I Want One!

My friend Sarah and I had the following conversation via IM at work on Friday.


Sarah: Happy Friday! So I thought I'd pass along my friend's FB post - she was at Babies R Us yesterday, and there was a woman shopping for clothes for her SLOTH! It (she, I guess) was riding in a stroller in a pink onesie and had a bow on her head. The picture is ADORABLE!

Kris: No way! I can't decide if I should be horrified on the sloth's behalf that it was out in public in a pink onsie with a bow on her head, or delighted that the woman cares enough about her sloth to take it Babies R Us. If I go on your FB page will I be able to see the picture?

Sarah: Not sure - if not, stop by my desk sometime and I'll pull it up on my Kindle.

Kris: Did your friend ask to hold the sloth?

Sarah: No - but she was so excited just to see it!

Kris: That isn't something you see every day. Are sloths allowed to be owned as pets? I can't believe I've never checked into it! Forget another whippet puppy, I'm getting me a sloth!

Sarah: Whippets and sloths...isn't that like tortoises and hares?

Kris: Good point. I just found this info on owning a sloth:

In the US, three toed sloths are extremely rare but you can have them as pets. They're very expensive, some around $5000. They require very specific care and a strict diet. You shouldn't get one unless you have the means to care for it. Most of their day is spent sleeping and they poop once a week. If you wanted a sloth, it's much easier to get them as pets in countries in South America. Panama is known for its people keeping pet sloths.

Kris: Oh wait, I already have one (except for the pooping once a week part). His name is Greg.

Sarah: Can you put him in a onesie and take him shopping?

Kris: Probably, but he'd balk at the bow, I just know it.

Sarah: That mental picture just made my day.
 

Sorry to post this at your expense, sweetie.  It was just too funny not to share.  I ruv ewe!

Are You a Dr. Horrible Fan?

My theater buddy Julie introduced me to Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog. I am totally addicted. Despite a rather silly name, this is a fabulous 2008 musical tragicomedy miniseries in three acts, produced exclusively for Internet distribution. Filmed and set in Los Angeles, the show tells the story of Dr. Horrible (played by Neil Patrick Harris), an aspiring supervillain; Captain Hammer (Nathan Fillion), his nemesis; and Penny (Felicia Day), their shared love interest. Yeah, I copied that from wikipedia.

Great music, funny lines, and a fun story line give this mini-musical two thumbs up. It's available on Netflix as an instant download. You can probably find it on YouTube as well, as this was originally released on the internet in 3 acts.

I totally recommend this little gem. And thank Julie for introducing me to it! I'm thinking about joining the Evil League of Evil and even managed to find a ring tone from Bad Horse. Wheeee!

A sequel is planned for this summer. Squeee!

The Awwww Factor

Driving home from work last night I saw what appeared from a distance to be a terrible accident, with cars stopped accross three lanes and all cattywumpus. My first thought was unkind, as I was irritated I was going to get stuck in the back up. As I got closer, as I was the lead car in my lane to come across the "accident," I found it was actually all because a mama duck was trying to shepherd her flock of babies across a 4-lane, busy, busy street.

All irritation immediately fled and I said "awwwww" and I was enthralled watching this mama try and get her babies across the street. She was a little confused and probably kind of panicked, as she kept changing her direction. I was amazed at the drivers, as everyone stopped to let them go by safely (although I'm sure the people a few cars back who couldn't see the scene were wondering what the heck was going on). Mama and all the babies made it okay and I went on my way with a smile instead of a frown. I tried to get a picture, but by the time I thought of it, they were already up the curb and down the embankment.

Thinking about it on the way home, I decided that ducklings are a terrific stress reducer. You just can't be cranky when watching ducklings. I think I might just stop at a park on the way home and watch the ducks.

I found this very cute video that I'm sharing in the hopes it will make you see my point and smile.

I like this one too. NOTE: everyone is okay at the end of this video.

Love This Picture!

Update on Carmen

I took Carmen to a veterinary internal medicine specialist for her leaking problem last week. The medication we’ve been giving her is just not doing the job any more, so our regular vet wanted us to get a specialist’s evaluation to see if there is anything else going on besides just a weak bladder sphincter. The vet was nice and seemed very knowledgeable, but didn’t seem to have much of a sense of humor .

