He’s started doing that not because he needs food or to go out but because he wants me to play with him and it’s getting obnoxious.

This is Skinner. Non-stop whining. In particular when my sister is here and she is getting my attention. The solution is more exercise, but I haven't been doing that. Maybe when I get back to Florida and have a convenient dog park. He is so much better when he runs.

I'm trying to make life decisions involving my house and business. I decided to make a sharable spreadsheet with 4 options and pros/cons to each. I'll put a bunch in then have Brendon add his notes. Life goes on year after year without an actual plan, and now I want a plan. Not getting any younger here! Things to do, places to go, and all that.

How’s everyone?

I'm ready for October. Just got my fall royalties, which aren't a lot but that Tom Waits book is still a steady earner.

We're getting geared up for the Memorial service next week for JZ's dad (pushed back twice by COVID). But JZ's brothers will be in town (they still have a lot of estate things to work on) and we should get to see the young cousins.

I'm getting together with my friend Jes tomorrow. She's an artist I've commissioned work from so we get together periodically to see how it's coming along, and I get to buy her food and drink and feel like a right patron of the arts.

JZ and I have taken to walking a different neighborhood every Sunday and we're just starting to get used to eat at restaurants again (mostly outside parklets).

and now I want a plan. Not getting any younger here! Things to do, places to go, and all that.

Same!

Go Laura, get that plan!!

Also yeah my sisters old dog used to just constantly whine at you if you were sitting down unless you were actively handing him a treat. It was hugely obnoxious and I do not want a doggo who does that. But he has SO MUCH ENERGY. And he doesn’t usually run much at dog parks. Occasionally he’ll find a dog to chase, or he’ll get into chasing the ball, but mostly not. Only with his “friends”. So daycare it is.

I saw a video of someone who brought a remote-controlled toy car to a dog park and ended up with an entire pack of dogs chasing it. They seemed to enjoy it ... and with that car, there was a chance they could actually catch it.

Long ago I used to fly a stack of three Trlby stunt kites [link] with forty-foot tails at the park. Some of my fonder memories are of when dogs would chase after the tails, back and forth as I made low sweeping horizontal passes that kept the tails just out of the dogs' reach.

That sounds like a good time for everyone, dcp!

I went actually into the doctor's office for my "well woman" exam yesterday and so far the highlights are (a) I need to go see the blood pressure specialist to see if mine stays high this time or goes down to normal when I am in their lovely spa like atmosphere as has happened every previous time I've been sent there and (b) I seem to have lost 30 pounds in the last two years and a couple months. That second one is surprising. All I can figure is that in my totally irregular eating habits of the last year+, the days when I ate way too little outnumbered the days when I ate way too much. Sometimes I do just go to bed because dinner is too hard, perhaps that's more often than I supposed. I have certainly not been exercising and I have definitely been eating junk of whatever quantity on any given day, so it's hard to think of it as a healthy outcome but I guess it's fine. I, um, don't recommend this regimen to anyone, fwtw

Something went wonky with the work internet connection overnight and I couldn't get in here (and...4 other legit sites, so far) today. Very sad! Thank goodness for mobile capabilities!

David, what is the title of your Tom Waits book? My friend that I recommended your tour to (in the before times) has a birthday coming up next month. I could get his bday present and feel like I am also a patron of the arts!

Timelies all!

The school asked us to keep Mr. S home today and tomorrow. Luckily, these are Gary’s work from home days, and the nanny came in for a few hours. As for the meds, we will be switching one of the meds and adding a booster dosage to the other. Let’s hope this helps.

David, what is the title of your Tom Waits book? My friend that I recommended your tour to (in the before times) has a birthday coming up next month. I could get his bday present and feel like I am also a patron of the arts!

Swordfishtrombones!: [link]

Note you can also get the audiobook on CD if that's a medium that your friend still has viable. (And the woman who did the audiobook is great.)