Looking Back

 This year wasn't the most productive for me. 

I reached a few of my personal goals. I don't know if it's age or what. Perhaps I don't have the stamina and motivation. I don't know if that's attributable to growing older or simply limited interest in doing things. Only time will tell.

On the writing front, I didn't have many posts here, probably the fewest ever. As mentioned before, I don't want to post something for the sake of posting something. It's a waste of my time and of readers as well. I do plan to write more about music and travel. There's such a glut of posts out there about writing that it's very repetitive. 

I'm still working on book six in the John Ross Boomer Lit series. I wrote more than 40k words but stopped last spring. I admit it was partly due to the declining health of my beloved dog, Bailey, who eventually passed on June 16. Seven months later, I still think about him. Yes, dogs are certainly family. I'm thankful I have Belle.

Another obstacle I faced is seeking to have the entire series on Ingram Lightning Source so that they'll all be available to bookstores and various online stores in addition to Amazon. It would help so much with my marketing. I hope the problem is resolved soon.

On the positive side, my wife resumed our travels in 2022, spending a week in Portugal and 12 days in Banff, Canada, and Yellowstone and Glacier national parks. We also traveled to Asheville, N.C. We're still deciding on where to journey in the coming year. Maybe Spain.

I'm doing marketing for Wings ePress, hoping to bring more exposure and sales to its talented authors. It's an appreciable change of pace for me at this point in my life. I've always needed to have a purpose in my daily life.

Photography is still a keen interest that I will continue to do. I'll add a point-and-shoot travel camera to my equipment. Some of my DSLRs are getting too heavy to lug around and too much to pack for long trips involving flights. I'm too old to move to the lightweight mirrorless cameras. 

Wishing you all the best in the coming new year!

Until the next time . . .

Stray Canines and Felines of Greece

During my recent trip to Greece, I was amazed at the number of dogs and cats populating the tourist sites.

At a monastery in Meteora

From the Acropolis in Athens to the oracle of Delphi to the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, they were everywhere. Not especially in packs or large numbers, but still at the entrances, along trails, and on ancient ruins. They didn't bother anyone and seemed to have adapted to their new homes.

Among the ruins in Olympia

I've read that it's a major problem in Greece, with more than one million stray animals. One news story noted that it began several years ago, during the nation's debt crisis as people were forced to abandon their pets because they could no longer afford to keep them. I suppose decisions had to be made, as difficult as it may have been in letting go of a pet. 

Napping at Epidaurus

The animals I saw were docile, lying about and napping like regular domesticated pets. Some tourists would toss pieces of food to them. Most of the dogs were old except for a pup at Epidaurus, who apparently hadn't been there long because he was playful and appeared wanting an owner. It was sad.

I was told several agencies in the nation as well as Good Samaritan veterinarians and animal-rights activists try to provide food and medical care (such as neuter or spay) for our four-legged friends. 

At the Delphi Archaeological Museum

If you're interested in assisting these animals, there are organizations such as the all-volunteer Friends of Strays of Greece that accept donations.  Here's a link to other places that accept donations. 

At the Oracle of Delphi

And here's some advice from Greek Animal Rescue for tourists when they come across the stray animals. I admit I wasn't aware of the problem so I hope this post will be of some assistance to you.

Until the next time . . .

Progress Report on Belle

Belle, my 3 1/2-month-old Chorkie, completed her puppy shots today at the veterinarian's office. She now weighs 5.56 pounds, up for the 2.12 pounds on her first trip to the vet two months ago. 

Belle

Among Belle's vaccinations was a rabies shot, and now she has a green tag to wear on her collar. 

In the past few weeks, Belle has developed some light bright hair around her neck and on her rump. I'm looking forward to seeing what she'll look like at six months.

Belle will be making another visit to the vet in about three months to be spayed. 

Bailey and Belle

She's been a great addition to our family, especially for Bailey, who is 2 1/2-years-old. He needed a doggy playmate and they've been pals almost from the get-go. Her friskiness has helped him burn off a few calories as well in the past month. Now that the weather has turned warmer, we're taking twice-a-day walks in the neighborhood and we'll be heading the park for them to romp around in a few weeks.

My wife and I love having two dogs in our home. We'll enjoy it even better when Belle is totally house-trained, but she's getting there. She's learned a lot from being around Bailey. And Bailey has become a friendlier pooch by seeing how Belle interacts with humans.

Until the next time....

A New Family Member

My wife and I added a new member to our household--meet Belle. 

Belle

Belle, we believe, is a Chorkie -- a Chihuahua and Yorkshire Terrier mix. She visited the vet yesterday for a checkup and distemper shot. She weighed 2 pounds, 12 ounces. 

She's about seven or eight weeks ago. We'll celebrate her birthdays on Dec. 1. 

As for her name, we chose it because our granddaughters -- Lily and Lola -- love the character in the Disney movie "Beauty and the Beast." 

