A week after Oliver turned 15, we took him to be with his maker. He had such a great time celebrating his birthday the week before on our quick trip to Kansas City. But when we got back, on Sunday, June 7, he started going downhill. He stopped eating, wouldn’t take his medication, and was having trouble standing. It was almost as though his little body said, “I made it to 15, and now I’m ready to rest.”
I had a conference scheduled Wednesday through Friday this week. Carrie took Oliver to the vet on June 10 so they could take a look at him. They gave him a steroid shot since he was coughing, having difficulty breathing, and struggling in just about every aspect of being a dog. I left that morning to drive to Emporia for the conference and told Carrie to keep me posted.
I was able to talk to Carrie around 1:00 on Wednesday. The vet told us his little body was failing. The steroid helped with the coughing, but with a collapsed trachea and an enlarged heart, it was clear that his time was near.
I’ll admit, I was naive. I thought we might have a few more months, continuing his medication three times a day and just enjoying having him with us a little longer. But his little body had other plans, and his decline happened quickly.
I can still remember when his cough first started. It really wasn’t that long ago, Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. That Sunday, he was playing in the family room, wrestling with a blanket, when he laid down for a minute. Suddenly, he got up and made a horrible sound. More of a yelp than a cough, really. But that became the cough we knew for the next four and a half months. Some days were worse than others, and there were nights when he, and us, were up most of the night as he struggled to breathe.
Someone mentioned to me last week that when they saw my post last week (see Fifteen Years with Oliver), they thought it was about Oliver passing. At the time, I was glad to say no, he was still going and still causing problems. How quickly that changed. What I thought had become our normal of medication and coughing turned into a rapid decline and conversations about putting him down. It’s a very difficult decision when you are saying goodbye to a member of your family.
I want to share a few memories of Oliver over the years.
Some of my favorite names I would call Oliver... other than Oliver included Tappie Toes, Doofus, Handsome, Sweet Cheeks, Precious Pancake, Tee Tee Rodriguez, Handsome Pants, Fussy Britches, and I am sure many others....
One of my favorites is from when he was a puppy. We got him in September 2011, and he was born in June 2011, so this was probably October or November. We were chasing him through the house one evening, and he was flying through the living room at full speed. He wasn’t quite in control of his back end, and as he came through, it drifted to the side and he ran straight into the coffee table with his backside. He stopped immediately and looked at us like he couldn’t understand why we would have hit him. He might have yelped a little too. Poor guy.
Joan and Eddie always took such wonderful care of Oliver when we traveled, and Oliver truly looked forward to spending time with them. Every visit felt special, full of attention, comfort, and familiar routines that made being away easier for all of us. While we were gone, Joan would thoughtfully share pictures, giving us peace of mind and little glimpses of Oliver’s happiness. Knowing Oliver was so well cared for and genuinely enjoying the time made every trip more relaxed and reassuring.
Oliver always got excited when we told him that we was going to see his Aunt Erin and Uncle Greg. Another person Oliver had a special connection with was Uncle Greg. He would light up every time he saw Greg.
Another favorite was our trip to Crystal Beach, Texas, in 2016, his first and only time seeing the ocean. He was so intrigued. He would run toward the water, then sprint away when the waves came in. Eventually he got into the water, but it took him a while. At one point, we decided to take him off his leash so he could really enjoy it. That turned out to be a mistake. He took off at full speed down the beach, running through people’s setups while they laughed and pointed. We eventually caught him and got the leash back on.
Mom shared a couple of great stories about when Oliver stayed with her. One time, she took him out back without a leash. He walked out into the yard, turning back to check on her every few steps, making sure everything was okay. Once he finished his business, he came straight back inside with her.
Another time, when Mom wasn’t feeling well, she went to bed early and Oliver stayed in the room with her. Normally, he would wake up around 6:00 a.m., head downstairs, and perch on the back of her chair to watch for people and dogs to bark at. But that morning, he stayed with her and didn’t leave until she was ready to get up. She just told me that story recently.
There was also the time he tried to get on her bed. Oliver is used to sleeping on the bed with us, so he naturally assumed the same rules applied. Mom told him no after he had already jumped up, and from her description, he seemed surprised and quickly got down. After that, he never tried it again.
Oliver had a special bond with my sister Dina. From the time he was a puppy all the way through adulthood, we could say her name and he would perk up. I think a big part of that was that Dina would pet him for as long as he wanted, which was basically forever. A few months ago, we were able to have Dina watch Oliver while we were out of town for the first and only time. I wish we could have done that more. I know they both enjoyed it. Even later in life, if we mentioned Dina or Grandma, he would start looking around, expecting them to walk through the door.
