Knitting project COMPLETE!

Hey... The Typist here with another invasion of the dog blog...

Six months ago, I was working on my first-ever knitting project when The Alpha asked what my second one would be. And when I said I didn't know, he suggested one.

Yes, a sci-fi geek knitting project.


It took exactly five months to complete. Yes, it's a bit too hot for him to wear right now, but I was planning ahead.

And no, it's not exactly like the one on the TV series, as anyone with a "My other car is a TARDIS" bumper sticker would quickly point out, I'm certain (thanks for that defining point, Zorra). But it is pretty close to the Season 12 pattern.

And, more importantly, The Alpha is thrilled.


To top it off, he can also use it to do a good impersonation of little brother Randy from A Christmas Story:


So, fellow knit-wits, how did I do?

Friday Five: Gifts and Talents

Sally over at RevGalBlogPals writes: Our Circuit (Methodist) is having a "Gifts and talents day" tomorrow- we have a minister visiting from another circuit who has modified the Myers Briggs personality test and added a few things of his own to run a day where we get to look at ourselves in the light of giftings and of the whole church. The idea is to encourage everyone with the news that there is room for you in the ministry of the church- and perhaps to discover where that ministry might be.....

It should be an interesting day, and one where I hope people will leave feeling encouraged and challenged...

So with gifts and talents in mind here is todays Friday 5:

1. Personality tests; love them or hate them?
The Typist: I'm one of those geeks who finds them fascinating. I first took Myers-Briggs when I was 15, and it's been interesting to see some things shift over the years.
Cub: Well, I guess I don't really like them because dogs only usually take them if they might be in trouble (I remember hearing the phrase "fear biter" when I was little).

2. Would you describe yourself as practical, creative, intellectual or a mixture?
The Typist: Definitely a mixture. It all depends on the situation. And if math is involved, I'm none of those things.
Cub: Probably practical. I know what needs to happen all around me, and I try to keep everyone in line.

3. It is said that everyone has their 15 minutes of fame; have you had yours yet? If so what was it, if not dream away what would you like it to be?
The Typist: I may be having mine right now. It feels odd to get elected to something. Also, I've been doing more writing for the national publication where I work, something that wasn't in my job description until just a few months ago.
Cub: Well, I have a blog, don't I? I'm very famous, as dogs go. But I would still like my own calendar. And maybe I should look into writing a children's book.

4. If you were given a 2 year sabbatical (oh the dream of it) to create something would it be music, literature, art.....something completely different...share your dream with us...
The Typist: I don't know how creative I'd be, because I'd probably focus on travel first. I've had a hankering for Alaska ever since we got back from there last August. But I guess it would probably be literature or music (though with music I'd need a lot of help, as the only instrument I play with any confidence is my own voice).
Cub: I'm with Molly on #4... my whole life is a sabbatical!

5. Describe a talent you would like to develop, but that seems completely beyond you.
The Typist: If I could have the patience to learn to play guitar or piano... I'm pitiful in that I learn a bare minimum of a musical instrument and then flit on to something else. (Currently, my guitar doesn't even have strings.) Instead, I surround myself with musicians I admire. I'm the least technically skilled person in the band, but they still let me sing.
Cub: I would like to be able to let my right ear flop over just at the very tip, like it did until I was about four years old. It only happens now when I'm really, really tired, but I know the thumb-havers think it's adorable.

Bonus question: Back to the church - what does every member ministry mean to you? Is it truly possible to encourage/ implement?
The Typist: It means what it says. Trouble is, many people have never internalized it, and it's an idea that takes a lot of work -- something many of us just aren't used to if we're not getting paid for it. I love Diane's comparison to a bluegrass festival!
Cub: What do I know? I'm a dog. My ministry is to be the best girl I can be and love everybody, even if they're scared of me or they think I don't belong in the house.

Why I Love My Thumb-Haver Cousin

First off, The Typist met back up with us today, and we're glad. And she wants to say that she doesn't know how anyone on dial-up has the patience to blog, and that's why there will be no linking in my post tonight. (Turns out I'm not the only girl in our pack who can be a bit of a priss.)

We got to ride in the car! with The Alpha yesterday for a big long ride to visit the thumb-havers who call us their granddogs. That also means we've been getting to see our Aunt Who Gives Us Cute Bandannas, and our Thumb-Haver Cousin Who Isn't Much Taller Than Us.

Tonight after supper I was feeling a little bit snackish. Nothing to whine about, of course. So I wasn't going to give them any pitiful puppy stares or anything. But when Thumb-Haver Cousin walked by with a Snack Cake in each hand, it sure looked like he was offering to share. So I took him up on the offer.

From the way he reacted, I don't think he really meant for me to eat the whole thing, but he didn't seem too upset. And the bigger thumb-havers all seemed to think it was funny. Then they had me give him poppy kisses, which they also thought was funny. And it meant I got a few more crumbs of Snack Cake.

It did not taste like my usual treats. It didn't even taste like Frosty Paws. It tasted really, really, really good, though. So good that I'm guessing The Alpha and The Typist won't let me have another one any time soon.

Oh, and The Boy got all scared today. The Alpha and Thumb-Haver Cousin were lighting things on fire that made popping sounds, and The Boy went to hide. He feels much safer back inside, where we all are now. He's still Not Quite Right, but then again, he never was.

I think we get to go on another ride in the morning.

Lightning Bugs!

Hey -- The Typist here, liveblogging from a rocking chair on the porch of a cottage at Mount Sequoyah.

And there are Lightning Bugs with me!!!

Yes, more sophisticated types might call them fireflies, but where I grew up they were lightnin' bugs. And they were once the only bugs I would touch voluntarily.

They weren't around when I was up here in May. Must be lightnin' bug season now.

I just caught one and let it crawl around on my hand. It wouldn't light up while I was holding it. (Is there a ministry metaphor there?)

And when I look across the lawn, they're all over the place, showing off beautifully.

We don't have lightnin' bugs in the DFW area. It's times like these I really miss living in Arkansas.

Susan is here in the rocking chair next to me. Folks are talking and laughing all over the grounds. Reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. Good stuff.

Not much else to say... I just got excited about the lightnin' bugs...

We've been double-tagged!

First, Diane tagged The Typist, then Molly tagged me. So, we're going to play together. Here are the rules:

1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves. 2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.

There were 2 more rules about tagging other bloggers, but lots of people and dogs we know have already played. So, if you want to tag yourself, feel free, and let us know in the comments if you play!

