I have it from trusted sources that the blogpocalypse is happening THIS WEEKEND. There is not much time to prepare. Are you ready? I found a crossbow, so there's a start. High in the hills east of suburban San Diego, a 90 acre refuge awaits those seeking respite from the impending zombie masses. Tip 1: It's good to be surrounded by giant carnivores. They may look comfortable and content on their custom hammocks made out of recycled fire hoses, but give them a zombie and ... Read more »
Faith in humanity, restored
Among one's many obligations as parent to a school-aged child is that most universal of school experiences, chaperoning a school field trip. My number got called this week, when my second grader's class went to the zoo. She of course volunteered me, assuming- correctly- that this was the sort of thing I was up for (as opposed to the kindergarten trip to Sea World), and for the most part I was happy to do it. Until I heard it was going to be raining. Now, laugh all you want, but we San ... Read more »
The Blogpocalypse is coming!
Blogathon 2011 starts in ONE WEEK. That means I have one week to catch up on sleep before I throw it all away on yet another ill-advised all nighter yammering on about whatever in the hopes someone will be listening long enough to toss a few pennies my way. And by "my way", I mean of course this year's beneficiary, San Diego sanctuary Lions, Tigers, and Bears. They've been first to offer help whenever it's needed in the US, be it the Oklahoma circus bears, offering space for animals ... Read more »
Product Review: Tagg, the Pet Tracker
There are few things worse than that sinking feeling of looking around for your pet, and realizing he or she is gone. Not just hiding, but gone. Perhaps you're like my neighbor, whose tricky latch on the side fence meant that whenever the gardener didn't pull it shut all the way, the labs would push it open and go for a run. Or you have one of those dogs who likes to dig, dig, dig, right under the fence and out onto the street. Or you're just unlucky, like a client of ours whose dog Tinker ... Read more »
How The Walking Dead made me a better blogger
Have you seen The Walking Dead on AMC yet? It's a horrible show about life after the zombie apocalypse. The undead have taken over, though no one really knows why. In one day, the world has been plunged into chaos, social norms no longer exist, and everyone has reverted to a state of primal survival mode. Every episode, someone is either shot, transformed into a zombie, or messily devoured in a graphic manner. It's the kind of show you have to watch from between your outstretched fingers lest ... Read more »
Balls Done Two Ways: Schweddy Balls and Puppy Pops
Let me start with a warning: If you are in the camp that was offended by the legendary SNL Schweddy Balls skit, skip right on over the first half of this post and proceed straight to the G rated Cake Pops for Dogs portion of this post, because you're going to hate the first half. Still here? Good. I have been searching my local grocery establishments high and low trying to find this ice cream to no avail. I don't know if it's because they have refused to carry it in protest of its ... Read more »
Time to party- we got sweet and sour here!
Are you all ready for the concert of the year? I said, are you READY?! Let's get this party started with the one and only KOTY PURRY! I know a place Where the grass is green and cleaner Dogs get to run And they have lots of bones and water ... Read more »
Sam’s Club Halloween Costume Contest!
Last minute Twitter Halloween contest alert! I know there are a ton of you out there with awesome costumes based on what I saw on Facebook today, and now I have a way for you to turn that into some great prizes from Sam's Club! It's easy peasy to enter. If you have a picture, get it ready. If not, take one. I'll wait. Go to Twitter. Post a tweet that includes the hashtag “#SamsClubPet” and mention “@SamsClub” and then include a link to a photo of your cat or dog’s Halloween costume. Cat ... Read more »
Don’t leave the vet in charge
I have a new Baking With Brody post ready to go that just needs a couple more pictures. I'll have it up this weekend, just in time for Halloween. So in the meantime, a corollary to yesterday's post: One of my tasks as kindergarten room mom, a job I grudgingly agreed to despite my better judgment, is to decorate the booth at the kid's Halloween carnival. I thought we would be provided with games and we would simply be in charge of manning it, but oh, no, we need to actually come up with an ... Read more »
Underachieving Moms Club
I am possessed of the vague and disquieting sense of disease that comes from knowing you are incredibly behind in everything you are supposed to be doing. Case in point: I promised my kids a month ago I would make them banana bread. I've tried three times, and every time I go to do it someone has eaten the bananas below the requisite number needed to make said bread. So they have been eating the Frankenberry cereal that one of the grandparents bought when we were in Africa for the past three ... Read more »
Health is Wealth! (Well that, and vanity.)
