Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

It’s all just conspiracy shit beamed down from the mothership.

Whatever happens next week, the fight doesn’t end.

Despite his magical powers, I don’t think Trump is thinking this through, to be honest.

“Jesus paying for the sins of everyone is an insult to those who paid for their own sins.”

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

Do not shrug your shoulders and accept the normalization of untruths.

So many bastards, so little time.

I know this must be bad for Joe Biden, I just don’t know how.

Republicans: slavery is when you own me. freedom is when I own you.

At some point, the ability to learn is a factor of character, not IQ.

Give the craziest people you know everything they want and hope they don’t ask for more? Great plan.

There are no moderate republicans – only extremists and cowards.

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

Spilling the end game before they can coat it in frankl luntz-approved dogwhistles.

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

Polls are now a reliable indicator of what corporate Republicans want us to think.

“woke” is the new caravan.

An unpunished coup is a training exercise.

It’s easy to sit in safety and prescribe what other people should be doing.

Accountability, motherfuckers.

If you’re pissed about Biden’s speech, he was talking about you.

One of our two political parties is a cult whose leader admires Vladimir Putin.

Peak wingnut was a lie.

You are here: Home / Pet Blogging / Dog Blogging / Happy Birthday, West Virginia

Happy Birthday, West Virginia

by | 199 Comments

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Farmland off Route 88 North
West Virginia was formed today in 1863. I’m too tired to do the math, but I think that means the state is older than even John McCain. A great place to live.

Took Lily home to meet the parents, since they are going on vacation tomorrow and I have not been there for a while. Took a bunch of pictures, and while she was timid at first, Ginny, Guesly, and Lily got along just fine. I took Lily to the park to run, and she had a great time, but I forgot the camera. She was zooming all over the place, found some good stuff to roll in, ran through the creek and then jumped into a pool of tepid water and decided to jump all over me. I’ll have some more pics up later, because I am just pooped and I want to go find out what happened in Iran today, but here is a quick one:

Between our walk this morning before we left and everything we did today, Lily is just exhausted and did not even lift her head on the way home. I opened the door to the house, and she didn’t even wait for me to take her harness off, but instead went directly to her doggie bed.

*** Update ***

Tired dog is tired:

Rails to trails for an hour this morning, then a drive to the parents, then a walk around town, then play with two Jack Russell puppies, then a long romp around the park, followed by another walk, then a drive home, then off to the dog park for an hour. She was so tired at the dog park that I was there talking to other people, and realized I had no idea where Lily was. I turned around, and she had climbed up on a fallen log and was asleep. Figured that was the end of the day for her, and the pic is from the ride home from the dog park.

Reader Interactions

199Comments

  1. 1.

    SIA aka ScreamingInAtlanta

    Love how she’s finding her inner dog by hangin’ with G & G, and your friend Tammy’s dog. It’s been a joy to watch her from day one!

  4. 4.

    Kryptik

    Happy Birthday to my original home state.

    I just wish it didn’t fail so much these days. At least I’ll always have WVU sports to cherish.

  5. 5.

    John Cole

    @Kryptik: Fail? Our budget is balanced, our unemployment is low, the governor just signed a bill attempting to bring health care to all West Virginians, and our big crisis right now is keeping the Republicans from fucking up our reserve funds. They think we have too much money in the rainy day fund and want to slash how much we keep.

    West Virginia is doing ok by any standard, but amazing by West Virginia standards.

  6. 6.

    Delia

    She found some stuff to roll in? How heartwarming. How did it smell? Looks like she’s figured out how to be a dog.

    PS: my dog is partial to dead things or other dogs’ poop.

  7. 7.

    Bad Horse's Filly

    Between our walk this morning before we left and everything we did today, Lily is just exhausted and did not even lift her head on the way home. I opened the door to the house, and she didn’t even wait for me to take her harness off, but instead went directly to her doggie bed.

    Shorter Lily: This John Cole, it’s party, party, party with him, all the time. A girl needs her beauty rest.

  10. 10.

    GReynoldsCT00

    And Lily has a look on her face like “jeez those two have had way too much coffee..”

  11. 11.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Thank you, John! What a great photo of all of them. Lily looks so happy and comfortable in her own skin . . . um, fur . . . that it just warms my heart. (And I was wishing loudly in the morning’s Open Thread for a pic of the three dogs.)

  12. 12.

    Death By Mosquito Truck

    I washed my dog in the backyard today with soap and the water hose. He loves the soapy massage but he hates being sprayed with the water hose. When we were done he ran around the yard rolling in every disgusting thing he could find to get the good smell off. When he was dry, we vacuumed him. He loves to be vacuumed.

