Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Shallow, uninformed, and lacking identity

We won’t go back.

Too often we confuse noise with substance. too often we confuse setbacks with defeat.

Schmidt just says fuck it, opens a tea shop.

Come on, man.

I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.

Well, whatever it is, it’s better than being a Republican.

Republicans don’t lie to be believed, they lie to be repeated.

I wonder if trump will be tried as an adult.

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

Nothing worth doing is easy.

“But what about the lurkers?”

This really is a full service blog.

… gradually, and then suddenly.

Republican obstruction dressed up as bipartisanship. Again.

Dear Washington Post, you are the darkness now.

“Loving your country does not mean lying about it’s history.”

I like you, you’re my kind of trouble.

Putin dreamed of ending NATO, and now it’s Finnish-ed.

He imagines himself as The Big Bad, Who Is Universally Feared… instead of The Big Jagoff, Who Is Universally Mocked.

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

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

“I never thought they’d lock HIM up,” sobbed a distraught member of the Lock Her Up Party.

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

You are here: Home / Pet Blogging / Dog Blogging / Late Afternoon Update: Puppy Snow Day

Late Afternoon Update: Puppy Snow Day

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I had a request for a good news/puppy post. I am happy to oblige. Anything for you, Betty.

Lil’ bit is growing like a weed. I was able to put Bixby’s first collar on her this week, and while it was still plenty big, I noticed today it wasn’t quite as big. I needed to have her name tag on her so I can HEAR her comings and goings. Otherwise, I’m following her all over the house instead of getting any work done.

Today was her first official snow day. She’s not quite sold on it, but did run around and snuffle her way across the yard.

Bixby on the other hand is in his element. He LOVES snow.

Open thread.

 

Reader Interactions

87Comments

  3. 3.

    Yarrow

    They are too cute together. As I said the other day, her ears look way too big for her! I’m sure she’ll grow into them.

  4. 4.

    Kristine

    Puppies!

    We got 3-4 inches of snow here in far NE Illinois, so Gaby got to roll and snuffle and hunt for voles. She was a happy girl.

  12. 12.

    PST

    I have a snow dog I’d like to share. Bernadette is half Bernese mountain dog, and this winter she has had her first chance at snow. It is her natural environment. We live in a city apartment, and she begs to sit out on the balcony when it’s snowing for half an hour at a time. She just calmly watches the street life warm in her fur. Our hearts go out to Betty Cracker and her family today.

  16. 16.

    geg6

    @PST:

    My sister has a Norwegian buhund and she pines for the snow, too. But she barks too much and can’t be left outside too long on the deck in the snow. My sister’s yard is full of things to bark at, from neighbor’s dogs to deer to turkeys to rabbits to…well, you get the picture.

  17. 17.

    TaMara (HFG)

    @geg6: They make my day every day. :-) I am slowly coming round to letting go of the guilt around losing Bailey and inviting Scout in so quickly. Scout kind of makes that easier, with her cuteness and all. And seeing Bixby having fun again, well, that’s really what it’s all about.

    Last night we had the laser lights out and had a grand old time with cats and dogs carousing together. Good thing I have sturdy floor joists. Bixby doing his cat imitation is hysterical, if not very loud as he POUNCES. LOL

  19. 19.

    Yarrow

    I went to Penzey’s today to get a birthday gift for someone and also to get my free mini Soul box. I’m happy to report it was packed. There was hardly any room in the parking lot and everyone who was walking to a car was carrying a Penzey’s bag, so they must be doing a brisk business.

    They seemed to have customers in the store who were not very familiar with it, so perhaps their strong messaging is bringing in new customers. They also had some fliers near the checkout counter for the upcoming Women’s March on January 20.

  20. 20.

    PST

    @TaMara (HFG): She’s pretty adorable all right. Lots more neighbors know her than me. I’m always hearing someone say, “Hi Bernie. You must be PST.” She is just nine months old, so the whole street has watched her grow from 10 pounds to 65.

  21. 21.

    Humdog

    My new dog is 5.5 weeks past surgery to repair torn cruciat ligaments (sp?) and she is ready to go running around again but she must stay still for at least another 2.5 weeks. Her only time off leash is a few moments in the covered kennel to do her business. She is so eager for freedom she raced to the dog door to go out to the kennel even though my older dog was still IN the dog door trying to mind her own business and head outside. The youngin’ wedged them into the doorway with her energetic bound and they were stuck together in the door for nearly a minute! The old one just laid down and let the “injured” dog walk right over her to get to freedom. Silly goofs!

