Great name and correct priorities. First things first.

Last year, when we lost Margie and Rocko within a few months of each other, we decided we didn't want to have any more dogs. Of course when anyone asked, and they did, "Are you going to get a new puppy?" our response was, "Not right now." We always qualified it that way because we knew life happens and everything changes everything.

My wife's good friend of over 35 years has been battling colon cancer for 15 years. She'd have surgery and get treatment, get a diagnosis of "no evidence of cancer" and then it would come back in a few years. This time it came back with a vengeance. It had spread throughout her body and there was no treatment that will save her. She had arranged for a friend to take her dog when it was time. A few weeks ago she sent my wife a note, "Other friend is backing out, can you take the dog?" Of course the answer was yes.

Last Monday we were in Colorado - my wife at a conference and I was visiting family - when my wife got a message. It was time. We changed our flight home to go to Los Angeles. Rented a car and went to the friend's house. She can't get out of bed anymore and her time left is counted in days and not weeks. But she was happy to see us and happy that her dog was going to be taken care of. We then got in the car and drove back to Arizona


This is Maggie



Never had a small dog before. It's ... different. But she's a sweetheart.

hi Maggie! nice to meet you!
awesome stuff Didace...sorry about your friend.

Didace, so sorry to hear about your friend's situation. Hopefully Maggie fills you guys with lots of good memories.

Good folks!
Pretty dog. And a very lucky dog.
Sorry to hear about your friend. Best wishes to all!

Maggie is beautiful... welcome to your new home!

Maggie is going to be a very happy pup

Dino napping

is he an Italian Kat?

Lol no, he's named for Dean Martin...whose real name is Dino. I have another cat named Frankie, for Sinatra:

NICE!

consider eight calendar weeks ample warning for another update

same chair for scale, promise it wasn't posed
ears now fully upright i suppose constantly adjusting toward optimal signal reception
also thunk i seen shorter legs on a baby giraffe before spouse snuck up and captured our afternoon nap

Uh-oh. She has hit those awkward, seductive teenage years.

if i'm familiar with the Niko | Nikita connection it's at a professional level, doncha ya know?
the police sting for Lolita alias is something i have no interest in

Too complex for me.
Beware the Eyeds of Electra!

i'll quickly admit to a few fairly obscure references

la femme nikita was written by luc besson, who also wrote leon: the professional starring a teenage natalie portman and jean reno
sting from the police once sung a song referencing a book by nabokov
but Niko will never become lolita hence no name change needed
you rip at this esophagus please homer if you believe i allowed loaded dice

Only Sting would think to rhyme cough with Nabakov.

Nice weather here, so every morning she comes charging out to start her shift of patrolling round the garden.



She seems to know the time as at bang on 5pm everyday she'll clock out and go back to chill in her house for the evening.

very cool!