lonely

Puddle hoped this subtle hint would get him some face-time with his busy human.

When I heard what the Illustration Friday theme was for this week, this little image popped into my head, so I thought I’d run with it.

HoHoDooDa Day 4

Ouch, I know, really pushing the pun thing today.

Can’t help it.

I like the puns.

But, for more holiday fun, some awesome illustration and possibly less pun-ridden sentiments, stop by and check out Marion and Laura’s HoHoDooDa shenanigans!

ferocious

The kitten seemed unfazed by Buster’s ferocious, canine prowess. The little hairball obviously did not know who he was dealing with.

…………………………………………………….

The Illustration Friday theme this week is “ferocious.”

So, decided to throw a little color on a quick sketch. It’s fun to not agonize for a change, hee hee!

cat got your tongue?

putting on the dog

The fact that her job as hostess
at the Olive Garden was
less than lucrative, did not stop Thelma
from putting on the dog last Saturday night.

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dogtown

I’ve been around the block a few times, (if you know what I mean,) and I’ve done a thing or two in this life. I’ve also put off doing a thing or two in this life.

It’s been said often and I absolutely agree with this advice: The things you regret most, at the end of your life are not the things you have done, but the things you have not done. So in that spirit, although it may be a wee bit early to start a “Bucket List,” I feel it would be a grand idea to make a concerted effort to DO more… you know, be a doer.

In my thirties, skydiving sounded like a great way to affirm your life, if for no other reason, giving you a valid reason to give mother earth a great big bear hug once you made it back alive! But I have news for you, it’s not going to happen now. I no longer have the desire, nor do I have (and this is the important part,) the cojones.

However, among the items on my list, be they courageous, interesting, altruistic, important or just plain fun, the thing I might just consider adding…is skateboarding.

Mmmm hmmm, you heard me. Skateboarding.

A middle aged woman careening down narrow sidewalks, annoying denizens of the nearest strip mall, shouting “Skateboarding is not a crime” sound ridiculous to you?

Hmmmm, you might have a point. Ok, maybe I’ll just add: rent “Dogtown” to my list and call it a day.

opposites

Got up this morning just to find,
the sun was dark and blue.
I had to go to school today,
because I had the flu.

My dog meowed, my kitty squeaked,
my mouse let off a roar.
I realized my feet were on
the ceiling not the floor.

Mom asked for my permission,
Dad asked for my advice.
My sister was considerate,
not only once, but twice.

I heard a very funny joke,
that made me sad and tearful.
But when I fell and skinned my knee,
I felt so glad and cheerful.

I have to go to bed because,
it is now broad daylight,
then wake up fresh and lively,
in the middle of the night.

I’m not sure what is happening,
things are not as they seem.
My eyes are open, I’m awake
and yet I’m in a dream.

soar

FLYING WEINER DOG

The Illustration Friday theme for this week is “Soar…”

…and who among us, upon being asked to depict “soaring”, hasn’t conjured up an image of the quintessential icon of grace and all that is lofty, the flying wiener dog?

Who, I ask you?

Just me, you say?

Ahem…well, ok then.

Just moments ago, our backyard was visited by three raccoons. This visitation was heralded by the guttural caterwauling of Joey our big black kitty. Joey has made it clear he is not nearly as entertained by the masked interlopers as Tom and I are. We gently shush Joey, trying to make sure he doesn’t scare the coons away. But they’re too smart. They know we’re there watching them, and they put on a short but sweet little show of waddling and clowning before they scamper off into the night.

So, I choose to interpret the apperance of our three guests as a good omen for 2008. In fact, I plan to, as often as possible, soar through this next year with all the good humor, grace and hopefulness of the beloved flying wiener dog herself.

Happy New Year everyone!

.

tail wagging the dog

Any case where something of greater significance is driven by something lesser.Wikipedia says:

“…is taken from the joke: “Why does a dog wag its tail? Because a dog is smarter than its tail. If the tail was smarter, the tail would wag the dog.” Interpretations differ as to the meaning of this metaphor. Some suggest the dog is public opinion, and the tail represents the media; the dog is the media, and the tail is political campaigns; or the dog is the people, and the tail is the government…”

I had intended to go on and on about this particular expression, but we rushed off to see a concert at the Wiltern in Hollywood this evening, and I didn’t get the chance.

