Category: Pets

Can’t have a section that doesn’t contain pets

Day 025 of 2026

OK, so I had opened my big mouth, I guess Florida is now participating in Winter 2026 – at least for a few days. It will all be gone by the end of the week. I am happy that I got Res’s and Climber’s morning walk in before the snow started to Fall. Hey Canada, your drunk weather is in my back yard, would you please come get it back?

Current weather – snow

Climber in her Sunbeam

Res ignoring Climber

Today was the day to take down Christmas and pack it away for next year. Jesse normally does the tree and it’s best if I stay out of the way, so after I brought the boxes up to the living room I went for an hour swim. I really wanted to get the full hour in because I needed to submit an hour swim to US Master’s Swimming for the first virtual competition event of 2026. I also needed a competitive event to submit to to WellRight to get credit for 1 out of 4 athletic events (it’s a work fitness/health/mental health sponsored thing).

I didn’t do the best, I probably will be at the bottom of my age group, but this was important to me to at least get done. I plan on (hopefully) doing all 4 US Master’s events this year. There is a 5K and a 10K swim competition that requires a 50M pool that I may have to figure out how to get done as I am not sure we have a 50 meter pool anywhere near me, but that can be done anywhere between May 15th and September 15th.

Never mind, I digress, but I got home and helped Jesse with taking down the rest of Christmas and packing it all away down in the basement for next year. At least being out of Florida I am less concerned about mice getting into stuff as we were in the Florida house’s attic. It’s time to get the basement ready for Spring planting in a few months, though looking outside right now I am not thinking about Spring.

I guess the kids (Res and Climber) are not getting their afternoon walks today. And of course that will mess with their dinner, greyhounds are creatures of habit and routine. Res has a tendency not to eat well if his routine is messed up. And…. his routine is messed up with this cold weather.

Jesse has been slow cooking broccoli cheese soup today. Hopefully it’s almost ready, it’s soooooo good.

Anyways, I think that’s a wrap for today. I am going to sit here and read for a bit, maybe go on Facebook for a bit. I also really need to figure out what to do about my Linkdin profile. My resume on there is tailored for a specific position I was trying for over 6 years ago. It does not represent over 40 years of working life. I had a deposition a week or so ago for an insurance case I was asked to be a witness for and I was disqualified as an expert in that base based on my Linkdin resume. I am wondering if the safest bet is to remove my resume from Linkdin. I keep an accurate copy of my resume here and I would rather people have a current resume than a really old one and one that has been shortened to fit the needs of a specific employer.

Good Night and I will talk to you all tomorrow.

2026-01-25
Day 024 of 2026

What a day! Started off here with Ms Gizmo (our cat) waking me up at 5:00am this morning. For some reason she started to do her squawking in the hallway outside our room. The dogs are non-reactive to her now, but she is still a pain in the ass. I relish what sleep I get. I did manage to doze off again until about 6:15am when Climber decided it was time to get up. The girl should have peed last night when she had the chance. But, she got sprayed with the spray bottle we keep upstairs, problem solved.

I finally got up around 6:40 and let the beasts out. We had a light dusting of snow overnight, but it was cold!!! Like really cold. No one wanted to stay out longer than they had to. No morning walk for them either.

They were not very happy and because their schedule was sort of messed up they decided the indoor track (up the stairs, through the kitchen, into the living room, and back down to the family room…. and repeat) was the thing to do. Needless to say, the outcome was that the human (me) interfered and put an end to the racing. Meet my jailbirds:

Jesse and I took a leaf blowers outside and cleared the snow off of the walkways and the back lawn, hey, we have to do the lawn in order for the dogs to not get hurt paws when it melts a little and then re-freezes.

After a quick breakfast I wanted to go work out for an hour at the Rec Center. I wasn’t in the mood to swim, actually I have been cold for a few days and didn’t really want to get colder and then walk out into 20 degree weather. Anyways, I went and spent about an hour, hit the treadmills, I can’t stand treadmills, and then another 15 minutes or so on the indoor track, and then finally I spent a whole 5 minutes on the rowing machine. I wanted to hit 10-15 minutes on the rowing machine but that was not happening.

Aurora Rec Center Lap Pool

Rec Center Basketball Court

Aurora Rec Center Lazy River and Hot Tub

A look across to the fitness equipment

I need to start doing some resistance and weight training, it’s something that the physical thereapist has been after me to do, and I have a plan, its just finding the time to do it without impacting other fitness I am trying to do. I also need to spend an hour in the pool one of these days. Maybe I will go do that tomorrow. The rest of the week doesn’t look that great.

