Shout-out to Dotted Route

I recently created a personal travel blog website called Dotted Route. Take a look and let me know what you think. My goal has been to write an entry a day. For some reason it has been easiest for me to write about food. Anyways the address is www.dottedroute.com

Flashback 2005: Schloss Hohenzollern

This was the day of the Lunar Festival while I was in Germany. My sister was visiting for a few weeks and my friends Jose, Jacek and his girlfriend Sylvia wanted to go visit some castles. I was very tentative about going since I had promised to make some small gathering in my kitchen to celebrate. I was going to make dumplings from the recipe Li Mei gave me. A friend I met who also worked at Bosch. But, they didn't have the five people needed for the ticket so I was persuaded to go.

Well, anyways this picture is either from Sindelfingen or Sigmaringen. I'm not sure. It was a fun day although I have no idea what kind of hand gesture we were doing.

A Conversation with my Dog

Four o'clock and I am getting burned out from trying to get something accomplished. A whole day and nothing has happened. I take a swig of water from my water bottle. Hm... it's almost empty. I head over to the fridge and refill my Smartwater bottle. The imprinted text on the bottle is starting to chip away. How long has it been since I had this bottle? It doesn't matter. The world feels numb.

Out of my boredom, I walk over to the door to the backyard and see my dogs laying down napping in the sun. The golden retriever is on its side on the concrete while the pug has his head on front paws in the dog house. I open the door and they lift their heads up at the same time.

PUG: Oh! Oh! Person! Pick me up! Pet me! Give me ATTENTION!!
GR: Oh! Person! Ball! Ball! Where is the ball?! He needs to throw the ball!

I put on my sandals and the dogs are wagging their tails as I step outside. The retriever sprints off to pick up what can only be his ball. The pug leaps up and claws at my jeans. He stretches on the pavement. The retriever returns with the ball and drops the ball at my feet.

PUG: Bouncy! I will claw at it. I will bite it.
GR: RAWR! Stupid Tiny! Stay away from ball! RAWR!
PUG: No! My ball! RAWR! RAWR!
GR: RAWR!

My two dogs growl at each other and run around each other trying to get a good hold of the purple rubber ball covered in dirt and spit.

PUG: Fine! I will find an avocado and chew on it.
GR: Ball! Throw? Yes?

I pick up the ball and lob it to the far end of the yard. The sun is setting behind the hills in my house. Rays of light flicker in the dust my dogs kick up chasing the ball. Before heading back to me, the retriever stops and sniffs around for a good spot to relieve herself. She always does this at the beginning of any kind of exercise; either walking or playing catch.

GR: Ball. Ball. Oh wait. Poop! Need to poop.
PUG: Found an avocado! Now to bring it to person's feet and chew while he watches. Nom nom nom...

Trick throws and hitting angled boards are the best. The retriever will quickly turn and leap to catch the ball. I will do this and until she doesn't come back to me and instead finds a spot to rest.

GR: Ball. Pant. Ball. Pant. Tired. Lay down. Oooo.. Water.
PUG: Nom. Nom. Nom. Nom.