Advanced Tactics in Memorial Day Celebration
June 1st, 2010 | by TJ |As you can imagine, Internet, Memorial Day is quite an important holiday around these parts, with time spent consider the sacrifices of those who have served our country and all of that. Phil and I, of course, could not let the holiday go by unmarked, and spent some time in the weeks leading up to Memorial Day wondering what the best, most appropriate way to mark the occasion would be.
After careful consideration, we decided that we would spend Memorial Day weekend and the week leading up to it – because we’re dedicated – in service to our country ourselves. Of course, Phil has an edge on me in that department, so we needed to get a little bit creative as to how I could be involved as well. We thought, well, what does our country really need from us right now? How can we contribute in a meaningful way, making some real sacrifice and not some hollow gesture?
Well, finally, it came to us. We decided to sacrifice eating for the next couple of weeks by serving our country with some major economic stimulation.
We decided to jump in with both feet and bought ourselves three of these. We had bought a fourth, see, a few weeks ago, in a totally unplanned fashion, isn’t it AWESOME when that happens? Having been told he needed new tires back before Christmas and having been re-told he needed new tires at a personal vehicle safety inspection at work on Friday, we decided to match the already purchased tire with three more, because nothing says Memorial Day like answering blog comments from an uncomfortable chair in the Discount Tire waiting room.
We felt a little bit like we had leapt too eagerly into our plans, forgetting to stretch and limber up, so we decided to back up and take it a bit easy. We went to Lowes and then to Target and finally to Wal-Mart, because apparently we were on a Wild Plastic Chase, and bought Sheldon a pool. After all, Memorial Day weekend does usually mark the unofficial beginning of summer – what’s more summery than a pool for your dog? He likes to chase floating balls around it and also stand in it for no apparent reason.
Not pictured is the bright orange stake driven deeply into the ground and carefully measured dog lead, because I felt that Phil and I would come off looking better if I just told you that we got him a pool, not that we have to tie him up when he’s in the backyard, or about the time I accidentally placed the pool just out of his range and he could only get his front paws in and it was so sad, but you know what, if he didn’t teach himself how to climb the fence, that wouldn’t be an issue, now would it?
Whenever we buy something for Sheldon, we try to buy something for Brinkley as well, or at least something that will benefit both dogs, so when we ventured out on another serving our country‘s economy spree, we stopped into PetSmart. A quick calculation reveals that this bag of treats represents 2.4% of our total pet-based bill on that particular shopping trip – we totally gave the economy the shocker.
This is an inside the house grill. Remember how I told you that Phil’s Best Friend came home from Iraq? Well, we said we would cook him some dinner when he came back and he requested steaks, but we didn’t have a grill. So we bought this inside the house grill, because it suits our current needs. Of course, we also purchased steaks to go on it. And corn. And potatoes (oh my god, make those potatoes). And then, of course, there was all that diet soda, but when it’s $2.50/12 pack, it’s not economic stimulation, it’s just good sense.
Also, even though I really like the Liberty of London stuff at Target, I have mostly resisted buying it, but random items have been appearing on clearance shelves, thus random items have been making their way into my house, like that canister, which has a lid, but has been repurposed to hold all of my utensils because I was keeping them in a DRAWER, and you know what happens when you keep ladles and shit in a DRAWER, half the time the damn thing doesn’t open so you have to stick your hand in there, the whole time cursing yourself for also using the same drawer to store your mandoline slicer and mezzaluna.
I have never eaten cottage cheese. Until recently, I could say that I had never purchased cottage cheese. Until even more recently, I could say that I hadn’t even touched cottage cheese. However, after pitching some money valiantly down the hole that is dog veterinary care, we had to round out that segment of Operation: Spend ’til Everyone in the US has a Job Again with the purchase of the cottage cheese so that I could hide Sheldon’s antibiotic and steroids in a deeleeshoos treat. I fail to see what is so deeleeshoos about cottage cheese and I don’t ever actually want to know, because next to applesauce, cottage cheese is basically a food-based nightmare for me.
