Geoff Fox: My Permanent Record
Back when I was in school teachers would always scare me with stories of how my exploits would end up in my permanent record. I believe this is it! – Geoff Fox
The newly shorn puppy looked different enough that Helaine walked right by her without realizing who it was!
Doppler saw Gabrielle for a fur cut at Hot Diggity Dog a few days ago. She, Doppler not Gabrielle, was getting very scruffy. We wondered how poor Doppler was seeing through all that hair!
The newly shorn puppy looked different enough Helaine walked right by her without realizing who it was!
Thank heavens Gabrielle didn’t remove any of Doppler’s cuteness!
If there was an NBA sofa sleeping contest Doppler would be the paws down champ!
We’re at the end of a lazy day spent at home. The NBA slam dunk contest is on the TV. I’m not much of a pro hoop fan. It’s only marginally entertaining.
Paul George of the Pacers just made a dunk over a 7′ 2″ teammate. I couldn’t clear 7′ 2″ with my chin much less the more sensitive body parts he put at risk!
Meanwhile Doppler is totally uninterested. She spent most of the day on the sofa in repose. I am so jealous of her ability to take it easy round-the-clock.
If there was an NBA sofa sleeping contest Doppler would be the paws down champ!
Doppler’s normally very docile, but you probably don’t want to diss the Phillies.
Doppler is nothing if not a stylish pup. She wears a collar with hearts, skulls and crossbones. Her sweaters carry designer labels. And now, on this day Phillies pitchers and catchers report, Doppler has a new tag to wear around her neck.
Doppler’s normally very docile, but you probably don’t want to diss the Phillies. Just because she doesn’t use her teeth doesn’t mean she won’t!
Helaine took a few shots last weekend. I’d forgotten they were on the camera. Here’s the one I like these. It’s as if Doppler and I are in a deep discussion.
Helaine took a few shots last weekend. I’d forgotten they were on the camera. Here’s the one I like best. It’s as if Doppler and I are in a deep discussion.
This wasn’t like a summer walk. I had a sweatshirt, heavy jacket and gloves. Helaine work a coat. Doppler wore her pink sweater.
Maybe you heard me mention it on the air last night? Today we planned to take Doppler for a walk in the park. The forecast called for a perfect day on Sleeping Giant. The temperature briefly rose to the low 50s.
The question was would Doppler cooperate and how much mountain could our nine and a half pound dog take?
It was crowded this afternoon as we drove down Mt Carmel Avenue toward the Giant. The lot was full and there were cars on the street. We pulled into the cook-out area, also pretty full.
This wasn’t like a summer walk. I had a sweatshirt, heavy jacket and gloves. Helaine wore a coat. Doppler wore her pink sweater.
It was surprising to see all the dead wood especially at the bottom of the trail. Like everywhere else Sleeping Giant was hit hard by Irene and the October storm. On the mountain clean-up is a more natural process.
Doppler is a small dog. On the trail she’s a really small dog! People who bring dogs bring big dogs. They were all friendly.
There were lots of people. This time of year we’re all looking for signs of spring.
We went around 2/3 of the way. It was probably a two mile roundtrip. Until the very end Doppler walked with us without prodding.
Doppler and I spent much of the evening napping.
I know it’s time to go when she climbs onto my lap. That’s her signal. She is purposeful and resolute. It’s time!
Thanks to Doppler I’ve started to get a great appreciation of night. I know it’s time to go when she climbs onto my lap. That’s her signal. She is purposeful and resolute. It’s time!
She doesn’t particularly like the cold and acts accordingly. She is efficient.
I put on my heavy jacket, picked up the leash (with bag dispenser) and an immense flashlight and headed out. Doppler walked to my right. That’s her preferred side.
She’s small, but the front steps pose no challenge to her.
Cold tonight and crisp. There were thin clouds. The Moon was low in the east–just rising.
We walked on the lightly frozen grass. It gave grudgingly with each step.
There are noises from the woods. Not my favorite thing. We’ve got critters of all types around. They want to avoid me. Right back atcha.
The stars are beautiful. Some nights before the Moon rises or after it sets the sky turns a very deep inky blue. The longer you’re out the more stars there are!
Even when the weather’s been bad it’s obvious Doppler and I have a mutual interest. Good doggie.
She’s already sound asleep on the sofa.
“They look friendly,” I said staring at the much larger dogs running in the adjoining area. We opened the gate and brought Doppler in.
Helaine made the suggestion. “Let’s take Doppler to the dog park.” It sounded like a good idea. Our town has Basset Park with two fenced in areas just for puppies.
We put Doppler in a sweater and headed out. She doesn’t associate the car with “good times.” We’re trying to change that.
When we got to the park the small dog area was empty.
“They look friendly,” I said staring at the much larger dogs running in the adjoining area. We opened the gate and brought Doppler in.
Skittish? Apprehensive? Fearful? Yes, Helaine was all those things! Doppler too.
Most of the time Doppler kept her tail curled under her body. She was in a defensive posture.
Sometimes even the best ideas fail. We walked back to the car and headed out.
Is there such a things a lunar noon? If there isn’t there should be. It’s lunar noon.
