Last night I had a craving for brownies.  And I’m a huge fan of rewarding my cravings.

The problem?  No brownie mix in the Beach Bungalow.

Fire Up the Jeep, Dad!

I did just that and moments later discovered that my local Safeway store had a ‘Buy One Get One Free’ deal on Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Brownies!

Moment later I was back home enjoying the few preparations necessary to create the dark chocolate mixture with just the right amount of lumps.

Brownies and Blood

A bit later, after an excruciatingly long cooling period (according to LE), we enjoyed moist, warm, extra-large brownies and ice cold glasses of milk while watching an episode of Showtime’s Dexter via Netflix.

Who knew brownies and blood made for such a warm, family experience?

Next, Sweet Corn Muffins

I grew up eating traditional cornbread.  My mom, a Southerner long ago transplanted to Central California, would (and still does) bake a large square of unsweetened cornbread and we’d have it with dinner or as a snack slathered in butter.

Most cornbread available in restaurants today is the sweetened kind. In fact, I just made a dozen sweet corn muffins from a mix I bought at Costco.  Marie Callender’s Corn Muffin mix is good in a pinch, but I do prefer the traditional cornmeal-in-a-box version that my mom makes. I’ve made it before but it’s been a while.

Smelling Is Believing

I don’t really bake; not in the classic sense anyway. I don’t use all fresh ingredients and, because of my rather sporadic baking experiences, prefer to grab a quick mix off the shelf. It’s typical Solo-Dad style.

But what I find even more enjoyable than consuming the fruits of my so-called-labor is the aroma that the Beach Bungalow takes on for that brief amount of time. The aromas are somehow more powerful than the actual taste.

I recall with nostalgia the aromas of my Grandmother’s house in Tennessee; eggs and bacon, pancakes, coffee, stews, and cornbread, slow-cooking beans and fresh vegetables….that’s the real joy of cooking I think.  If you weren’t hungry when you arrived, you were in pretty short order.

Maybe that’s why LE stopped playing his guitar and came out of his room every five minutes to ask when the brownies would be cool.

It’s been great meeting you.  But I feel it’s time to move on. You see, my heart is growing restless and it longs for my true love.

Don’t get me wrong, I do care for you, Alaska.

It’s just that I miss my California home by the sea. I miss my teen  and my obnoxiously loyal black Lab.

I miss the salt air that greets me each morning and most of all, the embrace of my dear one.

• Your majestic snow-capped peaks that surround me here are beautiful, but they are no match for the beach-side promenade where I walk each day with its brown pelicans and gulls flying in formation.

• Your late-night sunsets are indeed breathtaking, but they can’t hold a candle to the sparkle in the eyes of my love.
• Your frozen lakes and pristine wilderness are incomparable, but even they cannot hold me here for my heart resides elsewhere.
  

My love patiently awaits my return and I have missed her beyond measure. The Lads have been adequately cared for but they need me at home.

So,  though I still have a couple of days to spend with you, Alaska…I felt you needed to know where I stand.

Really, it’s not you, it’s me!

In my post outlining my Goals for 2010,  I wrote that I was focusing on three goals for the year:

My three goals are located in three separate areas of my life.

They are:

Business - Develop one of my blogs into a cash-generating entity that will become part of the Barry 2.0 effort to be economy independent within 3 years. This goal is one I’ve put off for far too long. I know how to do it. I have all I need to make it happen, I just haven’t done it.  Now is the time.

Personal - Reach my goal weight of 185 pounds that will eliminate the need for BP Meds. I’ve lost 10 already by walking twice daily with Buddy. However, I’ve not really taken the goal seriously enough to make more healthy changes.  This goal requires me to make lasting changes if I am to reach and maintain my target goal.  That’s 40 pounds in twelve months or a net loss of 3.3 pounds per month.  Sounds doable, right?

Spiritual – Meditate daily for inner peace and insight. This is a goal that will greatly effect the other two. I learned to meditate a few years ago in the Kriya Yoga tradition. And, when I practiced religiously (pardon that very bad pun ) I felt different, was more focused throughout the day, and was generally a much happier person.

I’d like to say that I’m well on my way toward reaching them.  But that would be..um..lying.   So, instead of singing false praises about my goal-directed activities, I’m going to come clean and say that minimal progress has been made.

