Ever since my daughter has been home from school we have noticed that the dog is beginning to look quite a bit like her. What do you think?
Oh, Jana is the one with the glasses.
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I posted this as my Facebook status yesterday and it would appear that many people share my schedule. We are lucky to be graced with the presence of a guest dog for 11 days. Dear Barkley is a bearded collie who is advanced in his years like Mel. These two have a pretty tight schedule planned most days. It involves torturing me to go in and out of the house… constantly.
And yes, I am a sucker for their needs. After all they are old.
The picture at the top of this post is a magnet that a friend gave me awhile back. He completely understands my plight. I also have another magnet that says “no outfit is complete without dog hair”. I often wonder why a woman who wears only black clothing would ever be possessed to by a white dog.
So, if you call tomorrow and can’t find me, I would most probably just be corralling these knuckleheads back into the house. Dont’ worry all of those who are unsettled by my leaving the basement, I will be here.
Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog. For photo enthusiasts, visitLeaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.
A few years back we were given a plaque in our house (thanks Linda) that reads:
I wish I could be half the person my dog thinks I am.
How true is that? Seriously, she never tells me to stop obsessing, surely never asks me how much coffee I have had, and I don’t believe she has ever told me my ass looks fat in anything.
G-d I love that dog!
Mel is 11. Ok, she is 11 1/2. But she can hold her own on a long walk and is truly the mayor of the neighborhood. In her younger days she was known to wander. She can’t drive, but she thinks she can, she makes an impressive snowball and even has her own calling card.
Many of us have them, these canines we have raised alongside our children. They have walked the floors with us when our kids were sick, sat by our sides at night while we waited up for our teens and licked our tears when we needed a good cry. They love us unconditionally, carry our secrets and act as if a car ride for errands were a trip to the caribbean. They ask for nothing but a belly rub, a scratch behind the ear and table scraps.
Ahhh, the love of a good dog. There is no relationship on earth that compares.
So this Time to Cry Tuesday is a tribute to our Mel and to her dear friends, the ‘senior dogs’ in our lives that have given so much to the families we love: Ginger, Barkley, Penny, Misty, Gus and Cody. You guys rock the dog world!
Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog. For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.
Filed under mel, pets, Time to Cry Tuesdays
Driving home from the city the other day we spotted this vehicle. I snapped a quick shot that I was not thrilled with and then tortured asked Gary nicely to follow that car so I could get a better shot. Traffic was terrible and it did not happen, so this one will have to do.
Ok, so the economy is terrible, right? People are tightening their belts and trying to get a handle on spending only what it is truly necessary.
Define necessary.
For some that would be paying someone to DRIVE THEIR PETS AROUND!
Ok, maybe I am being a bit judgmental, but I just don’t see how this one can be justified. Not wanting to destroy this business that I am sure someone worked very hard to build, but the idea of not being able to drive your own pet is a bit much, no?
Ok, so wanting to give them the benefit of providing a necessary service I checked them out here. My first thought is, hey guys, with this kind of luxury service to a market that surely has lots of cash, how about a nicely designed website. You could certainly use a little help.
So I read a little bit and thought, hey, nothing like a biz model that preys on the inadequacies of the rich. I am going to go out on a limb and do a complete 360 with my opinion on this baby. Go for it guys. And honestly, you had me with the 3-point doggie seatbelts and the pet stretchers for emergencies.
Good luck to you and as far as I am concerned, if you are still picking up pets the economy has to be picking up as well.
Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog. For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.
Filed under absurdities, New York, pets
Scary, but I think it is true.
My dog has not been feeling well lately. She has been panting at odd times and drinking a ton, so I decided it was time to bring her to the vet. Please understand that I love this animal as if she were part of the family. No, I do not walk her in a stroller, I am able to differentiate between my kids and my pet, but I do love her just the same.
Keep in mind she just turned 11, so going to the vet to find out what is wrong is a tricky proposition. Nothing worse than dropping 1,000 bucks to find out your dog is terminal. Luckily, she is not. And it only cost $480 to find that out – a bargain.
It seems, good ole Mel suffers from hypothyroidism. This would explain her weight gain (not the table scraps I have berated Gary for giving her) and could explain her other symptoms. Oh, and her pH is off (what the hell?).
So who else in this house suffers from this plight? You guessed it (and the photo gave it away). So, my friends, my dog and I are now on the same meds!
I am praying she does not get rabies!
Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog. For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.
Ewww. EWWWWWW! EEEEEEEWWWWWWWW!!!
This is how my day started. Lying in bed I actually heard the dog’s stomach rumbling. That would be the same dog that Danny forgot to feed last night. Feeling bad for her I got up, brushed my teeth and went downstairs to feed her.
Before I even made coffee!! (I am such a good mother)
Picture this:
1. Open door to garage.
2. Lift (unsecured lid) off the ‘rodent-proof’ dog food container.
3. Reach for a really big scoopful of dog food cuz I felt bad for the starving dog.
That is when it happened. I lifted up the cute dog-faced blue scooper filled with dog food and…
stuck into the kibble – head first mind you – with his little mouse butt and rigamortis tail and feet jutting out, was the deadest mouse I had ever seen. Of course I threw the scooper back into the container but was not exactly sure that the mouse landed back in there.
(I would like make a side comment that I am not your typical girly girl. Bugs do not bother me. Live rodents are a nuisance but I don’t freak when I see them. Slugs, hmmm, I hate these too. If you are a long time reader you will remember the last time I was really grossed out by something).
