The Future is Here with Skype

I've always considered myself somewhat of an "early adopter" of new technology and such. I like to try things to see how nifty they are, or more important, if they offer more convenience. Skype is one such technology service. I've been using Skype for years. It is an amazing service that allows people to communicate easily for free via the internet. It is sort of like Star Trek or the Jetsons. In my prior career I had a remote employee who lived in another state. I used Skype to "meet" with that person every day, and would even bring my laptop to other meetings so the remote person could be part of meetings in our main office.

But Skype also comes in handy for private use. I use it to talk to my nieces who live 3,000 miles away. Being so young, it is nice to be able to see them as they grow and develop. When I visited the Harry Potter Wizarding World in Orlando, FL recently, I used Skype on my iPhone to call my niece and give them a live, inside tour of the park. It was a real hit with them! 

Since I travel a fair amount I use Skype to stay in touch with the goings-on back in Palm Springs. Namely, the poodles. I log into Skype from either my laptop of iPhone and, and the both Sheldon and Duncan recognize the sound of the Skype "ring". While in Asia recently, I called home to chat, and while Sheldon and Duncan were each on Skype, I took a snapshot of the Skype window. Here are the photos of each one on Skype:

As you can see, they know enough to come to the laptop screen to look at me. The funny thing is watching them sniff the air, in the direction of my face on the screen. Dogs use their sense of smell more than just sight- so despite hearing my voice, and seeing my face, they instinctively want to detect me by my scent as well. Sheldon has been known to look behind the laptop screen, to see if I am there, which if awfully cute, don't you think? It makes me happy to be able to see the kids and talk to them. So for that alone, Skype has become a valuable communication tool in this age. What about you? Do you use Skype much?

The Adventures of Sheldon & Duncan: Time to be Neutered

The time finally arrived. Young Duncan Diggory went to the vet for a procedure. We waited much longer than we did for Sheldon, to see how big he would get. Turns out, Duncan is bit longer and taller than Mr Sheldon but he is skinny as a rail, so in all just five pounds heavier. The Adventures of Sheldon & Duncan continue, as it was Time to be Neutered. Considering the procedure, Duncan handled himself rather well. He came home all groggy and woozy, wearing the e-collar cone on his head, to prevent him from licking the stitches. Oddly enough, Mr Sheldon was initially spooked by his brother's cone. Quite characteristically, Sheldon growled at Duncan when he approached, and would run away. Sometimes Sheldon would stand around the corner and watch nervously to see if Duncan was in the area. To show Sheldon it was still just his brother, I removed the cone for a few hours so he could "see" that it was OK and that Duncan hadn't turned into some kind of scary monster. Fortunately that seemed to do the trick, and soon they were back to their normal playful poodle selves. Before I went to work this morning, the boys sat in the kitchen, politely asking for a treat. They seemed to deserve a Tillman Treat, don't you think? Well, I thought so anyway.

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The Adventures of Sheldon & Duncan: Out for Exercise

It has been awhile since I've written of The Adventures of Sheldon & Duncan, and then yesterday I found inspiration for a new episode. The weather forecast for Southern California was menacing; threats of rains, wind and record cold temperatures. I envisioned a weekend being locked inside with the poodles unable to go out to play. Being young, large and energetic dogs, they need their daily exercise. Normally they go out several times per day to play- and burn off some steam. With the forecast of a long rainy weekend I decided to take them out a few times before the rains arrived. They love going for walks, especially when we get to one particular spot where it is safe to let them off-leash to run. Here is a short video clip of them out for exercise:

As you saw from this video, standard poodles are pretty good athletes. They love to run at high speeds and chase each other, taking turns at who leads in the game. It warms my heart to see them happy like this, enjoying their free time. It also serves as a reminder that some breeds need to run, and if paired with a home lifestyle that cannot offer that outlet, dogs can become unhappy and do naughty things indoors. So there is my PSA to urge folks to do your research on the needs of a breed before bringing one into your home. Meanwhile, both Sheldon and Duncan had another adventure while out for exercise. As it turned out, the rain was short-lived in the desert, and Palm Springs was spared most of the wintry-weather that fell on Southern California. So in the end, the poodles had access to their usual exercise adventure, repeated just like this video above. Indeed, it is good to be a poodle in my home.