I was finally able to get Res and Climber out for a a walk around the park. They like their walks and when they miss them they become very unhappy. It made it up to about 23 degrees so with coats and extra care we got them out.

And after their walk it was nap time while Jesse went and explored CostCo. He’s brave, it was a Saturday afternoon before the Patriots loose to the Broncos 🙂 I do not understand how greyhounds ever get themselves untangled enough to get up from a nap fast. I would be falling all over the place.

While they were sleeping I went downstairs and spent a little time on my Amateur Radio station. It is Winter Field Day (WFD) and it is almost impossible to make any “non-contest” contacts. I don’t participate in contests and think there should be some bands available for everyday activity. The contesters for the most part are pretty rude and will tell you off if you try to have a conversation that is not contest related.

And as I wrap up the day we are relaxing, the dogs are snoozing for their after dinner, pre-snack nap. Yes, they sleep almost 16 hours a day and their trackers prove it. Sometime I will share a screen capture of that, they could compete in the Winter Olympics napping contest.

I think I will wrap this up for today. See you all tomorrow – if you don’t freeze.

2026-01-24
Day 022 of 2026

Was a pleasant 15 degrees outside when I got up this morning with the dogs. Of course Res went out and did his business really fast. Climber on the other hand, it took her a bit longer. Then Res had to go back out and find anyplace Climber peed and pee over it. Yup, this is the story of my life. It’s OK, it was way too cold to take them on a walk today anyways. We usually cut walks once it gets under 20 degrees.

Spent my morning out in Golden, CO for an StrikeCheck inspection. Diagnoses a Home Automation System, and a Lighting Control System and all the fun stuff that goes along with it. Yes, it had failed. That’s about all I can say about it here due to privacy reasons. The homeowner was a great guy and his dogs were really friendly, nosy, but friendly and cute. Had it priced and ready to go out within an hour of getting back home. I like doing that. The only part of the process I can’t do is generating the final report.

I saw some Elk on the way to the appointment. I wish I could have stopped and taken some photos of them as I don’t see them that often. I think the last time I saw them was last year, also out in Golden. They were not there on my way back out of the neighborhood. I had every intention of stopping.

Spent the afternoon getting caught up on work things, and then I had the chance to get outside and play with Climber in the yard. She is the first dog we have had that I can play catch with. She loves her tennis ball. I really want to do agility with her, I think she would enjoy it. I may try and build a couple things for her to try this Spring to see if she is trainable.

Did the evening walk with both Res and Climber together because Jesse had a hair appointment. It may be their last walk for a few days as our temperatures are supposed to plummet starting tomorrow for 72 hours. Not as cold as the Northeast, but still I guess we are finally participating in Winter 2026.

Climber

Res and Climber

Wrapping up the evening here at the house, I went to the basement and brought up the portable heater that we use in the family room when it gets really cold. The brick of the fireplace absorbs heat from outside and radiates it into the rest of the room. This room is not on a basement so we have 2 outside walls, 1 garage wall, the slab, and then it is open to the upstairs where the kitchen is. It’s low in the house and it can get chilly. In addition to my office this is the room I would like to put baseboard heat into when I re-do the heating system (that is coming in the next few years).

I never did make it to the rec center today, and tomorrow does not look that great either. I really need to get into the pool, it’s been a week today, but it’s one of those things that time just has not been available.

Anyways, see you all tomorrow where we can do this all again!

2026-01-22
Day 021 of 2026

A busy day today believe it or not. Work, fitness, dogs, etc.

Started off the day at my normal time, logging into work about 6:45am Mountain Time (8:45 Eastern). Started off the day with a significant number of requests, be it Cause of Loss Determination (COLD)s, technician support requests, and pricing/invoice review tags the first thing in the morning ones receive priority. Once I get those done I can start whittling down the list of other requests that I have inherited. I can never finish it all in one day and it is sort of good for me to realize that.

I was able to get out for a lunch break today, decided it wasn’t a swimming day for me, I just didn’t feel like it, so I got outside to get a walk in. It wasn’t bad, didn’t push it, but did get in a little over 4 miles. I also was able to finish the book on “tape” that I have been working on. I read the print book, loved it, and now the audio book was good as well, “Heated Rivalry” is a must read book. I hear the movie is good as well but I have never seen a movie that is as good as the book. Also saw my Prairie Dogs today, I call them the Neighborhood Watch!

Got back from lunch and then worked another couple hours. As I work for an East Coast company I try to wrap up my workday by 2:45-3:00pm MT and then I have some downtime in the afternoon before the regular evening things of dog walk, feed, food,

You would think that would wrap up our day, but no, I am right now trying to figure out why Climber is trying to push every button I have. She is not settling down and she is going to end up back in her crate again….. And she is in jail again. Everyone deserves some rest and relaxation time and Climber has to start realizing that she needs to settle down. She is not getting out of food mode and this is becoming a major issue.