  13. 13.

    Yutsano

    I’m too tired to do the math, but I think that means the state is older than even John McCain.

    I thought Grandpa grew up in Egypt and knew a nice Jewish boy named Moishe. He was also diddling around with a few of the Pharoah’s daughters from what I heard. But hey I could be wrong.

    Actually I was doing the math and comparing the age of the state with Robert Byrd, as he is one of your Senators. That made my head hurt.

  14. 14.

    Sputnik_Sweetheart

    How big is Lily? She looks small next to Ginny and Guesly, but it probably is just the angle and the positioning.

  15. 15.

    Kryptik

    @John Cole:

    Haven’t kept up on the local front in a while, honestly, especially since my parents (who still live in the Logan area) don’t keep up on local politics either.

    My judgment of ‘fail’ has mostly fallen upon the solid right shift it’s taken as far as national politics has gone, as well as going so far as to go out of its way to announce Bituminous Coal as the state rock.

    Glad to hear it’s at least stable, which is better than most states at least.

  16. 16.

    Bryant Woods

    I don’t know who’s luckier, your blog readers to have such a wise observer to follow, or Lily, to have such a generous new partner. You are doing a great job with her, and it is heartwarming to see her blossoming. Thanks for sharing the story.

  17. 17.

    Comrade Stuck

    Squeeze in the Tunch, and you’d have The Four Critters of the Apocalypse.

  18. 18.

    JenJen

    Oh my gaaaaaah, it’s a Cole Family Dog-asm! Loves it!!

    Happy Birthday, West Virginia, home of my grandparents!

    You know, it remains my opinion that all the lazy settlers stopped in West Virgina, Cincinnati, and the Ohio River Valley. Bless. One look at the rolling hills and abundant water, and they said, “This looks pretty good, actually. What do you say? Let’s just chill here for awhile.”

  19. 19.

    John Cole

    @Sputnik_Sweetheart: 17-18 lbs. She is taller than both of them by a bit, but they are bulkier (JRT’s are sturdy dogs).

    Everyone who meets Lily thinks she is something else. Today I heard corgi, beagle, chihuahua, and the dogs the pharaohs has.

    I just say “pound puppy” when they ask.

  22. 22.

    Mike in NC

    We decided to spend our honeymoon traveling in WV. Stayed at the wonderful Bavarian Inn in Sheperdstown and visited Harpers Ferry and Antietam battlefield. A fabulous trip back in ’94. Would love to go back.

  24. 24.

    Mike in NC

    He loves the soapy massage but he hates being sprayed with the water hose. When we were done he ran around the yard rolling in every disgusting thing he could find to get the good smell off. When he was dry, we vacuumed him. He loves to be vacuumed.

    Thanks for the update on Brick Oven Bill.

  26. 26.

    Yutsano

    Everyone who meets Lily thinks she is something else. Today I heard corgi, beagle, chihuahua, and the dogs the pharaohs has.

    Someone mentioned seeing some shiba inu in her. Looking at her face features and her size, I’m tempted to agree with that assessment. Have you thought of having her genetically analyzed John? I’ve heard it’s a great way of determining exact mixes of breeds. It’s especially useful if you suspect pit bull being somewhere in the mix.

  28. 28.

    Observer

    I can’t take you seriously unless the font is in crap brown. DougJ said so.

    Or maybe if it was NOT in crap brown but just hinted facetiously that brown was silly. Damn these rules are confusing.

  29. 29.

    Zuzu's Petals

    What a heartwarming pic…though Lily looks a little like she’s lifting her eyebrows trying to figure out her excitable new cousins.

    What a fun houseful it must have been!

  30. 30.

    JL

    Just so we don’t forget the cat owners I wanted to make sure that you all saw the article about the mayor of seventh street. I am having problems adding it to a link but the article is worth just doing a copy and paste. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/20/nyregion/20prettyboy.html
    What I found interesting was the age of the cat and the heftiness of the cat. I will no longer make fun of Tunch’s weight.
    Sorry John about not doing the link properly.

  31. 31.

    robertdsc

    I just say “pound puppy” when they ask.

    What, no quip about her being a mutt like the President? Get with the program!

  33. 33.

    South of I-10

    Mr. South shaved our Border Collie today – it is 100 degrees and I think she is much happier. Don’t tell her I said this, but she kinda looks like a plucked chicken. He may have gotten a little overzealous with the clippers. Little one is staying with her grandparents tonight, we are meeting some friends later for drinks. Can’t wait!!

  34. 34.

