• Nervous Tick

    In the summer of 1999, Jules and Demetria and I were on a long road trip through the Louisiana and Texas.  I had never been to the South before and I found it quite mysterious.  I had never experienced humidity before, for one thing.  And the bugs down there are mind-blowing.  I remember being astonished by the number and size of the bugs I saw, but mostly I was amazed by the sound.  We have crickets in Utah and they sing quietly on warm nights.  The crickets they have in the South are something else, entirely.  I honestly don’t know how anyone in Texas gets a good night’s sleep in…

  • I Might Not Be the Alpha

    Me: Dude, you CANNOT be on the couch. You are too big! The Dog: Yes I can; I can prove it… Me: No… Get… Gerrofff… Down! Gosh darn you are heavy!  The Dog: I propose a compromise.  Me: Fine. Whatever lets me focus this episode of Game of Thrones. 

  • Dog and Mouse

    Wensley whimpered in his sleep this morning. Then he woke with a start and clambered to cuddle with me, pushing his way on to my chest and nuzzling his nose in under my chin. I realized he was shaking and I tried to reassure him.  He has been acting strangely all morning and won’t stray from my side. I finally put his bed next to my monitor so I could get some work done. That wasn’t close enough, however.  It’s kind of endearing , but it’s worrying also. He’s never acted like this before. What could he have dreamt about that put him in this state, even hours later? I…

  • An Evening With Ira

    Tonight, I told Ira Glass that I have a dog. It may have been the shortest interview that he ever conducted, but I feel that my entire life has been validated. This happened; I may now die without regret. ~ Ira: Okay, you: you get the last question.  Me: I just want to know how Piney is doing.  Ira: Piney??? (There was no recollection on his face… I thought I got the name wrong.) Me: Your dog? Ira: I know who Piney is. I assume you are asking because you have a dog? Me: Yes. Ira: What kind? Me: Yorkshire terrier.  Ira: Has he ever bitten anyone? Me: Yes (are…

  • Snowballs

    I need someone to do some research on why it is impossible to get snow off of a terrier. I finally gave up and put him in the tub to thaw like a 12 pound turkey.         

  • Happy Halloween

    My dog has a condition that makes his trachea collapse when he gets excited. Like… Say… When the mailman comes. Probably to murder us. All dogs know that mailmen are evil and have a freak out but mine does that and then spends fifteen minutes trying to get air back in his lungs without sounding like a Harley Davidson. Once or twice a day, no biggie. Halloween? Nightmare on Elm Street. (There are a lot of elm trees on my street, but that’s not really what it’s called.) So I’m opting out.  I feel badly about it. Sort of. But this is what I’m doing this year. Candy is candy,…

  • Poor Eeyore

    Rule #556 of Dog Momming: do NOT get emotionally attached to your dog’s toys. They do not belong to you and you cannot save them.    

  • My Handsome Hound

    They say that dogs don’t have the ability to recognize themselves in a mirror, but I’ve caught my pooch gazing at his reflection so often, I am convinced he gets it. I am also convinced he is just a little vain.  But look at this darling mug. Can you blame him?