I’m on the sofa watching Flying Wild Alaska. Don’t bother. It’s reality rewritten for reality TV.
Doppler is on a sofa that runs perpendicular to this one. A few minutes ago she stood up and stared at me.
“Come over,” I offered while tapping my palm on my right leg.
She got up walked the gap between the couches and stood on my lap licking my face. That meant she had to go to the little girl’s lawn.
Excellent timing. The sky is clear. The Moon is nearly full and absolutely overhead. As bright as night can be.
Is there such a things a lunar noon? If there isn’t there should be. It’s lunar noon.
I remember walking on nights like this with Ivy. It bothered me she never looked up. Do dogs even know there is sky? It is totally inconsequential to them.
Shame. What a pretty night.
Doppler has just the right disposition for television. She is calm. She is content. She is quiet. She doesn’t shed!
Stef asked if she could bring her friend Jackie to the station tonight. She wanted to bring Doppler too. Doppler’s first TV appearance.
Doppler has just the right disposition for television. She is calm. She is content. She is quiet. She doesn’t shed!
I have some video at the bottom of this entry. How it got here is a story of how TV’s changed.
When I first got into TV we were just making the transition from film to videocassettes. Everything was recorded on physical media–tape.
Today we use no videotape at all! As it aired our newscast was being digitized on a server farm in a locked and hermetically sealed room just behind our control room.
While the newscast was still on I walked to my desk, opened a web browser and called up a small clip editor. I set the in-and-out points, hit a button and watched as the video was deposited on my desktop. Then I dragged the files to a flash drive I carry with my keys.
For some reason the video won’t play on my PC at home, but YouTube found it acceptable so I uploaded it there.
Now the video is universally available! That’s crazy. It exists in the cloud.
The cost of entry used to prohibit anyone but a large corporation from owning a video production facility. Nowadays you can do most of it on your phone!
When I first met Bentley and Doppler at the pound in Wallingford Doppler had her teeth around Bentley’s neck. Old habits die hard! They picked up right where they left off.
Cheryl and Steve have things to do today. They’ll be out of the house too long to leave Bentley. That’s why he’s here today sharing quality time with Doppler, his sister.
When I first met Bentley and Doppler at the pound in Wallingford Doppler had her teeth around Bentley’s neck. Old habits die hard! They picked up right where they left off.
It’s playful fighting. There are snarls and barks, but never a sign either is actually hurting the other.
The Foxes can attest to the fact this kind of play tires dogs out. They both napped nicely for much of the late morning.
Stef only met Doppler a few days ago. I think it’s love at first sight. Here they are sharing quality time on the sofa!
Stef only met Doppler a few days ago. Love at first sight. Here they are sharing quality time on the sofa!
We might be forced to inspect Stef’s bags when she leaves.
Helaine and I were sitting watching football tonight. Doppler was next to me on the sofa. “That’s what you wanted,” Helaine began, “a stuffed animal.”
Helaine and I were sitting watching football tonight. Doppler was next to me on the sofa. “That’s what you wanted,” Helaine began, “a stuffed animal.”
Correct.
Doppler’s laid back disposition is fine with me. The dog and we are still being molded by each other.
There are lots of Doppler photos on the blog. I like photography and especially dog photography.
Dogs look much more expressive if you shoot them correctly.
The photos in this entry were shot on my cellphone. Technique is more important than equipment.
Here’s the most important thing to remember. You’ve got to get down!
Shooting Doppler on the sofa is my little height crutch. Most times I just lie on the floor to get my shot. The camera is always low.
I think she wants to be part of everything!
Christmas photos were being taken at work this afternoon. I forgot my Santa hat! No problem. Helaine realized and called me before I’d driven off our block!
I turned around and pulled in the driveway. Helaine was waiting on the steps. Doppler was waiting too.
I think she wants to be part of everything!
She howled. She barked. We heard her paws scratching the door to the garage. All this from a dog who’s usually silent.
Helaine and I went out to dinner tonight. We didn’t go far, Sergios down on Whitney. That meant leaving Doppler home.
We’ve decided Doppler will be a ‘free range puppy.’ She seems very trustworthy and has shown no desire to be destructive. She’s licky, not chewy!
In order to keep tabs I went online and bought a FOSCAM wireless network camera. It’s got IR LEDs for night viewing and can be panned and tilted directly from my smartphone. It was easy for me to configure though you might need the help of your favorite nerd.
There’s sound too. At the moment I’m not sure that’s a good thing.
As we ate dinner we watched Doppler walking back and forth through the family room and into the mud room. She howled. She barked. We heard her paws scratching the door to the garage. All this from a dog who’s usually silent.
This is not the right way to have a relaxing dinner!
We weren’t gone an hour. I’m not sure she ever relaxed.
We can’t be tethered to the house. Doppler is going to have to understand from time-to-time she’ll be on her own and we’ll be back.
She’ll learn.
The idea was to train Doppler when she came to live with us. So far the only thing she knows how to do is sit. It’s a good start.
The idea was to train Doppler when she came to live with us. So far the only thing she knows how to do is sit. It’s a good start.
By the way, she is about twenty times as active in this short clip as she is in ‘normal’ home life.