Homecoming
Big Day with the puppy being picked up and brought home. Princess A went with me on the three hour drive to pick the bitty thing up, and took the wheel on the way back. The as-yet-unnamed puppy did very well on the trip, not getting sick and mostly dozing and climbing on me a bit. After getting home, we ran to the pet store to get a collar that fit (two other ones didn’t), and then climbed in the exercise pen for some relaxing and getting used to the place.
Note: I took doggo into the store to get the collar, and was stopped by no less than six million people to comment on how cute she is and what gorgeous blue eyes. I need to put a scarf on her and teach her to play frisbee catch; chicks dig that, and I’m all about the chicks.
After just a few minutes of play and exploration she crashed pretty hard. She whined a bit while looking around, and my guess is she’s used to about 15 puppies within a couple weeks of her age to climb on and play with. My place is pretty quiet, so she seemed to calm when I played some background music. Good news is she doesn’t seem to have hearing problems, which can happen with the white coloring.
Parthle-tongue programming
“She has White Walker eyes” — Amanda
Apologies to the Harry Potter fans for the title, but I was unable to resist. And I really tried. I believe snakes would have a fun time trying to say “Parseltongue”.
This week, I re-connected with a friend from my former life in high tech. He just published (another) book, his second on Python programming, and is more smarter than I. Proof of that is I sat in full sunlight and ended up with sunburn on my already ravaged face. Funny enough, he also was one of the people that created Ultimate Frisbee, and even was in the first international disc golf competition.
I’ve been out a couple times this week flinging discs at my target, and generally worked all the way up to “really awful” in terms of distance and accuracy. Amazed by the improvement! Tip: throwing discs into traffic is great cardio. In the vein of activities, I also started sword lessons with a retired weapons master. Maybe I’ll be the next Hero to rise to fame in the realm.
I also tried out a kickbike — an amazing artist friend invited me to try it out, and give me a tour in the wetland levees in the North part of Sunnyvale. We even saw a bald eagle.
Can I just say I really really love being retired? All the things I’ve considered, contemplated, wished, or otherwise put off I now have the opportunity to chase if I choose to. And I’m in full health and young enough to enjoy it.
In other news, I got a new picture of my puppy. I’ll be picking her up the second week of next month, and she just keeps getting cuter. I’m currently looking at pet insurance - something I never thought I’d be thinking about. Additionally, I’m trying to locate two vets: one for regular stuff, and the second one being an emergency clinic. You never know what puppies might get into, or what might get into them.
My blue eyes see into your soul
Princess B flew out and went back to the East coast, but we had good times together. We visited the Redwoods before she left, and had a short hike looking at the trees. She’s now engaged, and both she and her fiancé are starting the process of picking the right stories to tell people they don’t want to invite to the event.
Pick of the litter, or Dog is my co-pilot
04/19/2023
I’ve shared with some people that I have an Australian Shepherd I’m waiting to pick up. She’ll be old enough to go home with me in June, and she’s cuter than your dog already. OK, maybe not so pretty to look at yet, but she’s going to be cuter than your dog.
I haven’t named her yet, and plan to do so when we meet and I get a better feeling for if she’s a “Fido” or “Rufus”.