    JL

    @RevPhat: Some of us think that BOB is just a spoof. How could anyone believe his own statements. I love the idea of Million Can March. I volunteer at a food bank/clothes closet and always do my best. I’ll update as I donate now.

  35. 35.

    geg6

    Happy birthday to my lovely next door neighbors! Laura W is right; IMHO, West Virginia, Western Pa, and the entire Ohio River Valley is heaven on earth if you are partial to rolling hills and forested mountains, abundant waterways, and pastoral beauty in general. My ex and I once took our vacation with another couple on their 40 foot boat (okay, it is a yacht) from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati, a thousand miles round trip. I’ve been many places here and abroad but it’s still the best and coolest vacation ever. As for a wonderful destination in WV, I can’t recommend a white water rafting trip down the Cheat River. If you time it right, you might catch some bungee jumpers illegally going off the amazing Cheat River Gorge Bridge. Beautiful, beautiful place. And those dogs are so damn cute, I now have an overwhelming urge to roll around with Otis and Henry even though they’re so big that could be dangerous to my health.

  37. 37.

    geg6

    Ack! I meant I can’t recommend the rafting trip down the Cheat ENOUGH. Damn, that I can’t figure out editing on the CrackBerry.

  38. 38.

    Nylund

    For some reason, I was imagining Lily to be much bigger than that. I am happy to see her doing so well. I am admittedly partial to her because she shares the same name as my beloved (and very feisty cat).

    How is Tunch taking to the new roommate? Do they get along well enough? Getting enough attention? etc.

    Also, I find the world “dog-asm” entirely disturbing.

  39. 39.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @John Cole:

    @Kryptik: Fail? Our budget is balanced, our unemployment is low, the governor just signed a bill attempting to bring health care to all West Virginians, and our big crisis right now is keeping the Republicans from fucking up our reserve funds. They think we have too much money in the rainy day fund and want to slash how much we keep.

    I’m just glad you folks removed the “Open for Business” tag line from your highway welcome signs on I-64. That was an invitation for snark.

  41. 41.

    RevPhat

    Comrade Stuck

    Be careful what you wish for.

    It’s just that he’s so special. He is the first one to poo poo the food drive.

    JL

    I love the idea of Million Can March. I volunteer at a food bank/clothes closet and always do my best. I’ll update as I donate now.

    Thanks JL I’ll be around. Or you can come by our place and post your donation totals.

  42. 42.

    Laura W

    @geg6:

    Laura W is right; IMHO, West Virginia, Western Pa, and the entire Ohio River Valley is heaven on earth if you are partial to rolling hills and forested mountains,

    As much as I LIVE to be right, and usually am, I’ve never been to WV, Ohio, or PA. I do think WNC is pretty much heaven on earth, when I’m not wiping sweat and bugs from my eyes after my walks, cursing the humidity and gasping for air and cold water. Or screaming at my hillbilly neighbors to stop shooting their damn power rifles off at 5pm during hunting season. Very jarring.

    I think you are attributing JenJen’s sentiments to me. Which is quite flattering to me, and I can understand the confusion, since we are both super cool ladies who rock, but I see she’s here now, and I think she can whoop your ass, so, you know…watch your back.

  43. 43.

    Brick Oven Bill

    I didn’t ‘poo-poo’ your food drive RevPhat. I supported local farmers in their bid against over-regulation and NAFTA and urged you to do the same. Go nuts with your Spaghetti-Os.

    The power of America used to be that a guy named Henry John Deutschendorf, which is a pretty cool sounding name in my opinion, would change his name to John Denver to more seamlessly be a part of society. This was back when we were a melting pot. I have heard an account that this guy John Denver used to be a reactor operator on a submarine, but this account is not backed up by an Internet search.

    Today, a guy named Barry comes back from college and says ‘no more Barry’, and changes his name to Barack.

    This too, shall pass. Country roads, take me home.

  44. 44.

    JL

    We need to take a count and see how many among us have donated Spaghetti -o’s to the local food bank.

  45. 45.

    RevPhat

    BoB, then maybe you can support your local farmers by buying from them and then donating some of that to your local shelter or pantry. And I suppose you could whistle Rocky Mountain High while you’re being so supportive and generous and stuff like that.

  46. 46.

    Yutsano

    And I suppose you could whistle Rocky Mountain High while you’re being so supportive and generous and stuff like that.

    Only if he, like, pays for the royalties, and stuff. Cause uh yeah, it’s kinda sorta copyrighted and all that.

  47. 47.

    geg6

    A thousand apologies to JenJen and Laura for misattribution. Laura, it was probably that whole “dogasm” thing that distracted me. And apparently, BOB is unaware that Barack Hussein Obama is our president’s real name. BOB, of course, is unaware of reality, so there you go.