OH, speaking of nightmares? The other night I had a nightmare in which a guy shot at me and I fell to the ground, but I wasn’t dead yet, and he knew it, and he came up to where I was laying face down on the ground, and he had a shotgun, and he was going to shoot me right in the back and I knew that, and in the dream I very distinctly remember wondering if getting shot in the center of the back with a shotgun would hurt, or if I would die instantly, and the feeling associated with being in a position to ask myself that question has stuck with me for days now and it’s pretty creepy. I try to relieve it by remember another dream I had recently, where Phil and I fought Paris Hilton to the death and ended up killing her with corn on the cob on a stick.
Do you know what you get when you combine a non-housebroken dog with the raging thirst brought on by a course of steroids? Come on, give it a guess. I have faith in you. Our Target, grocery store and PetSmart trips resulted in this little collection that is seeing a healthy amount of use. I mean, buying useless items isn’t good for anyone, so we were pleased to manage to purchase such useful, necessary items for our home while still keeping with the spirit of the Spend, Spend, Spend Fiesta.
Of course, as often happens when you immerse yourself in a project like this, you get on a roll, where one purchase necessitates another purchase. In this instance, when collecting yet another pack of paper towels at Target to use with the pee-cleaning purchases pictured above, we also went ahead and picked up some items to cover up the smell of the items we were using to clean up the smell of the dog pee. So the candles can be traced back to the paper towels which can be traced back to the floor cleaner, which can be traced back to the steroids, which can be traced back to Sheldon, and I know you think I’m going to stop there, but Sheldon can be traced back to Brinkley, who was so cute and perfect that it was impossible not to want a second dog and Brinkley can be traced back to PHIL.
Since we were at Target anyway, it only made sense to also purchase some new plastic cups, because we only had the four red ones, and I’d been looking for more for a while. The purchase of plastic cups was a pretty pro move on our part, because not only does the purchase meet our goal of honoring our country with our wallets, but it also saves us money as well. Do you know what happens when you drop a plastic cup? Nothing. And that is why I mostly drink from plastic cups.
A peek into the background will reveal that we also managed to complete our Shrek glass collection this weekend. I know you’re probably feeling intimidated right now, maybe a little ashamed that you did not cram as much love for your country into your weekend as we did, but you need to take things at your own pace. One Shrek glass a week is fine. And those plastic cups will probably be at Target all summer! Ease into it, guys. Ease into it.
Taking on such a lofty goal for the Memorial Day weekend also lead to the necessity of some down time to rest and recover from our efforts. Phil chose to spend his down time with this video game. Y’all, I am not the type of person who believes that video games make children violent. Until I met this video game, I really couldn’t think of a game that I’d restrict a young teen from playing, assuming they could demonstrate that they understood the difference between games and reality. There is no chance in hell I would let any kid play this game. Now, that’s not because I think that letting a kid play this game would turn him into some kind of criminal or bandit. This game is just over the top unnecessary. Blood splashes the screen when you skin animals. There are hookers who you are supposed to hogtie. New rule for any future hypothetical child that may come into this house: You cannot play any game that includes hookers until you are of an age where you have somehow learned on your own what a hooker is, so that I do not have to explain to you anything about hookers.
Must demonstrate preexisting, mysteriously acquired knowledge of hookers before allowed to play anything by Rockstar Games.
You know what I discovered on our quest this weekend? Home Goods. Not only did we replace the random square of carpet that was serving as a from doormat for the last three months, I am also reasonably certain that the store will serve as a jumping off point for significant amounts of country-supporting spending to come.
I named this guy Donny.
