About half of last year's strawberry plants survived the little brown digging machine otherwise known as the Dachshund puppy, and we are reaping the benefits.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 07:33 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Told you I wasn't dead.  And you'll notice that Hammer, Penny, and Billy are gone, too.  After an incredibly stressful time, both personally and professionally, it's time I stopped killing people in Mafia Wars on Facebook (although there's no way in hell I'm going to quit doing that), and started venting again.

However, I think there's going to be a serious change of focus.  Yes, I'm still into politics, but frankly, I'm better than that.  It seems like we can't even have a serious adult conversation where we agree to disagree unless we already KNOW EACH OTHER WELL ENOUGH TO HAVE ESTABLISHED RESPECT.

WTF?  Isn't that the point of having a dialogue?  That we can defend our ideas and hear what the other person thinks without thinking that they're "evil", "stupid". "religious", "stoned", or whatever other words we hurl at each other.  And, frankly, since when did being a conservative make you an Ann Coulter or Michelle Malkin slurper?  Or being a liberal mean that you have to be in lockstep with the Obama administration?

So while politics will be here every once in a while, I'm going to take a page from Shannon, (and wow, how weird is it to be blogging and call her Shannon?) and just blog about me and my life.

Right.  So anyway.  Let's catch up, shall we?  Since I went on quasi-hiatus a lot has happened:

- The Tar Heels won the national championship in basketball
- I thought I was going to lose my job but it looks like that's on hold for a while
- Work went to hell and back and we made some serious changes to our administration
- My darling Princess turned 10 today.  What the hell would I ever do without her?

So I think that's about it.  Everything else is pretty good.  I have lots of pictures I need to post and more things to tell you about coming up.

Gee it's nice to be back.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 08:32 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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1 Happy Birfday to the Princess... again! Hope you get the diabetic thing under control! Nasty stuff, that. ...and if you quit killing people, who will give me energy packs?

Posted by: Pam at May 06, 2009 04:01 AM (l6NIn)

2 So if I invite you to be my friend will you join my Mafia? Glad the job is sticking around. Sorry about the stress. Puppy-people are awesome, aren't they?

Posted by: beth at May 06, 2009 04:08 AM (Slkto)

3 Glad to hear you're back. And I too tend to avoid politically charged subjects if I can absolutely help it. Though I've been known to make exceptions.

Posted by: diamond dave at May 06, 2009 04:48 AM (RIYji)

4 welcome back!

Posted by: wRitErsbLock at May 06, 2009 05:39 AM (nFixF)

5 Welcome back. Wow, that pre-diabetic thing SUCKS - you do what all the health experts have been screaming at us to do for years, and then you get the very thing you're supposed to be avoiding. I hope it goes away.

Posted by: ricki at May 07, 2009 04:46 AM (O5SYw)

6 I went through the 'onset' about 20 years ago. Make sure you get a MD that is proactive and the bg thing is just a symptom of other things going on. Watch out for the neuropathy especially. Wishing you the best!

Posted by: JimBob at May 09, 2009 10:41 PM (04mvN)

7 Did I see that your mom is retiring this year? What will she ever do without work?

Posted by: Sarah at May 12, 2009 03:09 PM (PMYtg)

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... real bath!

Pictures posted to Flickr... here's a preview:

Posted by: caltechgirl at 07:20 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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1 aaawwww.... have to add this to today's carnival!

Posted by: pam at July 11, 2008 08:01 AM (l6NIn)

2 Hello Webmaster, I am Honee and interested in sponsoring your blog and I am contacting you to ask if you are interested in blog post sponsorship. Please let me know if you have any further questions and if you are interested on this offer. Yours truly, Honee Darby

Posted by: Honee Darby at July 11, 2008 01:30 PM (igkC+)

3 Awwwwwwwwwww.... CUTE!

Posted by: Richmond at July 12, 2008 05:39 PM (XOQtP)

4 I'll give thirds on the awwwwwwws. BTW you've been meme-tagged. Stop by my place for details.

Posted by: diamond dave at July 13, 2008 11:41 AM (yeO/N)

5 Adorable!

Posted by: Da Goddess at July 14, 2008 08:40 AM (QZJoU)

6 货架、 货架

Posted by: 货架、 at March 01, 2009 06:21 AM (+Xe1F)

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As many of you longtime lurkers will remember, the Elder Princess has been a severely allergic dog for most of her life. You may recall we've done all the tests, antihistamines, steroids, shots, human anti-transplant-rejection drugs, and of course special foods. We never did find out for certain what the culprit was, but circumstances have shown that it lives in Chapel Hill, and not California, so our Boo is doing a lot better over the last three years.

