By the way, I've been distracted again, i keep meaning to enumerate all the hugs and well wishes I wanted to give out to everyone here, and a blanket hub seems weak, but here goes.

{{{{Buffistas and families}}}}

Still weak, but I'm sincere about it.

ION:

I'm making brownies for Windsparrow. She has to work until 10 PM because someone got sick at work.

It's just Betty Crocker brownie mix, but i've made some minor modifications.

- Instead of four tablespoons water, I used four tablespoons cheap imitation vanilla extract.

- I added 1/4 cup cocoa or so and some more moisture to make it more chocolately.

Smells good cooking...

smonster, you can try getting him used to the crate by just leaving the door open and putting a toy or treats in there for him. Same thing when you put him in it to leave him in there -- you could designate a favorite toy that only goes with him in the crate.

Hallo, darlings!

Hmmm, I have been very dark. I spentthe last week and a half battling everything above my shoulders hurts like hell, and finally went to the dentist, and found out I have TMG.

They forced a bunch of goo in my mouth, which I came thisclose to vomiting on the poor dental assistant, and on Tuesday, I should have a device that will help with the pain. The dentist gave me a script for extra strength Motrin, which I looked at doubtfully, given my years of mentrual-pain related Vicodin usage, but when home and gave it a try. My body laughed and laughed: "AH AH HAHA! No pain relief for you, miss!" and I called them the next day before closing and tearfully explained it still hurts! Has hurt for 3 weeks, but I ignored it for my wedding, for the love of god, I can't wait two weeks for it to go away!

They gave me a whopping script for vicodin (40? Really?) but I took it, and the pain! went! away! In two days, so did my stomach lining, and I ended up (a) vomiting crackers and passionflower tea (very pretty color, but unpleasant) and (b) feeling violently nasuaeaous and v. out of sorts for the next day. I made it through class, and discovered they had prescribed xtra strength vicodin, so I am taking 1/2 every 16 hours or so, and that seems to dull the pain sufficiently and not leave me hurling -- a happy medium I can live it.

And now I can return to the internet -- yay!

Fay, I discovered the note and the wee Ganesh, and anklet you had tucked into the Secret Santa purse yesterday! Lovely! It's the gift that just keeps on giving and giving!

I got a couple of cd's with photos on them I need to upload Sunday, including a video of clip of my nuptials. I look like a twitchy goof. How do I have so many unattractive facial tics and mannerisms when I am nervous?! Good Lord.

I skipped and skimmed and I saw that Seska has new house? Bonny tried to give blood? Good on you, and I'm sorry it didn't work out.

Dan cut himself on the finger trying to fix the shower last night. I was at Target and he was still bleeding copiously two hours, so we went to urgent care and he got two stitches and a tetanis booster. Poor baby; they had to do something really unpleasant to the cut to numb it, and he almost passed out.

However, I am minded of the adage that men revert to babyhood when injured, as it was perhaps an inch long, required 2 stitches, and he took the day off, and has been unable (apparently) to lift a finger all day long. He gets 24 hours of babying, and then he needs to woman up. Good Lord. My CAT has given me worse bites, and I bandaged it up and went back to scrubbing. (The thumb swole up to the size of the cat, but still! It went away! I just soaked it in alcohol 2x daily. Men. Bloody wusses.)

the car

Work hard to ignore the anxiety. Bartleby was a bit crazed in the car, but he's a total champ now. Resist the urge to let him put his head out the window. It's bad for his ears/eyes and promotes higher energy than is good on long trips.

smonster, you can try getting him used to the crate by just leaving the door open and putting a toy or treats in there for him. Same thing when you put him in it to leave him in there -- you could designate a favorite toy that only goes with him in the crate.

Dana speaks true. The minor whining is normal because puppies would normally be piled up on each other. Segregation sucks, until it doesn't.

The special treat could be a frozen peanut butter kong, or super smelly treat. I keep Bartleby's glucosamine treats for this purpose. When he catches that smell, he runs right onto his 'when mom leaves, good stuff happens here' spot.

Instant dog person. I want to take him everywhere and show him off. We just got back from a long walk downtown and he's lying quietly on the floor a few feet away.

Awww... can I just say that I've been reduced to a giant pile of puppy loving goo. I just wanna smish smonster and Frankie both.

Erin, I've barfed during impressions before. Sorry about the suckage.

Instant dog person. I want to take him everywhere and show him off. We just got back from a long walk downtown and he's lying quietly on the floor a few feet away.

Adorable. FWIW, we acclimated Mac to her crate while we were in the room. We coaxed her in with a treat for 10 minute incrimates until she realized it wasn't punishment. She came to love it and would retreat to it if she was scared or wanted some alone time.

I really need to get out of DC some. I want to go to a beach, but that's not really practical. So I've been looking into places I can go without a car. It looks like I can get to Harper's Ferry by train, but with the way that the trains are scheduled, that would have to be an overnight trip. I can go to Mount Vernon for the day, though. That could be interesting. I'd need to find out how much walking is involved, though.

Erin - i threw up all over the dental tech when they did the impression for my retainer. It was this mean trick: first they put the empty holder thing in my mouth and that was no problem. Then they said they were going to do it again, but this time it would be filled with "cherry mashed potatoes." Mashed potatoes my ass, the chemical-ness in my mouth make me hoark. In retrospect, i'm pretty impressed at the tenacity of the dental tech, at no point did she flinch or remove the impression mould from my mouth.

Like this? meow mix

Ack. The beginning had both my cats ear's perked up and frantically looking around for an open window. Then the music started and they calmed down. Then the music went away and little cat got all concerned and once again plopped himself down between me and the monitor. I think they must be trying to protect us from the OTHER kitties behind the screen, just in case we like them better? I don't pretend to understand the psychology of cat sometimes.

Erin, good heavens! That's no honeymoon. I'm glad you figured out what was going on and the proper dosage of the good stuff.

Thanks for the advice and smishes! I will work on the crate thing some this weekend. Still trying different treats and toys to find out what he likes. What a snugglepuppy he is. I love it.