What did you do this summer? That seems to be the universal question of greeting as summer winds down and we begin to migrate back to our normal routine of work, school, and fall social occasions. Of course, how you react to the question usually depends on how you feel […]
Book Review: GOODBYE, VITAMIN by Rachel Khong
“…there is a bit of magic in this author’s ability to tell a deeply affecting story with interspersed humor” I will be honest: I don’t know how to feel about this book. Prior to picking up GOODBYE, VITAMIN by Rachel Khong, I had just finished reading a heavily literary, epic […]
Pondering The Possibilities: The Bat-Candy-Halloween Connection
Have you ever wondered how the bat-candy-halloween connection got started? Well, I think I might have the answer. Okay, it is pure speculation on my part, but the evidence seems pretty convincing me. It is all because of fruit. Does that sound far fetched? Well, would you want to go up […]
Pet Owners Against Daylight Saving Time — Unite!
In all the discussions about the pros and cons of Daylight Saving Time, I have yet to hear anyone address the most compelling reason of all for getting rid of Daylight Saving Time — our pets. In the U.S. alone, 62% of households are pet owners. It breaks down to something like 46 million households […]
For The Joy of Animals: Turkey Bobbing
Turkey bobbing anyone? We take an all hands — and paws — approach to prepping for our christmas feast. Do you have plenty of helping hands and paws at your house? MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS! ~~~ You can find more Macho and Nina YouTube fun at The Fry Ranch ###
Happy Birthday Betty White, I’ll Never Forget Your Kindness
I’ve had the pleasure of working with the hilarious, uber-talented Miss Betty White. No one is more deserving than she of the sweet surprise and outpouring of affection she got, in celebration of her 93rd birthday, from the entire cast and crew of Hot in Cleveland. Enjoy the flash mob celebration, then read about my own […]
A Disgruntled Snowman’s Snow Fight
We may be disgruntled by the snow, but it is here to stay — at least for a couple of months. So we might as well find humor in it where we can. I’ve long been a fan and follower of the folks over at Animation Chefs. Their goal is to: “lead kids into a thinking, […]
Ten Things I Don’t Want to Hear Two Days Before Christmas
Here is my Ten Things I Don’t Want to Hear Two Days Before Christmas list: I have a Christmas lunch at work/school/preschool tomorrow. What would you like to make? I need to start my Christmas shopping. Can you take me to the mall? How about that! The guaranteed Christmas delivery […]
Who Doesn’t Love The Fair?
I don’t. There. I said it. I don’t like the state fair. When the family packed up to make our annual trek, I tried hiding under the couch but someone spotted me. I tried to beg off for financial reasons. Think of ALL the money we’d save if I didn’t […]
The Art of The Virtual “Smudgy Hug”
Humans are social beings. We crave human-to-human contact. Even as machines and technology take over more and more aspects of our lives, we try our best to humanize them. Think of our phones. We give them names, voices and mannerisms. We dress them. We play with them. We share our […]
How to Raise Gun-Free Boys
When my husband and I first started talking about having children almost two decades ago, one of our concerns was the pervasive violence in our culture. Seeing boys barely old enough to write their names pretending to blow one another up was troubling, and we decided our kids were going […]
For The Joy of Animals: Nature’s Ball Return
A dog with a ball
but no one to throw…
The Adventurous Mind: Prudence
The road less traveled
Isn’t always on foot…
Webcomic by xkcd: Prudence
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Pondering Possibilities: Digital Toilet Paper
Like it or not. Embrace it or not. The digital age has brought a lot of changes to our world. But there has to be a limit. Right? Still … Can we really rule out the possibility of digital toilet paper? After all, there was a time when we “wiped” […]
For The Joy Of Animals: Cow Boredom?
Can there be such a thing as cow boredom? I have a special fondness for cows. My grandparents were dairy farmers, so as a child I had ample opportunity to watch cows’ inaction. And no, that is not a typo. Once you get beyond the constant chewing and tail switching […]
More Wild West Show Than Presidential Horse Race
The MSM likes to depict any election as a horse race, but the more I watch the 2012 presidential nomination process and particularly the debates, the more it feels like I’m watching the waning days of a Wild West Show. See what you think… Posters have been up all over […]
For The Joy of Animals: Multi-Purpose Monsters
Here is a helpful tip to consider as you make your Halloween purchases: multi-purpose monsters are always a wise investment. Particularly when, with an inadvertent flick of a switch, the monster has the power to both clear and clean a room. Every home should have a vacuum monster!! What are […]
For The Joy Of Animals: Wild British Humor
What can I say, this just makes me smile every single time I view it. Seriously, do you have any doubt that if animals could talk, they would also have a wild British humor? Enjoy more BBC Walk on the Wild Side videos — here and here! ###
Rudolph Brought Down By A Lack Of Vision
Rudolph floated forward. Big, beautiful, and buoyant, his red nose a beacon leading the way as part of the local Christmas parade. Still, he needed helping hands to anchor him and navigate a path along the city street. Sure he was a bit awkward to deal with, but with a […]
Pondering The Possibilities: Penthouse Economics
In Penthouse Economics, as in all real estate, it is location that matters most. And while it is true that a superior view gives a penthouse its enduring appeal. It is through the laws of gravity and flow that Penthouse Economics makes its most profound contributions. (cartoon via Coyoteprime) ###
No Longer Passively Accepting
I love George Carlin. He is a hero from my youth. Revered from the first time I heard “The Seven Words”. And I still mourn his passing in 2008. So I was a bit surprised by my reaction to viewing Carlin’s excellent riff on “Who Really Controls America.” Oh, I […]
Enjoying Will Rogers
I have always been a huge Will Rogers fan. So when I spotted THE WIT AND WISDOM OF WILL ROGERS at a used book fundraiser for our local Humane Society last summer, I snatched it up, took it home and added it to my collection of must read books. And there old […]
Move Over Rover, It’s Hamster Time
We humans tend to have a giant soft spot in our hearts for animals. And since advertising is all about finding the soft spots of humans and then exploit them, what could be more natural than companion animals in advertisements? Dogs have always lead the pack (by a large margin) as […]
Ground Rules for Pets and Humans
As all who share their home with pets know, they rule. In an effort to reclaim your domain and walk in harmony together, these ground rules might help. (This was emailed to me. Author unknown. Hattip to BGD.) Post low on the refrigerator or near pet food storage area… Dear […]