I was supposed to fly home to Kentucky tomorrow for a family reunion, but my family here in New York City — my dog — got sick.
So I’ll be celebrating the holiday at home while he recuperates.
But we’ll be thinking about everyone back in the Bluegrass State!
Today was the first really warm day of spring, so Rory and I headed to Central Park before dinner.
That’s when we saw the film crew.
I’m pretty sure they are students, based on their youth and minimal equipment. But they were very focused on their talent, who appeared to be writing in a notebook.
Clearly, it is a period piece.
Rory and I loitered for a bit, trying to overhear any dialogue, but no luck. Perhaps the camera was zoomed in tight on the words he was writing…something like:
Where the heck did I put my iPad??
Ruh Roh…
The Wichita State Shockers certainly lived up to their name – huh, Gonzaga?
I know it stings every time I look at my wreck of a bracket.
Poor puppy.
Posted in Basketball, Dogs, Humor, March Madness, Sports
Tagged basketball, bone, college, Gonzaga Bulldogs, Humor, life, March Madness, NCAA, NCAA pool, puppy, ruh roh, Sports, tournament bracket, Wichita State Shockers
Hope you’ve had a fun St. Patrick’s Day…
We’ve been Dublin over with laughter!
Did I really just say that?
(Yes, I O’Reilly did.)
I know dogs and people look at many things with different eyes –
Trees. Trash. Other dogs’ bottoms.
But I am particularly amused by my dog’s fascination with scaffolding.
Being a ‘city dog,’ he passes it almost every day on our way to the park. And he will pull the leash, wanting to cross the street to get to it.
Nothing is more fun, apparently, then sniffin’ and peein’ on scaffolding.
People who live in the city don’t pay much attention to it; we see it come and go with construction projects large and small. I dare say some tourists may cross the street to avoid it.
But not my dog.
Scaffolding is the best place in town to check his pee-mail.
When I arrived home last night, light snow was falling on New York City. The street was quiet. My footprints (and luggage tracks) were the first to disturb the sidewalk snow. It was a welcome scene.
This morning’s cityscape was very different.
Building superintendents and doormen had arisen early to litter the sidewalks with salt, which burns the paws of dogs and can make them sick if they lick it. Plus, the chemicals in the melting ice can contaminate the soil and ground water.
And yet building owners continue to spread it quite liberally, every snowy morning.
I’m not saying leave sidewalks untreated — simply use a safer melting alternative.
Our good friends at Morton Salt make an ice melt that is salt free, chloride free, and organic. It doesn’t irritate dog paws or tummies and melts below 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
Does it cost a bit more? Like most green-friendly products, it is a bit more expensive. But stacked against the high price our pets and the environment pay, I’d say it’s well worth it.
I’m going to talk to my building super today.
“You say traction; I say corrosive chemicals. Let’s call the whole thing off!”
Posted in Commentary, Dogs, Environment, Green, Home, Life, Weather
Tagged building super, contaminated ground water, dog paws, Dogs, doorman, environment, friends, green, home, ice, ice melt, life, Morton Salt, New York City, pets, sidewalk salt, snow, weather
Cartoon courtesy of the Lynchburg Humane Society
Posted in Animals, Comics, Dogs, Friends, Humor, Life, Relationships
Tagged animals, cartoon, comics, dog greeting, Dogs, friends, Humor, life, Lynchburg Humane Society, people greeting, relationship
Exhibit A: 2013 Sock Monkey Calendar
Purchased December 30, 2012. Brand new. Twelve month-themed sock monkey images contained within imaginative and in excellent condition.
Fun year ahead — check.
Exhibit B: Rory with Sock Monkey
Given to Rory on Christmas Eve 2012. Brand new. Ball on Santa hat chewed off within moments of gifting.
Hat destroyed — check.
Relationship with sock monkey secured — double check.
Posted in Animals, Christmas, Dogs, Family, Holiday, Humor, Life, Relationships, Toys
Tagged 2013, animals, checking it twice, Christmas, Christmas Eve, Dogs, family, gifting, holidays, Humor, life, Relationships, santa, Santa hat, sock monkey, sock monkey calendar, toys
Dear New Yorker merchandising department:
Please bring back your Dog Cartoons calendars.
I have bought these wall calendars for years. Last year, I couldn’t find that version, but I started shopping in January…so I blamed it on a lack of inventory.
Now I realize they weren’t made in 2012. And early shopping reveals they aren’t around for 2013 either.
This is not a good way to start the year, New Yorker. I need my monthly dose of doggie humor. Now, be a good boy and bring them back…okay?
I’ll give you a treat.
Posted in Commentary, Dogs, Humor, Life, Magazines, New Years
Tagged calendar, commentary, dog days, doggie humor, Dogs, good boy, Humor, life, magazines, New Year's, New Yorker, New Yorker Dog Cartoons calendar, treat, wall calendar
Just dog it
Rory and I were passed by a jogging dog and his human this morning in Central Park and, as always, I tried to read the dog’s mind.
(Not that yoga’s competitive…yeah, right.)
Did he scorn my dog’s meandering pace? His aimless sniffing and peeing?
Or was that really a look of longing? Did Rory’s relaxing walk spark a memory from his puppy days, when mornings didn’t include a mandatory three-mile run?
Perhaps he was just in the zone. Focused. Wired in. Didn’t see me or Rory at all……
Good boy..
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Posted in Commentary, Dogs, Exercise, Family, Humor, Life, Walking
Tagged Central Park, commentary, dog athlete, Dogs, exercise, Humor, in the zone, jogging, life, meandering pace, newbie, puppy, sniffing and peeing, three-mile run, walking, wired in, yoga