Dogs

For neurotic homebodies like me, getting out of our comfort zone is the real trip — I admit it: I’m neurotic. I like things just so, and I’ve built my world exactly as I like it. Why should I leave my life in the beautiful Mountain West, where every day promises comfort? Each morning starts with coffee, walking my doodles, and catching up on the day’s…

Good people do good things. “To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.” — Confucius This is a very simple story of kindness. We have a Brazilian medicine man living with us who is also a capoeira…

Meet the von Walter boys—neighborhood terrors — I have — pardon my French — the shittiest therapy dogs in the world. Otto and Sam, the von Walter boys, are a couple of little spitfires. Don’t get me wrong. I love them with all my heart and they are natural-born killers when it comes to protecting me. It…

I was always someone who owned a dog. As a child, I have numerous memories of walking dogs to the local beck. I would walk for hours and take the dogs to play football (or soccer). I remember walking three dogs at a time. I have had Yorkshire Terriers, St…

A mundane moment to stop and listen. — water trickle light glub glub a gurgle a feature out of sight in two-note segments that’s not right bloop bloop a splat beaked round and fat above in branches patient and slow a philharmonic creature I do not know a moment to study I’ll be on my way with the gurgle drip…

Learn from my experience and prepare for having a dog. — Do you think you’re ready to have a puppy? If your answer is yes, think again. Charlie, the cutest red cocker spaniel, is my third puppy. I had a dachshund and a beagle before, so I was confident I was ready. …