The Typist's turn:
1. I've felt less than stellar all day today. Didn't even want to blog over coffee this morning. No fever or anything, though, so I think I'm just worn out from the week's gallivanting.
2. My Second Knitting Project Ever is at 96.5% completion. Pictures forthcoming.
3. I like snacking on uncooked pasta. Saw my mom do it once while she was cooking macaroni, asked for some myself, and have been hooked for at least 25 years now.
4. The summer before 5th grade I took a two-week cake decorating class, partly because I was pretty sure it meant I got to eat frosting. And I was right.
5. I bought a used piano recently. Needs tuning. Also, I haven't played in oh, 24 years.
6. I'm left-handed, but pretty much only for writing and percussion. Oh, and batting, which I don't do very often.
7. On Wednesday, my college roommate left me voice mail saying she just saw someone who looked very much like me boarding a plane at Home State's Capital City Airport. I called her back to tell her it wasn't very much like me, it was me, but by the time I landed and got the message, her plane was in the air. We finally caught each other and had a good laugh about it a couple of hours later.
8. On Tuesday, I was working a hallway display table at a conference and discovered that the person at the table next to me was also a RevGalBlogPal! Unintentional Meetup! Here we are Against A Brick Wall:

Cub's turn:
1. When I first got my family, I looked like this:


2. When The Boy first got our family, I wouldn't let him up on my couch. I got over it, though.



3. I have a wavy bit of fur on my hindquarters. It wasn't wavy until it grew back in, after those crazy people at the special vet shaved it off.

4. Today we got to go for a walk down the block to the building with the Treat Window. That's where The Alpha and The Typist hand over a slip of paper, say my name, and get a white paper bag. The Boy and I get really big Milk Bones and we eat them right there under the Treat Window. Then we look up again to see if we might get more.

5. When thumb-havers sing "Happy Birfday" into the phone, I like to bark along.

6. I like a freshly-mown yard. It's better for doing business. I have been known to put my business on hold if the grass is too tall.

7. I can sometimes be a bit of a priss.

8. I don't fall for the offer to lick the lid from the Frosty Paws anymore. I know the thumb-havers are hiding the whole cup behind their backs. The lid isn't worth my time -- make with the Frosty Paws already!

Some important thing: General Conference

Last night The Typist and The Alpha were talking a lot about this big important thing called General Conference. Turns out The Typist is going there.

The Boy and I are hoping that even though we can't go (General Conference is Not For Poppies), maybe we can visit her while she's there, because it's not as far from home as a lot of places we've gone on rides (and we like rides!).

RevGalDogPal meetup!

The Typist just came home from church stuff and has to go to more church stuff, so she doesn't have time to help recount the story of our wonderful RevGalDogPal (and RevGalBlogPal) meetup yesterday. But that's okay, because Mary Beth helped Josie and Boudreaux tell all about it on her blog. Go read it!

The Gathering, x|y style

Hey, The Typist here...

It's been several days since we got back, and some folks (read: Andrew) have been bugging me to post about the Generation x|y Gathering that we had last week at Mount Sequoyah. The upshot is, it was great, especially for a first-year effort, and we all want it to happen again next year. Got good constructive feedback on the evaluation forms, too, so I'm sure next time it'll be even better.

As for pics, turns out one of the settings on my camera got bumped to "wrong" in my laptop bag, so I don't have very many good ones. But look! It's a few of us in the Bishop's Cottage, which housed our guest speakers. There's Cub's Uncle B on the mandolin, Tim Keel in the middle of the couch, and Marcia on the right (no, she's not asleep, she's just closing her eyes in amazement at what she's hearing).


And, wait... what's at the bottom of the frame?

Those, my blogfriends, are Doug Pagitt's toes.

I probably wouldn't have mentioned Doug Pagitt's big, long toes except for the story that Benjamin shares here. So, here I am, typing on and on about Doug's toes. Which, by the way, are not any more follically challenged than average toes, just so you know.

More thorough reports are available elsewhere on the blogosphere. But I'm the only one with a pic of Doug Pagitt's toes. So far, anyway.

Our weekend

The Typist is back now, so I can tell you about my weekend.

We didn't really get left... because Aunt Cathy came over!!!

We LOVE Aunt Cathy. She gives us belly rubs and takes us for morning walks and lets us sleep on the thumb-havers' bed with her. The Boy even stayed up on top of the bed this time, instead of going underneath it like usual.

The Alpha and The Typist are back now, and we got to go to Petco (Wonders Untold!) tonight. We got a new ball because we chewed a hole in the old one, and The Boy got a special new thing to go around his neck. It's all pinchy -- I know because they had me try it on, too. But when he has that pinchy thing on, The Boy all of a sudden really wants to go everywhere The Alpha goes. Should make for a different feel to our next walk.

Oh, The Typist wanted to say something about where she went, but it's getting to be her bedtime, so she'll get back to you later.

Proclamation

We, the dogs, would like you to know that we Aren't Getting Left.

We're just sayin'.

--Cub & Angus

Grease bunny

The Typist here again.

I promise, this is a dog blog.

There are no plans to turn it into a car blog.

Just because this is the third post about a car within the past 10 days is no cause for alarm.

After this one, I'm finished with car blogging. Note that I haven't even made a "car blogging" label.



Today,

after my church nerd meeting,

I came home and changed out of my church nerd outfit,

jacked up my car,

and changed my oil.

At last, my apprenticeship is complete; I know how to do it without asking anyone.

I had to take a break because somebody had the filter wrench in his brand new car (why?), but when the brand new car returned I resumed my labors, now with an assistant to hand things to me.



He took pictures instead.



But really, after that he prepped the fuel filter and handed it to me, which was quite helpful.

At some point before kindergarten, I started wanting to be a mechanic when I grew up. It didn't work out that way. But when it's not too hot out, I do enjoy some basic maintenance. (In the summer, I become a real weenie about things.)

So, today I got to play mechanic. And my hair only got caught under the wheels of the floor creeper a couple of times.

After I finished, the dogs got to ride around the block with me to make sure all was well, because dogs LOVE rides, even if they are very short ones.

(See, this is a dog blog.)

Farewell, good and faithful Saturn

This, I think, was its good side.



Especially when you start looking a little harder from other angles.


Yes, that's Bondo showing through on the front. And it's showing through a we're-not-going-to-keep-it-too-much-longer home-done paint job from July 2004.



Which started to flake off quite impressively at some point in 2006.



Yes, those are machine screws, washers, and rubber grommets above the door. Because it's kind of hard to drive when the plastic trim around your door keeps falling down and hitting you. (Or rattling so loud you can't drown it out with the radio.)



No, that's not in "recline" position. That's a broken seat. Actually, it's the second broken driver's seat -- you'll notice if you look closely that it doesn't quite match the rest of the interior. Online junkyards are handy inventions.

Do I need to mention that this car only had one owner its entire 15-year life? And that he drove it without air conditioning for the last six years? And that nobody really knows how many miles are on it, because the odometer broke about 7 years ago? We're guessing a quarter million or so, though.

This car may well still have some birdseed in it from our wedding in 1996.

This car survived a 60 mile-per-hour slide down a rain-soaked Interstate median, backwards, in a torrential downpour, and turned out no worse for the experience (well, a little water got in under the door, but it dried). Had its inhabitants known everything would be okay at the end of that unintentional detour, they would've treated it more like the free roller-coaster ride it was.

This car has gone off-road through a rest area in an ice storm and delivered its passengers safely to the family Christmas gathering.

On Thursday morning, this car went to Local High School's automotive technology program. It was driven away under its own power. We were happy about that. The Alpha received a nice letter stating, "This vehicle will be put to good use training the students." We think it's the best ending this little car could ask for.

