Books
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No Dunce Cap Tonight (or, She’s not stupid, she’s got Character)
Macy, our new puppy, is a nightmare on a lead. Her recall? Well, she kind of has her own agenda, so she’ll come if she damn well pleases to. She jumps. She has chewed through both of my laptop cords. We won’t even discuss the excitement wees. She is also very clever, loving, clumsy and adorable. And smart. Did I say smart? She needs training. The first puppy training class was a head-burying disaster. While my friend Nadine sat in a chair across the hall, her pup Isla (a litter-mate of Macy’s) sitting tall and gazing up with adoration, MY dog was wrapping her lead around the leg of a…
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The Cracked Pink Cup
One of my favorite books from childhood was “The Boxcar Children” by Gertrude Chandler Warner. It is the story of four orphans, Henry, Benny, Jessie and Violet, who run away and live in an abandoned boxcar they found in the forest. Henry is old enough to do odd jobs to get a little needed money, and they furnish their boxcar home with goods found in a local dump. I remember being captivated with Benny (the youngest) and his cracked pink cup. I wanted a pink cup and a few mismatched spoons and my own playhouse with no rules. There was an innocence and simplicity that was endearing – and a…
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Dogs Don’t Wear Shoes
If you stop by my house at, oh, say, 8pm on any given evening, you will find me mopping. I know. It’s sad. Really, really sad. I hadn’t expected the floors to get THIS dirty. We are a no-shoes-in-the-house family. The Hubs has been strict about this to the point that my kids typically pull off their shoes when they go into another person’s house. But, you see, I have a puppy. She is a sweet puppy, and she is very nearly housetrained. But she doesn’t wear shoes. For obvious reasons. And all the dirt on her feet – despite my attempts to wipe them dry at the back door…
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Maybe not so much Mad as Sad.
Each night at dinner, we share the worst part, and then the best part of our day. Its a lovely tradition that initiates conversation at the dinner table that we may not ordinarily get to hear. (How many times have you asked “what did you do today?” to which the response has been “Nothing”???) Anyways…. Nearly every day for the past few weeks that school has been in session, its been basically the same “worst part” for Boo. It has been heartbreaking to listen to. I was angry. I was frustrated. Now, I am just sad. My son is being bullied at school. (He’s not the only one, but that…
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Happy Puppy Wee
I’m a “wee” late for Mama Kat’s writing challenge, but I’m adding my submission anyway. My prompt of choice was to write about my pet’s least likeable character trait. Easy peasy lemon squeezy, that one. Macy – still a puppy – experiences “excitement” wees. Don’t get me wrong – she was housebroken in record time, and rarely has an accident in the house. But if someone comes to the door? Or downstairs? She can’t control her excitement. When the Hubs comes downstairs in the morning, she gets so excited, she wees on the floor. When he comes down an hour later, now dressed in suit and tie, despite the fact…
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When I Grow Old, I Shall Wear Silver Trousers
Earlier this summer, the Hubs and I went to see Orquesta Buena Vista (insert samba dance here) at the Hay Festival. I’ve loved the Buena Vista Social Club since their album was first released and this concert did not disappoint. However, for as fabulous as the music and all the musicians were – they obviously were having a great time – it was THIS man who was burned into my memory. He was clearly enjoying himself, jamming on his guitar, despite the fact that when he wasn’t playing, he was moving pretty slowly. I can only hope that when I am his age, I am still doing all the things…
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Dog Days
So, basically, my puppy has THE life. She sleeps, eats, poops, and plays. No responsibility. She doesn’t even have to wipe her own backside or clean out her water dish. If it wasn’t for having to eat the same meal day after day, the slug-eating (throws up a little in my mouth) the “no chocolate” rule (a definite killer) and – oh, yes – the bum sniffing (a peck on the cheek is fine, thankyouverymuch), I’d say I’d like to come back my next life as a dog.
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Happy Birthday, Dad
(Ok, so this post is going up a bit late – I’m behind on my blogging. The message is just as heartfelt as it was the day of his birthday!) My Dad turned 65 today! Given the fact that his birth father passed in his early 20s and his adoptive father also passed at a relatively young age, its a pretty remarkable accomplishment. And I think that living through a valve replacement last year gave him a different perspective on life. This morning we hopped in the car and drove to my parents house to spend the day with him. We took him to lunch, and had a really wonderful…