  24. 24.

    dmsilev

    When I was a kid, we lived for a year in San Diego and then moved back to Boston. During that year, we got a puppy and of course brought him back as well. He was maybe a year and a half old when he encountered snow for the first time, and it really really confused him. Didn’t know where it was safe to put his paws, didn’t know what to make of the landscape suddenly looking so different, etc. He got used to it eventually, but it took a while.

  25. 25.

    Yutsano

    SCOUTPUPPEH!!!! SQUEEEEE!!!

    I have stuff I should be doing around my place, but motivation is next to nil. So a late lunch of chicken strips and lemonade it is.

  27. 27.

    raven

    @Mnemosyne: My dad was the football, basketball, golf, tennis and driver training (as well as English teach) at North Chicago High School in the early 50’s.

  30. 30.

    MaryL

    One of my favorite things about raising a puppy in a two-dog household was watching the way my older dog would periodical test the younger one to see how much rough-housing he could handle. She was normally extremely gentle (at least once she establish that she was indisputably in charge, which only took about 10 minutes), but every few weeks she would straight up barrel into him to see whether he was big enough to stay on his feet. She was pretty excited when he no longer toppled over.

  34. 34.

    NotMax

    Stoked that season 4 of Rita due to show up on Netflix mañana.

    Gotta ask what the blue blazes a mini soul box is. Sounds like something Gargamel cobbled together to torment Smurfs. :) (No Penzey’s brick and mortar shop at all in this state.)

  35. 35.

    ProudGradofCatLadyAcademy

    I launched a business today. No seriously, I did. It’s a side gig right now, and I hope to scale it up to Patient Advocate soon. It’s on Fiverr. I totally suck at things, like writing and editing and getting the damn logo fixed so only one shows up.

    But, you don’t learn by agonizing you learn by doing and then fixing. Big fan of Fire, aim, ready over here.

    Super scared! SUPER NERVOUS!

  36. 36.

    JohnO

    Adorable puppies!

    Must be IL Day. I was born in Chicago, grew up in the far rural SW ‘burbs, and after college came back to the NW burbs. Seems like enough for a local meet up to me!

  37. 37.

    ProudGradofCatLadyAcademy

    @NotMax:

    What is Rita? I just finished The Crown. It made me think that I might want to check out some good biographies on Winston Churchill.

    Now I don’t have anything to watch, but hopefully I will be occupied with my new business to worry about new things to watch. Although I liked the book The Alienist a lot so I might have to find a way to watch that.

  40. 40.

    Yutsano

    @dmsilev: When I was growing up, we had a Newfoundland named Sasha. We got her in either Hawai’i or Virginia not sure which now. Anyway she had never really seen snow until we moved to Connecticut. But she was on it like a duck to water. We almost had trouble getting her in the house come winter.

  43. 43.

    zhena gogolia

    @ProudGradofCatLadyAcademy:

    The New York Times reviewer gave preference to Victoria over The Crown (which I haven’t seen; “streaming” doesn’t compute with me). We enjoy Victoria, although it’s so ridiculously inaccurate and whitewashing of the Queen. The performances (and costumes and music) are amusing. They make Victoria look as if she’d fit right into the most PC feminist studies department in the country.

  44. 44.

    schrodingers_cat

    @zhena gogolia: What’s not to like, She made England Great Again. MEGA! Tens of millions of Indians dead, so what, small price to pay for the glory of Her Majesty.

    ETA: I wonder if she called herself, the leader of the free world! I kid, I kid.

  47. 47.

    NotMax

    @Steeplejack

    Thanks. Make my own cajun seasoning mix, that way can tweak it to personal taste.

    Couple of years ago installed what is marketed as a medicine cabinet on the wall of the kitchen, exclusively to store spices and have them at ready reach. Really spiffy looking unit, and very sturdy. Use the top as an extra shelf on which to store the 4-slice toaster and the hot pot out of the way yet accessible.