Listening to Car Talk on NPR this morning, we heard a theory put forth: you can get an idea of how dedicated and faithful a prospective mate will be over the long haul by looking at how long he will hold onto a car.

I've obviously got no worries there.

Friday Five: Big Event Edition

From Songbird over at RevGals:
Did you know that the major purpose for forming a non-profit, RevGalBlogPals, Inc., was to be able to attract grant support for a large scale RevGalBlogPal meetup? My dream from the beginning has been attracting financial support that would allow as many of our bloggers to be together as possible.
RGBP, Inc. now has a planning committee, and we are in the early stages of planning the RevGalBlogPal Big Event. What, When, Where and Who are all on the table at the moment. In that spirit, I bring you the Big Event Friday Five.

The Typist here, playing alone today, as Cub likely wouldn't be making such a trip:

1. What would the meeting be like? (Continuing Ed? Retreat? Outside Speakers? Interest Groups? Workshops? Hot Stone Massages? Pedicures? Glorified Slumber Party?) Somewhere between retreat and glorified slumber party. Outside speaker sounds interesting, but what outside speaker would "get" RGBP?

2. When in 2008 might you be able to attend? January? Shortly after Easter? Summer? Fall? Some other time? January and Fall are the most likely. (Late May and early June would be impossible for most of the United Methodists...plus there's General Conference in April...I'm just sayin'...)

3. Where would your dream meeting location be? (Urban Hotel? Rural Retreat Center? New England Camp? Southwestern Fantasy Hotel? Far away from civilization? Nearby Outlets or Really Great Thrift Stores?) Always, always looking for an excuse to go to New Mexico. But whatever the location, as long as we have free wi-fi, I'm not picky. UPDATE: It would be great if Southwest flies there, too.

4. Who would make a great keynote speaker? (That's if #1 leads us in that direction.) Hmmm... again, who'd "get" us enough to make it worthwhile? Maybe Real Live Preacher?

5. Did I leave out something you want to suggest? Can't think of anything, but it's early here.

A Confession

Hello... The Typist here, with a confession to make.

I'm not sure which is the proper thing to confess:

a) that I think I got this twinge in my shoulder because I'm aging and not in the best shape ever, or

2) that it may have come from overdoing it in yoga (and yoga, by the way, is NOT a competition, not even with yourself -- no, certainly not), or

iii) that it might also have something to do with the fact that last night, after I got home from yoga, I turned two cartwheels in my living room just to prove to myself that a 31-year-old woman can still do a cartwheel just fine, thankyouverymuch.

Opinions, anyone?

I'm off to choir, and then band, neither of which should mess with my rotator cuff. (Although you never know sometimes.)

Two-for-one

The Alpha met this puppy dog during a water break on his big long bike ride.

He found out that this particular pup is half German Shepherd, half Australian Cattle Dog.

So, if by some bit of weirdness, The Boy and I melded into one dog all together instead of two different dogs apart, there's a good chance we'd look something like this. (Note: we're not going to try to find out. Thanks to the magic of veterinary medicine, it's doubly impossible, and besides -- eww, eww, eww!!!!)

Cute puppy and all, but I'm fine with the way things are.

One more thing: note the bandanna. (I think it might be John Deere.) Even at such a young age, it's obvious the dog has style.

Waiting for the fur to drop

It was about this time last year that we experienced a major coat-blowing by The Boy (file photo at left). Such is the way of his breed.

We were in Home State to watch Amazing Niece graduate from college, staying the weekend with They Who Love Their Granddogs, when we noticed. So we took him out on the back porch and gave him a good all-over rumpling of the fur.

And it did fly in the wind.
And it did land on the porch.
And it was of such volume that we had to sweep it off the porch.
And yea, verily, it kept coming.


This year, we have nobody graduating from college to necessitate a road trip. And we're wondering if we will notice that the coat-blowing has begun. Last night he wallered in the middle of the living room and worked up a nice-sized wad of fur, which he left on the carpet for all to admire. Tonight I went over him with the lint roller (hey, it doesn't seem to bother him -- that attachment they sell for vacuum cleaners would certainly send him running... or peeing... maybe both at the same time).

We're watching. And we hope if we catch it, there will be a good breeze in the backyard for the fur-rumpling hour.

Friday Five: Potato, Po-tah-to Edition

From Reverendmother over at RevGalBlogPals:

There are two types of people in the world, morning people and night owls. Or Red Sox fans and Yankees fans. Or boxers and briefs. Or people who divide the world into two types of people and those who don't. Let your preferences be known here. And if you're feeling verbose, defend your choices!

We're continuing our tandem play tradition today. This one should be interesting...

1. Mac? or PC?
Typist: Because of equipment available to me through college and jobs over the years, I've demonstrated an ability to straddle the fence on this one... and those Mac commercials are really cute... but when it gets down to actually spending my own money, it's a PC all the way.
Cub: Does Mac mean macaroni? Because I like macaroni. Does PC mean PoppyCub? Because I get called that quite a bit. How 'bout if someone said, "Hey, PoppyCub, come here! There's some macaroni on the floor!" I'd like that.

2. Pizza: Chicago style luscious hearty goodness, or New York floppy and flaccid?
Typist: Chicago style. Haven't been there in years, and Real Live Preacher just reported on his trip, so now I'm craving me some Giordano's.
Cub: There are reasons I'm named Cub, and one of them has to do with Chicago. So I should probably say Chicago. But the truth is, any pizza = good, if it gets within my reach at all. (Which almost never happens.)

3. Brownies/fudge containing nuts:
a) Good. I like the variation in texture.
b) An abomination unto the Lord. The nuts take up valuable chocolate space.
[or a response of your choosing]
Typist: I don't use the phrase "abomination unto the Lord" very often (even though it's fun to say!), but this may well be one of the cases. Nothing against nuts, mind you -- they're tasty on their own, and they won't stop me from eating a homemade brownie -- but when I make 'em myself, nuts don't enter the picture.
Cub: Brownies are Not For Poppies. So I sit this one out.

4. Do you hang your toilet paper so that the "tail" hangs flush with the wall, or over the top of the roll like normal people do?
Typist: This is one of the few ways in which I could be classified as "normal."
Cub: I'm pleading "no thumbs" on this one. (Besides, on the rare occasions I have a need for toilet paper, it usually means I haven't done something quite right on my own, so I'm generally not fond of it.)

5. Toothpaste: Do you squeeze the tube wantonly in the middle, or squeeze from the bottom and flatten as you go just like the tube instructs?
Typist: Back in the Days of Metal Tubes, I was diligent about squeezing from the bottom. But now it doesn't so much matter, does it?
Cub: This is another "no thumbs" one. But I just want to say that I don't like having my teef brushed. Even if the toothpaste tastes like beef. The Boy loves having his teef brushed because of that, but I know it's just a trick.