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The Adventures of Sheldon and Duncan: The Christmas Portrait

For those of you with pets in your home, no doubt you will appreciate this post. As we're in the final stretch of the Christmas holiday week, I felt it was time to post this holiday photo. It was supposed to be better than it turned out, but the challenge is the subjects of the photo. This brings me to another installment of The Adventures of Sheldon and Duncan: The Christmas Portrait. I am a bit of a traditionalist with things like holiday photos and like everything just so. Both poodles went to the grooming salon for a bath, brush and fluff. Even Owen was clean, fluffy and ready for his close-up. I set the stage with a roaring fire, switched on the Christmas tree lights, and had the lighting just so. I positioned the kids in front of the tree, and on cue, Owen sauntered over to the fireplace and sat on the hearth next to his brothers. 

Sheldon sat up especially straight- he always tries very hard to please- so much so that he had a serious expression on his face. Duncan, on the other hand was smiling non-stop, and looking around. There I stood, giving all sorts of instructions and commands to the three of them, as if they actually understood my direction. They looked left. They looked right. They switched places. I kept clicking away, hoping for the one perfect photo. After a few minutes they became impatient, and just wanted a break. I insisted we try a few more shots. I could see tails wagging excessively, as if they had all they could do to hold back their excitement. 

Then the damn burst. Duncan couldn't hold it in any longer; he darted toward me, tail wagging, smiling broadly. "No-no, Duncan, SIT, SIT" I shouted. He looked at me bewildered. Sheldon remained sitting, but noticeably perturbed by his brothers outburst of emotion. Owen became squirmy and began grooming himself. I fetched some semi-moist dog treats to tempt them into submission. Both dogs were repositioned yet again, and while holding a treat in one hand I began snapping photos. Then the clock chimed- Duncan turned his head. Then an airplane flew overhead- Sheldon looked out the window. It was hopeless. I reviewed the photos captured thus far. Several were blurry. Several were just plain awful. One good one didn't have the kitty in it. One had all three of them, but no one was looking at the camera. ::sigh::

I looked back at my three children and realized they are the best pets for which a guy could ever ask. I smiled at them and called them to me. They were overjoyed with the calling and bounded toward me, licking my face in appreciation. It was then, at that moment I felt the Christmas Spirit. All was well, regardless of who was looking at the camera. We are a family, sharing our own Christmas joy.
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Sheldon and the Nervous Waiter

Yesterday I had a business lunch meeting and decided to bring Sheldon along. He is so accustomed to being with me all the time that I hated to leave him alone all day. I phoned ahead to the restaurant to be sure the patio would be open (it was). Sheldon pranced right on into Mimi's patio as if he owned the joint. My business colleagues arrived shortly and were thrilled to see Sheldon, more than me I think. Our server wasn't a dog person- I could tell. He kept a far distance from Sheldon as he greeted us and took our orders. I'm always a bit taken back when I meet someone who doesn't like animals. 

I understand that there are dog people and cat people, and some cat people really don't like dogs.  Some dog people really don't like cats. But I rarely meet someone who has a physical aversion to an animal. I don't expect everyone to LOVE animals like I do, but it just seems strange when someone reacts so oddly around a dog. Now, keep in mind I'm talking about a standard poodle, not a pit bull or rottweiler or one of those breeds of which some people are leery. Well anyway lunch was fine, and the server was pleasant enough but by the look on his face, his darting eyes and the physical distance he kept from Sheldon I knew he was uncomfortable. I held Sheldon close to me when I saw the server approach, out of courtesy. But now really, could Mr Sheldon really be all that scary??
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The Adventures of Sheldon & Harry Potter

Regular readers are familiar with the occasional mini-series of The Adventures of Sheldon which started in 2008 or later the Adventures of Sheldon & Duncan which started in 2009. It has been a month or so since the last episode, so its time for a fresh installment! I can't think of a better night than to be at home relaxing with the poodles. Both Sheldon and Duncan are happiest when we're all home together. Today brings The Adventures of Sheldon & Harry Potter. It all started when I settled down in the media room to watch Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Mr Sheldon curled up on the black leather sofa next to me while Duncan Diggory chose to sit on the floor at my feet. As the movie started, Sheldon instantly perked up. We have surround-sound speakers in the media room that provide for excellent sound quality. Sheldon was drawn into the story in no time.

