The End of an Era

All good things must come to an end. The final episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation was entitled, “All Good Things…”, and while I was heartbroken to say good bye to one of the best shows ever on television, I knew that in life there comes a time when things must end.

This is the final entry of the JaBlog.

For more than 4 years I’ve been writing stories, posting photos, and uploading videos about my life in Japan, the south, and now New York City. I’ve been able to share my thoughts and adventures to an untold number of friends, family, and internet strangers. I’ve enjoyed it all, but I feel like it’s time to move on to something else and leave this blog as a monument and memory to the past.

I’d rather just go ahead and say, “that’s a wrap!” with the blog instead of slowly and gradually tapering off into rare and sporadic updates about things like dogs in bags (see below). I need a new angle, a new voice for blogging (perhaps one not so closely associate with my unique and easily-googled name). I still have many stories to tell…and the endless reaches of the information super highway will ring with them.

Thank you to everyone who has been a follower of my blog. I’ve enjoyed sharing my life with you.

Farewell, good bye, さよなら.

Enough with the dogs!

New York has a market on ridiculously small sized dogs. I think breeders here have mixed Chihuahua and Miniature Terrier with every other medium/small size dog breed to produce a horde of teeny tiny pooches that serve as accessories to lonely and thoughtless people.

Okay, that was a bit harsh…and uncharacteristically ranty for the JaBlog. But recently I’ve just been astounded by all the bizarrely small dogs and how their owners treat them.

New York is a big, but very walkable city…walkable if your legs are larger than a rubber eraser. Most of these little dogs can’t go but four blocks before they’ve reached their physical limits and thus their owners must tote them around like little princes and princesses through the crowds. If not in their master’s arms, these little dogs will spend their afternoon tucked away inside a stylish bag. This is where I start thinking the dog is less of your companion and more like an accessory. Who wants to spend hours inside a mess bag being jostled about? Dogs should be free to run and dance and chase balls! They don’t need to go with you uptown to meet your botoxed friends…dogs don’t want to go to Starbucks…dogs don’t even drink coffee! They just want your love and affection and promise to treat them with the respect they deserve.

I saw one dog “carrier” that was really just a halter that encased the dog with his legs and head poking out. The dog was then carried over the shoulder like a purse. This looked cute…but also sad as the dog was immobile and degraded to purse status. Not cool.

Dogs are awesome animals and have been companions to us for thousands of years. I think it’s good people want to have them with them all the time…but I fear it’s not always practical…and the end result is turning them into trendy accessories bred for their cutest, tiniest size. Guinea pigs are more ferocious then some of the pups I’ve seen around! Come on, people! Enough already!