Spring time ritual

So a highlight of warm weather is always going to Bob's. Bob's is "the home of the Bob Dog". This drive in has been listed in Gourmet Magazine as one of the midwest's top places to get hot dogs and taverns. They neglected to mention their shakes and as far as I'm concerned that ranks right up there too. Tonight I tried their strawberry malt just to vary a bit from my usual peanut butter shake. Very good. It had whole chunks of strawberries. mmmmm! Their cheese balls and fries aren't all that great, but with a hot dog or tavern they usually go down pretty good. And in honor of the very lovely weather we finally had today, we even sat outside!

Buster's Story

It's nap time, right?

I always ride in the front! Home, James

Handsome stud-muffin!

Better let me in, it's cold out here!


My kids have always complained that I 'treat Buster better than I ever did any of them." to which I respond that 'I don't have to raise him to be a responsible adult'. Consequently, of course, we have a very spoiled dog. He isn't polite to company, he sleeps where he wants, makes a nuisance out of himself when he wants something, and always looks so forlorn when we leave him for extended amounts of time. Ron reminds me often that "He's a dog!" His life is easy and no doubt more comfortable, unfortunately, than many people in third world countries experience. I am filled with guilt. (sort of)
Buster started off with a Boston Terrier breeder who also had his two sisters. Since the breeder wanted more puppies he couldn't use Buster with his sisters. After a year of not being sold, Buster was listed on the internet at a very cut rate price. In December, Ron went hunting near Buster's home and I made him go check this cheap Boston terrier out. I didn't want a dog with something wrong with it, but as it turned out, he was just not a puppy anymore. We got him for an even lower price than we were asking and Buster happily rode away with Ron to come live with us. I was thrilled. He adapted so quickly it wasn't hard to spoil him. Ron calls him 'that dumb mutt' (and other such terms of endearment) I'm a little more, well, sweet with my endearments. We've had him for 9 years and i can't remember what it was like not to have a dog warm your legs when your napping. Or sit adoringly at your feet while you eat supper. Or what it was like without my own personal leg licker! He's a ball chaser, fetch player, bird chaser, walk loving, beggar. Buster unabashadedly loves people and expects the same from everyone. (though he is a bit confused by those people who insist he do what they say...one weimeraner owner comes to mind) We have had many dogs in our life time, and this is the first one who has been such a big part of the household. I'll keep him around as long as I can.

Summer Ride

This post isn't about a slide, but about a ride: the summer ride. It's always a short, fast ,and hot one. Except that this year we're starting out cold. But already it promises to kill me! I'm talking about summer at the library, of course. We are usually so busy we barely have time to breathe. I always wonder why kids sit at the computer playing games all day long instead of heading outside and enjoying a good book and the sunshine. Or at least enjoying the outdoors with some sort of imaginary...something. Today, naturally, the last day of school, and 49 degrees and cloudy outside well, I got their logic. We were crazy busy though. We haven't even started any of the programming yet. That will bring a new dimension to everything! I don't think i've spent too much time talking about work, and I promise not to use this spot as a place for that. I also don't want to wish my summer away. I want to, well if not exactly enjoy the busy ness of it all, at least be able to go with the flow of it all. My goal is to read books that I really should have read long ago, but never had to get to. Above all, relax in the moment of it.

We did get a few pictures:

They love their food! Snack time was an important part of the schedule.

Looks like he's eating a brownie, but it's a blue Tortilla chip. Food is a favorite with this boy.

He did fair on the pedalling thing but the steering part put him in the grass every time.

"It's ok Phin, you'll get a turn after me."

He really was having fun. Here's what happened when I stopped running up and down the sidewalk with him: