Big Daddy Gouda

Some of you may know, but most of you prolly don’t, but I’ve inherited (rescued, stole, traded for a tv) Andy the puggle.

Keely and Charlie having been considering letting him go for a while and now that they are expecting a new addition to the family in June and I suddenly have a big empty house all to myself, it seemed like the perfect time….I guess.

So Andy arrived last week and he has certainly added life to a house that’s been quiet too long.

He chases his tail, he barks at the neighbors, he hides his chew toys under the couch cushions,  he brings me his leash when he wants a walk and god forbid I leave my socks or boxers on the floor.

Andy is four years old and I’ve known him all his life. To say we’ve always gotten along is an understatment. And, because of our history,  for the most part I think he’s comfy here.

I’m approaching my first full week with the dog and here the basic rundown of my typical day.

8:15 a.m. - The alarm goes off. (15 minutes earlier than it did before I was a dog owner.)

I get out of bed and head to the coffee maker. Press start. Take a leak. Throw on some sweats and bring Andy into the front yard so he can do his business.

8:30 a.m. – Feed Andy his crappy health dog food that Keely insists is good for him. I sprinkle it with grated cheese or else he wouldn’t eat it. Drink my coffee. Play on the computer. Wash up and get dressed.

9:00 a.m. – Take Andy for a walk around the block. Like clockwork he shits on my next door neighbor’s front lawn. It’s the only place he’ll go. He darts after cats and squirrels and sniffs the tires of every parked car we pass.

9:30 a.m – I coax Andy into his doggie crate with “doggie treats”. I flip on the TV to Nickelodeon and leave for the day. Andy barks at me as I walk out the front door.  I’m sure he’s saying, “Where the fuck are you going!”

WORK FROM 10 a.m TO 6 p.m

6:45 -Arrive Home!!

Let Andy out of his crate. Hopefully he’s been walked at least once while I’ve been gone by Keely, my sister or father. He jumps all over me and yelps like I’m the most important person in the history of the world. Picture a 5yr old on Christmas morning….now times that by 10. That’s how happy he is.

7:00 p.m. Take Andy out to the front yard to do his business. Come back inside, cook my supper, do computer stuff.

7:30 p.m. Feed Andy his supper, then eat mine. It takes him about 30 seconds to finish his food. He spends the rest of the time sitting in front of  me, staring intently as I eat my dinner.

8:00 p.m - Take a shower.

I gave Andy a bath on his second day here. It was not fun. I had to chase him around the house before dragging him into the bathtub. So now, whenever I start to take a shower, he runs around the house like a maniac, thinking I’m going to give him another bath.  Some times I indulge him and chase him…sometimes I don’t. After I get out of the shower I open the bathroom door, only to find him laying outside the door, waiting patiently for me to finish.

8:30-10:30 p.m.- Watch TV, blog, talk on the phone while Andy either sleeps or plays with his chew toys, occasionally coming over for a scratch behind the ears.

10:30 p.m. Take Andy for his second walk of the day. Not around the block, just to the end of the street and back. It’s usually pretty cold so as we get deeper into the winter I’m sure this routine will change a bit.

I usually turn in around midnight. Sometimes I fall asleep on the couch with Andy at my feet. Eventually I end up in the bedroom. I don’t have the heart to put Andy in the crate over night. I also don’t feel like shutting my door. Then he would just bark and eventually sleep outside the bedroom door on the cold hard floor. So, I leave my bedroom door open. He sleeps at the foot of my bed, just like my first dog Crust did when I was 10 years old.

Occasionally I’ll be woken out of a sound sleep in the middle of the night when Andy barks at something. A passing car or a spider on the wall.

So yeah, Andy brought some energy into this house that’s been quiet for too long and while It can be scary being responsible for another’s well being, it’s only been a week and I couldn’t imagine this place without him.

“I carry my crucifix
Under my death list
Forward my mail to me in hell
Liars and the martyrs
Lost faith in The Father
Long lost in the wishing well”

- Motley Crue, Wildside

Being a news junkie, a movie lover and an avid reader, I’m well aware that the world is fucked up. I don’t travel through existence with blinders on, staring at the world through rose-colored glasses, seeing only pink horses.

