West Sheridian Road The Dog Days of 2016 \ Fireside Year in Review
2016. What a year. For us, and many we know, it sure was something. Filled with highs and lows, new starts, some stalls, some beginnings and some endings. Each year we look back and try to find some moments of humor and share with our friends and family. I’d say if we learned anything this year, it would be the importance of being able to laugh. Even as our new senior rescue dog peed on our new chair, we couldn’t help but thinkining: “Isn’t that ironic?” Love, David, Susan and Elli Fireside
INSIDE We Answer the Question: Can you have to many dogs? Annual Roadtrip: Are We There Yet? Susan Learns the Dangers of Excersize
Cover and back photography by Mike Killion.
Netflix: A Cautionary Tale Middle School: Still the Same Elli is Literally Kicking Ass
There’s two types of people in the world: Those who care about having fur covered hardwood floors, and dog people. We happen to fall under dog people. And apologies to cat lovers, but we find nothing better than coming home and seeing those faces, wagging tails, and even getting a laugh out of some of their mischief. This year we rescued a senior dog, lost our Bodhi unexpectedly, and somehow ended up re-homing another Newfoundland.
The Bear Bodhi was a sight to behold. At almost 200 pounds, he was a jumbo even in his own breed. He was a bit of a local celebrity, making it into the newspaper a couple of times as well as on local websites. Strangers would pull their cars over to stop and pet him. A quirky dog he was, often times afraid to walk through our kitchen, in fear of the “kitchen monster.” Even at his huge size, he refused to get into the car. David had to lift him up as he was gently “placed” into the back. A lover of one bite giant icecream cones, peanut butter, and strolls through the park. A true gentle giant, he will be missed.
“A dog will teach you unconditional love. If you can have that in your life, things won’t be too bad.”— Wagner
Katanchick
The Black Winker Special Forces
Meet Ravinia, AKA The Black Winker, our 12 year old incontinent, toothless, deaf, blind and bad back rescue. We (meaning Susan and Elli, who later convinced David) got suckered at a concert at Ravinia this summer at The Indigo Girls and had to have her. She took to being David’s protector, and had an attitude until the end. She made us crack up every day. Mostly out of frustration.
Meet Katan, our rehomed Newfoundland. He’s 18 months old and considered “rambunctious for his breed.” Weighing in at only 110 pounds, Katan means small in Hebrew. His favorite things are taking our boots, chewing them up, and stealing baked brie off the buffet during Thanksgiving.
#Thefactjack
For a while we had two Jack Russells. Sheldon, aka #thefatjack is still fat and still a Jack. He showed Ravinia the ropes on how to stick your head out of car, and how to get lost while camping. His favorite things are still naps and Starbucks Puppacinos.
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Are we there yet?
Elli and David took their annual summer road trip. This year, the destination was Atlanta, where they road in a car for 12 hours each way, mostly listening to Radio Disney. While there, they went to the Civil Rights Museum, the worlds’ largest aquarium and saw whale sharks, and ate the antithesis of a Chicago hot dog at a place called The Varsity where the dog wasn’t kosher and covered in chili. David says he never has to eat it again. A highlight was Elli driving the boat at Stone Mountain because underage kids driving isn’t a big deal in the South.
The dangers of exercising Susan will warn you: exercising can be bad for you. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. First time danger happened was while horseback riding when the saddle fell off the horse. Susan however, stayed holding the saddle, until she found herself on the ground, and then later in a small emergency room in Mexico. Not to one up herself, but just months later, she managed to break her foot while hiking at Starved Rock. Both times she was wearing the same hiking books. Needless to say, she got rid of the boots. And will stick to her four inch heels, which are less dangerous.
Lost
Since David fashions himself as a zombie slayer besides being an avid outdoors man. He lived this fantasy by discovering a show called The Walking Dead, where you would be proud to know he is all caught up. We also put the question to those who enjoy this genre, why aren’t there any zombie dogs?
Middle School: Don’t Call It Junior High Remember Junior High? I
record. Because of these
know for a great majority
“devices” we make screen
we try to black out those
time limited and force
years. Luckily for us, our
our kid to go to overnight
lives weren’t
camp for a month
documented
with her friends
24/7. Today, it’s
where she is
called Middle
forced to go with
School, and
no technology and
it’s everything
instead experience
plus worse than
the horrors
you can imagine. KIds are
of friends, camping,
glued to their phones,
swimming, and other fun
and everything, we
activities with in person
mean everything is now
social interactions.
part of your permanent
Kicking some serious ass This year Elli was asked to be in the Leadership Program, at Krav Maga, which is great because she loves to tell other people what to do. Ellii got to test early for her yellow belt. She’s also in the teenager program. In case Israeli martial arts isn’t enough, she also practices Archery. So in case of a Trump complete takeover, she should be able to hunt us down some dinner.