Backyard Romp

Joey and Ammala joined us in the backyard during a recent sunny afternoon.
The kids always enjoy a run in the yard, but even more so with Joey and Ammala along to join in the fun.

Going Public

I did it! I finally started leaving my car in the parking lot, and getting to work via a combination of bicycle and bus.

The combined total of my daily commute is just under two hours, and I had long been frustrated with the stress, expense, and waste of the daily drive. My final decision to try using public transportation was made when I realized that it was a change I could make to my daily life to better fit with my own politics. Even still, I was terrified that I would loathe the loss of my independence.

The first day I found it somewhat exhilarating biking in to the bus station, and I arrived with twelve minutes to spare after locking up my bike. I hadn't used a bike lock in five years, and it took me an embarrassingly long time to struggle with the right way to secure the bike to the rack.

While waiting for the bus, I noted that my hands were black and greasy from the bike. Even though I bought a vacuum sealed thermos, I couldn't stop thinking that I was spilling coffee all over the work clothes I'd tucked into my commuter pack. My face was rather sweaty from the ride in, but I was cheered to see that there were markedly less drunk people loitering at the bus stop then there were when I walked by and scoped it out Sunday afternoon.

When the bus pulled up, the driver informed me that not too many people bring their bikes on the bus, but since there is only room to load two bikes I should just make sure I get to the bus stop early enough to be one of the first two people with bikes in line. I sat down, and pulled out my thermos. I quickly realized that I would have to hold my thermos either between my legs or feet, since the seats do not come equipped with any type of drink storage. I pulled out my book, and relaxed until I arrived at my destination.

By my second day of not driving, I already began to test my limits of how late I could push leaving the house without missing the bus. I made it in plenty of time, and loaded my bike onto the bus. I sat down, and found that I have an embarrassing lack of tolerance for others. I was enraged, irrationally angry, because the man in front of me had his window open. Not only was he causing the air conditioning to run inefficiently, but the wind was blowing my hair and tickling it about my face. While I was somewhat surprised at how much this bothered me, I did take note of "Window Man," and sat farther away from him on future rides.

I have now been commuting without driving my car for over two months, and the experience, despite a few minor inconveniences, has been largely positive. I love the feeling that I get when I can proudly tell people that I choose to not drive to work. I love knowing that I am making at least a small difference by not buying over four hundred dollars worth of environment killing gasoline each month. I especially love how alive I feel biking in each morning, and the powerful feeling of my body getting stronger and more in shape. We'll see how tough I am when winter swoops in and begins to chill the morning air, but for now I love not driving to work.

Sammy Wants Some Cake

We recently had some cake with Richard on his birthday, and I was reminded that Teeca and Carlito aren't the only hounds that feel entitled to partake of all meals. Sammy is an enthusiastic and wonderful Italian Greyhound, and he very much wanted to help Richard celebrate his birthday by chowing down on some cake.

There's the Rub

Poor 'Lito.

What started as a small irritation turned into a full blown abrasion after Carlito began obsessively licking the spot on his leg. Since the sore was getting worse and he clearly wasn't going to stop licking his wound, we bought the E-Collar and cleaned his leg.

As soon as we set him up with the hated collar, Carlito's leg began to heal, and he is now fully free of the plastic torture device.