Progress to Date

Here’s a snapshot of my progress thus far:

1. Business Goal: I’ve begun the process of setting up another blog for this purpose. Mums still the word on that for now. I’m also reading Gary Vaynerchuk’s ‘Crush It.‘
2. Personal Goal: I’ve lost 11 pounds (net) according my doctor’s scales (15 by my own). Largely a factor of  walking once or twice daily. So, still a way to go, but some progress made.
3. Spiritual Goal: I begun practicing medication meditation again.  (Talk about a Freudian moment.) This time, I’ve doing simple Buddhist mediation, as described in Steve Hagen’s ‘Meditation Now or Never,’ that focuses on momentary awakening and mindfulness.

So some progress, yes. But it’s minimal.

Enter Groundhog Day Reassessments

David Seah’s blog has long been one of my favorite reads. He’s an investigative designer, and an awesome one at that. His Printable CEO and Compact Calendar series of tracking forms have been useful for me. Please check them out as David doesn’t charge for them.

But perhaps David’s most influential post was this one on Groundhog Day Resolutions. Simply put, you review your goals for the year on a series of days when the month and day agree on numerical values: 1/1, 2/2, 3/3, 4/4, etc.

The Benefit of Groundhog Day Reassessments (GDR)

I see adopting GDR’s as having distinct benefits for me:

1. GDR’s invoke accountability. If I know I need to review my progress on a given date and post about it here, then I’m much more motivated to act on these on a more regular basis.
2. GDR’s remind me of what’s important.  Namely, these 3 goals.  The beauty of working on only 3 goals is increased focus on each. Because I chose meaningful goals, I’m also more inclined to reach them.
3. GDR’s serve as milestones.  Before the interstate system and its accompanying mileage signs, there were only milestones that marked how far you’d come from your destination. GDR’s serve as meaningful milestones marking how far I’ve come on a goal.

Where to Now (St. Peter) ?

Forward, of course.  See you on 4/4 for my first GDR of 2010!

If not sooner on another topic.

I have to admit I was initially skeptical about the eReaders that began flooding the market a few years ago.

The first one I held and played with was Sony’s eReader.  Then an acquaintance, (actually, Ex #1′s husband) got a Kindle and I saw it in action. The clarity was interesting but I still wasn’t sold.

Besides, he paid $350 for the first generation Kindle: too much for me.

Then came the Kindle 2, its redesigned exterior and some real improvements on the inside like a PDF viewer, a music player function, and better annotating tools (highlighting, underlining, inserting notes) and the lower price ($259). That sold me.

If you’re an iPod owner, the first thing you notice about it is its packaging: Sleek, well-planned, a definite anticipation builder. Then once you unwrap the iPod you hold it and are immediately impressed with it’s simplicity.

Amazon must have taken a lesson from Apple on that one because the Kindle 2′s packaging is no different. It’s impressive, simple, and green (in the environmental sense).  The product itself is just as impressive, almost Zen-like in its appearance.

Holding the Kindle for the first time is like holding an iPod. I was afraid I’d drop it. But since I also ordered the leather (hardback like) cover for it, I inserted it into the cover and felt better about its ability to withstand a jolt.

The screen is not back-lit and though you might think it would be hard to read, it’s actually easier to read than a computer screen or an iPod Touch.  Amazon calls this ‘Ink On Paper’ technology and I’ve tested it in the direct sunlight as well as in the shade and it makes no difference in my ability to read, focus, or enjoy the visual presentation of the display.

My Top 5 Likes…so far.

1. Whispernet delivery of eBooks. Silent and fast -a 300 page novel delivered in under 35 seconds via a 3G wireless network. And (this is a big advantage over the Sony eReader) I don’t have to shop with my computer or download the books to the laptop. I could, but why would I?
2. Intuitive Navigation. It does function just like a book.  I thought I’d have difficulty adjusting but I haven’t. The ‘Next Page’ button is on the right side and the ‘Previous Page’ button is on the left.  Lefties will appreciate the location of a second ‘Next Page’ button on the left as well.
3. Ease of Annotation. I love underlining and writing in the margins of my paper books.  With the Kindle 2, I can do the same. Underline and even insert a note using the QWERTY keyboard on the unit.
4. Switching Books.  It’s my practice to have 3-4 books going at once.  I used to pack a couple of books in my briefcase to read at lunch or on planes depending on what I felt like that day. Now I can easily choose any one of my books simply by pressing the Home button. Each time I access a book I’m taken back to the page I last read whether or not I inserted a bookmark.
5. Native PDF Viewer. I have a lot of eBooks and I work with huge PDF documents that are sometimes bulky and inconvenient to carry on trips. By plugging into my laptop using the USB connection (that doubles as a battery charging device) I can load any number of PDFs on my Kindle 2 and they show up on the Home page TOC as a PDF.  The only drawback to this is I can’t manipulate the font size on a PDF. A small inconvenience but it sure beats carrying a 3-inch binder containing a 900 page RFP on the plane with me.

