I finally got a damned cell phone. It's a tether I'd avoided until this past week. With my impending wedding, it was becoming unavoidable, plus the "family plan" we moved to means it doesn't cost any extra. Being a cheap bastard, we got a new phone for my fiance and took her old one.

It's a camera phone. She'd taken photos, but never figured out how to get the pictures off the phone. Thus, it cam jam packed with memories I hadn't expected.

The most moving photos were ones I'd never seen of my dog. He passed away after 16 wonderful years on Mother's Day of last year.

Needless to say, it's ghostly to see pictures of an old friend who's passed on. But, at the same time, it's like getting to see him one last time. I just thought I'd pop them on this site for the hell of it, and to record a life well-lived.

His name was Goliath. He was a 1/2 poodle, 1/2 mutt we rescued from the pound. He was about 25 pounds and had the heart of a giant. With a name like Goliath, unsuspecting groomers would reserve a big, roomy cage for him. The name fit him well.

He was also the last surviving member of my immediate family here in western New York. (I have a brother who is in perfect health, but he lives in Japan and we've never been close.) So, Goliath's passing hurt pretty bad, but that's part of the deal when you get a dog, and I knew that all along.

Here's all the biased, over-glorified dog-owner stuff: Goliath was the best dog ever. The dog was a freak. Never barked. Never bit. Always friendly. House-broke himself. Learned tricks like he was a damned border collie. He listened to every stupid word I said. He liked all the songs I'd ever written, even the bad ones. He was my stupid little friend.

That's enough of a eulogy. (I've never beeen much of a Eugooglizer! )

I'll let the photos describe him as best they can...

Here's some of the shots I found on the phone...






Here's a typic shot of the old man begging for food...


Here's his "multimedia debut" when Goliath was the cover model for my old band Goof's 1996 CD "Koster Row". (I threw up a track off that disc as my user sound)


Here's the old man on the sofa a few days before he passed on. I'd kinda woke him up froma nap here...


Needless to say, this past year without my dog has been totally fucked. After 16 years, we'd become a team. My house still feels empty and I still get the urge to go for walks at midnight, even though there's no need.

About 6 months ago, we'd started visiting the SPCA and the Animal Shelter to try and find a dog. We'd had no luck so far and so we've decided to wait until after the wedding. That's the most rational decision, I guess.

Still, with a wedding coming, I really do miss the little bastard. Dogs make really good listeners.