Sitting here watching the Pens, and noticed that Lily had jumped up on my lap and I apparently had been rubbing her ears for the last, well, who knows how long. I just can not believe it is going on four years since she rescued me.
I had Ajax as my first dog when I was a kid, a little mutt who my parents gave me a couple weeks before Christmas. I woke up, and there was a pup in my bed and they told me Merry Christmas (a bit early) and I said “I want to name him Ajax!” He was never my dog, though, because I never took care of him because I was only six or so and almost as immature as I am now. So Lily and Rosie are my first real dogs, and I guess I didn’t realize that your relationship with your dog gets stronger and stronger by the day. But it really does. Whenever I travel, I wake up multiple times looking for the lumps underneath the covers, and they aren’t there.
I’m including this picture of Ajax and Mr. Purr Puff, just because both of them were such perfect pets:
I really wish there was some way of conveying how awesome Mr. Purr Puff was. We got him from the frat boys down the block, his tail had been cut off in a door so it was only about six inches long, and I am absolutely convinced they blew bong hits (it was the 70’s and 80’s) into his face for two years before we got him, because he was the most laid back cat ever. I need to dig up some of the pictures of him dressed up in doll clothes by my sisters and sitting in a baby carriage. He didn’t give a shit as long as he was fed and warm.
Ramble on. Go PENS!
TaMara (BHF)
Mr. Purr Puff looks like my Jake, who is also totally laid back, despite his Robert DeNiro pose here.
Although I doubt he’d allow me to dress him up. Not enough weed, I suppose.
Scott
Nothing more satisfying than knowing you need them more than they need you.
TaMara (BHF)
It may just be the blurry photo (glad to see you’re consistent), but Ajax looks a bit like your brother’s Ellie.
the Conster
Do you still use the same camera that took that picture? Jeebus, every single picture you post of your pets makes me clean my glasses, wipe my eyes and rub the monitor with a cloth, thinking that you can’t possibly take that many bad pictures, yet, here we are, still looking at fuzzy pet pictures like picture technology hasn’t changed since 1980. Since Tunch didn’t exist then, you can’t even blame it on him distorting the local gravitational field.
Yutsano
KITTEH!!
I lurve the name Mr Purr Puff. Also. Too.
Culture of Truth
mr puff puff… dood
Geeno
It warms me to hear you say that she (Lily) rescued you. From the moment you first posted about her, it was clear you both needed each other. It’s been marvelous and life affirming watching this love develop.
Thank you (very much) for sharing.
Jebediah
@Scott:
I think I know what you mean.
Foggy F Follansbye
Delurking to say this may be my favorite post of all time.
AxelFoley
For all you “concerned” about Obama selling you out on Social Security:
http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2013/04/for-ideologue-left-social-security.html
smintheus
God I hate Matt Cooke, I wish somebody would end that creep’s career for the sake of everybody’s safety. He just slashed Lundquist for no reason at all.
khead
So, my life has gone to the birds since my wife went on a wildlife feeding spree. Pretty awesome. I want a new camera.
Three different woodys.
Redshirt
What was “Mr. Purr Puff” shortened to when calling for him?
Baud
@AxelFoley:
Thanks.
Cacti
I’m so disappointed I missed out Mistermix’s mid-morning emo prog ragegasm/circle jerk.
Did all of our new commenters slink back to FDL and DU(mb)?
Also too, is chained CPI the new public option?
The Dangerman
@Yutsano:
A later cat was named Mr. Puff Puff Pass, being age appropriate and all.
John Cole
@Redshirt: Purr Puff. Which is why I had no qualms yelling ZSA ZSA around town because I had already debased myself decades ago.
I called him Purrtlelump because he was just the laziest god damned cat ever.
Redshirt
@John Cole: I suppose the “Mr.” only got used when he was in trouble/or getting extra petting.
Trivia question for all(no internet look ups): What was the name of Tara and Willow’s cat on Buffy the Vampire Slayer?
Liquid
Seriously, John just give in and become the Crazy Cat Man.
