• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • About Us
  • Lexicon
  • Contact Us
  • Our Store
  • ↑
  • ↓
  • ←
  • →

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

You know it’s bad when the Project 2025 people have to create training videos on “How To Be Normal”.

The press swings at every pitch, we don’t have to.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

“When somebody takes the time to draw up a playbook, they’re gonna use it.”

They were going to turn on one another at some point. It was inevitable.

You are so fucked. Still, I wish you the best of luck.

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand.

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

If senate republicans had any shame, they’d die of it.

Let the trolls come, and then ignore them. that’s the worst thing you can do to a troll.

This year has been the longest three days of putin’s life.

Imperialist aggressors must be defeated, or the whole world loses.

Let me file that under fuck it.

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

Authoritarian republicans are opposed to freedom for the rest of us.

When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty. ~Thomas Jefferson

Giving in to doom is how authoritarians win.

’Where will you hide, Roberts, the laws all being flat?’

Following reporting rules is only for the little people, apparently.

It may be funny to you motherfucker, but it’s not funny to me.

If America since Jan 2025 hasn’t broken your heart, you haven’t loved her enough.

Republicans cannot even be trusted with their own money.

When do we start airlifting the women and children out of Texas?

Mobile Menu

  • Seattle Meet-up Post
  • 2025 Activism
  • Targeted Political Fundraising
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • COVID-19
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • 2025 Activism
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • Targeted Fundraising!
You are here: Home / Pet Blogging / Dog Blogging / Thanksgiving Moment of Zen

Thanksgiving Moment of Zen

by John Cole|  November 22, 201210:45 pm| 57 Comments

This post is in: Dog Blogging, Open Threads

FacebookTweetEmail

So everyone was at the Cole household for dinner tonight, which meant that Seth had Boghan and Ellie, Devon brought her pit bull mixes Kiwi and Huck and her new rescue pup Honey, so Ginny, one of my mom’s JRT’s, and the sweetest little thing who inexplicably loves me more than anyone on the planet other than mom and dad, had to just hide in the toy bucket from all the big dogs out there who might step on her:

It really is a mystery to everyone why this dog loves me. Mom, dad, and I can not figure it out, but every time I come over she is on me like ugly on an ape. I’m ok with that, though, because she is damned adorable.

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: « WalMart — Alway Low Wages, Always
Next Post: Late Night Open Thread »

Reader Interactions

57Comments

  1. 1.

    gogol's wife

    November 22, 2012 at 10:47 pm

    So sweet. I’ve been wondering about them. Happy Thanksgiving!

  2. 2.

    Steeplejack

    November 22, 2012 at 10:49 pm

    Are you sure she’s feeling okay? I’ve never known a JRT to let size prevent him/her from being the most obnoxious hyper dog in the room.

    Maybe she’s not fond of crowds.

  3. 3.

    Violet

    November 22, 2012 at 10:51 pm

    So cute! Glad you had a good Thanksgiving, but I thought you were going to Florida with some friends for Thanksgiving? Was that Christmas? Or am I imagining the whole thing?

    Edit: No, I didn’t imagine it: https://balloon-juice.com/2012/10/10/open-thread-1473/

  4. 4.

    Southern Beale

    November 22, 2012 at 10:52 pm

    We went to the tiny Western KY town where my husband is from and I was glancing over the local paper after the turkey eating was done. There was a big story about the local animal shelter having to stop accepting any more animals because they were overcrowded — they had 100 cats and 77 dogs. They were desperately trying to adopt them out, had pictures of some of the animals with little bandanas around their necks, they’d been given names. Trying to make them appear more “pet like” to get people to adopt them. They were all adorable, lots of pit bull mixes. Man, 100 cats? Broke my heart, I just know where most of those animals are going to end up, this being a rural country town.

    Wish there were some way to hook up these rural shelter animals with some of the humane trains bringing animals to places where families want to adopt them. Of course, the need is so huge.

    Yesterday I had some folks at my place doing fall cleanup yardwork. My pit bull fell in love with one of the guys they were so cute together. And the guy said he had a family member down in Georgia whose pit bull had her SECOND litter of puppies and he was thinking about taking one of them. Cripes. Get your animals fixed, people. We all know where most of the puppies and kittens end up and it ain’t pretty.

    Well, that’s the stray animal lecture for the day.

  5. 5.

    Southern Beale

    November 22, 2012 at 10:56 pm

    Also, speaking of animals but saw a bizarre Tweet from Ann Coulter (it was retweeted by someone I follow, I would never follow her nor will I link to her). It said something like, “Enjoy your holocaust on a plate day,” which made me wonder if she’s vegetarian or vegan? Anyone ever hear that?