The one thing that changed for the worse, though was her weight. Venison and Kangaroo are both lean meats, and usually less fat is added to the mix in allergy diets. Coincident with our move out here, most pet stores stopped distributing the Eukanuba brand of prescription diets, so we had to switch her to regular Eukanuba adult food (Lamb and Rice, actually, since we knew rice was ok and she'd never had lamb). And well, she put on a few pounds. Especially since the townhouse we lived in didn't have a yard and we had to walk her every day instead of playing....

But I digress. Today we went to the Smart of Pet to get food for the puppy (the Princess currently is being kept on a diet of weight control rations, which is not good for a growing girl). And to our surprise, what did we find in the regular food aisle? Eukanuba Naturally Wild Venison and Potato formula!

It looks and smells a lot like what we used to pay the same price for with a prescription. They both love it, or so it seems by the empty dishes and sleepy bodies. We'll see what their tummies think tomorrow!

I know Eukanuba has gone downhill in quality in recent years, but my dogs love it and they're both incredibly healthy, so we'll see how this goes one bag at a time.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 06:30 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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OK, so she's not my baby in the usual sense, but she IS my child. The favorite, the spoiled one, the one who gives me kisses and runs to see me when I come home every afternoon. She watches while I sleep and gets offended when her Daddy and I argue with each other. She loves books and kleenex (to eat) and cheese and chicken and eggs that escape from my breakfast burritos. She's Daddy's girl when he's got trail mix and Mommy's shadow whenever there's a glass of Dr. Pepper poured out. My 35 pound hot water bottle who loves the snow beyond reason and runs from rain drops. My "worth her weight in Molybdenum" hound who has cost me more than a fortune in tests and specialists and pills and special dog food, and finally human anti-rejection meds for an allergy that only took a move home to California to cure.

But for all that, we wouldn't trade a moment with our "border spaniel cocker collie" and all the ways she's spoiled us.

I love you, my Princess.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 12:22 AM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
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1 Happy birthday, Princess! She likes Dr. Pepper? really??

Posted by: Marie at May 05, 2008 06:47 AM (UunPp)

2 What a sweet little doggie! Did you get a special milk bone birthday cake?

Posted by: Phoenix at May 05, 2008 07:36 AM (4N2f4)

3 Happy Birthday to the Princess!

Posted by: Amanda at May 05, 2008 07:50 AM (ay+rD)

4 That's a fine looking dog!!

Posted by: Alan at May 05, 2008 02:01 PM (jYCG+)

5 Happy Birthday to your girl! She's gorgeous...!

Posted by: pam at May 05, 2008 03:15 PM (l6NIn)

6 she obviously adores you too. what a doll.

Posted by: zoey at May 05, 2008 03:32 PM (oNP5F)

7 Happy Birthday, kiddo!!

Posted by: Lauren at May 06, 2008 11:12 PM (iUfJz)

8 Awwwwww! The princess is adorable! Happy birthday.

Posted by: nightfly at May 07, 2008 06:41 AM (PuuC1)

9 Happy Birthday to a cutie!

Posted by: Mrs. Who at May 08, 2008 07:39 PM (DhhRx)

10 Oooh! What a beautiful puppy-girl! Happy Birthday to the Princess! And many, many more! Hope she got a new toy and special puppy treats for the big day! Congratulations!

