Epitomizing the Spirit of the Blog

Today was one of those days that inspired me to write this blog. It began at 4:30am with a 10-mile run and is just wrapping up at 10pm as I post the pictures and write-up of the day's events. In between it included a full day at work, with four major dental procedures, a mountain bike ride, good conversations, and excellent food.

We all were tired when the alarm rang out this morning and only Belle and Lily braved the early morning hours with me.



The run turned into more of a death march for all of us, and we made it back home just in time for a quick shower and a dash to the clinic. Today was an oddball day as I had a multitude of dentals scheduled, including have a good friend, who is also my dentist, come in to do some repair work on the canine tooth of a young canine.





He ended up taking some impressions in case the owners elect to have a crown placed.




After a couple of hectic last appointments my friend Justin and I headed south for the first mountain bike ride of the season.





I even decided to mess around with video on the point and shoot. The quality isn't great but managed a couple of clips of Justin on some of the downhills.



It has been our tradition to cap our bike rides with a celebratory brew. The choice tonight was Hazed and Infused.



To top the day off I was greeted when I got home (exceedingly late nonetheless) by an excellently prepared meal of pancetta wrapped chicken, roasted asparagus and pesto orzo. How lucky of a guy am I???

Introduction---Why the New Site

For years I've had a longing to write more--to share my thoughts, ideas, and sometimes crazy inner-ramblings with others. The process has started and stopped many times, and the efforts have seemed to focus on the professional aspect of my life and have ranged from books with only a few chapters written to my largest work to-date, my website Gundogdoc.com. Those of you who have recently visited the site have probably noticed that it has fallen a bit by the wayside. It became an unruly master that I no longer enjoyed serving, so I took a break. The longer the break has become, the less I see myself returning to that site with any regular updates, but I still feel that need to write and create.

More recently I have joined the "social networking revolution," and after months of nay-saying have become a bit of a Facebook addict. It has served as a miniature outlet and a place I could talk about more than dogs, hunting and veterinary medicine. In the end, though, it is still just served to whet my appetite for a return to writing and for something without the confines of subject matter or space. So I guess you might say this blog is a bit of a selfish endeavor, and you would be right. I'm hoping it is a selfish endeavor that you will be able enjoy, whether it be through the photography or through the ideas and discussions in the posts.

My plan for this blog is to explore everything from religion to politics, and from crazy pet owners to dogs that I've loved. It will include photography, some soap boxing, my thoughts on life and hopefully a few useful bits as well. A person has a lot of time to think when they're up at 4:30 to get a long run in before work, or sitting on the side of a slough waiting for the perfect combination of birds and lighting, and it's these thoughts that I hope to share within the confines of this blog. At the end of the day, who knows what it will be other than another new adventure, and we'll see where it takes us. I hope you give me a little time to feel this out and that you'll stick around with feedback, both good and bad.

What's in a name? No I didn't name the blog after a Bon Jovi song, and until I came up with the name, I didn't even know that Bon Jovi song existed. It's actually the answer I find myself giving too often when asked how I fit all the things I do into my life. We only get one shot at this dance, and I want to take full advantage of the opportunities I've been given and live with no regrets. There are two quotes that I think sum up this attitude:

"Life's journey is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well-preserved body, but rather to slide in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, screaming "HOLY $&!T what a ride!"

and from Erma Brombeck

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me."

Or, as I like to say...I'll Sleep When I'm Dead.