iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Bless you for fostering! Our current dog (little Rottweiler) and the prior one (big Greyhound/Great Dane/Borzoi) were both street rescues that were fostered which meant they came to us with leash manners and understanding of a home. And a love of soft beds!

Black and brown dog stretched out on a wood floor

Large black and white dog with patio furniture and fireplace in background

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Old info. House is not in session until after the midterms and this resolution, useless as it was, was introduced and passed last summer

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

I was there a year ago this month and hiked around the base. Not when it might have been green but it seems pretty suspicious to me. My pics show it to have a different proportion and it doesn't sit up on a hill quite like that.

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Actual picture from August 2025

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Both of these two have been gone for a year this week. The dog, Dino, turned up with very aggressive lymphoma after being with us only 19 months. The cat, Mitzi, was with us for almost 14 years. She slowly wasted away over months before we had to let her go. Both were rescues. Both are missed.

Large black and white dog being followed along a stone wall by a black and white cat. Plants and a house in the background.

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Today is one year since we had to euthanize Dino. He was the 5th of the 6 dogs we've had over the years. He's the one I still tear up just thinking about. He was a reactive, bitey street rescue when he came to us but bonded with us instantly. He came to trust people over the 19 months he was with us

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

I would do that if there was anywhere within a 10 minute walk of my house other than neighbors' houses. I live in the country. It is a 15 minute drive to a convenience store and 30 minutes to a real grocery store. In exchange for that hassle, this is my morning view

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Same. July 12 will be a year since we lost Dino. While we have adopted another street rescue I still get very teary thinking about him. He was very reactive and bitey when we adopted him. Over the short 19 months he was with us he learned that people are good.

Large black and white dog looks out over landscaping

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Correct. We have a heat pump HVAC system. Totally useless without electricity. We went 55 hours with no power and outside temps in single digits. It got down to 53° inside the house. We live in the country where it's hilly and were iced in for 8 days. This is my aged Greyhound under 3 blankets.

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Rescues are the best dogs. This chunky little Rottweiler is our sixth dog over about 45 years, all rescues. She was pulled out of the Houston Animal Control facility by a lady who does that for as many dogs as she can. She's been with our family since December.

Chubby black and brown Rottweiler dog sitting on a porch.

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

A few months after losing Dino we were ready for another dog. After a search we picked what we thought was a Doberman mix but DNA proved to be 100% Rottweiler. Heidi is an 80lb chunk of love. She does not like to be more than arm's length away from me. Heidi is our 6th rescue in about 45 years.

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

We are serial dog and cat adopters. Dino, 85lb black and white Great Dane/Greyhound/Borzoi mix was a special needs boy. Bonded with us instantly despite being very reactive to most people. Over the 19 months we had him he grew to be safe around people. Lost suddenly to aggressive lymphoma. Miss him!

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

This chunky little beast was also pulled out of a kill shelter. The rescuer rehabbed her, treated for heartworms, did dental work. We adopted her almost 6 months ago. She is now my shadow. She recently had surgery to remove a small malignant melanoma from her lip. Our 6th rescue dog in 45yrs

Black and tan Rottweiler dog sitting on concrete with plants behind and part of a person's leg in foreground

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Unless you're a winemaker it's unusual to drink a wine made from grapes you've picked. After moving to Texas wine country a friend asked me to help harvest another friend's small vineyard. 3 varietals, 1 acre each. Out in the hottest part of summer. This wine is from the first year I picked. Tasty!

Glass of red wine next to a bottle of the wine.

Wine is produced by Bending Branch Winery from 2019 vintage Tannat grapes grown by Lost Pirogue Vineyard in the Texas Hill Country.

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

This is also Stella. She's 19 years old and has been with us for over 15 years. So, not a puppy in any sense. 🤓 But she was also from a shelter.

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

We're both dog and cat people. Have had at least one cat in the house since college, over 50 years. And at least one dog for about 45 years. All rescues, every single one. The dog in my profile pic is number 6 over those years. This cat is number 10 or 11, is 19yo and has been with us for 15 years.

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Lost one of our best neighbors to the effects of Parkinson's. He fought the good fight for many years. He and I used to walk these two dogs together every morning. Both those dogs have also passed away. But I think of him now when I'm out with our current dog. All the best to you!

Basset hound and brindle Greyhound on leashes

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

I'm with you on this. We took our Dino in to get enlarged lymph nodes checked one Monday morning last July. By the following Saturday he had lost the use of his back legs. Biopsies had not even come back from the lab yet. Aggressive lymphoma. I still get weepy thinking about him. He was the best boy

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Puppies are so dang cute. We're old so we adopt old dogs. Don't want a dog to need to be rehomed because we're incapable of caring for them. Heidi, Rottie, is 7, recently had malignant growth removed from her lip. Dino, b&w hound mix, was 10, lost him to aggressive lymphoma. Both street rescues.

