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    92 Days of Summer

    Put down that iPhone and look at the Grand Canyon!

    Dawn McMullan
    Aug 4, 2013 | 10:24 am

    In the middle of our 18-day summer vacation, my hard drive died. I was just finishing up a bit of work early Saturday morning in Vegas, a quick stop between San Diego and Zion National Park, when the screen froze. Then Chrome did some swirl move and froze again, in a cool tornado shape. My heartbeat quickened. I may have cussed.

    Two hours later at the Apple store, I got the diagnosis.

    Nothing could be done, at least not until I get home. I was within 15 minutes of finishing the work I needed to do for the next six days, so I wrapped it up as best as I could at the Apple store, walked back past the Trevi Fountain (I was in Caesar's Palace, of course), joined my family, and tried to forget about how semi-backed-up my MacBook was and the recovery hell I would enter upon my return to Dallas.

    It isn't just the kids. All four of us turn to our electronic hand-held crack when there is a lull.

    I always work during these trips, which means we can be gone longer than if I didn't. I work while my husband drives or after everyone goes to sleep. But I generally try to take most of an entire week completely off, disconnected from all responsibilities except those of making family memories, taunting friends at home with cooler temps via Facebook, and enjoying an adult beverage with a view of water or mountains.

    This will make it easier to disconnect, I said in my head between what had now turned to silent cussing. Deadlines will wait. Editors will understand. Co-workers will step in. I can live without the Facebook weather updates to those stuck in Texas. Nothing can be done.

    So, with this attitude, I arrived at Zion, assuming we wouldn't have phone service, Wi-Fi, or 3G anyway during our time there and at the Grand Canyon. Assuming we'd all be disconnected. Five nights and four days. After the initial drooling and shakes phase, it was going to be amazing.

    Although Zion proper didn't have any phone service, our cabin did. It wasn't great, but it was there. And my travel companions could ferret it out like they can a pint of Ben & Jerry's in the back of the freezer.

    Same, although a bit sketchier, at the Grand Canyon. So I checked my email on my iPhone, posted pics of elk and views on Facebook, even texted my 16-year-old when he ran ahead on a trail and took a wrong path.

    My husband took a work call and answered some work emails. Our 13-year-old texted friends, and he and his brother did yet another fantasy football draft.

    Don't get me wrong. We had some great non-connected times. We hiked. We tubed down a YooHoo-colored river at Zion, the boys played putt-putt golf, we swam, sat in the hot tub, ate ice cream, took a sunset Jeep tour of the Grand Canyon, saw too many elk to count and one fox.

    I tell my kids all the time to put down the screens and engage with real people. They will not do it if I don't do it.

    We went to a ranger talk about animals at Zion and one about the night sky at the Grand Canyon. We saw — and took several pics of — a Ford GT40, the coolest car my 16-year-old has ever seen, he reports.

    We also watched TV, which I was prepared for. We have teenagers, so we make concessions on these trips. Although I fantasize about a screen-free vacation, I'm okay with a little end-of-day boob tube.

    We watch Shark Week every summer vacation as a family. It's a tradition like Christmas stockings and Super Bowl Sunday queso. Because Shark Week hadn't quite started yet, we spent our evenings with the casts of Fast N' Loud, Naked and Afraid, Call of the Wildman ("the best show ever," my 13-year-old says, making all that money we spend on a private school education clearly worth it) and The Big Bang Theory.

    This, to me, is still together time with teens. It's not the same as a hike to Zion's Emerald Pools, but it's good stuff.

    Facebook, emails, texting with friends, not so much. These are all distractions that take us outside our family, not inside. For summer vacations — and, more specifically, these few days — inside is where I wanted our attentions to turn.

    Now, one might argue that reading a book, which three of us love to do on these trips and our 16-year-old will do, is a similarly solo endeavor. But a book in a boy's hand is increasing his imagination.

    A video game on his screen is increasing his visualization skills (not something any boy or man really needs help with), shortening an already ADD-like attention span, and a total waste of time. Judge much? Same with texting. You've got 50 weeks a year to talk with your friends, in person or virtually. Give me these two.

    It isn't just the kids. All four of us turn to our electronic hand-held crack when there is a lull. My husband worries about work if he isn't in touch. It may not be much time, but it's a bit most days — enough so he can't disconnect.

    The only time he will intentionally stop communication is if he's out of the country. I don't like it — and tell him so — but this is his journey through this oddly 24/7 connected world we live in. See how naturally I come by this judging thing?

    In fairness to my beloved, I'm not so different, but I angst about it out loud, which makes me the better parent, right? I intentionally try not to pick up my iPhone every other time I want to.

    I intentionally try to watch the boys playing in the pool or swim with them instead of looking at pictures of other people's kids in pools on Facebook. I tell my kids all the time to put down the screens and engage with real people. They will not do it if I don't do it. That whole say/do thing is such a pain in the parenting ass.

    For the boys, iPhones and iPods are like extensions of their brains and arms. In retrospect, I should've set aside four or five agreed-upon non-connected days before we set off on this trip. There would have been much bitching and pleading and full-body writhing, but we all would've survived. We all would've thrived. Next vacation, I will.

