Sick

Someone once told me, "Take care of yourself and the universe will take care of you." Although greatly oversimplified as logic, there is a universal truth about it.

Over the last 2 years and 7 months I have not been sick. Let me rephrase that. I have not called out in that long of a time.
I have come in looking like death warmed over on high 5 minutes in the microwave, but I refrained from calling out sick. I don't know why I am so stubborn about it. What am I trying to prove. When I come in sick I just piss off all of the people I work with. I quickly lash out, "where do you think I got this from?' Not that this is the right train of thought either.

Along time ago when I was younger I use to call out, a lot. If I wasn't feeling good or just didn't feel like it I would report to the medic station. Something was always hurting. Why run 6 miles if you just didn't feel good? Then one day I got sick, real sick. I was in quarantine for a week. Later for another reason I was sent away for some further medical tests and looking at the possibility of knee surgery. I had an ephiphany, I felt that being sick was a lousy way to get a day off. I just wanted to be better again.

When I entered back into civilian life I developed a new work ethic, work as long as you can for as hard as you can. You'll never know when it will all be taken away from you. Your work is your identity and you are judged on how you apply yourself. Since that time I have gone the opposite way. I have come back to work just days after a surgery. I have come into work with a fever of 102. For awhile the madness would not stop. In some ways it continues.

Last Friday I got the aches and chills, I started coughing and got a runny nose and a fever, yet I stayed at work. This weekend I was just knocked on my ass by the flu, even then I continued to do chores and do some work from home. When I came into work today I could barely breath without sneezing or coughing. "You look like and sound like shit, " and with that my boss sent me home. I guess I haven't learned yet. I just want to work hard, no matter what.

I'll stay home when H5N1 hits, we all will.

The Manbag

My last briefcase was getting old. It was time to retire it. So the hunt for the perfect bag began.

I remember once seeing the President land in Marine One and thinking wouldn’t it be cool to own the same bag that the nuclear launch codes are contained in? Not the exact same bag (which would be impossible) but the bag from the same company. Despite an exhaustive search which entailed contacting numerous governmental department and several intelligence contacts I was thwarted in my attempt to gain “the football” I was told that a bag that was fire and bullet proof would be out of my price range and was told to look for something more civilian.

Last Christmas I received a briefcase from my wife, rather nice briefcase I may add. It was the newest version of my old Tumi bag that was old and tired.

She agreed to replace my last bag that she got me that lasted about 15 years and went and got me a Tumi fold-over computer brief for work.

As soon as I stepped into the office that week after the holidays the comments from colleagues, subordinates and supervisor started.

“Nice purse” a coworker commented

“Metrosexual tool bag” stated my officemate

“What does exactly one put into a man-bag?” said my boss.

The last comment led me to think, what should I start putting in this thing?

As soon as I got it I transferred everything from the last case into the new one.

Tumi of course makes a fabulous product and has some features that are both convenient and handy for the use.

As a bonus my wife got some small stocking stuffers that would go along with the theme of the gift. A small mini Mag flashlight with biteplate, a small LED keychain light and a mini micro tool that includes pliers, a file, tweezers and a knife. I added a Surefire G2 Nitrolon flashlight, the beam cuts through smoke, it’s waterproof and the body is virtually indestructible (one can never have too many flashlights).

Some of the features on the bag that I observed:

A water bottle pocket – the pocket is lined to protect against leakage to other compartments and has a drain hole in the bottom in the case of a water bottle or thermos blowout. This feature merited a quest to find the perfect water bottle for the pocket. After searching high and low I selected the Nalgene 16 oz bottle. Normally the 32 oz bottle is the standard fare for most outdoor types but the pocket would hold nothing larger that the 16 oz size bottles. Captain Tippy Cup was the latest comment received at the office as a result.

An expandable umbrella pocket – despite living in Phoenix, Arizona last year had proved to be quite a wet year comparatively speaking thanks to El Nino and the Pineapple Express from the Pacific. Having an umbrella handy has kept me looking civil unlike my wet-rat counterparts at work and school. However this year it has not rained here in Phoenix for over 120 days, so for now, it’s just extra weight.

Business Card Pocket – seeing this prompted me to immediately order some business cards. My wife some years ago had given me a sterling silver business card case with a Frank Lloyd Wright design on it. The case now sits proudly and snugly in the briefcase. Occasionally I remember to hand them out.

Headphone port – There is a small opening that allows you to thread your headphones through so you can leave your MP3 player in the bag. Despite owning an iPod I really don’t use this feature on the bag. When I use the iPod I just take it out of the bag.

