Pete does not like surprise parties either. He very seriously explained this to me, which is why I NEVER EVER plan them for him.

Pete = my dad. When we were planning Mom's surprise 60th b-day party back in '99, Dad very seriously told us that if we ever contemplated doing the same for us, he'd never talk to any of us again. I took him to Claim Jumper for his birthday this year and when the waitress came by with the dessert menu, I mentioned to him that "it's your birthday, you decide if you want dessert!" and the waitress said, "Oh, we'll get you a cupcake if you'd like." Dad agreed, but then fretted over worrying if they were going to sing to him that I had to flag her down and verify that no singing was going to happen (it didn't).

Could it just have been a baby camel? Or do baby camels look different?

(now I have "baaaaaby animals!" in a strange voice in my head)

I had a lovely evening of dancing, with new people and some people I vaguely remembered meeting (who vaguely remembered me) from back in October when I came to a dance convention here. Yay. Good times. Glad I went--I realized at 4:45 that it started at 5:30, way earlier than I thought, and I was like "Ehhhh, do I really want to go? Should I stay home and chill?" but I powered up and went, getting there at 5:45. And lo, it was good.

Random: Last night I had a dream that I was a Canadian. I was in this...gong-show-esque improv theater thing, wherein I had only read the first few pages of the play I was in, because i thought we'd get kicked off, but we kept going, so we had to make it up, and the audience started singing "O Canada" because they were rooting for us? And I couldn't figure out, in the dream, why I didn't feel more/remember being more Canadian. WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?? (I also had a dream that Nanita made chocolate cupcakes, and sprinkled shredded cheese on top, and I didn't have the heart to ask her WTF. I have no idea what that was about either)

But in real life I do not add shredded cheese to cupcakes. Hell, I do not even make cupcakes: I leave that to the pros.

I love that Meara is at chez Javachik right now even though I am not. Thanks for watching over mi casa!! Glad dancing was fun!

And I will gladly make you cupcakes when you come to Seattle! :)

I don't know why you're online, silly lady, but I hope it's quieter there than it is here--definitely lots of fireworks still going on, the wigglebutts would not be happy.

We went to a late dinner. Steve is passed out and snoring and I am about to pass out too! Good night!

We have booms, too. The gun range is up the hill, and I think they're firing off stuff there. Not just "up the hill". It's up the mountain from where we are, and beautifully oriented and bermed and in deep, thick woods. We're safe. Still, there are booms tonight.

I think it may have been a vicuna, in amongst some llamas maybe. There're several farms with llamas, and also at least one I know of with a pasture full of goats with a guard llama, and two of sheep with a guard llama. Then there's the goat farm with the Great Pyrenese--SUCH a gorgeous dog, all happy because he has goat buddies and a job!

I'm glad you went dancing, meara, and had a good time. I love it when spontaneous decisions work out.

Sadly, I have no cupcakes. There are cherries in the fridge, though, and vanilla ice cream. The *good* vanilla, with the speckles.

The *good* vanilla, with the speckles.

I had some of that tonight too! nom, indeed.

How wonderful that you know a Great Pyrenese with a job. There are a couple in the 'hood who are bored to tears pretty much all the time.

There are a couple of goat/sheep pens in WVA where you can take a dog to run for 45 minutes, for a fee. A client takes her dogs and then watches them sleep for a week. It's awesome and money well-spent.

meara, what's your plan for tomorrow?

I have a friend who raises and trains border collies to herd. And agility trials, for fun. She says the best toy you can buy a border collie is a farm. With sheep.

Huh. Just read a short article [link] on the Great Pyrenese Dog, and it said that they get along well with other animals, usually loving cats. I wonder if that's because cats are such a challenge to herd.