Posted by: Lee Ann at May 09, 2008 06:20 AM (In0yv)

11 Happy Birthday to a beautiful girl!

Posted by: vw bug at May 13, 2008 03:12 AM (FPOeI)

12 This is how the gods do business:::::They use temptation and deception to compel people to chase something that has already been decided. It's children who go to "beaven". OLd people have to come back. The gods will use their power to contradict this, corrupting people and compelling them to incurr evil::::They used the Italians to ruin life in the 20th century, cost you the Final Prophet and the result will be death as you wait for the Italian Second Coming of Christ to save you. This is the god's positioning and it IS going to be enforced. Never forget::::The gods have always offered "protection" to those genuinely religious. It is something that was always respected, even in the wicked 20th century. As people begin to age the gods employ corrupting tactics. They ultimately begin to look down on the children and the wisdom they recently understood::: They voluntarily turn their back on their opportunity to ascend and instead embrace evil. It's not old people who go to heaven. Old people must come back because of the mistakes they've made throughout their lives. Children are the ones who have the opportunity to ascend. Children are discounted by adults in society. The gods corrupt people as they age, use trust-building tactics and soon adults view the children as ignorant, yet to understand the god's system, and subsequently look down on the children. This is one of the most bitter, painful ironies the gods employ, for people consciously turn their back on and lose their opportunity to ascend:::: Religions teach that old people to go to heaven when they die. They don't. Old people are reincarnated. It's the children who go to heaven, those who have a chance at immortality. The wisdom the gods impart to children, either through their innocence/purity or religious-based educational pursuits are the gods sharing the truth with their most favored people::::It's the children whom the gods teach the right way for it is the children who have a chance. For example, they teach children to have faith, for understanding the god's geographical clues hurts people by illustrating negative things, opening the door for the god's to employ deceptive tactics. Old people don't go to heaven. Old people must come back because of the mistakes they've made throughout their lives. It's the children who have the opportunity to go to "heaven". They must behave apprioriately, think correctly and be genuinely god-fearing. Their innocence and lack of desensitization ensures they have a real opportunity to achieve this goal. This is charecteristic of the gods methodology::::The big prize gone early, deception compels people to chase something that has already been decided. They sent this clue with boss as well. It is also a clue supporting my claim RW&B's german is in fact Christianity's Anti-Christ. Logic also dictates, considering the definition. This individual was used to justify the repression of alternative technologies, and in the early/mid 20th century the elimination of productivity enhancing developments like Chicago's underground railroad for merchandise delivery to retail outlets. There are other examples like this as well, notably the railroad on the lower span of the Bay Bridge. This forced transport via internal combustion vehicles instead. This is how the gods do business:::They get theirs right off the bat. The #1 industrailist, the #1 capitalist is the Anti-Christ, and he's been "in charge" for 150 years. Of coruse this is all telepathic theater. He was just a clone host all along. All those industrialists were. Flanders is on the Simpsons as a clue. The confusion over this multi-dimentional positioning will serve as an effective tactic, eliminating many additional disfavored in the process, for positioning states the Apocalypse to be a continuation of WorldWarII's Aryan superrace ideals, positioned as punishment for the 5th century invastion of the Roman Empire:::John's Fourth Reich. This amounts only to "nested theater":::::Levels of positioning enables the gods to scapegoat:::::RW&B merely is the tool the gods chose to execute the final scene of their scripted theater that is human history. Just as they would have had me chase boss so would they have wanted me to sign on to this theater, evil by definition, and chase this role of Anti-Christ. By doing so I would have incurred evil and would have been punished, painfully "losing" Anti-Christ in the process. Does that mean RW&B is not the Anti-Christ?? I suspect as they would have "offered" it to me so will there be a fake Anti-Christ for those in these generations to accept as well. But it is a clone host. This is ALL clone host theater, created not as a clue to me but instead designed to be preditory on the disfavored, designed to increase indecency and further the god's goal of justification towards The End. We were all merely peasants centuries ago, struggling with our disfavor, but without the enormity of temptations, real and telepathic, which exist today. They have shared I was positioned to some disfavored as the Second Coming of Christ, explaining all the evil surrounding me and RW&B's placement in the "eye of The Beast" was to positon the sabotage of my candidacy (Damien Omen, Big Army Men, etc). The Big Lie of course is that Christianity is evil. The reverse positioning nature of Planet Earth dictates that good is demonized, as we wintessed in World War II, while evil is put on a pedistal, as we see with the Italians. The truth? The gods used their tools to create this and the rest of the incidents surrounding this Situation to distract the people from my message, for I speak the truth:::Only you can save you. You have to be responsible for your own relationship with the gods. The gods are asexual. They have no sex organs nor rectums. When the gods take children these individuals have the opportunity to become "god-like". Temptations are employed and, if sucessful, these are the individuals who make up the human race's immortals. I believe there are opportunities that exist for females that do no exist for males. I don't mean to paint with a broad brush but women's "sexual peak" may represent the transistion to "sociological males" and their "fall from grace". Considering today's promiscuity I question whether this is currently applicable, and is yet anther 20th century-earlier phenominah. I believe Purgatory is real. I think it is a temporary destination, perhaps sparsely utilized until the Apocalypse, but this will be the destination for those who "ascend" during the event. As they've said this planet will too be disposed of one day and it is imperative people try to avoid that destination, for there may be no escaping its fate.

