At the tail end of one of the not-the-greatest last weeks, I found out Gavin has cancer again and needs to have surgery again. He just recovered from his stomach surgery months after having it, so I was looking forward to giving him ease and joy for the remainder of the year. But that’s not… View more
When I’m alone in the shop, I listen to inspirational podcasts. Tony Robbins and Oprah Winfrey are among my favorites. Listening to people who do and give back to the world in significant ways inspires me to want to do the same. Then I go back to my day, making three grocery store trips to… View more
When Gavin and I lived with my brother Chris, my nephew Isaac often joined us on walks, which I loved. One day, we were traipsing through their neighborhood when an off-leash dog approached us. I panicked and yelled, “Go, go, go,” while my heart raced, and I emphatically flailed my arms around. Gavin and Isaac looked… View more
In the 23 years that I’ve had dogs as an adult, my current apartment is the first place I’ve had my own backyard. I’m sure my awe and excitement will wain, but I hope I always appreciate the private space Gavin and I can enjoy together. The other night, I was reading in my lounge chair,… View more
Our first kitchen day back after I moved was going amazingly well. Our flow was smooth sailing, and we ran a bit ahead of schedule until I accidentally stripped a bolt when taking Felix (the piston filler) apart for cleaning. We tried everything to undo it, and not one of the four additional people who attempted… View more
When I’m alone in the shop, I often listen to inspirational podcasts or YouTube videos while I work. One of my favorite philosophies is Abraham Hicks, so much so that I subscribed to their email list. And one of this week’s daily messages mentioned doing what makes us happy, whatever floats our cork. I got the… View more
My first dog-as-an-adult, Finn, was an absolute hooligan. When I met Finn, I was instantly in love, but he happily wreaked havoc everywhere we went. Our first trip to Columbus from Chicago was akin to a National Lampoon movie. The second I opened the front door, Finn saw the cat and chased her up the… View more
Gavin’s always been sound sensitive, but after we were attacked by two dogs who broke out of their backyard, his senses heightened when on walks, as did mine. When we left Chicago, I was still deciding where we’d land, so we stayed with my brother in a quiet suburb outside Columbus, Ohio. Not only did… View more
I often joke that I must have been the testiest twit in a previous life because Gavin is the pokiest creature I’ve ever met. Even though he thrives on routine and loves snuggling and sleeping at my mom’s house on kitchen days, getting him out the door weekly provides me with monumental moments to practice patience. … View more
