Someday I'll make it to New Zealand. Before I retire would be nice.

Nilly!!! I'm busily working (can't you tell?) but I'm good. Any vacation plans this year?

How about Dubrovnik, ita?

How warm is that? I have a theoretical crush on all young Croatian men, so it sounds good. However my horizons are good with not expanding into the cold.

Or in Greece, Meganisi or Skiros?

I've been to a couple of Greek islands already, so it moves lower on my list.

Puppy!

And what everyone says on the cat being boss. Unless the cat is really really really mellow and the dog knows boundries.

Yay for dog getting, Robin. Do you have one picked out yet? If so, we want details, and pictures.

If the cat has claws and/or teeth it doesn't much matter how mellow it is. The dog will learn boundaries.

My sister's mixed dogs and cats in her household with reasonable success. The key for her seems to be getting dogs that are either mellow and cool with cats or young enough to be impressionable. You might want to aim for dog breeds that have relatively low prey drives--I'd avoid terriers. Herding types might try to herd the cats, but as long as they're not trying to eat them that could be hours of entertainment in itself.

Anyone have any tips on living in a harmonious cat and dog household?

My dog was grown and had been living (or had been treated) pretty rough when I got him. He was afraid of my two cats (who were not quite a year old) when I first brought him into the household. Then one day he just up and chased them around a little. After that they have pretty much ignored one another. The cats will occasionally swat at the dog when he gets too near (actually only when he gets too near them sitting on one specific table) and he'll snap a bit at them if they're getting on his nerves. But they also will nap near each other, occasionally actually snuggling together. which equals super cute. And my one cat likes to groom the dog sometimes.

I don't really have tips, I guess. I've been lucky...Except for how the dog sometimes likes to have cat poop treats. That's just nasty. So if you can somehow separate the dog from the litter box that's a good thing.

The radar says it is snowing here.

It isn't. I'm amused by this and hope it continues.

Any vacation plans this year?

Nicole, right now the furthest I plan is the beginning of the next semester, and how tired and whiny I'm going to be by then. But one day, I'll get to NZ, too.

[Edit: lisa! I didn't get to congratulate you yet on the good review and the CD, so I do now]

It's blizzarding here in columbia, sara.

Herding types might try to herd the cats, but as long as they're not trying to eat them that could be hours of entertainment in itself.

I can vouch for that.