Reflections on animal behavior and human emotions.
Farewell Rhode Island
Cranston, Rhode Island has been my home for the last two months. I arrived not knowing what to expect and leave loving the city, the state and the people. A partial list of reasons why, in no particular order: Every week, I find a different waterfront bench to rest on and meditate. Every day, I […]
Back to School
Providence, RI, I attended a class at Brown University taught by my nephew-in-law Dan Vaca, Professor of Humanities. This is a seminar class as opposed to a lecture so there are only 21 students, supposed to be 18 but Dan relinquished. With this size class, 30% of the final grade is based on class participation, […]
Bodies of Water
(still in Cranston, RI) I know little about astrology but as a water sign (Pisces), it jives with my love of water. Living in Cranston for two months gives me access to lakes, rivers, oceans, sailboats and ferries. On Saturday, Dan, Julia, Sam, Sylvia, Arden and I boarded a ferry for an hour-long ride to […]
Farewell Rhode Island
Cranston, Rhode Island has been my home for the last two months. I arrived not knowing what to expect and leave loving the city, the state and the people. A partial list of reasons why, in no particular order: Every week, I find a different waterfront bench to rest on and meditate. Every day, I […]
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Back to School
Providence, RI, I attended a class at Brown University taught by my nephew-in-law Dan Vaca, Professor of Humanities. This is a seminar class as opposed to a lecture so there are only 21 students, supposed to be 18 but Dan relinquished. With this size class, 30% of the final grade is based on class participation, […]
Read More
Bodies of Water
(still in Cranston, RI) I know little about astrology but as a water sign (Pisces), it jives with my love of water. Living in Cranston for two months gives me access to lakes, rivers, oceans, sailboats and ferries. On Saturday, Dan, Julia, Sam, Sylvia, Arden and I boarded a ferry for an hour-long ride to […]
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Live Music and Lemonade
(still in Cranston, RI) Live Music On Saturday, I went to see Julia and her band perform at a downtown Providence park near the Pedestrian Bridge, which appropriately named, connects the East side of the city to the Innovation District. Down the middle of the bridge are curved, wood-slat benches with attached tray tables that […]
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Days 28-89: Cranston, RI
People ask, “Why Rhode Island?” My niece Julia, her husband Dan and their children Sam and Sylvia live here. I was close to Julia when she was young, but hardly know her children. I’ve seen them less times than their ages of eight and eleven. I’ve never been to Rhode Island and have spent little […]
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Day 27: Youngstown, OH to Bud Lake, NJ
Starting mileage: 10,248 Ending mileage: 10,592 Gas purchased in Harrisville, PA: $4.65 per gallon Today was a hard driving day because of the weather. The rain made it difficult to see the faint white lines on the road. I slowed my speed to 50 in the 65 mph limit and stayed in the right lane. […]
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Day 26: South Haven, MI to Youngstown, OH
Starting mileage: 9,879 Ending mileage: 10,248 Gas purchased at Indiana Travel Plaza: $3.96 per gallon I’ve had my car since August 2020, and I finally hit 10k miles. That’s what Covid and working from home gets you. Today was a travel day, and I learned what a Travel Plaza in Indiana and a Service Plaza […]
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Days 22-25: South Haven, MI
Starting Mileage: 9,652 Ending Mileage: 9,879 I arrive in South Haven two hours later than my anticipated 12:30 pm arrival. I knew I was going to be an hour late because I didn’t leave as planned. The second hour is a surprise to me when I learn that South Haven is on EST. I was […]
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Day 21: Clive, IA to Oglesby, IL
Starting mileage: 9,384 Ending mileage: 9,652 Gas purchased in Oglesby, IL: $4.40 per gallon Today was uneventful, a good thing, since we just drove from one 1-night stay to the other. Arden and I walked around the lake at the Farm Bureau campus again this morning. We both loved it. I like getting in a […]
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Day 20: Cozad, NE to Clive, IA
Starting mileage: 9,081 Ending mileage: 9,378 Gas purchased in Stuart, IA: $4.30 per gallon I drove over 5 hours today which is more than typical. There weren’t a lot of options to stop sooner, and I have a shorter drive on Thursday before I meet my high school girlfriends around noon. Not sure if I’m […]
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Day 19: Denver, CO to Cozad, NE
Starting mileage: 8,711 Ending mileage: 9,018 Gas purchased in Cozad, NE: $3.60 per gallon On the road again. I pull out the map Saturday night and divide the next 16 hours of my trip into fourths when the term “flyover states” resonates. Many of the exits off Interstate 80 that takes me from Nebraska to […]
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Days 12-18: Denver, CO
Starting mileage: 8,342 Ending mileage: 8,711 Gas purchased in Denver, CO: $4.40 per gallon Today is my last full day in Denver, and if you’ve been following me on social media, you know I love it here. I’m sad to go, but I’m excited about where I’ll be come Thursday… with my FDHS girls, Barb, […]
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Days 10-11: Delta, CO
Starting mileage: 7,966 Ending mileage: 8,342 Gas purchased in Price, CO: $4.90 per gallon Gas purchased in Delta, CO: $4.27 per gallon When I started this adventure, I decided to limit my travels to @ 300 miles a day and no more than 5-hours driving. Steadfast in this mission, I’ve overestimated the time needed to […]
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Day 9: Salt Lake City
When I booked my stay in Park City, I knew no one there. Not only did Madeline reach out, but I learned that my friend Elli’s daughter Lizzy goes to the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, only 30 minutes away. Lizzy and I made plans to meet up on Friday at 11:30 after […]
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Days 4-9: Park City, UT