I wouldn’t say ‘cave’ because that might not fly with marketing but ‘give in’ was from Star Wars so it’s’ok…’
raven
@Cacti: Missed shit, it’s rollin.
smintheus
Mr. Purr Puff looks just like the cat we raised from when he was only a few days old…found him abandoned near our house after a night of torrential rains, barely alive, and we nursed him back from the brink. He bonded so closely with us it was a marvel. Last month we had to put him to sleep, much too soon, because of cancer. It was devastating to lose our little guy.
tBoy
We lost our Ajax in November 2012. He was a Chow mix. Red and fluffy. He showed up one day. Lived to be at least 15. He once caught a live Mallard duck and brought it home.
khead
@efgoldman:
I love the red bellies. They are my favorite. Maybe it’s the Dennis Rodman do – not sure. The female sits around on the deck railing now and waits for breakfast. There’s also a northern flicker that stops by but it seems to be camera shy.
smintheus
@efgoldman: A few months back an old friend saw a red bellied woodpecker for the first time. She was so excited she kept babbling about it all day to everyone.
Hill Dweller
Good on Dr. Maddow for pointing out the wingnuts crazy shit at the state level and the Beltway’s refusal to acknowledge said craziness.
raven
@smintheus: Snowy Woodpecker in the yard.
khead
Also, love the blue wallpaper.
Litlebritdifrnt
@tBoy:
My darling Dweebe a Chow/German Shepard ball of red fluff brought a live chicken home one day, that was some story.
LesGS
@AxelFoley: Thanks for that link, Axel. I learned a lot.
gogol's wife
@raven:
Cute!
I love the name Mr. Purr Puff too.
some guy
@AxelFoley:
Obot shills say what?
raven
Red Tail over the house today.
some guy
@Cacti:
Social Security, the most effective of all the New Deal programs, defines the Democratic brand. Offering to cut it is insane, on both a policy and a political level. Obama is pissing on you and you think it’s raining outside.
just simply unbelievable that conservatives like you call yourself Democrats.
YellowJournalism
@Redshirt: Kitty Fantastico, a most awesome name for a cat. It helps that I recently watched an episode with the cat in it.
skippy
in college i lived for a brief time in an apartment that was part of a house cut up into 4 different domiciles. there was a big fat cat who hung around the neighborhood, and tho his scars (including half an ear) bespoke of violent fights in his past, he was so mellow and friendly.
when my buds and i woukld sit around on the floor passing a joitn, the cat would follow the doobie from person to person and let us exhale into his face. he loved it as much as we did!
better than catnip, i imagine.
Redshirt
@YellowJournalism: BZZT! Wrong.
dance around in your bones
The first dog I remember our family having was named (so original) Rin Tin Tin. I used to ride him like a small pony at age 2 (he was a German Shepard).
The second one was a beagle named (even MORE originally) Huckleberry Hound. He was an escape artist and could get over a ten foot cement block wall, despite being maybe two feet tall himself. He disappeared for several months and then came home one day. Another family came by and said “We think you have our dog”.
We said, no, “We’ve had this dog since he was a puppy”. Turned out some college kids had ‘sold’ him to them some months back – the other family called him Buck. We shared him between our families for the next few years – he’d just wander back and forth. Ol’ Huck/Buck.
They are special critters, no?
I’m thinking about watching Animal House again….Steeplejack! Any other suggestions?!
Redshirt
@dance around in your bones: Blues Brothers? Caddyshack?
gogol's wife
@dance around in your bones:
I watched Animal House recently for the first time since I saw it when it came out. It is hilarious. John Vernon’s performance as Dean Wormer is brilliant! And as I said then, I suddenly realized where a lot of the witticisms on BJ came from.
smintheus
@raven: I’ve never seen that woodpecker before. Where do you live?
Dee Loralei
A cousin is in from out of town and coming for dinner tomorrow night. So I’m making a Limoncela Mousseline cake, with Limoncela curd and a white chocolate and limoncela icing. I’m making the curd and candying some lemon peel tonight. I’m making up the recipe, so hopefully it’ll taste as good and be as lovely as I intend. I made something like it last year, but wasn’t happy with the cake, so I’m trying a new cake.And I don’t think I’ve ever had a mousseline before.
I’m also serving spanikopita as an app. Greek baked chicken I’m cooking over a pan of skordalia and a veggie moussaka. If I have time, I’ll make some fresh pita too, and a salad. Don’t know why I was in a Greek food mood, but there ya have it.
Nicole
I love the wallpaper in that photo.
YellowJournalism
@Redshirt: I will resist temptation to look it up, but I was pretty sure that was it. The cat was similar to John’s Mr. Purr Puff.
eemom
ha. This brings back memories of when I was first dating eedad a gazillion years ago and was visiting at his house with future stepson, then about 16, and their kitty…..and I, after observing the kitty closely for a while, demanded of future stepkid: “You got him stoned, didn’t you?”
