Why are parents so frustrating to deal with? And generous enough that you feel guilty for feeling frustrated?

So I think my bike may have a name at long last. It started when my dad said it didn't look like a Real Harley because there are no skulls or flames. It was all down hill from there and I started joking that the bike is actually a designer knock-off that was purchased off the back of a truck in NYC.

Introducing: Harvey-Dangerson

So the Boxer Rescue efforts are going mostly well. We think we found a food that works with his digestive system. It only took four different varieties which of course take a fair bit of money that we don't really have to spend. We'll have to mix the other stuff in to get rid of it without wasting it. He still needs a little help with his leash training, but hey, he's just a puppy and very distractable and hard to refocus once a neighborhood bunny sends him into chase brain.

His biggest issue is that he seems to have picked up a case of scabies at one of the kennels that he was in on his way to us. To the vet tomorrow. Should be easy to treat, but that doesn't change the fact that my wife and I have them too. Ughhh. Good thing he's cute.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I'd like to introduce to you the newest member of our family: Winston


He's almost 8 months old and he's been with us for a week now. He lived with a family somewhere in the Philadelphia area and when they realized that he had a little too much energy and too little training for their toddlers, they took him to a kill shelter and signed the papers to put him down immediately. Lucky for us, the folks working at that shelter that day, called a Boxer Rescue organization who stepped up and saved him. We drove the 4.5 hours each way last weekend to pick him up and bring him to his new home.

Welcome him and get ready to hear more stories of the adventures of Winston.

We've got our puppy! Pictures soon. He's a 7 month old Boxer pup. He's is about the most amazing little guy. So good with everything except the leash on walks. He's mostly amazing there too, but gets distracted and too excited pretty easily. We aren't his first family since we got him through a rescue organization. Apparently someone in his last family had a motorcycle. He'll ignore the sound of cars all day, but as soon as he hears a motorcycle his ears perk up and he gets really interested in what's going on. My wife said he was practically howling yesterday when I left on the bike. So cute.

I'm so excited. We are going to go pick up our new foster puppy tomorrow. I have a feeling that once he is here, he won't be leaving. It's four and half hour drive to get him, but well worth it in my opinion. I just hope he does ok with that long of a car ride.

In other news. I'm broke. Spent WAY too much money in the last few days. But it isn't like I could have skipped buying my wife an anniversary present. Drat. And on top of it all, I just got an auto tax bill for $300. I hate how that one always sneaks up on you mid year.

Sun burn fading. Able to bend arms again. Feel a lot less like a zombie now.

My wife and i are doing the last little bits of picking up around the house before our "house visit" from a Dog Rescue Agency. Stephanie is really funny. She's been obsessing about this for the last few days as if we were looking into adopting a child. I keep having to tell her that the Boxer Rescue and Adoption folks will not be looking for the same things that the child adoption folks are looking for. Don't get me wrong, i know these folks love the dogs that they work with. I just think they will be looking for different types of things, and it doesn't really matter what food we have in the refrigerator.

The Boxer folks are supposed to show up in a bout an hour so I should get back to vacuuming. Wish us luck. And if any of you know anything about Boxers or have had Boxers in the past, feel free to share your stories. I'd love to hear them.

I spent about five hours midday out on the motorcycle yesterday. I loved every minute of it, except for the flaming sunburn that I have on my arms. Lesson learned (perhaps). The worst part is that the insides of my elbows got burned and is incredibly painful when I bend my arms for anything, so I'm just not bending them. So in the meantime I'm just walking around like a glowing red zombie.

I used to think I was smart.

Edit: This flaming zombie routine isn't funny any more.

Today marks the first day of a week of mostly no work. It's an odd part of my schedule here at the end of the school year. I still have places to be at specific times for the next few days. But it is more a matter of being present than actually doing anything. Then most of next week is completely off.

I'm hoping to put some miles on the motorcycle, but gas prices as high as they are, it is hard to justify driving just for fun. Even at 50+ miles per gallon.

Also we're looking into getting a dog. Probably in contact with rescue organizations all week next week.

So unbelievably hotttt. Even on the motor cycle today I was dripping with sweat. I can't stand it. I have too much of the Scottish Highlands in my blood. I need a mountain top somewhere to keep me happy.