Man, posting a link roundup has me feeling all kinds of nostalgic. I can’t promise them weekly, but it did feel kind of good to bring back the link-a-palooza.
Last year was a busy blogging year for me… just not on this blog. I launched my webcomic, which – like a shiny, new toy – has gotten the lion’s share of my attention. I’ll admit that I’ve found myself missing this space and hope to give some more attention to my first blog-child in the coming year. (We’ll talk more about that later this month – stay tuned.)
With that in mind, I wanted to start off the new year with a new post. When a friend told me about 50 Happy Things, I just knew that this was the perfect way to kick off 2016 (and to help me find some positivity in a year that seemed to be full of sad news from the world at large). Plus, I love lists. I have a list of the lists that I keep. It’s like list-ception.
During those ten minutes, write a list of 50(ish) things that made you happy (or that you were grateful for) in 2015. (After time was up, I went back and added some links, comments, and photos – you know I can’t resist a good link roundup.)
Add your post to the list of bloggers participating in this flood of gratitude. (Don’t have a blog? That’s okay! You can do this on your own – either just for yourself, or to share with your friends in another format. Also, if you want to tell me some of the things that made you happy in the comments, I’d love to hear them!)
I armed Tavish with a stopwatch, which he promptly ignored in favor of going back to sleep. (Hosting people for New Year’s Eve is exhausting, apparently.) So, looks like I’m on my own. Here we go… Continue reading →
Please forgive me for that post title. It was the best of the worst, so just be thankful I spared you the others. Working titles included “the birth of an animation” and “make way for chucklings.” I told you they were bad.
However, the title seemed fitting, in a way. After all, it’s no secret. Over the past year or so, posts here have been infrequent. I can imagine that finding new content here could sometimes feel as unlikely as finding a Golden Ticket in your Special K.
Okay, maybe that’s not the best example. That Golden Ticket was nothing but trouble, unless you relish the idea of turning into a blueberry or almost drowning in a river of chocolate. I’m hoping that new posts here aren’t having that effect on you.
Anyway, I digress. (Big surprise, right?) I wanted to talk a little bit about my absence and let you know that my time away from you has not been in vain. I’ve FINALLYÂ accomplished one of my goals for 2015 (and 2014 and 2013)…
I launched that webcomic I kept talking about! So, I finally followed through on that promise (or made good on that threat, depending on your point of view) and got some of the ideas out of my brain and onto (virtual) paper. Â It’s out in the world, and it’s just getting started.
It’s called Biological Clockie, and she really wants to be your new BFF (Best Frenemy Forever):
The webcomic lives here – you’ll find new comics on Mondays and Thursdays.
You can sign up to get new comics by email using the form in the right sidebar on the BC website.
If you’re more of a feed reader kind of person, sign up here.
Biological Clockie has her own Facebook page and Twitter profile too – follow for updates, funny stuff, and more.
So, that’s the big news here. Â I hope you’ll stop by and check out my new site – I’d love to hear your thoughts! After all, how could you resist finding out more about this face?
She’s waiting for you…
Working on the comic has also helped me start finding my blogging mojo too, so I’ll probably be posting more regularly here as well. Â It’s win-win (for me at least).
Before we dive into today’s links, a quick plug if you live in the northern Virginia/DC area… this Saturday (the 27th), Friends of Homeless Animals (giver of Tavish) is hosting its annual Barktoberfest. Stop by for pet contests, music, food, drinks, fun, puppies, kittens, and more… check it out!
Now… let’s do this.
First up, your punny pet names: Rawr-iska Hartigay (star of Paw & Order: SVMew) and Ace Hentura (bird detective, obviously).
I need a detective (pet or otherwise) to help me solve these mysteries. Anyone?
Is your dog the Hooch to your Turner? Take this quiz and find out which fictional duo you and your pet are most like. (My result? Apparently tiny Tavish is a giant St. Bernard at heart, and I’m a nerdy adolescent boy. Who knew?)
Holy crap, you guys. Agatha Christie’s first dog looked like Tavish. Doggelganger alert!
(I realize that the “holy crap” portion of that sentence might not accurately capture your reaction, but I promise you that was mine. My mom loved Agatha Christie, so I have a soft spot for all things A.C.)
Anyway, check it out:
Fascinating, yes? Authors are kind of like rock stars to me, so I loved that video on many levels.
I thought that my month of blogging in August would reignite the blogging flame… however, I think it resulted in a second wave of blogging burnout.
Never fear, however… I’m working on a plan to get myself back on track. In the meantime, I thought I’d dedicate this edition of Friday* linkage to some things that I have been filling my time with lately:
Before we get started, however, I would be remiss if I failed to share some punny pet names: Hiss Messina (for a snake) and Mindy Meowling.
Those pet names miiiiight have given you a clue to what I’ve been watching lately.  My list of current TV obsessions includes The Mindy Project. (I mean, seriously. Seriously, people.)
I’m also obsessed with Outlander. (You might be noticing a theme in the links, but I promise I’m totally into the rest of the show too. I’ve even read the books!)
In news that will be surprising to absolutely zero people, I have also been staring at photos of the new baby red pandas. Â I think these pandas are my lobsters.