I first noticed in one of the scenes when there was a Quidditch match with kids flying around on their broom sticks. I watched Sheldon's head movie side to side as he watched the action on the big screen in front of him. I was amused by his interest in the film. 

Shortly thereafter there was a scene when Harry meets Professor Slughorn whilst snipping tentacular leaves through a window in in Professor Sprout's greenhouse. The magical tentacular plants are moving around wildly in their pots while the Professor attempts to snip a few leaves. For some reason, Sheldon was fascinated by this scene and watched intently. Maybe it was the sound and the movement of the plants. Sheldon leaned forward, to have a closer look at the screen. His ears perked up and he watched intently. I managed to snap the photo of his profile at that exact moment. I had no idea he enjoyed Harry Potter movies as much as I do. Sheldon watched the entire movie with me. When it was over, he got up, stretched out, yawned and walked to the bedroom to go to sleep. Another busy day in the life of Sheldon Gryffindor Rockhill.

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Which Poodle Note Card Do You Prefer?

Card #1 a gift from my deal friend Candy

 Some time ago a very dear friend gave me a set of note cards with a standard poodle on them. I liked them so well, I was careful not to use them up until I found a source to re-order them (which I did). Yesterday I was shopping on Palm Canyon Drive in downtown Palm Springs and stopped into Cold Nose, Warm Heart, a shop with great gifts for dog and cat lovers. Whenever I go into a store with pet related anything, I search for poodle-anything. 

Card #2 I just bought this one

I was thrilled to find some new note cards with a standard poodle. I thought I'd ask your opinion on which note card you prefer before I buy more. You see, I *love* to send hand-written notes to people. I suppose I'm a bit old fashioned that way. Being a standard poodle fan, I just love both note card styles. Although both feature a black poodle, so poor Duncan is not represented I'm afraid. Oh well. Anyway, which note card style do you prefer?
-Rick Rockhill
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Meet Mason the Poodle Guide Dog

Meet 'Mason' a standard poodle guide dog from the Guide Dogs of the Desert. Mason is a guide dog ambassador who has been very busy lately. Mason has been out visiting Petco stores to help raise awareness of National Guide Dog Month. Being the smart poodle he is, Mason knows that it takes two years and costs more than $40,000 to train a single guide dog. I've written about guide dogs before, for more details, check out this prior post. My employer, Natural Balance Pet Foods has teamed up with Petco to raise $1 million this month for accredited guide dog schools across the United States. You can donate at any Petco store today or online at www.petco.com/naturalbalance through September 24th. Donations are a little behind where we would like them to be, so we need a last push to get the word out. That's why 'Mason' is out visiting stores. Help me spread the word. You can donate any amount $1, $5, $10, $20 online, it is fast and easy. Thanks for your help.
-Rick Rockhill
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More Refreshing Moments at Home

Sunday was one of those lazy summer days, when we did absolutely nothing at all. I was up early, ground some fresh coffee beans and was on the patio by 6:00 reading the news on my iPad and sipping a robust cup of organic coffee. I love watching the early morning sun, it is definitely a high-point of each day for me. By noon time the sun was in in full force, driving me into the pool. I had my camera because I was bird watching and had hopes of getting a few good photos, but alas, no luck. As I was sitting in the pool, I looked down and noticed the shadow of a palm tree on the bottom of my pool. I thought it made for a nice refreshing photo, worthy of the lead photo in today's post. I was in no hurry to leave the water, so I sat on the steps, submerged, floating and staring up into the bright blue summer sky.