Brenda and Javier were also on his favorites list. Oliver would get excited when we said their names and try to figure out when he might see them again. Brenda had Patches, and the two of them were best friends. When they first met at our house, even through the glass, it was like they had known each other forever. From that point on, they were often together, going on little adventures or just resting near each other. Even after Patches passed, we could still say his name and Oliver would perk up.
Since he was a puppy, Oliver always wanted to be with us, no matter where we were in the house. He kept close tabs on us, moving from room to room to stay nearby. If we went into the bathroom and closed the door, he would paw at it until we let him in. Eventually, we just got used to leaving the door open.
At times, he would get a little too involved and climb into my underpants while I was trying to take care of business. More recently, he would just come in, lay down facing the door, and keep watch. I liked to think he was protecting me. It’s something I’m going to miss more than I expected.
I’m also going to miss the nightly routine of him herding us to bed. Around 10:00, he would start letting us know it was time. He wouldn’t usually go upstairs without us, but he would stand in the kitchen and look at us like we were the problem. On weekends, when we stayed up later, he would eventually come back into the family room and lie down, clearly unhappy with our choices.
And then there was the licking at night. He would lick my elbow, ears, and hand if I let him, and most of the time I did. He could go for hours before moving on to Carrie’s legs. I don’t know what he got out of it, but it was oddly relaxing, and I think it soothed him too as he settled in for the night.
Losing a pet is incredibly hard. This is the third one I’ve lost. The first was Captain when I was young, and I remember that pain clearly. Then Carrie brought Sidney into my life. I had never been much of a cat person, but Sidney won me over. When we had to say goodbye to him in June 2011, Carrie and I were a mess for a week.
Now here we are again. It’s Saturday as I write this, the day after we said goodbye to Oliver. Carrie and I are a mess. I still expect to hear his tappie toes while I’m watching Royals baseball. I expect to see him when I wake up. I expect to hear him scratching at the bathroom door. But none of that will happen now.
He’s gone, but we have so many memories and so many pictures.
He was a great friend and a loyal companion. I can’t believe he’s gone, but I know he’s in a better place, and he can breathe again.
I love you, Oliver Haverty. You were the best dog in the world, and we were so lucky to have you in our lives.
See all the photos I could find of Oliver on my Flickr page. There are quite a few, along with some videos as well. I know this is something I’ll come back to often as I remember my sweet Oliver.
One thing I wanted to add to this post: when Sidney passed away, Carrie sent me a song about a cat named Sidney. I listened to it a lot during that time, and I still find myself listening to it today.
After losing Oliver, I wanted something similar, a song that captured his personality and all the little quirks that made him who he was. Using an AI music feature, I created this song to help remember Oliver and celebrate the joy he brought to our lives.
Thank you for visiting my site and remembering our sweet boy.
Fifteen years. It is hard to even type that without pausing for a second. It does not feel like it has been that long since we brought him home, this tiny little dog with a big personality who somehow became the household supervisor, always keeping an eye on everything happening inside and outside. If someone walks by the backyard, Oliver is on it. If another dog is around, he is on alert. In his mind, he is not just part of the neighborhood watch, he is leading it.
Oliver and Aunt Dina in 2011
At the same time, he has always been social in his own way. If you have ever been around him on a patio or out in public, you know he enjoys watching people come and go and greeting whoever he can. He is just as happy sitting and observing the world as he is being right in the middle of it.
Sleepy Oliver... Long Before Camping 2013
Over the years, Oliver has been on a lot of adventures with us. Camping trips, vacations, simple walks around the neighborhood. Some of the best memories are not the big trips, but the smaller moments. Sitting outside at a campsite, going for a walk in a new place, or even just letting him explore and sniff everything in sight.
Oliver Camping in 2025
Camping with Oliver has always been a favorite. There is something about getting him out into a new environment where he can take it all in. New smells, new sounds, new places to explore. He might come back tired, but he always seems happy, and those trips have become some of our best shared experiences.
Lately, those moments have taken on even more meaning.
Oliver Back Yard May 2026
As many of you know, the past year has brought some health challenges for Oliver. He has an enlarged heart and a heart murmur, along with a cough that comes and goes. There have been nights where sleep is interrupted and days where we are carefully watching how he is doing. He is on medication now, and there are good days and tougher days.
