Stooooorm
There's a big storm coming. I updated the barometer blog slightly. That might just be the fourth post of the year!
4/14/2007
4/13/2007
Friday
Random things:
1. Kurt Vonnegut died. With all the news about Imus, Duke, Anna Nicole, et. al., it's being lost in the shuffle. This is the guy who wrote classics we enjoyed in high school! And he's DEAD! Hmmm...another right-wing conspiracy.
2. It's going to POUR here on Sunday into Monday, they say. One of those storms that just kind of swirls above us. I guess it won't be so bad, as long as we don't have to leave home.
3. I forgot my third random thing. I hate when that happens. Enjoy your weekend!
Random things:
1. Kurt Vonnegut died. With all the news about Imus, Duke, Anna Nicole, et. al., it's being lost in the shuffle. This is the guy who wrote classics we enjoyed in high school! And he's DEAD! Hmmm...another right-wing conspiracy.
2. It's going to POUR here on Sunday into Monday, they say. One of those storms that just kind of swirls above us. I guess it won't be so bad, as long as we don't have to leave home.
3. I forgot my third random thing. I hate when that happens. Enjoy your weekend!
4/11/2007
Photos that have been lingering on my camera
I haven't posted photos in a while, and I have a bunch on my camera. So here they are. And yes this counts as Thursday's entry. I am so ahead of myself!
The Boy joined me recently for another food review...
Meanwhile, someone on a nearby street is really good at fixing up his car...
Lastly, my heart was filled with joy upon seeing some Easter graffiti!
I haven't posted photos in a while, and I have a bunch on my camera. So here they are. And yes this counts as Thursday's entry. I am so ahead of myself!
The Boy joined me recently for another food review...
Meanwhile, someone on a nearby street is really good at fixing up his car...
Lastly, my heart was filled with joy upon seeing some Easter graffiti!
Big hair and malls
There is now a book description on Amazon about the anthology of New Jersey essays that I am in, which will be published in mid-June. Reading it, I am so very proud of my homeland.
From Amazon:
Mobsters. Big hair. The smelly Turnpike. The poor cousin of its glittering neighbor Manhattan. Could that really be all there is to New Jersey?
In Living on the Edge of the World, the best and brightest young writers from the much maligned state answer back with edgy, irreverent pieces of nonfiction paying tribute to New Jersey's unique place in the cultural consciousness.
Like a drive along the Garden State Parkway, their stories travel to just about every corner of the state, from Princeton and Hillside to Camden and Hoboken. In "Straight Outta Garwood," Tom Perrotta writes of the near inescapability of returning to his home state again and again in his novels; in "Exit 15W," Joshua Braff tells how all roads led back to the Jersey Girl he'd fallen for as a seventh-grader; Kathleen DeMarco takes a nostalgic look at her grandfather's cranberry bog in "The Family Farm"; Jonathan Ames recounts a failed attempt to consummate his flirtation with a boardwalk beauty in "Rose of the Jersey Shore"; and Frederick Reiken offers an elegy to a high-rise in Fort Lee that opens his eyes to a new, dangerous world.
A celebration of all that's weird and wonderful about the Garden State -- including Bruce Springsteen, the Nets, the Jersey Devil, the films of Kevin Smith, and Great Adventure -- Living on the Edge of the World will have New Jerseyans everywhere ready to stand and be counted.
There is now a book description on Amazon about the anthology of New Jersey essays that I am in, which will be published in mid-June. Reading it, I am so very proud of my homeland.
From Amazon:
Mobsters. Big hair. The smelly Turnpike. The poor cousin of its glittering neighbor Manhattan. Could that really be all there is to New Jersey?
In Living on the Edge of the World, the best and brightest young writers from the much maligned state answer back with edgy, irreverent pieces of nonfiction paying tribute to New Jersey's unique place in the cultural consciousness.
Like a drive along the Garden State Parkway, their stories travel to just about every corner of the state, from Princeton and Hillside to Camden and Hoboken. In "Straight Outta Garwood," Tom Perrotta writes of the near inescapability of returning to his home state again and again in his novels; in "Exit 15W," Joshua Braff tells how all roads led back to the Jersey Girl he'd fallen for as a seventh-grader; Kathleen DeMarco takes a nostalgic look at her grandfather's cranberry bog in "The Family Farm"; Jonathan Ames recounts a failed attempt to consummate his flirtation with a boardwalk beauty in "Rose of the Jersey Shore"; and Frederick Reiken offers an elegy to a high-rise in Fort Lee that opens his eyes to a new, dangerous world.
A celebration of all that's weird and wonderful about the Garden State -- including Bruce Springsteen, the Nets, the Jersey Devil, the films of Kevin Smith, and Great Adventure -- Living on the Edge of the World will have New Jerseyans everywhere ready to stand and be counted.
