January 31, 2013

Mirth Watch Thursday: What Dog Are You?

Today's post is not so much "mirthful" as just plain fun. Dogster.com has posted a quiz where you can find out What Dog Breed Are You? Just click on the link and go through the 10 or so questions. (Note that they do ask for your email at the end, but swear they won't give it out. I have an email I use for this sorta thing...)

Some of the questions, at least in my twisted mind, don't have exactly the right answer option available, but just pick the closest one. I was surprised how accurate this test seemed to be!

For example, here's are a couple of the questions:


It's finally Friday after a long, hard week of work. Time for Yappy Hour with friends. Your order is:

My answer would really be a margarita, which is close but at the same time very different from a shot of tequila (!), so I went with a cosmo. The "pretty and pink" part worried me. I figured they'd decide I was a white fluffy purse-dog with a big pink bow. (Not that there's anything wrong with that... That's just not me.)

Here's another:

You're invited to a Howloween party, costume required. You:


I would never pull an all-nighter. I'm way too organized for that. (I thought my organizational skills would mean I would end up being a Border Collie.) I chose the 2nd option, because I would make my costume - and it would be a masterpiece, IIDSSM. I would make it weeks in advance though. And then, the night of the party, I'd realize I'd rather stay home in my PJs and come down with a "headache" and be unable to attend.

If you are fairly anti-social, like me, you might find several of the questions don't have exactly the answer option you're looking for - but just go with the closest.

Okay - so, here's me:
What dog breed are you? I'm a German Shepherd! Find out at Dogster.com

I never would have thought "German Shepherd" for me. I think of them as very self-assured and fairly bad-assed. (Things I am not...) And the "likely professions" they list couldn't be further from my sit-in-front-of-a-computer-all-day ways, BUT... here is the description they give of a German Shepherd-type (emphasis is theirs):

German Shepherd

The Perfectionist
Doggedly dedicated to getting the job done, you don't let silly little distractions get in the way of putting in a full day's work. And after you come home, chowing down on a little grub and taking a little catnap is all it takes to get you up and at 'em for round two, whatever that may entail. Your dogma emphasizes the importance of hard work, and you swim laps around your dog-paddling, time-wasting co-workers. Your cleverness leads to you often being entrusted with some pretty important tasks, which you are always more than happy to sink your canines into. You really dig being outdoors and love a bit of exercise, but you draw the line at the ridiculous stuff, choosing a game of beach volleyball over Pilates in the park any day.

Wow, yes. That's me for sure. I'm a total perfectionist and I do work hard and dig being outdoors. And have never done Pilates (although I'd chose a hike, not beach volleyball).

And this part: you swim laps around your dog-paddling, time-wasting co-workers really kills me. I don't want to slag off my former co-workers, but, just as an example, when I had a "real office job" my Indian name was: Works With Idiots. (The hub's was Swims With Squids. But that's another story...)

Since Rita is part German Shepherd, I guess that's why we get along so well!

Anyway - take the test! Let me know what you are!

January 30, 2013

Wordless Wednesday: The Never-ending Deck Story

Remember way back in October when I posted the beginning "rubble"-stage photo of our backyard reno? At that time, we thought the project would be done by Christmas. At this point, I'd be happy if it was done by Valentine's Day. Sigh.

Anyway, at least we have boards on the deck now, so Rita can sun herself when the workers aren't there (standing around, gabbing). As you can see in the photo, the edging isn't done yet, and we still have no steps. Some day....


Maybe by the summer I'll have "after" pictures to share! (All I can say is, thank heaven it's a fixed cost contract and not "time and materials"!)

Happy (mostly) Wordless Wednesday!

January 28, 2013

Monday Mischief: The Three-Legged Thief

If you've been following the blog for a while, you know we love the three-legged pups, having had an amazing one ourselves. So, of course, when I saw this video I knew it was perfect for Monday Mischief . (Rita really needs to get up to more mischief! We're having to post about dogs from other countries for Pete's sake because she's such an exemplary pup!)

Here he is, Oscar, the famous 3-legged dog from New Zealand caught on surveillance video stealing pet food from the store:

January 23, 2013

Wordless Wednesday: Doggy Photo Ops

For today's post, I'm sharing some of my sis's photos from their fabulous holiday trip they took to New York, London, Paris, Bologna & Rome. (No, I'm not jealous. Really!)

