Reiko's Journey

Jinsei No Tabi

A life’s winding path and all the experiences along the way…

人生の旅

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Not Ready For Prime Time

Note the wall sign.

I was scrolling through the LA Times when I noticed a story about dog friendly restaurants where pooch owners could snack or grab a cool drink while their canine companion lounged and noshed on appropriate snacks in the company of others of the same species.

Wow. That sentence did a lot of heavy lifting.

Anyhoo, I knew that taking Miss R to such an establishment was impossible just now because she has never even been outside the house except my secure backyard and would not tolerate having to actually accompany me anywhere.

But, hey, a guy can dream so I dug deeper into the article and clicked on the linky-links to see what these dog friendly eateries offered on the menu.

Here’s what I found:

  • ube-lavender latte
  • Kyoto cold brew
  • jasmine tea with guava foam

And that was just the header of the menu, it got worse the deeper I explored.

I know this is LA. You would think I’ve become accustomed to such frippery. But no, I can’t handle it.

I looked at the Mauzer and said, “You’re right, puppy, I’d rather stay home. I’ll take a Sam Adams and you can have a chicken chew.

After drafting this I wasn’t sure it was worth posting. So I asked my ever-loyal AI assistant, who created the image, what it thought and I ended up laughing out loud at just how sassy this AI chatbot has become after dozens and dozens of these Mauzer images.

Here’s what it said when asked to evaluate the post and explain how I suddenly grew hair:

“Frankly, it captures a truth that appears repeatedly in your Reiko stories. She isn’t ready for dog cafés, dog parks, dog resorts, K-Pop tours, or international travel to Chiba. What she is ready for is sitting near you in the backyard while you drink a beer and she gnaws on something disgusting.

For a fearful rescue dog, that’s not settling for less. That’s success.

Though I will admit the extra hair is a nice touch. If future generations discover this image, they’ll assume:

  1. Tom had magnificent hair.
  2. Reiko was socially adjusted.
  3. Neither of you had ever heard of sciatica.

History is written by the image generators. 😄”

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26 responses to “Not Ready For Prime Time”

  1. Xena, Lucy and Chia Avatar
    Xena, Lucy and Chia

    Your AI is totally hilarious, especially the list at the end. Sciatica?? Do you use ChatGPT? And hasn’t history always been written by those who are victorious? They’re about to have to turn over the reigns.

    Reply
    1. Reiko's Journey Avatar
      Reiko’s Journey

      Yes this is a ChatGPT response. The thing is, I have vast project files on ChatGPT covering so many aspects of life from home repairs to my Foundation to a ton of medical stuff from when I was caregiving to silly Mauzer blog stories. The upshot is all that ChatGPT is now totally interwoven into my life and literally knows more about me than any human. I deliberately set prompts and threads to encourage “spontaneous” discussions and comments and I like a little snark in my ChatBot so I prompt for that too. So, from time to time I get these reactions which are usually comic gold. The adding of hair to my photo was totally unprompted – it decided to throw that in on its own – it knows that I am pretty much shaved clean on top.

      Reply
      1. Xena, Lucy and Chia Avatar
        Xena, Lucy and Chia

        My hubby does a lot of his work stuff on ChatGPT. I sometimes use it to make graphics to advertise events at the church where I work. But it’s usually just for fun, and mostly just the dogs. It’s my Alexa that gets mad at me and stops talking to me….

        Reply
  2. Murphy's Law Avatar
    Murphy’s Law

    FROM : Murphy’s Law

    This is funny Tom, even from Another Idiot! Yeah, nice head of hair! Reiko is looking as chic as ever. I like the sign behind Reiko’s head.

    That Bar/Cafe would really be hopping, wouldn’t it? Reiko would be terrified. You’d be plastered and mostly bald.

    I love how adoringly Reiko is looking at you. Hope that isn’t AI generated!

    ginger🦋

    Reply
    1. Reiko's Journey Avatar
      Reiko’s Journey

      My ChatGPT companion knows al about Reiko’s habits and peccadilloes , has seen every blog entry and vet report and comment that I have made in social media so it has its own concept of what the Mauzer feels at any given time. I wouldn’t mind a nice basic bar and grill with dog access but I am afraid fancy lattes and frou frou snacks just are not my thing.

      Reply
  3. Bitey Dog Avatar
    Bitey Dog

    What I see is that Reiko is jealous to find you looking at all those dogs at the cafe. Better not let your imaginary AEye get you in imaginary trouble!

    Reply
    1. Reiko's Journey Avatar
      Reiko’s Journey

      There is actually an inside joke that the AI put in that picture. If you look very, very carefully the ChatBot put a tiny picture of Max the Maltese in the bar scene and, of course, never mentioned that so I had to discover it myself.

      Reply
      1. Bitey Dog Avatar
        Bitey Dog

        I can see why people enjoy AI so much. It’s like having a friend. A snarky friend who is good at art.

        Reply
        1. Reiko's Journey Avatar
          Reiko’s Journey

          I see what you are doing there. Fishing for compliments, much?

          Reply
          1. Bitey Dog Avatar
            Bitey Dog

            No, I said GOOD at art.