We went to the New Balance store because I needed to purchase some new sneakers, because I hadn’t bought any new sneakers in several years and the ones I have are so beaten as to barely be clinging to the “sneaker” category designation, and I have some other ones for decorative wear, but Sheldon PEED in them. You’ll notice that this picture is not of sneakers, because when the apathetic sales guy helped me choose some shoes and put them on, I couldn’t even stand to touch my foot to the floor, the sensation was so awful.
Now, it is generally understood by me, and by Phil, and by maybe some of you, but probably not sales guys, that I am weirdly sensitive to different sensations, and apparently the feel of New Balance shoes is among them, as I found out as I sat in the store, feet deliberately pulled up and dangling from my chair so as not to accidentally touch the ground because it was the most intolerable non-pain foot-related feeling I have ever felt, even above tickling, but World Market was right there, so I bought some incense and vowed to purchase a papasan some day soon as well. Also, I am still foot-cringing at the idea of my feet touching the floor while in those shoes.
These are not New Balance shoes. They’re a different kind. We also bought some pink socks, because I’m that person who goes to the mall, specifically to buy sneakers, but is wearing flip flops and no socks. Of course, the socks were buy one, get one 50% off and the green ones were equally cute, so, considering the bargain and how well it matched up with our weekend goal, we collected those as well.
The lovely gentleman at Foot Locker also noticed that the arches on my feet could easily stand in for the one in St. Louis for a day or two with no one being the wiser and put some inserts in the shoes as well, while explaining that some shoes – most especially New Balance – are very flat inside so that flat feet people can wear them and non-flat feet people can put in some arches if they want. Whatever the reasoning, I did not want to scream when I touched my foot to the ground, and I think that’s a pretty good indicator that you have a good sneaker on your hands. Feet. Whatevs.
With one last push, we decided to make a long term commitment to our Memorial Day Spend-a-Thon. Since we now have two dogs and will go through food twice as fast, we decided to switch to a more expensive brand of food! That way, not only are we going through twice as much food as before, but we’re also paying significantly more for each bag! I was particularly impressed with this choice, you guys, and I really don’t mind tooting our own horns here. It is this kind of far sighted dedication to keeping yourself hovering just above the poverty line that is going to bring this country back to where it should be.
Anyway, I hope that everyone found a fun, safe and productive way to spend their Memorial Day weekend. If any of you spent it locating dangly earrings that won’t make me feel like I’m playing a joke on myself, shorts that have a more than crotch-length inseam but won’t make me feel like a pastel-wearing retiree, a casual skirt that manages to not cling and also covers all areas of butt cheekage, or tank tops that are neither too tight nor too flowy nor too boring nor too overly-patterned, please let me know, as I feel I have a little bit still left to give to our country.
By Natalie on Jun 1, 2010
Wow, I love how I went into comments on a previous post and then went back home and BAM! A new post had appeared.
I just wanted to say that I work in an office with a bunch of thin people who rave about cottage cheese and I asked my parents why I had never eaten it. They said basically, “uh, because it’s disgusting and wrong, hello?” and I tried it and agreed. People here eat it with tomatoes, or fruit, or just salt and pepper. No thanks, I would rather eat rocks.
Also, kudos on choosing the Blue food for the pups – I feed it to my cats. We went with Castor and Pollux for the dog, it’s similar but cheaper. Just a thought.
Finally, I live in St Louis and am constantly amazed that other people know about the arch. I feel there are probably plenty of monuments in other cities that I’ve never heard of, I guess. Yay for TJ!
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 10:59 am
I don’t even like to touch the cottage cheese. I don’t even like to TOUCH it.
[Reply]
Natalie Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 11:11 am
That’s how I feel about baloney – I feel the need to wash my fingers after making the hubs a sandwich and having to touch it. I don’t like the smell or the feel. I know it’s wrong when the dog won’t eat it.
[Reply]
By Flaime on Jun 1, 2010
I went on a quest to find a cheaper dog food for my three dogs – I settled on Canidae Lamb and Rice…it’s running me about $41 for 35 pounds…if you care;).