above: Sheldon and Duncan hate to miss anything, so they sat outside with me, near the back pool. We have shade structures, so they were not sitting directly in the sun. They were happy to be with me, keeping a watchful eye on everything I was doing. That cactus- type plant in the green pot are cuttings of a "Thorns of Christ" plant that I've been trying to root. It's struggling but doing better finally. If you look carefully in the photo above. you can see my reflection in the French doors. I took another photo, but zoomed in closer on Duncan:

above: Mr Duncan-Diggory was about as happy as he could be. Later he noticed my reflection in the door also and tilted his head trying to figure it out.

above: the west patio is one of my more favorite areas on the property, it is so peaceful and calm to me. That "organ pipe cactus" is really taking off, I'm so pleased he is doing well this year. Well that's all for now. Hope you have a great week, and thanks for stopping by today.
-Rick Rockhill

Adventures of Sheldon & Duncan: Going for a Ride

After a long Asian World Tour business trip overseas, it was so good to be back home again in Palm Springs. The poodles were so excited to see me; even the kitty was extra affectionate and had quite a bit to say actually. I listened intently as Owen filled me in on the past few weeks, his big orange eyes glistened, staring knowingly into my own eyes. Early yesterday morning we decided to go out for breakfast. The poodles looked at me as if to say, "And where do you think you're going?". Immediately that changed things. We decided to go to Ruby's Diner, on Palm Canyon Drive downtown. They have patio seating outside, which means the poodles can come along. Thus, a new chapter of The Adventures of Sheldon and Duncan came to life. Both poodles are keen on going for rides in the car, in fact they go to work daily so they know the drill. Yesterday was different, and they knew it. From the moment I said "Do you want to go to Ruby's?" they perked up and ran to the front door, waiting impatiently. I collected their leads, prompting them to sit up straight, lifting their heads high. With noses pointed upward, I had easy access to clip each lead to their collars. With the sound of the "CLICK" they were released from their self-imposed stance, smiling and excited about the impending trip out of the house together. As the front door opened they made mad dash through the front courtyard and stood side by side at the gate, looking back at me, apparently moving much to slow for their preference. As I opened the car door they jumped in the back seat together, ready to go for a ride.

Both Sheldon and Duncan enjoy going for a ride, but they like being in the convertible even more. They sit up straight and look around, enjoying the view; noses sniffing wildly as they encounter all sorts of things whizzing by.

Driving down Palm Canyon Drive, their heads were looking in opposite directions, pedestrians, stores, palm trees, it was all so exciting. As other cars would crawl past, they would see the poodles in the convertible, point and smile, sometimes saying hello to the poodles. Sheldon and Duncan knew they were being watched. In fact they love the attention. It isn't easy being Rock Star Poodles on Parade.

I glanced back, in the side view mirror and saw Sheldon's reflection. His ears and hair were flowing in the gentle breeze as the car was gliding forward. Sheldon was smiling, happy as can be. To them, The Adventures of Sheldon and Duncan: Going for a Ride were about as good as life gets. I couldn't agree more.
-Rick Rockhill

I think I May Have "Jumped The Shark"

Last weekend while in Sonoma Wine Country, we passed through the nice little town of St Helena. It has a great main street with all kinds of interesting shops, cafes and interesting sites to get you to spend your money. In order to defend my honor and pride, I feel it is necessary to explain that by this point, I had been away from my dogs for four days and really missed them a lot. So fast forward back to St Helena Main Street. I was tired. There was a little bit of cash burning a hole in my pocket and I felt compelled to buy something. We moseyed into a shop with an interesting array of stuff...a crazy statue of an Egyptian woman caught my eye. I feigned an interest in it and mumbled something about it being perfect for the front foyer (it wasn't). I just wanted to see if John was paying attention (he wasn't). Then I saw it- a wall of linens, towels and such...but behind the counter was a massive embroidery machine. I was fascinated watching and listening to it hum along, the machine whirring as it stitched various patterns, letters and designs into towels, sheets, and pillowcases. I started to dismiss it as completely ridiculous until I saw the sample patterns hanging ever-so-conveniently within reach. Instantly I spotted the Standard Poodle design. I thought about my poor poodles sitting at home pining away for me to return. Without hesitation I beckoned the sales girl and asked her embroider two dish towels for the kitchen. One with a black poodle and the name Sheldon and another with a brown poodle and the name Duncan. After paying a ridiculous price for these novelties, I waited as the machine did its thing. I'm not sure why but it really held my attention. I was so pleased with myself for finding something to buy that day. I was smiling just thinking about my dogs and how much they would appreciate their new dishtowels when I got back home. (think about what I just typed there). The day continued...