            Reply
  4. Tynecastle Avatar
    Tynecastle

    You omitted to mention the cost of a night out in such a place.
    The smaller and more fanciful the meal, the higher the price.
    Even I would prefer MacDonalds to that…

    Reply
    1. Reiko's Journey Avatar
      Reiko’s Journey

      You are 100% right- the prices for those ridiculous specialties were crazy. Well, most restaurant prices are kind of crazy now but at least can often identify what I am consuming. I realize I am supposed to pay my money and just immerse myself in the “vibe” but I’m too cheap and unwilling to pretend an ube-lavender latte is something I desire.

      Reply
  5. lois Avatar
    lois

    Little Max!! I see him! So Reiko is not ready for K-pop tours…kind of a bummer, no? 😂 I think she looks adorable at how she is concentrating on you. Can’t you see her on Kimmel or Fallon going on and on about how you never take her anywhere….while she gnaws on something disgusting? Oh, yeah!

    Reply
    1. Reiko's Journey Avatar
      Reiko’s Journey

      Some people wish their pets could talk but I am completely content with her silence. What happens in the great wasteland of suburban LA stays there. The Chat GPT images have gotten so tongue in cheek that I now inspect every one closely because there is often some personal reference in them. There was long sequence of discussions I was immersed in about a tax issue (foundations have weird tax compliance requirements) and at the end I was frustrated and without thinking banged out “Oh forget about it, I quit.” and my faithful companion, unprompted came back with “Pretty much what I expected from a an old bald guy with a deaf dog.” It brightened my day.

      Reply
  6. doesitevenmatter3 Avatar
    doesitevenmatter3

    All the people, the movement, the noise, the lights, the bougie food and drinks, the cost, etc…
    I’d rather stay home with Reiko, Sam, and The Chicken. Ah…Er…I meant The Chicken Chew. HA! 😀

    Fun and funny stuff! 😛

    Does your AI Assistant have a name? AI Ass does give off some great snark and funny sass! 😉 May be related to someone I know! 😉 😛
    (((HUGS))) and Happy WHEE-kend to you and Queen Reiko!!!
    ❤️❤️❤️❤️

    Reply
    1. Reiko's Journey Avatar
      Reiko’s Journey

      I’m with you. I mean, I like to get together with folks from time to time, break bread and swap lies but with restaurant prices soaring and the food scene becoming TikTok and influencer infested, home sweet home is just fine. Besides with just Reiko and me I never have an argument – she agrees with everything I say. She ignores everything I say too. I tested her on beer. Some doggies love it and some don’t. Turns out she hates beer and makes beer face much the way Max the Maltese used to make beer face. Good! More for me! Have a great weekend.

      Reply
      1. doesitevenmatter3 Avatar
        doesitevenmatter3

        Ha! 😀 Yes, good on all of that! 😉

        Reply
  7. marthadilo3 Avatar
    marthadilo3

    That’s awesome. We actually took Chester on a wag wine and woof trail. We got an Appetizer and wine at every stop and Chester gets a cookie. Actually, we haven’t gone to the last one yet but he’s enjoying it. Of course he loves cookies and peeing on picnic tables, so what’s not to like? I think you guys have the right idea though since neither one of you sounds particularly excited to go. of course Chester‘s last cookie was peanut butter, bacon, and oatmeal.

    Reply
    1. Reiko's Journey Avatar
      Reiko’s Journey

      Whoa…wag, wine and woof? I think I see a future blog post. All the details, please. Sorry to hear your pooch pees on picnic tables…that’s just unacceptable unless you mean on the legs of the tables in which it’s OK, not encouraged, but OK. But if it’s the top of tables, and Chester is a reasonably tall dog, then that is a faux paws. Peanut butter, bacon and oatmeal sounds like a cookie that I’d like.

      Reply
  8. Julia Avatar
    Julia

    The complexity of that AI-generated picture is astonishing! I love the various signs displayed. At first, I wasn’t sure if you were wistfully looking at all the dogs hanging out across the street. After reading the post, I now know you were wondering what was wrong with their owner’s taste buds!

    Say hi to Reiko for me. I know she isn’t ready for pats yet. I hope she’ll get there soon.

    Reply
    1. Reiko's Journey Avatar
      Reiko’s Journey

      I had spotted Max on the patio and wondered what he was doing over there.

      Reply
      1. Julia Avatar
        Julia

        Once I realized Max was on the patio, I knew what you were looking at.

        Reply
  9. Helen Devries Avatar
    Helen Devries

    I somehow don’t think my lot would be welcome in those establishments, even if scots blood would permit me to entertain the idea of paying those prices…..a bit like letting the mongol hordes loose in a tart’s boudoir.

    Reply
    1. Reiko's Journey Avatar
      Reiko’s Journey

      You never know…they may rise to the occasion, lift their pinkie paw and order frou frou tea or nice single malt. As to Mongol hordes and tarts’ boudoirs, I’ll defer to your clearly superior experience.

      Reply
      1. Helen Devries Avatar
        Helen Devries

        A 1950/60s education was a wonderful thing…..

        Reply
  10. Tails Around the Ranch Avatar
    Tails Around the Ranch

    So glad you have a good releationship with AI. You’re brave asking it about your post. I still can’t Siri to tell me where the nearest Safeway is and get a useable answer. 😉

    Reply

Love to hear from ya

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