This is Climber starting the destruction of the next toy. Below is Res protecting his favorite toy.

And then we have Climber pondering out of crate time…. will she be good…… will she be bad…..? It’s a 50/50 toss up.

Anyways, see you tomorrow and I will see what I can do to add something exciting to tomorrows post.

2026-01-21
Day 016 of 2026

Sorry no pretty photographs today. Left the hotel in Burlington this morning around 10am after spending most of the morning re-routing my travel since the appointment for a litigation inspection canceled and an additional inspection in Saint Louis, MO was added for later this month, which bumped up against another trip. So….. had to make significant travel plan changes. What a pain the a$$, but par for the course.

So, after I got that done drove South through upper Vermont down to Middlebury, VT. It was snowing and the roads were a little icy. Didn’t have much time to stop and look at any scenery. For some reason Firefox seems to think “Middlebury” is a spelling error. Nope, it is an actual town with a pretty big college.

Anyways spend the rest of the day with my Dad and step-mother. Interesting conversation all around. I made it 20 minutes after walking in the door before politics came up. But, that’s OK, we see eye to eye on most of it anyways.

OK, forgive me, I have to add two photos of Angel Pack Members, Lady and Leona – Happy Birthday at the Bridge. You are missed today. I hope I did right by you both. I think I did, but I wish I knew for sure. You would have turned 14 today.

Some memories are awesome, some hurt a little bit.

Anyways, that’s all for tonight. I will see you tomorrow.

2026-01-16
Day 011 of 2026

And once again our snow has abandoned us here in Aurora, CO. Snow does not seem to like 50+ Degree F weather, it also does not like sun. And we are much closer the the sun here in Colorado then we have ever been anyplace else we have lived.

Took the kids out for their normal morning walk. Again each on their own but we did a 1.67 mile walk on each time, good for my “fitness hours’” for my logging (more on that later) and really good for Res and Climber as they need the exercise. Climber continues to radiate energy in ways only a young greyhound can do so. She doesn’t turn 3 until May. The interesting part is that Climber and Res have started to play with each other leaving the humans in the house with some “heart attack” moments. Especially when the chase involves three sets of stairs, the loop with the kitchen and living room, and then ends up with Climber on Res’s back with an ear in her mouth. I just don’t understand what it is with Greyhounds and wanting to catch the ears of their playmates.

On the positive side, Res has told her off a few times when she has gotten too rough, or when he is trying to sleep and she nails him with a flying toy. She just hasn’t figured out yet that him growling and woofing at her means, “Knock it off and leave me alone!” She thinks it means, “let’s rumble!” Oh, well, I hope she learns without a vet visit.

After breakfast Jesse started in on meal prep for the week which included making the puppy snacks (chicken treats and mackerel treats). I decided to go for my Sunday swim. It was a recovery day so I didn’t push too hard. I am probably going to miss a few days of workouts near the end of this coming week as I will be traveling to an area sort of “devoid” of public pools, so I am trying to get some distance in before I leave. I have a few “challenges” that I am trying to achieve.

Still not my best workouts, but it could be worse. I did manage to make 550 yards without stopping which is a good thing, I need to continue to increase that if I want to do my open water swims this Summer.

My Toy! Not hers, mine!

And with that I wish everyone good night and we will talk again tomorrow.

2026-01-11
Day 010 of 2026

As you can see I am making an effort to post a little something each day. Today is Saturday so I did sleep in a little until Climber decided to wake me up. An hour extra is all I am allowed to have.

I always get an hour or so of reading time until Jesse gets up. Then it’s out to walk the dogs. On weekends they both get solo walks. Res goes first and then Climber.

Temps were around 20 degrees F by the time I got them up and out. So jackets for all.

Res’s main objective on his walk is to stick his nose into and pee on as many clumps of grass as he can.

For Climber I really dont know what her goal is. But she enjoys her walks and has gotten so much better about her jacket since the first time we put her in it.

Got them both walked and then had a nice breakfast burrito, homemade of course.

Then off to the pool for a long swim. Remind me in the future to never go on Saturday morning. Saturday mornings at the pool suck. Swim lessons and way too many kids. But, once I got a lane I finally broke the 2000 yards I have been trying to break. It was awesome! My times suck, my stamina sucks, but I made my first goal. Now since I broke that I have to see about increasing the distance on my sets, and…..much as I do not like it…. I have to increase the use of freestyle rather than breaststroke.