But through it all, Oliver still finds ways to be himself.
He still gets excited for walks, even knowing they might trigger a coughing fit. He still wants to play. He still enjoys being near us, whether that means sitting nearby, following us from room to room, or settling in close for a nap. While he used to spend a lot of time stretched out on the couch, that has changed over the past few months. He prefers to be stretched out on the floor or in places he would never have been previously... but that is OK.
And maybe more than anything, he still reminds us to slow down and appreciate the moment we are in.
Back Yard Selfie April 2026
That has been one of the biggest gifts of the past year. When things get uncertain, you pay more attention. You take the extra walk. You let him sniff a little longer. You sit with him a little more. You become more aware of just how much these everyday routines actually mean.
Oliver has also been incredibly lucky to have Carrie taking such great care of him. There is no doubt he is spoiled, in the best possible way. He gets the attention, the treats, the snuggles, and whatever spot works best for him these days. If he could write this post himself, I am pretty sure it would mostly be a thank-you note for all of that, followed by a nap.
Looking back over fifteen years, it is hard to capture everything Oliver has meant to us. He has been there through so many seasons of life. Through changes, routines, trips, and everyday moments that probably did not feel like much at the time but now stand out as meaningful because he was part of them.
Photo Op at Hotel
He has made us laugh more times than I can count. He has tested our patience a few times too, especially when he is barking at something on the TV where there are dogs or horses. But mostly, he has brought a steady kind of joy that is hard to describe until you experience it.
And that is really what today is about.
Not just the number 15, although that is incredible on its own. It is about everything that comes with it. The years, the memories, the routines, the trips, the walks, the quiet moments at home. All of it adds up to something pretty special.
So today, we celebrate Oliver.
Walking Oliver June 2024
We will take extra pictures. We will probably take a walk. There will definitely be treats. And we will spend the day doing what he has always loved most, just being together.
Happy 15th birthday, Oliver. We love you.
If you have followed along here over the years, you have seen Oliver pop up in all kinds of posts. Sometimes he is front and center, sometimes just in the background of a picture or a quick story, but he has been a constant in our lives and in this blog.
It is hard to believe we are already in the middle of May. This time of year always feels like the perfect backdrop for Mother’s Day. The trees are full, everything is green again, flowers are blooming, and there is just something about spring that feels full of life, care, and renewal. It makes this holiday feel right at home.
Today is a day to celebrate the moms who have shaped our lives, supported us, and loved us through every stage along the way. I have written before about how fortunate I am to have two wonderful moms to celebrate, and that is just as true this year as ever.
Mom and Oliver from November
Happy Mother’s Day to my mom, Nancy. Thank you for your love, your support, and for all the things you did for us growing up that probably seemed ordinary at the time but mean even more the older I get. The older I get, the more I appreciate the steady presence, encouragement, and care that moms provide. It is not just the big things. It is all the little things over the years that add up and stay with you.
Mom Shirron from Family Pictures
Happy Mother’s Day to Joan as well. I have been lucky to gain another wonderful mom in my life. Thank you for always being thoughtful, caring, and generous. Family time, meals together, checking in, and all the many ways you show up do not go unnoticed. I am grateful for you and all you do for our family.
Oliver and Carrie
And of course, Happy Mother’s Day to Carrie, who is absolutely Oliver’s mom in every way that matters. Oliver is lucky to have you taking such good care of him, spoiling him, snuggling with him, and making sure he is always loved. I am pretty sure if Oliver could write this post himself, it would mostly be a thank you note for treats, attention, and a preferred spot on the couch. I am also pretty sure he would include a few kisses and then wander off for a nap.
Mother’s Day is also a good reminder to reach out. Call your mom. Visit if you can. Let her know you are thinking about her. Do something special, even if it is simple. A phone call, a card, lunch together, or just spending time means more than we sometimes realize. And try not to make today the only day you check in. That is a good reminder for all of us.
To all the moms out there, Happy Mother’s Day. Thank you for the love, care, patience, strength, and support you give to your families and the people around you. I hope your day is filled with love, appreciation, and maybe a little time to relax too.
I went on my first run this morning. The last time I exercised was in June or July of 2025. The last time I actually ran was in June of 2024. Wow. I knew it had been a while. I have not been exercising at all, so I was pleasantly surprised that it felt fairly easy to get out and run this morning. I felt good and honestly felt like I could have gone longer than the 28 minutes, but it was a good start for me. No, I was not running the entire time. I am working back into it gradually with walking and jogging to build up my endurance. I also made sure to stretch before and after.
