As a 4th grader, I remember a day in class where we had to write about what we wanted to be when we were older. The answers were as one imagined: a firefighter, a doctor, a pilot, a zookeeper, a teacher, an author – among other semi-altruistic professions. I wrote down veterinarian, though I'm sure it may have been "Veteranairen." I'm not sure why but from a young age I felt I had a connection with animals, specifically, dogs. Had my taste for design not been as strong I may have found myself going to school a few extra years using my hands in a much different way.

Which may be the reason why every other week I spent a few hours at the Animal Humane Society of Golden Valley. I volunteer in the canine adoption area helping dogs find the families and people that fit them best. Drool, hair, kisses and scratches are part of the territory. It never fails that I get asked if it's hard not to come home with a new dog every week. It would be, but as cliche as this sounds, it's much more satisfying finding that dog a home with a loving family. 

The experience I find most rewarding is also slightly melancholic. It's that moment when I first walk through the kennels at the start of my shift — seeing the various sizes, breeds and ages of the dogs up for adoption. After looking at each kennel card and dog I usually realize I don't recognize the majority of them, I don't know anything about them and after today may never see them again. But or course, that same thought reminds me why I'm there.

I could go on but this post isn't just about volunteering. It's about putting time, money, energy and love into that thing you hold close and tight. It's about PASSION. Find your passion, whether it be books, cooking, hockey, World of Warcraft, Japanese flower arrangement or macaroni art. It doesn't matter what it is or what other people think.

I'll try to keep my next few post about the things I'm quite fanatic about. Hopefully, in the process I'll find others just as zealous.

This past Tuesday, February 16th, Angela and I had to go through one of the most tragic and heartbreaking experiences of our lives. In an all too fast set of events we lost Earl Grey, our much-loved greyhound – a true member of the family. Within the span of a week we found out he had a Mast Cell Tumor in his cranial abdomen that was releasing histamines into his body and causing ulcers in his stomach. Most likely the cancer was affecting the spleen, pancreas and liver, or all. He went from being just a little sick to not very well at all very fast.

I didn't realize at the beginning that he wouldn't survive. The whole time I kept telling myself, "We'll just pay for it, whatever it is, we'll do it and he'll be fine and he'll have the rest of his life, we've only had him for 18 months, he's not even 6 years old, we'll have him for 8 more. Nothing to worry about, we can do this."

Things didn't get better. Tests didn't go well and after seeing him in the shape he was in and talking with the doctor, we lost it and bawled. In a small room a few blocks from home we said goodbye. We cried, hugged and told him we'd see him in heaven.

We adopted PB's Simple Earl (his racing name) from NLGA. He was the last Greyhound in the group that came that spring to be adopted. He was meant for us and us for him. In the span of a couple months he became a huge piece of our lives. Without even trying Earl became part of the family. He introduced us to neighbors, greeted us when we got home and slept in with us on the weekends. We even represented NLGA at the MN Pet Expo and attended the NLGA Annual Picnic with him.

Coming home is hard, I expect him to be at the door or take him to the dog park on the weekends. It's getting easier. Easier because I start to think of the past 18 months instead of the last week. I know we can't replace him but when the time comes Angela and I will adopt another greyhound. And just like Earl we'll give another dog a happy and loving life for as long as we can.

We love you Earl.

I'm an Apple Fanboy.

I'm not getting one of these.

At least not anytime soon. Though, all in all, today was an epic event nonetheless. But as I look closer at the new Apple iPad I notice a few shortcomings that could have easy been added to this first version instead of future releases.

The basic things missing: USB ports, front camera, video-out, multi-tasking, stand-alone capability (must it be synced to itunes to work?) But it does fill a gap, even if that gap is very thin.

If you have a laptop and love carrying it from room to room, cracking it open on the bus, having it heating up your crotch, attempt to read books in bed and otherwise haul around a full-laptop that's fine. That's what I do. If so, this won't interest you.