  6. 6.

    Valdivia

    November 22, 2012 at 11:00 pm

    I love that you have a toy bucket. That is all. :)

    ETA: @Steeplejack: happy thanksgiving!

  7. 7.

    Violet

    November 22, 2012 at 11:02 pm

    @Southern Beale: Are you sure that was THE Ann Coulter and not some parody site? I don’t think she’s vegetarian or vegan.

  8. 8.

    Comrade Mary

    November 22, 2012 at 11:03 pm

    So am I the only one getting that goddamned turkey island ad on the front page? The control buttons that are supposed to stop the freakin’ audio from playing don’t work.

    I am partially rescued from my snit by that adorable photo of Ginny. I will not demand immediate action. I will just vent, then have another cup of tea.

  9. 9.

    TaMara (BHF)

    November 22, 2012 at 11:04 pm

    @Valdivia: I had a toy bucket for the Danes and I would come home and toys would be strewn from the family room, through the dining room, living room and up the stairs. I would walk in the door and systematically pick them all up. I have always believed they did it just to watch me pick them up, muttering about the ‘damn dogs’.

    It only happened when I was gone. Otherwise they might pull out a favorite and snuggle with it, but that was all.

  10. 10.

    Yoodley

    November 22, 2012 at 11:04 pm

    That pup is very cute. What a sweetheart!

  11. 11.

    TaMara (BHF)

    November 22, 2012 at 11:05 pm

    I did just stop by to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. I hope everyone had good food and some fun. Now I’m back to painting.

  12. 12.

    mbhuff

    November 22, 2012 at 11:10 pm

    Visiting family in Texas and ran across a new channel on Dish called Blaze TV. It looks like a channel that is full of people that were too right-wing/radical/batshit insane for Fox. Glenn Beck is one of the headliners

  13. 13.

    Jay

    November 22, 2012 at 11:13 pm

    “like ugly on an ape”

    We should chip in to buy John Cole an ape. The blogging material would be outstanding.

    Happy Thanksgiving, all.

  14. 14.

    Joseph Nobles

    November 22, 2012 at 11:14 pm

    @Southern Beale: I’m guessing that is Ann’s satirical take on all the reminders of how the European settlers treated the native Americans.

  15. 15.

    redshirt

    November 22, 2012 at 11:15 pm

    What happened to your girl friend Johnny C?

  16. 16.

    kc

    November 22, 2012 at 11:16 pm

    The toy bucket. LOL. Truly a family of animal lovers. :)

  17. 17.

    Yutsano

    November 22, 2012 at 11:17 pm

    @TaMara (BHF): Dane won best in group at Westminster today. Just sayin’. And he was GAWJUSS!!

  18. 18.

    Anne Laurie

    November 22, 2012 at 11:20 pm

    @TaMara (BHF):

    I had a toy bucket for the Danes and I would come home and toys would be strewn from the family room, through the dining room, living room and up the stairs.

    My Dog Mentor trains her dogs to “pick up your toys” and they all learn that command quickly, even the fosters and rescues. Of course, apart from being the Dog Goddess, Teri works with Australian shepherds, shelties & border collies — not natural retrievers, but they share her urge to keep things properly neatened up!

  19. 19.

    Steeplejack

    November 22, 2012 at 11:21 pm

    @Valdivia:

    Same to you, V. I just got back a couple of hours ago from all day at the brother’s palatial manor in Arlington. Thirteen people for dinner, and when we went around the table to say what we were thankful for the answers were in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

    The housecat was very interested that I had dog smell on me when I came home, but she forgave me when I gave her some turkey.

    What did you do today?

  20. 20.

    sgrAstar

    November 22, 2012 at 11:23 pm

    Wait! Your dogs don’t destroy those stuffies? How does that work…… :)

  21. 21.

    Jewish Steel

    November 22, 2012 at 11:26 pm

    Yo, libs! It’s not too early to start our war on Christmas. I got a good feeling about this year. I think we’re finally gonna win this one.

  22. 22.

    suzanne

    November 22, 2012 at 11:28 pm

    We’re doing our big meal on Saturday when Spawn the Elder is back from her dad’s house, so my husband and I spent the day relaxing. Capped it off with a two-mile run through the park. It was seventy degrees. I have a Democratic Congresscritter, officially, and the AZ delegation had more D than R. I only have white people problems. A wonderful day, and I have much to be thankful for, and I’m not going anywhere near a store tomorrow.

  23. 23.