As some of you know, I have lost weight over the past year thanks to Mounjaro, which I have been taking for a while now. I have lost around forty-five pounds since October 2024, and that is without doing much at all over the last year or so. I have been fairly stagnant with weight loss for the past six to eight months, so I am hoping that starting up an exercise routine will help jump-start things again.
I was doing well riding my bike on a regular basis, but I got out of the habit after traveling and never really got back to it. I enjoy running and I enjoy biking. This morning was beautiful, with a slight chill in the air, which had me wearing long pants for my run. It was perfect. My hands were a little cold at the start, but after running, I warmed up and felt great. I enjoy the whole process, from running when it is chilly to running when it is hot out.
After a workout, I still enjoy seeing our dog, Oliver, get excited for his walk. He knows he is getting walked. Even after not feeling well over the past few months, he did not disappoint this morning. He was excited and waiting for me at the door when I returned.
I took Oliver out for his walk, which ends up being my cool-down. Oliver had a great time, although I did have to pick him up and carry him home for the last block or two. He definitely enjoyed himself, and he is now spending his Sunday afternoon sleeping. Granted, that is pretty normal for him whether we go for a walk or not, but he does seem a little more sleepy this afternoon compared to most days.
All of this is to say that I am trying to get back into a regular exercise routine. For now, my plan is to run at least three times a week. Those days will likely be Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday, although I can always move things around to accommodate other events. I am putting the workouts on my calendar to help lock them in and avoid excuses. I know Oliver will also enjoy me being on a more consistent workout and walking routine.
Until next time, have a great rest of your Sunday.
Short post this week… I think. As I start writing this, I am struggling to think of something to write, so I will provide an update on Oliver.
As you may recall, he was struggling a few weeks ago with coughing. He is taking medication on a regular basis, and while he sometimes fights taking it by spitting it out, he is doing well. He coughs some during the day, but not nearly as bad as it was.
We take each day as a blessing when he is not coughing or appearing uncomfortable. He sleeps through the night and is in good spirits, especially with the nice weather, where he has been running and playing with the neighbor dogs. It is good to see.
Oliver will be 15 in June. I know the life expectancy for a Japanese Chin is 14 - 16 years, so I am hoping we can go the full 16 years, or more. He fights us when it comes to taking his medication, as he is on three different medications multiple times a day, but he is doing so well. I love hearing his tappy toes on the hardwood floors as he walks through the kitchen. I want that to continue, and I want him to be comfortable, which he appears to be at this point.
Thank you to those who have been asking how Oliver is doing. Until next time, have a great rest of your weekend and a wonderful week ahead.
Last week I shared an update on Oliver, and I wanted to provide another one since many people have been asking about him. He does seem to be doing better overall. His enlarged heart, heart murmur, and coughing will obviously be ongoing issues, but there has been noticeable improvement.
He still has coughing fits, but they are no longer happening throughout the night. He is currently on three different medications and will be for at least another week. Two of them help with his coughing, and the third is a liquid medication for his enlarged heart.
His spirits are much better, and he has been wanting to play even more than before. He enjoys every walk we take him on, even though walking can sometimes trigger a coughing fit. Despite that, he seems better rested. Evenings are still the most challenging time, as he often coughs then, and he will sometimes wake us up during the night with a coughing fit. Overall, he truly seems to be doing much better.
We are enjoying having him feel more like himself again and are grateful for this time with him. Even if he needs to be on medication for the rest of his life, we are thankful to see him feeling better. We recently took him on a trip with us, and he had a great time. With everything going on, including his cough and the number of medications he takes, we are not able to leave him with anyone, so he travels with us.
I have really enjoyed taking him on walks, letting him sniff out new spots, and going on new adventures together.
The Saturday before Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Oliver started hacking and coughing out of the blue. Since that Saturday afternoon, he has continued to cough throughout the day. As reported in my January 18 post, he has had that awful sound happening. We took him to the vet twice the following week, had x-rays done, and he has been on medication since. He is currently taking three medications. He was diagnosed with a heart murmur and an enlarged heart.
Oliver will be 15 in June 2026. It is hard to believe, as I can still remember him as a little puppy and having to take him out in the middle of the night to do his bathroom duties. We have been fortunate that he has not had any major health issues. He did lose most of his teeth over the years, which is common in the Japanese Chin breed and in smaller dogs, but he has had no other major issues since we have had him.