If you have a netbook, this really won't interest you. I can't think of much an iPad does that can't be done on a netbook. But full-disclosure, I'd rather carry this around or pop it open over lunch, during class or on a plane than a netbook.

Is it necessary for you to play touch games, read e-books, watch movies, carry textbooks, adopt tech early, while traveling constantly and find it difficult to email, read and get your media on a smartphone screen? Then this is perfect for you. It does all that. Is it necessary though? Not sold.

Was the iPod underrated, sure. Did people think the iPhone was going to be God's gift to the world, yes. Is this somewhere in the middle? Probably. Is the name unfortunate? of course.

Certain businesses will flock like sheep to this. Traditional media companies have been losing money hand over fist for years... years. Newspapers, networks, magazines, comic books, etc. This has the opportunity to save them. Companies want a way to deliver their content the way they want – DRM-ed up the wazoo! What better way than to produce an App and sell it at the store and have absolute control of that app. Hackers can jailbreak the iPhone but not the apps.

In the end, this is not a game changer. It's a start.

Top Tens, 25 Tips, Five Steps, 50 Sexiest ...we all love getting information force fed fast. The easiest and simplest way to do this in in the form of a list. And just like the cover of every magazine, I love me my lists. Thus, below you will find 10 of my favorite songs from 2009. Not the top, not my most favorite, there may even be some that came out before 2009. Just a list of 10 songs I discovered in 2009.

Also, If you have the time I suggest checking out Pitchfork, an all-things music site. I was partly inspired by their Pitchfork P2K top 500 Tracks of the 2000s. Though I only made it through about 250 songs I was able to find some stand-outs that I had yet to hear and many I hadn't realized came out this decade. As a side note I'm happy to say that female and male vocalists are both well represented, as well as two from Minnesota.

10 Outstanding Songs of 2009:

Bat For Lashes - Daniel

Battles - Atlas

Brother Ali - Fresh Air

Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream

The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound

The Knife - Heartbeats

La Roux - Bulletproof

Lady Sovereign - I Got You Dancing

Lookbook - The Only Ones

The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition

Bonus Outstanding song of Angela's 2009

Beyonce - Radio

In the summer of 2008 something huge happened in my life. Something that Angela and I had been planning (and saving) many months for. After three months and almost thirty showings we purchased our first house. We found it tucked in Saint Louis Park between Edina, Golden Valley, Hopkins and Minneapolis. For us, it was exactly what we wanted: close to work, near downtown, suburban-feel, fenced yard, centrally-located, big garage, move-in ready, nice kitchen, 2+ bedrooms, et cetera. Alas, it had one feature missing: a second bathroom. Having just spend almost two years in a 770 square foot apartment we both knew extra space for friends, family and eventually kids was all but a necessity. Luckily, we knew we'd be receiving a First-Time Homebuyer Credit right in the midst of an economic and housing crisis. We mentally ear-marked that money and signed on the dotted line.

We moved in, decorated, painted, adopted a Greyhound and got our ducks in order. Once we were settled we began designing the bathroom we wanted to put in the basement. For a year we clipped magazines, bookmarked websites and ripped out photos. In the fall of 2009 we finally broke ground with design in hand. We ran into some inspection issues and learned quick how serious SLP is about home inspections and housing codes. Half-way in we switched gears and installed an egress window, unexpected but needed. Three months, some dusty rooms, a clogged nose and two sore hands later we officially had ourselves a second bathroom.

Now that we're done if'n ya find yourself in the process of adding a basement bathroom and need some inspiration or just want to see if the Higgins' have any style check out the pictures below. Also, I added a few links to some of the materials we used.

The Bathroom:

Before

Framing & Egress

Tile, Fixture and Paint

Finished

Materials:

Ikea Lillangen Cabinet

Ikea Hollviken Sink

Ikea Dalskar Faucet

Ikea Anes Mirror

Toto Drake Round Toilet

Kohler Forte Shower Hardware

Home Depot Subway Tile