Prom, End of Year Celebrations in Houston

Wow! What a busy weekend here in West Houston. I chaperoned the 8th grade prom at my son's middle school on Saturday night. What a blast!

This generation dances differently than we old folks of yester-year. Although a few 70's and 80's nostalgia music was added in (remember John Travolta and "Staying Alive"?) the mix, most of the songs played consisted of rap and hip hop. I must say the dance moves on the floor, jumping from the bottom of the floor, up and back down again make my earlier punk rock days look mild. Fun was had by all, despite one pretend fight, one slam dance that ended up with one student again a pole (no injuries) and one attempt at doing a lollapaloosa by passing one student over the top of the crowd.

That got the teachers and principals moving into the middle of the crowd. Next thing you know they were out there in the middle dancing it up, doing some pretty good caricatures of what one of my co-workers calls "getting it on, man!" Trust me, dedicated parents, teachers and principals kept it all at a G rating.

Of other note this weekend was the end of the confirmation season at my son's church. By the end of the second church service today, a group of tired 8th graders were looking at all of their parents with major annoyance. If you had been a fly on the wall, the buzz would have been..."Why did my stupid parents put me through this, why are we still standing here, and quit taking my picture!" Teenagers, you gotta love them... Have a great week...it will be a relief to sit back down at my desk tomorrow for 30 second intervals! Take care, Terre

A new "Bark Park" in West Houston including agility training!

My sister e-mailed this to me, courtesy of one of her friends at work.

The Dog Park on Hwy 6 (across from Farm and Ranch) opened recently. Check it out. It is on Highway 6 across from the Farm and Ranch Club, just south of Clay Rd (or just north of I-10), it is on the West side of the road.

Please send you inquiries about Bear Creek Park directly to Precinct 3 for the most up to the minute news. EMAIL: pct3_parks@hctx.net

(The Houston Dog Park Association is not affiliated with any Harris County or City of Houston agencies or departments)

Taken on January 5th 2007:

Looking north to the back of the big dog area, goes waaaay back there, and this is standing in the middle! It goes nearly as far in the other direction too!

The whole area above is sort of away from and around a corner from the pond shown below, so you can easily keep your dog away from the water if you prefer a clean dry dog for the ride home. This is a small section of the big dog pond, it's big, AND it has this little ramp thing that looks like it can be a jumping point for dogs to fetch balls and catch some "air". On the back side of the ramp the ground slopes up it so a dog can get a running start.

And here is what you have all been waiting for, some agility equipment! This is going to be popular! Shown are the two ramps -a high and a lower one, and those other little yellow pieces are jumping hurdles.

And not to be left out, the little dogs get an area nearly as big as Millie Bush is! With a decent sized pond and some shade covers too.

There is also little sized agility equipment in the small dog area! Ms. Tiny and I can't wait to get out there and visit all the dogs. Take care and be safe in the new environment...Terre