MR. BOWSER

On December 15, Stephanie's beautiful dog Sherman (AKA Mr. Bowser) passed away at the age of 11 years, 4 months (very old age, for a shar-pei).

I met Bowser a year and a half ago.  He was kind of intimidating.  He wasn't particularly cuddly.  But after time he got to know me and allowed me to touch him, then pet him, then feed him some chicken.  That last part was the big turning point in our relationship!

He liked it when I'd take him for walks, he'd jump up and down while I got the leash ready, and he liked it when I cooked.  The first time I finger-fed him I was amazed at how gentle he really was, taking the food from my hands softly with his gums.

He liked to bark at me when I came in, and then once he saw it was me, his eyes would light up and his tail would wag like crazy.  Just a few months ago I was coming up the stairs and he let me rub him under his chin, his big droopy jowls, which were warm, soft, and dry.  He didn't mind.

When Stephanie was out, he would visit with me, and sleep on his office bed while I typed on the computer.

Everywhere you went, Bowser's breathing was somewhere in the background.  He liked to snort.  The last few weeks he snored a lot.  It's hard to get used to not hearing him there all the time, not having to say "Stay" when I go downstairs temporarily, to spare him the trip up and down-- because he'd follow us wherever we went.

Sherman "Mr. Bowser" Dorman

August 22, 2001 - December 15, 2012

RAPPORT DE BELOIT

Hey all,

I've been meaning to update this blog for weeks now, but every time I think to do it, I find I have nothing to say.

Since returning from Brooklyn I've felt BOBB.*  I'm trying to get my shit together a little, find little ways to improve my life, but for some reason I've always found that a difficult thing to do.  For now, it means consolidating half-full boxes of books, putting them on shelves.  Going to the Post Office every other day instead of every day, staying off the internet (is such a thing possible???), trying to get the nerve to draw more.  We'll see how it goes.

I have lots of plans for the winter.  I have been talking about drawing this Hospital book for years, and now it's time to actually do it.  I wrote to St. Joseph's in Denver to get copies of my medical records, and I received like 380 pages or something.  It's weird to think all that stuff happened to me.  I was prodded, poked, tested, sliced, diced, and julienned to perfection.  No wonder I've never been the same.

I also want to get the new King-Cat out sooner than later.  A two issue per year schedule seems doable if I can stay focused.  I'd like that.

Meanwhile, the Christmas Cactus has a record 14 blooms!

Love you,
John P.


*Burned Out Beyond Belief--  I just made that up!