If there was a pool for how long the dog would last, the answer is…2 weeks. Scamp was too aggressive, especially with the kids. They were terrified of him biting them. He was just being playful, but had boundary issues. He also had a strong affinity for Shannon’s leg. Turns out this type of terrier and this one in particular wasn’t a good match. Shannon took him to the vet yesterday for the 2 week check up and the vet was surprised at how aggressive he was. The vet asked if we had children. The pet shop took back Scamp at 75% what we paid for him. Sanity restored.

I was in Loma Linda with work last week. It’s an unattractive area east of LA near San Bernardino and Riverside. On the positive side I got to eat at my favorite restaurant: Fogo de Chao and shop at the best record store on the planet: Amoeba Music. Got about 10 used DVDs for $4.99-7.99. I worked early (0200-1000). On Thursday I flew back to Portland for the day for an important meeting. While there I managed to leave behind two sets of keys. I left the LA rental car keys in my VW in the Portland airport parking lot and my VW keys in my office at work. The Loma Linda pharmacy keys were locked in my rental at the Ontario airport. I realized all this about 20 minutes before my flight. Nice.

Friday night the Elders quoroum (~20-40 year old men) at church challenged the HP quoroum (40+) to a softball game. It was a blast and we (the old dudes) crushed the young whippersnappers. It didn’t hurt that a guy on our team played for the Phillies. He was amazing to watch. I’ve never been that close to a ball going that fast as when he threw a guy out a first. It had to have been going 80 mph. He’s still got the moves: fast, fluid, dead on. I was knocking the ball way out into left field, but had a nasty habit of hitting right to the left fielder. Got on about 3 out of 8 tries.

The musical “Wicked” was outstanding. The lead is went to our high school and starred in the production on Broadway for years. The whole place screamed everytime she was on. How cool would that be for her?

Saw “Invincible” (loved it) and “Gridiron Gang” (liked it).

Meet Scamp our new puppy. Shannon shocked everyone this morning by going out and getting a DOG. This is the same Shannon who SWORE she would NEVER have another dog in the house after we gave our last one to the neighbor 5 years ago. Our last dog, Lucy, was an English Setter. She was great inside: gentle with the kids, house trained, didn’t eat shoes, etc, but she had a nasty habit of bolting for hours if someone cracked the door a few inches and wasn’t paying attention. I was in school for my MBA and working full time, the kids were at busy, demanding stages and a disappearing dog wasn’t a good fit. Scamp is a darling Welsh Terrier. He has disproportionately huge feet, walks sideways, prances around and sniffs your ear and licks it. Dylan learned that puppies are babe magnets when he walked the dog around Grace’s soccer practice tonight. He couldn’t get very far without drawing a crowd of fawning girls.

The kids headed back to school today. They all like their teachers. Gavin was disappointed that one of his best buddies that has always been in his class since kindergarten won’t be this year. Grace is thrilled to be in first grade and excited to have 2nd graders that she already knew well (it’s a 1-2 split) in her class. Dylan doesn’t love school as much as his sibs, but is being a good sport. Shannon is apprehensive about having the house to herself all day. We celebrated this freedom by going to a matinee and lunch. Saw “Step Up” based on Kevin Smith’s recommendation when he guest hosted Ebert and Roepert. Fun show. We are going to “Wicked” here on Friday.

My nephew JT got his mission call last week. He will be going to the Nagoya Japan Mission!!! No one saw that coming. He is ~6’5″, so he will need to get down on his knees to talk face to face with the locals. He’s excited that it is a mostly a biking mission. Feel sorry for his companions…JT is a strong cyclist. Congrats JT, you’ll be great! His dad, Jim, turned 50 last month…ouch. Happy Belated Birthday.