Buy, buy, buy

Happy Facebook IPO day! We’re hoping to get a few shares from our stockbroker and become fabulously wealthy so that we can quit our day jobs and retire. I’ll keep you posted.

Update! We own 25 shares of Facebook! Working on my retirement letter!

Delicious!

Most of you know this story, but it deserves retelling. Early on a Saturday morning not long after Scooter came to live with us I found blood in the hallway. An immediate check of all three beagles revealed a small chunk taken out of Clayton’s ear. It had to have been done by Scooter because there was no evidence of a fight and Spenser and Clayton didn’t play together. As you know, ears bleed like crazy and this was such a gusher that we knew he needed to go to the vet. Trouble was, the vet didn’t open for about an hour. So Phillip applied pressure, and kept applying, and kept applying pressure until he just couldn’t apply pressure anymore and off we went to the emergency vet. They of course have a large cover charge, I believe it was $150 just to walk in the door. They took Clayton back to have a look-see and when the vet came out he asked how important it was to us for the ear to be restored to its original shape, or could we live with a notch in it. Of course we could live with the notch, we’ll call him Evander Holyfield, which pleased the vet. Clayton was such a good boy that they didn’t even have to knock him out for the suturing. I’m sure I’ve forgotten some details from this story so maybe Phillip can chime in. That notch really became a part of Clayton’s identity. It was adorable!

Atten HUT!

Congratulations to Cathy, Gomez and Lily, winners of the caption contest for:

All’alba vincerò!
vincerò, vincerò!

The fastest 8 days you can imagine

Hi! We got home Friday night. Uncle Bob picked up the boys from Camp Lawrenceville so they were waiting for us. Huge thanks to camp counselors Courtneay and Lance, not only for taking such good care of the boys but for posting during the week so we could check in on our iPad (which I heartily endorse as a vacation Internet device). We missed the boys but never worried about them.

Anyway, yes, it IS this beautiful! We had a wonderful time. Cathy and Judy came with us and we met up with some people from last year. Unfortunately I could only dive once due to a cold I got right before we left, but there was still not enough time to do everything. I read two books: a science fiction book called Triggers (a big meh!), and Anne Tyler’s new novel, The Beginner’s Goodbye, which was wonderful. The food was equally wonderful, maybe even more so, and the weather was B+/A-.

I remembered this couple from last year. By 8 AM, they’d dragged their chairs close to the water and spent the next 8-10 hours in full sun worship, getting up only to rotate their chairs, have lunch, and (to their credit) reapply sunscreen.

When not in his pup tent or out for a walk, Stanley was glued to my side this weekend. Don’t worry, Stan! We’re staying home!

Off to camp

The boys head to Camp Lawrenceville this morning, where they'll stay with their friend Maggie and camp counselors (and maitre d's) Courtneay and Lance. We're off to Jamaica for eight days! I will post a photo or two if I can get them from my camera to the iPad. And Courtneay promises a post or two as well. See you the week after next!

Sure is nice to have the deputy chief of police as your house sitter!

Lights or darks?

I love it when Phillip helps around the house! I was gearing up to make pumpkin muffins. Karen S. gave me a recipe a few years ago and I’ve tweaked it until it’s just perfect. Today I’m making Passover brownies, i.e., brownies without flour. We’re having our seder on Saturday night in Connecticut, at the new home of Phillip’s niece Gabrielle and husband Chad. I believe the entire dog contingent will be there so you can look forward to some photos of Moses on Monday.

This and that

Susan in DE take note, here is photographic evidence that Stanley is not always “on”.

Nancy In AZ asked a few questions. “What’s in Phillip’s garden?” to which the answer is the hot tub. No garden this year. She asked when is Phillip’s next video, and that actually might be soon. The other night Uncle Bob came over while Sherman was sleeping. Phillip got the camcorder, Uncle Bob sat on the floor, and they woke up Sherm. There was much joyous celebration. Nancy’s last question was what am I reading. At the moment I am between books, catching up on the pile of The New Yorkers. My last two books were just wonderful. Somehow I missed reading “A Wrinkle in Time” growing up, and thought it was just fantastic. And I highly recommend “Defending Jacob” which is a courtroom and family drama. A compelling page-turner. says this reviewer.

More fun with sticks (and branches)

I saw a woman walking a big yellow Lab the other day. The dog was carrying a stick in his mouth that must have been four feet long. Just trundling along, maybe even whistling for that matter, I couldn’t be sure. So, so cute.

He runs with scissors, too. Though not in his work clothes.

Try this at home

The bad news is: I have to mow the lawn. The good news is: I have to mow the lawn!

Yesterday morning, as usual, the boys went outside after breakfast. After a couple of minutes Stanley started to bark. And bark and bark and bark. Too much barking at 5:30 and I didn’t even know where he was because it was dark. “Oh, what the heck,” I tbought, “I’ll give it a try.” I opened the living room door and yelled “STANLEY! TREAT!” And to my amazement he came tearing back into the house a very happy and (still) hungry boy. A beagle miracle!

Feel the burn

Deep breath!

And lift!

Anything good on the counter?

Pivot!

And exhale!