The Daily Parker - Parker|Daily

Every dog has his day

David Braverman — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:37:40 GMT

Today is Parker's: it's his 4th birthday.

Happy birthday puppy!

Daily Parker post #2,000

David Braverman — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:42:54 GMT

I had hoped, as I hoped about Post #1,000, to write something lengthy and truly self-indulgent.

This will disappoint many readers, but I don't have time to do that. Instead, just a quick update: even though Inner Drive Technology still exists (as does all of its software and ongoing maintenance), I'm now working for Avanade, a joint venture between Microsoft and Accenture.

And, in the spirit of the season, on my way to Avanade's Chicago office yesterday, I noticed something...odd...about the Daley Center:

Today's Daily Parker

David Braverman — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:34:59 GMT

Last photo from Ponder Cove, Parker happy enough to levitate:

I also forgot to mention the sign on the door that suggested the B & B's proprietors were our kind of people.

Parker is learning

David Braverman — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:21:34 GMT

Each day that we spend getting Parker to exist peacefully with the cats brings us closer to the goal of peace and harmony. This, I think, is what Parker fears (and the cats want):

(Hat tip DK.)

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David Braverman — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:20:36 GMT

Diane and her sister made Parker a bed. I think he likes it:

Three guesses what he's staring at.

New dog park

David Braverman — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:14:18 GMT

Parker got a chance to explore Oakwood Park today, the first sunny day we've had since we got here a week ago. The park is huge—I would guess about 75 hectares—and Parker (with help) ran around the whole thing:

Not a happy dog

David Braverman — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:16:30 GMT

Even Parker has a level of dignity beneath which he will not sink. This, however, is still above that line:

Today's Daily Parker

David Braverman — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 03:24:35 GMT

The bed is just a suggestion, apparently:

Today's Daily Parker

David Braverman — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:08:57 GMT

Field trip to Noethling Park (a.k.a. Wiggly Field) today, with a ball and a Chuck-It:

Brain thaw (or, More gratuitous puppy video)

David Braverman — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:24:40 GMT

After two hours of classes this morning, both of which reminded me I need to study more, what better way to recover than with another Parker puppy video?

The bed, by the way, lasted about four days. He shredded the thing like a Cuisinart.

Parker flashback

David Braverman — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:14:56 GMT

You think he's cute now? This is Parker at 12 weeks, just a couple days after I adopted him:

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David Braverman — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:49:33 GMT

You should see him after I've been gone a week. This is Parker after three days of boarding:

Today's Daily Parker

David Braverman — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 22:31:16 GMT

Parker and I had a great two-hour walk this afternoon, punctuated by essays on Botswana and economic institutions (Duke reading). We stopped to admire the view at North Avenue, though I think Parker was more interested in the speedboat than the skyline:

Happy birthday, Parker

David Braverman — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:15:52 GMT

The fuzzy dude is 3 years old today. Obligatory baby picture:

That's his Petfinder mugshot from when he was about 8 weeks old. After the jump, a photo from just now.

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David Braverman — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 18:18:57 GMT

1:15 pm, Chicago:

Full size:

Missed my own anniversary!

David Braverman — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 03:32:33 GMT

Last Thursday, The Daily Parker turned three.

Actually, yesterday, the dog turned 2 years, 5 months; but the blog is three years old.

And in honor of this august day in November, I hit "Post" three times before correcting all the typos.

Today's Daily Parker

David Braverman — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:39:41 GMT

We didn't hit the record for warmest November 5th today, but it did get within 1°C, to 22°C. After the euphoria (and, frankly, Champagne) of last night, I couldn't prevail against the weather, so Parker and I went to Wiggly Field with a Chuck-It:

Today's Daily Parker

David Braverman — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:01:56 GMT

Parker decided a while ago that a patch of a century-old rug makes a comfortable bed. The rug hasn't turned black yet, but every time I vacuum it seems the thing yields an entire dog's worth of hair.

I delayed getting a dog bed because Parker ate the last one. Granted, he was 11 weeks old at the time. So, hoping he'd gotten past that phase, I took him to the pet store at lunch to audition beds. This is what he picked:

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David Braverman — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 23:00:50 GMT

Yes, even Parker thinks this is cheesy:

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David Braverman — Sun, 25 May 2008 14:37:47 GMT

I'm kicking myself for not riding Bike the Drive this morning. That's the annual, Memorial Day weekend closing of Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, all 30 km of it, for any bicyclist who ponies up the fee. I'm kicking myself because it's 19°C and sunny with a good breeze out of the South. Good biking weather.

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David Braverman — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:59:34 GMT

'Nuff said.

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David Braverman — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:37:59 GMT

After a several-week absence, the ParkerCam is back up.

