Posts by Hank

Ricky’s Coffee Break

The pattern was established back in the winter of 2003, Ricky’s first Christmas. Matt, then 22, and Robby, 10, were locked in one of their weird competitions: Whose gift would Ricky like better? Matt had stashed away three french fries from a recent visit to the Diner, which he covered with a p…

The Five Faces of Ricky

Those of you who keep up with Beagle Man might recall a recent comment from Sarah, a loyal follower: “Have you ever taken pictures of Ricky’s face,” she asked, “when he’s expressing different emotions — like happy, excited, hungry, frightened?” Unfortunately, I told her, a beagle’s expression a…

The Mysterious Shakety-Shake

All dogs do it. Ricky does it. But what I want to know is why does a dog shake his ears like that? Let’s be clear. When Ricky comes galloping at me from a distance, ears streaming behind him Dumbo-style — that’s not what I’m talking about. When he tries to “kill” one of his stuffed animals by l…

One Shining Moment

It’s time to announce the winner of the “Ricky’s Favorite Things” playoffs, and I have to admit, I’m feeling pret-ty guilty — for two reasons. One: Nepotism. Yes, the winner was Matt, my oldest son — with a perfect score of 30. I obviously should have realized that in a contest of this nature…

Lewis and Clark

Last Sunday, Ricky and I discovered a brand-new hiking area. Well, all right, we didn’t actually discover it. My friend Sarah, who has China the chow chow, told me about it, but Ricky and I did have the whole place to ourselves on Sunday. Well, all right, not exactly to ourselves — but there cer…

Playoffs

Yesterday on the FAN, Joe and Evan were analyzing the Jets’ dwindling playoff chances. I have to admit — earmuffs, Robby — they were more bullish than I am at the moment. Their conversation brought to mind a recent family discussion about what Ricky likes most. Of course, we then started ranki…

The Beagle Has Landed

Yeah, yeah, yeah — the beagle actually landed four weeks ago. I know that. I thought of this title the day after writing “It’s a Wrap,” my first post LA/XC-2 report, and have been wishing I’d used it ever since. Sort of the way Barack felt, I’m sure, on October 4, when he thought of all his gre…

LA/XC-2: It’s a Wrap! (Part 1)

LA/XC-2 SUMMARY Total state tally LA/XC-2: 26 (Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virg…

Falcons Win! Jets Lose! Beagle Man and Ricky Make It Home to CT!

LA/XC-2 DAYS TWENTY-THREE, TWENTY-FOUR, TWENTY-FIVE, AND TWENTY-SIX: LEAVING AUSTIN; LOUISIANA-MISSISSIPPI-ALABAMA; ATLANTA; DELAWARE Day Twenty-three mileage: 453 Day Twenty-four mileage: 457 Day Twenty-five mileage: 260 Day Twenty-six mileage: 676 Total L…

Marfa Who?

LA/XC-2 DAYS TWENTY-ONE AND TWENTY-TWO: SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO; AUSTIN, TEXAS Day Twenty mileage: 333 Day Twenty-one mileage: 376 Total LA/XC-2 mileage: 6,214 Weather leaving Santa Fe: 75 and brilliant sunshine Road Music: Texas favorites, in honor of Austin, “Live Mus…