  49. 49.

    raven

    @ProudGradofCatLadyAcademy: Churchill’s Secret (2016) is good. Also “Into the Storm or Churchill at War (alt. title) is a 2009 biographical film about Winston Churchill and his days in office during World War II. The movie is directed by Thaddeus O’Sullivan and stars Brendan Gleeson, who plays the British Prime Minister. Into the Storm is a sequel to the 2002 television film The Gathering Storm, which details the life of Churchill in the years just prior the war. Into the Storm had its first public premiere on HBO and HBO Canada on 31 May 2009.[1][2]

    Into the Storm was nominated for 14 Primetime Emmy Awards.[3] Brendan Gleeson won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie.”

  55. 55.

    Mnemosyne

    @Kristine:

    Round Lake was a sh!thole when I was growing up in the area (Libertyville/Lake Bluff) but it seems somewhat better now. Apparently they finally went blue within the past few years and now have a Democratic congresscritter.

    I had a summer job at Six Flags when I was a teenager in the 80s. Ah, the stories I could tell …

    @raven:

    North Chicago was also kind of a sh!thole when I was growing up. I had friends whose dad was a Navy dentist assigned to Great Lakes.

  58. 58.

    ProudGradofCatLadyAcademy

    @zhena gogolia:

    Refus Sewell is one of my favorite actors. His performance in The Man in the High Castle made me exceedingly glad we live in the universe where we won, and will still win against Facisim.

    So I watched Victoria, and yes, the whitewashing of her reign is problematic to be sure. That said, they did do a good job of making her seem priggish with her Lady with a Tumor might be pregnant and unmarried pearl clutching routine.
    That said, to badly imitate what I think British people say, “It was a jolly good romp of a costume drama.” ***

    *** Pretty sure they don’t talk like that, except in my head.

  59. 59.

    Steeplejack

    @NotMax:

    The only one I think I’ve mentioned recently is Anatomy of Evil on MHz. I saw it six or seven months ago and have been rewatching it as MHz is running it on Saturday nights. It’s only five or six episodes, but each one is feature-length (100 minutes or so). The main character is an unconventional Vienna psychologist who is consulted by the police or occasionally gets involved by chance. The episodes are quiet and oblique but very interesting. The writing is good and the performances are understated.

  60. 60.

    NotMax

    @schrodingers_cat

    Here’s the basic version:

    3 Tablespoons onion powder
    3 Tablespoons garlic powder
    1½ Tablespoons black pepper
    1½ Tablespoons white pepper
    6 Tablespoons paprika
    ½ – 1 Tablespoons cayenne pepper (more for extra heat)
    1½ Tablespoons dried oregano
    1 Tablespoon dried parsley
    1½ Tablespoons dried thyme
    1½ Tablespoons dried basil

    Mix all together well, keep in tightly sealed container. May be refrigerated to last longer.

    BTW, you may already be aware of it but recently came across a site with a lot of Indian recipes, among others.

  63. 63.

    ProudGradofCatLadyAcademy

    Are facebook links permitted even if one is promoting themselves? I don’t like to mix business with pleasure. But here in bullet point fashion is the following:

    1) I hate Facebook, and think it is of the devil
    2) I have no idea how it works, those commercials that make fun of people not getting Facebook could be me
    3) I made a facebook page and a logo.

    Can I post the link here just to show off a bit? I would be mortified if you all thought I was begging for likes or anything, I am just kind of proud of myself today. In fact, please don’t like it, because I would be just so embarrassed if you did.

  64. 64.

    Yarrow

    @NotMax: Penzey’s has very good quality spices and herbs and some interesting blends as well. Since the 2016 election they have been very vocal about being against the hatred, misogyny, white supremacy and so forth that the Trump administration promotes. Their owner has said that while their strong and outspoken stance has lost them some customers it has gained them many more and they are confident and glad they are standing up for what’s right. The stores are fun because you can smell all their products in sample jars, but if they’re not in your state you can order from them online.

  67. 67.

    ProudGradofCatLadyAcademy

    @Miss Bianca:

    Thank you! We are getting laid off in February I think. I am having no luck finding a new job at my current company. It’s really difficult to switch departments at this place for some reason. In mid-2016, in early 2017, they promised to move all 45 of us from the healthcare exchange division to another one. They moved 10, promised the rest of us were moving soon, and then mid-2017 pulled us into a conference room and told us they were changing their minds and now we had to find jobs on our own by the end of the year/beginning of 2018. I was thinking I would take the severance package and unemployment, but now I am thinking I want another year as a company woman and work on becoming an independent patient advocate.Today seemed a good day to launch.

