Tag Archives: pets

December 7, 2009 · 8:16 pm

Time to Cry Tuesday – For the love of a dog

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.

5 Comments

Filed under mel, pets, Time to Cry Tuesdays

Tagged as , ,

October 29, 2009 · 6:04 pm

Pet Chauffeur

pet-chauffer

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.

Leave a comment

Filed under absurdities, New York, pets

Tagged as , , ,

September 7, 2009 · 7:55 pm

Time To Cry Tuesday – Penny

penny-nelson

Here is one for all you dog lovers out there.

Meet Penny. This past week she proved that poodles are no wussy dogs here on the peninsula. Her hairless sister has been featured here on Time To Cry Tuesday, and now it is her turn.

Take a look at that face. Ferocious? Perhaps not. She may actually look a little sleepy (or stoned – sorry El) in this picture. But in reality, Penny is the hero of the week in our sleepy little town.

Below is an email I received from her owner:

As you all know, I love my dog very much. With that said…

Yesterday, after being out for about two hours, I came home to find six police cars in front of my house. I walked over to one of the officers and asked what was wrong. He quietly took me over to my house and said there had been a break-in in several houses on my block and that he needed to walk with me through my house to see if this guy – who by the way was caught – had gotten in.

As we walked into my house I was greeted by my dog’s obnoxious barking and big smile. She was fine. As we walked through we realized that the burglar had not gotten in. Thank goodness.

But unfortunately he had gotten into the homes of seven of my neighbors. When I asked the police officer why he thought my house did not get hit, he said, you are holding her in you hands.

With that said, I love my dog even more than ever, all nine pounds of her! She got big treats last night and slept close to me becuase in my eyes she was a big time watch dog yesterday. And my hero.

So in honor of Penny, here is something to think about:

There was one of those heart-wrenching stories about a dog that dies and a kid’s perspective at the end of her email that I will not include in its entirety because of its length. I will, however, leave you with my favorite parts. Forgive my abbreviation (or thank me for it).

If a dog was a teacher you would learn things like:

Never pass up the opportunity for a joyride. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you are not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

Now go give your dog (or cat. or fish.) a hug and thank them for reminding you of all this.

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.

8 Comments

Filed under friendship, Time to Cry Tuesdays

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

July 26, 2009 · 11:19 am

Proof my dog and I might be genetically linked

meds

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.

4 Comments

Filed under absurdities, health, humor, humor, mel, pets

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

July 9, 2009 · 8:41 pm

A bird in hand…

a-bird-in-handOk, I am now officially convinced that I am the magnet for the absurd. I think these things happen to me on days when I am sure there is nothing inside my head worth blogging about.

I was out doing errands. Seriously, just a suburban yenta out going about her mundane business. You know, Staples, drug store, supermarket. The usual stuff. It was a perfect summer evening.

Apparently  a perfect summer evening TO TAKE YOUR BIRD OUT FOR A RIDE!

I am not making this up. This is no Photoshop ploy (not that I don’t have that skill set, of course). I pulled into the King Kullen Shopping Center parking lot and in the car next to me was this yellow-shirted woman with matching…

BIRD.

Having been a bird owner in a past life (another post for sure) this baby looks like a sun conure. (mine was a nanday conure named Picasso and it HATED Gary even though he bought it for me… do the math).

So, this woman was just parked. Every once in awhile she would scratch him behind the head (they love that). I parked, took a few pictures, food shopped, came out of the store and she was still there.

I must drive by in the morning. You can’t make this stuff up!

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.

6 Comments

Filed under absurdities, humor

Tagged as , , , ,

January 29, 2009 · 9:20 pm

Crickets in January

Cricket 01Once 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.

4 Comments

Filed under absurdities, homeowner, humor, pets

Tagged as , , , , ,

January 21, 2009 · 7:04 pm

Not a Snowball’s Chance…

mel_snowball

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.

8 Comments

Filed under absurdities, carry a camera, mel, pets, photography

Tagged as , , , , ,

December 12, 2008 · 11:23 pm

NY Friggin’ Hamster House?

nyhh

This will fall under the category of ‘You Just Can’t Make this Up’. I was half listening to WFUV (Fordham University’s gem of a radio station) when a report came on about the New York Hamster House.

Yes, ladies and gentleman, New York has it’s very own shelter for homeless hamsters. Here is quote from the site in case you are not inclined to click on the link:

“Wilhelm, the first guest, was found running across Broadway at Thayer Street in Inwood. Since then, the NYHH has taken in over 500 homeless animals, and has placed most of those in happy, safe forever homes. We shelter, adopt out, and board hamsters (as well as gerbils and mice).”

How lovely that the gerbils and mice are included. This is what I call non-sectarian rodent rescue.

In keeping with the idea that EVERYONE has a blog, the NYHH also has one. Please note that October 30th post has a photo of a hamster in a cheerleading uniform. Better watch out for those cheerleaders, they can be vicious.

Honestly, I am a lover of animals and I appreciate what Ms. Jessica Wells is doing. But for some reason I just can’t get past the idea of what this place must smell like.

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.

2 Comments

Filed under absurdities, blogging, humor, New York City, places of interest

Tagged as , , , , ,

November 6, 2008 · 7:23 pm

Pigpen and the chihuahua, separated at birth?

cats-and-dogs_with-gd

For those who missed yesterday’s post, the picture on the left was featured there. In the comments, Dr Jimmy mentioned the Grateful Dead resemblance in this line-up, with Pigpen being the chihuahua.

Since many of you are not Dead fans, I thought I would post the inside flap of the Skull and Roses album with the picture he referenced (and so graciously sent me a link to). Thanks Dr. J – what slow day drilling today?

El Nel informed me that she cracked up when she saw the pet picture as it is featured everyday in Newsday. Being in suburban denial I refuse to read this Long Island newspaper even though it is quite good. (BTW, I moved out of the city 20 years ago.) The ad is for the North Shore Animal League if you were wondering.

Back to the photo. Take a look at the guy in the middle (Pigpen) and tell me this is not a separated at birth scenario.

Just plain scary!

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.

4 Comments

Filed under absurdities, humor, music, photography

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

November 5, 2008 · 9:14 pm

Is it me, or is this creepy?

cats-and-dogs1

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.

4 Comments

Filed under absurdities, humor, pets

Tagged as , , , ,