The Urban Pantheist

On October 8th, we went to Cutler Park.

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When we first got Maggie she was 16 pounds and cute as the dickens. Here she is, 13 years ago tugging on the cord of a non-digital camera.

1. I bought a suit. I went to Men's Wearhouse, tried on their least expensive separates (199.00) and sent Alexis a pic. She said "looks good" I said "okay I'll take it" and then no thank you to the millions of add-ons available. I still don't have it with me because they need to cut about 18 inches off the legs. The best thing is that now I know my suit size (40 short; 34 inch waist; 27 inch inseam). So of course I bought a cheap one off the internet:

Alexis helpfully pointed out that the thing about a cheap suit is that it looks like a cheap suit.

2. Maggie got sprayed by a skunk again, 3/24/16

3. I bought a new camera lens with my tax refund and it's really good except it doesn't do the one thing I got it for, which is to take pictures of small things close up. On the bright side, perhaps I will take and post pics of birds now.

It's nice to realize that there are still unseen places to discover in a city as small as Boston; I've lived here since August of 1987. This is a chunk of the Stonybrook Reservation that at least one community group would like to see renovated and converted into a dog park.
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January: Carlisle


May: Angel Pecan
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I first noticed these very small (less than a mm long) flies when I was at work softball games. It turns out that sitting in a grassy field in summer is surefire way to encounter them. You increase your chances if you bring a dog with you, as the flies are drawn toward the mouth, ears, eyes, and anus of your companion. These are Chloropidae*, variously called frit flies, grass flies, or tellingly, eye gnats. Their larvae feed in the stems of grasses, while the adults seem to slake their thirst on sweat, tears, and other vertebrate bodily fluids. Some species, I am alarmed to report, are known to be vectors of conjunctivitis.


* "green eyed family"

We had a brief one night engagement with Calvin, a nervous goofy dog a little older than our usual fosters. Charlie got along with him pretty well, but Maggie took an instant dislike to him.


After several hours of solicitous play bowing, Maggie decided she liked him and wanted to play with him. After his real foster picked him up, Maggie was looking for him and acting like she wanted to play.

Another nice day in the yard. Maggie in full dead cow position.

( more stuff in and around the yard )

Jim?


JIM!!!!


Also Alex got Alexis a shirt with a picture of Maggie on it.
From here: http://www.doggietops.com/collections/841951-custom-designs/products/9339052-t-shirt-customized-design

Sometimes in the morning they just stand there at the top of the stairs