Javachik, I'm sorry you were offended by the generalizations about people using retractable leashes. I'm not at all surprised that your dog is well-behaved and that you are able to use that kind of leash in the way I imagine it was meant to be used - to let the dog have a bit of room to roam at times, and at other times, brought in to heel.

{{Shir}}. And thank you for sharing that.

Oh, thanks, Windsparrow, but offended is a strong word. I was more cranky from lack of food and some off-board annoyances. Also, I have to remember that the way I deliver the line "judgmental posse" in person is with a ridiculous Western accent that I use all the time at work for humorous effect. But y'all can't know that.

It's not like Chile is the magic wonderdog, but Barb (and others) are right; it's really about the dog and its human. And I get just as angry as the rest of you when I come across humans who aren't doing right by their animals, or the people around them. They make life more difficult for responsible dog caretakers, and I also get angry on behalf of the dog who is being poorly trained.

And Jess, I do get the neighborhood issues. The other day I was in Noe Valley (Yuppie oasis with a ton of baby strollers) and there were a large number of people walking dogs on retractable leashes. And while the dogs were okay, the leashes got caught on everything! Irritating to everyone involved. And if I had a kid/baby and some stranger's dog came up to my stroller, I'd be really defensive about it. So I get that it's neighborhood and situational specific. But I didn't get that earlier; the posts where people were just jumping all over every instance of retractable leash-using were getting to me.

Shir, thanks, that's a great, great link.

ChiKat, all the good job vibes that aren't already being used for beth's hubby are being sent your way!

Askye, I do hope you're sleeping by now, and I know I and several others here feel your pain.

hope you got some sleep Askye.

job~ma for Chikat,

health~ma for Calli's dad,

health~ma for Uncle Ray.

YES! Want me to come in the afternoon for business stuff?

Purrrfect, d. I shall inform the staff.

Pix - not only was that guy shooting insults from well behind the shelter of not having to say things in your presence, he used his child's reflection form (which he should figure out is to help her convey to you her own experiences with the assignment, as well as thoughts, questions, etc. etc., not for his overweening egotrip) to do it. Obviously, he has been spending too much time writing comment posts to online newspapers and blogs like the crazy nutbar he is, and now thinks that any open feedback space is fair game for sharing his twisted worldview. I'm sorry he brought the craxy to you. Sorrier still that he didn't take the time to ask himself why you, an experienced teacher, might have thought so highly of your students and their intellectual process as to give a difficult assignment in the first place, and to ask them to reflect on their process and experience in the second.

just my 2 cents.

going to make some yummy tea now.

etf: subject/verb agreement in the rantypantsedness.

All your gronk are belong to me.

Please to send all your coffee.

Don't bogart all the coffee, Teppy.

You can't have my coffee. I need my coffee. Yesterday I filled up the thermos and then left it at home, so today I doubly need my coffee. Coffee => patience => not unleashing the fury of hell on my students => not getting my ass fired.

But virtual coffee you shall have.

I needs it to survive! I will surely perish without it!

...or fall asleep on my keyboard, and I really don't want to wake up with key marks on my face.

Steph, you can have my coffee. I seem abnormally chipper this morning. It's a little freaky.

javachick, I'm sorry if anything I said about retractable leashes tripped your buttons. I too have a retractable leash for Toto, but I barely ever use it. My neighborhood is too busy, and Toto is a wanderer, if I let him. He needs to stay focused, so a short lead works best. But, I do use the retractable out at Mom and Dad's or when we go to the Arboretum. He canNOT be off leash. Cairns just generally can't. They're hunting dogs, and once they're chasing something, they generally don't hear their alpha. I've learned that the hard way.

I do have to say, I don't think there is one dog in my neighborhood that's on a retractable leash. I think the only time I ever see them is at the Arboretum. I love that my 'hood is so dog-friendly, and that most of the owners clearly love their pets (pets are kids around here--not so many kids here...mostly older folks that have lived here forever or younger folks just moving in).

Emily! How was your trip?