Posted by: This is how the gods do business:::::They use temptation and deception to compel people to chase som at May 14, 2008 10:05 AM (Zz71Y)

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On Flickr:

And lots more, including photographic evidence that big sister is learning to tolerate Puppy.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 01:22 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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The little Princess is doing much better.  She's learned to walk to the back door when she wants out, she goes into the bathroom without complaint most of the time in the morning (the bathroom is her "safe room" while Mom and Dad are at work), and she whines for less than a minute when she goes in her crate at night.

So she's out of jail.  But the camera needs to be recharged before I can take anymore super cute pictures, so you'll have to wait a few days on those.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 02:11 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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I went to work, the traffic wasn't bad, I came home, took the dogs to the vet, and everything was fine.  That was clearly BEFORE noon.

Then I whacked my forehead on a tree chasing the puppy, scared her (no big deal, I just put a little pressure on her shot site when I picked her up and it hurt) and then spent the afternoon trying to get her to calm down.

i quit.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 09:16 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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1 ...and... there's no video of the noggin crashing? Too bad. [sigh] Puppy pictures, then?

Posted by: pam at January 09, 2008 05:52 AM (l6NIn)

2 What do you mean, you quit?

Posted by: Amanda at January 09, 2008 06:56 AM (ay+rD)

3 Oh not good... clearly it's time for a cocktail!

Posted by: CrankMama at January 09, 2008 04:15 PM (F9si8)

4 Oh crap... Better today I hope!

Posted by: Richmond at January 10, 2008 10:47 AM (wg5Wh)

5 Here, let me help you feel better. I adopted a dog. A Dalmatian. I was told she was trained and well over a year old. She was very cute. 1) She had no training whatsoever, including housetraining. No sit, no stay, no come. 2) She was about 5 months old and in full on "teething" mode. Not a well trained 1.5 year old. 3) She suffered from seperation anxiety which could only be relieved by chewing up an entire sofa, guest bed and $800.00 wool rug to name just a few. 4) Did I mention that just seeing a human being would make her pee herself, whine, bark cry and run away? (Everyone but me.. I am MOMMY.) Nightmare. She's great now but man were those first 4 months were a scream. It was more like COCKTAILS, rather than cocktail. Good luck! P.S. even though I'd have rather not gone through that, she is really the dearest little girl. She still has some fear issues and doesn't come when called until she feels like it, but she is a little angel now.

Posted by: Jenn at January 10, 2008 10:51 AM (sSCF/)

6 It's like having a 2 year old. Good grief. Its why I can't ever do another baby mammal in this house. I think I have PTSD from my own once baby mammals.

Posted by: Bou at January 10, 2008 07:35 PM (mPTKU)

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Don't let her sleeping, jailed appearance fool you.  This is a high-speed, mightily independent monster with a bladder the size of a thimble and big, nasty teeth! (well, ok, little nasty teeth...)





It's a miracle she even sleeps.  She didn't shut up until 6 AM Saturday, and last night was pretty bad, although she quit crying a LOT earlier.  I'm hopeful that sleeping in the crate/ pen/ whatever means she's ok with it now......