  48. 48.

    Comrade Stuck

    Only if he, like, pays for the royalties, and stuff. Cause uh yeah, it’s kinda sorta copyrighted and all that.

    I was whistling Dixie the other day, so where do I send my check?

  49. 49.

    RevPhat

    JL, now you’ve got me. I’ve never donated a can of spaghetti o’s to a pantry in my life. I’ve also never donated canned peas or veg-al. Damn, I’ve been here one day and you all have found me out.

  50. 50.

    Laura W

    @geg6:

    A thousand apologies to JenJen and Laura for misattribution. Laura, it was probably that whole “dogasm” thing that distracted me.

    Oh, no apology needed. I was flattered that you confused me with JenJen. She is way smarter than me.
    I am a little disturbed, however, that when you read: “dogasm” you thought: “Laura W.”

  51. 51.

    Comrade Stuck

    A little Hot Air

    Contrast: Iranian Protestors Shot As Obama Goes for Ice Cream

    What an evil, evil man.

    Edit- Beware, Twitter is approaching self awareness.

  52. 52.

    geg6

    Laura W @50: Don’t be. It is a good sort of thought after all. And I don’t consider the word “dog” to be a pejorative. In fact, I like dogs in every way better than most people. And find them more attractive to boot.

  53. 53.

    matoko_chan

    The terribles are splendid minature monsters. I’m so glad they are leggy, and not those awful low-riders that the horse-people favor.
    They would be very good in jackpot steeplechase I think.
    Rough coated are my favorites, too.
    Lily still looks worried, but perhaps that is just the contrast with the nearly pathological self-confidance of the jacks.

  54. 54.

    Yutsano

    I was whistling Dixie the other day, so where do I send my check?

    That’s the beauty of copyrights. They usually expire after 75 years. But if you really want to send a check I could send you some information…

  55. 55.

    Blue Neponset

    Hey John, how do you pronounce the word, creek? My father who is from WVA pronounces it crick. Has he been screwing with me for decades or is that they way people say it down there?

  56. 56.

    RevPhat

    Yutsano, do you know by chance if the copyright on Happy Birthday is still in effect? A choir director once told me that we really aren’t suppose to sing it in church.

  57. 57.

    Laura W

    @geg6: I’m just joshin’. I thought it was funny. I am in dire need of some levity tonight. You provided an entry point.

    I like dogs cats in every way better than most people. And find them more attractive to boot.

  59. 59.

    matoko_chan

    Comrade Suck, you have to feel sorry for them.
    They can feel it, Obama is going to come out of this the new Ataturk, the Hero of Dar al Islam, and all they can do is weep and gnash their teeth for 7 1/2 more years.
    Prolly the next thing he will do solve the Israel/Palestine puzzle and get credit for that too!
    And in the meanwhile GW is getting entered in the history books as the Torture President that made democracy into a dirty word.

    The only coherent message the GOP has left is hating on Obama, and he won’t oblige them by screwing up.

  60. 60.

    Comrade Stuck

    @Blue Neponset:

    Has he been screwing with me for decades or is that they way people say it down there?

    Nope. Though across the holler in east Kentucky where I grew up, we were a little higher up the evolution tree and called em crecks.

  64. 64.

    JL

    @RevPhat: Somehow I doubt that BOB has either. It’s why some of us think of him as a spoof instead of a troll. He does try hard though.

  65. 65.

    shelley matheis

    Hmmm, dogs of the Pharaohs. Isn’t that the Basenji?
    There is a breed called the ‘Pharaoh Hound’. It’s the national dog of Malta, but the idea that they’re the breed that appears in ancient Egyptian paintings has been debunked.

  66. 66.

    geg6

    Blue Neponset: Yes, they say it “crick.”. Just like they do here in Southwestern PA.

  69. 69.

    Brick Oven Bill

    This is for geg6.

    ”No more Barry”.

    Jessie went away last summer, a couple of months ago;

    After all our time together, it was hard to see her go;

    She called me right up when she arrived;

    Asked me one more time to come;

    Livin’ on an LA freeway ain’t my kind of havin’ fun;

    I think I’d rather be a cowboy.

    -I’d Rather Be a Cowboy, John Denver

  70. 70.

    geg6

    Okay, so after a lovely dinner of penne rigati in a sauce of garlic, olive oil, crushed red pepper, fresh rosemary, fresh parsley, and shrimp, I am watching “X-Files: I Want To Believe” on HBO. Before my John and I waste an entire evening on this, does anyone know if it sucks?