Besides loving dogs, we decided to take Belle because she's a rescue pup. A good friend was able to take 12 puppies from a person, and over a few hours, found them new homes.

Now we already have another dog -- Bailey -- also a Chorkie. And he came from the same home (we believe they might have the same dad). We've had him for two years and he's been a loving friend and companion. He's been a true stress reliever for me with his quiet and laid-back demeanor. 

Belle and Bailey

But we felt that Bailey needed a canine friend so that's another big reason we decided to take Belle into our home.

There are times when Bailey seemed lonely. When we had to leave the house for whatever reasons, he appeared to be very unhappy about it. And he was always overjoyed when we returned.

Another thing that sealed the deal was a video (see below) I watched on YouTube about what a dog does when left at home while the owner goes to work. The owner attached a GoPro cam on the dog. Needless to say, the dog was fretful and upset until he returned. We wondered if Bailey had similar experiences when he was by himself.

Bailey was a bit unsure about Belle when she came into our home, but after three days, they are playing together, lying next to each other, and getting along just splendidly. It's a delight to watch them interact.

I believe Bailey and Belle are happy playmates. I know my wife and I are glad to have them in our lives (even though we have another round of puppy training).


My wife has a cup that's inscribed "Who Rescued Who?" There's some truth in those words.

Until the next time...

National Dog Day

August 26 is THE dog day of summer in the United States -- National Dog Day.

According to the NDD website, the annual day "serves to galvanize the public to recognize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year, and acknowledges family dogs and dogs that work selflessly to save lives, keep us safe and bring comfort."

For those who have dogs, or owned dogs, most would probably agree that everyday is dog day for these lovable and devoted four-legged mates.

Bailey and me

My dog is Bailey, who will be 2 on Nov. 1. He's a Chorkie (part Yorkie and part Chihuahua). He's been a big part of our family since we took him as a rescue puppy on Dec. 14, 2012.

Our two previous dogs, Bucky and Baxter, crossed the rainbow bridge in 2011 and 2012 respectively, and I miss them to this day because once a dog enters your life, they leave an indelible pawprint on your heart.

I'm not going to go on and on about Bailey, even though I could probably write a book about him. But I will say he's special to my wife and me, just like other dogs (and even cats) are the pride and joy to their keepers. 

But I will share a few of my favorite quotes about dogs:

"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." -- Josh Billings

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." -- Roger Caras

"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -- Will Rogers

"The average dog is nicer than the average person." Andy Rooney

"To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace." -- Milan Kundera

"The only creatures that are evolved enough to convey pure love are dogs and infants." -- Johnny Depp

"The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs." -- Charles de Gaulle

"The greatest fear dogs know is the fear that you will not come back when you go out the door without them." -- Stanley Coren

"The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog." -- George Graham Vest

"Dogs' lives are too short. Their only fault, really." -- Agnes Sligh Turnbull

And finally:

"Happiness is a warm puppy." -- Charles M. Schultz

Until the next time...

A New Addition

I've got a new addition to my family -- Bailey.

Bailey is a little fella -- a Yorkie-Chihauhau mix -- also known as a Chorkie. He's almost ten weeks old and weighs about one pound,  and probably won't get bigger than five pounds.

He arrived at my house yesterday (Dec. 14). I received a call from my friend Deb, who had made all the arrangements. She picked up Bailey from a kennel in another town and told us he was ready to go to his new home. My wife and I were expecting a call from her on Dec. 17 so this was an early and wonderful surprise for us -- an early Christmas present!

Bailey is nearly coal black with some white streaks on his chest. And he has blue eyes. I'm sure his looks will change as he gets older.

We also have Baxter, a Yorkie, who is going to have to get used to having a new "brother" around the house. Baxter is about 15 so there's quite an age difference, but I'm sure he'll show the new kid the ropes.

If you follow my blog, you'll be reading more about Bailey and Baxter in the coming months. I promise.

Until the next time…

The Passing of Best Friends

It's difficult losing a best friend -- especially the four-legged ones.

In the past several weeks several friends have seen the passing of their dogs. Phoebe died last week at age 11 and stanley passed away this week at age 10. My next door neighbor's Golden Retriever, Chadwick, crossed the Rainbow Bridge last month at age 13.

I feel the sadness in my friends' hearts because my Bucky died five months ago. He was only 8 1/2. It's a painful and heartbreaking experience that pet owners truly understand. 

There was an article this week in the Washington Post  by  Joe Yonan about his grieving after the passing of his dog, Red, four months ago. It's an insightful piece about the closeness between humans and canines.

For those who love pets, it's an article that I highly recommend because it deals with the wonderful relationship we have with our four-legged friends, from the joyous time they enter our lives until the sad day they bid farewell.

As one of my friends told me -- some say they are like family; no, they ARE family.

Until the next time...