Bonus: Share your favorite either/or.
Typist: The Alpha and I will forever disagree on whether the syncopation in the last line of "Ode to Joy" is really supposed to be there. I got my way for our wedding postlude, but only because our organist was my friend and a fellow Beethoven purist. As a hymn at church, we do it his way because it's more singable. And I reserve the right to not like it.
Cub: Back when I did crate training, I maintained that "crate" meant "go to that corner of the living room." Then the thumb-havers moved the black wire thing I sat in when I went to that corner, and they expected me to go to the new place where it was when they said "crate!" Silliness. But I eventually started doing it just to make them happy.

Our New Car!

We got a new car today! The Alpha brought it home, and he already took us for a RIDE.


Here's The Boy sitting between The Typist's car and our car. He's a little blurry 'cause he's so excited.



And here we are in our car. We decided we don't really like this spot in the back. We'd rather be in the back seat. The Boy got tired of it and jumped out the window, and The Alpha made a big deal about it getting scratched or something. Whatever. It's our car. We don't care if it has a toenail mark or two.

Here's how we know it's really our car:

Can you see it? All that fur clinging to the bumper? That's our fur.

And we don't care what The Alpha thinks. That's our car.

Because Molly asked...

Yesterday when us RevGalPetPals were playing Friday Five with the RevGalBlogPals, my friend Molly came over and asked me what color my bandanna was. (Today we are spelling bandanna with double n's near the end. Tomorrow, who can say?)

So, The Typist took this picture of me with my wardrobe:


Here are the contents of my bandanna drawer. I can't count very high, but I am told there are 16 bandannas, plus one scarf. Maybe two scarves, really, but the Belgian lace one in the middle is shaped like a bandanna. I wear it for special occasions like weddings. (I was a flower-dog once.)

Right now I'm wearing the one that's right next to me in the picture -- it has kissy-prints all over it. The Boy borrowed that plaid one sitting between the stripes and the Stars and Stripes.

A bunch of these bandannas were gifts. (Somebody loves her granddogs! and somebody else loves her dog-niece!)

Some of the older ones have a corner or two chewed off because I was a baby and I didn't know that you aren't supposed to eat your bandanna. Banana, yes. Bandanna, no.

Yes, some of them are wrinkled. The Typist wants you to know that she does many, many things for me, but ironing is not one of them.

The Alpha is out on his adventure today, and he is wearing one more bandanna.

I hope he lets me wear it later.

Friday Five: It's My Party

Over at RevGalBlogPals, because it's Songbird's birthday, she says: I hate to say it, but over the years I've been to too many parties where I, or the birthday child, has felt much like the chorus of Lesley Gore's old tune. I am therefore not the biggest fan of birthday parties. For this Friday, tell us these five things about parties, birthday or otherwise.

Tandem play again from Cub and the Typist:

1) Would you rather be the host or the guest?
Typist: Guest, because I have some friends who can't come to my house because of two four-footed furries who own the place.
Cub: Guest, because it means I get to go for a RIDE!

2) When you are hosting, do you clean everything up the minute the guests go home? Will you accept help with the dishes?
Typist: I do a cursory clean-up, handling the things that I wouldn't want to wake up and face the next morning.
Cub: I lick my bowl clean every day; party days are no different.

3) If you had the wherewithal, and I guess I mean more than money, to throw a great theme party, what would the theme be?
Typist: This one's easy. It would be College Girls' Weekend. I'd fly all three of the Girls in to somewhere nifty, maybe Santa Fe, stay in a posh B&B, and we'd do whatever we pleased the whole time!
Cub: Theme party? How about the standard Everybody Loves Cub theme?

4) What's the worst time you ever had at a party?
Typist: There are any number of extended family gatherings from my childhood that involve teasing by cousins that I'd just as soon forget (and probably have succeeded in forgetting some of them).
Cub: A couple of occasions involving toddler-sized thumb-havers have been less than pleasant. Some of those little rugrats have no idea how to respect a dog. Now that The Boy's around, we curl up on the couch together for our mutual protection any time one comes over.

5) And to end on a brighter note, what was the best?
Typist: New Year's Eve 1999/2000. R & K hosted at their new house, hooked up the disco ball to the ceiling fan, turned up the music, The Alpha and I gave tango lessons to the Eagles' Hell Freezes Over version of Hotel California, and everybody had a blast!
Cub: Any occasion where I get to wear a bandana and greet thumb-havers as they come in the front door to pet me!

Friday Five: What Are You...

A quick-and-simple Friday Five from Reverendmother at RevGalBlogPals. The Typist and I are doing a tandem play again, since y'all seem to like that!

What Are You...

1. Wearing
Typist: It's casual Friday, so my favorite jeans and red t-shirt. Still barefoot 'cause I haven't left the house yet.
Cub: My usual collar with the sun-moon-stars pattern woven into it. (The Boy and I recommend Bison Designs for the stylish hound who wants something a little more special than your average collar. My pattern appears to be discontinued, but The Boy wears Black Thorn.)

2. Pondering
T: Whether I'm ready to submit my answers to the questions asked of those willing to be considered for our General Conference delegation.
C: What's going on in the front yard. I am monitoring the perimeter via the dining room and guest room windows, alternately.

3. Reading
T: The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne (hmm, potential future RevGals book discussion?).
C: RevGalPetPals blogs from Molly, Littlemankitty, Whistle (although he hasn't blogged in a long time, so I've been keeping up with Fish's broken leg at St. Casserole's place), and Tiria.

4. Dreaming
T: Nothing in particular, but I'm reminded of this great story, song, and slideshow from TFIA.
C: Chasing bunnies. Chasing squirrels. Chasing The Boy.

5. Eating
T: Nothing so far this morning, but I am drinking some nifty coffee I got as a thank-you gift for leading a blogging workshop!
C: Had my chow, and one of my peanut-butter-covered pills, and I think the other one's coming soon.

Bicycles: not usually a dog's friend...

...but on May 5 and 6, bicycles will be my Aunt Pinky's friend, so I guess that will have to do.

See, Aunt Pinky has this nasty thing called MS. (That's why it took her so long to paint my picture, because she wasn't feeling well.) Lots of thumb-havers are trying to get rid of MS, but it takes a lot of work and money. So, to help, The Alpha is riding in the MS 150. That means he's been spending lots of time pedaling on that bike that doesn't go anywhere and also he can't play with his dogs while he's riding it. Dogs need lots of attention, you know.

One cool thing is that The Alpha has a special bandana to wear. Aunt Pinky and Friend Regina, who has MS too, wrote special messages on it for him. Usually I'm the one who wears bandanas, so I hope he will let me borrow it after his ride is over.

If anybody wants to help The Alpha (and Aunt Pinky and Friend Regina, too), here's the spot.

It's a beautiful day...

...but we haven't been allowed to spend much time out in it.

Early this morning The Alpha went outside and sprinkled some stuff in the yard, and he doesn't want us messing around in whatever it is. Well, if he didn't want dogs messing around in his stuff, why did he sprinkle it all over the yard? Which is exactly where dogs like to be? Especially on sunny days?

Such a mystery.
Maybe if I were a bloodhound, I could solve it.
But I'm a German Shedder.
I think I'll just go take a nap in the corner.

