Sierra & Me

I watched the movie Marley & Me yesterday and enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. It was based on a book written by a reporter/columnist and his experiences with his dog and family. His dog, Marley, may be much more wacky and problematic than my dog, Sierra, but it did bring back memories.

Although I didn't raise Sierra from a puppy (I got her when she was two), she has cost me some money over the years - and not just vet bills. Most of the time she is content at staying home or staying in my car, but every once in a great while she gets the motivation to escape for some reason.

The first time it happened I understand. My house was burglarized about 2 weeks after I got her. Sierra was home, and I think the experience somewhat traumatized her. A day or two later she completely destroyed the blinds in my bedroom and also made a couple of bites through the long blinds on my sliding glass door.

When I first got her I discovered that she would scale my fence. But considering that in some places it was only about four feet tall, I didn't think my friend's yard with a six foot fence would be a problem for Sierra to stay when I went out of town. It took a whole day before my friend was able to get Sierra back!

When I put up a six foot fence all the way around my back yard I thought Sierra would be OK. I left her in the back yard when I went to the store, and when I came back she was sunning herself in the drive way, awaiting my return. I finally saw how she did it a little later. She would dig her nails right into the fence, scale up to the top and then plop down on the other side. I thought dogs couldn't climb!

I've left her in a hotel's kennel which she somehow bent the metal in the cage to get her head through to the other side. When the hotel then allowed me to take her to my room while they fixed the cage, she pulled the carpet all the way back from the door. Since that time she has stayed in numerous hotels, never with a problem.

Sierra loves to go with me where ever I go, so I do take her often in my car. I have never had a problem leaving her in my car - except once. I had gone into where I worked for a short time on a Saturday, and then we were going to hike afterwards. My office was on the 2nd floor and I immediately heard her barking. I went back down to let her out thinking she needed to pee. She finally did and I put her back in the car. When I returned not even a half hour later she was running around outside trying to find me. I had left the windows open slightly, but she actually ripped out the lining around the window which somehow allowed her enough room to squeeze through. That was not a cheap fix!

There have been a few Sierra circumstances at other homes as well. She speeded up my brother's intention to replace their bathroom linoleum by helping remove the old floor. She took down the large living room blinds at my ex-girlfriend's house. And she pretty much broke through every obstacle my friends Tony and Marea put up for while staying there recently.

But overall, Sierra has been a great dog for me and we have had some wonderful times together. Like Marley in the movie, Sierra can be great around children. She has stayed with my ex-girlfriend a few times since she had a baby, and Sierra seems to have mother instincts around the baby.

Sierra turned 14 this month and although she isn't really showing her age physically, she is hard of hearing and not seeing as well at night as she is in the early stage of developing cataracts. One night she tried to hop into the back of my SUV. The only problem was that the hatch wasn't open so she jumped up against the window instead. She was fine, maybe only embarrassed.

The end of Marley & Me was emotional. Sierra is up there in age herself but I think she still has a lot of good life in her. I know it will be tough when that time comes for her, she truly has been my best friend.

Mark "the bird" Fidrych

Once again, I know I haven't written anything for a while. I guess I haven't been "moved" to write. Well, when I heard that Mark Fidrych had died, I was moved.

If you were around, who can forget the 1976 baseball season? Yes, maybe I was biased since I was the big Detroit Tigers fan, but "the Bird" not only energized Detroit and the state of Michigan, but possibly the entire country.

Ironically, I was watching a replay of his huge Monday Night Baseball game against the New York Yankees this past Saturday. I was working, and had a great time reminiscing with one of my customers at the cardroom about Fidrych, the Tigers and just baseball in general. I think I had a story to tell about each player as they came up to bat.

But it was something else to once again watch Fidrych in action. He was mowing down the Yankees and I had forgotten about how he would sprint, I mean run - - I mean RUN to the dugout whenever he finished an inning.

