did that looking obviously in the other direction making that "I'm ignoring you" face. Eventually, Dallas came closer and wound up clambering around on the big dog's back. Slooooowly, the dog started to pay attention to her.

AWWWWWW. Good puppy!

It was so sweet, Juliana.

ION, I read that home birth article that Hil mentioned. Only one part freaked me out:

... And because women giving birth at home sometimes want to surround themselves with a doula and a cadre of other supportive women — mother, sister, best friends — along with a husband or partner, a one-bedroom apartment, much of it given over to a giant inflatable tub, can quickly come to seem oppressively small.

and then

...And then there is the perennial issue of space. Before the onset of her labor, Mrs. Scharback, who in recent years has worked as a doula, worried about whether there would be enough seating in her 800-square-foot apartment for all the people who would be there: a midwife, a doula, her mother, her sister and her husband, along with a reporter and a photographer. “We thought maybe we should get some floor cushions,” she said.

Oh HELLS no.

Me. Partner. Midwife. Doula (Once I figure out what the hell a Doula is. They're like the Dramaturges of the childbirth world -- I've seen a billion definitions and no two match)

AND THAT IS IT

Oh, and I don't care WHERE the hell they sit. They can hang from their knees off curtain rods for all I care. I am not hosting a party and your comfort is not my priority. Dude.

DUDE.

In 1961, my mother went into labor with my brothers, and was surprised to be wheeled into an operating room so a bunch of eager young interns could observe a multiple birth....

How do they KNOW?

Maybe kids and puppies and old people smell the same?

They're like the Dramaturges of the childbirth world

Hee!

We once had a cat that was astoundingly patient with the neighbor children. They were very young and absolutely fascinated with her. They'd come over when they spotted her and "pet" her - it resembled bouncing a ball more than what she was used to - and she'd sit and take it. Until she was fed up, at which point she'd leave, go back in the house through her pet door, and leave them alone. No scratching, ever.

Sometimes I take our dogs with us when I walk the kids up to the bus stop. There is a boy at the bus stop who loves our Akita/Collie mix Thor, only he calls Thor 'Fluffy'. It's awfully cute when he comes running over yelling 'Fluff! Fluff!" and hugs Thor relentlessly. Fortunately, Thor is a very laid back dog.

When I was around 3 or 4 I used to carry our cat around with his head encircled by my arm and his hind legs dragging on the ground. He'd put up with it until I let go, and then he'd go over and bite my 11 year old sister, as if to say, "Keep that kid away from me." Poor thing (the cat, although that describes my sister in this case, too). I made it up to him with loads of forbidden people food later on.

This results in his spending a lot of time begging me to come outside.

You can teach your dog an 'on your spot' command which gives them a place to rest as a job. Very good for leadership (you) and self-soothing skills. (dog)

But really, the needing to be with you thing is just instinct. As long as Bartleby doesn't trip me, we're cool.

The doggy lama appt. went well AFTER the 50lbs bulldozer plowed me square in the solar plexus. "Oh no. We're going to fix that right now." The owner had not mentioned that she is going through chemo. I'm especially glad to help her put the kibosh on that jumping thing. SO not okay.

I figure, a herding dog with a houseful of cats is going to lose so consistently that they'll give up herding that particular commodity. Herd the toys, Dude. They are less pointy and hurty.

Ted Stevens conceded! No more recounts! Don't let the door hitcha!