He was all like, “Wow, how did you know??” First and last thing I ever did that impressed him.
dance around in your bones
@Redshirt: I love both of those movies. I might watch Blues Brothers again just for the music.
@gogol’s wife: Animal House is a classic. Did you watch the end credits where they tell you how everyone ended up later in life? ‘Neidermeyer fragged by his own troops in Vietnam. Bluto becomes a U.S. Senator.’ Ha!
Odie Hugh Manatee
I’ve had a couple of cats that never needed smoke blown in their faces, they just ripped into my stash if it was within reach. One cat chewed the hell out of one of my coats to get at the bag of weed in the bottom of it. I pulled the bag out and it was punctured all to hell and then noticed that the coat pocket was the same way. One time I came home to find another cat of mine stoned out of his brain, sitting in front of his empty food bowl and delivering a long, drawn out “maowwwwwwwwww…” as I came in the room.
He ate about an eighth of an oz., could barely move for about day and was stoned for about three days.
Baud
@dance around in your bones:
It’s been a while since I’ve seen some of the classics. I’ll have to make some time to do that soon.
Redshirt
@dance around in your bones: Have you seen “Top Secret”, with Val Kilmer?
The credits scene from “Animal House” was copied at the end of “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”, among other movies. It’s a good bit.
dance around in your bones
@Baud: I think it might be Animal House in 30 minutes.
Meanwhile I might cruise YouTube clips Of The Blues Bros while keeping one eye on Balloon Juice. I always loved that soundtrack.
@Redshirt: No, I haven’t! I’ll have to track that one down.
jl
@AxelFoley: Thanks for link. The whole policy package was not as bad as the chained CPI indexing, and there are bells and whistles to protect most vulnerable from its effects. But you need bells and whistles to patch things up when you apply the wrong fix to the wrong problem.
I still think the package was a mistake, and said so. I don’t think Oabama is a ‘traitor’ for proposing it. Just wrong on the economics and politics of the issue.
Edit: The proposal is dead now, anyway. And Looks like Boehner can’t help shoving his foot in his mouth when I read his whole statement on it. He is no record as saying entitlement cuts should not wait for tax hikes on the rich. Good, Glad Boehner is being straightforward.
Southern Beale
Got home from class at 9:00. Sitting here with a cat on my lap and a glass of Sancerre at my hand. Husband has something stupid on the TV but I’m too exhausted to complain about it.
Thank God it’s Friday.
longtime lurk
off the topic of cats (which I love, but about which I have nothing to say), but: so, you folks who were so intent on shutting up us hippies about Obama’s pet drone wars because “Republicans want to starve Granny” and so forth: what do you people have to say now that Obama’s aspirational budget proposes to… help starve Granny?
I mean, sure, part of my point in asking this is pure schadenfreude, but I’m also really curious to know how you think/what you feel about this development. Anyone? (and please, no “But the Rethugs are worse!!” so effing tiresome, that.)
LesGS
@Odie Hugh Manatee: One of my roommate’s dogs chewed a small soap stone box of mine into a pulp going after the cube of hash I had stored in it… months previously. By the time the dog got to the box, there was naught left of the hash but a mere whiff.
Southern Beale
Oh this stupid thing we have on TV is Funny Or Die. I think I’ll choose Die.
GregB
@gogol’s wife:
The Dean of Oregon State allowed the film makers to use his campus for scenes.
Years earlier he had been approached by the director of The Graduate for permission to shoot on campus. The Dean asked to read the script and thought the movie was no good. So he didn’t allow The Graduate makers on campus.
So after every college campus that was approached by Landis panned the idea of allowing a film about alcohol and drug abuse and wanton sex, the Dean of Oregon State gave the OK for the Animal House filming because he said he couldn’t tell a good script from a bad script and gave Landis the OK without reading the bawdy script.
It was his office where the horse/chainsaw scene was shot.
jl
Fox friendlying up to Obama, or just being weird as usual?
‘Fox & Friends’ Defends Obama’s ‘Best Looking AG’ Comment
Carlson said she may be inclined to compliment a “nice looking man” for his good looks if she sees one walking down the street.
“But you won’t grab his butt,” co-host Brian Kilmeade wondered.