above: I stopped at Woodhouse chocolates and paused in front of their display-window. It featured a number of hand made chocolate lollypops shaped as flowers. It was so nifty. For a brief moment I felt like I was the Mayor of Lollypop Land, wherever that is. I was still thinking about my dogs back home alone, with just the pet sitter to keep them company.

When I returned home I was so happy to see Duncan and Sheldon. They are such happy dogs. I promptly unpacked their new embroidered dish towels and ceremoniously put them on display. Sheldon walked over and sniffed them, and walked away, unfazed. As I stared at the towels, I realized I may just have "jumped the shark" in buying something so ridiculous, especially for a guy. (the term "jump the shark" is an idiom to describe when something went from cool to absurd). Suddenly I had become my great grandmother. Not even my grandmother collects stuff like this. Oh well, there are worse things to be I suppose. Besides, my great grandma was pretty cool. And so are my two poodles, don't cha think so?
-Rick Rockhill

The Amazing Back-Flipping Poodle

You just have to check this out;

The Adventures of Sheldon: The Dog Food Roll Robber

I've been wondering how long it would be before I had some fresh material for another "Adventures" post. Then yesterday the day arrived, while at work. I present The Adventures of Sheldon: The Dog Food Roll Robber. It all started because Mr Sheldon has a slight ear infection, for which the vet prescribed an overpriced doggie-antibiotic. The dose instructions direct that the meds be given with food to avoid stomach upset. Both Sheldon and Duncan "free feed" so the notion of giving them a pill at mealtime just isn't practical. So to coerce Sheldon to eat some food at pill time, I decided to slice up one of our Natural Balance Dog Food rolls. Since my office is adjacent to our dog food roll plant, I grabbed one of our new secret test batch rolls! As Sheldon watched intently, I sliced a few pieces of the special roll, carefully inserted his antibiotic pill in one of the chunks and fed him his food rolls with the pill. Once he had gobbled it down, I decided to wash my hands, so I stepped out of my office for a moment, leaving the nearly full, newly sliced secret test batch dog food roll on my desk. When I returned, I to my office I noticed the secret test batch roll was missing from my desk. I was certain this was the handiwork of a dog food competitor who broke-in and stole our secret test batch dog food roll. Such sinister activity, I thought! I wondered if I should call the pet food police. I turned to ask the one witness who could provide a clue. I looked over to Mr Sheldon Gryffindor who was standing quite still. I asked him if he had seen anything. He gulped. I looked around, surveying the area. Finally I leaned over my desk and saw the evidence. Apparently the evil dog food competitor who had broken in to steal our secret test batch roll must have left in a hurry, as he dropped the roll on the floor during his speedy exit. Or at least that seemed to be the story Mr Sheldon was trying to lay on me. Hmmmm, I knew better. Although I wasn't away very long, apparently it was long enough for Mr Sheldon to stand up on his legs to reach the desk and help himself to the mostly-full dog secret test batch dog food roll I had left sitting on my desk.I surveyed the evidence more closely to be sure:

above: The gnaw marks in the secret test batch dog food roll had an amazing similarity to Mr Sheldon's poodle teeth. I leaned over to Sheldon and examined his doggie lips. They glistened with a few morsels of the meaty roll. I knew I had found the culprit: The Dog Food Roll Robber was Mr Sheldon himself. His eyes gazed up at me through his long black eyelashes, seemingly guilty. I gently scolded him but was privately thrilled that our new secret dog food roll was a hit with our official tester.
-Rick Rockhill

