July 2003: Prolific Sperm Donors; DMV; Skunked!

07/25/2003 - Prolific Sperm Donors

Just read a story about Sperm Donors on ColbyCosh.com where several prolific donors are described. Upon reading about these guys, I immediately wondered if it would be a problem if any of the many (thousands in one instance) of half-siblings ever got married and had offspring of their own. A topic for further research: what genetic consequences arise when half-siblings have children. If it isn't a good thing, I wonder if the sperm banks have thought about the possibility.

If a bunch of birth defects show up in Texas, I know where to look for finding the cause ...

07/16/2003 - DMV

I know this has been rehashed and rehashed, but the DMV experience blows. Why do they schedule appointments if when I arrive, I have to wait in line behind 50 people? Wasn't the whole point of me making an appointment not having to wait? California should scrap the whole DMV appointment process because it is not working. It was a good idea, but relies on people who make the appointments to actually keep them. The flakes have forced the DMV to overbook which leads to my experience this morning where everybody who made an appointment for today just happened to be there.

07/11/2003 - Skunked!

Around 2:00 AM last night, like clockwork, our little chihuahua Flaco bolted out of the bed to go yap at shadows in the back yard. Yes, he sleeps with us, but it's not so bad if he sleeps through the whole night. When we first got him, he would stay in bed and was pleasantly warm even though his little body is so small. And he seems to like being squashed a little by us as we sleep.

However, about 6 months ago, he started this annoying habit of shooting out in the back yard every two hours through the dark period. He would go out and bark for about five minutes, as if trying to commune with what little wolf blood he has left in him. Then he would come back proud that he had vanquished the shadows. It never bothered him that two hours later, the shadows would have to be vanquished again.

Last night was different. It started out the same, off bolted Flaco to bark impotently at the shadows. Instead of just barking, however, it sounded as if he was chasing something, growling ferociously. Suddenly, there was silence. The silence lasted for several minutes and was long enough for me to sink blissfully back to sleep. My bliss was short lived, however. Because Flaco came back. And, christ how did he stink!

I was awoken by a hammer blow to my nostrils. It wasn't the attenuated odor of skunk you are used to from humid summers as a kid. This was an assault of the nasal cavities which instantly caused my sinuses to clog. This led to instant sinus headache. I tried to hide under the blankets, but it wouldn't go away. My wife ordered me to remove the foul thing from the bedroom and bathe it. Which I did, but of course it did no good. This morning, the odor still lingers and my head is pounding.

Flaco has lost much of his strut this morning. He is quiet and reflective, but I know this is a temporary state. He is not quite intelligent enough to learn from past mistakes. I'm sure in a few days he will be back to his two hour schedule of barking at the shadows. I just hope the skunk exhibits his superior intelligence and stays away.

7/17/03: My friend Donnie sends a recipe to remove skunk odor from pets.

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07/25/2003 - Prolific Sperm Donors

07/16/2003 - DMV

07/11/2003 - Skunked!