Posted by: caltechgirl at 06:17 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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1 Aw, what a sweetie. Have you tried putting a clock (that ticks) under her pillow? We did that when our girls were new and it really helped with the crying.

Posted by: beth at January 06, 2008 06:47 PM (9skvr)

2 aaaaawwwwww... how sweet! I don't even have to ask if you're working on bite inhibition...! LOL! Thank God my dog is a year old now; I couldn't live through puppyhood again...!

Posted by: pam at January 07, 2008 07:13 AM (l6NIn)

3 Oh but she is cuuuuuute!!

Posted by: Richmond at January 07, 2008 07:52 AM (GvGiJ)

4 Oh man, puppy crying all night! How well I remember that phase. I figured out one way to stop the crying was to put the puppy in a big cardboard box with blankies *on the floor next to the bed*. Then I dangled my arm and hand downward and into the box. She seemed comforted and slept quietly. I got some sleep too, finally. Maybe my arm was a little numb the next day. Heh. I'm not saying this is a good or proper technique, just that when I got desperate for a quiet night's sleep . . . it worked.

Posted by: dogette at January 07, 2008 04:53 PM (q/UVc)

5 Hey, I know I'm probably the last to notice or clue in, but is that by any chance a message to Hillary scrolling across the top of your screen?

Posted by: dogette at January 07, 2008 04:55 PM (q/UVc)

6 looks like a sweetie! We have our younest poodle box trained..she heads for it at night to sleep..and we close the door. My older dawg..Miss Sassie Poodle has been sleeping with me since she was two months old and she is 14 now..I think the highlight of her day now is to cuddle up next to me at night..and sometimes when I am up late she comes looking for me and barks at me until I go to bed..

Posted by: GUYK at January 07, 2008 07:23 PM (uyoGg)

7 Very cute and great reason not to be at the computer. ;-)

Posted by: vw bug at January 08, 2008 04:45 AM (FPOeI)

8 Oh how sweet!!! She looks so cuddly and adorable!! Aww, puppy snuggles.

Posted by: Amanda at January 08, 2008 10:59 AM (5PUVj)

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Meet Princess #2, a Doxy - Terrier Mix named Guinness:

Posted by: caltechgirl at 07:32 PM | Comments (16) | Add Comment
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1 What a cutie!

Posted by: beth at November 23, 2007 08:16 PM (mL6ts)

2 Congratulations!!!!

Posted by: pam at November 24, 2007 04:48 AM (l6NIn)

3 I love puppies! That is the cutest little thang ever! I like her name, too!

Posted by: Beth Donovan at November 24, 2007 05:11 AM (RI2Iy)

4 Oh... that is soooo precious.

Posted by: vw bug at November 24, 2007 06:53 AM (FPOeI)

5 oh my goodness! I saw her when I uploaded a pic to Flickr last night and figured I'd see a post about her when I got around to reading blogs

Posted by: wRitErsbLock at November 24, 2007 08:32 AM (0Pi1o)

6 Awwwwwwww. Enjoy that sweet puppy smell!!!!

Posted by: dogette at November 24, 2007 09:57 AM (q/UVc)

7 PUPPY BREATH! I. LOVE. PUPPY BREATH!

Posted by: Margi at November 24, 2007 01:04 PM (Vxef1)

8 OH my, She is so cute. It makes me want to run out and get a dog and I am NOT a pet person.

Posted by: Lukie at November 24, 2007 02:26 PM (WXIEq)

9 Awwww!!

Posted by: Marie at November 24, 2007 02:57 PM (wLjqx)

10 What a cutie! I bet she's keeping you busy!

Posted by: Tammy at November 24, 2007 03:44 PM (r9XZv)

11 Awwwwwwww!!! CUTE!!! I am so happy for all of you!

Posted by: Richmond at November 25, 2007 05:27 PM (j6pQQ)

12 Oh, isn't she sweet! Congratulations.

Posted by: Mrs. Who at November 25, 2007 10:27 PM (6zbwL)

13 Adorable! I am filled with the urge to go to my in-laws' house and scratch their dog behind his cute floppy ears.

Posted by: nightfly at November 26, 2007 12:35 PM (PuuC1)

14 I found you (had to do it tonight or I'd forget the address)! Love the blog and love the new doglet! Great to see you guys tonight!!