Things That Matter To Me

These past few weeks I've had a lot of things going on that have occupied my time and thoughts. All good stuff, but I've just been preoccupied with work and career transitions. John and I are grateful to have pets in our lives, they really make things better in every way. Just as an example, the other day I was out running errands, busy with all kinds of trivial things. I was on the go with my head down, not taking the time to smell the proverbial roses, That is, until I returned home and was confronted by Sheldon and Duncan. There they stood, side by side, peering through the side gate- tails wagging in full swing. It was at that precise moment when I was reminded how great these dogs are and how much they mean to me. Poodles are especially smart creatures, experience emotions and "connect" with people in a unique manner. They were so happy to see me return home, it melted my heart. I've said this many times here- dogs make life better. It occurred to me that I've neglected the poodles lately being busy thinking about work. Despite this, dogs love you unconditionally and are always happy to see you. I remembered just how much Sheldon and Duncan mean to me. They are an important part of our family.

above: Here are Sheldon and Duncan relaxing on the sofa next to each other. I'm grateful to have been reminded about the Things That Matter To Me, like my two poodles. What matters to you? What pulls you though the week?
-Rick Rockhill

The Adventures of Sheldon & Duncan: The Cracker Calamity

The past few days I've been quite busy entertaining at home. Nothing huge, but a few nights in a row I hosted wine and cheese type thingies for friends and business associates. Needless to say I went through the house each day cleaned, tidied up and made sure everything was immaculate. After Friday's reception, I wrapped up the remaining cheeses, veggies and placed them back in the refrigerator. The miscellaneous crackers seemed best in a gallon zip lock bag, to keep them fresh for the next night when I was expecting another group of folks for wine and cheese once again. Saturday afternoon I ran a few errands-taking me out of the house for an hour or two at most. When I returned home I discovered what shall henceforth be known as The Cracker Calamity. No doubt you recall other such adventures, such as The Spanish Moss Incident, The Paper Towel Massacre, The Hapless Happenstance, or even The Mud Bath Muddle.

The poodles were trying to greet me, bouncing all over the place- that is until I gazed upon the sofa, which was covered with crumbs of crackers. It seems that I forgot to "poodle proof" the kitchen before I left, and one of them managed to pull the gallon zip lock bag of crackers off the counter and proceeded to shred the bag to get to the crackers. I yelled loudly at Sheldon and Duncan as I stood in front of the sofa. They knew they were in trouble, and sheepishly walked over to the sofa with their heads hung low. I spoke loudly and firmly, addressing them with the rhetorical question: "WHO DID THIS?". Without missing a beat, Duncan stepped forward and sat down in front of the sofa and looked up at me. Sheldon stayed far behind his younger brother. I could almost hear Sheldon thinking "This one is all yours Duncan, don't get me involved". Owen, the kitty sat even further away, and he was thinking: "I told you, I told you not to touch those crackers." As I inspected the shredded plastic bag, I realized most of the crackers were still in the bag. I guess they didn't care for the crackers...of course they must have been dry and flavorless to the poodles!

above: its difficult to see it in this photo, but there were cracker crumbs all over the floor as well..

above: Duncan and Sheldon stared at the evil vacuum cleaner as it whirred and hummed. Owen remained safely under the bar stool where errant machines with suction could do no harm to furry little kitties. In not time at all, The Cracker Calamity of 2010 was but a distant memory.

Merry Christmas

Wishing you a very
Merry Christmas!
Rick, Duncan and Sheldon. (and Owen too, although he ran out of the picture)

A Sofa for The Poodles...

Our back patio sitting area has some super comfy outdoor furniture. Especially in the "cooler" months we love to sit outside with the fireplace going enjoying a nice glass of wine under the dark desert sky. The other night was particularly beautiful, so I headed to the patio to enjoy the view of the stars. Sheldon and Duncan, however beat me to the comfy love seat sofa and jumped right on up together. I had to smoosh them together so there would be enough room for me. I looked at the other pieces of furniture on the patio. One is a glider love seat, no comfy cushions. The other is one of those bobbing spring chairs-no comfy cushion either. The Poodles sure are smart. They picked the most comfortable sofa for themselves to share and enjoy the great outdoors too. Fortunately for me, they love company and have no problem sharing. So there I sat, on the Poodle Sofa and realized how lucky I was to have been adopted by these two wonderful creatures that are so much more than just pets. They are truly part of the family.
-Rick Rockhill

Dogs Make Work Better

From time to time I'm asked to represent my company to speak about pet nutrition. It ranges from being a guest on a radio or TV show, contribute to an article, or address a conference. The folks at work who manage these things wanted a few fresh photos to accompany the bio about me they provide to external groups. Apparently all my usual personal photos with a martini glass in hand are a bit over the top if I'm supposed to speak about pet nutrition (I guess I can understand that). Hence the new photo you see here. Its one of a series of photos with me and Sheldon. Duncan was being squirmy that day so he didn't make it in as many shots.

