Posted on December 30, 2008 by Doppler in Doppler's Blog
I’ve had a really busy holiday, which is why you haven’t heard from me lately. My whole house smells like food, and yet I only get the same stuff in my bowl over and over. Something’s unfair about that. But I’m trying to be a good dog, so I haven’t snuck food off the table.
Doppler (on the right) with Mandy
I’m getting almost tall enough to, though. Check out this picture of me (on the right) next to Mandy, who lived here already when I showed up. Look how big I am!
Know what else? I can jump up on Mom and Dad’s bed without any help, either. Of course, they probably don’t want me to do it if I’m all stinky, but I guess if I have a… um… b. a. t. h. it’ll be okay.
So last night Dad and I were walking through the backyard when we saw a big dog walking around too. I wish I could’ve gotten a picture, but I didn’t have my camera — okay, Dad didn’t have his camera — but he said it wasn’t a dog. It was a deer.
I didn’t chase it. It was way bigger than me.
Here’s a picture of me with my favorite Christmas gift. I got a lot of them — my first Christmas, y’know — but this one is the one I liked best.
Posted on December 24, 2008 by Josh Roseman in Money, News
The 11Alive.com video content manager always organizes video alphabetically, first by symbol, then by number, then by letter. So every time I go in to get information for videos I want to put on 11Alive.com, I see the same 20 or so stories.
Gas on sale for $5.20/gallon in Cumming on September 12, 2008.
Three of them are gas price stories.
This evening, on my way to work, I saw gas in my area for $1.47 to $1.55. I drive a hybrid anyway, so it’s not like I spent a ton of money on fuel in the first place, but believe me, I’m enjoying filling up for under $20 a tank.
The first story on the list is from July 10. Jerry Carnes interviewed people who went to a Norcross gas station to get in on a $1.99/gallon promotion at a time when gas was at or above $4.00.
A couple of months later, Jerry caught gas on sale for an alarming $5.20/gallon in Cumming. The high prices were courtesy of Hurricane Ike.
Finally, I have this story from Kevin Rowson, which was filed on October 23. Gas at that time was in the $2.30 to $2.50 range.
It’s interesting to me to see the wild swings in gas prices. Even before I drove a hybrid, it was more about curiosity than money-saving (although once it got over $3.50 even I started to worry). Now that gas prices are back down to manageable levels, though, I still think about trips in terms of dollars, not miles. As I wrote last May:
Last Saturday, we celebrated Memorial Day at a friend’s house in Decatur. He lives 40 miles from us (each way). I get about 250 miles per tank, with a 14-ish gallon tank, so about 18 miles per gallon. (When I bought the vehicle, gas was $1.50 a gallon and actually going downward a little.)
That means my trip to Decatur not only was 80 miles and about 100 minutes of travel but also cost me about $19. And we couldn’t even stay for dinner because it was my daughter’s bedtime.
What I’ve noticed over the years as a member of the news media, a PR writer, and a semi-professional blogger is that, once behaviors are changed, be they on a personal level or a business level, they are unlikely to change back. Did you change any behaviors during the gas price crisis? Did you change back now that the crisis is — at least for now — averted? Or are you keeping your gas-saving behaviors in case there’s another gas panic or price increase?
Posted on December 19, 2008 by Doppler in Doppler's Blog
Doppler the Weather Dog with 11Alive's Josh Roseman
I had a nice visit at 11Alive yesterday. I got to meet all sorts of new people, and hung out with my friend Josh, who helped make my website and my blog. That’s him over on the right. It took a while to get him trained to sit and smile on command, but we pulled it off.
My friend Dennis also was on TV with me, and he talked about what to do if your friend (the one with paws, not the one with feet) has trouble doing his or her business outside. I was going to tell you about it, but instead, why don’t you just watch the video? It’s not too long. I promise.
I wish I knew more about what happened, but I decided it was more important for me to take a nap, as you could see at the end of the video.
Keep an eye on my page; Dad took a little video of me at home, learning how to not eat the Christmas decorations. We tried to post it yesterday, but it didn’t work right. Maybe Dennis can help train our computer, too.
Posted on December 15, 2008 by Doppler in Doppler's Blog
Pensive Pup
I was all set to go on the 6:00 news with Dad, but when Judge Bodiford said all that stuff just before, I knew it wasn’t going to happen. That’s okay; I still had a good time.
I’m really looking forward to being on the air on Thursday. My friend Dennis will be at the station too, so if you have questions about helping your friends be good dogs, you can send them from my website.
Dennis and I got to hang out this weekend. I’m working on coming when called, which is important, because sometimes when Dad or the family call me, there are treats. I love treats!
Everyone cross your fingers — or claws — that there won’t be any breaking news on Thursday, because I really want to be on TV again! Dad’s work has so many interesting smells!
Posted on December 12, 2008 by Doppler in Doppler's Blog
I’m feeling so much better today! Dad says I can come to 11Alive tonight, so set your TiVo or DVR or VCR or just hang out in front of your set tonight at 6 or 7 and see me! I can’t wait to see you!
Posted on December 11, 2008 by Doppler in Doppler's Blog
Ugh. I ate something. I don’t know what it is, but you know puppies… we get into everything.
Seriously. Ugh.
I’ve got a bellyache. I hope I can make it to 11Alive tonight, but please don’t be mad if I feel too sick. I promise to be extra-cute next week if I can’t get there today.
Wow, that was great! I came to 11Alive yesterday and got to see all of my friends in the information center, and got lots and lots of people to pet me. It helps being cute.
My friend Dennis, who Dad calls my trainer, took me around on a leash to help me get used to wearing one and being a good dog. That meant no jumping up on people. I love to jump up on people, so this wasn’t so awesome, but it’s okay. If no jumping except when told is part of being a good dog, I guess I can handle that.
My friend Shawn, who’s a producer at 11Alive, took some pictures of me on his cell phone. I’m still waiting for him to send them to Dad, but when he does, they’re totally going in my official photo gallery.
I wish I could’ve run around outside, but it wasn’t going to happen. Too rainy and wet. I think I like keeping my paws dry.
Anyway, if you didn’t get to see me on TV last night, that’s okay, because Dad’s friend Josh showed me how to embed video onto my blog:
If you want to embed it, all you have to do is click the fourth icon from the left (the little picture of a piece of paper with the end folded over) and you can embed me on your blog too! Or you can e-mail me or post links on your Facebook.
Oh, that reminds me: Chris, who works on 11Alive’s website, made a Facebook group for me! If you’re on Facebook, please join it. I’m going to get on Facebook really soon, I promise, but I’ve just been so busy and haven’t had time!
Okay, that’s all for today. Have a good weekend. I know I will!
They better lay out the newspaper in the 11Alive studio, because I’m coming in and I am excited! Tomorrow I’m going to be on TV again, along with my dad and my friend Dennis, who’s training me to be a good dog. And as much fun as I have, I think I need a little help. My family decorated the house for Christmas, and there’s all sorts of fun and tasty things to chew on. I love to chew!
I also had to go to the doctor. That wasn’t very much fun. But Dad said I needed some shots. I don’t like shots. At least I don’t have to watch when they do them, but that squirt up the nose? That one stinks, and I don’t just mean because it has to go up my nose. But I’m fine. Just had to sneeze a couple of times.
Also, yesterday was my sort-of birthday; I turned 14 weeks old!
Don’t forget to watch me on TV tomorrow, and Dad’s taking lots of pictures so you should be able to see those soon too.
Wow, that was great! I came to 11Alive yesterday and got to see all of my friends in the information center, and got lots and lots of people to pet me. It helps being cute.