As a parent, there will always be a moment (or several) where your children will want a dog. You may or may not like dogs. You may even be allergic to them. What you do know is that having one is a lot of work.   One father created this ingenious and really funny contract for his kids to sign before they could get a dog. (BTW, the dad posted this on Reddit)  
Tomorrow will be the 50th anniversary of my marriage to my high school sweet heart, Joanne Carol Davidson.  When we got married the war in Vietnam was raging and we did not have a clue.  At best, we had a no plan plan.  Yes, we had our ups and downs, but somehow we did the right thing, got the breaks, seized opportunities, lived within our means, had a family and built a wonderful life. And quite a life it has been. We have an expression "Klein luck", but I wonder.  Was a higher being watching over us?
Last Sunday afternoon, we were sitting in the shed at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts listening to the Boston Symphony Orchestra perform Beethoven's Sixth Symphony - "Pastoral Symphony, Recollections of Country Life". I don't remember ever enjoying a piece of classical music as much.
I have no interest in watching the political conventions, but I love all the great things happening in the world. And there are a lot. Here's one that is inspiring. From the Huff Post:
  I go through cycles. Sometimes I am really charged up about getting to the gym, working out hard and planning my next workout.    
About eighteen months ago I was contemplating whether to buy my first Kindle. As an avid reader I wondered whether I could give up physically reading books. As such, I wrote a blog asking for opinions. Here’s my follow-up.  
I like stories of children entering the family business.  
Your intrepid blogger has found some downright fascninating news just in time for the summer.   Rob Collignon, A 34 year old food expert from Brooklyn has created a quite unusual treat - ice cream that doesn't melt.