Last night we had our first family TV night!  The timing worked out just right where Penny was just ending her day as we were watching shows we had DVR’d earlier in the week.  Linda brought Penny into the living room (we are slowly letting her in there while strongly supervised…lots of tempting things for a puppy!) and popped her into her day bed.  Andy Parker was right…there are a lot of great “firsts” with a puppy, and this was one of them! 

For the record the shows we watched were Modern Families and Cougartown.  Not sure if Penny falls into the suggested parental ratings for them.  And yes, I know, how many pics can you post of a sleeping dog?  But hey, I’m the doting dad, and will post as many as I can!

She’s napping now…so a few more pics while I can!

Every day just gets better.  Some new pics.   And big news…Penny likes the sound of a Martini shaker, and blues on the Hi-Fi!

At home this week tending to our new Westie puppy, Penny.  It’s going great.  After feeling as worn out for the first two day as as we did when we had no power for 10 days during the October 2006 Storm, we are getting back on track.  Linda says Penny is a doggie version of me…plays hard, then loves the couch (for her, it’s  a doggie daybed).  She is doing well with potty training…weather has been great for it, thank you Andy Parker! 

A few accidents in the house, but she is only 8 weeks old and is not going to be perfect yet.  My allergies are somewhere between ok and slightly annoying, but some of that may be lack of sleep.  Penny is doing great at crate training, and after three days I still have yet to pick up dog doo!  No, there isn’t a big disgusting pile of it on our patio…the timing has just been in my favor, but I know my day is coming. I’ve been doing well at giving her some little runs around the house perimeter,  lots of exercise (Caesar Millan is right, an exercised dog is a happy dog)  and more attention than you might think I was capable of.  But I do love it when she naps!

I’ll keep posting over my vacation week.  Here are some good Penny pics to get you started.

Sorry I’ve only posted once in the past few days.  Been crazy busy with regular work (we do so much more than just talk for three hours…believe it or not!), and with readying our house for a new Westie puppy.  I think we are all set.  I’m doing so well with allergy shots that I can be around the SPCA for days at a time and barely sneeze. 

We’ve got the dog crate, the dog bowls, the treats, the training books, the doggie bed, I’m wearing shirts that we’ll give to the dog so she will have a familiar scent around her when we’re gone, we’ve got the auto close doggie gates for the house, I’ve been snow blowing the back patio for her bathroom and winter outdoor needs, we’ve got the leashes, the toys, done the research…but no dog yet.   Till tomorrow night (Thursday) when we go pick her up.  It is a she.  Name?  Probably Penny or Lexi.  I’ll keep you posted. 

 I’ll be off-air on vacation next week, sitting and home and thinking about all the things parents do about their first born:  ”Should she sleep this much?  Is she breathing?  Touch her, see if you can wake her?  Does this mean she has to go outside?  Can I leave her alone and go workout without feeling guilty?  Does she really like that crate?  Is this too many treats?” 

I should have lots of stories when I get back on air.  Till then I’m sure I will post the stories and pics here along the way, so check back in every so often.  Wanna see what we are getting?  It’s one of the pups you see when you click here and scroll the pics.  Wish me luck!

                                                                                                                                                           While surfing some travel sites, I stumbled across The Dallas Morning News Airlines Page.   Writers Terry Maxon and Eric Torbenson have a well updated page of formal articles and blogs on the travel and airline industry.  You’ll spend a lot of time checking out the latest posts, and the Airlines On The Web links on the right hand side of their blog page.

4 of Travel and Leisure Magazines Ugliest Airports are in the U.S.     Many Buffalonian’s have flown through at least two of them. 

 I can’t say that I agree with all on the list…but with JFK…definitely!

Click here for Adam Benigni’s fine report on the curling challenge between the Rob Lucas Morning Show and Ch 2’s daybreak.   We all have a new respect for curling, and curlers!  If you thought we looked sloppy on the video, you should have seen the outtakes!  Thanks to my teammates Producer Nikki Gawel, and Traffic Guy Justin Swain.  Nikki was the smoothest curler (leave it to a woman), and Justin nailed the winning shot in OT!

As the morning show predicted, the stupidity of the IOC actually gave more attention to Ryan Miller recognizing his cousin Matt’s fight against cancer.  Mike Vaccaro of the NY Post writes about it, and the wacky history of the IOC.

Look for this story to be retold numerous times, especially if the U.S. makes it to the finals.  By the way, I think I’ll be watching as many games as possible on CBC.  Mike Emrick has gone from a GREAT PBP man to an annoying-space-filling-story-teller over the past few years.  Mike…stick with PBP and let the analysts fill in the storyline.   Too often Emrick is behind a great play because he is trying to work in a players bio while the action is underway.  If there was ever a time he needs to zero-base back to “He shoots…he scores!” it is now.

The NY Daily News has another great photo gallery titled “Can You Believe They Dated?”  Check it out and see how many of these Hollywood pairings you’ve forgotten about.