He totally freaked me out and had me thinking Carmen was going to die - like tomorrow. He called and left somewhat frantic messages on all 3 of my phone numbers telling me that her white blood cell count was dangerously low and to get her off of her medication immediately because it was suppressing her bone morrow production. When I tried to ask if the blood marrow could recover and what the side effects of that were he told me she could die. So I’m thinking that she’s on her last leg and I’ve killed her all because she pees a little when she sleeps.

Dr. Thompson, our regular vet (who DOES have a sense of humor) does a lot of work with Greyhounds of America and hastened to assure me that having a WBC of 3.8 was perfectly normal for a sight hound, and in fact was a point higher than Carmen’s previous blood work. Apparently dogs have a normal WBC count of 4-15. For sight hounds, the normal is 2-6. Dr. Elliott did not seem to appreciate me informing him of this fact.

For about $3,000 I could have all kinds of tests done and x-rays and ultrasounds and send a camera up her hoo-hoo to see if something else is causing the leaking. Since her blood work and urine culture came back negative, I am going to decline this opportunity to pay off his school loans, and just put a diaper on her at night and wash her beds more often.

Far from being on her last leg from weak blood, she's feeling good and feisty. We had a great walk on the trails at the C.A.S.E.E. center last Saturday.

No More New Years?

Stole this off of someone's Facebook page. But it's pretty darned funny!

Happy Easter

Okay, it's a little late, but I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter. This picture was on my "Kittens and Friends" calendar, and I just thought it was too cute not to share. I love that the kitten seems to be nibbling on the bunny's ear. The bunny just looks resigned.

The Things You Learn

I'm always fascinated by the history that I learn in reading novels. Of course, you have to take the information with a grain of salt and know that the majority of it is not historically accurate, but it gets me thinking. Then I get my "google fingers" out and start looking stuff up. This week I've spent a lot of time looking at:

* The history of the War of the Roses and subsequent geneology of the kings of England. Mostly from the Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodinville reign (thank you Phillipa Gregory). If you want my completely uneducated opinion, the main problem with that particular war was that everyone had the same freaking name and no one could clearly recall which Edward, Richard, Henry or George was supposed to be in charge. The girl names are just as bad. You can see what I'm talking about in this family tree.

* This research lead me to try and figure out the heirchy of English aristocracy, which in turn lead me to a site that allows one to purchase a royal title. Yes, you can purchase a royal title. It's fascinating to read the web sites of places that sell them. Some have moneyback guarantees (in case it doesn't work out?). Some have an "As Seen on TV!" banner. It's entertaining to say the least. I really liked the one that allowed you to give a royal title as a gift. That's what I want for Christmas this year, please.

*The difference between a trebuchet and a catapult.

*The difference between a pannier and a saddlebag (none as far as I can tell).

I feel so much smarter today because of fiction.

Today's Random Thoughts

1. Why is it funny when a dog burps?

2. People that put bumper stickers and window stickers on their car crooked aren't great spokespersons.

3. Those stick people that you see in people's car windows aren't a score card. They represent the people and pets in the family. Who knew? (yeah, stole that one)

4. When a person loses/divorces a spouse and DOES have those stick people on their car window, they should take the extra step to remove ALL the stick people and not just the one that is gone. You can put new ones up representing the new family dynamic, but you aren't fooling anyone if the mom stick figure is missing in the equation. Especially not when you can tell she's been scratched off in a fit of rage.

5. This year's Towel Day is super special. 5/25/12. Know why? Huh? Huh? Know why? Because 5+25+12=42! (yeah, stole that too. Thanks Sarah!)

6. Putting the little cover on my floor mat when you are fixing my car is nice, but I would rather you put a little cover on my seat if you are going to leave the greasy rag on it.

7. Am I the only one who, after shopping in Walmart and seeing all the bratty kids and bad parenting, wonders which aisle the do-it-yourself home vasectomy kit is on?

Okay, that's all I've got today. I do have a bunch of whining. But I'll do a separate post for that.