleman 4: Well, I certainly want one of these dogs. But I'll be redecorating my hunting lodge next season, and we haven't picked out the tapestries yet. Can you make sure that I'll have a choice of colors?

Gentleman 1: How about if I give a choice of THREE colors?

(All 3 other Gentleman): Ooooh!

Gentleman 2: What about hunting? Will I still be able to take this dog hunting? Or will it only lie about and be disgusting?

Gentleman 1: Do you prefer land hunting or water hunting?

Gentleman 2: Hmmm... How about both?

Gentleman 1: No problem. It will be a Grade A hunter, on both land and water. And yet still lovable. And disgusting.

Gentleman 3: What about vomit? Will it clean up its own vomit? I can't stand watching my servants pick up dog vomit.

Gentleman 1: This dog will LOVE its own vomit.

Gentleman 4: And what of temperament? It must be agreeable.

Gentleman 1: Of course.

Gentleman 2: I have a fallen tree in my back yard that I need ground up into small pieces. Would this amazing animal of yours be able to handle that, too?

Gentleman 1: I believe so. Any other requests? No? OK then. So, just to recap, you want a dog that will hunt, swim, eat its own vomit, clean up cat feces, chew up entire trees, and yet still be lovable and agreeable?

Gentleman 4: Don't forget the colors!

Gentleman 1: ...and come in different colors.

(All 3 Gentleman): Yes!

Gentleman 1: Consider it done.

Gentleman 2: Well, I must say I'm impressed. If you can deliver on half of your promises, surely this will be a dog for the ages.

Gentleman 1: It will be. I'm quite confident I can bring all these traits together in one amazingly disgusting, yet lovable beast.


And so today, that is why the world has Labrador Retrievers.

(Gentleman 1 may very well have been the Earl of Malmesbury. For all we know, this is how it actually happened...)

Timing Is Everything

Here's the two year chart of the stock price of my previous company. As you can see, things haven't gone well since I left.

Either I got out at just the right time, or Wall Street realized that I was the glue holding the whole company together and reacted appropriately.