  71. 71.

    LD50

    Hey John, how do you pronounce the word, creek? My father who is from WVA pronounces it crick. Has he been screwing with me for decades or is that they way people say it down there?

    I have redneck cousins in the California Central Valley who say ‘crick’.

    I think it’s pan-hillbilly.

  74. 74.

    geg6

    Thanks, BOB. Sweet of you to think of me. And next time I play “American Idiot,” I’m dedicating it to you in the hope you’ll one day see the light.

  77. 77.

    Bill E Pilgrim

    @LD50:

    I have redneck cousins in the California Central Valley who say ‘crick’. I think it’s pan-hillbilly.

    It’s more widespread than that, my Japanese ex-wife says it all the time.

    Wait, we’re talking about what you do on Web page links, right?

    I’m trying to think of what “pan-hillbilly” would be, and getting an image a kind of pipe instrument, cloven hooves, and a jug of moonshine But that can’t be right.

  78. 78.

    Zuzu's Petals

    @geg6:

    I just Amtraked through parts of that area (Capitol Ltd) and from what I saw can agree that it is truly beautiful scenery.

    Passed through Harper’s Ferry so fast I barely realized it, though.

  79. 79.

    gnomedad

    @Comrade Stuck:

    Contrast: Iranian Protestors Shot As Obama Goes for Ice Cream

    Wow, that is exactly like fiddling while Rome burns, or reading “My Pet Goat” while the country is attacked.

  80. 80.

    geg6

    Zuzu’s Petals @78: I once took Amtrak from Pittsburgh to DC and made it a point to be sure and see Harper’s Ferry. I was lucky, though, because we went very slowly through that area. Very pretty and the tracks seemed very twisty and narrow to men which might have accounted for the slow speed. Gosh, that had to be in 1976 or 77 as I was making college visits to Georgetown and American U. I am officially old.

  82. 82.

    Zuzu's Petals

    @Comrade Stuck:

    Attention John Cole, this should have a post of its own.

    This guy deserves to be ridiculed all over the Internet for this senseless crap.

  84. 84.

    Zuzu's Petals

    @geg6:

    Yes, the landscape was beautiful and lush, but the only thing that told me it was Harper’s Ferry was the little shed serving as the train stop. I did get a great picture of a couple of kids standing on the river bank waving at the train, though. Man, it was really a gorgeous day too.

    PS, I am officially older than you.

  85. 85.

    Comrade Stuck

    @Zuzu’s Petals:

    Patterico is so damn dumb, I doubt it would peak Cole’s interest. 2 sacks of hammers dumb/

    Edit- On the other hand, so are all the others.

  86. 86.

    geg6

    I have just decided that from now on, when I picture Laura W in my mind, she going to look like Gillian Anderson. For some reason, that’s how I see her.

  88. 88.

    Comrade Stuck

    @John Cole:

    you mean piqued.

    I guess I should have the spelling police check me out too, when they’re done with Mr Matoko.

  89. 89.

    Andy K

    @geg6:

    With bleached out hair that has bits of blue dyed in there, and a pierced nose? Because no matter how often I see the zaftig, redheaded version of her on television, that’s the way I think of Gillian.

  91. 91.

    geg6

    Andy K: LOL. No, not that one. That’s more how I’d picture asiangrrlMN. Well, with Asian features, that is.

  93. 93.

    PeopleAreNoDamnGood

    I

    like dogs in every way better than most people. And find them more attractive to boot.

    Sure, but for me, I find it really challenging to have sex with a dog. I’d be interested in how you got past that part. Do you wear a pork chop around your neck?

  94. 94.

    geg6

    PeopleAreNoDamnGood: If you think I’m giving you my secrets that easily, you don’t know me at all.

  98. 98.

    Yutsano

    Bestiality and Lily pics, all in a Saturday night here!

    Totally OT: is anyone else seeing BJ load up really goofy? Like half the time I get Pam’s jubleys then they mercifully disappear. Unfortunately that takes out the recent updates on the other margin as well.

  99. 99.

    Martin

    I just Amtraked through parts of that area

    Um, Amtrak really isn’t worthy of being verbified. Can we go with ‘railed’?

  100. 100.

    Comrade Stuck

    @Martin:

    Um, Amtrak really isn’t worthy of being verbified. Can we go with ‘railed’?

    I’m partial to “trolleyed”. It has a Tennessee Williams aura, and can include drunkenness.

  101. 101.

    JL

    John Please do not take this the wrong way because at 6:51 pm I said I would no longer make fun of Tunch’s weight but I am curious, who weighs more?