One of the benefits of working at our company is we can bring our pets to work with us. Let me tell you what a HUGE benefit that is, too. Having one of my dogs with me curled up at my feet all day brings such comfort and joy. It helps release stress if the day gets a little crazy too. Sometimes if I'm in meetings for an hour or two and return to my office, I'm greeted by my dog with such enthusiasm that it makes me smile and all the stress just drains away. So for me, having my dog at work makes me enjoy being at work even more. It's also not a problem when I need to work late, I just take Sheldon or Duncan out for a walk and go right back to work. Of course, the floor in my office has dog toys and chews scattered everywhere, but I don't mind a bit. So yes, it is true, dogs do make work better. Anyway so back to the new photos. Aside from the ones taken with Sheldon, a few were taken of just me, but I much prefer the ones with my canine co-workers.

above: This one was taken at my desk, and looks rather official, don't you think? The books make me look like a professor.

above: here is one with both Sheldon and Duncan. This was taken a few weeks ago, when Duncan was still a bit smaller. Today's he's nearly Sheldon's size. So the question is, which photo do you think is best to be used with my bio when I am representing my company? I'm looking for your honest opinion...so go ahead, leave a comment with the brutal truth.
-Rick Rockhill

Happy Black Friday...Go Spend Some Money!

Yesterday was a very relaxing day at home. I woke up early to enjoy sunrise so I sat outside on the patio with a freshly brewed pot of organic cawfee and some toast. It was a beautiful morning, although I needed a sweatshirt because it was still a bit chilly. I'm not exactly sure why, but for some reason we decided not to host Thanksgiving dinner, so we made reservations for Melvyn's restaurant at the Ingleside Inn. I usually dress up a bit for Melvyn's, in respect to the rich history of the establishment. I selected one of my new ascots to wear and as luck would have it, it perfectly matched a sports jacket I have. Before I got completely dressed, I decided it was a perfect opportunity for a new photo with the kids. So we sat on the porch for this photo. You can see how big Duncan is next to his brother Sheldon. Don't they look cute together? I love my two poodles...Happy Black Friday. Now go out and stimulate the economy!
-Rick Rockhill

Nothing Like A Fresh Coat of Paint.....

We finally did it. We painted the wall in the back yard. I've been staring at it for a long time, complaining that it needed a fresh coat of paint. It was the same light whitish-eggshell color that the contractors used when the house was first built. It was peeling in places. I hated it. Finally, I just pulled the trigger and organized to have the wall power-washed for a good cleaning, scraped a bit, and given a few fresh coats of paint. I wanted a color that would provide more of a desert feel, to blend in with the San Jacinto mountains that are just beyond our home. So off to Lowe's to peruse the plentiful paint chips. Dark brown seemed a bit heavy. A milk chocolate color looked nice but didn't match anything else in the yard or the house exterior. We finally settled on this color above, it's called "Iced Tea" from the Olympic paint brand. I hate choosing paint colors, it always looks different once it is up. We were already familiar with this Iced Tea color because we have it on the door trim on the exterior of the house. Once the painting was complete I was thrilled. It is just the effect I was looking for. It blends in beautifully with the mountains beyond, and provides a nice backdrop for the cactus and other foliage in behind the pool. What do you think? To refresh your memory, here is what it looked like before:

above: the old whitish wall color, seems so blah now

above: So I had Sheldon and Duncan pose for a fresh photo in front of their newly painted wall. As long as the poodles like it, that's all that matters I guess. What do you think about the new wall color?
-Rick Rockhill