#may bad

Jack the Dog is a 75 pound (his diet is working!) Bernese Mountain/Australian Cattle rescue from Second Chance. 

He is stubborn, headstrong, hilarious, protective, sensitive, and the best snuggler I’ve ever known. He loves to chase rabbits, and doesn’t understand why he can’t do the same with turtles. He loves walks, especially trail walks. He takes over my entire bed some nights, and I’ll never make him move. Sometimes he’ll stare into his toy basket wagging his tail, like I can’t believe all these are mine. In short, he is perfect. 

A specific memory about someone who has passed that was important to me

Yesterday was May 30, 2019, and if my daughter Tandra was still with us she would have turned 40. She was on my mind a lot yesterday (and still is today. I have a lot of fond memories of her, and I thought I'd share this one.

The year was 1991, and it was a Friday night. Tandra was 12, and her best friend Kim was coming over to spend the night. Tandra asked me if I had a cassette or two of music to play in the background that night in her bedroom. Of all the cassettes I had, I thought the ones I had of Enya's first two albums would appeal to the two girls. So I loaned them to her.

The next day, Tandra returned the tapes to me with a somber look on her face. "Dad," she said, "don't ever give me music by that person again! That was the creepiest stuff we've ever heard! They ought to call that 'Music to Have Nightmares By'!"

Spinning in the streets of Savannah, after my mom’s bday dinner at The Grey, holding the meager leftovers of the best dessert I’ve ever had in my whole life.

that climate change is real and terrifying

that immigrants are human beings who deserve kindness

that people shouldn’t have to rely on gofundmes to pay their medical bills

the children are our future

that we should teach them well and let them lead the way

that women should have the right to choose and bodily autonomy

that scouring a menu online before you try a new restaurant is half the fun of eating out

that megalodons still exist, probably

that guns should be regulated like cars: insured, registered, have to pass a safety/proper use test before buying

in science

in miracles

that if there is a god, they definitely love us because they gave us dogs

that Taco Bell is actually good, regardless of whether or not it’s authentic

that vaccinations work

that for me, spending time in the woods, or by a big lake, or the ocean, or the mountains is therapy

that Vanderpump Rules is the greatest show on television

that we could all spend more time listening

that scallops are overrated as a menu item

that professional manicures are a waste of time and money

that watering your lawn is a waste of money and resources

that Doritos are better than cake

that Doritos are better than ice cream

that Doritos are better than cookies