Eau de Pug

Voluntary Commitment

2010-05-11T14:38:00.005-04:00

Has it really been over a year since the last post here? Yes, it really has. I miss blogging and my blogger friends, but just have not felt inspired. So for the next year, my commitment is to post at least one time each month. It may not be a post of much substance. It could even be a photo or a quote. That shouldn't be too hard, should it?

Better late than never

2009-01-07T16:44:00.002-05:00

The pugs would like to share a few moments from their Christmas festivities...

Tyler finds the holidays an exhausting time of year!

Zoey and Lillie were eager to open gifts.

Flickr-holics Anonymous

2008-05-08T22:01:00.002-04:00

There's a reason I haven't posted in a long while.
It is an addiction called Flickr.
Really, it has gotten out of control.

It's been awhile

2008-02-04T19:29:00.000-05:00

Holy COW -- almost a YEAR has gone by! I am a bad blogger friend and do apologize for that. Hopefully next time it won't take quite as long to get around to posting again. It always helps for one to remember her password as well.

Tyler would say hello, but he's too busy having a cow.

Not enough junk in the trunk

2007-03-21T10:12:00.000-04:00

Sorry I haven't been around much lately. A bit going on right now, and part of that is the house is full of so much accumulated STUFF that it is overwhelming and just a big chaotic mess. Boxes, stacks, piles of STUFF everywhere! Most of this is STUFF that is covered in dust because I don't use it, and when I do need it, don't know where to find it!

A significant portion of the STUFF is clothing. After reading several articles, I feel past the stages of keeping things that are multiple sizes too small, hoping to fit into them again "one day." So the jeans from high school finally went on their merry way last summer. But...

I have the hardest time getting rid of STUFF for various reasons, especially sentimental ones. Like, there were several nightgowns that I occassionally wear, but they were full of holes and from 1994. I didn’t want to get rid of them because they were from my grandmother who passed away, but they were full of holes and all stretched out! So - those finally had to go.

Question for y'all: What do you do with old t-shirts that are very comfy and all stretched out that are only good for sleeping in? I keep them, of course! But how many of these does one need? Does a person really need a few dozen of them?! So I got rid of the most raggedy looking ones, and am hoping now I will wear the other ones more. I did find some new shirts that had been buried in the mess and forgotten about, so those can finally get some wear.

But it’s hard getting rid of even the old raggedy t-shirts, even knowing there is no worry about running out of stuff to sleep in. What about all those concert t-shirts that never get worn anymore because they are so long, yet seemingly too snug to be slept in? The t-shirt from the first Tori Amos concert I ever went to, which has yellow stains on the underarms and doesn't get worn... I just couldnt' get rid of it. Blah, blah blah, the list goes on and on! You would be ASHAMED if you saw the mess I kept. Only got rid of three bags full of clothes, and “bags” are those little handheld plastic ones like you get at the grocery store or Walmart. Maybe about 15 garments altogether going to Goodwill. And about 4 or 5 t-shirts with holes ended up in the trash. Not a very impressive spring cleaning, considering I spent an entire day on it.

Guess what we got yesterday

2007-01-19T12:59:00.000-05:00

First snow of this season!!!!! Yay!

Tyler's feet got a bit cold.

So did his cousin Zoey.

But that didn't stop them from leaving cute little prints all over the deck :-)

Tyler and me thank you

2007-01-05T13:41:00.000-05:00

Wow. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all the purrrayers and good thoughts sent to Tyler. This means a lot to him and to me. It seems to be helping him also.

Tyler went for x-rays a couple days ago and nothing significant was found. The vet recommended we keep him on the anti-inflammatory med (Deramaxx) for a couple of weeks because he could have a sore muscle, nerve or joint which would not show up in an x-ray, and he didn't think the condition was urgent to warrant doing an MRI at this point.

The following morning, Tyler seemed a lot better. Normally when the medication wore off, he would stop walking. Now he seems okay when the meds have worn off. So that is progress, right? We have kept him on the medication a couple more days, but my husband wants to take him off the medicine. His theory is that Tyler doesn't need the meds any longer than absolutely necessary. I am not sure. It seems like the inflammation could return and stopping the meds now could be too soon. However, I am willing to give it a trial run this weekend, to see how Tyler acts without the med for a longer time frame, and also if he is *able* to feel pain, he might be less inclined to run and jump and damage whatever is healing.

What are your thoughts? Should anti-inflammatories be continued after the symptoms subside? Or should they be stopped as early as possible?

In the meantime, I went home for lunch yesterday and Tyler begged politely for food. When I finished eating, he brought a toy and wanted to be chased. The spring and curl are returning to his tail. Although I'm scared to say he's out of the woods, he definitely seems to be improving.

Your comments and prayers have meant so much. I cannot thank you enough! Any suggestions or advice about the meds or symptoms, if you have thoughts on this, would be welcomed too.

My sweet boy does not feel well...

2007-01-02T01:16:00.000-05:00

Tyler has been acting strangely since the end of last week. Thursday night he awoke and was pacing the floor. Friday morning, he did the same thing. Then he seemed fine for a bit, but when I came after work and tried walking him, he would barely move. He laid down in the road and huddled into a ball. He had to be carried home. When I brought him inside and called the vet, he crawled under our Christmas tree and laid down against the wall. He acts like he is in severe pain, and when he stands he arches his back and is afraid to move.

The vet saw him and gave him anti-inflammatory drugs, and said to give this ten days because he could have an injury or degeneration of a disc in his neck or upper back. The medicine works VERY well, but wears off hours before we can give another dose. During the 4- 5 hours he feels bad each day, he can barely move. He is clearly in pain. This is not like Tyler. It is heartbreaking to see him like this. I am worried to tears for him, and really scared of what this could be. It is like his spirit is completely broken when he is hurting.

Please send healing thoughts and/or prayers for Tyler. Hopefully it is something that can be treated. Thanks to much internet research and pondering of worst case scenarios, I have cried almost non-stop the past few hours, and a lot over the weekend and am pretty much a basketcase over this. Tyler is too young to have to deal with anything serious, and we haven't had nearly enough time with him. He has to be okay. Please let him be okay.

Merry Christmas to all

2006-12-26T16:27:00.000-05:00

I hope my friends and their loved ones had the merriest Christmas ever!

Hey, what's that in my stocking over there?!

Good day in the neighborhood!

2006-11-28T22:13:00.000-05:00

Y'all, this is Jules. She moved in to my neighborhood a few months ago and we have a slowly blossoming friendship. Jules is a pekingese, 8 years old, and kind of shy. She used to bark ferociously when Dad and me walked by her house, but we knew it was all a bluff. How did we know, you ask? Because when I took one step in her direction, she ran away and hid on her porch. (Heheh. All bark and no bite, baby!)

But it's okay because now she doesn't bark at me anymore, she just comes out to say hello.

- Tyler

I am thankful for...

2006-11-25T16:38:00.000-05:00

... the many, many times my good looks have saved me!

- Tyler

Am I supposed to be scary?

2006-11-03T11:40:00.000-05:00

This is what the folks made me wear this Halloween. As you can see, the cape is twisted from my futile efforts to remove it.

Lunch

2006-11-01T14:05:00.000-05:00

A bowl of potato chips and leftover cupcake that has been sitting on the cabinet at work since yesterday. How healthy and weight conscious is that?

Hope everyone is having a...

2006-10-31T22:29:00.000-05:00

Good Lookin'

2006-10-29T22:27:00.000-05:00

We went for a drive on the parkway this afternoon, and of course the handsome little man had to come along. We stopped several times where he stretched his legs, made a couple of friends, and drank some water.

Can you tell he had a good time?

Silver Medal

2006-10-21T22:57:00.000-04:00

A champion came home with us today!

Second place in the best pug trick contest.
Of course, he has always been a winner to us.

Quake

2006-10-18T09:31:00.000-04:00

Apparently I was in the shower or asleep, because I missed them all.

Sleep soundly, Gizmo

2006-10-10T23:00:00.000-04:00

Gizmo's mommy, daddy and brother lost a wonderful companion yesterday. He will always be with them in their hearts and memories, but he is so deeply missed. Please say a prayer or light a candle for little Gizmo and his folks.

The Summons

2006-10-10T20:05:00.000-04:00

Tonight my mom has PMS. So I'm summoning my Higher Power for the patience to tolerate her.

"Ebony and Ivy"

2006-10-10T00:19:00.000-04:00

D#MMIT!!!!!

2006-10-02T12:45:00.000-04:00

Okay. I am going to write more. Promise! That means keeping up with friends on here AND posting more entries. Things have been crazy hectic and some of that was wedding-related, some of it was house fixing-up related. Some of it is that I'm so far behind on posts that I don't know where to start, so am just going to take it from here and maybe not even go in the right order. So... that is where things stand.

My back "went out" about 20 minutes ago and I'm sitting here at work not able to do much about it because all sick days have been used for this year (thanks, wedding stress). I can function, just not without that knife-sticking-in-the-shoulder blade feeling. Of course, that feeling happens anytime I exhale, so might as well be doing something anyway, because "exhaling" is not a task that can be put off!

It's probably a pinched nerve. The gazillion mg. of ibuprofen I just took should help. Until then, if you hear someone swearing in the distance, that's probably me, trying (with little success) to lift a glass of water.

Less than a week to go

2006-08-13T04:06:00.000-04:00

Right on, Ella!

2006-08-01T23:43:00.000-04:00

It's too darn hot,It's too darn hot
I'd like to sup with my baby tonight
Refill the cup with my baby tonight.
I'd like to sup with my baby tonight
Refill the cup with my baby tonight,
But I ain't up to my baby tonight
'Cause it's too darn hot.

It's too darn hot,It's too darn hot
I'd like to coo with my baby tonight
And pitch the woo with my baby tonight.
I'd like to coo with my baby tonight
And pitch the woo with my baby tonight,
But brother you'll fight my baby tonight
'Cause it's too darn hot.It's too darn hot.

According to the Kinsey Report
Ev'ry average man you know
Much prefers his lovey dovey to court
When the temperature is low,
But when the thermometer goes 'way up
And the weather is sizzling hot,
Mr Pants, For romance,Is not.

'Cause it's too, tooToo darn hot
It's too darn hot,It's too darn hot.
I'd like to coo with my baby tonight
And pitch the woo with my baby tonight.
I'd like to coo with my baby tonight
And pitch the woo with my baby tonight,
But brother you'll fight my baby tonight
'Cause it's too darn hot.

According to the Kinsey Report
Ev'ry average man you know
Much prefers his lovey dovey to court
When the temperature is low.
But when the thermometer goes 'way up
And the weather is sizzling hot,
Mister God For his squad
A marine,For his queen,
A G.I.,For his cutey-pie
Is not.

'Cause it's too, tooToo darn hot
It's too darn hot,It's too darn hot.
It's too darn hot,It's too darn hot.

Endless Love

2006-07-20T23:55:00.000-04:00

This looks too real, y'all.

July 17, 1959

2006-07-18T00:05:00.000-04:00

At the age of 44, Billie Holiday breathed her last breath at Metropolitan Hospital of New York. She died under house arrest for drug possession, and had only $.70 in the bank.

But Billie left behind so much for the fans who would love her decades after her life ended, and for artists who would be inspired by her generations later. Her quivering, emotional voice haunts me on this night.

This is not only a tribute to Billie. It is also in memory of Puggy. Puggy was vocal about her musical preferences. Like the time she tried to sing along to Tom Petty's "Only a Broken Heart." She clearly loved Billie, as she would lie on my bed and smile blissfully when the crackling of a Billie cd started, and she stayed there until the last track had ended. She understood Billie's longing all too well when she sang "Give Me a Pigfoot and a Bottle of Beer." A steak and a wine cooler was more in Puggy's style, but the sentiment was the same.

Not to mention Billie's attitude. She didn't take crap off people. Puggy was sassy in much the same way. I often joked that Billie had reincarnated herself into Puggy. I wonder where Puggy's soul is now, more than a year after her passing. Is she a free spirit, drifting in the cosmos? Has she returned as an Outback employee, chowing down on ribeyes and porterhouses that customers couldn't quite finish?

One may never know, but her sweet smile and sassy snorts are right here with me always, even more so when Billie's voice rings through the speakers.

On that note, here's one that Billie has performed.

"Please don't talk about me when I'm gone
Oh honey, though our friendship ceases from now on
And listen, if you can't say anything real nice
It's better not to talk at all is my advice

We're parting, you go your way I'll go mine
It's best that we do
Here's a kiss I hope that this brings lots of luck to you
Oh makes no difference how I carry on
Remember, please don't talk about me when I'm gone

We're parting, you go your way I'll go mine
It's best that we do
Here's a kiss I hope that this brings lots of luck to you
Makes no difference how I carry on
Remember, please don't talk about me
Please don't talk about me
Please don't talk about me when I'm gone"

Free fur

2006-07-17T16:29:00.001-04:00

Friend from a pug list shared this today:

"I work at a pizza shop. I didn't know I had a pug hair on my shirt arm. This lady made this big fuss about what if it falls in her food. I told her I wouldn't charge extra!"

May, 2006 Meetup Pics

2006-07-11T23:37:00.000-04:00

Cooper the pup

Stayin' cool in the pool

Who will find the perfect spot?

Zander wins this round!

Coopen relaxes in her backyard

Michelle (hostess) shows Coopen's white paw

Roxxie pauses to catch her breath

Zander and Josie on the deck

Sarah with Josie

Pudge is on the lookout

Is there anything cuter than a pug's smile?

Uh oh

2006-07-08T00:13:00.000-04:00

Tyler was psyched because he had the meetup pics ready to post.
Until...

I caught him prancing around with a demolished ink pen, only to be greeted seconds later by this in the office carpet.

Needless to say, someone is grounded from the office for awhile.

Tyler: He who stays near vermilion gets stained red; he who stays near ink gets stained black.

What?!

Meetup was fun!

2006-05-27T06:34:00.000-04:00

Totally rocked. I met some cool pugs and nice people.
Can't wait to show y'all the pics!

In the meantime, check out the side effects of this drug.

- Tyler

Whole lotta pug

2006-05-26T15:40:00.000-04:00

Tyler: Great news, y'all!

My folks are takin' me to a meetup. I've been to some very small meetups, but there will be around 10 pugs at this one! It's in the morning before it gets hot outside, and we'll be in a fenced in yard. You know what that means? NO LEASH!

This is gonna rock. Right, Mom?

Puggyspice: Of course! You and Zoey are going to have such a great time.

Tyler: What are you talkin' about? Zoey's not coming.

Puggyspice: Yes she is, your grandma is bringing her! Then your dad is going to take you both home to play together while grandma and I go shopping.

Tyler: No.
*pitiful stare*

Nooooo. Thought you guys loved me.
Why you gotta bring her?

Puggyspice: Tyler! Be nice. She's your cousin. And besides, you always act like she gets on your nerves, but when she walks away you just go back for more.

Tyler: What's that got to do with anyth...

Puggyspice: SHUSH!

Tyler: Okay, fine.
Geez! Someone better get you off that pill 'cuz it's not making you any sweeter.

Puggyspice: Grrrrr. Yet another instance of your cuteness saving you! Anyway, check out these pics. Do you remember these pugs from the meetup last year?

Tyler: Yeah! That's Daisy giving me a kiss.

Tyler: This is a really cute pup named Zoey. And it's not my cousin either. My silly cousin wasn't even born yet!

Tyler: Here I am playing with Max.

Tyler: Max's tongue hangs out so far because he is a survivor of heat stroke.

Tyler: Scruffy's folks made him dress like a bunny. Mom said I don't have to wear a costume 'cause I look so good "au natural."

Puggyspice: And no pug meetup is complete without...

Tyler: THE END!

Hormone hell revisited

2006-05-24T20:24:00.000-04:00

Question for all women who will share your experiences:

Do you or have you used the Pill and if so, which one(s)? What were your experiences?