My 1 Unofficial Like

• The MP3 Player. I can also upload MP3 files and plug in my 3.5mm ear buds from my iPod. But that seems like overkill to me.  Besides, I have iTunes on my laptop and the Kindle 2 won’t play ACC or other iTune formats.  But if I wanted to read and listen to music, I could.  But that doesn’t work for me. It distracts my uni-tasking mind. It doesn’t quite make the list of likes at this point.

Apple iPad is sure to provide some competition for the Kindle 2.  It’s got a color display and it’s an Apple. The jury’s still out on that one for me.

But, so far I love my Kindle 2. Can you tell?

For more information on the Kindle 2, click here!

But finding it isn’t always easy.

It’s been said that the harder you look for something, the more difficult it is to find.  I believe that. Looking for love is often just this way.

We scurry from bar to bar, club to club, date to date and always wonder why we’re not finding the right person.

Single dads with half to full custody of their kids find it even more challenging.

Balancing time with children, work responsibilities, and time dedicated to personal improvement (physical and spiritual), and any responsibilities we might have to aging parents – like I said, it’s not always easy.

Sometimes Love Is Like an Apple

As Newton discovered, sometimes unexpected things drop into your life through unexpected mechanisms.  So it is with love at times.

I’ve been quiet for a while as you may have noticed.  I’ve been busy with a reorganization at my employer and adapting to the changing bosses and philosophies that accompany them.

Another reason for my silence is a budding relationship (that I’m not going to talk about in any detail). Let’s just say that it’s been a very long time since my heart was hooked like this.

Like Newton’s famed apple that dropped in front of him igniting his groundbreaking work on gravity, love has dropped into my life igniting a world of possibilities for me.

It’s wonderful to be in that state where you feel the world is your oyster and 16 wasn’t that long ago. 

I decided a long time ago not to blog about current relationships and I’m not going to now.  But I did feel that sharing  my Newtonian moment was in order.  Without the ability to foretell the future, I don’t know where it may lead.

But for now, it’s very cool, you know?  8-)  Happy New Year!

In an effort to prove that ‘sitting around and moping while your kids are with the other parent’ isn’t the only alternative for solo-dads, I Twittered my day and then blogged about here it a few days later.

Here’s a snippet (read the full post here):

It reminded me of the Zen saying…

“Before enlightenment, carrying water, chopping wood.  After enlightenment, carry water, chopping wood.”

What Did I Do?

I made coffee, drank it from my favorite Beatles mug, read email, read blogs, wrote, did some light housework, washed dishes, made good headway in the assault on Mt. Laundry (received some laundry-related reassurance and encouragement from Pam),  watched The Bourne Ultimatum..again , cooked some tasty chicken breasts, steamed broccoli and fingerling potatoes (note to self, send Garlic Crusted Chicken recipe to Rebecca M), got a killer cheese-biscuit recipe on Twitter from Jen, received a dinner invitation to munch on some of those cheese-biscuits from Sue C (which I couldn’t make because…well…she lives in Maine), had an after dinner drink at a seaside pub at the beach, strolled along the ocean, witnessed an amazing sunset (is it totally obvious why I live here), and settled in to watch some TV with a cup of black pekoe tea and a splash of half-n-half…all the while Tweeting updates to those tracking my day while engaging in their own celebrations (or lack thereof in Canada and the UK).

While rereading that post today…

I was struck how different my life is today vs. a year ago.

• LE has really stepped into this teen years in a big way; he’s grown a foot, slimmed down dramatically in the process, and his voice is deeper every day.
• My personal life has also become more meaningful. I have more friends, I have a great dog that keeps me busy and active, and I have a beautiful new granddaughter!
• My job is more meaningful and challenging. A corporate reorganization left me with new bosses and less staff. But it’s forced me to stretch and carry more responsibility and it’s working out well.
• My sense of family is taking on a new meaning as well. As my parents age, I can see a time when I will be become the unofficial patriarch of the family. Following my dad’s example of unconditional love and acceptance is a goal I will gladly adopt.