It has been tough watching him struggle with breathing over the past few weeks. There is no cure for congestive heart disease, but the medication is supposed to help slow the progression. He sounds pitiful with his hacking, coughing, and the small whimpers he makes when he cannot breathe. If I put my head against his body, I can hear the heart murmur.
I am hopeful that we can get the coughing under control, and if we do, we may have more time with him. He continues to be interested in food, treats, and water, just as he has since this started. He keeps me up during the night, and in turn, he is up through the night as well. I know he is exhausted from the hacking and coughing. Some nights are better than others, where he, and we, are able to sleep most of the night.
The latest medication he was prescribed includes a syringe that we fill with liquid and give to him by mouth. He hates it. He snaps at us and actually got me pretty good on Saturday morning when I was giving him the medication. We give this one, along with another medication, every twelve hours. On Saturday night, I tried putting the liquid on a spoon, and he ate it with no problem. That will now be the new way we administer the liquid medication.
The average lifespan of a Japanese Chin is 12-14 years, so I know we are getting bonus time with a very special little guy. It is strange how this started so suddenly. My hope is that we are able to have him in our lives for another year. Other than the coughing and occasional shortness of breath, I do not believe he is in pain. When he is not having breathing issues, he wants to play, rub his head in the blankets, or run around in the backyard, even when it is freezing cold outside. We will rely on our vet to guide us and make sure he is not suffering.
We love him so much, and it pains us to watch him struggle to breathe. I am praying that the cough goes away and that we are able to keep him in our lives for a while longer.
A snowy weekend here in Topeka. The weather forecast for most of last week warned that a big storm was coming, and it arrived Friday night, snowing throughout Saturday. The sun is out today, but it is still cold and will be for the rest of this week. We have been lucky here in Topeka, as this is our first big snow of the year, and it was not that long ago that temperatures were in the 60s.
Not a lot has been happening for us this weekend with the weather. We have stayed inside and only went out once Saturday morning so I could get a haircut. I have done a lot of reading over the weekend, which is good, and I hope to get more reading done throughout the day today.
Oliver continues to have his nagging cough even though we are giving him medicine every eight hours. On Monday, a new medicine is arriving that should help his heart, and the vet said we could stop giving the other medication once we start him on the new one. Hopefully it helps and suppresses his cough, as he still wakes me up throughout the night. He is such a pitiful little guy when the medication wears off. He whimpers as the cough starts to build. Sometimes I can get him to stop coughing by rubbing his ears or the side of his face, as it almost seems to make him forget for a moment that his throat is hurting. Poor guy.
Another not-so-long post for a Sunday, but I wanted to make sure to get something written this week. Until next time, have a great rest of your Sunday and a wonderful week.
I am in a Secret Santa whiskey exchange with some friends and have been part of it for about four years now. It’s a fun tradition that lets me sample new whiskeys. The first two years, the friends who originally invited me to the group happened to draw my name. The past two years, though, the people who drew me were folks I didn’t know—and both times I didn’t receive my gift until well after the holiday season.
On Friday night, a few of us got together to meet, share, and talk about whiskey. It was a great time!
I took a Lyft to and from the event. When we did the gathering two years ago, Carrie was my designated driver. I told her I could easily take Lyft this year so she didn’t need to go. It worked out great—I had a fun time and got to connect with friends through a social activity I really enjoy.
Haverty Cousins in Kansas City for Dinner
Last Thursday, Carrie and I traveled to Kansas City to meet up with some Haverty cousins. My brother was there too. We met at a new spot for us called J. Alexander’s Restaurant. It was really good! I’d definitely like to go back and try some other dishes. It’s a chain with locations in different cities, and I’d recommend it if you have the chance to visit one.
It’s a long weekend with the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday. I’m spending the weekend watching sports, reading, and knocking out a few things around the house. I watched Washburn basketball on Saturday afternoon, where they won and moved to 17–0 on the season. I also caught some of the NFL games, even though my Chiefs are no longer playing.
Oliver Coughing
Oliver hasn’t been feeling well since Saturday afternoon. Out of the blue, he started coughing, hacking—just something nasty sounding. He’d been perfectly fine before that. He kept Carrie and me up all night with the coughing. We’re not sure what to do since it’s very similar to what he had about two years ago. When I took him to the vet back then, they said there wasn’t much they could do. It seems like he’s trying to get something out of his throat.