Anyway, good luck on the Sheldon house training. The next time you have money (probably after your wedding) you might get a radio fence to put about 5 inches inside of your fences – that might keep Sheldon from climbing out – if he doesn’t get over it by taking a running leap.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 11:06 am
Staking him in the yard is working for now, so he understands where his “range” is. We’re hoping to overall train him out of climbing out, or at least that he’ll just get too big to make it over – he’s climbing, not jumping. An electric fence is still on the table if nothing else ends up working out, but he seems to already be picking up on the “ALL FOUR PAWS ON THE GROUND!” rule we are enforcing.
[Reply]
Natalie Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 11:17 am
Some friends of mine have an exuberant black Lab and got one of those radio fences – not an electric fence, but a transmitter that sits on their coffee table and transmits its range a certain number of feet. They only put the corresponding “shock” collar on when the dog goes outside, and they put flags up in the yard to teach him his boundaries. They said he figured it out in about 3 hours, tops, and only got a very minor shock a few times. So if all else fails, that’s a cheaper and less dig-up-your-yard option.
Also, it’s portable and can be set up anywhere so good for the inevitable moves!
[Reply]
By Delicia on Jun 1, 2010
Yeah my brother sent me a link to that game, really amazing graphics, and by far the best rendering of horses in-game I’ve seen yet. But, with all the ratings warnings and stuff I’ve read.. yeah.. not coming into this kid-laden household. I already use my kids-in-bed time to play WoW.. when would I have time to play that?!
I’m in awe of your prolific support of our Country on this fine holiday weekend. Well done!!
I spent the weekend at the family cabin, with 11 other people, of which 2 of them are early 20-somethings and insisted on going to sleep by 10:30pm every night (thereby forcing us all to do the same, since they were sleeping out in the main room on a futon) and getting up by 5:30am and not being quiet. So we all were basically forced to wake up at that time. Y’all this is not my idea of a 3-day weekend, esp being a night owl. GRRRR. Add the fact that their parents brought their 9-week old german shepherd puppy who as all puppies do is intent on biting, chewing, and nipping 24/7, and we had to bring our cat which was then relegated to being shut in a back bedroom the entire weekend.
Let’s just say I was happy to head home Monday.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 11:06 am
I try really hard not to have big expectations of holiday weekends because it ALWAYS ends up being disappointing in some random way.
[Reply]
By DDStL on Jun 1, 2010
My thanks to Phil for his service and to you for having his back.
Arches….I feel your pain. Since I drive past monument you mentioned twice per day, I think my arches have an inferiority complex. They have rebelled occasionally with fasciitis.
Never thought of cottage cheese for doggie meds. But braunschweiger works as well, especially since it can be formed around the pill. We’ve also learned to pit the healthy dog against the sick one (small, non-pill piece to the sicky, non-pill piece to the healthy one and then the sicky is so excited that he swallows the pill-laced piece whole).
If you’ve switched to a higher quality dog food, you may find that they need less and, therefore, *ahem* produce less. Of course the pup still needs lots of calories for growing, but the cost difference in the food may just equal out if Brinkley (and Sheldon eventually) ends up eating less. With our at least, if we fed them the recommended amount from the bag, they would be completely obese.
Congrats on the rest of your retail patriotism. And in my family, those cups would totally be designated for patio relaxin’ gin & tonics. In fact, we bought orange & yellow ones a few weeks ago from Target. But we’re not right like that.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 11:09 am
We’re doing the cottage cheese because we happened to have some that Phil hadn’t eaten, and because even half a spoonful makes Brinkley think HE’S getting a treat, too, when I give some to him as well as Sheldon. Also, I use a long plastic spoon and stick the entire thing in Sheldon’s mouth all at once. He has no idea there’s pills in there!