I have just started Ortho Tri-cyclen which is supposed to help acne. Well I didn't have much of a problem with that anyway, but NOW just under a week into the pill, my face is breaking out like it did in high school! And mood swings, headaches, etc. are worse. The nurse said "no way" could I be having side effects this early. HELLO! I know my body and when something is off. But it could just be an adjustment. I just don't want to have horrible skin for the wedding day, which is under three months from now. Engagement pictures are next weekend. Call me vain but the one thing we are splurging on for the wedding is PICTURES and the idea of having them ruined by big bumps that I didn't have to deal with BEFORE going on the pill... it's sickening.

I have read that Alesse may help acne. Then again, I read that it makes it worse. Ortho is supposed to make it better NOT ruin one's skin! And this is the name brand too (not the generic that got recalled because people were getting pregnant while taking it) so it shouldn't mess with me like this.

Obsessive thinking, anyone?

Twenty-nine percent

2006-05-18T09:33:00.000-04:00

... of America still supports him?

Tag time

2006-05-15T19:06:00.000-04:00

Courtesy of DKM, I have been tagged.

Accent – North Carolinian with a hint of somethin' else
Booze of choice – Lemon with a splash of water
Chore I hate – Litterbox, cleaning bathtub, dusting
Dog or Cat – Pug, bun and beardie
Essential electronics – digital camera, mp3 player
Favorite perfume(s)/cologne(s) – RALPH & Polo Sport for Women
Gold or Silver? – White Gold
Hometown – Conover, NC
Insomnia?– Occassionally
Job Title– Legal Assistant
Kids?– Four leggeds
Living Arrangement – House
Most admired trait – Creativity
Number of Sexual Partners– Ever? Or at this very moment?
Overnight Hospital Stays – Three, but only in the waiting room
Phobia – Spiders, heights
Quote – “How does one become a butterfly?" she asked pensively. "You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar." -Trina Paulus
Religion – Earth based spirituality
Siblings – None
Time I wake up – When snooze button hits me back!
Unusual talent/skill – grooming Simone without losing limbs
Vegetable I refuse to eat– chickpeas, lima beans
Worst habit - Chronic lateness, procrastination
X-rays – lungs, right ankle, spine
Yummy foods I make – Hmmm... hmmm... Should I cook more often?
Zodiac sign – Leo

Tag, you're it: any pug who reads this!

Outside looking in

2006-05-13T09:43:00.000-04:00

How mean!

2006-05-12T15:52:00.000-04:00

The former assistant of Old Boss called my place of employment today. He has since gone into private practice. Occasionally our paths cross and he comments how glad he is to be out from under Old Boss's thumb, and how it's nice to not be treated like an animal anymore.

Let's call this person Old Associate. He called to speak with an attorney here and, after recognizing his voice,I said hello to him. He said, “oh, I remember you. Yes, I go over to Old Boss's office once in awhile and occasionally you are the topic of conversation. While I would not say we remember you fondly, we do remember that (slows down his voice and puts forth extra emphasis) you did a good job." Did I add that his tone was condescending as hell? He quickly added that after all the horrible legal assistants who had been in my position, I had been an improvement.

Oh yes, yes I remember clearly and vividly all the colorful, cruel things said about the legal assistant before me, and before her, etc. and some of them only lasted two days. There's a reason for that, people!

Let's brush that aside since, after all, I don't deal with that crap anymore. But the interaction was weird because 1) Old Associate has been a lot nicer since he left there; and 2) We have run into one another several times since we both quit - but he really made it sound like we hadn't! Maybe he is hanging around at Old Boss’s office a bit too much. Seriously, what was the POINT in saying that unless it was to be spiteful? It's not like I asked if they ever talk about me. It's not like it's necessary to share this information. And what have I done to Old Associate? Why is he being such a dip wad?

Chalking this up to another reminder of why I left there, and to be thankful for the stacks upon stacks of dictation covering my desk today. I am really lucky to have gotten out of that hell and into a place such as this one.

That's right! You tell 'em, Mama. *snort*
- Tyler

Aching calves

2006-05-10T20:06:00.000-04:00

Same number of calories, same distance, but it did take a minute longer tonight. Not too bad! However, the hunger pangs have already resumed. Last night after that long workout, I ate a fried chicken sandwich, fries, soup, and two scoops of ice cream. I still went to bed feeling hungry, and have eaten every two hours today.

It's probably not very effective to work out to the point of starvation and then devour everything in sight. However, that does keep the metabolism going. Any solutions to curb the hunger though? I know my body is just trying to refuel after all that energy is expended, but can I trick it into thinking it is NOT starving? 'Cause I really want to fit in that wedding dress gracefully. As in, not causing it to burst at the seems or anything else that would happen if I put it on right now.

Sending out an S.O.S.

2006-05-09T18:55:00.000-04:00

Could someone please bring a towel? Mom overdid it again.

Calories: 510
Miles: 1.6
Minutes: 37.8

That quart of water she drank an hour ago... it all poured out through her skin. This is not cool, y'all. Help me out, please.

- Tyler

Pug O' My Heart

2006-05-09T12:31:00.000-04:00

May 6, 2006
By Valli Herman / Los Angeles Times

Bit-Bit and Tinkerbelle, your days are numbered: The Chihuaha's status as the haute dog, the 2-pound furry accessory of celebrities, is coming to an inglorious end.

That snorting noise behind you is the sound of the pug usurping your role as the "it" dog for stylish people. Sure, Chihuahuas like Paris Hilton's Tinkerbelle and Britney Spears' Bit-Bit have had the paparazzo pages all to themselves for a while, but now pugs, such as Tori Spelling's Mimi la Rue, are the new boldface dog.

Packs of the little flat-faced canines are showing up in advertisements for Barneys New York, in the windows of Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills, in the arms of celebrities such as Jessica Alba and Balthazar Getty and fashion designers Valentino and Tommy Hilfiger, and not incidentally, in this year's best of breed winner's circle at the Westminster Dog Show. Mimi la Rue even has her own loyal fans on Spelling's new VH1 show, "So NoTORIous."

The pug's place at the stiletto heels of fashion's discerning tastemakers has reaffirmed the ancient breed's everlasting appeal. It's as if fashion is saying, "Pugs, this is your moment -- and try not to drool."

Simon Doonan, Barneys creative director, says pugs are "very jolie-laide." That's a French term for a woman who is oddly attractive though not conventionally beautiful. And that, says Doonan, "is very much what is happening in fashion right now." In canine-themed display windows that pay homage to customers who shop with their dogs, Neiman's currently features pugs -- fiberglass ones -- in the prominent position at Wilshire Boulevard and Roxbury Drive. Two pugs are leashed via matching gem-and-gold-link necklaces to a mannequin wearing Dolce & Gabbana shades, a Marni trench coat, an Yves Saint Laurent sweater set and Tuleh cropped pants -- all the best names. (Let's not even start with the owners-who-look-like-their-dogs comparisons.)

And though pugs aren't whippet thin or greyhound graceful, they have an appealing look that has landed them high-profile ad campaigns for HSBC Bank and Lee Jeans, as well as Barneys. The boutique soap maker Gianna Rose Atelier offers a petite pug-shaped soap that, thankfully, is scented with floral-wood notes, not pug aromas.

Pugs seem to pose naturally for the paparazzi, who have captured many pug-owning celebrities with their pets, including Jenna Elfman, Paula Abdul, Mickey Rourke, Billy Joel and Chris Kirkpatrick of 'N Sync.

When she's filming, Alba takes her pugs, Sid and Nancy, with her. She also posed with them for the cover of Animal Fair magazine. Italian couturier Valentino is such a fan that he's had more than a dozen pugs in his lifetime, as many as seven at one point. He even named his Oliver collection after his first tawny-and-black pug.

Spelling's pug is a near-constant presence and punch line on "So NoTORIous," a fictionalized show inspired by Spelling's life. On and off the set, Spelling dresses her pug in the latest fashions. At home, Mimi la Rue has her own armoire, filled with satin dresses, bathing suits and, for casual days, T-shirts.

"When she dresses up, she looks like a little man in drag," says Spelling of her 4½-year-old dog. "When she's in this frilly pink dress, she looks like Bette Davis in 'What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?' "

Perhaps it's their combination of deadpan seriousness and comic malleability that makes the pug the right dog for our times. The pug population is growing in major cities like Los Angeles and New York, where they are the eighth (L.A.) and 10th (N.Y.C.) most popular dogs, according to the American Kennel Club's 2005 statistics.