So I did what any self respecting, independent, fearless, i-can-handle-anything (but a dead mouse in the dog food) type woman would do. I stormed upstairs, woke Gary out of a dead sleep and demanded that he de-mouse the garage immediately. His protestations were short-lived as he could see I was not going to wait another minute. (yes, living with me IS paradise).
I will not describe his de-mousing outfit because that would make me seem ungrateful for the fact that he not only threw out the food AND the mouse but washed the container. This was because he ascertained that we had us, in fact, some ‘fresh mouse’ as there were droppings in there. This sucker had one last big ole meal, took a crap or two and expired in the depths of the kibble.
The fact that he wanted to still feed the food to the dog was a bit concerning, but again, I don’t want to criticize and appear ungrateful.
For now on when we feed the dog, the desire to ask, ‘Do you want a side of mouse with that?’ will be very tempting.
Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog.
For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.
Filed under absurdities, gary, homeowner, humor, pets
I have always had a deep affection for llamas. No, seriously. Sometime back in High School there was an episode involving sleeping on the beach in the Hamptons, a hibachi and a poncho that looked like a llama…
Never mind, you certainly had to be there. Those of you who were are laughing so hard you are crying right now, I am sure of that. I digress (as usual).
Back to the llamas. I love them. I have this photo over my desk. It is from 1957 and was taken by Inge Morath a wildly talented photographer. (you can see more of her images at magnumphotos.com.) I have often stared at this image late at night during a break from work and wondered how the hell she got the damn llama in that cab. Or do you think she simply happened upon this scene? (did you know they kick and spit when they are nervous?)
I did a little more research on llamas tonight and came across llama.org (not kidding) whose tagline is ‘Put a little llama in your life’ (again, not kidding). Here is a little llamamercial from their site:
Did you know llamas are affordable, fun, can pull a cart, go on a short walk or a long-trek, can be used as an investment vehicle (wait are they recession proof, I need to get me a 401L), are easy to care for, are displayed at shows throughout the US, are great with kids, can guard sheep and other livestock (this should be helpful on the North Shore of Long Island) and that their colorful fleece can be woven into durable, luxurious garments? (a poncho, perhaps?)
Anyone thinking of what to get me for my 50th birthday? Perhaps you should read the Buying Your First Llama section. Wow $3,000 – $10,000. Seriously, who wants a low-end llama, for G-d sakes?
What spawned this post and what the hell does the title mean? Check out this video I found today (along with 1 million other YouTube viewers). Yes, I know that technically Llamacide would be the killing of llamas, but it made a good title.
I don’t know why, but this video made me laugh so hard I had to share it. I must have watched it 5 times today. I hope it makes you all laugh too. Email viewers, you must click over and watch this on the blog, it is REALLY worth the click. (BTW,I am pretty sure the llama.org peops would not find this funny).
Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog.
For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.
Filed under absurdities, pets, video
Once again the command center has turned into a little episode of Wild Kingdom. For those who do not read me regularly (shame on you) the command center is my office in the basement. It is safe to say I spend a scant 10 hours a day here on average. Ok, maybe 12, I am just a little embarrassed about that.
A while back I wrote about the critter that was living in the soffit of my ceiling. I thought that little sucker was gone but it would seem that the freezing temps and snow must have driven the little guy back in there and he – with perhaps a friend or two – were doing the scurry thang all night last night.
No worries, I am sort of used to it and did not think all that much about it. Until…
I heard and then FOUND a friggin cricket hopping across the floor. A cricket?! In January? WTF, what the hell is going on. Pretty soon I am going to have a petting zoo down here.
And really, what is up with the dog? She can’t earn her keep and pull a little Where in the World is Matt Lauer and eat a cricket of two?
Thinking she wants to renegotiate her contract.
Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog.
For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.
Filed under absurdities, homeowner, humor, pets
Once again, the infamous Mel finds herself on the blog. She is truly becoming an internet celebrity. I am not sure but I think I heard her asking for her own spinoff blog. And I saw an application of name change near her bed… she really does not look like a Perez!
Yes folks, that is a snowball in her mouth. She did cheat a bit as I saw her digging and then she jumped in the car with this. I believe there is a tennis ball in the center of that snow. (again, mention of cold balls, this is getting ridiculous).
Note to self: have car cleaned.
Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at Mid-Century Modern Moms and at 50-Something Moms Blog.
For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.
Filed under absurdities, carry a camera, mel, pets, photography
For those who are complaining that this blog has gotten way too serious, here is something completely stupid for you. (give me a break, a couple of election and dream posts and you forget all about the week of halloween?)
I was flipping through the paper the other day and this picture was in the middle of… come to think of it I am not quite sure what section it was.
Pet classifieds? Is there such a thing?
Anyway, this picture jumped out at me for its overall bizarre quality.
First, I believe the scale is off. Either that or this is one enormous chihuahua in the middle. Second, where the hell are their bodies? That is what is so freakish about this ad. Why would this Photoshop happy artist choose to silhouette their heads this way? Ew, I am not kidding. I am really having a hard time looking at this, yet I can’t pull myself away. It is like staring at the accident.
I am pretty sure I am going to have nightmares from this. (Note to self: don’t show this to Gary)
Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at Mid-Century Modern Moms and at 50-Something Moms Blog where Jana joins in the election bloglove.
For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.
Filed under absurdities, humor, pets
i could cry but i don't have time 