So I haven’t posted much lately and I apologize. I have been very busy working to cover the 2008 Olympics, including updating like a zillion pages each day with scores, names, countries and all that fun shit. I was really excited to be a part of it though, but when the final days started to get closer, I was happy to be almost done. Now that the games are complete, I am very happy to be done and proud of the coverage the team provided. What’s next on the agenda? I have no idea, but football season is about to heat up, and that is so very fun and exciting! (Go Pats! Go Blue!)

On another note, the puppy gave me a bit of a scare this weekend. He was sick Saturday night, then spent much of Sunday sleeping, rather than eating, drinking and tormenting his brother like normal. I started to flip out to say the least. Calling the vet, asking a million questions, flipping out more that I am beyond broke and cannot afford a vet bill until after payday. Sure enough, 10 minutes after I start to bawl, he gets up, eats, drinks and is acting normally again. Whew. A trip to the vet is still coming ASAP (including to clip his balls) but I think we are out of the woods now.

The 29th Games of the Olympiad, or the 2008 Summer Olympics, opened yesterday in Beijing. For as much drama, protesting and boycotts that are surrounding the games, the opening ceremony was sick!!! Between the 15,000 performers, 10,000 athletes and wicked awesome special effects and fireworks, it was pretty spectacular. The Mahalo sports team has been working feverishly for weeks in preparation for the games, so be sure to head over there for all the events, videos and results!

Besides the Olympics, there is a little baby that has been keeping me up at night. Yes the puppy. He is, to put it lightly, not dealing with crate training well. He barks for an hour or so when I put him to bed, then starts up again about 6 am until whenever I get up. I have been making a conscious effort to not let him out until he is quiet, so he will learn that quiet equals he can get out of the crate. Unfortunately he is a stubborn little shit and never shuts up. So… tonight I am going to try something new. I cleaned my bedroom, removing everything but my bed and dresser. I laid down plastic drop cloths and moved his crate up there. I am hoping that he will sleep up there with me, quietly, and if he needs to relieve himself, he will do it in the crate or at least on the plastic, and not on my bed. That is the only room in the house with carpet, and as fugly as it is, I still don’t want to ruin it with dog droppings. He is fine running the house when I am gone, is not destructive or loud, unless he is in his crate. I figure it is worth a shot, and if all else fails back downstairs in the crate he will go…

Where do I begin? The puppy is doing well I guess. Housebreaking is slow but steady. He is going outside more than he is inside, so that is good. He will play with my older dog, which is good too. I have been crating him at night, that is less than successful. He barks and cries most of the night. I can only imagine what my neighbors think that i am doing to him. He had a bath yesterday, and was really good in the tub, shockingly enough. I bathed him as I have developed an awful allergic reaction to something. Not sure if it was something I ate, the cleaners I have been using much more of lately or something that the breeders possibly bathed him in before he came here. Anyways I have hives, a fever and nausea, overall not fun. Anyways enough babbling about my puppy, time for some quick breakfast, then to work.

So the wait is over and I have my 11 week old pure-bred boxer. He is adorable! Such a lover, but a bit spunky from time to time. I think he will be a great fit and little brother to my four-year-old black lab.

I have always been a bit unconventional when it comes to naming pets. I had a cat that was a beautiful shade of beer, so I named him Molson. My lab often sleeps with his eyes open, which i felt was fitting of the name Machiavelli, after the writer, philosopher and “Master of Deception.” Going along with the writer theme of my dogs, I chose the name Dante for my boxer. I have always liked the name, but was a little hesitant to name a dog before I got to know it. In this case I am happy with it. I know it is going to be ironic, like the giant dude nicknamed “Tiny,” as he is far from a little devil. (Knock on wood!) Anyways, long day and many more to come as housebreaking is going to be a blast. Time to put the boys to bed and get some sleep.