A man and his dog...

Ok, so after watching Oliver Stone’s W. last night with my buddy Jon we enjoyed a good ol’ fashioned tailgate sittin’. During this usually beer soaked ritual, we discussed what could be the matter with the Cowboys and how we both still felt the pain of watching what could have been a championship season turn into a miserable end. Of course, at that time he asked me to blog about what we had discussed. No, I’m not writing another blog about how the Cowboys just can’t make it happen. Frankly, I’m tired of reading and hearing about what they need to do to fix things and so forth. But that’s neither here nor there. So, as I was walking my dog just a while ago (it’s my day off so I was walking my dog in the middle of the day, what of it) I started to think about the importance of the relationship between man and pet. Not to mention that someone on the cul-de-sac adjacent to my house wrote “STOP ANIMAL CRUELTY” in the middle of the street with colored chalk. I love my dog. He is a part of the family who I even, on occasion, have conversations with. I guess what is at the root of all this is that he is getting old. The whiskers on his chin and around his nose are gray, he sleeps more now than he doesn’t, and he is having breathing problems that resemble asthma, though the vet says he is fine. I’ve already put one dog to sleep in the past year; I don’t want to do it again. A moment of silence please for Kacee Hansen, beloved dog and friend…

So, that being said, my parents are working on finding another dog. I’m not necessarily comfortable with this. I’ve had time to get over Kacee, sure, but I hate to think that we are finding a replacement for Pierce while he is still here. They say, of course, that this isn’t the situation, but it sure seems like it. They are looking for another lab, which is great, but I don’t want to be involved in the fulltime raising and training of another dog unless it is my own. Which brings me to my next point…I want my own dog. Not a family dog, not a friend’s dog, my dog. I’ve thought about what kind of dog I would want. I like Bull Terriers, Australia Shepherds, and Basset Hounds…but I know I would be just as happy and feel probably more fulfilled if I went to the animal shelter and adopted a mutt. Either way, I want, and feel I am ready for my own dog. Think of it as me maturing and losing my fear of commitment.

Ok and one more thing. The Cowboys will not be able to solve their problems until they realize that they have problems. Jerry Jones is oblivious to issues that threaten his team, while his fans continue to call for his head. There, I said my piece.

Into the Wilderness

Today is Ash Wednesday. Depending on what you believe, how you practice, or even if you practice, Ash Wednesday can hold several meanings. For some, it is just another day, annotated on the calendar along with other Christian days of importance. For many, including most Christians, it is the day that marks the beginning of the season of Lent. And, for Catholics, such as me, it is a solemn day of fasting and preparation for the beginning of the Lenten season. Regardless of what you believe or how you believe, Lent offers everyone an important opportunity to challenge themselves. If you don’t understand what I mean, let me explain it to you as I see it being a Christian and especially a Catholic. Lent is the ultimate challenge, the major throw down, the pinnacle of the dare…it is like sitting at the bar with Jesus sharing a drink and him turning to you and saying, “I bet you can’t be a better person for 40 days.” That is right; Lent offers us the chance to better ourselves. No, it doesn’t have to be all about punishing you and giving something up and blah-blah. Lent means improving yourself. I stopped giving up sweets and sodas a long time ago. Now, every year I try to make a commitment to do something better for myself, for those around me, or for my relationship with God. Last year I committed to taking fifteen minutes out of my day for solemn prayer and reflection, every day. It was so awesome and so fulfilling that I often wish I would have made it a habit. This year I will be focusing on myself by trying to get some exercise every day. Sounds selfish and vain, but exercise time is time away from the other distractions in my life, time to focus on helping myself sort through things. Also, in light of me writing this, I have decided to begin writing again. At least twice a week I will be blogging again for the Lenten season and beyond. For my former fans, it will be a lot of the same with a new twist…two more years of experience. For those of you who never experienced my blogging before, it will be a unique and opportune window into who I am and what I care about. If you get something out of it, great…if not, also good, but either way I hope you see what I’m trying to do.