Small- to medium-sized dogs have gained in popularity since the turn of the millennium, according to the AKC. "People are traveling more with their pets," says Janet McCulley, a co-owner of Muttropolis, an upscale pet boutique in Newport Beach's Fashion Island. "Tiny dogs are portable, but the pug is more robust."

While Chihuahuas rank 11th nationally, they don't make the top 10 in L.A. or New York, centers of the "fashion dog" trend that had fashion victims toting undersized, over-accessorized breeds like Yorkshire terriers, Chihuahuas and Pomeranians. Since 1994, pug adoptions have zoomed more than 50%, according to the AKC.

Pugs aren't, however, as portable as a 2-pound teacup Chihuahua or miniature Yorkshire terrier. They can tip the scales at 18 to 20 pounds -- or more.

"You might have to tote them on a trolley behind you," says fashion stylist Kimberly Holly, owner of Claude, the plump pug featured in a recent Barneys catalog. Pugs are notorious foodies, and Claude, says Doonan, "is a bit of a gourmand. She goes to one too many photo shoots where the catered food is irresistible to her."

Their tendency to gain weight also makes them more endearing, but it doesn't close the doors of fashion for them, says Los Angeles designer Lara Alameddine, creator of the couture dog clothing line Little Lily and of the custom TV wardrobe for Mimi la Rue. Creating pug clothes is, says Alameddine, "sort of like designing for a full-figured woman." She made Mimi la Rue a swimsuit coverup because "she's hairy, a little voluptuous and a little self-conscious." Like us all, then.

Pug owners invariably describe them as the clowns of the dog world because of their animated expressions and distinct personalities. According to "The Encyclopedia of the Dog," by veterinarian Bruce Fogel, they're "extremely tough and opinionated … independent and resolute." Perfect, in other words, as a symbol for today's fashions.

Fashion illustrator Ruben Toledo has featured pugs in drawings for his clients, including illustrations for the Daily Candy style website. "Fashion, being so subversive, has insisted on taking the pug as the new mascot," Toledo writes in an e-mail. "It's like taking your grumpy ol' grandma out to party with you." Toledo likes to include them in his drawings because pugs "have just the right slightly cynical, sweet, straight-shooter look to them. They tell it like they see it."

Anything or anyone posed next to a pug suddenly looks more beautiful. And in the end, that may be why in the narcissistic world of fashion, they've become so popular.

Meltdown

2006-05-06T20:30:00.000-04:00

Maybe it would have been smarter to go for 350 calories on the elliptical tonight. Rather than the 400 I decided to burn. Not that there is anything wrong with getting rid of calories. But, my body feels like a furnace now. That was a record (for me) to do that in less than 29 minutes.

Some people would say that is a pretty sorry workout, but for me, that was major. I used to be wiped out at 200 calories so maybe this is a sign of better endurance.

Tyler is just happy that his mom is finished so he doesn't have to hear anymore of the cheesy pop music his mom requires to get moving.

Eau de Pepe

2006-05-04T16:39:00.000-04:00

Tyler needs a bath.

Tyler: No.

Ummmm... yes you do.

Tyler: Nope. Can't do it. Got plans! In fact, I'll be too busy for a long time. A very long time. You'll have to find something else to pour water on.

*shakes head*
You see, my boy decided to roll in something skunky this week.

Tyler: That's right! It smelled sooooo good.

Nasty boy! Anyway, he rolled in it and he has smelled like skunk for three days. It's time to wash this from his fur and his skin.

Tyler: No. My cologne. I'll wear it if I want to.

So, the question is whether he gets a bath in doggie shampoo, tomato juice, or lemon juice. Doggie shampoo seems the easiest, but I don't know if that will be as effective. Tomato is supposed to be good, but Tyler would probably EAT it.

Tyler: Yeah!

Alrighty, that eliminates the tomato juice idea. Now what if we bathe him in lemon juice? If you bathe a pug in lemon juice and he goes outside in the sun, would the result be a highlighted pug?

Big bird

2006-05-02T23:10:00.000-04:00

Thanks for the reminder, Diva Kitty.

Saw one of these here birds on Sunday:

Yep, that's right. A WILD TURKEY! It crossed the road and hauled itself up a hill and into the woods. First time ever seeing one! And, to make it even more bizarre, we were en route to The Hillbilly Hide-A-Way Restaurant. Another first! And, listening to Toni Price the whole way there and back (not a first because Toni Price is a staple cd in my car), it kind of made me proud to be a southerner.

Until we passed a barn where someone had sprayed the whole side with a giant W '04.

My boy has a one track mind

2006-04-30T17:44:00.000-04:00

*shakes head*
I didn't raise him to behave this way.

In other news

2006-04-29T07:35:00.000-04:00

First off, I'd like to give mad props to my dawg, Ayatollah Mugsy, for offering to officiate at my parents' wedding. That was cool, man.

- Tyler

Yes, great Ayatollah, thank you for your thoughtfulness. However, we do have an officiant selected and paid. She is non-denominational and has a "Goddess Bless" bumper sticker on her car. Yay!

Thank you for your nice comments on the shoes. I am dying to post pics of the dress, but can't because Marcos (fiance) reads this blog too. He ain't seeing the dress until the big day.

Oh, and the date is August 19th. Then we'll go back to our jobs for a few days before departing for a week in Maui! Tyler will stay with his grandma, and Simone will stay here at the house with someone coming in to feed and pet him daily.

Tyler promises to help me update this blog more regularly. Things have been so hectic. Mom is bringing Zoey this morning, so we'll be pugsitting today. That girl is a handful! She's so sweet, and yet she has this vacuum cleaner side that goes around inhaling everything that doesn't eat her first. Last night? Mom left her alone for a minute or less, only to discover she had ingested four credit card receipts.

Reminds me of a certain bun who shall remain nameless.

Bush's rich friends

2006-04-29T07:31:00.000-04:00

How long does it take them to earn your salary?

Mama ain't obsessing

2006-04-12T18:57:00.000-04:00

Not one bit!

- Tyler

Farewell, Ollie

2006-04-07T23:54:00.000-04:00

May the memories of all who love you keep you
warm as you cross the Rainbow Bridge.

Freedom is on the march

2006-04-01T18:33:00.000-05:00

With Dick Cheney around, they are probably safer in Iraq.

Pilot Mountain, NC (March 12, 2006)

2006-03-28T22:20:00.000-05:00

Does anyone else think it's hot out here?

My folks the day after they got engaged.

Shade? I can do shade.

Pilot Mountain - Mount Pilot in Mayberry speak!

It's a bit too warm for snuggling, Mom.

Ahem. A refill on the water please?

Thanks for everything, Ethel Mae!

2006-03-24T22:35:00.000-05:00

Personal space please...

Hee hee, Ethel Mae must like car rides too!

Grrrrrr!!!

TWO toys and one of them is a cupcake.

This is the stuff they eat in space. Yummalicious!

Ethel Mae, have I told you lately that I love you?

You're getting dangerously close, Mom.
How 'bout finding your OWN bag of cookies.

Don't be fooled by the...

2006-03-20T23:01:00.000-05:00

Still here, y'all. I just had a bite of fried rice from Mom and Dad's chinese dinner tonight. And Ethel Mae, my secret paw, sent a sweet present. A whole bunch of presents! Ethel Mae, you rule.

The package arrived in the mail weeks ago, and Mom took lots of pictures but we ran out of space for them. So, we're trying to fix that. For now though, Ethel Mae just know I appreciate the awesome stuff you sent! Especially those cookies. Those cookies are my favoritest. Thank you.

Oh, Mom has been busy too with some stuff. I don't get it. What's so great about a rock?
- Tyler

No Dice

2006-02-10T12:07:00.000-05:00

Sorry I've been so quiet this week. A couple days ago, Dice (neighbor's dog who I THOUGHT was my friend) tried to have his way with me.

Anyway, it was quite traumatic. I just don't know what to think. Dice seemed like a trustworthy pup, and I thought we were friends. But this was just WRONG. Wrong, I tell you. I'm all for healthy sexual expression (Mama's leg is a perfect example). But... DUDE, I'm a ladies man! Irresistably cute, yes. However, that is not an invitation to make me into a special kind of toy.