The Office Group
I don’t use a laptop at the moment but do keep a large 9 x 11 organizer with me at all times. It’s large enough to occupy the space where a laptop computer would go. I use the large organizer and the Franklin Covey system to organize my work and personal life. Even though I really advocate the use of computers and technology, nothing out there can beat go old analog type organization for day-to-day tasks.

The List:
In the Main Compartment:

Full size day planner/organizer
Prescription glasses & case
Sunglasses & case
Compact folding umbrella
(Three band ham transceiver)
4 X 5 Moliskine journal & Fisher Space Pen
Manual for Ham Radio

Tumi Pencil Case consisting of:

Glue Stick
Collapsible scissors
Tiny stapler
Small inkpad
Date stamp
UFO eraser
Black Sharpie
Red pencil
Micron pens .01, .02, .05 & .08
Black warrior pencils
#3B Staedtler Mars pencil

For some strange reason I went on a bent to fill the bag with things that I may need in the case of an emergency. This really prompted even more comments from coworkers.

The Survival Group
Being the ex-paratrooper and eternal Boy Scout I carry a few survival supplies with me at all times. In my travels they have come in handy on occasion.

I carry two different kits in the bag, one for survival and one for first aid.

The first aid kit is made by Adventure Medical and contains the following:

1.Aloksak® waterproof bag, US Navy certified to 200ft
1 Splinter Picker Tweezers
3.Safety Pins
4.Motrin®
2.Antihistamine
2.After Bite® Sting Relief
4.3X3 Sterile Dressings
4.2x2 Sterile Dressings
1Non-Adherent Sterile Dressing (3x4)
1.Conforming Gauze Bandage
2.Butterfly Closure Bandage
3.After Cuts & Scrapes® Towelettes
4.1x3 Adhesive Bandage
2.Knuckle Adhesive Bandage
1.Tape ½" x 10 Yards
1 Moleskin (7x4)
1.Tincture of Benzoin
2.Antibiotic Ointment

The survival kit was inspired by The SAS Survival Handbook by John Lofty” Wiseman. It’s a comprehensive survival kit that has come in handy over the years on travel, in the city or in the wilderness.

The survival kit contains:
Duct tape
Button compass
Knife
Matches
Pencil
Purification tablets
Snare wire
Candle
Flint & striker
Hacksaw blade
Fishing kit
Whistle
Sewing kit
Safety pins
Wire saw (with finger loops)
Condoms (non-lubricated, for water storage)
Survival instructions
Signal Mirror
Tinder
Water bags
Single edged razors
Butterfly sutures

What’s even more amazing is that all of this fits into an Altoids tin

I also have an emergency space blanket in one of the pockets just incase someone around me should go hypothermic.

Kenwood TH-F6A
I get quite a few strange looks for carrying around a ham radio. It hangs on the outside of the bag and is conspicuously placed with 2-meter antenna sticking up. But when I saw this one it really did an impressive amount of things. Kenwood really did a great job on this radio. Aside from being a three-band transceiver over 144, 220 and 440 the radio has wide receive capabilities. Police, aircraft, television, regular radio and emergency weather can all be monitored from this little 2 x 3 x 1 package. I’ve used it at work to get severe weather and tornado reports and while traveling. One day as two supercells merged and approached overhead one of my peer managers said. “Maybe that isn’t such a bad idea” as the NOAA report about the impending thunderstorm and possible tornado spewed out of the tiny speaker.

The other day I came under close scrutiny from a gas station attendant. He fired off questions quickly and expected answers quickly as a test and gauntlet of truth.

Gas Station Attendant: “What’s in the bag?”
Ed: “Stuff”
Gas Station Attendant: What kind of stuff?”
Ed: “Guy stuff”
Gas Station Attendant: “You mean that’s a guy purse”
Ed: “No”
Gas Station Attendant: “Then what kind of stuff?”
Ed: “Business supplies, survival equipment and a few electronic toys, still a purse?”
Gas Station Attendant: “You keep your cash in there?”
Ed: “No”
Gas Station Attendant: “Credit cards, coupons or any kind of hair product?”
Ed: “No”
Gas Station Attendant: “Okay then.”
Ed: “Fill up on number 3 please.”


Son of Manbag
But if the manbag were not enough, there’s more. Now there’s schoolbag. I’m back in school during the day and because we don’t get lockers I haul all of my textbooks and resources in a rolling pilot’s chart bag.
There is a pass through pocket on the manbag that the handle from the schoolbag fits right through. As I roll along on campus people think that I am either a teacher or a well-dressed homeless person.