4/10/2007
Mailbag
Someone wrote in response to yesterday's entry and said that she was planning a shopping trip to get half-off Easter candy, and that it wasn't cringe-worthy; it was thrifty. She is actually quite right! I guess I was just trying to make fun of myself and my eating choices in college.
Anyway, Easter candy has come a long way. Every major candy brand now makes special Easter versions (like Easter mini-Twix and mini Easter Milky Ways), so you can get quite a deal the day after.
So, shop 'til ya drop! I am all for half-off chocolate.
In other news, someone in my writing group has asked that I read her essays that she wants to submit to a contest, so I bid you a good night so I can go read them. (Well, this will actually be posted in the morning, but I am writing it Monday night).
Someone wrote in response to yesterday's entry and said that she was planning a shopping trip to get half-off Easter candy, and that it wasn't cringe-worthy; it was thrifty. She is actually quite right! I guess I was just trying to make fun of myself and my eating choices in college.
Anyway, Easter candy has come a long way. Every major candy brand now makes special Easter versions (like Easter mini-Twix and mini Easter Milky Ways), so you can get quite a deal the day after.
So, shop 'til ya drop! I am all for half-off chocolate.
In other news, someone in my writing group has asked that I read her essays that she wants to submit to a contest, so I bid you a good night so I can go read them. (Well, this will actually be posted in the morning, but I am writing it Monday night).
4/09/2007
Monday
Sorry I forgot to post Friday. Oh well.
Yesterday was Easter. Happy Easter!
When I was in college and poor, I used to go to the CVS on Walnut Street the day after Easter to take advantage of 50 percent off Easter candy so I'd have junkfood in the apartment. That makes me cringe now. One of my roomies did it too, so it wasn't just me. When you're in college, you have to do what you have to do.
Sorry I forgot to post Friday. Oh well.
Yesterday was Easter. Happy Easter!
When I was in college and poor, I used to go to the CVS on Walnut Street the day after Easter to take advantage of 50 percent off Easter candy so I'd have junkfood in the apartment. That makes me cringe now. One of my roomies did it too, so it wasn't just me. When you're in college, you have to do what you have to do.
4/05/2007
Snow
It's snowing right now, believe it or not. It won't last, but it's cold and it's snowing.
It snows more in March and April these days than it does in November and December.
Today is April 5, and I think in elementary school I had a friend whose b-day was today, but I can't remember who. Oh well. Guess I won't have to go to Toys R Us to buy a Magic 8-Ball or Wheel-O for their party now.
It's snowing right now, believe it or not. It won't last, but it's cold and it's snowing.
It snows more in March and April these days than it does in November and December.
Today is April 5, and I think in elementary school I had a friend whose b-day was today, but I can't remember who. Oh well. Guess I won't have to go to Toys R Us to buy a Magic 8-Ball or Wheel-O for their party now.
4/04/2007
Two links for breakfast
A friend sent me a link she found to a list of definitely rejected wedding songs:
http://www.artofthemix.org/FindAMix/getcontents.asp?strmixid=5823
Here is a story from the Wall Street Journal about deciding if a book is for teens or adults. I'll excerpt some and link to the rest.
Pretty interesting to read even if you're not a writer. It gives examples like To Kill A Mockingbird (teen narrator, but for adults...) and more recently, Prep.
Teen Books Are Hot Sellers, But Formula Isn't Simple
By Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg
The Wall Street Journal
March 30, 2007
Larry Doyle, a former Emmy-winning writer for "The Simpsons" TV series, frequently pens comic pieces for the New Yorker. Although he is 48 years old and has three children, his sensibilities lean to the youthful. So when Mr. Doyle got an idea for a novel, it wasn't a stretch for him to write about being a teenager.
His book "I Love You, Beth Cooper," which will be published May 8 by News Corp.'s Ecco imprint, opens with a nerdy high-school senior giving a graduation speech. He then veers from his prepared text and declares his love for the school's prettiest cheerleader. The 24 hours that follow are either the best or the worst of his life.
"Most of my dreams involve high school or college, along the lines of, 'I forgot to take the midterm,'" Mr. Doyle says. "In this case, I dreamt the opening scene."
But when it came to turning this into a book, Mr. Doyle found that his teenage theme brought with it some difficult choices.
Last April, Mr. Doyle's agent, Sarah Burnes of the Gernert Co., began showing about 100 pages of "Beth Cooper" to publishers -- several geared to adults, but also a dozen "young adult" imprints that court readers 12-to-16 years old.
