I love my family's dog, but whenever people tell me that they are thinking about getting a dog, I find myself responding a bit sourly and even trying to discourage them. Why would I act that way when I love dogs? I guess I'm projecting my own mixed feelings about ownership -- because no matter how cute and fun they are, dogs are a lot of work and a lot of money. No matter how much your children (or grandchildren or spouse) promise to help care for the dog, it becomes your dog, and you will be doing most of the caretaking... especially when your "helpers" go off to school, move away, or just realize that it's not all fun and games.

Several weeks ago, a friend told me about her upcoming surgery. For several months, she's lived with constant pain down her right arm and numbness and tingling in her right hand. An MRI showed a growth on her cervical spine (in her neck), which the doctor said was causing the pain. The doctor sent her to a surgeon, who told her that surgery was the only solution. When I heard this, I implored her to seek a second opinion, possibly from another surgeon or preferably from someone with a different treatment orientation. ("When your tool is a hammer, everything is a nail," I reminded her. "Surgeons are inclined to suggest surgery.") She took the advice and, not surprisingly, got a very different recommendation from the second doc. She is now seeing a physical therapist, who is working with her using various techniques to release the impingement on the nerve and teaching her exercises that strengthen key muscles to prevent its return.

It's not news to take steps to boost one's immune system before flying on an airplane. After all, if you spend hours sitting in an enclosed cabin breathing other people's air, someone is bound to have contagions that your body can't fight on its own. There are even products based on this situation -- like Airborne, which is a blend of immune-boosting antioxidants. Years ago, before I started taking Airborne and other immune-boosting steps, I frequently got sick within days of flying. Now, I rarely do.

After months of resisting, I finally bit the bullet and got myself a "smart phone." What pushed me over the edge was synching problems between a series of PDA (personal digital assistant) devices and my office computer that caused events to get dropped from my handheld calendar. With so many meetings, this was a big problem.

My children "discovered" YouTube (the popular, free video-sharing Web site) a long time ago, but I've only recently come to use and enjoy it. The exuberant performance of Do Re Mi at a railroad station in Belgium perks everyone up. A Scottish bicyclist's tricks are truly awesome. The Cimorellis' video -- one brother and five sisters singing in glorious harmony -- is a family favorite. And Susan Boyle's singing debut on Britain's Got Talent continues to inspire. It was YouTube's most-watched video in 2009.