Man Sporran
Now on the weekends because I spend most of my time in running togs I often get sent on a random chore to the supermarket or the hardware store. But because my running clothes do not have pockets I had to buy the equivalent of a modern day sporran…a fanny pack. It’s just large enough to fit my wallet, keys, flashlight, Fisher Space Pen™ and a small knife. Nobody at work has seen me so other than the strange looks that I get from people in the market and Home Depot I have not received any comments, yet.

Hmmm…maybe I should get a real sporran. But as my Scottish actor, kilt-wearing friend Scott Cleverdon has told me there is no such plaid as Hunting MacFlores.

The One that Got Away

As most of you know I use to work in Hollywood as a Post Production Supervisor for a music video production company for about 4 years. I had done quite a bit of work in that time but there were very few projects that I was really ecstatic about saying that I worked on. I think that the “Don’t Treat Me Bad” video for Firehouse and “Forever” for KISS were two highpoints because they were both popular songs and at the time they were my favorite on the radio.

Our sales Director one day ran around streaming that Geffen wanted to redo the music video that was shot while Aerosmith was recording “Tell Me What it Takes.” I was in absolute amazement, finally a song that I liked by a group that I liked.

Mark Rezyka (he also directed Girl School by Brittney Fox and C’mon Feel the Noise by Quiet Riot) went into the standard procedure and wrote a concept to be passed on to the group, manager and record company. It was reviewed and rejected in short order.

I went into a depression afterwards. I liked Aerosmith and had been a fan since the 7th Grade (1976).

Wayne Isham of The Company went on to direct the video for “Tell me What it Takes” shortly after the bidding process was settled. While the video got some rotation it seems like the original footage that was compiled for the original unofficial video got more airplay on MTV so in a way there was never really a music video that was made.

A couple of days later Mark Rezyka stopped by my desk and dropped off his backstage pass. He had it signed by Steven Tyler and Tom Hamilton. I sat and stared at it in a quiet amazement. It was an unwritten rule in that when working in Hollywood that asking for autographs and pictures was strictly forbidden. Despite working with a plethora of musicians, directors, actors and such It’s one of the few signatures that I have and I treasure it to this day.

Letters from Moe

Imagine being 12. You write to your favorite TV personality. He writes back. You write a second letter. He writes again and for the next 6 years you correspond with 28 letters and multiple phone calls ultimately leading to a visit to the stars house.

Well for Bob Burnet that dream came true. Over the years he corresponded with and got to know the #1 stooge, Moe Howard.

You can see all of the letters and photographs collected at his website

http://web2.airmail.net/willdogs/index.html

It’s an amazing story.

Don Morris, I Kicked you in the Head and for that I am Sorry

I’m usually pretty honest about things. I don’t lie because I think that it is wrong and I’m pretty bad at it. However omission is something entirely different.

About 17 years ago when I was in the Army we were returning from a field exercise from Germany. We were set to jump back in a small-scale tactical airborne operation. As most of you know some years back I was a paratrooper.

I was normally nervous or scared on all of the jumps, but on this jump in particular I was more nervous than normal. It was my last jump and I was scheduled to end my tour of service with the military. Nobody wants to die on their last jump.

Troops are placed 64 at a time onto the C-130s, half on one side and half on the other. I was the last man on my side of the plane, which meant I was going to be the first to jump. Looking across the ramp I saw my good friend Don Morris was also the last man on his side of the plane.

Standard procedure is for the person on the right side of the plane to exit upon seeing the light and the person on the left is to be slapped on the back of the leg by the jumpmaster.

The light went green and out of my excitement and nervousness I just jumped out into the void. I was on the left side of the aircraft, I was supposed to have waited.

Mid air it felt like I slammed into a car. Something hit me on my lower back and I felt the back of my boot ricochet off of something. The main chute then deployed and the noise and frenzy of the fall transitioned into silence as I floated to earth with an easy landing.

When I looked over my good friend Don was sitting up, hunched over and bleeding from his nose and mouth. His rucksack was still attached to his reserve parachute. He failed to deploy it prior to the landing, resulting in an even rougher landing than usual.

“Dude, are you okay, what happened?” I knowingly asked having just put everything together in my mind.

“I don’t know, something hit me up there.”

“Sorry about that, ” I said as I slinked away.

Unfortunately Don was the first man out of the right side of the plane. He did the right thing and jumped as soon as the red light turned green. Because I was overly hyped out in the moment I did not do what I was suppose to do. We exited the aircraft simultaneously and slammed mid air underneath the C-130.