Sorry, Dice. Dad says we can't be friends anymore. He saw the whole thing and is gonna need therapy to get over it.

- Tyler

Drink to Freedom

2006-01-31T20:51:00.000-05:00

It's almost time... less than ten minutes to go. Tyler needs to bring his dad back in the house and let him uncork the wine.

Last year, we invented a new drinking game called Drink for Freedom. Every time W. said "freedom" or "security" in his State of the Union speech, we had a sip. Last year we were pretty toasted before W. finished. So what started out as a mournful and depressing evening turned into... well, what little I remember was fun.

This year the words are "Iraq" and "health." Wine of choice? None other than Texas Blush.

Dental equality for all species!

2006-01-29T11:25:00.000-05:00

My folks dropped the bomb a couple of days ago ... I have a vet appointment on Thursday.

That's right. They're gonna take me to this place!

I don't understand why they want someone to mess with my bum. Just because they can't appreciate my glandular fragrances, does that mean it's necessary to have somethin' done? They call it expressing. I think they just don't WANT me to be able to use aroma to express myself. Bah.

And another thing. They want the doc to look at my mouth because of a little white bump they found. It's probably nothin' but they want it looked at. AND... this part upsets me the most - the vet is gonna examine my mouth to tell them whether I need a full dental cleaning. Can you believe that? These people are so picky about wanting every little thing looked at, and they take me to a vet to do a dentist's job. Why not take me to a dentist? If they're gonna put me through this, they oughtta at least do it right!

Then, Mama tells me vets do dental work 'cause we don't have doggie dentists. HOLD UP! This is not cool. How come people have dentists and we don't? We doggies value our teeth even more than humans do, 'cause we live to eat. So what's up with that?

I find this a deeply disturbing world that we live in. And I'm gonna start a crusade to get specialized dental care for us doggies! What would the silly vet do if one of us needed braces?

- Tyler

Me against the world

2006-01-24T15:21:00.000-05:00

And the world is winning...

Sorry, at times like this, only chocolate will do.

Like a virgin

2006-01-20T23:13:00.000-05:00

Yet another way women objectify themselves...

Happy Birthday to a COOL CAT

2006-01-19T20:06:00.000-05:00

It's your special day, Lizzie. Kick back, relax, and have a little 'nip!
-Tyler

Success story in progress

2006-01-18T21:46:00.000-05:00

For friends who expressed concern about the wind blowing me away last night, it's okay. Really. A little bit of wind ain't got nothin' on this gigantic ass.

But that's all in the process of changing. Inspired by The Drunken Lagomorph, I declare myself officially back on Weight Watchers.

I stopped going to WW and have put back on half the pounds I lost. It's sickening to work that hard, give up so much of what one lives and breathes for, and then let it all go to hell. Sticking with it is MUCH more worth it than a can of Cheerwine. Or that fourth slice of pizza. Or the half a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts in one sitting. That's it. Starting now, I am back to the healthy me.

I know what you're thinking. That it's easy to say this now when my stomach is aching and stretched from a huge portion of Lexington barbecue, fries, hush puppies and, um...extra fries. That I'll go back to my old ways tomorrow when some co-worker brings in fresh cinnamon crunch bagels and cream cheese. (And it NEVER fails. The bagels and donuts always surface at work the day after I resolve to be healthy again.) But really, I am so tired of feeling nauseous and miserable after a pig-out session. Enough of this. ENOUGH!

Wind is a-howlin'

2006-01-17T20:52:00.000-05:00

Forecast for Tyler's part of North Carolina...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM EST WEDNESDAY.

WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE FROM THE SOUTH THIS EVENING. BY LATE EVENING... SUSTAINED WINDS OF 25 TO 30 MPH ARE LIKELY... WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 TO 50 MPH. THESE STRONG AND POSSIBLY DAMAGING WINDS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE NIGHTTIME HOURS AND INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING.

WINDS THIS STRONG ARE CAPABLE OF DOWNING LARGE TREE LIMBS. WEAK TREES OR THOSE IN SOGGY SOIL ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FALLING AS WELL. FALLING LIMBS COULD ALSO DRAG DOWN POWER LINES... SO POWER OUTAGES ARE POSSIBLE TONIGHT. THE WINDS WILL ALSO MAKE DRIVING VERY DIFFICULT.

PEOPLE ACROSS THE AREA SHOULD BRING ANY LOOSE OBJECTS... INCLUDING TRASH CANS AND LAWN FURNITURE... INDOORS TONIGHT AS THEY WILL LIKELY BE TOSSED ABOUT. MOTORISTS SHOULD USE EXTREME CAUTION TONIGHT... KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY FROM OTHER VEHICLES... AND KEEP HANDS FIRMLY ON THE WHEEL.

Something snuggly, something blue

2006-01-15T11:23:00.000-05:00

Diva Kitty's Mom knitted this beautiful scarf! See her page about purchasing items to help out animals in need.

Thank you, DKM. I love the scarf!

If Not Now

2006-01-10T09:32:00.000-05:00

by Tracy Chapman

If not now, then when?
If not today,
Then, why make your promises?
A love declared for days to come
Is as good as none.

You can wait 'til morning comes.
You can wait for the new day.
You can wait and lose this heart.
You can wait and soon be sorry.

If not now, then when?
If not today,
Then, why make your promises?
A love declared for days to come
Is as good as none.

Now love's the only thing that's free.
We must take it where it's found.
Pretty soon it may be costly.

'Cause if not now, then when?
If not today,
Then, why make your promises?
A love declared for days to come
Is as good as none.

If not now, what then?
We all must live our lives.
Always feeling.
Always thinking.
The moment has arrived.

If not now, then when?

Compulsive licking

2006-01-06T11:29:00.000-05:00

Tyler has many compulsive behaviors. One of these is licking. He licks the kitchen floor (half of his shed hairs are in his belly for this reason). He licks the carpet. He licks my boyfriend's head in a rhythmic, meticulous pattern and will not stop until he has "washed" every nook and cranny behind the ears, around the eyebrows, etc. He licks my legs when I emerge from the shower. He also eats just about anything he finds that will fit in his mouth. His favorite thing is tissue paper he finds in the trash and I’ve gotten really paranoid about that since I started using this nasal spray which contains a steroid (for allergies). So… those tissues go in the tall trash can! Cause I don’t know what happens to a pug on steroids, but would rather not find out for his sake and for ours.

3...2...1... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

2005-12-31T00:14:00.000-05:00

Yeah, baby! Here's to memories and friends, both old and new.

Mmmm, this ain't no grape juice - it's the real stuff.

Uhh...once the room stops spinning I promise no more drinking!

That's a wrap for '05. Tyler and I wish you all a lovely evening. If you go out, be safe. See you next year!

Cornbread

2005-12-28T19:43:00.000-05:00

Mom and Dad are making some. Y'all better share!
-Tyler

Merry belated Christmas!

2005-12-26T20:40:00.000-05:00

Hope you all spent quality time with family 'n' friends.
Tell me about all the goodies Santa brought you!

The Homeless Pug

2005-12-22T20:09:00.000-05:00

My Heart Will Go On

2005-12-21T09:24:00.000-05:00

for Cowboy and Eponine

...and for Puggy

Every night in my dreams
I see you. I feel you.
That is how I know you go on.

Far across the distance
And spaces between us
You have come to show you go on.

Near, far, wherever you are
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you're here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on

Love can touch us one time
And last for a lifetime
And never let go till we're gone

Love was when I loved you
One true time I hold to
In my life we'll always go on

Near, far, wherever you are
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you're here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on

There is some love that will not go away

You're here, there's nothing I fear,
And I know that my heart will go on
We'll stay forever this way
You are safe in my heart
And my heart will go on and on

Eponine and her cowboy

2005-12-19T12:51:00.000-05:00

Please send prayers and healing thoughts to make Eponine well. And if she is not to get well, healing prayers for her cowboy's heart.

I Love Lizzie even more!