  70. 70.

    NotMax

    @ProudGradofCatLadyAcademy

    Rita is a Danish TV series. Without giving away any spoilers, revolves around a dedicated school teacher who doesn’t take sh*t from anyone. Also propagated a 3-episode spin-off mini-series, Hjørdis.

  73. 73.

    JPL

    @Yarrow: I just did a store locator search and there is one in Sandy Springs, which is just south of me. It’s pretty close to my son’s house, so I’ll visit soon.

  76. 76.

    Steeplejack (phone)

    @JPL:

    I’m lucky to have a Penzeys just two miles away in downtown Falls Church. Didn’t know it was there until I went to the business next door a few months ago.

  79. 79.

    zhena gogolia

    @ProudGradofCatLadyAcademy:

    No edit button, but last night I thought it was a cute inside joke that Ada Lovelace appeared as a character, since Sewell originated the role of Septimus Hodge in Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia — the tutor to a character who seems to be based on Lovelace.

  80. 80.

    Ruckus

    @ProudGradofCatLadyAcademy:

    independent patient advocate

    Wonderful.
    I believe there is a huge need in our healthcare system for this because so much of public health care is controlled by the insurance companies. I’m still able to be an advocate for myself at the VA but I can foresee a day when that won’t be true. However the VA has a patient advocacy office that will at least attempt to insure that one’s care happens. I don’t see that sort of thing happening in the non VA world, where it seems to be far more needed.
    Good luck and prosperous days! BTW the FB page looks fine.

  82. 82.

    Alternative Fax, a hip hop artist from Idaho

    @TaMara they are so adorable together. I can only imagine Bixby as a cat stalking something.
    Bernadette is adorable. I know the feeling of having people know your dogs name and not yours – “Hi Harry! Oh, and you too.” LOL

    @raven: I love that picture! I hope you’re feeling better.

  83. 83.

    ProudGradofCatLadyAcademy

    Oh my gosh, I am kind of misting up at the kind words. Let’s just say

    Thank you all for the wonderful support. I have to log now, it’s been a long day

  84. 84.

    Gretchen

    @ProudGradofCatLadyAcademy: Facebook page looks good to me. It sounds like a great idea for a business – I think it fills a need. Do you just serve one area of the country or everywhere? I’d specify that on the website. Good luck!

  86. 86.

    J R in WV

    @Mnemosyne:

    I spent about 8 months at Great Lakes, down into Chicago on weekends (after payday) all of the summer of 1970. Didn’t care for the Navy Base that much, but Chicago was nice, good music, parks, free concerts. Cheap tix to the Chicago Symphony’s Summer camp, just a couple of stops away on the train.

    We went up to a state park north of the base a couple of train stops, was walking/hitching back south and it started to rain hard… Over there was a book shop, so we ran to get into the dry. After a few minutes I began to pick up that the merchandise was, um, different. It was the local HQ of the John Birch Society, and the books covered Eisenhower’s communism, the US Army fighting for the Red Army in central Asia, then it got weird!!

    We noticed that the rain was easing and hit the road, those guys were too strange!

  87. 87.

    J R in WV

    @ProudGradofCatLadyAcademy:

    Sounds like a real opportunity for you. I do not do Facebook, at all, so I can’t see your prototype at all. One thing you may want to consider is personal PR for what you do, offer to talk about health insurance problems with radio/tv/newslettters, advertising.

    I knew a guy who started a liquor store at the new big shopping center, and assumed traffic would lead to great sales. Not so, he was too cheap to advertise, and wound up moving to a really cheap location elsewhere. You can’t get traffic without people learning that you’re out there.

    Best of luck, it’s so complex there’s plenty of need for the service you want to provide. There are lots of people using FB, just because I’m resistant to their “service” is no reason not to use it.

    One of my important maintenance medications just went from $5 copay to $500 per refill, dropped from the formulary – bad news. Dr thinks he has a replacement, we shall see. After 15 years of as needed with original med it’s hard for me to get happy about a change! The insurance outfit offered me the free advice – worth every penny – that I could try OTC pepcid, etc. Wrong part of the body, folks!

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