No, too easy.

Pfft. Not watching the news has made me a much happier human being. Not being subjected to gloom-and-doom "Will This Financial Collapse Be Worse Than The Great Depression? Will You Have To Eat Your Children?" so-called news stories, or "Hey, Look! We're Still In Iraq!" stories makes me much less freaked-out.

If that means I miss a story about a dog, well, it's a fair trade-off in my mind.

"Will This Financial Collapse Be Worse Than The Great Depression? Will You Have To Eat Your Children?"

Not as long as you can catch sea kittens.

(I don't usually watch the news either.)

My personal favorite dog off-leash moment: The time I brought my cat into the vet and someone's dog walked up to her carrier and started to LICK IT.

I immediately moved the carrier and put myself between the dog and my cat, told the dog to step back, and I shot the owner DEATH RAY EYES. And of course the owner was completely appalled at my uncouth behavior and complained that her dog was very nice. I tried to point out that even nice dogs are scary to cats, especially nice dogs who are licking their carriers. The woman then suggested perhaps I shouldn't take my cat to the vet if she doesn't like dogs, because dogs shouldn't be expected to be on a leash at the vet. What. Ever.

Not watching the news has made me a much happier human being.

Dude, so much this. I listen to news. I read news (even the kind that doesn't come from the Onion and/or links in Natter!). I do not watch news, and that descision has saved me at least four of my few remaining brain cells.

I get my news from b.org and The Daily Show. Oh, and NPR. I forgot about NPR.

The woman then suggested perhaps I shouldn't take my cat to the vet if she doesn't like dogs, because dogs shouldn't be expected to be on a leash at the vet. What. Ever.

I'll see your "What. Ever." and raise you a Bull. Shit. Your cat has more right to a non-threatening visit to the vet than her dog has to lick other people's property.

The woman then suggested perhaps I shouldn't take my cat to the vet if she doesn't like dogs, because dogs shouldn't be expected to be on a leash at the vet. What. Ever.

WTF? Taking your dog to a place that is chock full of strange dogs (some of whom are sick and cranky) is a BAD place to have your dog leashed? Um, how does this woman control her dog? She deserves to be bitten. Hard.

sea kittens

PETA should really join forces with San-X as they sell wacky adorable kittens in fish costumes and the like: [link] [link]

And of course the owner was completely appalled at my uncouth behavior and complained that her dog was very nice.

Nice or not, how does she know your cat isn't being brought in for something contagious? I mean, my toddler is very nice too - that doesn't mean he gets to chew on things we find at the doctor's office.