2005-12-17T09:57:00.000-05:00

Last time on I Love Lizzie, Tyler received a package in the mail from a mysterious Secret Paw. He soon discovered that Lizzie had sent him roast beef nylabones! His enthusiasm for nylabones was so great that he did not seem to notice the other item inside the box. I had to assist him in opening this gift because, well, he was rather oblivious to anything other than his precious nylabone...
...

This smells sooooo good.

Wait a minute, this furry beast is tryin' to steal my nylabone.

Captured! You shall be mine, and I shall call you Lizzieball!

Rescue mission accomplished. Now it's just you and me.

...

Tyler spent the rest of that evening either chasing his Lizzieball or devouring his beloved nylabone. If he remembered he still has a second nylabone, he'd be in my face right now, demanding it. We will probably save it for Christmas Eve. He loves his Lizzieball and wants to thank sweet Lizzie again for her thoughtfulness and wonderful selection of toy and treat!

Happy Holidays, Lizzie!!!

I Love Lizzie

2005-12-14T22:03:00.000-05:00

Lizzie sent me this stuff! Wow, Lizzie is the coolest cat EVER.

What could possibly be in here?

Roast beef flavored nylabones! Lizzie, have I mentioned how much you rock?

Somethin' else? I don't care if there's somethin' else. I shall be one with this nylabone. Now, quit trying to distract me.

-Tyler

...
Stay tuned for part 2 of I Love Lizzie ...

The Pug Before Christmas

2005-12-14T10:21:00.000-05:00

C'mon, give me some scissors

2005-12-14T00:45:00.000-05:00

Wait 'til tomorrow? You gotta be kidding me.
It says Secret Paw and my name is on it so lemme at it!

No ham

2005-12-11T15:20:00.000-05:00

Everywhere. I have looked EVERYWHERE. Nobody has the f#@k*ng Hostess ham anywhere! After checking with four places who just claimed "no, we don't have any" or "we've ordered it but don't have any" finally the Harris Teeter tells me the plant that makes Hostess ham has shut down. Thus, there won't be any Hostess ham to bring into work tomorrow. Aaarrrrggggghhhhh!

That sucks, Mama.
-Tyler

I know, boy. It really does.

Bah.
-Tyler

Fahgedaboudit!

2005-12-08T10:54:00.000-05:00

My boyfriend had to go out late last night for a job. The customer was a nutcase. Really. He was mostly polite to us in person, but earlier in the day he had gotten angry the original tech couldn’t go out to fix his computer because the tech’s wife had given birth to triplets. The assignment was transferred to my boyfriend, and after he called him, the guy called his company and said “I don’t want him anywhere NEAR me” (referring to my boyfriend). They sent him out anyway. I was a little scared the guy might be psycho, but went with my boyfriend anyway after he bribed me with barbecued ribs for dinner.

Yes, he was creepy with half a dozen stinky candles burning and the apartment smelling like old hairspray. He had bottles of liquor/wine everywhere. His last name sounded Italian and he had a slight accent with a chain around his neck, so perhaps he was with the mafia. ??? My imagination kind of went wild. After awhile, we got out of there safely. And when he offered me a beer, I said no thanks.

But, we had beer-battered onion rings with some great ribs later on.

I Can't Cry Hard Enough

2005-12-07T23:23:00.000-05:00

Written By: David Williams & Marvin Etzioni

I'm going to live my life
Like every day's the last
Without a simple goodbye
It all goes by so fast

And now that you're gone
I can't cry hard enough
No I can't cry hard enough
For you to hear me now

I'm going to open my eyes
And see for the first time
I've let go of you like
A child letting go of his kite

There it goes up in the sky
There it goes beyond the clouds
For no reason why
I can't cry hard enough
No I can't cry hard enough
For you to hear me now

I'm going to look back in vain
And see you standing there
When all that remains
Is just an empty chair

And now that you're gone
I can't cry hard enough
No I can't cry hard enough
For you to hear me now

----------------------------

I heard this song tonight and am really shaken by the fact that both my grandmother and Puggy really are gone. Last year they were both around for the holidays. Of course we knew Puggy had some problems and her health was delicate, but now she really is gone.

Puggy: I miss you every day, but New Year's Eve will be especially tough. I remember a New Year's Eve in particular when no friends wanted to do anything, they all had other plans, and I was alone. But it was one of the best New Year celebrations I ever had, just you and me watching movies while curled up on the sofa with a blanket and some popcorn.

To grandmother:
Leenie Bear, the idea of having Christmas without YOU would have been completely insane a year ago. If someone had told me you would not be here now, I would have kicked them. You were so active and so giving. You made your neice a cake for her birthday when her own mother was too sick to bake anything. You visited your sister in that nursing home several times a week, always bringing her and her roommate a gift of some sort. Anytime you went shopping, you thought of me. I didn't always wear the clothes you gave me because sometimes they weren't my style, but the thought was appreciated. Did you know that? Did you know how hard your friends would cry when Mom told them you were gone? Did you know how heartbroken your husband of over 60 years would be when you left this world?

Brrrrrrrrrr...

2005-12-06T11:02:00.000-05:00

Usually I am late for work. Mostly, I do not have an excuse. Today I had an excuse. When I went outside to warm up the car, the door would not allow my key to enter the lock. When I got past the barrier of frost and turned the lock, the door was frozen shut! Five minutes and 2 liters of tap water later, I finally got into the driver side door, cranked the car, turned on the defroster and closed the door. However, I wanted to get into the passenger door also because in desperation I had also gone around to that side trying to get the door open, so I wasn't sure if it was 100% closed or what would happen once the frost thawed. Alas, warm tap water did not budge the darn thing and the passenger door never would open.

I went back into the house to pick up my lunch and purse, returned to the car and, once again, the door was frozen shut. Stupid! Why did you close the door once you got it open? Did it not occur to you that the water you poured on the door might freeze it shut again? Grrrr. So, I went back into the house for more water, poured it on the door, tossed the empty bottle aside, and got in the car. Finally!

Ten minutes and several miles later, I heard an airy, swishing sound. NOW the passenger door decides to start opening. Lovely! And on the highway going 55 mph in 8:00 traffic towards downtown, there was absolutely no way I could just reach over and correct the problem. Thankfully, the door never fully opened, and I was able to close it properly after pulling into the post office lot. At least the passenger door is still attached, unlike the mirror, but that is another story for another day.

*sigh*
This would have been a good day to stay in bed.

$18,348

2005-12-05T00:07:00.001-05:00

No french hens for you!

COOL WHIP!!! You guys rock!

2005-11-30T00:06:00.000-05:00

Okay, uh ... you can stop laughing now and do something productive like move that stuff just a little below my snout?

Pets like presents too

2005-11-29T10:52:00.000-05:00

Eau de Tag

2005-11-26T11:52:00.000-05:00

Tagged from Het.

10 Favorites:

Favorite Season: Spring
Favorite Sport: Bowling
Favorite Time: Noon
Favorite Month: May
Favorite Actor: Anthony Hopkins
Favorite Actress: Renee Zellweger
Favorite Ice Cream: Ben & Jerry's Fudge Brownie
Favorite Food: Italian, Greek, chocolate
Favorite Drink: Water
Favorite Place: New Orleans, Florida beaches, NC mountains

9 Currents:

Current Feeling: Depressed
Current O/S: Windows XP
Current Windows Open: Internet Explorer and Outlook Express
Current Drink: Milk
Current Time: 11:57 EST
Current Mobile(s) Used: Sanyo 7400
Current Show on TV: TV is off.
Current Thought: I need a shower.
Current Clothing: Light aqua velvety-soft pajamas

8 Firsts:

First Nick: Nicki
First Kiss: I was 13 and kissed neighbor Keith outside.
First Crush: Eric, a counselor at the YMCA
First Computer: Commodore 64 (Dad let me use his)
First Vehicle I drove: 1988 Oldsmobile Delta '88, navy blue
First Job: Retail assistant at TJ Maxx
First Movie I watched on Pulse Global’s print: Haven't seen one
First Pet: Gypsy, a dog
First Shave(men)/hairstyle(women): Perm when I was 7.