    Yoodley

    November 22, 2012 at 11:35 pm

    What would be the most cute would be if the dog in the basket could be drafted to help the New York Jets win a football game. Yuuuuck, what a ignoble defeat!

  24. 24.

    Valdivia

    November 22, 2012 at 11:39 pm

    @TaMara (BHF):

    a trail of toys. that just made me smile. :)

    @Steeplejack:
    of course she forgave you! you are her human now :)
    your holiday sounds fun. We were low key here: I cooked and we had dinner just me and my parents (my dad is still recuperating from his second brain surgery and my mom has a fractured L4 so she can’t move right now) But even in the middle of all the drama we had a really nice celebration.

    And now I am crashing after all the cooking and tidying up.
    G’night BJ.

  25. 25.

    Punchy

    November 22, 2012 at 11:40 pm

    Is yer….uh…um….”lady friend” with whom you wrecked bedsheets and vag canals and such stay wicha too?

  26. 26.

    MikeJake

    November 22, 2012 at 11:47 pm

    My moment of zen was watching Mark Sanchez run full speed into his teammate’s ass.

  27. 27.

    Yutsano

    November 22, 2012 at 11:55 pm

    @MikeJake:

    My moment of zen was watching Mark Sanchez run full speed into his teammate’s ass.

    I thought this was a family-friendly blog…

  28. 28.

    2liberal

    November 23, 2012 at 12:05 am

    go patriots ! tell rexy to STFU, and then run it up !

  29. 29.

    PurpleGirl

    November 23, 2012 at 12:08 am

    That’s a cute picture. How are your critters (Tunch, Lily and Rosie… pictures please.)

  30. 30.

    magurakurin

    November 23, 2012 at 12:11 am

    Here’s a bad idea for you.

    Mayor wants to keep roller coaster in sea for great tourist attraction

    Seriously, what is this guy thinking? Nothing like a collapsing hulk of rusting steel to make your beach beautiful and safe. Stupid pills, the FDA should never have let them be sold over the counter.

  31. 31.

    TaMara (BHF)

    November 23, 2012 at 12:17 am

    @Yutsano: About time, they get no respect at the dog shows in my opinion.

    @Anne Laurie: Great Danes – “Your job is to do the work, ours is to sit here and look regal.” At least that was my experience.

    Fetch? Work? What are these foreign words you speak?

  32. 32.

    Perfect Tommy

    November 23, 2012 at 12:19 am

    @Southern Beale: “Holocaust on your Plate” was a PETA campaign – so it’s more likely a shot at PETA…

  33. 33.

    sfinny

    November 23, 2012 at 12:23 am

    Adorable picture. And the toy bucket is great, must put one together so I no longer trip over the various catnip mice, catnip pouches, tennis balls. Not sure how long they will stay in one place though.

    Happy belated thanksgiving to all.

  34. 34.

    Ash Can

    November 23, 2012 at 12:26 am

    Happy Thanksgiving to one and all! The whole famn damily had a great time today (we don’t argue, we eat and drink, and we have a blast). The husband and mom-in-law, who always do all the cooking, put on a great traditional spread, and my octogenarian mom and I sat around getting happily shitfaced on beaujolais nouveau whIle everyone else slaved over a hot stove. And we all wrapped up the evening watching the movie Singing In the Rain on DVD. Life is good. :)

  35. 35.

    Ash Can

    November 23, 2012 at 12:32 am

    And what a sweet little doggie in the toy bucket. She loves you because you’re good people, Cole.

  36. 36.

    sfinny

    November 23, 2012 at 12:36 am

    @TaMara (BHF): One of my favorite jobs as a kid was dog sitting for a great dane. Big Blue was a bit of handful when it came to walks, as he weighed more than I did, but what a wonderful temperment. Having grown up with a Belgian Sheepdog, also a great dog, the great dane seemed so calm and relaxed.

  37. 37.

    seaboogie

    November 23, 2012 at 12:43 am

    Love the pic of sweet Ginny. This day I am giving thanks for one more day with my sweet boy Seamus, possibly the most soulful Golden Retriever that ever was (and that’s saying a lot!).

    My darling lad is fading, and a visit to the vet tomorrow will tell us how fast. At 14 years and with a few undermining afflictions, it will either be days or weeks or – cross our fingers – maybe months.

    Beth @ BJ tells me that he’s in the calendar though – so look for the handsomest boy you ever saw, and that will be my pal Seamus, aka Seaboogie.

  38. 38.

    Yutsano

    November 23, 2012 at 12:45 am

    @magurakurin: Uhh…wow. That stupid is gonna burn for awhile.