“No, but that’s totally different, Brian,” Carlson said.
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/fox-friends-defends-obamas-best-looking-ag-comment
Redshirt
@dance around in your bones: It’s from the same people who made “Airplane”, so if you liked that movie, you’ll like “Top Secret”. If not, then no.
Chocolate Mousse.
Comrade Mary
@Redshirt: MISS Kitty Fantastico.
Picky, picky, picky …
Gravenstone
@longtime lurk: Firebagger thread is downstairs, thanks. Do hurry, you might be the one to tick it over the magic 400 count. And take Some Guy with you.
longtime lurk
@Gravenstone: Way to take the easy out: namecalling. How about you step a bit outside your little comfort zone and actually make an argument?
Gravenstone
Sweet jumping Jeebus, but do I despise Hawk Harrelson.
dance around in your bones
@Redshirt:
I speak jive!
Gawd, that movie was funny.
Redshirt
@Comrade Mary: DING DING DING! Correct!
My pickeyness is justified by the thread topic, I do believe.
Suffern ACE
@jl: no butt grabbing of strangers? Since when?
Redshirt
@dance around in your bones: You’ll love “Top Secret” then. Same humor.
Raenelle
Kurt Vonnegut wrote that the love we feel for our pets is as deep/profound/real as the love we feel for humans. Of course there are Christian writers like M. Scott Peck who deny that. But I’m with Vonnegut on this.
Baud
@Raenelle:
Fuck M. Scott Peck.
Redshirt
@Raenelle: Vonnegut is the man. If anyone here has not read “Cat’s Cradle”, please go do so immediately.
dance around in your bones
Shake a Tail Feather
baby :)
Quaker in a Basement
his tail had been cut off in a door so it was only about six inches long…he was the most laid back cat ever.
Why not? No point in losing your cool over a little piece of tail.
Southern Beale
Bill Maher was absolutely insufferable. We were watching it before husband changed it to Funny Or Die which was also insufferable so husband (HE WHO CONTROLS THE REMOTE) changed it back. It was Bernie Sanders, and GOP talking point repeaters Steve Moore and Abby Huntsman. I despise the latter two and they offer nothing to the debate, just the same old bumper sticker slogans and nonsense. And I don’t know what rock Abby Huntsman crawled out from under but the chick just isn’t that bright. Pretty but vapid.
I fucking hate shows like that. I can’t even watch Bill Maher anymore, it’s like TV trolling.
longtime lurk
@Southern Beale: let me guess, were the bumper sticker republicans saying stuff like “we need to reform entitlements, and have a budget that responsibly reduces the deficit”?
funny, that.
jl
@Southern Beale:
When I got bored with TV as a little kid, I would fiddle with the sound and color and vertical and horizontal controls until it was kind of like a psychedelic light show with emitting weird sound garble.
See how well your hubby’s remote works after that.
But, my family wouldn’t let me touch the TV after a few times. They didn’t think it was funny, for some weird reason or other.
Southern Beale
@longtime lurk:
One was saying how Obama is totally not as wonderful as Reagan and if only he were like Reagan the shiny-sparkly free market fairies would have found everyone 40 acres and a job. The other one was a beautiful, caramel-colored woman who had no idea what she was talking about so she talked about “uncertainty” (somehow Obama’s fault, if it even exists!), and then did a rambling 5 minute thing about gay marriage that made no sense but sorta reminded me of that time Miss South Carolina talked about “the Iraq and such.”
God, it was awful. I’ve been spoiled by the intelligent discussion that is (was) Up With Chris.
Southern Beale
@jl:
Pretty sure that’s grounds for divorce in this state. LOL.
bago
My kitty is an inherited ball of clumsy fur called ninja. He’s on my left shoulder as I type this, making it difficult to get out this evening.
longtime lurk
@Southern Beale: Well, you missed the point of my comment, but oh well I’ve had a few slugs of gin and you seem like a nice person so, nevermind the point of my comment. Yeah, you’re right, that crap is maximally annoying. These days NPR is basically full of the same stuff, IMHO.
dance around in your bones
re: Animal House…I met Karen Allen way back in the day at a friend’s house in Hollywood. They were both into that fat baby guru guy, what was his name? Maharaji?
Anyway, she had a wonderful smile.
David Koch
@Southern Beale:
That’s Jon Huntsman’s daughter.