I feel bad. I do feel sorry. I never told him.

Maybe someday he’ll just read the blog.

The Supreme Bean

For Christmas Jill got me a great coffeemaker. With the new maker all you have to do is put in beans, water and filter, push the button and voila! Out comes the best coffee in the world. Any fresher than that and you’d have to chew the beans and gargle with hot water.

Prior to that we had one of those Black and Decker coffeemakers that you can buy in the grocery store. We’d buy coffee by the can for the in-laws when they’d visit and occasionally I’d have a cup. Something was just not right. I knew that there was something better out there. Since Folger’s is to coffee what Schlitz is to beer, I had always wanted to try something better and get into higher quality coffee.

About a year ago someone at my work was generous enough to share with me some coffee that she had acquired on her last trip to Belize. She buys the beans by the pound from the distributor and grinds them up just before brewing. This coffee is good…a little too good. If I’m ever put on death row please ensure that I get a cup right around the time I receive my last rights.

Recently I let Patty know about the new coffeemaker and asked to buy a pound of beans from her (okay so I begged a little).

Now I have an inside source for the world’s best beans and something else to add to the list of things to take with me in case I am ever stranded on a desert island.

Life is good and on weekend mornings I get to enjoy a fantastic steaming mug of joe.

Jill's New Cellphone

This may seem silly, but cellphones are amazing.

The come with everything loaded on them.

In fact it's difficult to buy one without a camera, video or mp3 capability.

It's getting to the point that people are forgetting that they were originally designed to make and take phone calls.

I remember my first cell phone. It cost around $800 bucks and was permanantly mounted to the car. Gone are the days of the Motorola brick and the briefcase phone. Now they are so small and cheap they are making them for kids (like your 7-year old).

Anyways, we were goofing around with it and Aimee snapped this photo. I like the distortion, flare and lack of quality to it. It's kinda cool looking, except that my nose looks a mile wide.

More Marathon Photos

All of the photos from the 1/2 marathon are in.

Just go to www.asiorders.com. Select Phoenix Rock n Roll Marathon, then enter my bib number 39456.

Enjoy

I'm Insane

Its official.
I just signed up for the John Bingham Arizona Distance Classic 1/2 Marathon

Although I have dedicated myself to continue with this slack-jawed insanity, I'm doing it for the medal. I've been a follower of John Bingham for years. On the medal is a large penguin and at the bottom is inscribed, "Because I had the courage to start."

Happy New Year

It is no longer the year of the chicken.
It's year of the dog now.

Please make sure not to forget to put that on your checks.

Post-it Note Elvis

The Universal Truth

Vikea - Because Vikings are really just Swedish Pirates

http://www.threadless.com/product/328/Vikings_are_just_Swedish_Pirates

The 1/2 Marathon

I survived. I didn’t do as well as I thought that I would do, but after all this is my first half-marathon.



I was able to get through the first 5 miles, then I started to jog and walk pretty much the rest of the way. By the seventh mile my legs cramped up pretty badly but I was able to go on.

Some of the things I would do differently next time:

Stretch – I did not stretch nearly enough before the run.
Bathroom – I can’t stress enough about evacuation. By the time that you get to the race most of the lines for the porta-pottys are 20 deep.
Eat – because I didn’t eat before the race I had a stomach cramp for the entire race. Because I drank water on the race on an empty stomach it felt like I was running with a goldfish bowl in my gut, complete with goldfish.
Drink – At the race they passed out Phoenix tap water. More on this later, but have you ever tasted the water here? At one point I believe that I saw that they had tapped into the fire hydrants to fill the water reservoirs for the runners. I may try to run with my own water next time.
Train at an incline – I did some of my training on a treadmill and some of it on the street. The marathon was on a steady incline for the first 7 miles, I was not ready for this. For the next one I think that I need to do some more hill work.
Train more for speed – I had been jogging at a 13:00 pace (I know that some of you do not consider this running) but at that pace I am able to pretty much go all day. Anything faster than that and my little train would run out of soul coal. I think that more speed work with the goal of 9:00 would be good.
Get a groove – I never really got focused on my pace and my breathing. Usually when I am training I am able to get lost in the music and I am able to pick up the pace. For some reason I was just not able to focus…probably for all of the reasons listed above.
Chaffing – Two words, Body Glide.

