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How I Became A "Dog Person"

This weekend we helped ease our family dog – Abby – into the afterlife. It was very difficult and sad. But it was the right thing to do, at the right time, and we did it the right way. The vet came to our house, and Abby was surrounded and strongly loved up by Aszani, Mo, Dan and me as she lay in one of her favorite spots from where she passed over.

For a number of perfectly legitimate reasons, I was a reluctant dog owner… but Maureen and Dan wore me down and I agreed that we could get one a little over 11 years ago. Aszani did all the research and we found a wonderful breeder of Golden Retrievers. We paid for an upcoming “pick of the litter” – and we picked the friendliest puppy (of the friendliest breed). That’s how Abby entered our family, and everyone who met her would join me in affirming her lovely and friendly spirit.

My family and friends all know how much I came to love this dog… She was a great companion to me, and I guess its true – she has turned me into a “dog person.”

Here are some of the things I learned from her:

  • Give every stranger you meet an open friendly greeting. Some people won’t connect with you, but many will and you will receive much affection and friendship in return.
  • Walk away from trouble. Some creatures are just nasty, so just avoid them.
  • Don’t be afraid to approach those that you’ve angered. Simply express your love, and wait to be forgiven.
  • Pursue your pleasures – and your dreams. Even if you never can catch that rabbit.

Peace, sweet dog.

Why I Take the News with a Grain of Salt

Here’s some typical “reporting” by Bill Lueders in Isthmus – a free Madison weekly. This is from 15 years ago, but he’s an editor there now and his journalism is just as good today!

Being described as a “rabid” anything is not so flattering. Informing the community that I was a “rabid, right-wing activist” was simply amazing. . . My friends found this to be hilarious.

For the record – I have never met, wrote or talked to either Bill Lueders or Anatole Beck.

Click on the image to read a pdf file.


I admired Stuart Levitan’s response.

Founding Madison Music Review

I will soon be coming up on the first anniversary of founding Madison Music Review. Fred got the idea to blog about the shows we were seeing one night when we were at the High Noon together. I quickly agreed, and Ankur was right behind…

We were good friends who regularly went out with one another to shows – as part of a much larger and ever changing body of concert buddies. We already listened to music together, talked about music together, bought music together and saw lots of live music together. .. Now we are also writing about it! . . . Next we’ll have to start a band. [That’s a joke!]

This has been a really energizing project for me. Previewing upcoming shows always gets me worked up for the performance. MMR also memorializes a lot of the great shows that we are seeing – and its out there for anybody who saw or was interested in the show. Occasionally we also get advance copies of CDs and the chance to interview cool musicians. What could be a better way to spend free time than this?