Posted by: Amanda at November 28, 2007 01:26 AM (5PUVj)

15 .... wait.... what is it eating??....

Posted by: Eric at November 28, 2007 06:16 PM (g02Hg)

16 Its really very cute, i love pets that too always used sleep with my puppy as like this picture, its also like one of our family member...

Posted by: annie at November 29, 2007 04:40 AM (vTBfv)

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I think we'll be getting one of these for the Princess!

h/t Ken S

Posted by: caltechgirl at 09:58 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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One of the CaltechMom's friend's dogs recently had puppies, and as we've been thinking long and hard about getting a little sibling for the Princess, she offered us one, and we accepted!

The new puppy is a little black standard smooth-coated Dachshund, and CaltechMom will pick her up tomorrow.

The only problem is that we won't get to meet her until after Mom has had her for a couple of weeks.  And she needs a name before then!.

This is where you all come in.  We're having a hard time giving Puppy-girl a name!

We'd prefer a girly name, two syllables, since that's easiest for the dog to learn, and something suitable to a little black doxie.

Also, it can't rhyme with "Molly" or "Dolly" because the Princess' name already does.

Have at it folks.  There may be a prize for the person suggesting the eventual name!

No Dog. She called my mom tonight and said her brother took my dog for himself. The rotten bastard.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 12:02 AM | Comments (14) | Add Comment
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1 Oh my. I had my boy about a month before I settled on his name, it took that long to get to know him well enough to name him. Of course, he has his official name on his papers, but I have never called him by that name and I refuse to tell anyone what it is, its too embarassing. Pictures! Pictures would help.

Posted by: LindaSoG at May 06, 2007 01:22 AM (GBBmd)

2 I'm so jealous! I had dachshunds when I was growing up and I love them. I like the standard size - the miniatures are just too nervous. Girl names for a doxie - Gretchen (I had a red long-haired doxie named Gretchen) - Heidi - Hilda - Hannah - Irmgard - Ingrid - Elke. I think of those, I like Hannah the best.

Posted by: Beth at May 06, 2007 05:00 AM (poSM5)

3 Dixie?

Posted by: Christina at May 06, 2007 08:51 AM (d3xGU)

4 Raven - because she's black (and it would start a cool new tradition of naming our pets/children for one another). Vesta - your home already has a princess, how about adding a goddess (Roman goddess of the home). Or I like Beth's suggestion of Hannah.

Posted by: Janette at May 06, 2007 12:20 PM (5R+zg)

5 Oh and congratulations on the new puppy!

Posted by: Janette at May 06, 2007 12:21 PM (5R+zg)

6 YAY a Dachshund baby!! Congratulations!! I remember when little Button fit in the palm of my hand, tail and all... I knew a couple of cool dachshunds when I was young named Schotzy and Candy. I would never have named a dog 'candy' but it really fit this girl. I do love Heidi for a dachshund, of course...

Posted by: pam at May 06, 2007 04:52 PM (l6NIn)

7 Cool! Here are some good "German" names: http://www.babynameworld.com/german-girl.asp Congrats!

Posted by: vw bug at May 06, 2007 05:35 PM (FPOeI)

8 Maybe it's a sign? - Jon - Daddy Detective - www.daddydetective.com

Posted by: Jon at May 07, 2007 05:31 AM (Mxs0h)

9 Oh man!!!

Posted by: Marie at May 07, 2007 05:58 AM (ocfI9)

10 ps -- you have a lot of good stuff posted here! I have to come back & read/watch it all when I have some time.