As for the less food thing, we definitely need to cut Brinkley back a bit with the new food, but we’re still easing him onto it, mixing it with his old food. Sheldon, well, we just don’t know how much he eats yet because he’s been on steroids for a week – he is ALWAYS HUNGRY. Today was the last day of tapering him off of the steroid, though, so we should get a better idea of his appetite soon.
[Reply]
By Swistle on Jun 1, 2010
I have the Lane Bryant Ripstop Pedal Pushers and I really like them.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 11:18 am
Those are pretty much EXACTLY what I was looking for! I don’t know why I continue to try Target and Old Navy for shorts. While I love them for nearly everything else, their shorts leave very little of my lady mysteries to the imagination.
[Reply]
Swistle Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Oh, and I can recommend a skirt, too: the Old Navy Cut-Out Contrast Maxi Skirt. But what TOTALLY SUCKS is that Old Navy doesn’t have it in the store so you have to order it to try it on, and then if you don’t like it you can’t return it to the store, you have to MAIL it back!
[Reply]
By Swistle on Jun 1, 2010
And incidentally, $50 is a crazy price for them. That’s a fake price: no one is supposed to actually pay that. I got mine “buy one get one 50% off” and then I had a snail-mail coupon for $15-off-$50, so I actually spent $30/pair and I felt like that was still kind of high.
[Reply]
By evea on Jun 1, 2010
Choosing a quality dog food can actually reduce the amount of food your dogs need to est. Not to undermine the love of your country spending, mind you. But if the food is of better quality then your dogs are getting more nutritional value from less of it. You will notice them eating less and wanting less people food. Not to say they wont ask for some every now and again.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 5:34 pm
We have heard that we’ll be able to reduce the amount that we feed them. Right now we’re in the transition where we’re mixing their old food with the new, but we’re going to sort out how much each needs to eat soon.
[Reply]
By Kailen on Jun 1, 2010
I have lots of trouble with shoes. (It took forever for my mom to figure out that I have wide feet, so when I was little, I would fuss CONSTANTLY about shoes.)
I still fuss about shoes, but I’ve found Vans to be really comfy and good for working, and managed to pick up two different pairs, try them on, and get it right in one try! It was crazy.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 5:38 pm
Vans are definitely good shoes for wide feet, especially if you’re going to be on your feet all day. Not enough support for what I was looking for on this trip, but definitely good for eveyr day wear.
[Reply]
By Pyewacket on Jun 1, 2010
Good choice on the Blue Buffalo food – with 3 dogs it goes quick (probably about the equivalent of your two big boys) but I think its worth it.
For Pet Supplies – check out Ryan’s in phoenix – it would be worth the drive. They have pretty much anything you need, except food, for a pretty good price. You can also order online. http://www.ryanspet.com/
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 5:39 pm
We’ve got a couple of good pet shops over here, too – our dogs aren’t too demanding. We don’t go into Phoenix itself much at all, but if we do, we’ll keep it in mind.
[Reply]
By T on Jun 1, 2010
Did you try feeding Sheldon his meds in a pill pocket from Greenies? They have small and large pill sizes. We don’t like giving our animals any type of human food so we find that when we have to give medication that the animals won’t eat by itself, it goes in the pill pocket and the animals think they’re getting a treat.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 5:41 pm
Nah, we just give it to him in the cottage cheese. We do give the dogs human food, but not in any large amount and only very specific things that we’ve chosen to give them. We don’t feed them off of our plates, but other than that, I don’t think dogs (at least ours) can make a distinction between “human” food and “dog” food. They eat what we specifically give them. I know some people are very anti-people food for dogs but eh, we’re not super strict about it. I mean, it’s not a free for all or anything, but they do get people food.
[Reply]
By LizP on Jun 1, 2010
We have been feeding our dog Blue Buffalo since we got him a year ago. Really good quality dog food.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 5:43 pm
Yeah, we were pretty pleased with it when we researched it. It is pretty much exactly what we were looking for for Brinkley, and Sheldon will obviously benefit as well.
