Is everyone I know just like me? I don’t want to live in a bubble. And that can be hard to prevent. I live in a town that is self-consciously progressive. The kind of town Fox News talking heads would describe as full of granola-eating, Birkenstock-wearing, Volvo driving elitists who are out of touch with …
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Breakthroughs – The Lessons Come When You’re Ready to Learn Them
Lately, I’ve read a few accounts by writers on getting their first dog. The part of me that’s a big old “Judgie McJudger” starts wondering, “What were they thinking? Did they really believe just tossing a seven week old puppy into a crate was a good idea? How did they think their dog would learn …
The Puppiness Project – Celebrate the Day; Don’t Mourn the Future
Gretchen Rubin wrote in The Happiness Project about the year she spent “test-driving the wisdom of the ages, the current scientific studies, and the lessons from popular culture about how to be happy.” The Puppiness Project is my attempt to learn the same from Honey, my Golden Retriever. Tomorrow is summer solstice in my hemisphere. And …
Craft the Good Life? Or Get a Cat?
My greatest ambition When I was 14 I wanted to be president. Or at least Secretary of State. Thirty years later, my ambitions have minified a bit. Now, my goal is to be a slacker. Or at least to support myself in some way that doesn’t require me to wear shoes. Or a bra. That …
The Puppiness Project – It’s Infatuation
Gretchen Rubin wrote in The Happiness Project about the year she spent “test-driving the wisdom of the ages, the current scientific studies, and the lessons from popular culture about how to be happy.” The Puppiness Project is my attempt to learn the same from Honey, my Golden Retriever. I’m infatuated with my dog. I think about …
The Puppiness Project – Don’t Be Afraid to Look Stupid
Gretchen Rubin wrote in The Happiness Project about the year she spent “test-driving the wisdom of the ages, the current scientific studies, and the lessons from popular culture about how to be happy.” The Puppiness Project is my attempt to learn the same from Honey, my Golden Retriever. Lately I’ve tried shaping new behavior from Honey …
The Puppiness Project – You’ll Feel Better After a Walk
Gretchen Rubin wrote in The Happiness Project about the year she spent “test-driving the wisdom of the ages, the current scientific studies, and the lessons from popular culture about how to be happy.” The Puppiness Project is my attempt to learn the same from Honey, my Golden Retriever. I love walking my dog. Except when I’m …
The Puppiness Project – Fix Your Dog Just Like You Fix Your Car
Gretchen Rubin wrote in The Happiness Project about the year she spent “test-driving the wisdom of the ages, the current scientific studies, and the lessons from popular culture about how to be happy.” The Puppiness Project is my attempt to learn the same from Honey, my Golden Retriever. Saturday I was trying to figure out why …
Finding Your Perfect Match – How Much Can You Put Up With?
Like most of you, I read descriptions of dogs looking for homes. In their effort to make sure the dogs go to the right homes, these descriptions are, at the same time, celebratory (cuddly, smart, energetic) and cautionary (best to a home without children, prefers to be only dog, needs lots of exercise). I’ve never …
The Puppiness Project – Your Friends Bring Out the Best In You Redux
Well it appears that everyone saw exactly what I saw when I looked at Mike’s snapshots: I’m definitely happier and more comfortable having my picture taken with Honey close at hand. The picture below is the uncropped version of picture three from yesterday’s post. I think friends do bring out the best in us. Sometimes …