Blog Master G

Yesterday Happy attacked another dog at work. The other dog had balls — actual balls. Happy does not. Happy loves to play with all the dogs at work. But apparently not this one. I’d never seen him do anything like that before. Sure, he sometimes plays rough since his sister Stella is twice his size and he has to stand his own ground at home, but never before yesterday had he full-on attacked another dog.

It was a strange scene. I was meeting Karen in the parking lot to buy my 6 boxes of Girl Scout cookies. Happy was with me on leash. The dog with balls — a small pit mix — came running over and Happy immediately went loco on him. Thinking it was because Happy was on leash, I took him off leash since there were a couple other dogs running around. Happy took off to do his own thing. The unneutered dog followed him and Happy attacked again. So I pulled him off again. The facilities guy happened to be right there and told me Happy couldn’t come to work since he was “clearly the aggressor.” After the guy left, the other dog parents were really supportive of me and told me not to worry about it. In fact, the dog-mom of the unneutered male suggested I put Happy down and let them try to work it out. I did. They didn’t. The dog-mom said that it was because her dog is unneutered. I agreed.

It was strange and stressful. But not a typical day at the dog-office for Happy. He’ll come to work with me again today. We’ll stick to our usual routine. And avoid the dog who apparently incites rage with other dogs around the office, too.

There is no doubt a beastspeak at work among dogs that we humans cannot hear or begin to understand. As John said at last night’s all-you-can-eat dinner at Goat Hill Pizza, “How can humans say which dog was the aggressor?” I think he’s absolutely right.

Hmm…and we’re attacking Iraq because…?

North Korean Warplanes Intercept US Reconnaissance Aircraft

The wedding cake selection committee has entered the final rounds of deliberation and needs your input. Below is one of the top designs being considered for the cake. Cast your vote now!

(Hmm…I’m not quite sure if that looks enough like me, though.)

It’s such a good feeling to know you’re alive.
It’s such a happy feeling: You’re growing inside.
And when you wake up ready to say,
“I think I’ll make a snappy new day.”
It’s such a good feeling, a very good feeling.
The feeling you know that
I’ll be back when the day is new
And I’ll have more ideas for you.
And you’ll have things you’ll want to talk about.
I will too.
It’s such a good feeling, a very good feeling.
The feeling you know that we’re friends.

– Fred Rogers, 1928-2003

Even in passing, the man who greeted millions of us across multiple generations with a smile each day will still be with us every new day. Here’s to you, Mr. Rogers, and to embracing that feeling of being alive that you taught us.

Watch out: I embed one image in my blog and the floodgates are released! Here are more embedded images that I find hilarious and so very true in these times of evil warlords preparing to do battle:

The design for the new building at the site of the World Trade Center was chosen today:

World Trade Center plan chosen

At 1,776 feet, the new spire will surpass what are currently the tallest buildings in the world, the 1,483-foot Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia.

As are most other people, I am also torn and emotionally confused about what should be built to replace the Twin Towers. But I agree that to rebuild is important. Just as we must not live our lives in fear of terrorism, life must also go on. We must rebuild to show the world that America will prosper and cannot be struck down by 19 maniacs in planes.

So what better way of making a statement than by building what will be the tallest structure in the world? Sounds like a plan to me (even if it does border on American arrogance).

And it is in this spirit of newness that I bring you the first embedded image in my blog (with input from my lovely Jen, I’ve decided it may be time to spruce up my design a bit — at least by including the occasional photo or image).

I’m beginning to wonder if Web site guestbooks aren’t as popular as they once were. Since launching my own guestbook on 1.15.03, only a handful of folks have signed it — and they’re all friends and family whom I encouraged to sign. So what’s up with that? I ask. Why not sign my guestbook? Or if that’s no longer the cool thing to do, drop me a line to tell me why guestbooks are no longer hip.

Curious Gabes want to know.

Here’s the CNN story about today’s Virtual March:

CNN.com – Activists hold ‘virtual march’ on Washington – Feb. 26, 2003

And here’s a powerful quote from Feinstein (I tried to call her, but was only able to get through to Tom Lantos):

“I’ve learned when they get up over 30,000 to 40,000 from California, then I know there is really a movement,” Feinstein said. “These 40,000 phone calls we’ve received is probably the highest number of phone calls we’ve gotten for anything.”

Maybe now our elected representatives will get the message that going to war is not what “The People” want.

City life is great. I’m working from home today and went for a walk to run some errands at lunch time. All within about 30 minutes, I went to the post office to mail nearly 200 save-the-date cards for the wedding; I weighed my tax packet with all my tax-related documents in it ($2.41 required postage) to send to my tax person; I walked to the 5-and-dime shop (yes, my neighborhood has an actual 5-and-dime shop!), and got a haircut at the local barber shop, Sunset Barber Service. It’s so cool to be able to do things like that in so little time.

Especially cool was the barber shop: 15 bucks (plus 5 tip) for a quick and dirty cut and neck massage, which was quite unexpected. You certainly don’t get that type of service at overpriced $45 salons like the one down the street from me where I would never go. I refuse to pay more than 20 bucks for a haircut. It’s just silly. Sure, my barber-done do isn’t the best I’ve ever had, but I’m happy to support a local father-son shop (the son cut my hair) that represents what communities used to be and should be like (rather than being overrun with manufactured Starsucks and other such uniqueness-smothering chains).

The only representative whose switchboard was not busy was that of The Honorable Tom Lantos:

Information on Representative Tom Lantos of California

After some initial stumbling of my words just now, I managed to express my disapproval of a move toward war against Iraq.

I urge you (much more eloquently in text than I did verbally), too, to call your representative and express your concern!