This Year’s Celebration…

…Included my son, Ben and his lovely bride, Crystal, my parents, and LE.  We convened here at the beach bungalow for an ocean-side Thanksgiving.

After some appetizers (cheese plate, various crackers, chips and dip/salsa, Naan flatbread, and other goodies…we dined on my ham (I’m saving the turkey for Christmas), steamed green beans and butternut quash cubes, Crystal’s incredibly creamy mashed potatoes and her tasty stuffing (LE asked for the recipe), Ben’s dinner rolls (homemade), and my mom’s sweet potatoes.

We took a beach walk with Buddy leading the way. Afterward, we slice up the pies -fresh blueberry, pumpkin, and french apple a la mode- while Ben and LE dived into Marianne’s Chocolate ice cream. Coffee and Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider flowed as did the Petitte Syrah!

Later we telephoned Bethany and David in Alaska and collectively ‘on speaker’ wished them a Happy Thanksgiving and for while they were with us as well.

Today, my son Jeremy and his girlfriend Perrine are come to stay. It will be good to see them as well.

Today is my 52nd birthday.

I was born at 8:00 a.m. in Savannah, Tennessee. In 1957 I was the first baby delivered via Caesarian section in Hardin County General Hospital.

I’m told my maternal grandfather raised hell and barged into the nursery because I was crying. In those days, dads didn’t witness their children’s birth and my dad spent the time it took to deliver me in the waiting room.

But here I am fifty-two years later, a father of four, solo-dad to one, and GrandDad to the cutest little thing ever born in Alaska…Jessica Riley Anderson.

Birthdays are a useful occasion to reflect on life, but this year with Thanksgiving just around the corner, I’m going look forward and list some of the things in life that I’m grateful for instead.

I’m Grateful

• I’m grateful for each of my kids: Bethany Sara, Benjamin Barry, Jeremy Augustin, and Justin Elijah.  Each is unique and all are loved beyond measure.  They bring me joy simply by having them in my life.
• I’m grateful that my parents are still with us having just celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary in August. They taught me to love unconditionally as well as how to give. Their example of unselfish love is one of the truest compasses I’ve ever encountered.
• I’m grateful for other that show me affection: friends, coworkers, people I meet from day to day that I may never see again.  They all make my life an interesting and rich space to occupy.
• I’m grateful for my dog, Buddy. Today we took him to the local dog park and he was in doggie heaven. He is keeping us on our toes and in our running shoes, too!
• I’m grateful for the many people who impact my daily life: other solo-parent bloggers like Rachel Sarah, David Mott, as well as Ian and Dr. Leah. Each of these bloggers are single parents who pace the same issue and challenges as people like me and yet they find time to blog about it each day; something I have not been able to do for longer than a few weeks at a time.  Each provide the encouragement, advice, humor, and inspiration guys like me need to keep going.
• Finally, I’m grateful for every single blunder, mistake, transgression, illegal act (yes, there are some), and dumb thing I have ever done.  These little side journeys into the Land of Oopsy have made me a stronger, more resilient person.  They have been my teachers and coaches each providing me with the motivation necessary to get back up again.

Today LE and I spent the better part of the day volunteering. Each year my employer foots the bill for a Thanksgiving dinner for approximately 200 seniors. Employees volunteer as servers, cooks, and even Santa Clause and host a dinner of turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables, and all the trimmings.

We had a great time serving and just chatting with various seniors. It’s sobering to think that it wasn’t too long ago that these very people were my teachers, my employers, my friends’ parents in the larger sense.

It was also nice to see LE learning how to do a (half) day’s work and not expect anything in return save the satisfaction of having given a great experience to others who deserve it.

Here’s a quick video of us ‘unwinding’ with a Klondike Bar and just watch what happens:

I’ve had a wonderful birthday and I think I’m going to close it our with either a glass of wine or a cuppa.

Can’t decide which!

On this past Sunday, LE and I drove to the East Bay city of Pleasanton, California to meet ‘Buddy.’

Buddy is a 14-month old black Labrador Retriever  Pointer mix who needed a new home.