7 Lasts:

Last Chai (Tea) : Last month at a coffee shop in Salisbury, NC
Last Movie: Crash
Last Time I Drove: Yesterday
Last Time Shaved(men)/Beauty parlour visit(women): 2 months ago
Last Web Site Visited: http://froogle.google.com/
Last Software Installed: updated LimeWire
Last Pill I Had: Took Zoloft last night - it's an antidepressant.

6 Have You Evers:

Have You Ever Broken the Law: Yes, I speed all the time.
Have You Ever Been Drunk: Yes, twice.
Have You Ever Climbed a Tree: No
Have You Ever Kissed Someone You Didn't Know: No
Have You Ever Been in the Middle/Close to Gunfire or Bomb Blast: Yes, at a Pizza Hut during a robbery. The gun was fired into the air when the perpetrator ran outside, and no one was harmed. I did not even know the Pizza Hut had been robbed until the incident was over - my boyfriend and I were sitting there eating our pizza without any clue what was going on.
Have You Ever Broken Anyone’s Heart: Yes

5 Things:

Things You Can Hear Right Now: Chloe climbing on her rock
Things on Your Computer Table: Monitor, lots of junk mail, empty cereal bowl, greeting card organizer, box of tissues, stapler, mouse
Things on Your Bed: Sheets, down comfortor, 4 pillows and Tyler
Things You Ate Today: Kellogg's Raisin Bran cereal with milk
Things in Mind: Another headache?

4 Places You Have Been Today:

Bed---> bathroom to put in contact lenses ---> kitchen to pour cereal ---> office chair!

3 People You Can Tell Anything To:

I have to modify this and say 3 people I can tell almost anything to:
Sall, Marcos and Laura

2 Choices:

Black or White: Green!
Hot or Cold: Depends on the situation.

1 Thing You Want To Do Before You Die:

Make sure people and pets close to me know they are loved.

And individuals I wanna tag-
DK's Mom, Pratt, Anisa, Weary Hag, Simone, Mansoor, JueDee

Early Thanksgiving?

2005-11-22T19:39:00.000-05:00

It ain't turkey, but it'll do.
- Tyler

Eat, drink and be scary

2005-10-31T20:56:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween from Tyler

WHY

2005-10-29T16:23:00.000-04:00

Who proposed?

2005-10-27T09:19:00.000-04:00

Hmmm. Pratt loves penguins, but he's already married. Could it be ... Greyton?! He seems like an open-minded, experimental, polyamorous sort of bun, so the concept of a long-term commitment with a human might not disturb him as much as other buns. But then, I doubt he's too shy to ask someone out in person.

Last year at this time

2005-10-21T01:13:00.000-04:00

Last year at this time you were here.
Mom and I anxiously considered options for your treatment.
Remove the lump and hope for the best? Chemo? Radiation?
We wanted so much to know what decision was right for you.
A fleeting thought - I wished we didn't have to make such a decision.

Today, I would give anything to be faced with that choice again.
To have you here, to hold you, to sleep with you at my feet.
To pick you up carefully so as not to disturb a fresh set of stitches.
To cry because any treatment option could be the wrong one for you.
To weigh pros and cons and wonder which doctor to trust.

I wish I could go through all that frustration and worrying again.
Because it would mean you were still here.
I miss you with all my heart, sweet Puggy.

the Ex

2005-10-20T12:21:00.000-04:00

Sometimes it's nice, even when you've kind of let go of something, to have feelings validated. Such an incident occurred today when one of my bosses (an attorney) returned from an arbitration. It just so happened that counsel for the other side was my old boss. When I left my previous job, old boss and I were not on good terms. We both had issues in dealing with each other and quite candidly, I am perpetually late. Old boss was constantly threatening to fire me. Old boss was himself perpetually disorganized and late, and liked to make it his assistants' responsibility that he get to appointments and meetings on time, though he was very snippy when we reminded him of anything. Do you see what a negative environment this creates? The fact that he had a long history of firing his legal assistants (or them walking out), and then verbally bashing them to the rest of the staff, says just a bit about old boss.

In my time with old boss I made plenty of mistakes - and still do at my current job. However, old boss had a way of taking a person's insecurities, trampling upon them, and making everything that person's fault. Like the day I turned over a new leaf and decided to be at work on time, come hell or high water. In a mad rush to get to the timeclock, I accidentally set off the alarm and security arrived before I could cancel the false alarm. Our office was charged a $50 fee because this is standard after 4 false alarms the same year. Old boss was very angry at me for this charge. Keep in mind, this happened once in the year I was there. I do not know who tripped the alarm all those other times, but for some reason I was to blame and old boss stayed mad about this for some time. I felt angry, defensive, and stupid because old boss just had that tendency to bring out the best in people. Old boss said I was passive aggressive at him in being late. I think old boss should know better than to psychoanalyze habits that have been with me long before I began working for him. These are just examples of the petty, arrogant, ego-driven ways of old boss.

Not to mention filing all complaints at the last possible second, then demanding important documents be drafted ASAP. And asking me to fax things while hovering over my shoulder - as if he's too good to send a fax, and what is the sense of both of us being at the fax machine? And being next to the trash can, handing me a discarded paper and asking me to throw it away. Due to ridiculously low self-esteem, I endured this crap because I wasn't a perfect employee, after all, and deserved no better. And left feeling incapable of having a positive work experience ever again because I was so incompetent. Fortunately attorneys I have worked for ever since leaving old boss(almost two years ago) have proven to be highly supportive and respectful their employees. Though I am still perpetually late - ugh.

That should be ample background info. Fast-forward a couple years to ... today. Current boss just came in from an arbitration – the opposing party was (you guessed correctly) old boss. I asked current boss how it went, and to say he was irritated would be an understatement. He said old boss had not submitted all documents necessary for the proceeding – it’s customary for attorneys to have to show opposing counsel what they will be using as evidence, arguments, etc. beforehand. As a result, current boss did not have adequate notice to prepare and somehow old boss found a way to still use the materials in the case.

Current boss never curses in the office, but I have heard the word "ass" come out of his mouth several times when describing old boss. Like 4-5 times in the last few minutes since he got back. I wish he had not been forced to endure the presence of old boss, but sometimes it's nice to have that validation that old boss is indeed an ass, and I was not a nutcase for feeling that way.

I think it's time for old boss to wake up and smell the coffee (which he prefers brought to him, black, no sugar). He should be held to the same high standards to which he holds everyone else. And he should stop being an ass!

Pumpkin perfection

2005-10-16T19:41:00.000-04:00

Why the pep in my step?

The frapuccino version of this
Is nothing less than pure bliss!

Appreciation in a bottle

2005-10-14T00:11:00.000-04:00

In honor of Bosses' Day (which is actually October 16th but it falls on a Sunday this year), we took our bosses here:

The view is breathtaking! This pic is from the vineyard's website, but I took a bunch and will try to post some over the weekend.

The amazing Puffin

2005-10-12T08:59:00.000-04:00

"Puffins lay 1 egg per year. They usually keep the same mate every season and use the same burrow as in previous years. The male and female share the duties of incubating the egg and rearing the chick. Puffins often live 20 years or more."

"Puffins use body movements to communicate in a variety of situations. In mating and courtship the puffins will pair up before they come onto the island from the ocean. Once they are on land, the pair may perform billing, a behavior where puffins rub their beaks together. This display usually will draw a crowd of puffins to share in the excitement."

"Puffins are not endangered but they are threatened by human activities and are rare in many areas where they were once abundant. As a result, we need to protect critical puffin breeding and feeding habitat. In some parts of their range there are just a few colonies. Where this occurs “all the eggs are in a few baskets” and these populations are vulnerable to catastrophes such as oil spills, avian diseases and introduction of predators. Restoration of former nesting colonies helps to reduce the risk to the regional population by establishing more nesting sites."

Fifteen seconds of fame

2005-10-10T22:25:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Anisa for reminding me.

From elementary school through high school, I was always the last person selected for team activities. It started out with Red Rover and tug-of-war, and eventually happened with kickball, basketball and volleyball. Oh, the HORROR stories from volleyball in sophomore P.E. class. I really hated P.E.

Alas, one day, our class (all female) was paired with the senior guys' class for a game of touch football. And... after catching a ball passed by the cutest guy there... I scored a touchdown!!! My team cheered. The cute guy smiled. The moment was surreal. And for just a few seconds, I didn't hate P.E. anymore.