Posted by: Marie at May 07, 2007 06:01 AM (ocfI9)

11 Aww, that sucks!

Posted by: Janette at May 07, 2007 07:22 AM (5R+zg)

12 I hope puppy shits all over his rugs. LOLLLLLL

Posted by: Margi at May 07, 2007 11:55 AM (qs4Ot)

13 Sorry to hear that...

Posted by: pam at May 08, 2007 05:17 AM (l6NIn)

14 Boo. :-(

Posted by: Richmond at May 08, 2007 09:47 AM (e8QFP)

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Yoga is a fun, relaxing practice. Sure, it can be challenging, but I find that even a few simple stretches and poses are very good for helping me to relax and focus, especially in the midst of a very stressful task or a rapidly approaching deadline.

One thing that usually DOESN'T help, however, is my beloved Princess. She is drawn like a magnet to mommy on the floor, assuming of course, that the only reason I would be there is to play with her. Frankly, she's WAY more of a hinderance than anything, especially if I am trying to meditate.

So I was highly amused when I found this article today:

In Bryan's class, the humans do traditional yoga poses -- yes, including "downward facing dog" -- while staying in contact physically with their pets.

Part of the class includes gentle stretching and dog massage, another specialty of Bryan's, but most of the time the humans gently use the dogs like yoga props.

In downward facing dog, for example, the humans rest their heads on their companions, who are relaxing -- napping? -- on the mat.

"Don't be too ambitious," she said. "Honor where your dog is and remember that dogs respond to our energy."

Actually, it sounds like fun.  And it's a great fundraiser for the humane society.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 12:07 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Have you stopped by to check out the newest member of the Bad Example Bunch?  It's Bitterroot, also known as =HC=, husband of my blog sis Mrs_Who.

And he's got a great story to tell about their Golden Retriever.....

"...Mothers can tell what every different nuance in a baby's cry means.  I've never understood that.  But I can understand my dog. 

I can tell the difference between a cat in the parkbark, a strange dogs are in my yard!  bark, and even a neighbor girl and her boyfriend are talking/making-out in her driveway bark.  There's also the strangers walking past the yard bark, and of course the usual bored reply to the other barking dog down the street bark.

But at about 2:30 this morning, she was barking something different.  It definitely wasn't a bored or cat bark - it was more insistent.  She almost sounded scared.  As I listened, her barking intensified - whatever it was was really unnerving her - she was already up to DefCon 2.  I got up and went to the family room at the other end of the house and peered out the windows.  I saw nothing.  By this time, Dog is going positively ape-shit out there.  Something or someone is in the yard, and it's definitely a stranger bark!  I moved as quickly as I dared through the darkened house to secure my gun and flashlight.  (I know, I know)   They should have been in my hands before I went to investigate.)  Damn!  Mrs. Who or the kids - okay, maybe even *I* left the MagLite somewhere other than where it was supposed to be.  Too late, I can't turn-on lights to search for it.  There's no time, and I'll only handicap my own night-adjusted eyes - blinding myself and possibly even making a silhouette of myself!...."

Posted by: caltechgirl at 12:43 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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1 Wow - I linked here from my email and watched your "Sesame Streets" video - too funny. "You talkin' to ME? You must be talkin' to me, 'cause I'm the only one here..." I was surprised to see just below that the name of a not-so-widely-read book that I had read some time ago which I found... intriguing. I was even more surprised to discover that the post beneath that book title was a link to my site and my story! Thanks!! As for the book: "4 yellow cars in a row made it a Black Day, which is a day when I don't speak to anyone and sit on my own reading books and don't eat my lunch and Take No Risks" I can identify... 8-|

Posted by: Bitterroot at December 21, 2006 04:46 AM (GValb)

2 Oops - I goofed my link to the book in question... for anyone interested. (Note: It's a good way to brush-up on your prime numbers!)

Posted by: Bitterroot at December 21, 2006 04:50 AM (GValb)

3 I just reAD THAT BOOK THIS YEAR, AND LOVED IT...

Posted by: armywifetoddlermom at December 25, 2006 11:16 PM (oSNDT)

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From our little lady bug:

wait, where's my head??


mom! get this offa meeee!

Posted by: caltechgirl at 06:22 PM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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1 hee hee hee

Posted by: wRitErsbLock at October 31, 2006 07:24 PM (0Pi1o)

2 LOL - my dog would have never sat for that - she would have been rolling on the floor in that "get it off me!!!" mode. Very cute.

