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Open Thread

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You wanted a picture, here you go. See if you can find something relaxing in the clean sheets and unfolded socks before I even had a chance to make the bed:

Those sheets were on the bed for no more than three minutes. I threw them there, then the phone rang and I went to answer it, and someone had decided it was the perfect place for a nap.

Reader Interactions

108Comments

  4. 4.

    Seebach

    Congratulations, America, for making right-wing action gasbags #1 at the box office. Fuck your taste to hell and back.

  7. 7.

    jeff

    I hate these picture puzzles! They always leave me cross-eyed and feeling stupid.

    I wonder how she gets her body into the sheets like that?

  10. 10.

    Mary G

    Yay, Lily! So nice of you to provide a warm, cozy nap environment.

    Moar, please, I asked for pictures/videos, not just one picture. Rosie of the piercing stare should be close by, according to your past posts. Tunch could be on his window ledge, also sleeping in the spare bedroom, or eating.

    Sock folding should be a very low priority compared to the urgent necessity of pets.

  11. 11.

    dms

    I think dealing with dogs is kinda like dealing with middle-aged and older adults (and I’m one). You keep hoping against hope that they’re going to learn not to screw up your game plan, but in the end, their only instinct is to serve their own interests.

  13. 13.

    demo woman

    After locating her collar you think it would be easy to figure out the rest of the body, but no.

  15. 15.

    Violet

    Lily is so cuuuuuute. Makes my teeth hurt, just seeing here there. Must be pretty exhausting being Lily because she sure sleeps a lot in her photos.

  16. 16.

    Lesley

    You have to set up a camera to capture motion so we can see what Lily does to get into position.

  18. 18.

    ohsuzanna

    @demo woman – thanks for the collar tip – I never would have made her out otherwise.

  21. 21.

    Kristine

    @demo woman: I’m glad I’m not the only one. I’m tipping my laptop from side to side, but it’s not helping.

    In other news, the humidity eased up for a day here in northeastern Illinois. Temps in the 80s, but drier. A stiff variable breeze that sometimes comes in off the lake and feels darn cool. Just a few puffy clouds. I’m out on my deck, wishing to hell this was Friday afternoon and not Sunday afternoon. Why couldn’t the whole summer have been like this?

    Just finished an early dinner that included some of my Cherokee Purple tomatoes w/ lemon vinaigrette. Really trying not to think about the fact that we hit the ‘ber months in a couple of weeks.

  22. 22.

    licensed to kill time

    @JenJen:

    Maybe John picked up a few bottles of Flame back in the day and sprays his sheets with it.

    In fact, I think the picture in that article may well be the only extant photo of John Cole, shown lounging in front of a burning fire, wearing nothing but a gold Burger King chain and a tiny velvet rug over his junk.

    Nah. I made that last part up.

  25. 25.

    Kristine

    @stuckinred: Yes, but I am outside with the laptop, and even though I’m sitting in the shade, the image is swamped out/too dark/I’ll look again when I go inside which will be Later, or when the skeeters reappear. Whichever comes first.

  26. 26.

    stuckinred

    @Kristine: Hmm, I see from your wonderful blog that you had one of your pups DNA tested. We have a rescue who looks kind of like Lilly but bigger. We won a DNA test at our vet and he also is a Siberian Husky with Samoyed and Cocker mixed in. He is the Bohdisattva!

  28. 28.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Okay, every cat I’ve ever known in my entire life always headed for the clean, warm, fresh-from-the-dryer clothes and linens. So why, may I ask, is Tunch nowhere to be seen? I think it’s adorable that Lily burrows in like that, but the more authentic photo would have the greatmoundoffluffywhippedcreamandcaramelthatistunch making himself warm and cozy among the sheets and socks.

  30. 30.

    stuckinred

    @SiubhanDuinne: We had the Georgia Democratic Party Convention over here yesterday. After the proceedings I had a 20 something bang on my door and almost demand a cash contribution! She informed me that the civil rights movement was not waged online!

  31. 31.

    13th Generation

    I swear Cole, you post about socks and sheets and people fall allover themselves to comment. You guys need to give some of the other posters some love. Let the attack begin..

  32. 32.

    srv

    I know those sheets! Just what do you expect a pet to do with 600 thread count Egyptian cotton?

  34. 34.

    Delia

    With the enbiggened picture and the collar hint I can solve the puzzle. Collar around neck. Ears and nose to right; top part of neck to left of collar; rest of body comfy under nice clean sheets.

  35. 35.

    demo woman

    I am taking care of a cat and my dog, Moxie the mutt, just ignores her. This afternoon the cat was in the doorway in one bedroom and Moxie sat in the bedroom doorway across the hall. They don’t need to be best buddies but is there any way that I can encourage them to be more comfortable with each other.

  37. 37.

    asiangrrlMN

    Lily is cute and all, Cole, but I specifically asked for TUNCH. Harrumph. (Lily is so sweet, though. You should just take a nap with her).