I had the chance to meet Mark Fidrych once. My Dad arranged through our neighbor to meet Mickey Stanley in the Tigers Clubhouse when I was 13 or 14. When we were standing there with Mickey he called over the Bird, and both of them signed our gloves and baseballs. The writing on the gloves faded, but I held on to that baseball. It read, "Best Wishes, Mickey Stanley" and Mark Fidrych's scribble was not at all readable - but it was special. Unfortunately my house was burglarized several years ago and the thieves made off with that ball (I'm sure they had no idea who either player was).

I know Mark Fidrych loved baseball. He loved playing baseball. I remember reading an article once when he said he couldn't stand watching baseball on TV because he just wanted to play. I wish I had his skill - or even remotely close to it.

When his career came to the utmost of ending too soon, he went to work in farming and trucking. I read how much he loved his dump truck. This dump truck somehow became his baseball - and he died working with what he loved.

I've wondered what would have happened if Mark Fidrych hadn't injured his arm the way he did. Would he have performed those antics his whole career? Would he just have settled into being a great, dominate pitcher? Would the Tigers have won at least a few more World Series?

We will never know. But Thank You, Mark Fidrych, for what you gave to Detroit, Michigan, Baseball and Me, for that fleeting year, 1976.

Why Do Airline Seats Recline?

Anyone who is over 5'4" automatically feels even more uncomfortable on a flight when that person in front of them decides to recline his or her seat. So why do they do it? Reclining does not give them any more leg room. Does reclining your seat really give you that much more comfort? I am 6'3" and I will never recline my seat on an airline.

Unless I get lucky enough to get an emergency exit row seat, my knees have nowhere to go when I squeeze into my seat. Once someone starts reclining their seat in front of me it becomes a torturous flight. These people are simply inconsiderate of others.

Why do the airlines even allow this practice in the first place?

Mom's 80th Birthday

I just returned from Florida where we celebrated my Mom's 80th birthday. It is hard to believe she is 80 - she doesn't look it or act it at all. She regularly golfs, still making pars and birdies - and I am sure she would still be playing tennis, but the pounding her knees took was too much to continue. She is active with her friends, her church and volunteering - and really does just about everything as well as she has ever done.

During her birthday party she read a couple of things to us - one was more on the humorous side and the other more serious - but both meant a lot. The funny one said that someone who reaches this point of life has a built in excuse whenever they may make a mistake: "Well, I'm 80!" She did use this on us a few times, mostly when playing cards.

We all had a great time together. My brother, sisters, their spouses and my niece Jasmin all made the trip. We spent three nights at a resort on Ft Myers Beach and my sister Sally and I spent some extra time at my Mom's home. The weather was perfect, as we played golf, spent time at the beach, ate great food and played lots of cards.

Jasmin also put together the photo album of my Mom's life, which she is holding above. This turned out great and we all enjoyed looking at the pictures from over the years.

We are now looking forward to number 85!

A New Chapter

It seems like my life has had many new chapters, but here I am again starting another. Just to quickly summarize, if you don't already know, I lost money on a business which I sold for a loss about a year ago. I didn't have much luck in my next venture, selling for an ad agency. So I started working in a place that I loved to go for fun - the Folsom Lake Bowl Card Room - as a floor manager. It is different from any job that I have had in the past, but I really enjoy working there.

One line of work that I have thought about doing for a few years is working with a chamber of commerce. It has all the elements of a job that I have experience with - and that I like doing, such as marketing, promoting, selling, writing, managing, creating and operating events and working with businesses.

Today I started working at the Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce. I am currently the chamber's only paid employee, but I only have the title of administration. I'll just be working there on a part time/temporary basis as I see if it will be a good fit for me, and the chamber's board members see if I will be a good fit for the chamber.

There are definitely some challenges in store but I am looking forward to these. In the mean time, I am still working at the FLB Card Room and don't have any plans of leaving there. Come by and see me at either job when you can!