Meow mix

It’s National Donut Day, people.  Let us rejoice, and bask in the sugary glow.  It’s also time for another No Frown Friday – feel free to bask in its non-sugary but still lovely glow.

This week’s NFF has an unlikely (and non-donut related) theme… cats!  That’s right… even a self-proclaimed puppy fan can appreciate our feline friends.  After all, I’ve always had a soft spot for Garfield.

  1. First up, your punny pet names:  Madelion Albright and Gerard Leopardu.
  2. These photos of a tiny lion being raised by tiny humans have my
    cute-o-meter going crazy.
  3. Kitty parents and puppy parents alike should be able to appreciate this lint roller cat.
  4. Check out this heartwarming tale of three kitties who were rescued by a U.S. Marine.  Rumor has it these cats will only agree to live in places that begin with the letter J.  Cats are always so finicky.
  5. Here are some shots of the National Zoo’s new clouded leopard cubs.  I think they broke the aforementioned cute-o-meter.
  6. Finally, are you wise to the wonder that is Winston the cat?  Allow me to introduce you to this banana connoisseur:

(Via fourfour.  If you want to see more Winston – and I know you do – go here.)

Although today’s post is dedicated to cute kitties, I would be remiss if I did not include some safety tips.  Behind that cuteness lurks the heart of a warrior.  (Tigers and lions and tabbies, oh my!)  Is your cat trying to kill you?  Know the warning signs.

Have a good weekend, and be careful out there.

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Another Golden Girl says goodnight

As you’ve probably already heard, Rue McClanahan passed away today.  It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of the Golden Girls, and I was very sad to hear that the woman who brought Blanche Devereaux to life is with us no more.  She was, among other things, a great actress, an animal lover, and an inspiring survivor.  (Worth a read:  this tribute to Rue, the “original Jezebel.”)

Although Rue played many roles (I remember watching her as Aunt Fran on Mama’s Family, and I wish I could have seen her as Madam Morrible in Wicked), her time on the Golden Girls was truly magical.  Here are some of those magical moments:

http://youtu.be/EQhHud7aCps

(via People)

Now she’s left us to join Bea and Estelle on that big lanai in the sky.  We’ll miss you, Rue.

Given this sad news, can someone please create an immortality potion for Betty White?  A world without a Golden Girl in it would be a very sad world indeed.

 

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A cosmo with the gals

So, I checked out Sex and the City 2 this weekend with the gals… honestly, given some of the reviews I had read, I was expecting the worst.  (However, a review I read after I’d already seen the movie is probably my favorite.  The thesis?  Sex and the City is our Star Wars.)

It had some funny moments, but it was definitely a far cry from what made the series so great.  (Full disclosure – I’m a super fan and own all 6 seasons on DVD.)  In the past, it’s been said that NYC is the fifth character… I’d have to agree.  While I have to admit I loved the guest appearance by Liza with a Z (not Lisa with an S, ’cause Lisa with an S goes ssss not zzzz), I never quite got into the part of the movie set in Abu Dhabi.  It’s not quite Sex and the City without the City, really.  In addition, the characters seem to have less depth than ever before… at times I felt like I was watching a broad parody of the series, rather than a continuation of it.  (There was one scene with Miranda and Charlotte that I really loved, but I won’t spoil it for anyone.)  Where were the smart and funny ladies I enjoyed watching on TV?  I miss them.

In any event… although I didn’t love it, it was still a nice chance to get together with the gals.  So in honor of girls’ nights everywhere (of which I’m sure SATC2 inspired many), I thought I’d share the recipe for White Cosmos that some friends and I enjoyed during a recent girls’ night in.  We tweaked a recipe that I found on the Hostess with the Mostess blog, and the results were delicious!

Orange Overload White Cosmos
(adapted from HTWM)

1/2 oz Cointreau orange liqueur
1/2 oz lime juice
1 oz orange Stoli or other orange vodka (or 2 oz for a stronger cocktail)
2 oz white cranberry-peach juice

Pour all ingredients in an ice-filled cocktail shaker, shake well and strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with an orange spiral.

Enjoy!

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Remembering human and canine heroes on Memorial Day

It’s Memorial Day… a time to honor those who have sacrificed so that we can be free.  On days like this one, my thoughts go to friends and family who have served our country.  Words aren’t enough to thank them for the sacrifices they make and have made to keep each of us safe and free.  We are truly lucky that these dedicated and amazing individuals have given so much in service of this country.

