Rachel and I made a second trip to Madison, this time for our second anniversary. Other than the whole getting-engaged thing, this trip was better than the last, due in large part to an amazing show by the Decemberists.
In other news, Happy Fall from Indiana (he’s chewing on a stick, in case you’re wondering):
and Happy Halloween from the attendees of our pumpkin-carving party (note Rachel’s excellent Wallace, second from left):
Today, Glen and I spent about 3 hours raking up leaves (note Indiana in the latest phone post), and we filled up 5 yard waste bags with them. The thing is though, all of our trees look like they still posess all of their leaves - with 3 trees that haven’t even turned yet! I think we’re going to be raking leaves until they’re covered with snow. Ahhhh, the joys of homeownership!
Rachel, Indiana, some friends and I camped in Starved Rock State Park this weekend. Despite most of the trees remaining green past their originally-scheduled “fall colors” date, the dog rated the outing a major success. He went on his longest-ever walk, met hundreds of people and their dogs, ate a heaping portion of bratwurst (including the plate), and enjoyed a full day away from the bullying cats. All in all, a good time.
Poor Otto and Lili. Do you love them less now?
We do not love them less! Let us not forget that they also enjoyed their dog-free time. Right now, Lili is watching a nature show with Glen; first, chirping birds got her attention and now an artic fox with no coat. Otto is being sweet and letting me carry him around.
He looks very noble in that photo, as if he is contemplating life or something.
More likely, he was contemplating a nearby dog.
Hey, you two - in completely unrelated news…. Do you get the alumni magazine? If so, Rachel, did you see the piece on Adel Shirmohammadi? Didn’t you like him as a prog? Or am I thinking of someone else?
We saw the new Wallace & Gromit movie last night. I haven’t smiled that much since watching my favorite animated movie of all time, Chicken Run. Highly recommended.
On an unrelated topic, the next person to come visit us will be required to adopt the following dog. She is in a neraby shelter (click for link).
Happy anniversary, Glen and Rachel! (Yesterday.) And I forgot to call you back on Monday. Will you be around tonight?
Two years!!! 
ACK! I missed it - BON ANNIVERSAIRE. Wait. That’s Happy Birthday. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Also, perhaps I should set Glen to work on finding me a dog - you have good taste in small cute animals
See above picture, Maggie. Carol & I are probably the next visitors, and we need help in ducking this requirement.
Hah - if you can get her to Lafayette, Louisiana (or, better, get my boss to let me get myself to the middle of Illinois), then you’ve got a deal. Also: Glen - see the link, in the event you decide that a life of crime has more glamor….
Indeed. When we were taking measurements to flight-test a jet last spring, we just showed up (pre-arranged with the owner), waltzed into the hangar, climbed up into the plane, and got to work in the cockpit without anybody noticing that we were even there. I got the impression that we could have flown the thing to Vegas before anybody would have noticed.
Mags, I like how your article actually TELLS people how to steal planes!
Two stories of limited appeal:
1) I got to fly a Cirrus SR22 yesterday. If you click on the link and have any aviation appreciation whatsoever, you’ll understand how awesome it was (glass cockpit, sidestick controls, and 310 hp!). Sadly, Rachel could only sarcastically acknowledge its awesomeness.
2) Dr. Jones got into a scuffle yesterday at the dog park and had to come home early. He always seeks out the rough dogs, including one who has bitten his ear and thrown him in the air by his collar on past occasions (so much fun!). The most recent encounter with this dog quickly degenerated into a fight, after which Indy snarled at a lab (a lab!). Most of the dogs there are very friendly, including Spaghetti the Pit Bull and several humongous German Shepherds, but Indy’s nemesis is a small, orange mutt.
Maryland just had another turnover, so I better get back to yelling at the javascript gamecast.
Limited appeal indeed. If there had been a cat story in the brief list, the appeal would have skyrocketed. Talk about how Otto bullies Indy some more - that is great fun!
No, because that’s a sad story: The dog is afraid of the cat. If the cat so much as wanders by, the dog turns his head sideways and eyes the cat nervously out of the corner of his eye, ready to bolt. Otto usually follows up with a swat on the butt, apparently for no reason other than to assert his dominance as Alpha Pet. Oh, but the dog had his revenge last night by peeing on Otto’s spot on the bed. I think we have too many animals in here.
Since you STILL haven’t created the cat game with those images I made for you, maybe I should make one of Indy and that is who the cat swats at. That game would be infinitely more fun! Cats rule and dogs drools.
The plane looks like a car’s interior. Maybe a Volvo, maybe not. Still it makes me think I could fly it.
Speaking of “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”
[in an open cockpit]
Sean Connery: I thought you said you can fly.
Harrison Ford: Fly, yes! Land, no!
