Road trip with dogs: My post-surgical dog (pictured in the background) is doing well. She’s down to her last painkiller, which we call BoxyContin.
I’m up late reading “Purity,” which I’m finding “meh” so far. What are you up do this weekend?
This post is in: Dog Blogging, Domestic Politics, Open Threads
by Betty Cracker| 133 Comments
This post is in: Dog Blogging, Domestic Politics, Open Threads
I was removing the excess hair buildup from my brush and decided to Trump mah dawg:
Open thread!
by Betty Cracker| 203 Comments
This post is in: Domestic Politics, Open Threads, Sports
Big game coming up here shortly — (THE!) Ohio State vs Virginia Tech. OSU should win it handily, but I’ll be hoping for an upset, mostly because it would throw the rankings into turmoil. Will OSU start Jones or Barrett? Do the Hokies have a shot? We’ll know soon. I hope it’s not boring.
We attended a cookout earlier today. Had to drive 30 miles to get there with a crockpot of vegetarian baked beans in the back floorboard. It was raining, and I was driving. We were on a majorish road in town, and a stupid squirrel ran out into the street, and like squirrels so often do, it froze.
I hit the brakes and swerved (within my lane!) to miss the squirrel, and the mister yelled at me for “almost causing a wreck,” which I didn’t. I knew where every car was in my proximity, did not slam on my brakes but rather slowed down, did not leave my lane but rather swerved within the lines to miss the squirrel.
Gyad. I was so pissed I almost pulled over and made him drive. Or walk! I’ve been driving for 30-plus years without so much as a fender bender, whereas the mister has totaled several cars, including one of mine when we were dating! Crash test dummies should not lecture good drivers, IMO.
Anyhoo, not only did I not kill a dumb, innocent squirrel, I didn’t even spill the beans. Open thread!
by Betty Cracker| 113 Comments
This post is in: Domestic Politics, Open Threads, General Stupidity
It occurs to me that there’s one pet in our household of whom I haven’t shared blurry photos on the Internet — this wee betta fish:
Poor betta fish have to be among the most abused creatures on earth. They’re kept in tiny plastic cups at pet stores and handed out as winnings at disreputable carnival games. Some deluded people even believe these fish can thrive in a vase with an aquatic plant serving as both habitat and food source.
This poor chap was rescued from such a circumstance. And while his bookshelf tank isn’t as spacious as the Southeast Asian floodplain that should by rights be his home, he’s better off than most captive betta fish. But not grateful enough to hold still for a photo.
Anyway, that’s my betta fish, Sushi. (I didn’t name him, so shut up.) Open thread!
by Betty Cracker| 177 Comments
This post is in: Domestic Politics, Open Threads
Here’s the patient, sans Cone of Shame:
It looks kinda like her hindquarter was shaved in this badly exposed photo, but that’s just sunlight from the window. If you look above her, well, knee, I guess, you can see part of a shaved square. Her position spares you the sight of her incision, which is good because it’s gross.
The best part of this bad photo is the amorphous white thing below her hind foot; that’s the tip of her tail moving so fast it registers as a blur. Wag = Good.
The New Yorker published a piece today entitled “Why You Hate Google’s New Logo,” and it speaks for me. An excerpt:
The new logo retains the rainbow of colors but sheds the grownup curlicues: it now evokes children’s refrigerator magnets, McDonald’s French fries, Comic Sans. Google took something we trusted and filed off its dignity.
So true. Google is my homepage (and my work calendar, etc.), and I wince every time I open the browser. I opened the Google app on my phone earlier, and for a brief second, the reassuring old logo appeared, and I thought it had all been a bad dream. But then the app auto-updated and presented the clown college version. Why, Google? Why?
Anyway, long weekend. Got any plans? We’re keeping an eye on the dog, mostly, and football tomorrow, of course. I have a family cookout to attend on Monday and must find a way to adapt my baked beans recipe for vegetarians. Any suggestions gratefully appreciated.
Open thread!
by Betty Cracker| 132 Comments
This post is in: Dog Blogging, Domestic Politics, Open Threads, Sports
I’m not particularly invested in any of the games being played tonight EXCEPT that I’d like to see the ‘Cocks defeat the ‘Heels (not going well so far). Here’s tonight’s games:
Anyone got any picks to share?
Patsy Marie (boxer dog who had surgery) update: She was so sad and miserable when she came home, and her sadness and misery were so exacerbated by the Cone of Shame that we removed it and are just watching her and the other dog like hawks. I’m sure at some point she’ll perk up enough to wear it, at which time I’ll share photos.
College Football! College Football! College Football!Post + Comments (132)
by Betty Cracker| 270 Comments
This post is in: Dog Blogging, Domestic Politics, Open Threads
I remember once when I was a kid, a church down the street from us had a “live” nativity scene on Christmas Eve, with actual humans portraying Mary, Joseph, Baby Jeebus and the three wise men as well as real cows, goats and sheep to represent the alleged Holy Family’s barn-mates. Sheep weren’t common in that part of Florida, so this live nativity dealio was my first opportunity to pet a sheep. The texture of the animal’s coat wasn’t what I expected. Rather than furry plushness, it was like touching a sofa. The wool fibers fused together to form a somewhat rigid surface.
I was reminded of that when I read this Buzzfeed report on the saga of a stray, unshorn sheep that was recently captured in Australia. His coat had not been shorn for five years:
A team of professional sheep shearers were called in, and they removed a record 89 pounds of wool from the poor critter, who now looks like this (the pink is antiseptic spray, according to Buzzfeed):
The sheep, who was named Chris by his rescuers, will be someone’s pet now. He must feel lighter than air now that he’s not toting nearly 90 pounds of sofa cushions around. Fascinating photos of the epic shearing process at the Buzzfeed link above. It’s somewhat akin to shucking an oyster.
In other animal news, my beloved boxer dog Patsy Marie is having surgery this morning to remove a cyst. It’s a minor thing, but worrisome. Both dogs were outraged when the food and water bowls were taken up last night (no food or water after midnight before a surgery).
I put the bowls back down when the mister left to take Patsy to the vet, but our other dog is too pissed off about being left behind and puzzled by Patsy’s absence to eat or drink.
Patsy Marie should be back home this afternoon, possibly with a Cone of Shame. If so, I will share pix.
Open thread!
PS: Are you a dog-person matchmaker? Hilzoy needs some advice on selecting the right dog.