  105. 105.

    Catsy

    @Bill E Pilgrim:

    It’s more widespread than that, my Japanese ex-wife says it all the time.

    Which is really odd, because the long-I sound in “creek” is identical to the Japanese “I” sound–it’s the shorter I like in “crick” that they have to learn how to form.

    Maybe she learned it from someone Southern. :)

  107. 107.

    matoko_chan

    I like Comrade Suck better.
    ;)

    salufis
    the dog of the Pharohs.
    They are sight hounds. My riding trainer has one, they are good runners that can keep up with horses.

    I don’t have to spell….ima math/physics major.
    bad speeling is a badge of honor for us.

    and chan is the honorific for young lady.

  112. 112.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Question for matoko_chan: is “chan” as a honorific the same as “san” (as in Cio-cio-san aka Madama Butterfly) but a different dialect or transliteration or something? Genuinely curious, thanks.

  114. 114.

    Fencedude

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    Question for matoko_chan: is “chan” as a honorific the same as “san” (as in Cio-cio-san aka Madama Butterfly) but a different dialect or transliteration or something? Genuinely curious, thanks.

    I’m not her, but since this is something I actually know about…

    “-san” is a general all purpose honorific, equivalent to Mr./Mrs./Ms., roughly.

    “-chan” is more of an endearment. Its used towards younger children (of both genders) and females of the young persuasion, when addressed by someone older than them, or their peers.

    This is a vast oversimplification, and those are only two of the honorifics, but they are the most common, along with “-kun” which is sortof, but not quite, a male equivalent to “-chan”.

    And of course, unless you are Japanese, you WILL screw up their usage if you try.

  115. 115.

    Yutsano

    Question for matoko_chan: is “chan” as a honorific the same as “san” (as in Cio-cio-san aka Madama Butterfly) but a different dialect or transliteration or something? Genuinely curious, thanks.

    Please correct me if I’m wrong Matoko-chan, as I only have a degree in Japanese studies, but the honorific -chan is used for young ladies and children mostly. It’s supposed to denote cuteness. -san is genderless and more or less translates out to “sir” in English, and can be pretty much used in that way. There are others that have various other usages, but that’s the big difference. They’re not interchangeable if that’s what you’re wondering.

  116. 116.

    Svensker

    @Bill E Pilgrim:

    I have redneck cousins in the California Central Valley who say ‘crick’. I think it’s pan-hillbilly.

    My northwest Washington mom and relatives all said “crick”. They also say/said “ruf” instead of “rooof” (the thing on top of the house). I think it’s just old fashioned and a bit country, but maybe Western, as well.

  117. 117.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @ Fencedude and Yutsano: thank you, both! Those are very clear (even if oversimplified) distinctions. And for certain, I would screw up royally if I tried to use them, so I won’t — but I really appreciate the information.

  118. 118.

    Yutsano

    AAARGH! Someone stop me! A co-worker brought in Kettle Corn and I’m scarfing it like it’s going out of style! SOMEONE STOP ME!!!

  120. 120.

    MelodyMaker

    Brick Oven Bill knows full well that Laurie Lindeen and Matt Wilson are funding this site through a CIA front company known as “Deep All the Way Down.” Ask him. aka “DAWN”
    “John Cole” is a honey pot, designed to elicit comments from actual people who unwittingly say stupid shit on “his” blog. See? I just did it. Wake up!

  125. 125.

    Beej

    Crick is an all-American “countryism”. You will hear it in the south, the plains, the southeast, and anywhere else those who were raised in these places migrated. Here in Nebraska, the oldtimers still occasionally promise to do something . . . .”Good Lord willin’ and the crick don’t rise”. My old daddy was partial to that one.

  127. 127.

    Yutsano

    I don’t know what’s worse nhoj, the wingnut Missourian or the comments left on that article.

  132. 132.

    ZIRGAR

    Happy Birthday West “By God” Virginia! I miss your rolling hills, deep woods, swift streams, hollers, Tudor’s Biscuit Worlds and Mountain Stage.

  133. 133.

    devospych

    You know how dogs are, they’ll run till their hearts give out. Give her a rest. Sundays are good. Waffles and spit bubbles and nothing else to do.

  134. 134.

    soderbee

    Lurker feeling the need to say that Lily is so much different from the first days she came to live with you. Look at the pictures. She’s gone from scared, timid dog to happy, content family member. Good on ya’

  135. 135.

    gbear

    Rails to trails for an hour this morning, then a drive to the parents, then a walk around town, then play with two Jack Russell puppies, then a long romp around the park, followed by another walk, then a drive home, then off to the dog park for an hour.

