RIP Carl Weathers 2007-2021 My life with Carl began when I adopted him in a Shell station parking lot in Lometa, Texas. My girlfriend Elisha (now wife) believed I had co-opted her beagle and needed a dog of my own. I had never had one growing up, she was right. She sent postings from craigslist and various rescue orgs, one listing with a low-res picture of a black pug stood out for some reason. In emailing and calling the original owner, I became aware of certain atrocities: 1. he lived outdoors year-round...in Texas... 2. he was overfed because she thought overweight dogs looked cuter 3. They had named him “Tarbaby”. It was quickly found that he had heartworms, and I have theories that he may have sired a few litters, but we quickly put him on a path of good health. While driving him to his new home in south Austin I blurted out a series of names with syllables approximate to what he had been called; “Tim HARDAway, EARL Hudson, CARL Weathers”.... he answered immediately to the last one. We had a major bond from that first car ride. I could get hyperbolic here and make him out to be some perfect canine specimen, but any pug owner knows they can be... stubborn. Whatever he may have lacked in "discipline" he made up for it by being a perfect friend and family member. On the eve of my birthday a few years ago, just about before his health started to decline, I sat down to watch a movie with him on the couch. The opening credits rolled and my phone told me it was 11:58pm. Despite being typically sedentary at this hour, he rose, ambled up to my face, and licked my nose. He wanted to be the first to wish me a happy birthday. No one will ever convince me otherwise. Good night dear boy, our life was better with you in it.