He’s still drinking water, eating, and asking for snacks, but the cough is rough. We were supposed to head to Lawrence to meet Erin and Greg for lunch, but we canceled so we could stay with Oliver.
After being up most of the night with him, I fully plan to take a nap or two today—possibly during the afternoon football game, which will make for good background noise while I snooze.
Another short and choppy update this week, but that’s how things go sometimes. I hope you have a great week!
Our little Oliver has been loving the fall weather lately. Earlier this week, Carrie took him on a walk through the neighborhood. Although they couldn’t find a spot on the patio at Salute, he still enjoyed the outing. Trotting through the fallen leaves and soaking in the crisp air, he was the big dog on the block. A few times over the past couple of weeks, we’ve let him outside, and he just sits in the sun with a goofy look on his face, completely content and clearly enjoying life.
This is also the kind of weather where, on a typical weekend when I’m trying to watch football, Oliver insists on going in and out of the house a dozen times. Eventually, I just prop the door open so he can come and go as he pleases. Of course, he’d still prefer that one of us be outside with him to enjoy the weather together.
Seeing the leaves fall is a welcome sight as we hope for a long, beautiful autumn and an easy winter ahead.
To celebrate our twenty-third wedding anniversary, we made it a weekend trip to Kansas City. We had a wonderful time, ate at some great places, had drinks at fun spots, and enjoyed being on The Plaza for our anniversary weekend.
We left after work on Friday without dinner plans. Since the art fair was taking place that night, we thought we’d wander around, look at art, snack, and have drinks while we explored. It had been several years since we’d been to the area during the art fair, so we were a little overwhelmed when we arrived. It was a full-on party scene. After grabbing a drink and walking around, we got comfortable with the crowd and the vibe.
We took Oliver with us for the weekend. He had a good time at the hotel, though we were a bit worried we might get kicked out. Every time we left the room, we could hear him barking. Apparently, he settled down and slept while we were gone, because we didn’t hear anything from the hotel about a disruptive dog on either Friday night or most of Saturday.
After the art fair closed at 9 p.m. Friday night, we went to McCormick & Schmick’s, which is always a solid spot. We sat at the bar, had drinks, and ordered dinner. We didn’t think much about the time and were enjoying ourselves, but as other guests started receiving their checks and leaving, we asked about our food. There had been a bartender switch, and the new person didn’t realize we had ordered, so our oysters and soups had been sitting in the kitchen for a bit. They were still good, though the ice on the oysters had mostly melted. Still, it was delicious and a fun night.
After dinner, we headed back to the hotel bar. It was packed. There was a wedding and another event happening, so the bar was buzzing. We had a few drinks and then went up to check on Oliver. He wasn’t barking anymore and was curled up on the bed. He probably wore himself out earlier.
On Saturday, we had talked about doing brunch, but since we already had lunch and dinner reservations, we decided to sleep in a bit before starting the day. We met my brother Tim and my nephew Patrick at Grünauer, a German restaurant Carrie had been wanting to try for a few years. It was great to catch up with Tim and Patrick. Carrie was a little disappointed in the food, but I think we’d both give it another shot.
After lunch, Carrie and I went to La Bodega for coffee and then headed to the Boulevard Brewing Beer Hall. I hadn’t been before, so it was a lot of fun to sample some beers and hang out for a while before heading back to the hotel.
We made it back in time to enjoy some complimentary cocktails during happy hour. Our dinner reservation was at Aixois, but first we stopped at Vita’s Place for drinks. We took an Uber there. It’s a fun spot we’d heard about from Carrie’s boss. After finishing up, we walked around the corner to Aixois. Great atmosphere and the food was excellent. I had swordfish, which was delicious. After dinner, we went back to Vita’s Place for another drink. I really enjoyed both spots, and the staff at Vita’s Place were incredibly accommodating, making sure we had a good spot at the bar.
Sunday, September 21, is our actual anniversary, but we skipped brunch again. Instead, we hit the road and stopped at Summer Moon for coffee. We got back to Topeka early in the afternoon, and I think all of us, including Oliver, slept most of the day.
It was a great weekend to celebrate our anniversary. I’m glad we were able to bring Oliver along and that he didn’t cause too much of a disturbance.
Wow! It’s hard to believe we brought this little guy home 14 years ago. He brings so much joy to our family. We love taking him on vacations (when we can), enjoy camping with him, and cherish every moment spent together around the house.
Last night, I took him on a birthday-eve walk, and he had a great time. I’m trying to take him on more walks lately—he gets so excited just to be outside. It’s a simple joy that never gets old.
