Perspective

Carol's Kitchen > Sauteed Shrimp w Snow Peas

Life In The Fast Lane

Cow Pasture Beach, Norwalk CT

The Girls

A friday afternoon discussion with the all-mighty

The Painter

Fall Colors

Winterscapes in July

Puerto Rico > My Homeland

Fall Berry

Sophie & Stella Bella's Big Adventure

This morning Carol and I took only Stella on an errand, leaving Sophie behind for the first time. The Soph was not happy & a bit confused by the happening.

However, the sweetest thing occurred upon our return. 

Carol let Sophie out of the house. As usual, she charged full tilt to greet me, but this time only offered up a very quick hello & then ran off to Stella to smell where she had been, see if she was ok and to muzzle her a little. It was very touching.  ONLY after that did Sophie return to me for the longer, usual greeting ceremony. 

Later we took both girls to lunch with us. There's a nice restaurant named Toscana with a lovely, shaded patio where they know us. The girls join us at the table, get their own water bowl served to them & we lunch w/o incident as they are both incredibly well behaved. And if  there's anything suitable, they  get  left overs. Today they got some Chicken Paillard.

And today, being a special day, we followed lunch with a trip to Deborah Ann's -- the local sweet shop & ice cream parlor -- where Carol had her scoop of vanilla on a sugar cone, I had my toffee ice cream with  some hot fudge & Sophie had her own small dish of soft vanilla. Stella Bella just wasn't at all interested. 

As it's a bit crowded in the back of my little car, I've noticed that Stella does not make a move to jump into the back seat until she hears me tell Sophie to "move over" which she does.  Then & only then, does Stella join her 'sister' which barely works out but for short trips it's ok.  We get lots of looks, finger pointing, smiles & laughs around town.

However, there's definitely some gymnastics going on back there: Sophie sometime sits on Stella, Stella walks under Sophie to get to the other side & more. But there's not even a murmur of discontent. They are a great pair. Whoever said bitches can't get along with each other? 

My friends refer to me as Jan and his harem. Lucky me.

Stripped Naked

Summer Blooms With Sex Appeal

Can You Name This?

Purple

Healthy

Early

Santos / Romano

Romano in Background

Around Topstone Lake

From The Gadget Lab

19 Patents Invented by Ingenious Celebrities

Scary but coming from Microsoft

[...] The new Connected Car will know its riders, and will interact with them naturally via speech, gestures, and face tracking. It will learn their habits, and offer personalized contextual information and driving assists to get them to their destination as quickly and safely as possible. Through a growing catalogue of applications, it will inform and entertain them, and keep them connected with the people and information they care about. The possibilities are endless.

Bouvstock XI, June 2012

Carol & the Prez

Grilled Cat

FunnyBoneVideos > Dog driving truck

Truman was a very special fellow (Stella Bella in the background)

It was a little over a year ago when Truman passed away

Blessing of the Animals 2012 by The Rev. John David Heeckt, Pastor, Ridgebury Congregational Church

Video > the very funny Nina Conti

The widest lens in the world

Nikkor 6mm, f2.8 (220 degrees)
What it took to buy this baby

Stealth Bouv

Me & the girls on our way for a walk & ice cream

'nough said

Dudeism

Ordain as a Dudeist Priest

Official Dudeism Facebook Page

The Tutu Project > a real gift of love

The mission of The Tutu Project is to raise funds to cover the cost of self-publishing "Ballerina". It’s also the story of doing good while doing well. "Ballerina" is a book about a man, his pink tutu and raising funds for women with breast cancer. Please consider this project. For more information, click here.

A delicious 6 Tylenol evening w Michael Ahearn

Happy Birthday Annie !!

Sophie > Diary of a Southern Belle at the Races

Stella was lame in one paw so it was only the Soph & I who went to watch Carol race in the "Run Like a Mother" event here in Ridgefield on Mother's Day. The 3.1 mile route was to wend its way through town streets, ending up in the very pretty Ballard Park which is in the center of town.

It was a very festive, exceptionally beautiful day as Sophie & I set out. As usual, she was very excited to go on another adventure. I opened a small window so she could stick her head out to feel that rush of air as drove into town. She was clearly enjoying herself.

We found a parking space, & I got out, moved the front seat forward to make room for the Soph to dismount. She waited patiently for me to attach the lead to her collar & then waited for permission to exit the car.

We crossed the street and started down the sidewalk. She pulled ahead on a loose lead with some anxiety but I talked her into slowing down. Soon we entered Ballard Park to find it populated by fathers, children, photographers, balloons, food vendors and more. And the announcer on the loudspeaker trying to rally the crowd. Music was playing, little kids and dogs ran around. Sophie was very steady on her lead.

A lot of people stopped us, asked if they could greet Sophie, commented on how pretty she was and asking about her breed. We heard "Look at the big black dog, daddy" many times over. Sophie put up with the petting without much reaction from adults & children alike but I gently held her muzzle when little kids came over as I don't know her entire background. She was a real trooper & I was proud of her.

As we wended our way to the finish line, Sophie was very busy, looking left and right. There were too many people coming from all sides for her to re-position herself between them & me so she was a bit anxious.

Finally we were at the finish line, I asked Soph to sit which she did immediatly while I extracted the camera from my backpack. Every once in a while -- as I got organized -- I'd praise her & slip her a tiny biscuit. She semed totally calm. Eventually, she lay down on her own.

The time keepers tested the timer mechanism which emitted a shrieking sound but it didn't bother Sophie & I decided to test my shots w the early runners. As the crowds cheered & urged those women on, more people rushed to the finish line where we were. Some of them stepped over Sophie as she lay at my feet. She was a cool customer.

Then I saw Carol, took my pictures of the final few feet and went to give her a congratulations hug. Sophie calmly joined in the fun.

Carol announced she was off to the 'mamacita' zumba class so Sophie & I departed the park. On the way out, the Soph became a bit anxious, scanning the crowds in our path but I felt her anxiety was to be expected at this stage of her socialization with me, four months into our love affair.

Back into the car, we went for a capuccino & croissant & Soph got her share of croissant w a water chaser. She was a great Bouvier companion under VERY fluid circumstances. Never once did she panic. Never once did she yank on her lead as I took pictures or as people ran by. I was so proud of her.

Next: meeting other Bouviers. Ta.Ta......

Another Avenue to National Journalism

Run Like a Mother !! Yaaaaaah Carol, I'm so proud of you.

It's a bird. It's a plane. No, it's Truman & Sabrina.....

The Soph

My Nanook in May