Here is a quick trip through a few fabulous cities, as seen through a camera lens looking for cute dogs and dog-related things.

First stop - New York, Saint Patrick's cathedral to be exact. You're familiar with the phrase "a dog in the manger" right? Well, this manger scene has one!
Thinking I need to add a dog to my Nativity scene.
I love that he's got a good seat, right up front.

January 21, 2013

Monday Mischief: 'Bout Time!

It's been really cold here lately in San Diego. Which is a relative thing, of course.

After all, a cold day here looks a lot like this:

Look how bundled up we are!
While a cold day in other parts of the country looks a lot more like this:
Just another January day in Chicago...

January 17, 2013

Mirth-Watch Thursday: Silly Walks

While pondering silliness to post today, I thought about Monty Python's Flying Circus. To me, they will always be the epitome of silly. One of my favorite sketches is the "Ministry of Silly Walks." If you've never seen it, you can watch a shortened version of it here (it hits all the highlights). (And I just have to pause here and say, oh, how I love John Cleese. I had a pretty bad crush on him when I was about 10. Is that odd?)

Anyway, thinking about that reminded me of one time when the hubs and I were in his homeland of Montreal, Canada in the winter. (Okay, it was the only time we were there in winter. As a So Cal girl, once in winter was kinda enough for me. We usually go in the fall now!) As we drove down the street, a woman was walking her Chihuahua, who was obviously not digging his winter boots. He was doing a really good John Cleese Ministry of Silly Walks imitation. This was long before everyone started carrying the potential for photos/videos around in their pockets, so I don't have a video to share, but this one captures the spirit of it:

January 16, 2013

Wordless Wednesday: Basking in the Glow

It's been really cold lately in San Diego. Apparently not record-setting cold, but we have short memories here so it feels like it's much colder than past winters. So, since Momma didn't raise no dumb puppies, Rita can usually be found in the best seat in the house (if one of the ugliest).

We have an old leather club chair in our sun room, and that's her favorite spot on a cold day:
Warming up on a cold afternoon

January 15, 2013

Blog the Change for Animals: Shelters Aren't Sad!

It's January 15, so that means it's Blog the Change for Animals day, when pet-bloggers support helping animals on the 15th of January, April, July and October.


Blog the Change

January 14, 2013

Monday Mischief: Take This Tiara & ...

Today, January 14th, is National Dress Up Your Pet Day. Or, as dogs and cats like to think of it, National Complete Humiliation Day. (Dogs everywhere today are thinking, "Why can't there just be a National Double Your Treat Intake Day!?")

I have known/seen some dogs that seem to get a kick out of dressing up, because of all the extra attention it brings to them. They're affection whores hounds, so they dig it. And I also know there are fine-coated pups out there in colder climates who need to don a coat now and again.

But, in my experience, most dogs who are subjected to playing dress-up, tend to end up making a face like this:
"This is humiliating. Especially since it's The Chargers. I hope this isn't going on Facebook."

January 10, 2013

Pet-Blogger-Challenge Virgin No More

Today I'm participating in the Third Annual Pet Blogger Challenge. I've never participated before, so I'll be answering the first timers' questions. This "challenge" is brought to us by Go Pet Friendly (check them out if you like to travel with your dogs or guinea pigs or whatever) and the point is for pet bloggers to "get to know each other a bit better, share tips for making our blogs better, and generally commiserate, inspire, and support each other." I'm in! So here goes...
Pet Blogger Challenge Jan. 10  

January 9, 2013

Wordless Wednesday: Do You Mind?

... your pet's waistline?

Today I'm attempting something different. I'm not sure this feat is allowed under the Bloggers' Rule Book section 2.III.iv subpart D regarding blog hops, but I'm going to try to hop into two hops at one time. (Drum roll please...Hope i don't break something...)

Of course, today is the usual Wordless (um, slightly less wordy??) Wednesday, and since that's so popular (pupular?), I thought it'd be a great time to let all those hoppers know about the Show Off Your Dog's Waistline Campaign, brought to us by Dawg Business.

We've all heard the phrase "a waist is a terrible thing to mind" -- especially at this time post-holiday time of year. But, for your pup, if you don't mind their waist, who will? (Unfortunately, we also have to mind their waste... but that's another blog post.) The goal of the campaign is to bring awareness to pet obesity, which, just like with people, is a big-assed problem.