Most of you know what I do for a living.  I sit in a courtroom all day.  I watch as people of every race are called before a judge.  Some are there for speeding. Some drove while intoxicated. Some stole baby formula from Stop & Shop. And yes, some raped and killed. This is America after all.

Sitting in court you never get the full story. You hear buzz words that tip you off that someone did bad. Did really bad.

Some of those buzz words are “assault”, “restraint”, “risk of injury”.

The buzz words get your attention. Then you listen as the bonds are called. More than likely, when the judge orders a high bond (anything over $50K) that means we have a bad person on our hands.

Usually the court appearances are brief. Unless it’s a trial, the accused may only stand before a judge for 3-5 minutes before the case is continued. However, if I’ve heard the buzz words I put a star next to their name in my little notebook.

At the end of the day I take the list of names to the court clerk and ask to see the files.

The files are free and open to the public. Any joe-schmo off the street can walk into any court room in America and ask to see a file.

The files contain the details. And the devil is in the details.

The most important thing in any file is the arrest warrant. And believe me, when cops are putting together an arrest warrant, no detail is spared.

If some guy beat another guy to death with a baseball bat and then sodomized him with it, well, that’s in there.

Today I had to read a file about a man from El Salvador who allegedly molested a family friend when she was eight years old. I had to put the file down three times before I could get through it.

Like I said, when police are gathering evidence to be put before a judge as to obtain a warrant, nothing is spared.

At the end of the day when I was working on the story I had to ask my boss how specific I should get when listing the man’s alleged offenses.  It was no surprise to me that the most horrific details were left out. Seriously? Who wants to read that shit anyway?

Most of the time, I can simply write-up a file, insert name and file the story. I mean, come on! We all know the deal. Most crimes are all the same, day in day out. Same ole people doing the same ole shit, thinking the can get away with it. But they don’t.

I see the patterns too. Most people who commit crimes like burglary, do it because they are addicted to heroin. Most people who lose their license are alcoholics.  It’s just the way it goes. I’d say that pattern follows suit 90% of the time. If you don’t sell the drugs, you are the one robbing the house so you can sell the dvd player at the pawn shop in Hartford so you can score a few baggies. And, if booze is your thing, then driving is of no consequence. The first hour and half of each court day is spent on DUIs.

I’m used to that. The burglars and robbers, the drug dealers and the drunk drivers. They fill the courtroom everyday. Some go to jail, some don’t.

But it’s the brutal crimes that I can’t yet get used to. The rapists. The molesters. The child beaters. Those stick with me a little bit. And I’m sure there is some test study that can be done to prove my next point- but most people who are arrested for the brutal crimes are pretty scary looking.  Usually disheveled. Eyes wide as saucers. A blank expression on their face. Sometimes, as they are led out to the courtroom in shackles, they glance into the crowd. If their gaze finds me, (usually in the front row) I always look away. I admit it. I’m not brave enough to make eye contact.

Okay. That’s enough. Time to put on the rose-colored glasses and watch 30 Rock.

I’m too old and too broke to party the way I did Saturday night at Mohegan Sun for Krista’s 30th Bday!!

Truth be told I didn’t spend THAT much money.  Really, only the money that was necessary to survive at the casino.

And, truth be told, I didn’t drink THAT much. Really only the amount necessary to have a good time at the party.

However, as my roommates Gruzzy and Carie can attest, I woke up in the hotel room at Mohegan Sunday with the headache from hell and a case of the barfs that I haven’t had from drinking in years.

Speaking of that, I’d like to thank Gruzzy for making sure I made it safely to the car from the hotel. I had just thrown up three times. My head hurt so much I thought I was going to pass out and the ringing slot machines and swirling carpet patterns weren’t doing me any favors.

I was too embarrassed to admit I may have to stop because I was afraid I’d fall over.  (yeah, I was that sick). But just when I started to look for a comfy place to collapse, there was Gruzzy, walking at a snail’s pace in front of me. I was hurting and he knew it and must have sensed that I could go at any time.

Luckily I made it to the car without further incident. Slept the whole way home. Slept the afternoon away on my couch and woke up at 4 p.m. feeling somewhat normal.

