How old is Cagney? I wonder -- and this is just a wondering -- if there's a bitterant you can rub on forearms to help break the mouthing trend.

Man, I wish my dad lived in D.C. He would be a perfect dog walker for you guys. Short walks, maybe 1 or 2 clients, but he is an EXCELLENT animal trainer. We have always had Scots and he trained them to everything, with nary a raised voice, and, at the most, a gentle tap on the nose with a finger.

He IS Alpha. (Wonder where I got it from....)

Someone needs to motivate me to Freecycle stuff I couldn't (half-assedly) sell on Craigslist. Even if the money would be awesome and make me feel better about getting rid of things, actually getting rid of the things is better. Right? I mean, an old food processor has value but I really do care more about getting it out of my house and should act on that.

This is me, right now. It needs to get gone more than I need the cash. I need to just pack it all up, take it to Goodwill, get - and save - the receipt, and take the lot of it off my taxes next year. Hm. That might even actually be more profitable than Craigslisting the stuff, and certainly easier. Come on, motivation, where are you? Did I leave you in the garden again?

I love dogs. But having house-sat for a couple with a yellow Lab for a week, and having lived with a guy who had a Samoyed, I know that dogs are too needy and require too much focused attention for me. Maybe I'd be okay with dogs if it could be like it was back on the farm: the dogs safe outside, never in, trained to do their jobs and follow commands and act right, but not needing walks or housetraining or being entertained. Cats are the pets for me. Show them the litterbox, show them the food and water bowls, wrap anything they mustn't scratch in plastic until they get the idea, and glue all the small things in their flight paths down with QuakeHold, and that's that. I'd much rather clean a litterbox than take an excited critter who needs to pee and wants to smell and chase everything for a walk.

What I forsee happening... when she passess, being the only one out here in CA, I will have to be the one to deal with all the junk. Just don't wanna.

omnis, I sympathize. I come from a long line of collectors, pack-rats, and Depression-era hoarders of tin foil. After my mom died, clearing out the house where she and her mother had lived the majority of their lives was just an awful chore. Hell, we're still not done - even though the house is sold, my sister's attic is still stuffed full of antiques. Mostly clocks.

Take earrings off, aim low, strike fast, strike twice and don't be afraid to get dirty.

This is why Erin rocks, cause this is how Erin rolls.

Nora and smonster! A friend of mine is moving to New Orleans in June for her first residency. Can I hook you guys up?

How old is Cagney? I wonder -- and this is just a wondering -- if there's a bitterant you can rub on forearms to help break the mouthing trend.

He's roughly 11 months and just got neutered this Monday. So. Yeah. Bitter apple may be the next logical step.

At this point, the stuff I was worried about seems sorted, but there are three things that I am just not sure I can 'teach out.'

One completely unexpected thing is an intolerance to heat. It's not even 70 and he seems to be suffering. I figured that his nose was not snubbed enough to be a problem, but I might be wrong.

He did learn the 'give' command pretty easily...in the house that is. Other dogs in the mix and he has no ears for me.

Man, I wish my dad lived in D.C. He would be a perfect dog walker for you guys. Short walks, maybe 1 or 2 clients, but he is an EXCELLENT animal trainer. We have always had Scots and he trained them to everything, with nary a raised voice, and, at the most, a gentle tap on the nose with a finger.

OMG, so do *I*! I'd give anything to get a few, more mature, alpha folks on the payroll to do special needs and individual walks. (And Scotties are a challenge! You go, Dad of E!)

He's got the gift when it comes to animals. Astounded our hillybilly neighbors when he trained our Appaloosa to a hackamore and never used spurs or a whip, and awed them (he didn't hunt much or beat his wife, so they all thought he was a bit of a wuss) when he broke up a Dobie/Rottie dogfight with his bare hands and his voice.

I love my dad.

"...you could have heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped and locked the door."

THANK YOU FOR THAT EARWORM.

Goddammit, Daniel!

Billytea - that was wonderful! I don't know why but hearing kids sing just makes me happy. Thank you for posting it - it will make me smile all day.

bt, that was absolutely adorable! He did a good job of articulating some very difficult words in there! And he was on pitch. Give him a couple years and you can enter him in one of those talent shows.

bonny, glad to hear things are going mostly well. I have complete faith that you'll train Cagney out of the bad habits.

IOmeN, I've been struggling with a sore back and pinched nerve that makes my right forearm sting like I'm being bitten by fire ants. I broke out the heating pad, and that seems to be helping some, because Aleve ain't touching it. If I sit up perfectly straight or stand, I'm fine. So I decided if I had to stand, I would cook. I've currently got a Meyer Lemon Pudding Cake in the oven, but since I've never made it before it is going to be interesting to see the results. I've also done the dishes, taken a 34 min. walk around the neighbor hood and done 20 min. of yoga (just stretching, no fancy stuff). I think it's back to the heating pad and more Doctor Who.

Goddammit, Daniel!

Now you see how I live.

Skippity skipping a lot. Um. Anybody up for playing the productivity game?