My tweets
Tue, 19:21: Sit outside, even if it's windy. The heaters will keep you plenty warm. (@ The Dead Fish) on #Yelp http://t.co/Hxv6wJhzZA
A Streetcar Named Desire
Ashland, Oregon at the Oregon Shakespeare FestivalA Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams When a complicated, difficult story plays out flawlessly and naturally, the review of the performance can only lift up a part at a time. Any look back on OSF's A Streetcar Named Desire will fail to capture the depth and flow of the production which needs to be experienced as a whole. Each of the characters presented on stage felt strong and authentic. Danforth Comins (Stanley Kowalski) feels young, strong, frustrated, insightful, and horrible at just the right moments in just the right way. He would steal [...]
King Lear
Ashland, Oregon at the Oregon Shakespeare FestivalKing Lear by William Shakespeare I guess it's a relief to discover that Artist Director Bill Rauch can stumble as a director. After seeing one amazing Rauch production after another, year in and year out, it is cathartic to experience a badly-focused, inconsistent performance in which many actors and crafts still excel but which, overall, disappoints. Bill Rauch is a fallible human after all. The intimate space of the Thomas Theater is perfect for the play's intense family interactions.Unfortunately, there is no uniting vision in this production, and so even a very good Lear -- [...]
Puppy Names
Show dogs have at least three names during their lives: names they are called when they are puppies, names they are called around the house when they go to their permanent homes, and the official AKC names. SeQueL (her permanent home name), for example, had a fine puppy name of Katrina. And, her formal AKC name is Ch. Lilliput's Royal Munchkin of Wagsmore (The "Ch" for Champion is a title she acquired.) We have decided on the puppy names for our two girls. They are named Janice and Jill (left to right), in honor of the veterinarians who helped them [...]
A Litter is Born
SeQueL gave birth by Caesarian Section to two healthy girls between 1:10 and 1:20 pm May 1, 2013. Geoffrey and I have posted/will continue to post many pictures on Facebook and, in higher quality, on SmugMug. Here are some of the basics about our girls. SeQueL was inseminated on February 28th and again on March 1st. The stud, Ehren, lives in Texas, and FedEx assisted in the pregancy. An ultrasound on March 26 showed three puppies were growing, and the reproductive vet, Dr. Janice Cain, gave her the due date of April 29 or 30. By May 1st, SeQueL was huge [...]
Ozdachs Terrific Cyclone ML
Vector died on his kitchen floor about a foot from where he was born. He was a home boy... he never spent a night outside of the house. We think he had a good long life. Not long enough, mind you, but a good one all of the days.
I Oppose Recology’s Rate Increase Proposal
San Francisco's local trash hauler -- which I bet we now are supposed to call a "waste management system" -- is asking to increase rates by 21.5%. I believe it is so high that it should not be taken seriously. The 21.5% hike is absurd, even as an opening negotiation position. If I were running this process I would throw out the request as being unworthy of serious consideration. Let them come back with a realistic, cost-driven proposal. Unfortunately, it looks like we are already into the review process. So, I have glanced at the rate increase applications online, and [...]
Why Does This Red Cross Appeal Feel Sleazy to Me?
This emailed request for donations thumped into my inbox about 2 pm today. It bothers me. I know the Red Cross does lots of great work. I know they are doing that work now. I have given them money in the past to help support their work. But, still. This email is just too damn timely. Too calculated. Too tailored. Too in tune with modern marketing techniques. They are using the hurricane. It doesn't feel right. Or, am I expecting too much from a do-gooder organization that needs more funding to do more good? Oh, yeah. If you think I'm [...]
What We’re Doing for SeQueL
Last Monday we went to the reproductive vet for a routine, post-no-puppy check-up to make sure that SeQueL's body was returning to normal. Unfortunately, it was not. Instead, her uterus is irritated and producing mucus. This happens, and the doctors don't yet understand the underlying cause. SeQueL doesn't feel bad, but the condition will not resolve itself, and, untreated, it will eventually become life-threatening. There are two treatment alternatives: Spaying Treatment with a prostaglandin drug twice a day for 7 or so days to calm the uterus. With this approach, the doctor says, about half the patients are able to [...]
A Comfortable Non-Pregnant Girl
SeQueL is not pregnant, but she is healthy and very comfortable. When we went to the reproductive specialist vet a couple weeks ago, the ultrasound showed no living puppies. The vet, Dr. Janice Cain of Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center is the area's best, according to our breeder friends who insisted that we go to her, even though she's located across the Bay Bridge in deepest suburbia. Dr. Cain was very careful with us, and talked about how relatively common losing a litter is. Ten years ago, she said, the ultrasounds were not as good, and we probably would have assumed that [...]