Dan Nelson

Author: Dan Nelson

  • More dog walking!

    Yep. for about 5 hours a week I walk the dogs at the CACC on Western. It’s fun, the dogs are great and you get to be around when a dog goes home. To their new home.

    This is Anoosh. She will walk three feet and then demand a treat. She has this down, she knows the drill, and resistance is futile. She a very mellow, very sweet girl who just needs a quiet home.

    Sweet sweet boy.

    Dog walking might not be for everyone, but I do love it. The dogs love it, you feel like you’re helping, and maybe making the world a little better.

    BUT WEAR ARM GUARDS! I’m forever getting scratched by the dog’s nails. Not their fault!

  • godzilla!

    Time for you to know: I have a hge love for Godzilla. No action figures, but love the imagery.

  • Dog Walking!

    Vinnie is pending adoption. Yay Vinnie!

    Yesterday I had my first shift as a dog walker for the CACC (Chicago Animal Care and Control). It took a while to go from the first intro meeting until I was cleared to walk, but it was worth it.

    There are a lot of dogs, and quite a few walkers, but they are always looking for more. Because of the rules, only volunteers can walk the dogs, not the staff. If a dog is going to be walked, it’s going to be you or someone like you getting them out of their kennels and into the outdoors to romp and play.

    I’m currently undogged; this is a great way for me to be around dog energy. There’s something wonderful about watching the pups go from bouncy/anxious from being in the kennel to a few minutes later running on the lawn or rolling over for belly rubs.

    A dog I walked a few weeks ago. Rhubarb Pie, went home yesterday. When I heard that over the walkie talkie, well, someone made my day by being her miracle.

  • Loving Chicago, last day of July

    You know I love Chicago, it can be annoying how much I do.

    As someone new to weather (Ventura CA isn’t known for it’s big weather swings), a rainy day like yesterday is wonderful. Granted, I’m not too worried about local flooding, so I’m lucky.

    A light rain, ripples in puddles, drips from leaves, tapping on the window and the roof of the car- I love it all.

    Driving home yesterday from work, going from the South Side to the north, I drive along Lake Shore. The sun was brightening the clouds, people were running along lake in the cool, and it was a city that seemed to be coming outside after staying cool in the AC. Small changes show up in large ways here; I love how dynamic this city is.

    The city is still working on North Ridge Ave; my street is closed. This sounds terrible, but it’s so quiet! I can sit on the stoop, chat with neighbors as they walk by, drink my coffee and read outside. When it’s not 90 degrees and soupy.