Things that I would do again;

Music – The iPod was a real lifesaver. Some of the bands that they had there were mediocre to just plain bad. Having music that motivates you really helps.
Train Often – I was running 4 to 5 days a week for the race. I would like to continue this with my long run of 7+ miles on Sundays.
Wear only what I needed – many of the runners were way over dressed. I wore only a shirt and shorts knowing that I would heat up and that it would only get warmer. Mile 2 and 3 were spent jumping over sweatshirts, jackets, gloves and sweatpants discarded by runners ahead of me.
Ice Bath – This was a great idea. For as miserable as it was to first get into you could feel the effects immediately.
Beer – Having a beer immediately after the race really helped take the edge off of the pain and the subsequent twitch/convulsion attack that occurs from having spent my all. I was able to sleep easily after the ice bath and shower.



Here are the particulars on the event:

Last Name Flores
First Name Ed
Gender M
Age41
City Chandler
State AZ
Bib Number39456
Place15046
Gender Place6291
Division M_40-44
Division Place936
Race Name Half Marathon
Pace14:10
Gun Time3:29:37
Net (Chip) Time3:05:35
5K (HM) 39:10
10K (HM) 1:22:47
10 mi. (HM) 2:18:35
Total in Div. 1015

I am going to start training aging next week, as I will use this week to recover. In March I am going to run the Valley of Gold half marathon in Tucson.

I want to thank everyone that helped/motivated/encouraged me on my foray back into running:

Jill & Aimee – for putting up with me, my aches and pains and for all of the time that I have spent away on the road and treadmill. For being at the finish line, for helping me out after the race; Thanks for all of your love and support

All of the Agents, Supervisors, Managers and employees at 2Wire.

Chris Dorn – For motivating me in the humorous, agitating way that you do.

Tim Williams – Knowing that you were up there ahead of me on the race was a motivating factor.

A special thanks to Alice Pike for motivating me to get back into running, sharing all of her tips learned from her recent experience on the half marathon.

Kyle Scofield – I’ll see you on the mountain…punk ☺

Girl Scout Cookies

It has begun.

Last night Aimee attended the Phoenix Girl Scout Cookie Kick Off.

Billions and billions of scouts were in attendance. Even Carl Sagan would be impressed.

Thin Mints
Do-Si-Dos
Peanut Butter Tagalongs
All Abouts
Samoas

All coming to a neighborhood near you. Little Girls en masse will be going door to door selling what is now part of our American culture.

“Would you like to buy some Girl Scout Cookies,” will echo in towns and cities throughout the country.

There are some pretty strict rules that go with selling the cookies; all put in place for the safety of the girls.

• Girls cannot sell cookies before 9 am and after sunset
• Girls must be accompanied by an adult
• Girls should never enter a customer’s house
• Girls should never give out their name

Gone are the days of Pleasantville when you could trust anyone and when little girls were not targets.

On one of our stops an old man (2quarts short on embalming fluid) shouts, “What are you selling!? What do you want!?” We are okay that he does not get any cookies, but how can you be rude to a little girl selling cookies? Joseph McCarthy would have surely put him on trial for being Un-American.

Last year we got rolled…hard. We were stopped dead in our tracks by an angry parent and Girl Scout leader, “What are you doing? You can’t sell cookies here! This is our street.” “We made a deal here with all of the girl scouts in the area and have already divided up the territory ahead of time.” Cause when you're a Jet you're always a Jet...
The Thin Mint Mafia had already decided on who owned what turf, who could sell where and who could not. Eventually the turf war between the elements in the Purple Sage group was smoothed over. All within the Cactus Pine district was well again.

Last year I had to go at 6:00 in the morning to help pick up the cookies for the troop. The distribution center looked like the end scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark with stacks of boxes as far as the eye could see. The pallets of boxes covered both the parking lots and the PE field of a high school. About a dozen semis continued to unload even more cookies. It was an amazing site that inspired awe.

When going door to door it is nice to see the reactions of some of the people as they say, “is it that time of year again?” On one of our last stops a woman came to the door and was happy to see Aimee as she said, “nobody has ever come to my door to sell me cookies, I have always wanted to buy Girl Scout Cookies.”
It is not the amount of cookies that she sells that makes the experience but to see the joyful reaction from the people as a little girl brings just a little bit of happiness in a box.

I’m Ready

The clothes have been pulled and folded, race number and timing chip are ready.

It’s supposed to be a cool 62 degrees tomorrow. I’ll let you know how I do.

Chasing a Hot Air Balloon in the Mini

Yesterday Aimee saw a hot air balloon rapidly descending over our house. At around 200 feet it looked as if it was going to land in the nearby golf course.

“Let’s chase it and see where it lands.” Jill said excitedly.

I ran in and grabbed my running shoes, wallet and digital camera. Aimee and Jill looked to the sky as I sped through the streets of Chandler.

About two miles from our house we saw the balloon as it attempted to land in a field next to the Holiday Inn. The balloon could not descend quickly enough and drifted dangerously close to Alma School Boulevard. Two long bursts from the burners and the balloon climbed to about 40 feet. We followed the balloon chase team to an empty lot where they again attempted to land …no luck. We then had to make a u-turn to get to a field that was across the street. The balloon flew directly above us by a mere 15 feet.

After two bounces the balloon stopped as the pilot opened the skirt and let out the hot air. As the giant collapsed in the open field a team of men hurried to fold it up. The well heeled passengers were then packed up into a van and headed off.

It was an exciting, spontaneous and fun moment of our afternoon

Preparing for Battle, Daily

Every night I prepare the armor and place it upon its stand.

Each piece is carefully chosen, each piece is methodically put into its place.

Shoes shined, slacks pressed, shirt starched.

Briefcase as shield, pen as sword, proximity badge as crest of arms.

As each piece is donned I envision what is to come and how it is to be faced.

I arrive and join the fray.

Each moment as melee, each day as battle.

I return only to repeat and to then face once more upon the gates.

Ho, Ho, Go!

Aimee, Jill and I were just in a holiday 5k fun run today. Aimee has accompanied me on long walks before and one time was able to jog about two miles.

This morning she ran about a mile and walked pretty much the rest of it. Jill took off and continued to run just after a mile. She then reappeared at the two-mile marker after backtracking a bit.

She told me to take off and go run the rest of the course. But I told her that I wanted to stay with Aimee and that I wanted to see her cross the finish line. As a family we walked and ran the last mile and ran through the finish line together.

Aimee finished at 53:45 for her first 5k…it was a great moment.

Margaret & Me

Back in 1968 I attended the Head Start education program in Hollywood (and yes, I’m old). My mother was interested in childhood education; my mom brought me along and put me into the program so that she did not have to pay for a babysitter and so that I could learn along with the rest of the kids. One of the kids at the center and whom I was friends with was routinely picked up by his grandmother. My mother would make small talk with her and talk about the kids and education. One of the things that my mom was able to get from her was that she was still in pain from an injury that she sustained on the set some thirty years earlier. That the 3rd degree burns that she received from the scene where she was departing angrily from Oz without the ruby slippers still caused her chronic pain. I remember seeing her quite a few times and a couple of times we exchanged smiles.

I didn’t make the connection that she was the one with the castle, broomstick, full contingent of guards (that went oh-wee-oh, eee-yoah-aaah) and flying monkeys.

Even if I did I was more scared of the actual Wizard himself, for he was loud, angry and could summon fire.

The Dog

It’s been almost three years since our Alaskan Malamute Sterling died.

He was a fantastic animal, strikingly beautiful, noble, dignified. He would stop traffic (literally)

But most important, he was a family member and friend.

His loss left a large hole.

We tried to get another Malamute but that failed miserably. The dog was more monster than animal, more beast than pet, destroyer of all things. Upon biting the kid it was over. He was sent packing.

We knew that without a dog that something was missing, that something was not right. People started saying that it was time for us to get another dog.

Jill and I were just walking out of Paradise Bakery and we saw a dog, a puppy. The puppy was just sitting there staring at the door waiting for the owner to come out. The dog would not make eye contact with us; it was intent at keeping its focus on the door to await its parents. We stooped to pet it and we instantly fell in love with it.



Just then the owner of the puppy came out. We found out that the puppy was an Australian Shepherd and that there was one more female left from the same litter. Immediately we contacted the breeder and took the last of the litter.

Ruby is now a year old. She’s high spirited, sensitive and intelligent. She tries to fit in as a member of the family. She even gets along with the cat.



We’ve had a few minor mishaps. Ruby hacked a hole on the backside of the bedspread. Jill lost three pairs of shoes, my iPod armband was destroyed, but other than that just tissues, paper towels and napkins are found shredded about the house. So far so good.

Ruby likes to run. A dog was chasing her in the park. As soon as the dog got even close Ruby looked back once, then hit the hyperspace button. She was gone. The pursuing dog saw this, lowered it’s head and just slowed to a trot and turned around.

With Ruby in our lives the family is once again complete. We have a dog and for some reason that fills a need in our life.