Sam is not happy. Oh, she's looks comfortable. And don't get her wrong, she loves a walk in the crisp autumn woods, a brisk dance around the neighborhood. But here in the Chicago suburbs, the temperatures have dipped some 10-15 degrees below normals for this time of year. There's already been some snow. We've had … Continue reading How Many More Months of This? →

We left our home just after sunrise and headed south. One-and-a-half hours later we were on a trail at Matthiessen State Park near Utica, Illinois. Brilliant colors, waterfalls, a raging river, and the earthy smell of dampness in the woods. My wife, my dog, and an autumn morning, Sam holding her own, walking some four-and-a-half … Continue reading Autumnal Morning →

My new dog blog friends apparently do a "Wordless Wednesday" post. One photo, no words. I'm just now catching on. So, here's my "Wordless Wednesday" photo on a Thursday.

We are a year away from its official publication, but the stage is set. Walks with Sam: A Man, a Dog, and a Season of Awakening (John Hunt Publishing/Roundfire, UK) will be out in late summer 2020. I'm not only pleased with this book, I am thrilled with the artwork and design, including the image … Continue reading Sam’s Uncanny Image →

My writing friend L.B. Johnson, author of The Book of Barkley, was so kind to read an early manuscript for my forthcoming memoir, Walks with Sam. Her comments became a blurb for the book due out in late summer of 2020 from John Hunt Publishing, UK. During that process, she also turned me on to … Continue reading Here’s a Treat: The Best Dog Blogs →

Sam went to a sleepover the other night. It was far more nerve-wracking for her owners. My wife and I were heading out to the Galena, Illinois area—a three-hour drive from our home in suburban Chicago—for a friend's hog roast. We had plans to stay over one night. It would have been too much to … Continue reading Sam’s Sleepover →

I'm in a doctor's office waiting room. Across from me is an older man reading The Gift of Peace. Not being able to see the entire front cover of the book, I mistakenly think it is one of the Dalai Lama's books. He had written The Book of Joy and The Art of Happiness, he … Continue reading The Risk of the Dog Walker →

Have you ever spent an entire day with your dog? Just the two of you. No one else. Eight hours of dog and man. Side by side. All day. Recently, I did just that. An entire Sunday from 10am until about 6pm was all Sam and me. We had errands to run, a car ride … Continue reading Conversations with the Dog →

Sam truly is a mellow dog. She is sweet and quiet most of the time. Easygoing. Rarely hyper or overly excited. (Except, of course, when we come home from being gone five minutes or eight hours. It doesn't matter. Regardless of the time passed, she runs around for several minutes, bringing toys and socks and … Continue reading Why Sam Gets All Riled Up →

The publisher of the forthcoming Walks With Sam—John Hunt Publishing, UK—(which was also my publisher for October Song)—has asked me for ideas to pass on to the graphic designers who will work on the cover. It's a long way to publication, but it's fun to think about this. JHP will make the final decision based … Continue reading Book Cover: What Would You Choose? →