So yeah, after Halloween at Jamie’s and then Mohegan Sun for Krister’s I think that’s enough drinking for a while. I suppose I’ll spend the next few weekends where I belong, in front of the TV and at the Multi-Plexes!!

Today also marked the 30th Bday of The Weik Twins. As most of you who have Facebook already know.

While I haven’t seen Ericka in quite some time, I did manage to celebrate Keely’s birthday Sunday night with a fabulous turkey dinner that I’d compare to some of the best Thanksgiving birds I’d ever eaten.

Monday was back to the grind at work. The weather was a perfect 70 degrees and Sunday’s post-party unpleasantness was gone. If it wasn’t for my goddamn tooth ache acting up I would have called Monday the perfect day. Well, as perfect as a Monday can get.

If I wake up tomorrow and the tooth still hurts I’m gonna have to suck it up and call the tooth doctor. Does anyone have dental insurance I can borrow?

So now just some simple things to look forward to. New Moon opening in a few weeks. The holidays, which are always nice. I heard a few rumblings already about potential X-Mas parties!

I may (or may not) get a roomie this week. I’m not saying who, but I’ll give you a clue:  It’s a he. He won’t contribute one bit to the bills (if anything, he’ll add to them)… and he bites.

Wah wah wah………………

My, it’s been a while has it not?

Between work and the baseball playoffs I haven’t been that faithful to the ole blog. But we all know that all is once again right with the world as The New York Yankess captured their 27th World Championship last night

So with no baseball to watch and my favorite shows safely stored away on my DVR,  I can get back to BDG.

A quick recap……………

I’ve seen some great movies lately.  I have already howled about how excellent Paranormal Activity is. So def get out there and see that one. However I’m also going to recommend the Michael Jackson film This Is It.

The film chronicles MJ’s rehearsals leading up to his 50 sell-out shows in England. We all know what happened. A week before he was set to travel across the pond- he died.

Lets make this perfectly clear. I did not see a weak, unhealthy, drug addicted Michael Jackson up on that screen. The King of Pop was in complete control of every aspect of that show.  He was a perfectionist — repeating dances and songs until he got it exactly right. He would even yell at his musicians if they didn’t get it to sound exactly right.

“Well how do you want it to sound,” he was asked by a frustrated drummer.

“I want it to sound like it does on the record,” Jackson replied.

The most interesting part for me? He brought in dancers from all over the world to audition for the show. Only the best would make the cut and be allowed to perform on stage with him for the tour. And ya know what? These “greatest dancers in the world” still didn’t hold a candle to Michael…..so sad.

……………………………….

Ya know what movie absolutely sucked? Where The Wild Things Are. Man, that was so boring it hurt. The storyline was lame, the dialogue cheesy. The Wild Things were depressed, always fighting and resembled scary Jewish monsters. Even Aidan kept asking me, “Is this almost over?”

……………………………………………………….

Jamie and Jay had yet another legendary Halloween Party. Everyone showed up in costume. Everyone danced and drank and watched the Yankees beat the Phillies to take a 2-1 World Series lead.

…………………………………….

And speaking of The World Series. Man it’s been nine years since the Yankees last won when they beat the Mets in the 2000 Subway Series. So much has changed since then:

• None of my friends were married yet
• There was no such person as Aidan Weik
• Aaron/Erin and Jamie/Jay barely even knew each other
• Tony Soprano was just getting famous while shows like LOST and American Idol hadn’t even premiered.
• People rolled their eyes and may have laughed out loud at the idea of a black president.
• Gruzzy was still a virgin

…………………………..

So yeah, I think we’re pretty much caught up now. I hope to see many of you this weekend at Mohegan Sun as we celebrate Krista’s 30th and rock out to some PDM.  I hear a lot of people are going and that’s great cuz  Krista is one of the select few who has made it a point to be at almost every birthday we’ve celebrated over the years. Chances are, if you’ve had a birthday party over the last several years, Krista’s helped plan it.

PDM ROCKS!

“We gotta hold on to what we’ve got, it doesn’t make a difference if we make it or not………”