Squirrel!

From the combined opinions of Dr. Vaillant and a second opinion from Dr. de Groot at MD Anderson (I am de Groot.  My brother suggested his name might be Ignatius Maximillian de Groot - or I.M. de Groot*), I re-start Chemo this Saturday.  I will regale you all with my medical travels soon, from my holiday "12 days of healthcare" to my journey into the bowels of the Cancer Industrial Complex.  But since ugly things may be re-starting soon, I feel the need to post some random pictures from the last few weeks, to distract from the pending poison resumption.

I'll start with a couple from Dallas, where I am now for a board meeting.  I went out to dinner with my friend Chris last night, and the restaurant was next door to this.  Not sure if tattoos will help with the cats, or how, but it's definitely worth a shot.

This is the inside of the front door to our administration office in Dallas.  Now, I did some research into signage that prohibits weapons after our legislators basically gave the green light for every idiot with a gun to take said gun wherever they want, whenever they want.  Businesses can opt out by placing signs with some very specific verbiage, with a very specific font size, and the regulations stipulate there must be at least two colors.  This sign meets that requirement.  And though it lacks the required language, is the wrong size, and in general does not meet any other of the very strict regulatory requirements intended to limit the limiting of guns everywhere, I believe that the biggest problem with this sign is its placement - on the back of the front door.  Ensuring, at least, that employees who brought a weapon to work do not carry it into the hallway.

During the week leading up to the "resume Chemo" decision, things got a little dark for me.  There is an SPCA very near my office, and one afternoon, on the way home, I stopped in for some puppy therapy.  This is Duke, who looks strikingly like my dog Shoebox from my childhood.  Shoebox was a good dog.  I sent this picture to Jill, and she texted me "Where are you?"  I told her.

I then sent her a picture of three Australian shepherd puppies, all already adopted, but tremendously cute little fluff balls.

Jill responded with "Get. Out. Of. There.  NOW!!!"

I always listen to my wife, and she always knows what's best.  So, If you want to meet Shoebox 2 and the Fluff triplets, text me.

And finally, there is Baby Sparkles.  Jessica sent me a "Grow Your Own Unicorn" that I had not hatched.  Knowing things are re-starting, it felt like it was time to bring Baby Sparkles into the Sparkles family.  Seven days of soaking leave him a little slimy, but Dr. Rainbow Sparkles has accepted him into the Sparkles clan nonetheless.

* I tried this joke on Jill, who repeated "I don't know Star Wars."  But still rolled her eyes.