Since deciding to adopt a pet, LE and I have been looking for the perfect dog.

Of course perfection doesn’t exist outside the worlds of babies, Beatles songs, and Starbucks Coffee.

I’d imagined the perfect dog would somehow come us with the following attributes:

• Be 1-3 years old 
• Would instantly love LE (would grow to love me, too)
• Be loyal
• Want to play
• Look forward to walks on the beach with me and LE
• Be content with our life together
• Like the simple things, like kibble 
• And…he’d be house-trained

Enter ‘Buddy!’

Mark, Buddy’s former owner, is on his way to Afghanistan for a second tour in the USAF. He’d raised Buddy from a puppy and was determined to find him a loving home before shipping out.

I responded to an online ad via a dog rescue site and Mark called me that evening. We traded particulars and agreed to meet on Sunday at a location we both knew.

When LE and I got out of the car, Mark and Buddy were side by side.  Buddy looked at LE (who has traditionally been somewhat timid around dogs) and ran to him.

LE simply knelt down, opened his arms and dog and boy embraced.  There was a lot of licking and tail wagging going on and it was clear very soon that Buddy and LE had something going.

Letting the Dog Choose

Mark told us that he’d introduced Buddy to four other parties and Buddy didn’t have the reaction to them that he exhibited on meeting LE.

“He’s already chosen you,” he said to LE.  “I’m just going to assume he’s your dog now.”

Mark told me before meeting me that Buddy wasn’t for sale. He needed a family and a permanent home. After some time, I insisted Mark take some money and buy his fellow airmen a drink and toast Buddy.

He finally agreed. After a teary goodbye, Buddy climbed into our car and joined our family.

7 Days of Unconditional Love

Tomorrow will be the 7th day that Buddy has been with us.  He lavishes affection on LE and me and anyone else who visits us.

He won the hearts of both my parents in an instant and they’ve called four times to ask about my two boy!

He’s changed our morning and evening routines, and the general the mood in our house. Although he barks when I play Santana, it’s been seven days of unconditional love.

The Power of Imagination

I’m a firm believer in the power of positive imagery and its role in attracting what I desire. As I look back over the attributes I’d wanted in a dog, I realize that Buddy embodies them all.

I couldn’t have imagined a better, more perfect dog for us.  Maybe, that’s exactly what I did.

When it comes to picking domestic partners, my track record isn’t spectacular. 

Ex #1

My first wife was, and remains, a lovely woman.  That we grew in opposite directions was, perhaps, the fault of no one.

Though I carried a lot of guilt around with me for nearly two decades over the manner in which we split, that fact that we became different people was just something that happened and it was, because of conflicting positions on certain issues, both inevitable and unavoidable.

Ex#2

My second choice for a mate resulted in 15 years of degenerating contentment. That putting it in the best possible light.

However, with silver linings in mind, I became a stronger, more resilient person as a result of that tumultuous relationship.

Jeremy, my step son and LE are the two remaining silver linings in that relationship. Along with the two children from my first marriage, they are the jewels in my crown.

Solo-Dog

As the search for the right dog continues, I’m beginning to think that my search parameters for our canine companion aren’t that different from the ongoing, albeit inactive for the most part, search for the perfect woman.

You be the judge.

I’m hoping Solo-Dog will:

• Be 1-3 years old (OK, this one doesn’t count.  Not even when converting to human years.)
• Love LE
• Love me
• Be loyal
• Want to play
• Look forward to walks on the beach with me
• Be content with our life together
• Like the simple things, like kibble  (Hey, who likes to eat out all the time? )

When I think about it, that’s what I want from a woman as well. (OK, I didn’t mention a libido to die for… for obvious reasons, but that’s in the mix as well…um, but not for the dog.)  Yes, I’m a man and therefore at least one-quarter sexist-pig.

But in reality, I’m a very sensual person. (My adult kids – click away right now to prevent gross-out.) Sex/sensuality isn’t just a minor part in my relationships, I tend to show my affection physically in all my relationships.

I still hug my sons tightly and kiss them on the side of their head. I do the same with my daughter.  And when my granddaughter is born later this month, I’ll be the GrandDad Hug Machine for her entire life.

So in some ways, Solo-Dog is the prototype life companion I’ve been seeking all my life.

