Yeah, I know, I was being snarky.

Yeah, very cool. Except I couldn't handle touching the chalkboard paint all the time. ::shudder::

Der. Of course you knew. I just can't keep my mouth shut.

What's your beef with chalkboard paint?

I think the solutions is this one: [link] and we just get two of them.

Just came back from first extended walk around the 'hood with Jasmine. For those playing along with the home game, Jasmine is a 3 year old Lab, which is equivalent to a six month old puppy of most any other breed. I've been working on her manners while on lead, but this was our first try out around here, because the weather is so beautiful today.

Things I discovered:

While she still pulls (or tries to) for the first few minutes on lead, she'll settle down fairly quickly and walk with an acceptable amount of slack either beside me or a step or two in front.

When she sees other dogs and/or people she's also anxious, in a quivering "oh-my-goodness-people-to-play-with-who-will-love-me" sort of way, but if I give her the command to sit, she'll sit and stay.

Another walker was out with a golden off-lead, who came running right up to Jasmine-- she neither barked, nor lunged-- she did rear up slightly, but the golden was being up in Jas's face, but they were just doing retriever greetings. I was a little thrown, though, because this was a BIG golden, running at us full bore in a parking lot, so I was a little shocked to see it off lead, but beyond the enthusiastic greeting, it did stay with its owner. However, I can see where someone less accustomed to big dogs might have freaked right out.

The other thing that Jas did that I was really proud of, is that she obeyed the command to sit whenever we saw a car approaching or zooming past us. I've drummed that into her so that she doesn't get it in her head to lunge after one, because, you know, retriever.

Funniest thing that happened was when we walked past the bichon that was in its front yard, hanging out, enjoying the sun, yet flipped out like a ninja when he saw Jasmine. He was all bark, bark, bark, bark and trying to look fierce and Jasmine, who was pretty tired by that point, just looked up at me with this expression of "Really? Is it serious?"

So, all in all, a successful walk around the hood. Then I came home, showered, and had barbecue ribs that I'd had going in the oven all afternoon. I am now in inside pants and watching the ball game.

And I'm now aware of just how completely out of shape I am. I need to get going on this fitness thing if I want to fit into nice clothes for the cruise.

What's your beef with chalkboard paint?

I don't know, something about the texture on my hands just wigs me out.

GOOD GIRL JASMINE!

because, you know, retriever.

Sweet, sweet dogs. Not always the brightest.

Sweet, sweet dogs. Not always the brightest.

Yeah... although Jasmine's a pretty smart dog under the lab puppy forever routine. But my sister-in-law used to have a lab mix who ran straight into a sliding glass door and had to have brain surgery. And my father-in-law said the dog was smarter after the surgery than before.

I once did a show where he setwas chalkboard paint, and it was pretty neat!

Can I just ask-- WHAT is Axl Rose wearing n this video? [link] Yes, I am surfing youtube!