    @stuckinred: I would love to see your dog, but the photo is labeled private.

    @Betsy: Chompers is just too too adorable.

    @jeffreyw: I couldn’t find her at first! Beautiful.

  38. 38.

    13th Generation

    @stuckinred

    And all these concern trolls ( who I think came over since Kain’s been posting) need to stay the hell off the lawn.

  41. 41.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @srv #32: Are those the linens John was buying the day Rosie sat in his lane, held up her paw, looked pathetic, jumped into the front seat, and became part of his life?

    Or are the different sheets?

  43. 43.

    stuckinred

    OK, we’re doing cute, you wanna see cute? This is the Bohdi the day he was dumped almost 8 years ago. The look on Boo-Boo’s (rip) face tells it all. OH NO A puppy!

  44. 44.

    JimPortlandOR

    @beltane:

    Exactly my issue.

    Dogs sure do like their naps. I suspect the non-flat sheets are a wolf throwback – like a pile of forest floor stuff that offers softness and some disguise.

    I think it was Nat. Geo that had a two hour tv program this week on how man made the dog from wolves. Excellent!

  47. 47.

    asiangrrlMN

    @stuckinred: Awwwwww! It worked this time, and Bohdi is just awwwww! I love the pic of him as a darling puppy and Boo-boo looking at you like, ‘WTF is that?’ They are both magnificent dogs.

  51. 51.

    stuckinred

    @asiangrrlMN: We lost Boo Boo about 3 years ago. The cocker at the beach is Lil Bit. She was dumped in a box at our vet. She has had cataract surgery in both eye’s and has chronic anemia, both conditions common to cockers. She has been though so much and yet she is happy as a clam. The bohdi is solid as a rock, just throw him the ball and he’s the energizer Bodhisattva!

  52. 52.

    stuckinred

    @jeffreyw:I took my own advice from Friday and marinated the bird in Mojo. Got a big batch of butter beans and sweet potato salad comin right up!

  53. 53.

    demo woman

    @jeffreyw: I know you braised you chicken in mango chutney but have you ever tried it on a grill? It sounds like a delicious combination so I’m thinking of thinning the chutney and using it as a marinade, then grilling the chicken. Would that work?

  55. 55.

    asiangrrlMN

    @stuckinred: Aw, sorry to hear about Boo-Boo. He was a great dog. Little Bit is a cutie, too. She’s been through so much, hasn’t she? And the Bohdi, what can I say? He’s awesome.

    @jeffreyw: Your food pr0n pleases me very much.

  57. 57.

    demo woman

    @stuckinred: Hmm..Sweet Potato salad. How do you make that. I’ve been dicing the sweet potatoes and adding onions and herbs and putting them in a 400 degree oven but the salad sounds intriguing.

    Jeffrey’s picture looks as though it is roasted but the recipe is for braised???
    The pictures of the pups are wonderful. I know you are an old fdl commenter and I still miss Christie. When she hung it up, I left. She and Tbogg were the only two that I read.

  59. 59.

    stuckinred

    @demo woman: Yea, Christie has Lupus so I think it was a good time to exit when she did as the Lake descended into whatever the hell it is. I’m pretty simple on the sweet potato salad. I cube the spuds and simmer till just soft. Toss with light mayo, celery, chopped dills, salt and pepper and boiled hen fruit if I have some. Just let it cool and dig on in. We stopped all the white stuff, spuds, rice, pasta quite some time ago so this is a good compromise.

  64. 64.

    Linda Featheringill

    I was looking at the Guardian. They used to have interesting commentators. But I think the sites have been kidnapped by right-wing Obama haters. What the hey?

    They don’t even want to talk about facts. That seems so un-British to me.

    Anyway, in a fit of depression, I realized that I don’t have to go there if it distresses me.

    Nice to be home on BJ. [when John pays the bills]

  65. 65.

    jeffreyw

    @stuckinred: I wasn’t familiar with the chutney, wasn’t sure what to do with it. I knew I wanted the flavor infused into the meat and basting with it on a roast would have just been superficial. I started out with the braise but the color just wasn’t right. I set it in a 400 oven long enough that it browned a bit. I still had the chutney sauce for the meat so I didn’t worry about drying it too much.

  69. 69.

    demo woman

    @Linda Featheringill: Anyone can comment on the Guardian. The same thing is happening on the NYTimes. One has to wonder if they aren’t paying folks to watch certain websites and are trying to shut down intelligent comments. They can’t compete with facts so they just bloviate.

  70. 70.

    Violet

    @stuckinred:
    That is the funniest picture I’ve seen in ages. I actually LOL’d for reals. The look on Boo-Boo’s face is utterly priceless. “Oh, no a puppy!” indeed. And what an eager ball of fur is that puppy. Adorable.