I really want to be able to do the Mountain Lake Swim Series this Summer and I don’t think I can do it with Breaststroke being 50% of my swimming. Also, I need to try and get a 1 hour swim in for the US Masters Swimming 1 Hour swim competition, though I will never place it is a good activity.

I finally decided to sync my swimming with swim.com as I am serious about doing a few events this year, and of course that led me down the rabbit hole of the different events in US Masters Swimming. Yeh me. But that’s OK, it will help.

Dinner was Pork Loin and veggies. Really good.

Anyways time to wrap up today. See you tomorrow!

2026-01-10
Day 008 of 2026

My office assistant joined me in the basement yard (my office) today for most of the morning and some of the afternoon. He is sort of a useless assistant, good thing he is cute! Seriously he comes downstairs as it is pretty much quiet and no one bugs him. Very little sound in my office.

Started off the day with a few technician phone calls and some training tasks I needed to get done. Found, retested, and document a problem with our app. The afternoon was all about pricing requests and Cause of Loss Determinations (COLDs). This is where I need to review the photographs, readings, and notes that our field technicians submit and then determine a cause of loss and a resolution that will be sent to the insurance company (our clients) as a part of their final reports. There are two of us that do the more complex of these requests. I primarily work with the electrical side of things and one of my colleagues works with the mechanical side of things. Keeps us busy.

I did get out for an early lunch as was able to hit up the pool for some swim time. It’s sort of embarrassing that I am struggling with distances right now. I am the guy that used to swim 5K and 10K open water events. Now I am having trouble increasing my distances beyond 1.5K. I know I will get there eventually, but I am so out of shape. Today was slightly better and I was able to add a little distance, even though I was not feeling that great for some reason. May have been what I ate for breakfast.

Then this afternoon we took the dogs on their evening walk, it was a little bit cooler with some light snow so no one lingered.

Anyway the company I work for, Alpine Intel, has rolled out a new wellness app that is replacing the Coolleaf and Waliba that we used to use. Starting this week we are on Wellright. It’s going to be an interesting change. They are now basing everything on fitness activity time rather than steps. I am really glad to see the move away from steps as this whole idea of 10,000 steps per day was never scientific and the idea of 40 minutes per day of moderate to strenuous physical activity makes a lot more sense. We will see how this works out.

2026-01-08
Day 004 of 2026

Sunday!

Started the day off with a few cups of coffee and then taking Climber and Res on solo walks. Res went on his normal uphill walk around the park

For Climber I decided on a different walk, I wanted to take her on a longer option so we went around the block the other direction and then around the park. I think I will probably stick with the Power Line trail with her in the future. I think it is more interesting for her to watch the little Prairie Dogs then the traffic out on Tower Blvd.

After we got back and had breakfast I went for my swim. I added a little distance today, not much, just 100yards more. I really need to get up to 2000 yards in the near future if I want to get rid of this extra weight I am carrying. I have just about decided that I want to do the Mountain Lake Swim series this Summer and that means I really have to increase my distance without hurting myself. A very tight balance.

The rest of the day was a normal sort of day. Played with Climber in the back yard, she likes playing with a tennis ball, and then read some Kindly books I have been working on. Got distracted and went down the Facebook Reels rabbit hole. I also spent some time trying to figure out what and IF I really want to do anymore YouTube training videos. I am not really sure what I want to do yet.

Have a great evening. See you tomorrow.

2026-01-04
Day 003 of 2026

And we started off the day with the dogs solo walks. Yes, on weekends they each get their own walks, it allows them a little bit of “me” time and it also allows me to work with them on walking manners and I increase their distance as well. Res…. well he just does his own thing. It’s mainly sniffing and marking every clump of grass along the way.

Climber got a little bit of a longer walk and had the chance to go explore the power line trail. She was very curious why I would not let her off leash to go “play” with the little prairie dogs.

“Daddy, Let me PLAY!!!”

Anyways, once I got them home I was able to go do my long weekend walk. Got another one of Aurora’s trails connected. When I made it back to the car it was just at 6 miles. Not bad.

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Total distance: 6.05 mi
Max elevation: 5475 ft
Min elevation: 5380 ft
Total climbing: 384 ft
Total descent: -371 ft
Average speed: 4.16 mi/h
Average cadence:
Average heart rate: 122
Average temperature:
Total time: 01:27:56

I know I have done a lot more with faster times in the past, but I have to keep telling myself that I am coming out of a year with many hospitalizations and I need to also loose 20 pounds to get me back to where I need to be. I don’t think I will ever do another marathon, but my endurance needs to be higher than it is now. I would like to do the Mountain Lake Swim Series in the future. May not be this year, but maybe next.

Anyways, it was a beautiful day in Denver, CO and we will see you tomorrow.

2026-01-03