[Reply]
By Ebby on Jun 1, 2010
New Balance shoes are flat? Well, I guess that explains why having inserts in them makes walking so much less painful, I’d never thought about it before….and oddly, my feet have no arch to speak of either so you’d think they would work for me. I wish you luck with the puppy, in any event and happy (belated?) Memorial Day. We don’t have it in Canada, so I have no idea.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 5:44 pm
New Balance shoes are VERY flat! The guy at the store said they didn’t used to be, but now some shoe companies, like New Balance, are making their shoes completely flat so that they can work for more people, assuming that those with high arches will put in an insert. I couldn’t even stand to touch my foot to the ground.
[Reply]
By Tawnya on Jun 1, 2010
I love New Balance shoes. They are the only sneakers I wear. My feet are very flat and fat so they fit well. I actually completed my Shrek glass collection this weekend too!! Is Puss not the cutest one?!?!
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
June 2nd, 2010 at 6:44 am
Yes, Puss is cute, I think that was the first one I got. I like them all. People seriously underestimate the quality of fast food restaurant glass collections, they’re the perfect size!
[Reply]
By Bernie on Jun 1, 2010
My sister says premium dog food, Iams/Eukanuba, makes less poop. I don’t know but she does have two dogs.
I have a cat. It hates me but that’s another story.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
June 2nd, 2010 at 6:45 am
It’s true – better food leads to less food needed and less poop. I don’t know if I’d consider Iams/Eukanuba among the BEST brands of dog food, but they’ll certainly produce less than some of the extremely low end kinds.
[Reply]
Flame Reply:
June 2nd, 2010 at 8:50 am
Iams/Eukanuba are not high quality anymore (20 yrs ago they would have been near the top). Rule of thumb – if you can buy it in a grocery store, it’s not good dog food.
Blue Buffalo is a good brand. You can also check out The Whole Dog Journals’ review of dry dog foods – that’s a great resource!
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
June 2nd, 2010 at 8:55 am
It is also important to note, though, that there is nothing irresponsible about feeding your dogs Iams or Eukanuba, if that’s what you choose to feed them. As long as the dogs are a healthy weight, with a healthy energy, good teeth and coat and no digestive issues on the food you’re feeding, you’re doing something right. Too many people are discouraged from being fantastic dog owners, I think, because everything can be so intimidating. Not everyone builds their whole world around their dogs like I do (it’s a sickness, really), and it does take a lot of time and research and understanding of dog food to choose the PERFECT food for any dog. As long as your dog is happy and healthy on what you’ve chosen to feed them, and there’s no… razor blades or whatever… sticking out of it, you’re doing ok.
I mean, I’m not saying Blue ISN’T good food – it is, obviously, it’s what we feed our dogs. But there are a lot of GOOD foods out there. Everyone’s got their “level” of dog care, if that makes sense. There are the people who feed their dogs home made food, and people who totally lose their minds upon hearing that we let the dogs have people food, or even that we let them on the furniture. I’m not sure where I’m going with this. I just don’t want people to feel like they’ve done something WRONG by feeding Iams or Eukanuba or any other particular brand of food if they’re getting a healthy, happy dog out of it you know? Or worry that they couldn’t be good dog owners because they don’t have the understanding of different types of foods and stuff.
[Reply]
By Ashley on Jun 2, 2010
I actually work for Blue, and I will stand by it. A large bag is one month for a 100lb dog if you feed according to instructions.
If you’re working out how much to feed them, feed the amount that you *want* them to be at. So, if say, a dog is supposed to weight 55 pounds, but is 70, you feed them the amount for 55 (which is two cups if I recall). Yes, it seems a bit harsh, so if you feel too bad, feel free to try to supplement it some. I honestly recommend going to Petco and getting a Kong Wobbler – don’t pay their price, call them on their price-match for 12.95 from some online sites (print out the page showing this price). Feed any extra in there (so maybe an extra half-cup for the example I used) for they’ll have to work for it. It’s not much activity, but it’s helpful for dogs to lose weight (I’m currently trying to get my boys to lose weight – hence my example!)
