More Barking, Sniffing, Scratching

Well, I overheard that I'll be staying with the big guy for a couple of more days. I don't quite know what is up with my human, but where ever that can-da place is, it must take a while to get back. What's he doing? Walking back?

The big guy takes me for walks every day. I have to check out where all of the other dogs have been the last day, and make sure that they know where to find me. Of course, I do rule this neighborhood. They may not know it now, but yes, I do rule. Like those two shitzus who live by the parkland over there, when they saw me from the balcony, they knew who was in charge. I didn't have to give them a second look.

Did he fill my dish yet?...hold on.

Nope, still empty. One thing that's bothering me is that the big guy won't let me go through the land of poop anymore. On the walk we were going through this one area between buildings that apparently a lot of the dogs find that this is the best spot to take care of business. Big guy seemed to have a hard time navigating through the field, and now he refuses to go back there. Humans. Their so stubborn. This one needs more training.

The big guy was talking to his boyfriend last night. I can tell because he gets all excited and dopey, plus they spend long periods not talking to each other. It seems like his boyfriend wants a puppy. Big guy kept saying that he should get one if he wants one. If he wants one! Doesn't he know there's a heavy screening process that humans need to go through first? They have to be heavily sniffed and checked out. Not just any human can take care of one of us. I mean, what if that person's a cat person? *Shudder*

Let me check...

Yep, he's still on the couch, watching that silly box. I think he was supposed to go to work yesterday, but he blew it off and stayed with me for a while.

Oh, and you know something. IT'S NOT BACON!

The big guy got me some new treats, and I think their supposed to be bacon, but it's not. He also got me the wrong food. He mentioned that he couldn't find what my human told him to get. Still, the stuff is totally wrong. I've got standards. I don't just eat anything. Sure, there's the stuff in the trash can, but that's worth looking over. You know, I'm a sensitive guy I don't just go for any...well, I did eat a whole bowl of it last night. Well OK. If I have to eat it.

Still, I'm going to manage to get this guy in shape before I leave. Dog eye for the big guy.

I think he just made some lunch. I have to go stare at him until he gives me some.

-Trevor

Leaps Of Logic and Such

Since today is Leap Day it's a good chance for me to catch up on a few random elements. It's been a very busy week for me, and there's been developments that on a normal week, I would have said something about.

I do want to do a small ad for Chipotle, the burrito place. For Leap Day, they are offering a buy a burrito today, get one free in the next week. I got mine for lunch. Yea free food!

Alright. This week I went to the dentist. Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal, but I'm not a fan of dentists. I hadn't been in over 10 years. Part of that time, I couldn't afford it, but I've had insurance for the last 5, so it was a deliberate avoidance thing. Of course you pay a price for not going to the dentist, and I had the teeth cleaning of doom. It was so good, that I will have to go back in another week for another cleaning to finish it off. Still, the assistant thought I'd done OK in taking care of my teeth. Looks like I'll have to get a night guard though to help my jaw and stop teeth grinding.

Did you know that they don't use the little spit bowls anymore? I guess it's all about keeping things clean. there was plastic tape on everything. The rules have changed. For one thing, they use an ultrasonic thing to clean the tartar off, rather than scraping with that metal pick. Still, it's not without some pain. It's good that I did it now though, my gums were having fun already.

I still hate dental X-rays though. I've never had an easy time with those things. My gag reflex kicks in everytime. I would have thought that increased sexual activity would have made that easier for me this time, but it's still a problem.

Second. I did a little acting this week. We had a presentation at the department-wide meeting, and I suggested we do a tongue-in-cheek play. Of course some of our stick-in-the-mud supervisors thought that senior VP Mary wouldn't go for it, but once we told her what we'd be doing, she was on board. Everyone thinks mary doesn't have a sense of humor, and that everything must be business like, but I know better. No one else had done this and I thought it was a great way to market out program, a way to educate our reps on each of the department's five groups.

So we wrote up a small script, primarily from our word smith, Ed. he wrote our CSI parody we filmed for the Denver office. Still, we had supervisors playing the role of reps who wanted to help the other groups, but they didn't know how...so in comes Hootie the Owl to tell them about the new program so they can learn. We practiced a few times, and well, none of them are actors, and I'm just a ham, so I kept asking, "Is this too big?" They kept saying no. Silly them.

So we get to the meeting, and we're all sitting up front, waiting for the part of the meeting to go. They all take their places and start, while I sit there, waiting. My part comes up ("I wish there was a program to learn. *sigh*") and I jump up to the platform bellowing, "HI BOYS AND GIRLS! I'M HOOTIE THE OWL!" thankfully there were no costumes. I continued to shout the rest of the lines, sounding something like a sideshow barker as done by the Great Guildersleeve. Yes?

Still, it got noticed, and was a big success. I think it's fun to get up and do something silly every once in a while. Mary drolly said, "I think Hootie needs to be toned down just a little," and everyone laughed. We took bows to the applause. I love this.

One other thing. I wrote an editorial. May people have congratulated me on it, and I'm humbled and thankful for the kudos. One thing is that people are saying I'm a budding activist. Maybe. I still associate activist with a fringe thing, so I'm coming to grips to the fact that I can be motivated and political. Of course, this weekend I just wanted to chill.

I had dinner with John and Dawn Bland, last night. Dawn had sent the Chronicle link to people in her office. she had said that they had been talking about the marriage issue for the last couple of days, and that my article had summed things up pretty well. I was flattered. I'm glad I could make a difference, and that people noticed. I wonder how many other people noticed.

The other neat thing is that Pete () linked to it in his journal, and I saw a comment to it that really made me feel good. To paraphrase, I am working from the inside with my opinion, and it's harder to dismiss because conservatives often dismiss ideas from the liberals. It was reasoned and smart. Wow. that's amazing.

The Chronicle hasn't run any letters responding to it yet. I'm interested to see what the reaction is. I'm also wondering if it's too late to try to market this to some other papers.

Still, being an activist. Hmm. I will stand for what I think is right, and I do think I won't back down in a fight, but I don't know how, active, I will be. I'm wondering what I'll do. Only time will tell I guess.