  39. 39.

    pseudonymous in nc

    November 23, 2012 at 12:46 am

    @Southern Beale:

    Wish there were some way to hook up these rural shelter animals with some of the humane trains bringing animals to places where families want to adopt them. Of course, the need is so huge.

    There’s a scheme to airlift animals from our region — NC has overcrowded county facilities and high euthanasia rates — to parts of the country with more no-kill shelters. The airlifting seems a bit of a publicity stunt to me, but I’m pretty sure that there’s a regional disparity between where the animals are and where the good homes are.

  40. 40.

    Yutsano

    November 23, 2012 at 12:52 am

    @TaMara (BHF): Oh he was a beautiful fawn. He had the best temperament too, the handler barely had to work him at all. The terrier that won best in show was pretty gorgeous though. Shows what a nice haircut can do I guess.

  41. 41.

    Ruckus

    November 23, 2012 at 1:10 am

    @pseudonymous in nc:
    When Bud had to go back to the rescue org he went by airplane. The plane owner flew all over the western US and Canada moving pets to new owners and to rescue orgs. I didn’t count but I’ll bet there were 20-25 dogs and cats flying with him. He had to get in the plane and have someone(me in this case) load the last of the animals and close the door. I don’t know how many people do this but my impression is there are more than one might imagine.

    Thanksgiving turned out pretty good for me, amazing food, very nice and interesting discussions with people I’ve never met. About 20-25 people, none of the groups related to each other, a few parents and a half doz kids 4-12ish. A nice night.

  42. 42.

    TG Chicago

    November 23, 2012 at 1:10 am

    Nice! I just got to meet my sister’s new rescue, and he turned out to be far more friendly to me than advertised. I think it’s partly because he’s been in a loving home for a few months and he’s adapting nicely, but also partly because I had some leftover turkey to share with him. Oh, and also because I’m so swell.

    In other news, I found this amusing:

    –There is a funny story at http://www.polifact.com/new-jersey/statements/2012/nov/22/paul-levesque/jersey-itinerary-both-events-wrestler-triple-h-say/ which was in reference to HHH saying that WrestleMania outdraws the Super Bowl when they run in the same building. The story lists the six buildings that have held both, using WWE and the Super Bowl media guide as the sources. Kind of funny since the non-worked numbers aren’t that hard to come by. It’s in the form of the Truth-O-Meter that they use for statements by politicians and they concluded that HHH was, in fact, telling the truth. Scary if they’re this good at covering politicians.

    That’s from Dave Meltzer, the premiere Pro Wrestling News Journalist. (yeah, I know… you never thought such a thing existed, but seriously — he’s quite good).

    The point is that Politifact foolishly took WWE’s numbers at face value. But it’s no secret that WWE lies about their attendance numbers. For instance, they claimed that Wrestlemania 3 in 1987 had a paid attendance of 93,173. That would have been a record… but it was a lie. The real number was in the range of 78,000. A great number, but not a record. And that was 25 years ago!

    So this was a total lie by a WWE spokesperson, but Politifact called it Mostly True because they just assumed that WWE wouldn’t lie to them about their attendance numbers.

    Why even bother having a Politifact if they’re just going to take the liars at face value?

  43. 43.

    Yutsano

    November 23, 2012 at 1:14 am

    @TG Chicago: But maths is hard!! Besides, they’re run by that nice Republican Linda McMahon rite? Why would she lie about that?

  44. 44.

    Sacrablue

    November 23, 2012 at 1:22 am

    @Yutsano: Actually, it was the Philadelphia Dog Show that for some reason they now market as the National Dog Show. It is just about the last bench show in the country. I used to work as a bench sitter when I was about thirteen. My mom and her friend bred and showed rough collies. I was the best map reader so I always got the navigator job.

    I agree, the Dane was spectacular, but I was partial to the Beardie.

  45. 45.

    eldorado

    November 23, 2012 at 1:24 am

    this is the same karmic framework that led you to the dem convention, and brought your ladyfriend into your life. don’t question it. enjoy.

  46. 46.

    Old Dan and Little Ann

    November 23, 2012 at 1:38 am

    My dog yeller who my wife backed me into to rescue and had for about 4 months ran away on Thanksgiving a year ago. He had been in the local adoption place for about 3 months after being found wandering somewhere near Skaneateles. Though he was cute, no one wanted him b/c he was such a fucking spazzy freakshow. I don’t know what the hell his experiences were before hand but they sure as hell weren’t good. I wanted to take him back for the first 3 months but figured I may be his best shot. When he ran away I thought, well, he either gets hit by a car or someone finds him. The adoption place puts a chip in each dog they rescue. A lady who actually had her own scanner saw him coming out of swamp 15 miles away and called us the next day. I couldn’t believe it. He is resting comfortably on the couch tonight like most nights but he’s still basically a nut case.