But I recognize there are some problems with this dual application canine / human-companion criteria:

1. Hairy backs. Not a fan.
2. Perfection. No dog or woman is perfect.  Heck, I’m not even perfect.   I may be searching for the ‘perfect dog,’ and therefore, the perfect woman. Not realistic.
3. Loyalty. Most dogs bond with their humans for life. In my experience, most humans do not. Yes, I know dogs don’t comprehend the subtleties of human interactions, the head games we play, etc. But still, is loyalty too much to ask for in a life partner?

The Perfect Dog or the Perfect Woman

Actually, I don’t think either exist. But I’m generally having fun looking for both.

I have some wonderful women acquaintances. I’ve dated some very lovely women.  The two women I work most closely with at my job are more than coworkers; they’re friends.

But honestly speaking, I think the best choice for me at this point in my life, is to stick with Solo-Dog, where ever he or she may be, and leave the larger, more complex pursuit for the life companion to the future; at a time when I can offer a woman more Barry and less Solo-Dad.

But until then, I’ll keep searching. 

As Summer slips into Fall here in the Monterey Bay Area, the crowds have thinned on the beaches leaving only dog walkers and those still trying to jog their way to a slimmer waistline.

While I’m firmly in the latter category of beach visitors, I hope to soon be in the former as well.

Recently, my parents (who live in San Jose) were forced to euthanize their 13 year-old Toy Poodle, Gabby.  She and my dad were special pals and their twice daily walks were famous for taking an hour or more.

My dad is a sociable guy and he made friends with innumerable people who lived along the course of his walks with Gabby.

Going for a walk with ‘Papa’, accompanied by Gabby, has been one of the common experiences for nearly all of their 10 grand-kids and 12 great-grands-kids.  Losing her has been very tough on him and my mom.

They let it be known throughout the family that they were not interested in obtaining another dog.  Both feel it’s not only too soon to think about following Gabby’s passing, but at 76 and 78, neither believes they’re up to another long-term pet commitment.

Adding another dimension to our lives

About the time that Gabby’s passing occurred, I awoke the next day with a strong desire to get a dog.  I wasn’t that close to Gabby, so I can’t blame it on her absence.  I grew up with dogs always being a part of my life but strangely never owned one in adulthood.

Maybe it’s because I don’t own a home that I’ve shied away from dog ownership. But, as I mentioned at the top of this post, I’m not getting any younger and neither is LE. In fact, LE is rapidly becoming MC (man-child). [Check out his latest moves in this YouTube video!]

So, given that we live a block fromm the beach (the biggest front yard ever) LE and I have decided it’s time to add another dimension to our lives by getting a dog.

Breeds, beds, and bones

We’ve been looking at dogs on the beach, dogs on the Internet, and dogs in rescues and pounds. We’ve visited PetSmart and CostCo.  We’ve made the successful presentation to my landlord and the neighbors in our 4-plex here in Aptos.

We’ve gotten the green light from the property owner after jumping through several hoops including ramping up my renter’s insurance coverage, and detailing my dog care plans for when I’m away on business.

I honestly can’t wait to have a valid reason (other than it’s good for my waistline) for running and  romping on the beach each morning and evening.  Can you tell we’re excited about this?

Potential outcomes

As I’ve stated earlier, I’m hoping this will add another dimension to our lives. I’d love to have LE feel there is someone else to love in the house.  Not that his love is at all repelling, OMG, I don’t know where I’d be without it.

But it’s become evident that my life and his are intermingled without a lot of boundary.  I’m hoping that a dog will not only allow him to experience unconditional love from an entity outside of me, but also open areas of himself that may be covered over by memories of past trauma and heartache thereby creating more individual identity and experience for him to build on.

We need Solo-Dog in our lives

No, we’re not going to name him or her Solo-Dog.  But it seems a fitting moniker for our yet to be adopted canine companion.

Because we live in a small place without a yard to speak of (we do have a large covered 20′ x 10′ patio), I want to make the right choice in dogs.  Plus, the dog would be alone for about 4-6 hours per day in side the house.

I’d love a black or chocolate Labrador, but am also thinking of a Labradoodle in light of LE’s allergies.  Anyway, we’re still looking and exploring and having a lot of fun in the process.

Suggestions welcome

Readers of Solo-Dad are welcome to make suggestions as to breeds, tips, warnings, whatever.  At this stage, I’m all ears.