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Mike Schilling

Mike has been a software engineer far longer than he would like to admit. He has strong opinions on baseball, software, science fiction, comedy, contract bridge, and European history, any of which he's willing to share with almost no prompting whatsoever.

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23 Responses

  1. Burt Likko says:

    I’m sorry, man. That’s a tough day. You did right by Won Ton, but that doesn’t make it taste any better. He sure was a cute little guy!

    I’ve a dog that was at least 2 years old when Mrs. Likko and I adopted her… that was back in 2004. And she’s a 70-pounder; the big ones don’t live as long as the little ones. She’s visibly healthy, has a good appetite, and can still run comfortably, but her muzzle is getting gray. She likes carrots better than milk bones; either her mommy or her daddy gives her one every night before bedtime.

    After reading your column, I think tonight’s going to be a two-carrot night for her.Report

  2. Mike,

    Please accept my condolences about Won Ton. I agree with Burt that you did right by him, but it must be hard.Report

  3. Jaybird says:

    It always sucks to say goodbye to a friend.Report

  4. Rufus F. says:

    I have a kitty and she’s getting older and so, I know they don’t live as long as we do, and yet the thought of what’s going to happen one day is already devastating. I’m sorry for your family’s loss.Report

  5. Kolohe says:

    Sorry to hear, Mike.Report

  6. Chris says:

    Ugh, I know how hard that is. I’m sad to hear you’ve lost Won Ton, but I’m glad to hear you had so many laughs with him. It would make sense for a Schilling to have a dog who wasn’t hilarious.Report

  7. So sorry, Mike. Shih Tzus are fun little dogs (though you might guess that I would say that).Report

  8. aaron david says:

    I’m sorry for your loss, Mike.Report

  9. Anne says:

    Sorry for your loss Mike I’ve been through it too many times and it never is easy but you did the right thing by Won Ton. I have an arrogant Shiba Inu (Rufus aka Prince Fuzzy Butt) who is aggravating as all get out but he is getting older and I know I am going to miss the imperious demands made of me every dayReport

  10. Glyph says:

    I’m sorry, Mike.Report

  11. North says:

    I’m sorry Mike, dogs are so wonderful yet so devastating when they go. I think Kipling touched on it well:

    THERE is sorrow enough in the natural way
    From men and women to fill our day;
    And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
    Why do we always arrange for more?
    Brothers and sisters, I bid you beware
    Of giving your heart to a dog to tear
    .
    Buy a pup and your money will buy
    Love unflinching that cannot lie
    Perfect passion and worship fed
    By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
    Nevertheless it is hardly fair
    To risk your heart for a dog to tear.

    When the fourteen years which Nature permits
    Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
    And the vet’s unspoken prescription runs
    To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
    Then you will find – it’s your own affair, –
    But … you’ve given your heart to a dog to tear.

    When the body that lived at your single will,
    With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!),
    When the spirit that answered your every mood
    Is gone – wherever it goes – for good,
    You will discover how much you care,
    And will give your heart to a dog to tear!

    We’ve sorrow enough in the natural way,
    When it comes to burying Christian clay.
    Our loves are not given, but only lent,
    At compound interest of cent per cent,
    Though it is not always the case, I believe,
    That the longer we’ve kept ’em, the more do we grieve;
    For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
    A short-time loan is as bad as a long –
    So why in – Heaven (before we are there)
    Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?Report

  12. J@m3z Aitch says:

    I sometimes use a dog as my gravatar, my Walker Hound, who’s now been gone as long as I had him. I still dream about him sometimes.

    My condolences.Report

  13. Fish says:

    Ugh, heartbreaking. It is always so difficult to say goodbye to our furry friends. Won Ton and your family were lucky to have each other. We owned a number of Shih Tzu’s when I was a kid. They’re a wonderful breed.Report

  14. Stillwater says:

    That’s a tough thing to do, Mike. And the right thing, tho that doesn’t make the experience any less difficult.

    When we put our dog down, kidney failure was culprit, there were lots of tears but we can laugh – a little bit – about it now. The whole experience was like a tragicomedy, like a perverse SNL skit.

    We’re all huddled around Raton saying our goodbyes, holding her, petting her muzzle to calm her down. The vet tech looks at us and we give her the “OK, we’re ready” nods. She injects Rat and we wait for the drug to take effect. And we wait. And wait. 15 minutes we wait. Nothing. The vet tech is now getting nervous, since we’re all sobbing and wailing and nothing’s happening.

    She missed the vein.

    In a fluster, she loads up another syringe, injects.

    We wait. And wait. Sobbing. Tears streaming down our faces. Wait. Still nothing. Now she’s even more flustered.

    “I’m so sorry, I need to do it again. I didn’t use a large enough dose.”

    Now we’re looking at each other thru tear-soaked eyes like this can’t possibly be happening. Even our dog looked at us with a WTF? expression.

    She reloads, injects. And we all said our goodbyes one last time.Report

  15. NewDealer says:

    I’m sorry Mike.Report

  16. Michelle says:

    Mike, my condolences on your loss of Won Ton. Even when you know you’re doing the right thing, it’s never easy. He sounds like such a delightful little character.

    We just lost our pug of many years a few weeks ago. Fiona had travelled with us from Chicago to L.A. to Seattle to Philly to Greensboro, visiting some 22 states along the way, and even venturing with us for a weekend in Brooklyn. She was such a fixture in our lives, it’s still hard to wrap our heads around the fact she’s gone.Report

  17. Sincerest condolences for your loss.Report

  18. Maribou says:

    I’m so sorry for your loss, Mike. Thank you for telling us about Won Ton’s life.Report

  19. Mike Dwyer says:

    Joining with everyone in wishing you condolences Mike. Glad you were able to do it on your terms and when it was the right time. This post was a great memorial.Report

  20. Rod says:

    Condolences on losing a fine friend and family member.Report

  21. Tod Kelly says:

    Condolences, Mike. Family is family; losing a beloved member is terrible.Report

  22. Rough day, Mike. Very sorry for your loss.Report