On days like today, my thoughts often go to the poem “In Flanders Field” by John McCrae.  Those words never fail to move me – I urge you to take a moment to read it and reflect on those who made the ultimate sacrifice in times of both war and peace.

Now, on to some puppy/Memorial Day synergy.  First, if you like to cry (and who doesn’t?), watch these videos of dogs welcoming home their soldiers.  I originally saw this link around Veterans’ Day, but it affects me just as strongly now.  It serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifice made by the families (furry and
non-furry members) of those who serve our country.  (Given my beagle
bias, the third one is my favorite – sound is essential.)

In addition to sacrifices on the home front, many dogs have served our country and have toiled along side our human heroes… I think that the K-9 Promise is a beautiful representation of their bravery and service:

K-9 PROMISE
(Author Unknown)
My eyes are your eyes to watch and protect you and yours.
  My ears are your ears to hear and detect evil minds in the dark.
My nose is your nose to scent the invader of your domain.
And so YOU may LIVE, MY LIFE is also yours.

 

This link pays tribute to some heroic rubble dogs of WWII.  These dogs helped rescue people trapped in rubble in London during WWII.  (More photos of these furry heroes can be found here.)

For a comprehensive history of heroic dogs here in the United States and plenty of other interesting information, you might want to check out the United States War Dogs Association website.  (This organization and others have been pushing for a national memorial for War Dogs here in the U.S.)

Finally, here is some additional information on Military Working Dogs. In addition to some general background, this site relates the story of “Sergeant” Stubby, a remarkable bulldog who served his country in WWI.

And remember… when it’s time to retire, Military Working Dogs will need homes in which to enjoy their golden years.  If you might be interested in adopting a retired Military Working Dog, please go to MWD Adoptions for more information.

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Going to the chapel…

It’s almost June, and wedding season is upon us. In fact, I’ll be attending my first wedding of the season this weekend. With that in mind, this week’s No Frown Friday has a matrimonial theme:

  1. This week’s punny pet names are inspired by famous wedding dress designers: Vera Fang and Monique Droolier.
  2. Maybe our two esteemed dogsigners (dog designers?) above made the clothing for these puppy wedding photos (complete with tips for any budding dog wedding photographers out there).  These pups are all decked out for the big day; however, if your dog’s not the formal type, there’s always this tuxedo t-shirt.
  3. Can I go back in time and use one of these dog wedding cake toppers on my wedding cake?  I am kind of amazed that I didn’t realize these were out there, and even more amazed that I didn’t insist our cake have mini-Bellas on top.  (Bonus:  Here’s another slideshow of 15 adorable cake toppers – only one of which is pup-related.)
  4. Weddings are beautiful… the supreme expression of that beautiful sentiment that one must put rings on things one likes.  Ergo, here’s a puppy doing the Single Ladies dance.

I love how bored he looks.

What have we learned?  Always carry a supply of those rings from the carnival ring toss game, and throw them at things you like.  (For larger items, consider hula hoops.)  Under the Sasha Fierce Accord of 2008, those things are then yours.  Anyway, have a fantastic weekend, my fellow pup fans.

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Thunderbolts (with or without lightning)… very, very frightening

We had a thunderstorm on Saturday night. Thunder and lightning seem to give Bella magical powers. Bella usually needs to get a running start in order to jump on our bed – however, during a storm she develops some sort of super jumping power in which she effortlessly lands somewhere in the middle of the bed. And then she paces. And jumps down. And paces some more.

As you have probably guessed, Ms. Bella is not exactly a fan of thunder. Poor pup – it’s only gotten worse over the years. We’ve tried many of the traditional suggestions to help her get over her fear (distraction, desensitization and the like), but nothing really works.

I recently saw a new product designed to help combat noise anxiety, but I’m not sure how I feel about it. Behold, the puppy earmuff.  Aside from making your pet look like a DJ, the Mutt Muff (more info here) is supposed to protect sensitive puppy ears from loud noises, including thunder.  I’m tempted to give it a try – though I am afraid we’d still need some sort of light-canceling goggles to keep Bella from seeing the lightning.  These earmuffs would only work if the noise is what’s really upsetting her.

