When one lives and loves at Dog Level, there’s a lot of wet kisses, a bit of barking, and many, many stray dog hairs on good clothes.  If it’s true that our dogs make us whole, then I am the wholiest person I know.  My life partners are Tucker, Jack, and Sasha.  Tucker is the big, black, barky jerk of a lab mix who keeps the predator birds (hawks, eagles, and ospreys) from snatching my other two.  Jack and Sasha are Jack Russell terriers with a lot of spunk and personality, but a serious resistance to anything that looks like training.  Actually Sasha is half JRT and half Yorkie, but that combination only increases her anxiety and hyperactivity level to keep it more interesting around here.

But, you see, these animals are my heart.  I’ve made it my life’s mission to give the best of everything that I can to these loving animals and to continue to do this for the rest of my life.  I am committed to rescuing dogs who need a safe and loving home.  I have pledged to them my love, affection, and the last two nickels I have to rub together.

So, it should come as no surprise that I named my home Dog Level.  Well, it might come as a surprise because you can’t possibly know that I live right up the street from Frog Level, Virginia, about 40 miles north of Richmond.  Get it?  Frog Level, Dog Level?  Anyway, it just seemed like a cute thing to name my little piece of heaven in rural Virginia.  Thus, Dog Level is the place we all call home, along with Rick, my long-suffering better half.  He’s a man of infinite patience, devotion, humor, and wisdom.  He needs it.

So, what will the Dog Level News and Observer report about?  It won’t just be about my dogs or even dogs in general, although I will publish snippets about my kids occasionally.  It’s going to be pithy reports on life in the country and in these United States.  I’ll probably wax eloquent on current military affairs (I’ve been a Soldier for lo these 30 years), my family (names changed to protect the innocent), and my observations on religion, politics, and money, which my mamma tried to tell me never to discuss in public.  HA!  I may reminisce about life experiences, books, art, law, travels, and the human condition.  But above all, I’ll try to make this blog about things that are near to my heart and my soul.

If you’re interested in random musings, come on along.  Feel free to (politely) enter into discussions with me, but if you’re mean, don’t bother.  I don’t fit neatly into little boxes of conventionality, and I love debate, but only respectful debate.  Witty repartee, if you will.

Anyway, come up onto the front porch and sit in a rocker while I pour us some ice tea.  And no, it isn’t that nasty, diabetes-inducing sweet tea my grandmother used to make.  If you want sugar, you’ll have to add it.  Lemon too.  If it’s evening, I may even pour you a shot of good Elijah Craig bourbon.  But the dogs will make you feel welcome, and I hope I do as well.

The Editor