    When my husband was growing up, he and his brother were allowed one soda a day. Back then, it was more likely a budget concern than a health one. Still, at 46, he feels guilty if he has more than one soda a day.

    I hope my electronic nagging has such a long-tail effect. Because if a YouTube video can distract you from a view of the Grand Canyon, you deserve to be judged.

    My husband and 16-year-old son take in their first view of the Grand Canyon.

      
    Photo by Dawn McMullan
    My husband and 16-year-old son take in their first view of the Grand Canyon.
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    Heat Wave News

    Dallas pet owners should take these steps with oncoming heat wave

    Teresa Gubbins
    May 13, 2025 | 10:31 am
    Dog drinking water
    SPCA
    Keep your pets hydrated. Consider putting out a kiddie pool.

    Dallas weather is about to take a serious turn, and the SPCA has valuable advice on what steps pet owners should take. It's easy to forget that animals get hit hard by the heat, and especially in Texas: A report by Veterinarians.org found that Texas was No. 1 on the list of states with heat-related pet deaths. Based on data they compiled from 2018-2022, Texa had 40 reported heat-related pet deaths — more than six times the national five-year average.

    In a statement, SPCA of Texas Interim Chief Veterinarian Valarie Tynes, DVM, DACVB, DACAW reminds pet owners that their pets have very few ways to cool themselves down.

    “As a veterinarian, I’ve seen far too many cases of dogs and cats suffering from heatstroke, often brought into the emergency room when it’s already too late," Tynes says. "Our pets have very limited ways to cool themselves down. They can sweat a small amount through their paw pads, but their main way to release excess heat is by panting. Panting helps pets cool off through the evaporation of moisture, but it only provides limited relief, especially during extreme temperatures."

    Tynes says that, when the body can’t shed heat fast enough, serious internal damage begins to occur.

    "The proteins and chemicals that keep the body functioning start to break down," she says. "I’ve seen heat affect the kidneys and brain—organs and processes that are incredibly sensitive to high temperatures."

    Breed, overall health and environment all can influence how at-risk a pet is, but one thing is always true: prevention is critical. Please don’t underestimate how dangerous heat can be.

    Tynes advises pet owners to keep pets in cool, shaded areas, provide plenty of fresh water, and avoid walks or outdoor activity during the hottest parts of the day.

    Here are some proactive measures to keep pets safe and comfortable during these sweltering days:

    Keep your pets hydrated
    Make sure your furry friends have access to fresh, cool water at all times. Consider placing multiple water bowls around your home and refill them regularly. If your pets must be outside during the day, make sure there are plenty of shady spaces throughout the day and several shaded, nontippable water bowls filled with ice water. Do not use metal bowls outside.

    If possible, a small wading pool filled with cold ice water and placed in a shaded area outside is preferred. This not only allows pets to drink but also to cool off in the water when overheating.

    Schedule exercise with your pets wisely on warm days
    Give your pet plenty of water before and after walks or playtime. Be sure to avoid strenuous activities during the hottest parts of the day. Early mornings (before 10 a.m.) or late evenings (after 5 p.m.)—when temperatures are lower—are ideal for walks or playtime.

    Hot pavement can burn paw pads, so opt for walking on grassy areas. Consider using paw wax or booties to shield sensitive paws from hot pavement, rocks or sand that can cause burns and blisters. If you cannot hold the back of your hand on the pavement for five to 10 seconds, the pavement is too hot for your pet.

    Make sure your pets have plenty of shade
    If your pet spends any time outside, be sure it has plenty of shade so he or she can get out of the sun. This is where the ground or grass will be coolest—under a tree, an umbrella, or a simple, open structure. Do not tie or restrain the pet so that it cannot move between shady spots as needed.

    If it is really hot and humid, bring your pet indoors and into air-conditioned areas.

    Never leave your pet in a locked car
    No matter what, even if you think you will be away from the car for just a few minutes, do not leave your pet unattended in a parked car. The car can absorb enough energy within minutes to become a death mobile. A cracked window or two is not enough to prevent heatstroke when it’s hot, or even warm. It is also not enough to park in the shade on a hot day and leave all the windows and even sunroof open.

    While weather in the 70s may seem harmless, a Stanford study showed that in just an hour, a car’s temperature rose to 116 degrees internally when left out in 72-degree heat. It is not recommended to leave the air conditioner running in a car for your pet. Oftentimes the air conditioner malfunctions, leading to overheating inside the vehicle.

    Heatstroke is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that can affect pets when they are exposed to high temperatures and excessive heat. Dogs and cats cannot regulate their body temperature as efficiently as humans, making them more susceptible to heatstroke. It can occur in as little as 10-15 minutes, especially in hot and humid environments or when an animal is left in a parked car.

    Symptoms of heatstroke in pets include excessive panting, drooling, rapid breathing, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea and collapse. It is crucial to act quickly if you suspect your pet is suffering from heatstroke. Move them to a cool and shaded area, offer fresh water, and use cool (not cold) water or damp towels to gradually lower their body temperature.

    Then take the pet directly to an emergency veterinary clinic. Heat stroke can be fatal and can come on very quickly, so it’s best not to take any chances.

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