However, I must say, if you ever get a chance to see “Swell Season” you absolutely must! Their music is magical, evocative, whimsical and so beautiful it almost hurts.

Tom and I had the good fortune to hear “Swell Season” at the Orpheum last year, as they opened for Damien Rice. Damien Rice was phenomenal, but we couldn’t believe what a gem we had found in the opening act.

Glen Hansard, lead vocal/guitar of “The Frames” and Marketa Irglova are the leads in Swell Season and also starred in the film “Once”. I haven’t seen the film, but I’ll tell you, if those two have half the chemistry in the film as they have onstage, it can’t miss. When they sing a duet, there is an intimacy between them that is so sweet and intense, it makes you feel a bit like a voyeur, like you’re intruding on a private moment.

Take my advice and go hear them live. Do it, not only to experience their energy, the purity of their sound and their beautiful lyrics. Do it, not only because Glen on acoustic guitar and Marketa on piano sing with the strong, clear, sweet voices of angels. Do it, also to hear Glen go on and on unaffectedly, revealing the underpinnings of each song, with Irish wit and charm. Do it, because this is not just a performance, you are truly sharing a moment with these talented artists. Do this and see the film. I know I’m going to see it as soon as I can. I hear it is really good!

While your at it, rent “Wag the Dog” with Robert Dinero and Dustin Hoffman again, or for the first time. It was a pretty good movie if memory serves. More importantly, it ties in with the theme of this post.

Hmmmm, is it my imagination, or was that just tail wagging the dog?

pug shot

Keeping true to my nature, it’s 1:00 a.m. and I’ve just now finished doing laundry and packing for our trip to Portland, Oregon tomorrow morning. The delicate balance of nature would surely collapse if something as unexpected as my planning ahead would have occurred.

My suitcase is predictably packed beyond capacity with damp clothing and may blow it’s rivets at any moment. In contrast, Tom’s bag is reasonably and lightly packed, possibly with room for me to sneak in a shoe or two.

Yes, we are finally taking a wee vacation! Heading off to Portland for four days, to see if we can’t re-ignite our passion for moving there. As much as we still dream of our eventual move, we have become a little complacent of late, and now that the summer swelter is behind us, we’re feeling somewhat less desperate about getting out of California.

So we’re off to the airport early in the morning, so I best get my butt to sleep.

I might add first, that the above pug is a detail from one of my children’s book (in progress since forever) spreads. It’s one of my less than successful spreads. Although I like how little pug dude turned out, I am not in love with how rough and toothy the paper is and how it shows up so prominently in the the background. So I will be giving this one another go, trying something smoother perhaps. But for now, little pug guy gets to live on my blog.

Good night!

halloweiner dog

Sick of the ubiquitous Halloween theme yet? Not me, I’m loving every minute of it. Just can’t get enough pumpkins, witches and candy corn.

However, everyone has their limits. For instance, I certainly don’t envy the employees of Rite Aid or those Halloween specialty stores. You know, the stores that sell witch figurines with flashing red eyes and the irritating cackle. They sell candy dishes with the skeleton hand that grabs at you as you reach for peanut M&M’s or Snickers, chortling maniacally.

I can imagine, every day, these employees going just a little bit more mad. As the gazillionth customer, that day, pushes the button unleashing just one more witch cackle, one more baleful ghostly moan or one more banshee scream, they snap! Now there’s a scary thought.

So, take heed, all ye who enter Rite Aid. Step lightly and resist the temptation to push yonder button, lest you unleash hell upon thee.

Ahem, so anyway, I thought I was super clever coming up with Halloweiner Dog. That is, until I insisted on googling it, to make sure I was, in fact, being original. Turns out, the whole freaking World Wide Web is lousy with Halloweiner Dogs. In fact there’s even a children’s book called Halloweiner. Who knew?