    Little did Lily know that when she gave John the sad-eyes, she was signing up for boot camp.

  136. 136.

    xyzzy

    Is it just me, or does anyone else scroll quickly through a day’s worth of BalloonJuice posts to see if there are any Lily updates to read, first? I know there is a lot of important stuff going on, but honestly, every single Lily update makes me feel good.

  137. 137.

    JenJen

    Went out for a bit, only to come home to a photo of a delightfully exhausted Lily! You’re doing such a great job, Jon. You’ve made her life so much more interesting and effortless, in just a few weeks, and you’re only just beginning, the two of you. Lucky Lotto Winner Lily. Yay!!

    As for all the misattributions, I think I started it all with the “dogasm.” Ah well. I’ll reiterate that West Virginia, and the entire Ohio River Valley, are a slice of heaven on earth, despite what you’ve heard. In fact, don’t come here. That’s probably what all the lazy settlers told everyone too, and I’m with them.

    PS Hi, Laura!! Mom gets her present next week and I can’t wait to tell everyone about it. :-)

  139. 139.

    asiangrrlMN

    @JMN Is Now asiangrrlMN’s Official Stalker: Ok, I busted a gut over your new name. It’s funnier than hell.

    As for air conditioning, mine is broken. Yes, broken. It will not be fixed before Monday at the earliest. Now I know how Korey Stringer felt when he died of heatstroke during practice.

    @geg6:

    Andy K: LOL. No, not that one. That’s more how I’d picture asiangrrlMN. Well, with Asian features, that is.

    Hey! I resemble that remark! Actually, I don’t. My hair is black. I wanted to bleach it once to pure white, but my hair dresser said she would have to cut it all out because the bleach would kill it. It’s butt-length, and that’s a lot of hair to cut. I did used to wear colored extensions in my hair, including blue, until my hair grew longer than the extensions. I do have the tats, though. Used to have a navel piercing, but it kept getting infected. Man. I’m getting boring in my old age.

    @Bill E Pilgrim:

    I thought maybe trolleyed was some look that trolls get from squinting at the page too much.
    Shrug.

    Hahahaha. That’s exactly what I thought, too!

    Oh, and John, Lily looks so happy and doglike. It’s very heartwarming to see.

  140. 140.

    JMN Is Now asiangrrlMN's Official Stalker

    @asiangrrlMN: You’re welcome to come borrow my air-conditioning.

    I’m new to this talking thing, particularly in this new digital age. How am I supposed to start? Do I track down your Facebook page or Twitter account, and start sending you threatening e-mails? Do I leave rambling, incoherent messages on your voice mail? Do I find your address, and tie ribbons around your cats’ tails to show that I could have harmed them if I had any desire whatsoever to drag them into this? What? I feel I’m falling down on the job.

  141. 141.

    JMN Is Now asiangrrlMN's Official Stalker

    @Bill E Pilgrim:

    I thought maybe trolleyed was some look that trolls get from squinting at the page too much.

    I thought it was another one of those gay sex terms that could cause me problems by not knowing, such as putting a handkerchief in the back pocket of my jeans, or wearing a large set of keys on the wrong side of my belt.

  142. 142.

    asiangrrlMN

    @JMN Is Now asiangrrlMN’s Official Stalker: Man, you are cracking me up. However, if you threaten my boys, I will threaten YOUR boys, if you catch my drift. Um, I don’t know. I’ve never had a stalker before. If you can do it in an unobtrusive way, that would be great. kthxbai.

    @xyzzy: I’m actually disappointed if I don’t see a new Lily and/or Tunch thread when I first open up BJ. Seeing either or both makes me smile.

    @soderbee: Yay! Lily draws out another lurker.

    @gbear:

    Little did Lily know that when she gave John the sad-eyes, she was signing up for boot camp.

    Best line of the day so far.

  148. 148.

    Notorious P.A.T.

    “A tired dog is a happy dog”.

    Lily is a tiny little thing, isn’t she? Those Jack Russels are bigger than she is.

  156. 156.

    Tattoosydney

    Obviously they have decided in this case it is more important to protect the persecuted minority of Australians who identify as bigots, a minority whose lifestyle is under attack. … Sorry, I shouldn’t use “bigot”; apparently that’s not politically correct these days. I’ll be rapped over the knuckles by the thought police. I’m sure they prefer to be called something euphemistic like “People Living With A Need To Exclude Other People From The Institution Of Marriage Because It Makes Their Own Marriages Seem More Special”. … Even though laws have been tweaked to remove many forms of discrimination against gay couples, neither major party is willing to go all the way. They are not prepared to follow the radical lead set in godless, radical jurisdictions such as Belgium, Canada, Spain and the US state of Iowa, out of concern for the sensibilities of the 36 per centers. The philosophy is something akin to saying: “Hey, gay people, you say you want some chocolate? Have some delicious no-frills carob drops. I don’t want to eat them myself, but I’m sure they taste just like the real thing.”

