Feb 1st, 2009

After more ham/chickpea soup for breakfast, I spent the rest of the day reading "Travels with Charley" by John Steinbeck. I've read the book a few times before and must admit that I've been influenced by his passion for boondocking across the country with his dog.

Here is his Truck and Camper which he named "Rocinate" after Don Quixote's horse. I named mine Hell Bitch after Col. Call's horse in Larry McMurtry's "Lonesome Dove". Funny how both Hell Bitch and Rosinate are very similar in the interior setup and equipment, as well as the general lack of high technology. I'll leave you with a quote from Steinbeck.

"Where does discontent start? You are warm enough, but you shiver. You are fed, yet hunger gnaws you. You have been loved, but your yearning wanders in new fields. And to prod all these there's time, the Bastard Time." John Steinbeck

In the afternoon, Freddy prodded me out of my chair and convinced me that a walk was in order. Freddy was not too well trained on the leash. So I research leash training techniques, and now taking him for walks is much more tolerable. We only walked to my classroom and Freddy got to roam around. While I fed the fish and did some aquarium maintenance Freddy grabbed a chunk of "Jewelers rouge" and apparently enjoyed the taste of it. So me and "red mouthed Freddy" walked around campus before walking home. Funny how much taking Freddy for a short adventure would boost his spirits for the rest of the day.