Words of comfort

Since the passing of our dog we have received many, many words of comfort from our friends. I was particularly affected by this thought about pets.

"They stay as long as they can and they give you everything they have."

Thanks to everyone for their kind words.

You Old Pilot, You

Transcribed from audio dictation

Okay, I'll get started in a minute as soon as I change lanes. [click-click]. Okay, start recording.

[click-click]

I'm getting a little sick and tired of the insulting [click-click] comments being made about airline pilots being allowed to [click-click] fly until they are age 65. It used to be they had to [click-click] retire when they got to be 60 but now the rules have been changed. [click-click]

Well, all I can say is [click-click] "it's about time."

But now I keep hearing lame [click-click] jokes about pilots who [click-click] go too slow at the fast altitude or demonstrate [click-click] some other driving inadequacy supposedly caused by age. [click-click]

This kind of talk is simple ageism [click-click] at its worst.

[click-click]

[click-click]

[click-click]

Sorry, I zoned out for a minute. [click-click] Now where what I? [click-click]

Oh, yes. [click-click] As a person who will soon turn 60 myself [click-click] I, for one, am glad to know that [click-click] I will still be allowed [click-click] to fly a plane. [click-click] If I knew how to fly a plane.

[click-click]

[click-click]

[click-click]

[click-click]

[click-click]

Hey, bud, quit honking that god damned horn!

[click-click]

Spike

My dog, Spike, died today. There is great sadness in my household.

Here is a post about him from some time ago.


I Talk To My Dog




I admit it. I talk to my dog.

People who don't have dogs think this is a foolish exercise. Experts will tell you that dogs can't understand your words, just your tone. These are the same people who will tell you that a baby only smiles because it has gas.

I happen to know that my dog has a vocabulary of 10 words. "Spike" (his name), "kibble", "biscuit", "chicken", "cookie", "meat" (I see a pattern here), "mommy" (his one true love), "daddy" (whom he tolerates), "sit" (his only trick), and, for some reason, "Chaucer". He understands and responds to these words as distinctly as you or I.

Talking to a dog is a liberating experience. Spike listens intently and never judges what I have to say. He does yawn on occasion, but I accept that not as a commentary on the content of our conversation but as a sign of his comfort with our relationship.

Conversation with Spike is not just a one-way street, either. He talks back. Not with words but with gestures, noises, looks, and posture. For example every night after dinner he will sit on the floor next to the sofa and wait for me to scratch behind his ear. If, for some reason, I don't begin in a timely manner he will poke me with his paw. "Hey, you. It's scratching time." If I fail to respond, the poking gets more intense. "I SAID it's scratching time." Then he'll move back a bit to be sure I have a good view and plop down on the floor with a pained expression ("I am a sad, sad dog.")

Lately we've been having talks about why I have to leave him in the morning to go to work.

"Spike", I'll say, "daddy has to go to work."

"I am a sad, sad dog."

"But Spike, I must work to make money."

"How can you be so cruel?"

"So I can buy..."

"Please...don’t leave me."

"...kibble."

" 'Wenden thee then on thine pilgrymage, Sire .' "

"Was that by any chance Chaucer?"

"In truthe, woof, woof."

A Message To The People Of Boston

I'm so thankful that no one was harmed by the AlQueda Teen Hunger Force!

Be Careful!

I know it is profiling but I suggest you avoid any milk shake or box of fries that is wearing a turban.

Watch the skies!