Posted by: Teresa at October 31, 2006 09:23 PM (o4pJS)

3 Aw, she's adorable! And such a good sport, sitting there waiting for mommy to get it out of her system. I hope she was paid well in tasty snacks. Happy Halloween!

Posted by: Janette at October 31, 2006 09:42 PM (OcgcA)

4 How cute!!!!

Posted by: Jane at November 01, 2006 06:44 AM (Eodj2)

5 very cute photo, yesterday i also saw a daschound dressed up as a hotdog and nearly fell down laughing

Posted by: tim key at November 01, 2006 10:17 AM (rtU/i)

6 VERY cute!

Posted by: Marie at November 01, 2006 10:31 AM (XzzJz)

7 Love that you picked a bug!

Posted by: vw bug at November 02, 2006 05:03 AM (NoCe/)

8 Cuuuuuuuuute!!!

Posted by: Richmond at November 02, 2006 03:11 PM (e8QFP)

9 How cute is THAT??

Posted by: Dana at November 05, 2006 07:23 AM (MxZ0R)

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A good night's sleep and adding this to the regimen did the trick.  It's funny how fast the right medicine can make you feel better!

Among today's activities, we did some laundry, including changing the sheets on our bed.  Somedays, I really wonder why we bother:

That's our Princess, sacked out on the mattress pad next to the pillow cases that were about to be put on the pillows.  Notice also the laptop's power cord running across the bed..... Oh well.  She's going to sleep on top of the covers anyway, might as well get some dog hair under them too :-)

Posted by: caltechgirl at 11:04 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Or why bathing the dogs is more trouble than it's worth.  4 little dogs (one blind) vs one woman and a bottle of wine....

Complete with funny illustrations!

Posted by: caltechgirl at 06:26 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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You Can Hang With the Guys and the Girls

You've struck a good balance between girly and laid back.  You can keep it casual but when you dress up, you are as girly as the next girl.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 09:21 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Today, my precious pooch, known here as The Princess™, turns 7. She is the bane of my existence and the light of my life, not to mention the hot water bottle on my feet.

Here's to at least 7 more years of tennis ball chasing, long walks with Daddy, and conspicuous amounts of French Fries!

Posted by: caltechgirl at 09:08 AM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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1 Happy Birthday!!!

Posted by: vw bug at May 05, 2006 04:52 PM (QTA18)

2 HBD Princess!! You might want to cut down on the fries... I hear they're not good for you. Just sayin... but hey, on your birthday? Anything goes!!! Woof!

Posted by: Marie at May 05, 2006 04:58 PM (TpiPX)

3 Awwwww! What a sweet girl! I hope she sets to have some "frosty paws" for her birthday as well.

Posted by: Richmond at May 06, 2006 04:16 AM (e8QFP)

4 Happy birthday, Princess!

Posted by: Paul Burgess at May 07, 2006 04:18 AM (7EVyU)

5 Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! I want a dog so bad. I just don't have the time in my schedule or the room (unless I got one of those little, yappy, make-believe dogs). Oh, well. Happy belated birtday to The Princess. ;-)

Posted by: zonker at May 08, 2006 04:05 AM (XOKKD)

6 Aww, what a cutie! Happy birthday, a bit late.

Posted by: beth at May 08, 2006 10:40 AM (BuBkx)

7 HOT WATER BOTTLE, but you live in So. Cal. not the Soviet of WA like I do. You shouldn't need a hot water bottle. Oh wait, my wife came from San Diego and she does that too.

Posted by: DE644 at May 08, 2006 11:30 AM (0sVlQ)

8 She is so precious!! My princess, Lucy, will be 7 this Fall. Time goes by so fast, doesn't it??

Posted by: Dana at May 09, 2006 08:59 AM (mY0KN)

9 "hot water bottle on your feet" .. that's cute Maxxie just turned 8 years old Apr 27th .. He's not a good foot rest, but he's a good massage therapist by giving me a back massage every morning (with his lickety-licks).

Posted by: HART at May 11, 2006 08:12 PM (b6DrX)

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Posted by: caltechgirl at 12:36 PM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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