Friday Five: Surprised by Joy

Jesus said to them, "Children, you have no fish, have you?" They answered him, "No."He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. (John 21:5-7)

Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning. (Psalm 30:5b)

From Songbird over at RevGalBlogPals:
This week I've been watching parents of the young people slain at Virginia Tech trying to make meaning out of the lives of their lost children, and each one seems to begin by focusing on something joyful about that child. It's a gift that most humans have brains wired to respond in that way. For some of us it can be harder to work our way out of dark places, but I believe joy remains the key. It is the spirit of resurrection.
Tell us about five people, places, or things that have brought surprising, healing joy into your life.

It's another tandem play this week from The Typist and The Best Dog Ever:

Typist: Gotta say The Alpha right off the bat! He stuck with me through four years of dating while at separate colleges, and freshman year was definitely no picnic. He still brings joy every day.
Cub: I agree. He's lots of fun and knows how to wrassle like a dog.

T: Music, of course. Some Wednesday nights when I head to church, I'm already completely drained. But when I get home at bedtime after back-to-back rehearsals, I just can't calm down and go to sleep right away because the music lingers within me.
C: The Boy. Yes, it's surprising, because I didn't want him to stay when he first showed up, and he can still sometimes be a nuisance, but he keeps me playful.

T: Both dogs! They are gifts from God. Cub came into my life at an especially rough time, and raising her from a pup was exactly what I needed to do that summer.
C: Aw, thanks... You give me joy, too, because even though you make me go to the vet a whole lot, you do take really good care of me. Sometimes you think I've forgotten the whole being abandoned thing, but I haven't. I know I've got a great thing going here!

T: BlogPals. I know some of them in person, and knew some of them before blogging. But there are also those I've never actually met that have blossomed into very real friendships all the same. Case in point: Zorra has provided great support via email as we've dealt with some of Cub's recent mystery maladies.
C: Hip surgery. It was really, really horrible and I was really, really angry afterwards. But then after a few weeks, I realized I could roll over on my back again without it hurting! It brought me a lot of joy that day, and still does.

T: Our amazing and wonderful niece M, who was recently accepted to her first-choice graduate school. I love that she's become more like a sister to me as we've both grown up (I was nine when she was born - yes, I'm the baby of my family, closer in age to much of the next generation than to my own siblings).
C: People coming over. Jessica came last night, and that was fun! Who's next?

Belated Easter photos

Just two pictures. We haven't been that up on things lately. (Well, except some of the furniture.)

This picture shows what the thumb-havers had for breakfast on Easter. I'm supposed to tell you that no, there wasn't any ham. (I think I'm missing out on a joke or something.)


And this one was supposed to be some kind of artsy shot of us dogs, with the curtains blowing in the wind and everything. But really, we were just wondering why somebody else was out there using our sidewalk.

Friday Five: Dental Edition

Well, at first we weren't going to play, but then I remembered I have a hole where my toof used to be, so The Typist and I are playing together this week. From Cheesehead and Reverendmother at RevGalBlogPals:

1. Are you a regular patron of dentists' offices? Or, do you go
a) faithfully, as long as you have insurance, or
b) every few years or so, whether you need it or not, or
c) dentist? what is this "dentist" thing you speak of?

Typist: a) and I'm due to go this month but haven't made the appointment.
Cub: well, it's rolled in with my vet trips, so I guess I should answer c).

2. Whatever became of your wisdom teeth?

T: Cut out when I was 15, before they could move around and mess with my newly-straightened other teeth. Plus: I got to live off milkshakes for a week. Minus: I couldn't open my mouth as wide as I wanted to when I hollered for the football and basketball teams the following year of high school (this, for a cheerleader, was a stumbling block. Yes, I was a cheerleader. You got a problem with that? There's a "most spirited" trophy from that year somewhere in the attic.).
C: I have no idea what she just said.

3. Favorite thing to eat that's BAAAAAD for your teeth.

T: Probably caramels. Or maybe vanilla taffy from the state fair. (But most certainly NOT Oreos. They look like instant cavity when you're finished chewing them, which creeps me out so much that I don't eat them at all.)
C: Bones. Real bones. And they don't let me have them any more.

4. Ever had oral surgery? Commiserate with me.

T: Nothing beyond the wisdom teeth experience.
C: Oh, that's what it was called when I took a nap at the vet and woke up with a hole where my toof used to be!

5. "I'd rather have a root canal than _________________."

T: Um, go to my high school class reunion, I think.
C: Have my temperature taken. From what I understand, they would let me take another nap at the vet for the root canal. They take my temperature when I'm awake, and in a very impolite way.

Bonus: Does your dentist recommend Trident?

T: Hmm, I've never checked to see.
C: Dogs aren't very good at the whole concept of chewing gum.

I have a big new word!

This evening The Alpha and The Typist have been saying this big new word about me.

Hypothyroidism.

From what I can tell, I think it means I'll be taking another pill.

But they seem pretty happy about it. They don't seem to be all worried anymore. And they're putting "no" in front of other words like ultrasound and biopsy, which also appears to be good.

And when I get pills, I also get peanut butter, so that works out pretty well.

Why I'm a United Methodist

Well, Andrew linked to it last night and apparently people have been reading it, so I'll go ahead and give you an obvious route to my commentary on why I'm a United Methodist.

Yes, the Cub girl shares the photo accompanying the column. Just so you know, that photo appears by special request of the managing editor. Robin Russell is a woman of impeccable taste.

Maundy Thursday - not Easter yet!

When you spend Wednesday evening working on Easter music, it's kind of hard to get into the whole contemplative Maundy Thursday groove. My current earworm is a band/choir extravaganza we're using to kick off both services Sunday morning, in which both of us girls singing lead have to try really hard not to lay on any pop-star-esque sap, yet still convey joy and wonder and all that jazz.

But tonight comes first. I'm just sayin'...

Rides, but at a price.

Friday I got to go on a ride with The Typist, and today I got to go on another ride with The Alpha!

But they were both the kind with needles at the other end. Friday there was just one needle, but today there were four needles, which I know because that's how many paws I have (I learned that from another blog buddy, but I can't remember who).

Besides all the needles there was also some tickling of my tummy, and they put an uncomfortable thing in a very impolite place, and then did some talking with The Alpha. Then the lady vet asked to see my teeth.

So I showed her.

I did a really good job showing her my teeth. She didn't think she needed to see them any more.

And then The Alpha had to stand at the counter and rub one of those sticks on a piece of paper before we could leave. And then we went home.

Taking my blog back

Yeah, it's Cub back again. The Typist gets all reflective and stuff sometimes and I just have to let her do her thing, but she's done now.

Today is my birfday!
(I have no idea what that means, besides that The Boy and I got to have Frosty Paws after supper.) They sang at me and everything.

I'm seven.
(I don't know what that means, either.)

After I finished my Frosty Paws and The Boy finished his, we licked each other's Frosty Paws cups to make sure nobody missed anything. Turns out we are very good at eating Frosty Paws.