  71. 71.

    ellaesther

    Am I the only one who can’t even tell which end of the dog this is? I recognize it must be Lily because of the fur color — other than that, it looks like a random collection of spare parts. At least with our dachshund, you could always see the snout!

    (But, you know, lovely and delightful spare parts!)

  72. 72.

    demo woman

    But, you know, lovely and delightful spare parts!
    Thank’s for that, I needed to laugh.

  73. 73.

    stuckinred

    @Violet: Boo Boo was diagnosed with cancer about 4 months later. It was a really long haul for him and the Bohdi’s puppyness was something that we think helped the Boo fight the good fight. He had the heart of a lion.

  74. 74.

    4jkb4ia

    Dustin Johnson, ladies and gentlemen! This whole story absolutely writes itself.

    (I am sticking to the plan to get Brandon Phillips traded to the Nationals so he can train to be the new spokesperson)

  75. 75.

    Violet

    @stuckinred:
    Aww…Boo Boo sounds like a wonderful dog. That’s great that Bodhi and he became pals and their friendship helped him through what must have been a tough road.

    That photo is just hilarious. You can practically feel the glare coming through the screen and I half expect Bodhi to knock me over, as he leaps out of the grass. So cute.

  78. 78.

    Kristine

    @stuckinred: What’s funny is that Gaby does not look Husky at all. She looks like an attenuated terrier, and there is likely some terrier in there somewhere, just not enough to ID using current tech.

    The husky comes out in her behavior. She’s stubborn, very vocal, loves the cold, and her bark has a distinctive woo-woo component. The vet who first treated her knew she was part husky because of how vocal she was as she recovered from the anesthetic after she was fixed. You could hear her all over the hospital. It’s apparently a breed trait.

  87. 87.

    Violet

    @stuckinred:
    Yeah, that really stinks. I guess it’s the right thing to do because technically it’s a bunker and he grounded it, but still… Can they take away a stroke because the crowd misbehaved? Seems like the crowd being in the bunker was part of the problem. Or the PGA didn’t mark the course properly so the crowd didn’t know what it was. Still seems really unfair.

  88. 88.

    4jkb4ia

    Choking didn’t matter. Damned shame. Calm temperament may save Dustin Johnson from being absolutely crushed by what happened to him this year. Tiger is almost certainly worse off.

  89. 89.

    stuckinred

    @Violet: 1200 bunkers on this course. The number one item on the rule sheet is that all of the areas of the course built as bunkers, inside or outside the ropes, they are bunkers and must be played as such.

    I am not pretending to like this but it is correct.

  93. 93.

    Miss Jane

    As my mother says about the cats & dogs, “that’s what they do.” Who can argue with that?

  97. 97.

    Mnemosyne

    @Kristine:

    We just got back from a week in Oak Park last night. I never thought August in Los Angeles would be nice and cool when compared to Chicago, but it sure as hell is.

  98. 98.

    Kristine

    @Mnemosyne: This summer has consisted of vast stretches of miserable thanks to the humidity. I could spend less than five minutes watering the plants on my deck–we’re not talking any type of exertion here–and be dripping wet by the end. Any sort of real exertion? May as well stand under a hose.

  99. 99.

    Anne Laurie

    @stuckinred:

    This is the Bohdi the day he was dumped almost 8 years ago. The look on Boo-Boo’s (rip) face tells it all. OH NO A puppy!

    That is truly a most excellent photo, sir. Poor Boo-Boo… and lucky you, that Bohdi seems to have inherited the ‘best’ genes from his varied ancestors!

  100. 100.

    Svensker

    @ellaesther:

    Am I the only one who can’t even tell which end of the dog this is?

    No. You’re just the only one with cojonettes to admit it.

  101. 101.

    Cain

    We just got new furniture and my cats are like all over it. Sniffing, sitting on the wooden parts, or anything that looks box like. More importantly, making sure their cat hair is everywhere.

    God I love my cats.

    cain

  103. 103.

    Annie

    Looked at the picture several times — even enlarged the pic. Still confused at which parts of Lily I am looking at. Decided to open a bottle of Malbec, and after a few glasses, try again.

  104. 104.

    parsimon

    John, I haven’t been reading here long, and I can’t make out what sort of reddish creature it is on your bed, but:

    It did make me laugh that I have just those sheets, recommended by my mom. Your approachability as a blogger is marvelous.

  106. 106.

    Kristine

    @Annie: I finally figured it out! See the collar? You’re looking down at the top of Lily’s head. The foldy bits are her ears. To the right, you can see the white of her muzzle.

    She is really burrowed in there.

    It’s like one of those drawings–are you looking at the chalices or the profiles, the young woman or the crone. Once the details snap into place, it’s obvious. Until then, it’s wtf?

  108. 108.

    fiona

    Hey, if my cat can get her paws particularly muddy, the day I put a light coloured duvet cover on my bed, yours can sleep wrapped up in clean sheets, but the real question is, did you use her favourite fabric conditioner on them? Well!

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