Events

After play group this evening I (a) wrestled a 24-kilo dog into a bathtub, (b) continued to wrestle said dog who did not want clean water dumped on him repeatedly, which was ironic because (c) less than half an hour before he had rolled around in a mud puddle the size of Connecticut at the dog park. Poor Parker, he won't be going to the play group much until either (a) the mud in the dog park freezes or (b) the mud dries out. But in a strange twist, right now he's lying on the floor gnawing on a bully...

Parker, a black dog, hangs out on a white couch (because they no longer make this one and natural cotton was the only color slipcover they had left), which is covered in a slightly greenish fleece blanket (because it has an expected lifespan of two months and cost $3 at Target): Nothing otherwise notable here.

Oy. Yes, the dog ate my cell phone case. I really, really want to skip ahead to his second birthday now...

I'm David Braverman, this is my blog, and Parker is my 8-month-old mutt. Here are the main topics on the Daily Parker: Parker, my dog, whom I adopted on September 1st. Biking. I ride my bikes a lot. Last year I prepared for two Century rides but, alas, my gallbladder decided to explode a week before the first one. I might not have a lot to say until later in the spring, but I have big plans in 2007. Jokes. All right, I admit: when I'm strapped for ideas, sometimes I just post a dumb joke. Politics. I'm...

It seems the weather forecast was correct: The 10 am (1600 UTC) temperature at O'Hare was 2°C, the first time it's been above freezing in Chicago since January 27th, and only the third time since January 15th. I'm going to go outside and bask in the warmth right now...

I may have had my fill of snow, but Parker hasn't: The consensus at the play group yesterday evening was that the warmer weather will turn the park into a mud pit, which the dogs will love almost as much. It's still not April, I guess. There is one aspect of the snow that Parker won't miss, I think: Poor guy.

It's possible that the temperature in Chicago could go above freezing this afternoon for the first time since January 27th. This is the longest stretch of below-freezing weather we've had since I returned home in 2000. Hey, I like records as well as the next athlete, but I'm pretty tired of this one. Stay tuned.

I don't know what Parker was saying to Dexter, but it does look like Dexter is taking the kid under his wing, so to speak: Also, I'd like to point out that neither of them cared about the -26°C wind chill, but Dexter's dad and I sure did. Pretty sunrise, though:

The ParkerCam is back, and this time, it's personal. Parker is at home today, but I've decided to give up a little of my own privacy so that he can continue to be famous: This also lets you, gentle reader, play "where's Parker?" all day. Is he by the door, hidden from view off to the left? Looking out the window? Or just lying on his back with his paws straight up in the air? Around 1pm, you might even get a glimpse of the dog-walking service. Update: Apparently the upload can be a bit slow, so...

Did anyone else remember that a year ago today (Feb. 13 in the U.S.), Dick Cheney shot someone? How time flies...