Of course, what else would you expect from Very Good Dogs?

Church fatigue

Went on a little Google hunt this evening. First, church fatigue. Results were mostly stuff about people visiting too many European cathedrals in the same vacation...sounded more like architecture fatigue to me.

Then I tried "church fatigue" -- in quotes -- and found this post from a guy in France I've never read before. He touches on what I'm feeling lately in his opening paragraph:

“Every church member who loves the church will also be deeply pained by it. This does not, however, call for discarding the church, but for reforming and renewing it.” This quote so reflects my thinking about the Church at the moment that I thought I’d share it with you. It comes from Transforming Mission by D. J. Bosch.

Thing is, I'm totally on board with reforming and renewing. But I feel like I have few reliable companions in the effort, at least within my own local community of faith.

When I was on church staff, we studied church growth patterns and discovered we were a textbook case of many churches our size -- stuck at a plateau. And, for various reasons, we're still stuck there. From my angle, one of the reasons we're stuck is that people keep discarding our congregation (I realize the textbook above posits a pretty solid theory as to why this happens, but the fact remains: it happens). I've seen a lot of people come and go at my local church, which bothers me. It also bothers me that I've let that very thing bother me for years...the going, especially.

My view leaves me bitter, and thus less able to be a reformer, a renewer, a co-creator with God.

There are inspired and dedicated people in our congregation working hard at effective mission and ministry. On my better days, I believe I'm one of them, and I see the difference we're making in the name of Christ. On my worse days, I make a mental list of families who've transferred to larger congregations in other suburbs (and where we live, there are plenty from which to choose while still remaining in the UMC). And on my absolute worst days, I wonder if I could back off and be one of those people who devotes just an hour a week to Christianity and thinks that's more than enough.

Where am I tonight? Well, I guess I'm somewhere between worse and worst. But more than anything, I'm just so flippin' tired.

So, I'd better go get some sleep, because I certainly won't get it tomorrow... Wednesdays are rehearsal nights, after all, and Easter's coming.

Please, Lord, let Easter be coming. Within me.

Friday Five: Rivers in the Desert

I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19, NRSV

From Songbird over at RevGalBlogPals:
As we near the end of the long journey toward Easter, a busy time for pastors and layfolk alike, I ponder the words of Isaiah and the relief and refreshment of a river in the desert.

For this Friday Five, name five practices, activities, people or _____ (feel free to fill in something I may be forgetting) that for you are rivers in the desert.

The Typist here, playing alone today. (Unless Cub's at the vet, she pretty much lives in the "river..." and I pray her desert days are few and far between!)

So, my rivers in the desert:

1. The Alpha. I can hardly believe I've known him for half my life now. And been married to him for a third of my life. He's such a blessing.

2. Both dogs. Cub and Angus (aka The Boy) are basically comfort and happiness covered in fur (which they shed all over the house with reckless abandon, but that's beside the point).

3. RevGals. There's something precious about clicking on any of our huge list of blogs and enjoying a pleasant distraction (Mindy, her Weinermobile sighting, and the hilarious lead-in story), finding a need for prayer (a round of diagnostic tests for Elastigirl's the worrier), or receiving a prompt for spiritual reflection (Cheesehead's meditation on John 12:1-8)... and honestly, it doesn't matter which one of those it is. The connection is what matters.

4. Going out to eat. It's a frivolity, yes, but one that can feed me in multiple ways... allows a little break from the ordinary and the opportunity for face-to-face conversation. And it's less of a frivolity when viewed in the context of "table fellowship." I've taken a dip in this river more often than usual this week.

5. Yoga. In January, a dear church friend who is a newly-certified instructor began offering yoga sessions. Sometimes it's difficult to mentally take "this hour just for you," as she says, but even if I'm not totally into it, it helps me get a sense of renewal. (An example of not being totally into it: this week, during the meditation that ends the hour, she was leading us through a scene at a lake. In the scene, a flock of geese landed among tree stumps sticking up out of the water. One of the members of my imagined flock was he who we know as our Goose... The Boy, Angus. Our Australian Cattle Dog, who in real life occasionally does think he can fly, descended with the Canada Geese and perched uncertainly on a tree stump, giving his little honk-like whine that led to us adding Goose to his list of nicknames. It was difficult to not burst out laughing in the midst of my relaxing meditation, but at the same time, the visual was so perfect!)

Friday Five: Whatcha doin'?

From Reverend Mother at RevGalBlogPals:
Well friends, this is one of those weeks when I simply must work today, which is normally my day off. I know, I know. We may tut-tut all we want, but the fact is, some weeks are like that. So, this week's F5 is simple. Name five things you plan to do today.

The Typist and I are playing together today. Here's what we're doin':

Typist: Work from home. Friday is my telecommuting day.
Cub: Nap on my couch. Did you know I have my own couch?

Typist: Pick up a refill of one of Cub's prescriptions.
Cub: Hang out in the backyard while The Typist is gone.

Typist: Greet friend Doc, who is coming in from out of town later.
Cub: Doc? Coming over? Dogs LOVE Doc! I'll lick him as long as he'll let me!

Typist: Recommend a friend for the Peace Corps. Just submitted it online!
Cub: Chase The Boy. It's a daily discipline.

Typist: Go to a concert... I hope. I haven't bought the tickets yet, and it doesn't start until past my bedtime.
Cub: Patrol the perimeter.

Bonus: If today is about "have-to" for you as well, share up to five things you'd like to be doing today.

Typist: I'm pretty happy with today for what it is, but I always like the opportunity to have lunch with a friend. Which probably won't happen today.
Cub: You know, I haven't gone for a swim in a while. That would be fun!

Living my Friday Five

So, yeah, The Typist here again. After I played the Friday Five last week, guess what I did?

• Friday night I had Item 5. (Ever the practical one, I made sure I had short fingernails first. You don't want sauce getting trapped under your nails.)
• Saturday morning at 10 a.m. I indulged in Item 1. (Highlight in the self-care department... I actually signed up for a membership!)
• Saturday for lunch I finished of what was left of my stock of Item 3. (Australian Cheddar, to commemorate the heritage of The Boy.)
• Saturday afternoon at 3 I had Item 2. (The Alpha only held his ears for about 4 of the songs -- including the trash can number which was flippin' sweet! He agreed, but thought it was still too loud.) And I might get to have it again this Friday!
• Sunday night I enjoyed Item 4. (An introduction to a lovely variety known as Bootlegger, thanks to a gift from the friend who joined us Friday night for Item 5.)

In summary, Yay! Cool weekend. Wheee!

I close this post with a note that will please Cub...
Coming up this weekend: Doc.
Dogs. LOVE. Doc.

Friday Five: Matters of Taste

The Typist here, playing along with Songbird over at RevGalBlogPals:

My mother loved figs.
I only like them in a Newton.
It's all a matter of taste.

Name five things you like a lot that some close relative or significant other did/does not like. This could be food, movies, hobbies, music, sports or whatever springs to mind.