So, here's Rita's waistline:
"Why are you taking this silly picture, Momma?"

January 7, 2013

Monday Mischief: What's That They Say About Beggars?

We decided to make popcorn this weekend. Rita loves popcorn... but only the buttery pieces.

Not sure you can see it all that well, but there's a perfectly good piece of popcorn on the ground at her feet. (Sorry about the picture quality. I took these with my iPad, so had to hold out the popcorn with one hand, and then try to both hold the iPad and take the picture at the same time with my other hand.)
"Don't try to slip me a non-buttery one, Momma!"

January 4, 2013

Downton Labby: The New Season!

Is your household as excited about the start of  season 3 of Downton Abbey this Sunday as ours is? (Well, as I am? The hubs watches it with me, but I'm not sure he's as excited about it as I am.)

Do I need to ask who your favorite character is... It's gotta be the Lab, right? Don't you love this shot from the opening credits of that ample little Labby butt walking alongside Lord Grantham?
Most famous Lab rump in TV history.
So... I thought for this post I'd try to find some fun tidbits to share like, say, the fact that there's a Facebook page dedicated to Pharoah and Isis - the two Grantham family Labs. That's right, two Labs. Did you notice when they went from Pharoah (a male played by Roly) to Isis (a female played by Ellie)?

Apparently the male blonde Lab that lives at the castle used for the Downton set doesn't get along with other male dogs, so poor Roly had to go. The plan at first was to just switch in Ellie, but someone said that surely sharp-eyed fans would notice that Pharoah had gone from male to female! (Um, I probably wouldn't have, but I'm sure someone would.) So in the second season, they said that Pharoah had passed away and Isis was the new family dog.

In true celebrity gossip fashion, Hugh Bonneville (the actor that plays Lord G.) seems to be sending out mixed messages about his lovely blonde co-star. He was quoted in The Daily Mail in 2011 as saying that Ellie's a "very good-natured dog" but with a "very different temperament to Roly." He went on to say, "All he [Roly] wanted was a frankfurter and he sat there, staring lovingly as his owner. All Ellie wants is a frankfurter, too, but her tail constantly wags, knocking over beautiful antiques." So what you're really saying is that she's disruptive on set, right, but couching it in a compliment (a "very good-natured dog").

However, does the real truth come out in this report by The Sun in the UK (if you considered linking through here, don't until you read to the end!) in which Bonneville calls Ellie the show's "biggest diva" and a "total bitch." According to the report, "She rarely comes out of her trailer and demands snacks at all times.”

So, which is it Hugh?? Is she a bitch, demanding cookies, or a good-natured dog, demanding frankfurters?

I wanted to get to the bottom of this, but while reading the report in The Sun, which is from October, there was a major plot spoiler, since the season has already aired in the UK. I also saw another major spoiler just while searching for more tidbits on the dogs, so I gave up! I'm hoping both these spoilers can't possibly be true. (I'd heard a major character dies this season - but from what I saw two of them will die. Unless one of things I saw was incorrect, in which case... one of them will die, but now I'm not sure which one. Kinda hoping it's the one and not the other. Is that mean?)

Anyway, I can tell you that I didn't see anything saying that Isis will die! Phew!

So, how about you? Will you be watching Lord G and Isis with your faithful pup at your side? Are you excited to see if Lady Hairy will actually manage to wed Matthew Clawley without anymore star-crossing of their love? Can you not even wait to see if Mr. Bites will beat his murder conviction? We will definitely be watching with Rita!


January 3, 2013

Walking the Plank - Not To Be Confused with Planking

It's Mirth Watch Thursday, and today we learn about planking, as opposed to walking the plank.

If you've been around the blog the last couple of months, you know we've been going through a backyard reno project. We've had a fair amount of rain for San Diego lately, so we keep losing days of work here and there and the project seems like it's never going to end. At the same time, the deck we're having built continues to just be a framework that gets sturdier and sturdier. (I swear this deck is going to outlast any apocalypse! It will be the cockroaches, the stashes of uneaten Twinkies, and our deck.)

Anyway, I think it's been weeks now that we've been "walking the plank" to access our backyard from our sliding glass door, as Rita demonstrates in these photos:
(For an added thrill: she's naked in these photos!)