We’ve been on so many fun journeys over the years. Here’s to many more adventures with our little guy. Happy birthday, Oliver!
It’s been a busy week for me with a conference I attended in Pittsburg, KS. I worked on Monday, then drove to Pittsburg on Tuesday. I was there from Tuesday through Thursday with a packed schedule full of meetings and presentations. Everything went really well! By Wednesday night, I was so tired after a full day of meetings that I just lounged in my hotel room watching shows—and I was asleep by 10:30.
While I was away, Carrie sent me a few pictures of Oliver enjoying the backyard. The image to the right shows him soaking up the sun while lounging in the yard. She also sent a picture of him chasing a rabbit—oh, the joys of being a dog!
This was my second conference in just a few short months. At both events, I heard about a site calledNoteBookLMfrom Google. I first came across it at eLive back in April but hadn’t had much time to explore it. After hearing about it again at this conference, I decided to give it a try.
If you haven’t checked out NoteBookLM, I highly recommend it. You can upload a technical manual, notes, or other information, and the site can turn it into a podcast, a FAQ, or even allow you to chat live with an AI about the content. I tested it using my own website (https://blogger.haverty.net/) to see what it would do with my blog content. It turned my site into a podcast summarizing the past few months of posts. You can listen to the podcast generated by NoteBookLM below.
It did a great job scanning my site and summarizing what I post about each week. The audio file above was generated by NoteBookLM as if two (fictional) hosts were doing a podcast about my blog. I thought it was really cool and wanted to share it—not just because it was fun, but because it’s amazing how NoteBookLM uses AI to turn content into something so accessible and engaging.
Carrie and I attended a wedding reception a few weeks ago. The picture to the left is a selfie we took at the reception. We had a great time celebrating and did a lot of dancing too. It was a good party at a cool spot just outside of Topeka. I had never been to or heard of The Brownstone.It's a great spot for a party, and we all had a fantastic time.
Today has been a combination of exercise and getting some things done around the house. This morning at 11 am, I did my weekly bike ride on the Peloton with Ally Love. Following my bike ride, I took Oliver on a mile walk, which is one of his longer walks in a while. He was so excited! I told Carrie I am going to try and take Oliver on a walk following each time I do a bike ride. After the walk with Oliver, I mowed the backyard and did some picking up in the front and back by blowing things off the driveway and back patio.The main reason for doing so is to prevent Oliver from tracking oak tree debris into the house.Finally, after mowing, I took our glass that had been overflowing for a while to the recycling area.
It is beautiful out today, so after I finished my tasks, I told Carrie I was surprised she was not sitting out in the hammock.The next thing I knew, Carrie was headed out to the hammock with Oliver.Meanwhile, I am inside watching the Royals hit a home run franchise record. We are up 11-6 in the bottom of the 9th against the Orioles. Both sides have been hitting a lot of home runs, but in the last inning, the Royals set a franchise record for the most homers in a game.
New Work Picture
About a week ago I had a new profile picture taken for work. I had been using the same picture for I am not sure how long. I am presenting at a conference in May, so I needed to provide a higher resolution picture which prompted me to reach out to our campus photographer who took about two dozen pictures of me. In the end, I picked the one to the right.
Old Profile Picture
To compare, my old profile picture is to the left. It was also taken by our campus photographer, but it was probably over ten years ago. I really do not recall. I know when I would do virtual meetings with people that had not seen me in a while, they would comment on my old picture that I looked young.So, the new picture to the right is a better reflection of how I look today.
Another somewhat rambling post on this Sunday afternoon. I am happy to report that the Royals won 11 - 6 and won the series against the Orioles. For me, I am headed outside to enjoy the weather. Have a great rest of your Sunday and a fantastic week!
This week will be one of those rambling posts about nothing... or a lot, depending on how you look at it.
To start, we have a few camping trips booked for the year. I'm excited to get out and camp again and hoping to do more than we did last year. If my memory is right, we only camped twice last year. It was one of our lowest times camping since we started in 2021. We have a new spot booked for our first trip this year. More on where we are headed after we go camping. For the first trip, we are not planning to take Oliver as it could still be chilly in the evenings, but for the second trip, we plan to take him with us.
