Well, Lisa and I have now officially run out of excuses. My daughter has wanted a dog since she turned 3-days-old, and we've been using this as a bribe or threat for as long a we can remember. "You want a puppy, but you can't even keep your room clean?"

For a while there was an issue with two of our family members having, or believing they had dog-fur allergies. Test results: negative.

Then there were the "Let's wait until after our vacation/move/operation/trial/incarceration/parole" excuses.

So, now it's our "D" day. We're starting to keep our eyes open at various rescues and shelters. Our daughter must have a dog that is A, white, B. small, and C. fluffy. Especially fluffy. This is the key.

There's been a lot in the news lately about business owners complaining about online reviews. I'll tell you that as a former small-business owner (that's my frozen yogurt store above) I just hated those anonymous on-line reviews.

Some people gave us bad reviews because we didn't have the flavors they wanted! Somebody gave me a horrible review because I asked her daughter to please not shoplift! Another gave us a bad on-line review because she didn't like my facebook posts! Seriously! As a business owner, you're stuck with these things forever.

The system is deeply flawed. Anyone with an axe to grind, any competitor, any disgruntled former employee can go online and anonymously contribute to ruining your business. And some on-line review sites are accused of only publishing the "positive" reviews if you agree to advertise with them. I won't read them any more.

Before you read online reviews, please take it from me that people are much, much, much more likely to post a review if they're mad about something, than they are if they were satisfied. Go to the store and try it for yourself!

And thanks for supporting small, local businesses!

I've got a super new weight-loss plan! I should write a book and make a million bucks! It's this simple: have a miserable toothache for a couple weeks, and watch the pounds melt off!

Despite three trips to the dentist, I have a tooth that is extra sensitive to the following:

Cold

Hot

Sweet

Pressure

Breathing

Fog

Games of chance

Conversation

Reality TV 

 Anyway, my two greatest weeknesses (for those plotting my eventual downfall) are Oreos and Mountain Dew. It's entirely possible that those are the cause of both my toothache and the extra couple pounds I picked up over the last few months. But with my new Dr. Brucey's Toothache Diet, my secret, un-natural urges to chew or eat anything have completely disappeared, and so has that man-muffin-top!

In fact, you know what sounds good right now? Some room temperature mashed-potatoes, and a small glass of lukewarm water! But not too much!

Try it, you'll see!