The other option we’ve considered is the Storm Defender Cape.  This product appears to be more appropriate for dogs who are scared of the storm itself, instead of the noise.  I saw a few articles about this cape, and was intrigued by the idea.  At the first sign of a storm, you are supposed to put the cape on your dog – it’s lined with metallic fabric, which is supposed to disperse the static electricity from the storm and calm your dog.  (More info available here.)

So the question is… what is it about these storms that scares Bella?  Maybe I could just combine the cape and the earmuffs and Bella could moonlight as a superhero DJ.  (Kidding… though that does make for a funny mental picture.)  If we decide to give either of these products a shot, I’ll report back – and if anyone else has tried these or other solutions, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Keep your fingers crossed for no thunderstorms this week (or ever again)!

UPDATE:  There’s a discussion over at PetSugar on this very question, if you’re interested.

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Lost weekend

Lost ends this Sunday… crazy, right?  In honor of the last (often frustrating) six seasons, this week’s No Frown Friday has a Lost theme.  As John Locke might say, “don’t tell me what I can’t blog!”  Let’s get to it…

  1. First and foremost, it’s your weekly dose of punny pet names.  Keeping with the Lost theme, I give you Snarls Widmore.  (Bonus non-Lost pet name in honor of NPH’s awesome Glee appearance this week: Doggie Howser.)
  2. These Lost audition tapes are interesting and amusing – apparently everyone wanted to be Sawyer.  (Really, who can blame them?)  Speaking of Sawyer, there better be a Juliet reunion in the works for Sunday or I will be one unhappy camper.  Without a doubt, those two are tied with Desmond and Penny as my favorite couple (sorry, Jin & Sun… you were a very close second, promise).
  3. I have no idea how to tie this next item into this week’s theme, but that’s just too bad… anyone know how I can get one of these baby sloths?  (Maybe I could pretend that their nursery is a Dharma outpost.)
  4. Sorry for that tangent… it’s what I do.  Anyway, I’m sure there will be lots of viewing parties for the Lost finale – I’d like to invite these dudes (I’ll miss you, Hurley) to mine:

(via Paw Nation)

Speaking of pups, I wonder if we’ll see Vincent again.  As long as Vincent makes it out okay, at least I can take solace in the fact that the puppy had a happy ending in the Lost-iverse.  (Speaking of, did you know that Vincent is played by a lady dog?)

So, as you settle in with your Dharma popcorn on Sunday night, what questions simply must have answers?  Which characters will you miss the most?  I’m a Ben, Sawyer, and Miles fan myself – perhaps Lost could spin those characters off into a sitcom (special guest star John Locke, non-Smokey edition).  It could be followed by a Desmond/Penny sitcom, for a night of Lost-themed comedy.

Final thoughts… How does the sideways world connect to the island?  Why have I not started calling everyone I know Sawyer-esque nicknames?  What is with that stupid light in the middle of the island, and why did it remind me of a log flume ride when Jacob tossed Smokey in there?  Did Allison Janney and Crazy Claire patronize the same ratty wig shop? Why does everyone in the sideways world still remember their flight number days after they land in L.A.?  I don’t even know my flight number when I’m on the actual flight.

I hope that Sunday night’s finale doesn’t disappoint – if they suddenly cut to black and play a Journey song, I will have to consider swearing off TV forever.  (Though if I had to pick one, I’d suggest Wheel in the Sky.)

Farewell, Lost – and thanks for killing off Boone, which allowed Ian Somerhalder to skip on over to the CW and play Damon on The Vampire Diaries.  For that, I will always be grateful.

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Leonbergers and Terriers and Airedales – oh my!

It’s about time someone remade The Wizard of Oz with dogs, right?  The Wizard of Dogz clip below is short and sweet (only two minutes), but well worth watching.  My personal favorite is the Tin Dog.

(via Dog Blog)

When I was a child, I had to turn the movie off when the flying monkeys appeared.  Those things were scary, and definitely gave me nightmares.  The flying kitties in this clip are a bit frightening too, but I hope that they won’t be making any cameos in my dreams now that I’m an adult.

I’m all for casting dogs (and puppies, as long as there are rules in place to protect these young actors) in remakes of classic movies.  Although I’m not a whiz with the YouTube and have no skill in directing, I am happy to serve as writer and producer on any future projects you may consider.  After all, I am the creator behind the fake and successful TV show Golden Retriever Girls.

Some brief movie pitches for you to consider:

  • King Kong – A twist on the classic, sponsored by the good people who make Kong dog toys, of course.  Since the idea of a dog climbing a building probably won’t work, I’m thinking we have a dog protagonist and a cat that climbs it instead.  ‘Twas catnip felled the beast.
  • Dog, Where’s my Car? – Yes, we’re going with a loose definition of “classic” here.  Just replace Ashton Kutcher with a cute pooch.  Done and done.
  • Pup-E – Instead of a trash compacting robot, we follow the story of a robot dog left behind when all of the humans left Earth.  When the humans send another robot, Dog-E, to check out an alarm, puppy love ensues.
  • Seven Dogs for Seven Brothers – Parents get their oldest son a dog, and realize they then have to get their other six sons a dog as well in order to avoid a mutiny.  I’m picturing lots of musical numbers and a convincing case for adopting a rescue pup.

I’m sure I’ll think of better examples as soon as I publish this post… perhaps one of these days I’ll post a sequel.

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The weekend in Bella

It’s Bella… unleashed!  Our friend Bella is quite the escape artist, so before she was allowed to go in the backyard off-leash, we had to make a few modifications.  This week, we put in a new gate, shored up a few places in the fence, and added railroad ties to deter Bella from attempting to dig an escape tunnel.  This week, Bella left the leash behind and I think she really enjoyed it.

 

 

 

After her first foray into the backyard as a free pup, she then had to take that bath I told you about last week.  Needless to say, she was not pleased (as I think her look in the photo at right demonstrates).

Extreme paw closeup!

After that traumatic experience, I thought Bella might enjoy a new collar… she’s very possessive of her collars and gets very excited when she gets a new one.  I bought the collar below in March at the Pet Expo:

Ahoy, Bella!

 

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Corgi, P.I.

For the first time, No Frown Friday will let one specific breed take the spotlight.  It seemed like I kept encountering Corgis this week.  It’s a fitting breed for my first breed spotlight – although we’ve been told Bella is a cross between a Beagle and a Jack Russell Terrier, we often get asked if she’s part Corgi.  She does have comically large ears and is low to the ground.  So either that combination results in a suspiciously Corgi-like creature, or there’s some Corgi in her family tree.  Anyway, on with the Corgification:

  1. While watching the Daily Show on Monday night, I saw this segment about Britain’s hung Parliament (that’s right, I keep up with non-puppy news as well).  While the Daily Show is reliably funny, this segment had a little something special – punny pet names!  Specifically, Winston Furchill (a Corgi, of course) and Margaret Scratcher.  Classic.  With that in mind, my own punny pet name this week is based upon one of the talented actresses Britain has bestowed upon us: Mischa Barkton.  (I kid, I kid… but did you know she was born in England?)
  2. If you love Corgis, there’s a cute blog out there called the Daily Corgi where  I found this picture of a Corgi rocking Bella’s signature pose.  Or maybe Bella has stolen a signature Corgi pose?  The plot thickens…
  3. Who am I kidding?  As if I could only post one new punny pet name.  In honor of today’s Corgi focus, I give you Billy Corgi-an and Corgi Cox.
  4. I just learned that a cross between a Jack Russell Terrier and a Pembroke Welsh Corgi is called a Cojack (info and plethora of adorable pictures here).  I now have an overwhelming urge to adopt one of these dogs, get him hooked on lollipops, and  train him to star in his own police drama.  It seems to me that their short stature makes them the perfect dog detective – they can sniff out clues while staying under the radar.  Also, they are short enough to simply trip bad guys when they try to make a run for it.  However, in order for this police drama to work, Cojack may need a taller dog as a sidekick so that he doesn’t miss any clues that are higher off the ground.
  5. In honor of the future interim Prime Minister, Sir Winston Furchill, here’s another noble Corgi, showing off his kibble dancing skills:

(via Cute Overload)

If you think a short and adorable dog might be for you and are interested in finding a Corgi of your very own, consider rescuing a Corgi.  I hear they are good sports and won’t be offended even if you constantly make fun of their height.  True story.

Have a good weekend, puppy pals!

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