Doug finds the water harder than expected
With the weather continually teasing us with its up-and-down nature, Doug, who was resting peacefully, eased himself into semi-somnambulism and leapt into the pool for an anticipated glorious late Winter plunge.
Alas, he found himself skating instead. Once he extricated himself from this predicament, he sadly returned to his sedated state in the Secret Garden.
Maybe next month…
They’re really stylin’ (nice job, jO, on the design).
Only problem: I don’t have one yet 
They’re for coaches only, at this point. That means that jP has one, and I’m jealous!
Grrr…
No, it’s not a typo…I’ve consciously used that spelling (and pronunciation) for a long time. My Mom tried to break me of it, but when she couldn’t, it became a family joke. Kinda corny, I guess.
At any rate, a lot of folks think the holiday is related to the St. Valentine’s Day massacre, but it was actually established back in the 5th century by a certain Pope Gelasius, in honor of an ancient Christian martyr named Valentine. Gelasius was one of three African-origin popes in the early Catholic Church. That’s cool.
In the 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer referred to the holiday in his famous Parlement of Foules:
For this was on seynt Volantynys day
Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make.
I guess Chaucer thought that a lot of birds chose their mates on this day, but I’m not sure the Ides of February would be a great time for doing that. Just a thought…I’m not a bird.
But geez, I love Middle English!