I didn’t post yesterday. Â Unfortunately, I’ve spent the month writing each day’s post in the waning hours of the day. (Not exactly a recipe for success in a daily posting challenge, right?) Â Yesterday, I was in the midst of last minute prep for an event I was hosting today, and my post drafting fell by the wayside. Â I’m a little bummed, but I plan to finish out the month anyway. Close enough, I guess.
Anyway, here’s your weekly linkage…
First up, your punny pet name: Viper Chapman.  (Have you seen Orange is the New Cat? Great show. Also a great show? This.)
Obviously, given my busy week. I was running on caffeine. This photo is a good representation of what I probably looked like yesterday.
Now that I can relax, I think I’ll have a pint and a snuggle from one of these cats. Maybe a burger too?
Last night, I was watching TV (a rerun of The Mindy Project, if you must know – seriously, though… how great is The Mindy Project?).  My local news ran a preview during one of the commercial breaks, as is wont to happen.
In the span of thirty seconds, they delivered one of those “X happened – and you won’t believe what happened next!” headlines. So… basically, it felt like I was watching some sort of Upworthy network. (Maybe they just used this handy headline generator?)
Listen, I know that this sort of sensationalized teaser is nothing new.
(Fun fact: I still say “is it peas?” on what seems to be a weekly basis.)
However, cramming two of those similarly constructed headlines into one short preview was more than I could bear. Â It was (almost) as bad as the time that I saw this on the Huffington Post:
Yeah… that happened.
You can’t put emoticons in your headlines. You just can’t, HuffPo. Get it together.
Anyway… today’s post is inspired by the Judgy Bear stare and epic amounts of shade I directed at my television last night. Â In an attempt to make the best of a dumb situation, I present to you… Dogworthy headlines. Just imagine them being delivered to you by Walter Cronkbite, Dan Cather, or Barbara Pawlters:
Fido sniffed a fire hydrant – you won’t believe what happened when he tried to pee on it.
I used to hate going to the vet. Then I saw this powerful video by a celebrity dog.
Some call it bath time. We call it freedom’s worst enemy.
This dog’s family named him Rover. Then they found out just how fitting that name was.
You will shudder when you see what this Corgi’s person made him wear.
A flea bit Fifi on the leg. It ended up changing her life for the better.
Peanut thought that finally catching her tail would solve all of her problems. If only she’d known what would really happen.
You never thought a cat could inspire a dog. This video will change your mind.
You’re welcome, canine journalists. Â I’m totally helping you take it to the next level. Instant click bait. It’s the human equivalent of “squirrel!”
I’m seriously tempted to start using Dogworthy titles on all of my posts, just to see what happens. I’ll try to resist.  If I cave in, I promise to give myself a Judgy Bear Stare in the mirror every now and then.  You have my word.
As I try to get back into the blogging groove, I thought I’d try to resurrect the Friday linkage as well. I didn’t have the motivation to come up with a theme today, so you’re getting a hodgepodge. Let’s get to it.
via giphy.com
First up, your punny pet names: Chick Vitale, Hendy Kaling, and Mooey Deschanel. (Okay, the last one is really more of a punny cow name… and the middle one also has a farm association. Bear with me – I’m easing back in here.)
A Pun-Off? I can’t believe I didn’t know about this before.
You may recall it’s an annual tradition, my writing a post for Seuss-ian recognition. (If you are new to this blog of the furry, or if your memory is just a bit blurry, you can find posts from a past calendar year by vigorously clicking first here and then here.)
A dramatic reenactment of the creation of today’s post, via giphy.com.
We begin with names that are loaded with pun – I just pray that this practice does not make you run. Although I do slightly fear your reprisal, I’ve already done puns based on dear Mr. Geisel. So today’s offerings relate to the Academy knock – without further adieu, meet Sandra SeaGullock.
Speaking of puns in a Seussian vein, this Seusstastic menu board is awesome and mildly insane.
Although the concept might sound kind of loose, this guy’s pretending to be celebrities reading Dr. Seuss. If the imitation game strikes you as a scam, here’s an actual celebrity reading Green Eggs and Ham.
A word of hope – don’t fear the task of seeking publication. Seuss was rejected many a time before his eventual proliferation.
Given that flights of whimsy were often his wont, I bet Seuss would approve of this fun elefont.
If you’re thinking of writing in classic Seussian style, you might use these animal sounds for the extra mile. (Then you can read it to a homeless dog or a cat, and they would totally appreciate your doing of that.)
If celebrating this man’s birthday would fill you with glee, make sure to decorate with Sneetches and a Truffula Tree.
In addition to the birthday of this wordsmithing light, the Oscars are airing on this Sunday night. If this awards show news fills you with great jubilation, you might want to make it a pun-filled celebration.
Finally, I share today’s video installment. I’ve selected some Pugs for your viewing enjoyment. (I did consider sharing a feline film instead, but I flipped a coin that landed right on its head.)
We’re now at the end of this year’s novel-length rhyme. I hope that you had a splendiferous time. Should you want to leave words of a commenting type, I’ll remind you that the time for poetic license is ripe!
Class, please open your self-yelp books to Chapter 7. Today, we’re going to talk about our dirty little secrets – those things that you hate to admit that you really like.
Get your minds out of the gutters, kids. I’m talking about guilty pleasures. Continue reading →