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David Braverman — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 17:52:20 GMT

Nothing, not rain, not sleet, not 15 cm of snow on the ground, can keep Parker from a tennis ball:

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David Braverman — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 17:00:25 GMT

One week at overnight camp (Parker's day care provider also boards dogs, so he got to hang with his friends every day) has exhausted my dog. This is a common behavior in dogs, apparently. He was overjoyed to see me again in a way I've never seen in a human older than four, but as soon as we got home he climbed into his crate and passed out. (Actually he ate two entire bowls of kibble first.)

Action shot:

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David Braverman — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 15:39:03 GMT

Another piling-on overnight, leaving 13 cm on the ground. Parker enjoys it:

And it's very pretty...

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David Braverman — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:19:02 GMT

When we woke up this morning the temperature was -16°C. Did Parker care? He did not:

Today's Daily Parker

David Braverman — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 17:21:07 GMT

This leash used to be longer. I wonder what could have happened:

Today's Daily Parker

David Braverman — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 16:15:09 GMT

Another one from Ninth Street, Durham:

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David Braverman — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 15:57:04 GMT

For a while yesterday I moved Parker's crate near the quasi-veranda, so he could get light and air while I went shopping for Thanksgiving fixins:

Today's Daily Parker

David Braverman — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 17:21:14 GMT

Parker yawns lazily on the sidewalk by Bean Traders Coffee in Durham, N.C., where the temperature is 22°C*:

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David Braverman — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:21:14 GMT

The amazing thing about this isn't that he's a handsome, happy dog, enjoying a beautiful autumn afternoon; it's that he's ignoring the squirrel directly behind him:

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David Braverman — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 13:46:31 GMT

From September:

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David Braverman — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:33:12 GMT

My friend Sean visited over the weekend and brought with him a stuffed toy his wife made for Parker. The results were predictable, though Parker dispatched this one much faster than the vet toy he got for his birthday:

Today's Daily Parker

David Braverman — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 14:17:20 GMT

From this past weekend, in Lincoln Park, Chicago:

Today's Daily Parker

David Braverman — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:51:38 GMT

The splash of sunlight on Parker's face makes me think he's probably a pretty happy dog, despite the crate:

Today's Daily Parker

David Braverman — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 23:51:16 GMT

For the first time in eight months, my dog has no odor. None.

It turns out Petsmart has hypo-allergenic shampoo. (Last time they used stinky shampoo.)

That is all. Photo to follow.

Today's Daily Parker

David Braverman — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:18:50 GMT

Note from the dog walking service yesterday: "He was great, as always. He looks real good in red. Went #2." (There were no hyperlinks in his note, of course.)

Today's Daily Parker

David Braverman — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 14:49:36 GMT

He loves the open office window. Not too many days of that left, though.

Today's Daily Parker

David Braverman — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:23:15 GMT

More from Saturday's Wright Way Rescue reunion: Schona, a 7-year-old Lab that Parker met:

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David Braverman — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 14:07:31 GMT

At the Wright Way reunion on Saturday, the shelter had a number of puppies up for adoption, like this one:

Today's Daily Parker

David Braverman — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 13:34:11 GMT

Parker and I were surprised last week to come home after work and discover this in the yard:

Today's Daily Parker

David Braverman — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 17:36:09 GMT

Old rug, old sock, sunbeam. Dog is happy:

Today's Daily Parker

David Braverman — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 14:07:28 GMT

I'm not alone in the office today, but I may as well be: Parker is so tired he's not even getting up when I leave the room. Day camp works, I tell you.

Today's Daily Parker

David Braverman — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 17:45:43 GMT

Parker and Goldie have started playing together mornings. Goldie, until recently, never had anything nice to say to Parker, so this surprised everyone:

As a special bonus, I have some video of Parker at my office.

Today's Daily Parker

David Braverman — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 14:08:32 GMT

What?, he's thinking, I'm being good:

Today's Daily Parker

David Braverman — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 15:43:20 GMT

I recently started introducing Parker to some new foods that the dog walkers recommended, and what do you know? Parker cleans his bowl of every last kibble. There seems to be a side-effect, however: he's put on more than a kilo since his last weighing on July 4th, up to 26 kg. Back to a strict feeding schedule, dude. Sorry.

Today's Daily Parker

David Braverman — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 14:00:45 GMT

Paws for a moment.

Also, I devoured Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows this weekend. I don't think I'm giving anything away when I tell you...

Today's Daily Parker

David Braverman — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:06:58 GMT

Neither rain, nor snow, nor dead of night, can keep Parker from playing with a tennis ball:

Today's Daily Parker

David Braverman — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 14:29:20 GMT

The stuffed vet that Danielle gave Parker a couple weeks ago still lives on—though empty of stuffing and looking a bit haggard:

And Parker is live today. Astute viewers will notice a patch of something on his right hip. That's mud from this morning in the park. So tonight, he gets his quarterly bath.

Today's Daily Parker

David Braverman — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 14:01:27 GMT

Playing ball at sunset: