Shannon’s Perspective:

Not gonna pick any lyrics for today’s songs as these are all special to Larry in regard to our last Akita Nina.  I have picked my own song for tomorrow.

That being said I will make a quick reference to the memory of the Pink Floyd OSU concert in 1994.  I am still mad all these years later that I was not able to attend that once in a lifetime opportunity but if ever there was a reason to miss it, I guess being 7 months pregnant with your first child would be it.

P.S.  Larry is right, Kim is one of my bestest friends and no its not weird that they went to school together.

Larry’s Picks: Mr. Bojangles; Kite; Elisa’s Theme

Life Event #1: On this day in 1994, I was at OSU Stadium watching Pink Floyd on The Division Bell tour with at least 75k other people. Right up there with Rush in my younger days, I was obsessed with Pink Floyd. My mom would be more than happy to tell you how much she thought I should be committed based on my obsession with The Wall. Seriously.

My best friend Aaron was dating a girl named Kim - both who I went to high school with (and Kim is literally now one of my wife's best friends - that's not weird at all) - who was attending OSU. This is a critical point because OSU handed out numbered wrist bands and then drew a number. So the person with that numbered wrist band was the first person able to purchase tickets, and then they progressed from there. As the music gods were shining down on me (actually, Kim) they drew a number just a little bit lower than her wrist band. We were literally in the 4th row. I will never, ever forget that experience. Thanks Kim! Sorry Shannon! Shouldn't have gotten knocked up! If I ever catch that guy!

Life Event #2: On this day in 2021, we said goodbye to our third Akita, Nina who we rescued. If you don't understand someone's love for pets, move along.

We are currently on our fourth Akita, Kenji (M), so I am ok in saying that Nina was mine. Kayko (F), our first, was mostly Shannon and the boys. Akiro (M) was strictly Shannon's. Nina (F) was pretty much mine and Gabriel's, but she was my buddy. Of all our Akita's, I had the strongest connection with her.

These three songs remind me of her in a millisecond.

Mr. Bojangles:  "His dog up and died - He up and died - After twenty years he still grieves"

And though it's only been three years, I do still grieve. Deeply. And in 17 more years, I still will. She meant that much to me.

Kite: This is off of the U2 album All That You Can't Leave Behind that was released seven months prior to saying goodbye to Nina. I won't go into my specifics, but Bono has stated this song could be about letting go of any kind of relationship. I always think of Nina when I hear it.

Elisa's Theme: This is off of The Shape of Water OST. It's not that the movie reminds me of Nina, but this song specifically. Nina was our biggest Akita - she was a big girl. At one point she tipped the scales at a mostly healthy 130lbs+. We're pretty sure she was used for breeding and abandoned, so all of those factors made her, well, bumbly. And that was one of our nicknames for her - bumble. And this song always just seemed like the perfect bumble theme song.

I cannot wait for this months theme to be over...this still sucks so bad...

30th Anniversary

Our Story - Shannon's Perspective

Our Story - Larry's Perspective

Ghost of a Chance (Rush) and why?