Rollin' rollin' rollin'

2005-10-10T00:04:00.000-04:00

I was there!

Touched by a Bunny

2005-10-04T12:15:00.000-04:00

If you have a few minutes, please read Bunny's heartbreaking story. It is terrible that someone would treat such a precious creature in this cruel manner, but this little pug's resilience and the determination of those saving her are an inspiration.

Masters of War

2005-10-04T10:09:00.000-04:00

Asia Times article

Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build the big bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks

You that never done nothin'
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly

Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain

You fasten the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion
As young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud

You've thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain't worth the blood
That runs in your veins

How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
Even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do

Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul

And I hope that you die
And your death'll come soon
I will follow your casket
In the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I'll stand o'er your grave
'Til I'm sure that you're dead

-Bob Dylan-

Copyright © 1963; renewed 1991 Special Rider Music

Intelligent design

2005-09-28T11:34:00.000-04:00

This is just too good.

Abbondanza

2005-09-26T10:18:00.000-04:00

The weekend has been eventful. Saturday night, Marc and I went to Bianca's and enjoyed their 7-course Abbondanza feast.

Appetizer - Roasted pumpkin in proscuitto
Salad - Roasted Red Pepper with corn
Pasta - Some sort of corkscrew things with clams
Fish - Mahi Mahi with lemon/lime crust in a pesto sauce
Sorbet - Lemon sorbet in some kind of liquer
Entree - Pork tenderloin and chicken with polenta
Dessert - Chocolate banana thingie

Hopefully I wrote down the official names of the last few items, because a few details are a bit blurred, courtesy of unlimited refills of wine - or, five to be exact. That aside, dinner was great and the atmosphere was very relaxing and romantic. Our booth had a faux cottage-style window, and the room was decorated with a touch of twinkling white lights on the wall.

Sunday I spent about 5 hours on an assignment for class that still is not finished, is due tomorrow, and I don't have any time to work on it between now and then.
*gulp*

Post office ponderings

2005-09-13T10:09:00.000-04:00

So I'm trying to back out of my parking space, when this guy in the car parked next to me starts getting out of his car. I wave him on, trying to let him know I'm not going to hit him.

Well, hit on is what he decided to do. Knock-knock on the window. WTF? Well, I thought, I didn't get a good look at him and maybe he's a post office employee I joke around with sometimes. Nope, he isn't that guy. He proceeds to tell me his name and asks mine. He goes through the following lines:

"Don't I know you from somewhere? I know I seen you working out at the YMCA."
"I know your face - of course I'd remember such a pretty face."

And then, as I'm trying to close the window and drive away, he asks: "Hey, you wanna have coffee sometime?" to which I reply, "thank you, but I have a boyfriend."

I don't think coffee was what he had on his mind. But perhaps I am making racial judgments. It just so happened this man was black. I did not turn him down based on that. Let's pretend I'm not in a relationship for a second. The fact that this guy was a complete stranger and used such corny and obvious pickup lines, combined with pretending to know me, made me distrust him.

It just occurred to me maybe I shouldn't assume he had any intentions other than getting to know each other. It is entirely possible the following scenario occurred from his perspective: He sees a chick in the parking lot of the post office, waving at him. He thinks she is kind of cute, so he decides why not say hi. Then she seems a little nervous, so he thinks maybe this is another sign she likes him? And he has probably seen the "don't I know you from somewhere" line work, so he tries that out. And as she's starting to drive away, he thinks "what if she really is interested and we never see each other again and I don't make a move?" so he asks me out for coffee. This would not be such an unusual scenario, would it?

But I did not get that feeling from him. I felt creepy and wanted to shrivel up and run away. Would I have felt that way if he was white? I don't know. Probably, but I may have also assumed it was like in the "imaginary" scenario above and been flattered. How come it took me over an hour to even consider that scenario, and would I have thought of it sooner if he was white?

I am not a racist person, but most of us that do not consider ourselves racist still have the occassional reaction based on our conditioning. Still, I don't think I am less likely to trust a black man than a white man. If I am stopped at a light and see a male pedestrian on the sidewalk, I check the locks. It doesn't matter what color he is, the fact he is MALE makes me more likely to fear him. And I don't think all men are wild beasts who attack, but generally it is men who do such things, and as a woman in today's world, I am aware of that constantly. And I am aware from personal experience that a violation can happen with someone you know or are getting to know, with that person being of your own skin color. In fact, this is more likely to be the case. Still, I do not believe there wasn't some part of me who made assumptions about the intentions of the man at the post office because he was black.

We have been discussing racism a lot in one of my classes. As a result, we are really all trying to be aware of our subconcious racist thoughts and inadvertent racist actions and words. Whether we like it or not, we still make judgments about people based on skin color, as well as age, gender, sexual orientation, and religion. While discrimination is less obvious and things have improved greatly from a century ago (heck, even from 40-50 years ago), is it possible to ever banish racism from our lives?

Think progress

2005-09-09T19:57:00.000-04:00

My scholarly duties this weekend are:

1. Read 2 chapters in biomedicine ethics book
2. 1-pg. paper on personal "vision" for field of counseling
3. Read Ch. 3 in Legal/Ethical text
4. Read two articles on racism and sexism
5. Rough draft of ethics code comparisons

It is 8pm on Friday evening. I have already knocked out item 1, and have a rough version of item 2. One could even say I am in the beginning stages of item 5. This means it is possible to get this done soon and still be able to enjoy the weekend.

Quackerpractor

2005-09-08T10:52:00.000-04:00

Have I mentioned the people I work for are wonderful? My office manager recommended a chiropractor AND granted permission to leave a bit early and see this guy TODAY. Relief could be on the horizon. Yay!

Jumping through hoops

2005-09-07T14:03:00.000-04:00

Okay, my back or some area connected to it has been hurting for several days. It began in my neck and moved down into my shoulders. Now those places are fine, but my middle back is having horrible burning sensations and aches. It is pretty consistent throughout the day. This morning, it was bad enough I actually stayed awake after the alarm went off, and even 800 mg of Ibuprofen does not touch this.

So...

I just called the chiropractic office and the earliest time available is Friday at 7am. She said I could pay $35 upfront or try to turn it in on my insurance, but if the insurance doesn’t pay, they’ll charge me extra fees in addition to the $35 because of all the “hoops” they have to go through with paperwork. (This would make my visit about $100 if the insurance denied it, which she insists it will.) I don’t think that’s right. And it doesn’t make sense to me that they charge the insurance company differently than me either. This clinic has always had "fishy" insurance tactics, and I have not trusted them since they told me my insurance would not pay for anymore visits, when my insurance company said otherwise.

So the chiropractor's wife said I could come in today if I can make it before 2:30 (which gives my bosses all of 20 minutes notice). And that if I plan on "making her do the insurance paperwork" (her polite choice of words) I better get there a little earlier.

This woman just irks me to no end. What a bitch! A very RUDE bitch. Yes, I realize there are more enlightened ways to respond, but I am quite angry about this. I’m not going back there. Ever again. EVER.

My new backpack!

2005-08-27T17:07:00.000-04:00

Okay, it isn't here yet but I ordered it today! Yippeeee... It's called the Columbia Red Tip and the color is dark celery. A certain bun better not be exercising his teeth on this thing.

Poignant yet pointless crisis of a grad student

2005-08-24T18:35:00.000-04:00

Until yesterday, I had not set foot in a campus classroom since 2002 when I left grad school. Well technically I did go to a campus in 2003 for a notary class, but that's useless trivia. Anyway, yesterday marked my return to grad school.

There's been a lot of excitement leading up to this. Now, there is just the realization that I am still crazy. If you consider taking a class so far away that more time is spent in the car than actually in class. And if you consider how many textbooks I could purchase with the money spent on gas.

I wish I could say I didn't think about these things. Alas, I did think about them. I pondered dozens of reasons not to go back. One class was enough. Yesterday at the last minute, I decided to take TWO classes. They meet on different nights. Even with all these very good and valid reasons not to do this, I foolishly chose to do it anyway.

God, what an idiot.