Starting mileage: 7,879 Ending mileage: 7,996 I love Park City. I’d planned to spend 2 weeks in Denver, but the Airbnb’s were expensive there, so I reduced my time in Denver and inserted Park City. I’m glad it worked out this way. My apartment backs up to the “Rail Trail,” an abandoned railroad corridor that […]
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Day 3: Marysvale, UT to Park City, UT
Starting mileage: 7,680 Ending mileage: 7,879 Gas purchased in Santaquin, UT: $4.49 per gallon Before I left L.A, I visited the local AAA office to request a TripTik Travel Planner, which is a service they offer that provides physical maps for your requested journey. If you’re old enough, perhaps you remember what these are — […]
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Day 2: Las Vegas, NV to Marysvale, UT
Starting mileage: 7,376 Ending mileage: 7,680 Gas purchased in Mesquite, NV: $5.53 per gallon I am grateful that Marie invited me to hike the Calico Basin trail. It was a healthy way to start my morning and spend time with a friend and our dogs. The basin is just outside Red Rock Canyon and features […]
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Day 1: Los Angeles, CA to Las Vegas, NV
Starting Mileage: 7,088 Ending mileage: 7,376 Gas purchased in Victorville, CA $6.79 per gallon Arden loves riding in the car. This is his first long car ride since he rode with Lisa and me from LA to LA (Los Angeles to Louisiana) and back. It’s different traveling alone with a dog, especially when it’s hot […]
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Takeoff
Day 0 minus 30 On July 6, 2022, I retired from Bank of America…again. I’d been back at the Bank a decade since my first retirement and when I turned 62 with 10 years of service, I was eligible. My boss, a year older than me, and I talked about retirement often, usually when undesirable […]
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Teri Austin: From Actor to Activist
In Man of the House: Life with the Lady at the End of My Leash, yellow Labrador Mac calls Mary and all humans “leashers.” Today I talk with Teri Austin, President of Amanda Foundation, who rescued and healed my beloved dog, Arden. But Amanda Foundation is so much more than a rescue. Their “four legs” […]
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I Weigh More than a Quarterback
It’s April 24, 2020, and the nation is glued to their televisions, computers, tablets or phones to watch the NFL Draft. I’m one of those people which is unusual because I’m not much of a football fan. I like watching basketball and tennis. I understand the rules, and it’s easier to see what the players […]
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Rand Rusher: Pack Leader
In Man of the House: Life with the Lady at the End of My Leash, yellow Labrador Mac calls Mary and all humans “leashers.” Today I talk with Rand Rusher, a registered nurse, founder and owner of RR Aesthetics, and one of the most sought-after injection and skin care consultants in the country. “We don’t […]
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Crystal DiMiceli: Have Cats Will Travel
In Man of the House: Life with the Lady at the End of My Leash, yellow Labrador Mac, calls Mary and all humans “leashers.” Today I’ve switched it up and am talking to a cat owner… love is love. Crystal DiMiceli is the host of the Forces for Nature podcast where she interviews people who […]
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Roxanne Wallace: Love for Whiskey and Dogs
In Man of the House: Life with the Lady at the End of My Leash, yellow Labrador Mac, calls Mary and all humans “leashers.” Today I talk with Dr. Roxanne Wallace, a Colonel in the US Army and an Orthopedic Surgeon currently stationed in Afghanistan. “I serve to heal” is her essence as she works […]
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Vivien Vitolo: Bonus Years with Boo
In Man of the House: Life with the Lady at the End of My Leash, yellow Labrador Mac, calls Mary and all humans “leashers.” In the first of a series, I talk with leasher Vivien Vitolo. Vivien is a visual and story driven creative spirit which led her to the world of advertising and television. […]
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By Her Side
“When a loved one is coming, sometimes they make it and sometimes they don’t. Whatever happens is the way it is supposed to be. It’s what the patient wants,” spoke the hospice nurse on the other end of the line. The “loved one” was me in Los Angeles. “They” was my Mom in Virginia, and […]
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His Name is Arden
I have a new dog, and his name is Arden. All is right with the world again. I said goodbye to earthly Mac almost three years ago. My purpose in life died with him. I’ve been ready for a new four-legged baby for a while, waiting for the perfect time that would never come. I […]
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8 Things to Consider Before Adopting a Dog
The idea of adopting a dog – much like the idea of having a baby – is often romanticized. What we often don’t consider before bringing a joyful bundle of fur into our lives is just how much doing so might change things. Here are eight things to consider before bringing a dog into your […]
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How I Learned about Authenticity from a Mentally Ill Person
I don’t know her name. I call her Smoky because I rarely see her without a cigarette clasped between her index and middle fingers or dangling from her lips. A tall African America woman perhaps in her 60’s with few teeth and big brown eyes, Smoky lives in a nice apartment in West Hollywood as […]
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Five Famous People and Their Dogs … Before Social Media
Celebrities love their dogs, and they love to flaunt their pets on Twitter and Instagram almost as often as they share with the world their favorite Boba flavor. But what about famous people who have gone before us? Did they love dogs as much as we do? The dogs of yore didn’t wear jewelry or […]
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Comparing the Death of a Pet to the Death of a Loved One
My 93-year-old Mom once said, “I think you’ll miss Mac when he’s gone more than you’ll miss me.” I jokingly replied, “But Mom, I see him every day, and you’re 3,000 miles away.” Sadly, my Mac is gone and gratefully, Mom is still with us at 96. Losing a pet can be as difficult as […]
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