Look what arrived at our front door this week! Even though we ended up having to be out of town for the Surf Dog competition, Eukanuba was fantastic enough to send Brody and I our very own surfboard. And what a board it is! It's not just any old surfboard, but one custom made for dog surfing competitions. By far the flyest piece of sporting equipment I own. Thank you, Eukanuba. It is spectacular. You know what this means, though, right? Now we have to use it. Ricochet, I know we'll be ... Read more »
Giveaway Tuesday: FurCode ID Tags
They're on business cards, magazine ads, and pamphlets, so why not ID tags? QR codes are the next big thing in giving people quick access to information, and FurCode ID tags have taken it to the next level by putting them on a pet ID tag. Each ID tag has a unique code on it; when the code is scanned by a smartphone or input into the website, users will have access to the pet's profile containing contact information, veterinary information, vaccine history, and any other notes you'd like ... Read more »
Tagg the Pet Tracker Unboxing
My husband insisted we make an unboxing video for the Tagg the Pet Tracker we received to review this week. Unboxing videos are definitely a guy thing. "What do I do?" I asked. "I haven't gotten to review it yet." "You don't review it," he said. "You just take it out of the box and explain what you see." It makes no sense to me, but I'd watch people unboxing Louboutins all day so I suppose you like what you like. Anyway, I actually have an actual review of the Tagg coming up, but if ... Read more »
Bad Haiku Friday
Minnesota flight Touched down 11 pm Barely made it home. Talked to many vets Dr V humor for sure An acquired taste Chimpanzee pictures Illustrate key components Of Facebook success For we are all chimps Funny, nasty, kind and cruel And want to be loved. Vets perhaps confused But get the "warm fuzzy thing" 'Be Marty Becker.' Strangely not nervous Though 300 people stare They liked the chimp pics. Will be back to posting in complete ... Read more »
Pets Add Life
Sometimes, when my husband is in a state of deep REM sleep, I'll lean over and whisper, "Boston terrier....so cute....so fun...." I keep hoping that over time this subliminal advertising will take and he'll wake up, stretch, and say, "You know what? I think we should get a Boston terrier." It hasn't happened yet, but hope springs eternal. The Pets Add Life campaign from the American Pet Products Association is aimed at people like us, who are itching for an excuse to add another pet to our ... Read more »
That’s my Girl
Last week, my daughter's Girl Scout troop was decorating t-shirts for Halloween. Now, ever since we've gotten back from Africa the only thing my little Jane Goodall can talk about is all the animals we saw, and when can we go on another safari, and can she please come. She even made me a picture book of drawings of all the animals we showed her. She was not even scared when I told her we came across a giraffe that had been eaten by a lion on the side of the road. She is, for sure, my ... Read more »
Like Mike
Remember those "Like Mike" commercials with Michael Jordan? They were cute enough, I suppose, but the idolatry of sports figures never really went over well in my head. Every time I saw that commercial or one like it, I would scratch my head, think about all the people I knew who had done so many more extraordinary things, and wonder how come he gets to be the hero of so many hearts. Now that I have kids, it's even worse. I want them to admire innovators, humanitarians, advocates; scholars ... Read more »
Announcing Blogathon 2011!
I take a break in my regularly scheduled safari recap to make a very special announcement. That, and the overwhelming task of sorting through the meat of those 8000 photos we took in Africa is going to take a bit. I want to take the time to share the chimp experience with you all properly, especially considering the insanely dramatic turn of events after we left with the assassination of the alpha male and all. I am super excited about this year's Blogathon. I mean, I'm always excited about ... Read more »