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Texas gets a lot of energy from solar and wind. It was growing rapidly until the Orange Felon came along

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Got the pathology report on the growth we had removed from Heidi's lip today. Sad to report it was a malignant melanoma. The vet got clean margins when removing it. There's always a chance that some cancerous cells migrated but we're not going to explore chemotherapy.

Black and tan Rottweiler dog lying on a rug looking soulfully at the camera.

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Doggo in the mist. It's been raining or misting off and on for three days. We've gotten more rain in this period than the entire year to date before it. This pup has a growth or something on her lower lip. Heading to the vet in a bit to get it checked out. Hoping it's not serious.

Rottweiler walking on a misty morning. Trees and garden in the background.

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Google Kessler Effect

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

As seniors ourselves we are all in on senior pets. Our last 3 dogs were Gracie (8yo Greyhound broodie, lived to almost 15), Dino (~10yo street rescue Greyhound/Great Dane/Borzoi, with us only 19 months), and now Heidi (~7yo street rescue Rottweiler). Giving them a good end to their lives.

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

Too many adults don't know better. Couple of years ago we adopted Dino, 85lb Greyhound/Great Dane/Borzois. He came to us reactive and bitey. Too many people asked if they could pet him while already reaching for his head. He got much better with people but lymphoma took him after 19 months. Miss him

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

This is 100% my dog. She is virtually never more than arm's length from me

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

This is our Heidi, adopted from a rescue 4 months ago. Even though she doesn't look it, she's 100% Rottweiler. She's the first dog we've ever had who dislikes walks. It's not possible for her to walk any slower going uphill. She is velcroed to me. She barks at thunder

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Totally understand. We adopted Dino, Greyhound/Great Dane/Borzoi street rescue, January of 2024. Got him reactive and bitey to safe with people, loving with us. In July 2025, 19 months with us he was hit with aggressive lymphoma. One week after symptoms we had to euthanize him. I still cry about him

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Yes. A little 19yo tortoiseshell cat that's been with us 15 years (adopted 2 weeks before Mitzi and another street rescue dog. The rescue group and their vet thought the dog was a doberman mix. DNA test results came up 100% Rottweiler.

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

And the amount of time you have with the pet doesn't really matter. We had Dino, the dog in this picture, for just 19 months before losing him to aggressive lymphoma. Two days later we had to let Mitzi, the cat in the picture, go due to cancer after 14 years with us. It was a bad week at our house.

A black and white dog being followed along a wall by a black and white cat

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

Nice! This is our approach to pets now also. We're old so we're only adopting senior pets to give them a good end of life. We don't want a pet to outlive us or have to be rehomed if our situation stops allowing us to support them. This is Stella, our 19yo Tortie. Her health is starting to fail. 💔

Tortoiseshell cat hunkered down on a gray couch.

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

Yep. Living the dream for sure. One of the neighbors visiting for a quick drink.

Axis (deer species) buck with 3ft wide antlers at water trough.

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Now do Texas. Current mix 11:33am CDT 4/2/2026

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Bless you for this! This beast is our seventh dog over about 45 years, every one a rescue.

Black and brown Rottweiler dog and someone's foot

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Our recently adopted rescue came up 100% Rottie on a DNA test. This is her barking at thunder.

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

I'm not really a cook but I once made stuffed peppers for a Halloween themed dinner. Don't have a pic after stuffing or cooking but here's how they looked to start.

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

We were serial adopters of retired greyhounds. Our last one was actually a Great Dane/Greyhound/Borzoi mix rescued of the streets. We only had him 19 months before he succumbed to aggressive lymphoma. He started out reactive and bitey but over our short time came to trust people, within some limits.

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

This is why I take a Zyrtec and two shots of Azelastine every day all year

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

💯‼️ This chunky little Rottweiler is our 7th dog over the course of 45 years, all rescues

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Heidi, adopted December 6, 2024. She's not big on laps but likes couches.

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Understand. We lost Dino, our 85lb Greyhound/Great Dane, to aggressive lymphoma 8 months ago. I still cry when I think of him. He was a street rescue we adopted and only had for 19 months. We adopted another street rescue 3 months ago and love her. But Dino is still missed.

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

Same. This big guy went very suddenly last August from aggressive lymphoma. I still cry when I think about him.

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

Morning coffee on the porch, with dog.

Rottweiler dog lying on concrete porch with view of landscape and low hills

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Hal @txhal.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Our recently adopted little Rottweiler barks at thunder and clouds. This is her *daring* any more thunder to happen

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