This is Sam after her walk with my wife in the Chicago snow. I'm told she seemed to enjoy it. But yet, that face. Cold. Tired. Even, dare I say, miserable. Dogs get cold just like we do. Yes, some breeds—Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes—are bred for this kind of frigid weather. But other dogs, mainly … Continue reading Sam is Simply NOT Going to Do That →

The audiobook of Walks with Sam will be released in a few months along with the paperback from ROUNDFIRE BOOKS/John Hunt Publishing, UK. But as the final touches are put into place, I thought it might be nice to share with you a little sample. Here's is part of Walk #1: Not Enough Socks in … Continue reading An Audio Nibble: Walks with Sam →

This is what was said for many years in the recording studios of New York and L.A., London, the old Caribou Ranch Studios, the studios of Seattle where Grunge Rock was born. "Roll tape." The phrase, for those of only the digital age, was meant to begin recording, on "tape"—magnetic reels of analog "tape"—and to capture … Continue reading Roll Tape →

Sam and I went for a walk. Not unusual, right? But this was different; different because it was the New Year and it was time to assess. Never been big on resolutions. Why wait until a new year?  But I am big on rebalancing and being reflective on what has been and what's to come. … Continue reading Sam’s New Year’s Resolutions →

If Sam had her say, she'd take her baths in a spot like this one. I just know her type. Instead, in between formal groomings, Sam is bathed at the local pet store where there is a pubic bathing room for dogs. It costs a few bucks but it's worth it. Big stalls, plenty of … Continue reading Your Bath is Drawn, Your Highness →

My memoir, Walks with Sam: A Man, a Dog, and a Season of Awakening is scheduled for release in late summer of 2020. But the pre-orders are now up and running! The publisher, Roundfire Books, sees a chance to begin the process early, get some pub—as they say—and offer the chance for readers to secure … Continue reading Sam is Ready for Her Close-Up →

There's an old leather chair in our living room. I find myself in it most days. Mornings, maybe. Certainly evenings. It's a good chair—big arms, worn in the right places, the skin's oil has softened  and colored it over the many years. Next to that chair is another. It's a relatively new chair. Cloth. A … Continue reading Favorite Places →