After traveling consecutively for four months, I'm not planning to fly anywhere anytime soon. I will be traveling to Pittsburg, KS in mid-May, but no flights anywhere. I traveled twice for two different conferences (Chicago and Orlando) for work and then twice with Carrie (Austin and Miami) for fun. I must admit that I enjoy flying. I look forward to the whole process, from getting up early to connecting flights. I have some flight watches going to track flights to different places in case a good deal pops up for Carrie and me to make a quick trip to another city.
Changing over to sports, my Royals started off doing well and then stumbled for a few weeks, going on a losing streak. We are back in Kansas City and playing well against the Astros. We are back to .500 at 14-14, which is good. It did not look good a few weeks ago when we could not get a run to save our lives. Hoping this trend continues and having fun doing so against the Astros.
Two weeks ago was, of course, the Masters. Wow! What a fun final day that was, and I'm happy for Rory McIlroy to finally win this one after coming so close for so many years. Yes, I enjoy watching golf, although I no longer play. I like to tune in to watch, and this was a Masters final day not to miss. Back and forth the whole day. It was a lot of fun!
Looking at my reading for the year, I am six books in so far for the reading challenge. I set 20 books as my target to complete for the year, so I am 6 out of 20. Doing pretty good so far, and it helped to finally finish two books while I was traveling for vacations and conferences. I do need to pick up the pace a bit on my current book as I am back to only reading a few pages, sometimes a few sentences, before I go to sleep. I need to bring my book down to the family room and read again while watching shows or sports. I am feeling good about my progress so far and hoping to hit the twenty-book target by the end of the year.
Our little Oliver will turn 14 this summer. He is still getting around great and often running around in our family room or backyard. We have noticed in the past two months that his hearing is going. He can still hear, but selective hearing seems to be happening. We also know that his hearing is leaving as he usually does not hear us come home and we have to touch him to awaken him from his slumber. He can still hear high-pitched noises like pots banging but is struggling with hearing our voices. He went to the vet last week for a spa day along with shots, a checkup, etc., and I shared with them that his hearing was degrading. Of course, the vet was not concerned as he is going to be 14 this summer, and it is common for dogs to lose their hearing. Still, it is sad to see Oliver losing his hearing just like it was when he had most of his teeth removed years ago.
That is all for this rambling post on a Sunday morning. Have a great rest of your Sunday and a wonderful week. I will talk to you again next week.
What a great weekend! Saturday morning found Carrie and me at Circle Coffee for a late breakfast and coffee. I had not been to Circle Coffee
in a few months, so it was good to be back. We sat on the patio to enjoy
the beautiful morning. After coffee, we headed to the hardware store to
get some things. We needed to repair the hammock so that we could get
it working and ready for the spring weather. We also needed to pick up
some items to hang pictures in my office at work. It was a productive
morning for us, which was good.
Carrie helped hang pictures in my office that I moved into back in
December. I had not had a chance to hang any pictures and wanted Carrie
to help with the process. I also took the opportunity of a Saturday in
the office to clean out two boxes that I had not cleaned out since
moving into my new office. It looks much better now.
After finishing up the hanging of pictures and putting things away at
my office, we headed home. Carrie and Oliver spent some time in the
hammock after we got it hung up and working properly. Oliver gets so
excited when either one of us heads out to the hammock.
Saturday night, Carrie wanted to go to Free State in Lawrence, so we
headed there around five for dinner. We had not been to Free State in a
long time, so it was good to have dinner and some delicious Free State
beer. Carrie picked Free State for her birthday celebration. Good pick!
We enjoyed a few Cyclist beers and a wonderful meal. We picked up Erin
and Greg on our way to Lawrence and met Joan and Eddie there for dinner.
After dinner, Erin, Greg, Carrie, and I went out in Lawrence and had a
good time. It was busy in Lawrence. We finished the evening at John Brown Underground, which Carrie and I had been to previously, but Erin
and Greg had not. Fun spot with interesting drinks.
A good Sunday so far with me riding this morning on Peloton, and
after the bike ride, I mowed the lawn for the first time this year. It
was good because I was able to talk to the neighbors to the east and
south of us, as we had not seen each other in a few months with all the
cold and nasty weather. It was good to be able to catch up with both.
Oliver in his Bed
I leave you with a photo of Oliver in our backyard that Carrie took
earlier this week when I was on my way back to Topeka after being out of
town. He loves his bed and he loves hanging out in the backyard,
especially if Carrie or I can be out there with him. If we go inside, he
wants inside and then wants to go right back out to the backyard. It is
a vicious cycle of in and out with him and our backyard.
Have a great rest of your Sunday and a wonderful week.
