Author Archives: Jay McLaughlin

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About Jay McLaughlin

I am a rehabilitation counselor. I have many friends with autism and traumatic brain injuries. They help me learn new things constantly. I hike with dogs at the James River in Richmond - a lot. I've completed an Iron distance triathlon a year for 11 years. My most recent was in Wilmington, NC in November, 2013. I currently compete in mid-distance triathlons. And work and hike and take pictures and write and eat.

Continued growth

Posted on June 12, 2011 by Jay McLaughlin

12 June, 2011 The dogs and I had a relaxing weekend. I had time for a 50 mile bike ride yesterday. I learned I was in shape for a 30 mile ride. But I didn’t learn that until around mile … Continue reading →

Posted in Dogs, Endurance, Fun, People, Rivers, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!) | 1 Comment

Growth

Posted on June 9, 2011 by Jay McLaughlin

The river glowed when the dogs and I arrived this fine morning shortly after sunrise: The canals behind the islands are shady and secluded and enchanting. Mornings like this, even the dirt is beautiful. I mean, look at this. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Dogs, Fun, Rivers | 13 Comments

Gratitude

Posted on June 2, 2011 by Jay McLaughlin

To spare yourself several paragraphs of navel-gazing [read: tedious] introspection, I strongly recommend you skip past the third “= = =” (that being the first). = = = This morning Mackey and Max and Roux and I went to Pony … Continue reading →

Posted in Dogs, Rivers | 9 Comments

The first time I go a full day w/o crying…

Posted on May 27, 2011 by Jay McLaughlin

…will be, maybe, tomorrow? I keep having to  push it back another day. Our old friend Mark Holmberg surprised us with a call yesterday evening. Showed up a few minutes later. I am a dedicated nostalgiaphobe. But this is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Dogs, Rivers, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!) | 15 Comments

Filming Bigfoot riding a unicorn…

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Jay McLaughlin

…and winning the lottery the same day. A person is about that likely to end up with friends like mine. If I can keep just half of them in the Post-Ivory-Era, I will be rich beyond all imagining. Roux and … Continue reading →

Posted in Dogs, Fun, People, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!) | 8 Comments

Ivory

Posted on May 18, 2011 by Jay McLaughlin

Goodbye old friend

Posted in Dogs | 34 Comments

Flora – and some fauna

Posted on May 15, 2011 by Jay McLaughlin

I’ve been remiss with blogging. This post is FLORA. This is flora here in  central Virginia. That blooms in early May. Most of it smells divine. In the unlikely event I end up in Heaven, and in the still less … Continue reading →

Posted in Dogs, Flowers, Fun, People, Rivers, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!) | 10 Comments

Every day is a gift

Posted on May 2, 2011 by Jay McLaughlin

The name of this whole blog could be “Every day is a gift.” I forget sometimes. Days like today remind me. At seventeen years, Ivory is old by any standard. By the standards of sixty pound dogs he is ancient. … Continue reading →

Posted in Dogs, Fun, Rivers, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!) | 4 Comments

Some people have all the luck…

Posted on April 23, 2011 by Jay McLaughlin

Today, I was one of them! This morning Roux and I went down to Monroe Park at VCU for the Hounds for Healing 1K+Dog Walk. Ivory’s doing okay, but this would have been a little too much for him. Doing … Continue reading →

Posted in Dogs, Flowers, Fun, People, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!) | 4 Comments

Growth

Posted on April 20, 2011 by Jay McLaughlin

I was down at Pony Pasture the other day and within about five minutes was covered with what appeared to be nearly my weight in inchworms. It was a whole, whole, whole lot of calories. Something the next level up … Continue reading →

Posted in Flowers, Rivers | 3 Comments