Arianna hired her for HuffPo cuz she’s young and hawt, not for IQ
GregB
Mr. Blutarsky, zero point zero.
Southern Beale
@David Koch:
Oh FFS. I didn’t get the connection. So, another legacy thing. Her daddy’s rich and she’s good looking. No wonder she’s a Republican.
dance around in your bones
(after smoking da herb)
Larry: Okay. That means that our whole solar system could be, like one tiny atom in the fingernail of some other giant being. (Jennings nods) This is too much! That means one tiny atom in my fingernail could be–
Jennings: Could be one little tiny universe.
Larry: Could I buy some pot from you?
(hahahahhahahaha) yes, I enjoying the movie :)
The prophet Nostradumbass
@AxelFoley: you deserve to burn in hell for dragging that thread in here.
David Koch
@eemom: is there double-digit age difference btwn you and eedad?
Redshirt
7 years of college, down the drain!
YellowJournalism
@Redshirt: Purist. I wallow in Buffy geek shame.
eemom
@David Koch:
No, only 7 years. He had a, um, mishap at age 17.
YellowJournalism
RE: “Top Secret”
I can’t be the only person who actually finds that one funnier than the first Naked Gun movie. (Although that one is really good, too!) The Blue Lagoon parody and the absurd, out-of-nowhere underwater fight scene crack me up, not to mention “I know a little German…”
The prophet Nostradumbass
@YellowJournalism: I remember liking that movie when it came out, but I haven’t seen it in ages, so I’m not really sure how it holds up.
Anne Laurie
@Quaker in a Basement:
Parable of the little dog on the railroad tracks, according to my old man…
YellowJournalism
@The prophet Nostradumbass: Not as well as Airplane, but it’s still pretty funny. The Swedish bookstore scene is still a joy to watch while knowing how it was filmed.
Cacti
@some guy:
I think you should primary the President with Darcy Burner.
The prophet Nostradumbass
@YellowJournalism: Another movie that came out the same year, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, is one I remembered liking at the time. I happened to see a bit of it on TV a few months ago, and I had a hard time figuring out what I liked about it, it was awful.
Quaker in a Basement
@Anne Laurie: Indoozle.
SatanicPanic
@AxelFoley: I figured as much.
Redshirt
@YellowJournalism: The first Naked Gun is pretty dang funny. That’s a close race between the two movies.
As a fan addict, I must confess that one of the reasons I LOVE the movie “Airplane” is the drone sound of the plane in flight that plays for much of the movie. It’s hypnotic.
Suffern ACE
@SatanicPanic:
yeah. This seems to be making an adjustment to SS that is necessitated by increased life expectancy and the way that middle class pensions are now offered as defined contribution plans. There is something in there for workers who have spent careers in low wage work and also something in there for those middle class workers who aren’t going to solely rely on social security but might not have enough in defined contribtion plans and other savings who are at risk of living to 90 and outlasting those funds or annuities they roll them into.
dance around in your bones
@Redshirt: You’re a fan addict, too?
I use it to drown out the kid noise. And when I went on long flights to Asia, I used to grab a whole line of seats, flip up the armrests, grab a few pillows and blankets, drink a double scotch and pop a couple Valium and sleep the whole way there, with that lovely drone noise in the background. Wake up in Kabul or Delhi!
Heaven.
(You could do that back in the day).
Redshirt
@dance around in your bones: Fan addict for life. I’ve HAD to sleep with one since I was 5 or so, which was a long time ago. I’ve only gone a handful of nights (not by choice!) without one.
I know there are many other fan addicts out there, but it very much is a secret shame kind of thing. I know I’m slightly ashamed.
dance around in your bones
@Redshirt: I always warn friends/family when they come to visit that the fan is a must when they sleep in my room.
Love it or leave it.
Redshirt
@dance around in your bones: Like a true addict, I’ve maxxed out on fans before. I’m cool now, I just got the one, and I set it on Medium, and it’s a good distance away. But once there was a time when I had the FAN SYMPHONY. Which was, three different fans of different makes, models, sizes, ages, etc. They all sounded different, but together, each on Low, they made the perfect “Airplane” drone noise. Heavenly stuff, yeah.
Capt. Seaweed
@GregB:
Substitute “University of Oregon” for “Oregon State” and you’ve got the story just about right.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Lampoon's_Animal_House
burnspbesq
Dude, you watched the wrong game. Albany – Hopkins was awesome.