Higher quality food does make the dogs produce less stool, have less ear infections (which can be related to food), less food-related allergies, and you can feed less due to their being more nutrients packed into the kibble. The LifeSource Bits in Blue is absolutely amazing when it’s really pointed out – it’s basically equal to eating healthy AND taking vitamins.
Also I don’t recommend Iams/Euk/any of those, not because I work for Blue, but because they suck. :P Also, they are not premium.
I totally just went all dog-food-sales-lady on you. Sorry!
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
June 2nd, 2010 at 6:49 am
We definitely need to settle on an amount for Brinkley – Phil always ends up feeding him a bit more than he needs. Since we switched to the Blue, Brinkley seems to really be into his food. With his old food, we’d put it in the bowl twice and day and he’d get around to eating it whenever…. Now he goes right for it.
Sheldon is another story, we’re still mixing his food with wet puppy food as well, for the nutrition and because we needed to lure him into eating for his first couple of days here – both because he was new and nervous and he was also sick for a while. Since he was on steroids until yesterday, he’s been STARVING. We’re going to need another day or two for the steroids to course out of him before we get an idea of his real appetite, but that dog is a BIG EATER. Of course, the shelter had him on Beneful, which he did not seem to enjoy much at all. Today was the last day of mixing a little Beneful in with his Blue food, so by tomorrow, we should be able to get him on measured feeding.
Sheesh, I just went all dog-food-nuts right back at you! ANYWAY, we really do like the Blue food so far. I wanted to get the Wilderness stuff, but that’s a little unnecessary for our big lazy house dogs. And our wallets.
[Reply]
By Alias Mother on Jun 2, 2010
Although this entire post is excellent, I’m going to focus on just the teensiest tinsiest bit of it and warn you not to get a papasan. It seems like a good idea, I know, what with the fact that they look like giant dog beds and seem to be JUST the spot to read in. But I have owned one and in reality? They are impossible to get in and out of with any kind of dignity. In fact, you will endanger your life every time you try to sit in it, which means you will avoid sitting in it. And they take up a lot of room, so then you have a giant chair squatting in your house that you don’t even use. Finally, after years of not sitting in/being annoyed by it, you will realize that it is making your house look like the dorm room of a 20 year old stoner. Then you will move it to your garage for a year or two, where it will somehow take up even more space and the cushion will get all dusty and smelly. And then you will sell it at a pittance at a yard sale to the aforementioned stoner.
So, yeah. Just don’t.
(The same warning applies to those cute, fold-up, butterfly chairs.)
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
June 2nd, 2010 at 6:51 am
Haaaa, that is an excellent point! I have trouble levering myself out of our couch as it is. I had a papasan in college, and combined with my short legs, I basically rocked and leaned until I kind of rolled out onto the floor.
But they ARE so comfortable! And they WOULD be the perfect reading chair!
Oh, papasans, why must you be so desirable and so impractical at the same time!
[Reply]
By Meg on Jun 4, 2010
I dont know if you’ve seen this yet but McDonalds is recalling those Shrek glasses because of Cadmium in the painted design
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/06/04/health/AP-US-Cadmium-Shrek.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss
[Reply]
By Aboo on Jun 7, 2010
I know I’m late, and not commenting on the dog food. But Red Dead Redemption is just about the best game I’ve played all year. I’ve already put it at the top of my list for Father’s Day. My favorite part of the game so far (I rented it over the holiday week) was listening to the “ladies of the night” proposition you, and saving them from evil cowboys with knives. I have yet to hog-tie one. If someone steals my horse, I just shoot ‘em. Why they are in the middle of the wilderness in their nighties trying to steal my horse in the first place is beyond my comprehension.
[Reply]