Tep, continued ~ma that the situation resolves itself in a manner favorable to everyone, especially you, Tim, and the puppy. (The ex's son is more or less on his own, far as I'm concerned.)

Re: the toys-- Jasmine, the Big Black Lab still has the stuffed duckie we gave her as a puppy nearly four years ago. It's still miraculously intact despite a lot of love, although the squeaker is deader than a dead thing. Pisces loves squeakers so much she kills them in her enthusiasm. I think we might have a squirrel toy that still squeaks on occasion.

Mooshu could care less about toys.

Totally! He does the dance of squeaker joy when the whole pack is present.

I'm with you Zen, dogs (the only animals I'm qualified to interpret) definitely have emotions, personality and preferences. Sadly though, lots of humans interpret those emotions, etc as if they were identical to our thought processes. That isn't possible. Which means it is totally on US to interpret and respond appropriately.

I had a great conversation with a woman in the park today about her Yorkie. She gave me the list of reactions that cause her trouble. I said, okay I'm going to tell you about your dog's life and you tell me if I'm close. It was fun to see her eyes get bigger and bigger as I hit every predictable button connected to squishy boundaries.

She wailed something like, "What does this mean?!"

What it means is that, no, your 5lb dog is not an alpha who is running your life. He IS a very confused creature who reacts instinctively to your lack of leadership. (somebody's GOT to do it) Step up your routines and he'll calm down considerably. If you don't want to do that (which I understand) then you get to practice not blaming him for being a canine thinker.

the squeaker is deader than a dead thing.

Replacement squeakers are the bomb-diggity.

They breathe new 'life' into even the saddest of eviscerated toys. (I keep a bag full of 'sloded stuffing for super cheap refills)

I for one am glad when the squeakie is gone.

I bought Leo a squeaky toy once. He jumped about a foot in the air the first time it squeaked. Ha! Then he ripped the squeaker out, and I was afraid he'd swallow it, so I took that away and I haven't bought him another. I *know* Percy would swallow it.

Yes, my animals only get soft toys. Otherwise, there might be 3 am animal/human petsplosion.

Tep, I am so crossing my fingers for you!

Maria, I so hope the news you got was good.

ION: dear first hour students. Not all of you. Some of you

-- If you have to always talk about how grown you are, and bitch about people telling you what to do, generally it means you're not "grown." So you have sex. So you drink. Maybe you have a job. Nice going. You can't control your temper or do your work on time. You are not grown when the only face you show me is a whiny little complaining face. The highest grade in this whole hour is an 83%.

I hope college kicks your ass between your shoulder blades next year. I hope the first time you flip a prof some "grown up attitude" you get your ass righteously chewed or thrown out. I hope that you discover that acting the fool makes you a fool.

Most of all, I hope your kids treat you the same way you treat me. Karma is a bitch, and I hope she gnaws on you a little.

Your attitude? Makes you ugly. You are not a special snowflake.

No love, Me.

he wants to grab a toy to take outside when in a pee break.

Frankie, too!

ION: dear first hour students. Not all of you. Some of you

Oh, yeah. Just cause you have a kid? Doesn't mean you're an adult. (that's directed at my trainees)

I guess he wants to show off his vast wealth and holdings to the peasant passersby.

Mr Peabody's toys end up with the dogs next door and vice verse. He will trot in, pick out a toy and go back out. I don't know if he takes them next to the chainlink fence to show off or if it's a deliberate exchange. He's gotten a nylon bone and a toy from them.

What he won't do is fetch or chase anything. I'd like to play something with him outside, but the only thing he seems to think is really fun is running away from me when I want him to come in.

Looks like my university is losing a ton of funding, and, since my contract is up at the end of the semester, I don't know if I'm going to still have a job here next year. Ugh. No decisions have been made yet, so I guess I should start applying for jobs at other schools, just in case.

Lucy was mad for dryer sheets. She didn't shred them, she tried to roll in them.

I've yet to find anything Darby is mad for, except Labs.