1. Getting massages. The Alpha has never had a professional massage, and doesn't really care to try one.

2. Live music. His ears are so sensitive that he has to take earplugs to pretty much any live venue (except church). When I convinced him to see Trout Fishing in America last year, I had a blast while he had a headache. He does enjoy music, as long as he can control the volume on the CD player.

3. Gourmet cheeses. When I buy a bit of extra-special cheese from Whole Paycheck, he pretty much never wants a taste of it. And when he does accept a bite, he's seldom impressed.

4. Beer. Qualifying statement: I pride myself in being a beer snob. I refuse most domestic lagers, even if someone else is paying, because if you can see through it, chances are it's not worth the calories it contains. I've even played with homebrewing, and wound up with a nice little nut-brown ale. The Alpha appreciates a medium-bodied ale for including in his latest chili recipe, but never for drinking.

5. Ribs. I absolutely love a good slab of ribs, but he thinks they're too much trouble. So, he finishes his chopped beef sandwich and spends the rest of his time at the table grinning at me while I gnaw on bones. Thankfully, he thinks it's cute.

Weekend Dose of Cuteness

Okay, so it's actually last weekend's cuteness. But we're showing it off to you this weekend.


Here's The Boy letting puppy Jolene win.
He let her win a lot. In fact, he's pretty big on letting everybody win. Such a good sport at being bottom-of-the-pack, that Boy. I just wanna contribute something to the team, he says.

Friday Five: Artsy Craftsy

The Typist here, playing the Friday Five from Reverend Mother over at RevGalBlogPals:

During Lent here at Suburban Presbyterian Church, we are exploring the creative and liturgical arts, with classes and speakers dealing with storytelling, iconography, dance, visual art, writing, and so on. The theme is "A Beautiful Thing," inspired by the story of the woman anointing Jesus and his declaration that "She has done a beautiful thing for me." (Mark 14, NIV) We are working on the notion that everything we do can be considered a beautiful thing--a creative offering to God--whether it's gardening or scrapbooking or accounting or sorting clothes at the clothes closet or child-rearing. And so:

1. Would you call yourself "creative"? Yep. Why or why not? I let my dog have a blog, don't I? ...but seriously, folks, I find expression and satisfaction in music, dance, writing, and my newest crafty pursuit, knitting.
2. Share a creative or artistic pursuit you currently do that you'd like to develop further. I'm keenly aware that the more I sing, the more I can do with my voice, so I plan to keep that up. Being in the worship band (in addition to choir, which I've always done) has given me opportunities that I wouldn't have had otherwise. Plus, it's lots of fun and there's great collaboration and flexibility in how we do things.
3. Share a creative or artistic pursuit you have never done but would like to try. Well, a few months ago I would've said knitting, but now I'm doing that. Probably playing violin, though I know I wouldn't be able to get far with all of my other commitments in the way.
4. Complete this sentence: "I am in awe of people who can play musical instruments well, especially guitar, violin, and piano. I don't have the discipline to do that."
5. Share about a person who has encouraged your creativity, who has "called you to your best self." (I'm pretty sure that's from the Gospel of Oprah.) My dear sweet bandmate Julie, who has an absolutely amazing voice and has served as a mentor to me not only in singing, but also in other crafty-type pursuits like texturing my dining room walls.

Play time with a new kid...

Yesterday we got to meet Jolene.


She's already bigger than she is in this picture.

She came over to play. She's brand-new, and kinda stupid. Puppies can be that way. I used to be stupid, too.

Jolene kept getting too close to my hip, which I didn't like. But she and The Boy became fast friends, and they played and played all over the back yard (but especially in the monkey grass), and The Alpha says she's going to come over again, so I might as well play, too.


I hope she doesn't get bigger than me. Because I won't like that one bit.


She went home all covered in The Boy's slobber. They played hard.

Sooo hungry!

Remember the thing about breakfast being delayed? Well, now it seems to be delayed all the time. The Alpha used to feed us before he left for work, but now we have to wait a little longer, until The Typist leaves for work. The Boy puts on his best so hungry look, but it doesn't seem to make any difference. I think it has to do with one of my peanut-buttery pills that I get way early in the morning. Also, they quit giving me one of my other pills, but that's fine with me. Three is plenty. It's about as high as I can count, anyhow.

We do get fed, the same amount as before and everything. It's just later than it used to be, and this concerns The Boy very much. Me, I just take a nap while I wait.

Breakfast delayed!

Well, yesterday started off confusing. They fed The Boy, and not me. I looked at them with my best puppy-dog eyes, and they seemed sympathetic, but still didn't give me any food.

Then, after The Alpha left for work, The Typist and I left The Boy all alone and went for a ride in the car. I rode shotgun, but with my special harness on that hooks into the seat belt, of course. From the beginning it was obvious we were heading vetwards. And, sure enough, we got there. I think it's plenty just to get there and then walk back out the door and go for another ride, but The Typist never seems to feel that way.

How are you today, Cub? asked the nice lady. Asymptomatic, said The Typist. Which was funny to the thumb-havers.

So, I had to sit on a flat thing while they looked at some numbers, which they seemed to like (wow, just under 50! still svelte!). Then the nice lady took me back to the little room where they poke me with a needle. Which really wasn't too terrible, and didn't take very long. The Typist barely had time to do even a row of knitting when they brought me back out and said how good I was. Because I am.

Then The Typist and the nice lady talked some more, and The Typist handed her plastic card to the nice lady, and then the nice lady remembered I hadn't had any breakfast and came around the counter with three treats!!!

And when I got home I had to take my pill and wait another very long time between the pill and breakfast. But I did finally get fed. And this time it was The Boy giving the sad puppy-dog look and not having anything put in his bowl.

They weren't looking...

...so I danced around the living room with The Boy, while the thumb-havers were eating supper and couldn't go staring at us. I don't mind having observers when we play chase -- it's kinda neat to have a cheering section -- but with the dancey-wrestling-type stuff it's a little embarrassing when you get caught. So, we only do that when they're not looking.

Then, later, I took a nap on the couch while The Boy took a nap on the floor and The Alpha watched the flickering box and The Typist played with her sticks and yarn. I had a really great dream-chase. I think they know, somehow, because they were looking at me with the whole isn't she cute expression. Well, I am cute, so that's fine with me.

Friday Five: American Idols

From Songbird over at RevGalBlogPals:
Yes, it's true. I've been watching Season Six of American Idol with my daughter, our first time dipping into this particular well of pop culture. In the spirit of believing you can do anything, as the auditioners so clearly do, please fill in the following five blanks.

Seeing as how I don't get into singing except the occasional howl or bark along with "Happy Birthday," The Typist has played on her own today. She would like everyone to know that she has never watched more than five minutes of said television program. She confesses that she is a TV snob, and is unaware of when said program regularly airs. (Also, I think it bugs her that she's too old to try out. Or so she's heard.)