    Heh.

  160. 160.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Tattoosydney: I was loving it until the last line. But still, very well written. Humorous, but with a sting. I iz stealing it!

    @AhabTRuler: True. We are all DougJ now. Which means, that my fake hubby, my guy in the rain, and my official stalker are all me as well. Which is just bizarre.

  168. 168.

    AhabTRuler

    we’ve been fake married for months now… the fake sex has dried up, she doesn’t even bring me fake flowers anymore…

    Whomever promised you a fake rose garden?

  169. 169.

    asiangrrlMN

    If we are all DougJ, then I am stealing his titles. So there! Wait, so John Cole, Tim F. and Annie Laurie are all DougJ, too? WTF? My brain is going to explode.

  170. 170.

    JMN Is Now asiangrrlMN's Official Stalker

    @asiangrrlMN: Actually, we’re all John Cole, and DougJ was simply the part of him that acted out his desperate need to no longer be a Republican. It was a cry for help, really, and the rest of us are simply an attempt to reconcile the conservative and liberal parts of his nature.

    John’s ability to admit that DougJ was a part of him, and the expression of his need to break out of the conservative box he had created for himself was a major breakthrough in therapy. The only scary thing is that he may, eventually, be able to move forward into the rest of his life, and all of us will simply go *poof*.

  174. 174.

    Tattoosydney

    @asiangrrlMN:

    Um…. But he’s your official stalker – surely he and I need to get along?

    ETA: I still fake love you, it’s just I need to go outside our fake relationship for fake affection…

    EATA: And besides, if we are all the same person, can I really cheat on you, or not be faithful to you?

    EOATA: Fake cheat, of course.

  177. 177.

    AhabTRuler

    Good Lord! I had no idea (pronounced: eye-deer, please) that YouTube counted the number of videos that one watches (I mean, in retrospect it’s obvious that it must, but darling, I just don’t think that way!).
    I’ve watched over 1,800 videos (and for me, that’s a great many; surely half of them are from here, anyway)!

    @Tattoosydney: I don’t disagree, but every now and again one need’s something sweet and fluffy. Something about the song struck me (probably the CFM vocals); I wouldn’t argue that there is substance behind it.

  188. 188.

    AhabTRuler

    he wasn’t as disturbing as the guy who always played “Papa, can you hear me?”

    Ok, now that’s just fucked up.

    OTOH, why is Babs playing with a candle in a clearing which appears to be made entirely of dry tinder?

  189. 189.

    JMN Is Now asiangrrlMN's Official Stalker

    @Tattoosydney: Eh. I assume you mean Richard Wagner. Both Johann’s are ear candy, tasty while you’re listening, but they leave you with a stomach ache afterwards. (Much like 1970s era Yes.) I’m not a huge Richard Wagner fan. The Ring Cycle certainly has its moments. Thank goodness your man didn’t have a thing for Siegfried’s Funeral March.

    Still, he’s just not that satisfying. For late Romantic music, I’ll take Sibelius without fail. I think his Second Symphony is one of the greatest pieces of music of all time.

    Of course, the best music/song writer of all time is Ludwig van Beethoven.

  194. 194.

    Comrade Darkness

    I’m feeling sorry for this dog. Maybe you should get a greyhound rescue next. Sounds more like your speed.

  195. 195.

    PaulB

    @John Cole:

    The comments are priceless:

    Any President with a BRAIN IN HIS HEAD would order airstrikes on the Revolutionary Guard. We could topple this regime in days. We could solve all of the problems in the Middle East by taking out this regime and expressing complete solidarity with the Iranian people.

  197. 197.

    Batocchio

    When I was a boy scout in VA, we’d do an annual spelunking trip to WV. Fun stuff. Also, parts are pretty to drive through.

  198. 198.

    Gus

    Have you thought of having her genetically analyzed John?

    Save your money. We had our dog analyzed for a story in the local newspaper. We’re not sure what he is, but they were definitely off. He’s a 35 lb. terrier mix of some sort, and the genetic profile suggested doberman.

  199. 199.

    asiangrrlMN

    Oh my god. Looks like I went to bed to early last night/this morning. Fake hubby, fake official stalker, and AhabTRuler, you guys wrote some high-quality snark in the wee hours.

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