  47. 47.

    TG Chicago

    November 23, 2012 at 1:48 am

    @Yutsano: OMFG. As a wrestling fan, don’t even get me started on Linda McMahon: Senate Candidate. There was SO much wrong with that before you even get into actual lib/con real issues.

  48. 48.

    Anne Laurie

    November 23, 2012 at 1:59 am

    @TaMara (BHF):

    Great Danes – “Your job is to do the work, ours is to sit here and look regal.”

    Well, they are sight hounds, I’m told. And the sight hound defenders always point out that while those dogs needed to have an intense ‘prey drive’, if they’re bringing down your dinner, you want a dog who’s going to lose interest in that ‘prey’ the minute it stops moving. Not so much an issue with boarhounds, of course!

  49. 49.

    Radio One

    November 23, 2012 at 2:02 am

    This has probably been my favorite season for the Pats since 2007. I don’t expect them to be one of the teams in the Super Bowl this year, but they swept the Jets, and they decisively got them out of playoff contention for good this year. Good job.

  50. 50.

    slightly_peeved

    November 23, 2012 at 2:23 am

    @TG Chicago:

    But these are professional wrestlers! Why would they make something up?

  51. 51.

    Yutsano

    November 23, 2012 at 2:24 am

    TBogg bait. Also. Too.

  52. 52.

    TG Chicago

    November 23, 2012 at 3:34 am

    @slightly_peeved: ExACTly. If only Politifact had your instincts!

  53. 53.

    1badbaba3

    November 23, 2012 at 7:55 am

    @Southern Beale: Sometimes a Nazi is just a Nazi. Believe them when they show and tell you who and what they are.

  54. 54.

    rea

    November 23, 2012 at 7:56 am

    It really is a mystery to everyone why this dog loves me

    John must smell like meat.

  55. 55.

    Scuffletuffle

    November 23, 2012 at 8:21 am

    No mystery to me, John, she has good taste. I’m pretty sure my kitties would all love you too.

  56. 56.

    Scuffletuffle

    November 23, 2012 at 8:23 am

    @Yutsano: Can’t he just pray for healing?

  57. 57.

    donnah

    November 23, 2012 at 8:27 am

    Some folks have that animal magnetism. I find that people’s pets latch onto me when I visit, as if I came to see them specifically, apart from their owners.

    We have two cats and a dog, all rescues. I mostly work from home, so they’re with me all day. When I do travel for business, they all glom onto my teenage son, following him around, surrounding him at his computer desk. I called home once evening and asked how the pets were doing without me. He said plaintively, “Mom, you’ve got to come home! They’re all over me!”

Comments are closed.

Primary Sidebar

On The Road - Mike in Oly - Woodard Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area
Image by Mike in Oly (5/24/25)

Recent Comments

  • H.E.Wolf on New Angel Match for the PA Supreme Court Effort by The Civics Center (May 24, 2025 @ 12:48pm)
  • Rockstar on New Angel Match for the PA Supreme Court Effort by The Civics Center (May 24, 2025 @ 12:45pm)
  • Another Scott on New Angel Match for the PA Supreme Court Effort by The Civics Center (May 24, 2025 @ 12:39pm)
  • zhena gogolia on A Lot of Good People Out There, Here’s One of Them (May 24, 2025 @ 12:32pm)
  • Professor Bigfoot on Late Night Open Thread (May 24, 2025 @ 12:29pm)

PA Supreme Court At Risk

Donate

Balloon Juice Posts

View by Topic
View by Author
View by Month & Year
View by Past Author

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
War in Ukraine
Donate to Razom for Ukraine

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

Become a Balloon Juice Patreon
Donate with Venmo, Zelle or PayPal

Meetups

Upcoming Ohio Meetup May 17
5/11 Post about the May 17 Ohio Meetup

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Links)
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Posts)
Fix Nyms with Apostrophes

Hands Off! – Denver, San Diego & Austin

Social Media

Balloon Juice
WaterGirl
TaMara
John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
David Anderson
Major Major Major Major
DougJ NYT Pitchbot
mistermix

Keeping Track

Legal Challenges (Lawfare)
Republicans Fleeing Town Halls (TPM)
21 Letters (to Borrow or Steal)
Search Donations from a Brand

PA Supreme Court At Risk

Donate

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Comment Policy
  • Our Authors
  • Blogroll
  • Our Artists
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!