1) If I could sing like anyone, it would be Natalie Maines.
2) I would love to sing the song "Godspeed" by Radney Foster. Oh, wait, I did sing that for my friend's baby's baptism.
3) It would be really cool to sing at a recording studio.
4) If I could sing a dream duet it would be with this question is too hard! (Actually, so was number two.) One of my dream careers is backup singer, so I've dreamed of backing lots of artists. Maybe Billy Joel, or Don Henley, or a quartet with the Dixie Chicks.
5) If I could sing on a TV or radio show, it would be Austin City Limits.

The Typist says she has to get ready for "work" now. Yeah, whatever that is. Just looks like a bunch more typing to me.

Hic (hic) ups.

This afternoon I started in with some hiccups. I used to get those a lot when I was a puppy, but I hadn't had them in so long I kinda forgot what they were.

Just as I was getting used to having them again, The Alpha hollered, "CUB!!"

I looked up. What is it you want, dear Alpha? Is there a perimeter to patrol?

"Good girl!" he said. Because I am.

And then I noticed the hiccups weren't there anymore.

Darndest thing.

This Thing that's Not for Dogs

The Typist is helping get some people together at some place, for some thing, and I'm probably not going. I think it would be of very little interest to dogs, unless there's time scheduled for belly rubs.



It's in May, in Fayetteville. I like Fayetteville, but I haven't been there in a long time. Last time I went, The Alpha let me chase squirrels around this place he called college.

Because all the DogPals are doing it...

I just had to know my title. Zorra's is better. It contains "Goosnargh on the Carpet," which I'm sure The Boy must have done at some point.

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Venerable Lady Dogblogger the Ebullient of Puddleston St Droop Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

The Typist says I'm definitely Ebullient. I think I'm past the Puddleston stage, though, and I'm a little confused about the St Droop thing. My ears are very pointy. Molly, are you sure this one isn't yours?

Badda Bing Badda Boom Friday Five

from the RevGals:
It's been a very full, busy week. Here's the F5, short and sweet. The questions are simple, the answers unlimited. Go!

Who... Miss Julie and Miss Claire

What... Lunch and hanging around

When... Earlier today

Where... My house

Why... Miss Julie needed to sing something with The Typist, and brought little Miss Claire, who needed to eat soup and cuddle up on my couch and watch a movie because she'd been to the doctor (The Typist said it's like the vet for people -- I like to cuddle up on my couch after I go to the vet, too, so I don't blame her one bit).

Bonus: How... Very politely -- well, except for that one time I got a little too excited and jumped up and licked Miss Julie in the eye. Miss Julie and Miss Claire love me and The Boy, so it's always nice to see them.

Perching, accessorizing

Yes, The Boy has taken up his perch again. As you can see, I remain unamused. The thumb-havers think it's hilarious, of course. Here's a wider shot for context:

There's The Typist next to us. See those sticks and the orange stuff in her lap? She's been playing with these sticks -- not chewing on them, mind you, and they look great for that -- nearly every day for weeks now. At some point she decided she was finished playing with the orange stuff, which she called homework, and tied it around my neck and called it my scarf.



I don't care what it's called, I'm a big fan of wearing stuff around my neck. So it's pretty nifty, especially because orange is a color I can see better, and it's nice and long so I can look down at it. I'm not allowed to wear it outside because I get sticks tangled up in it (wait a minute... it's okay when The Typist tangles her sticks up in it, but not when I tangle up mine? I don't get it), but I'm thrilled with wearing it around the house.

The Alpha mentioned The Boy getting one, too, but The Typist says she's done with homework and isn't making any scarfs for dogs, and that this one only just happened to fit me. Besides, the stuff she's got on the sticks right now looks way too fluffy for The Boy, or any boy for that matter.

Too busy for blogging?!?

Apparently, The Typist has other things on her mind this week. Work, and stuff, and looking at college essays for human kids, and knitting. And stuff. There are even dog pictures waiting to be loaded off the camera, but she hasn't done it.

So, a quick run-down: The Typist has been back in town so long we've forgotten she ever left; Been getting nice regular walks; I gave in and started chewing on my fake bone; The Alpha built a new dog door for the winter weather; The Boy accidentally got shut out of the bedroom last night (and I wasn't going to tell them either, so he finally spoke up about it); and The Boy seems to be interested in learning to climb ladders, with encouragement from The Alpha. (Don't encourage him, says The Typist. But nobody listens.)

Thursday's Highlight Reel

Another really good day at Congress on Evangelism!

• Filming the re-enactments posted here.
• Hearing (and typing 3 pages of notes on) a really inspiring talk on relational evangelism and the Life Journal practice from my plane ride buddy, Bishop Wills (see also re-enactments).
• Enjoying a lovely MethoBlogger meetup dinner/conversation with several folks considering becoming bloggers themselves.
• Carrying on a wide-ranging after-dinner conversation at the Red Parrot, in which we brainstormed and dreamed on the future of the Methoblog, solved all the church's problems, uploaded some video, accidentally offered up choice quotes for gavin's use at an undetermined point in the future, distracted Jay and Beth while they finished their worship bulletins for this Sunday, and celebrated Holy Communion together.

Tomorrow most of us have to miss the end of the Congress to either hit the long road home or get to the airport. But we're really glad we had this time together (it would've taken far, far longer to get to know each other this well by clicking "add comment").

G'night!

Field Reporting from The Typist

Well, it's been a neat day at Congress on Evangelism! There are at least 9 MethoBloggers at this meetup: Reverend Mommy and RevAbi, who are graciously sharing their room with me; John the Methodist, who has asked us to consider participating in the MethoBlogger profile series; Beth, Gavin, Jonathon, Jay, Susan, and me. And if any of those links don't work, sorry, but I'm too tired to check them all. Several of those are also RevGals, and some more are thinking about joining.

There are some videos of Gavin and Jonathon up on Reverend Mommy's site, if you want a workshop sampling. I arrived late, in the middle of Reverend Mommy and Jay's first workshop, because yesterday a bolt went missing off the plane I was supposed to be riding, and the next available flight was this morning. Interestingly, on this flight I wasn't supposed to be on, I wound up sitting next to Bishop Wills. I hope I didn't talk too much about blogging and digital community stuff. I managed to get my knitting homework done and he did some journaling, so I know I didn't talk non-stop.

Tonight most of the MethoBloggers wound up having dinner together, and four of us had Lazy River Time after that. Yes, our hotel has an indoor Lazy River, enclosed for the winter, complete with tubes for floating and a waterfall bridge. (The pirate ship is in the outdoor area, so we didn't get to play on that.)

Okay. Tired. Gotta get up and do more in the morning. G'Night.

Resolutions, past and future

Happy New Year! I seem to have done pretty well on most of my resolutions from last year. I'm still svelte, and shiny in the sun, and I've gotten really good at catching The Boy when we play chase. Got into a bit of trouble with keep on chewin', though, as was detailed in the saga of the cracked toof.

The Typist says she's not doing resolutions this year. Even the vague ones don't seem to work well for her. But I think I did so well with last year's, I'll just keep them -- well, except for the one about chewing. Need to see if the fake bone things they got for me to chew are actually any good... and I doubt it. I'm a bit of a chew-snob.

Expect to hear more directly from The Typist this week, reporting from her Methoblogger and RevGals meetups!