...determining whether a book should get a young-adult label is more art than science, and brings with it an array of complicated issues for authors, publishers and retailers....
http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:0CmUTiJS_1cJ:www.mediainfocenter.org/story.asp%3Fstory_id%3D104773924+Teen+Books+Are+Hot+Sellers,+But+Formula+Isn%27t+Simple&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us
A friend sent me a link she found to a list of definitely rejected wedding songs:
http://www.artofthemix.org/FindAMix/getcontents.asp?strmixid=5823
Here is a story from the Wall Street Journal about deciding if a book is for teens or adults. I'll excerpt some and link to the rest.
Pretty interesting to read even if you're not a writer. It gives examples like To Kill A Mockingbird (teen narrator, but for adults...) and more recently, Prep.
Teen Books Are Hot Sellers, But Formula Isn't Simple
By Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg
The Wall Street Journal
March 30, 2007
Larry Doyle, a former Emmy-winning writer for "The Simpsons" TV series, frequently pens comic pieces for the New Yorker. Although he is 48 years old and has three children, his sensibilities lean to the youthful. So when Mr. Doyle got an idea for a novel, it wasn't a stretch for him to write about being a teenager.
His book "I Love You, Beth Cooper," which will be published May 8 by News Corp.'s Ecco imprint, opens with a nerdy high-school senior giving a graduation speech. He then veers from his prepared text and declares his love for the school's prettiest cheerleader. The 24 hours that follow are either the best or the worst of his life.
"Most of my dreams involve high school or college, along the lines of, 'I forgot to take the midterm,'" Mr. Doyle says. "In this case, I dreamt the opening scene."
But when it came to turning this into a book, Mr. Doyle found that his teenage theme brought with it some difficult choices.
Last April, Mr. Doyle's agent, Sarah Burnes of the Gernert Co., began showing about 100 pages of "Beth Cooper" to publishers -- several geared to adults, but also a dozen "young adult" imprints that court readers 12-to-16 years old.
...determining whether a book should get a young-adult label is more art than science, and brings with it an array of complicated issues for authors, publishers and retailers....
http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:0CmUTiJS_1cJ:www.mediainfocenter.org/story.asp%3Fstory_id%3D104773924+Teen+Books+Are+Hot+Sellers,+But+Formula+Isn%27t+Simple&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us
4/03/2007
Writer's life
In case you haven't heard, writing is not always fun. Check out what Ned Vizzini just wrote on his blog:
"I've been a WRECK this week. That book that I've talked so much about abandoning, aborting, etc.--the book that I have to write in order to continue to have a career...It's just all wrong. I don't know if it's salvageable."
I've had those moments. That's why I spend so much time revising and re-revising the beginning of a book before moving on, because I don't want to get to page 100 and say, "Wow, this is awful." But I think it can happen anyway.
But...you know what? I'm sure Ned's book is FINE. They usually are, in the end. Hang in there, Ned. It probably only needs minor adjusting, and it will come to you.
In case you haven't heard, writing is not always fun. Check out what Ned Vizzini just wrote on his blog:
"I've been a WRECK this week. That book that I've talked so much about abandoning, aborting, etc.--the book that I have to write in order to continue to have a career...It's just all wrong. I don't know if it's salvageable."
I've had those moments. That's why I spend so much time revising and re-revising the beginning of a book before moving on, because I don't want to get to page 100 and say, "Wow, this is awful." But I think it can happen anyway.
But...you know what? I'm sure Ned's book is FINE. They usually are, in the end. Hang in there, Ned. It probably only needs minor adjusting, and it will come to you.
4/02/2007
Do you really need to register your cell phone on the Do Not Call registry?
This is from www.donotcall.gov
For Release: February 6, 2007
The Truth about Cell Phones and the Do Not Call Registry
*********Despite Re-Circulating E-mail, It is Still Not Necessary to Register Cell Phone Numbers *************
As the number of phone numbers on the National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry surpassed 139 million, the Federal Trade Commission today reiterated that despite the claims made in e-mails circulating on the Internet, consumers should not be concerned that their cell phone numbers will be released to telemarketers at any time in the near future. In addition, according to the agency, it is not necessary to register cell phone numbers on the DNC Registry to be protected from most telemarketing calls to cell phones.
The truth about cell phones and the DNC Registry is:
Contrary to the e-mail, cell phone numbers are NOT being released to telemarketers, and you will NOT soon be getting telemarketing calls on your cell phone.
There is NO deadline by which you must register your cell phone number on the Registry.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations prohibit telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phone numbers. Automated dialers are standard in the industry, so most telemarketers are barred from calling consumers on their cell phones without their consent.
The national associations representing telemarketers have stated that their clients do not intend to start calling consumers’ cell phones.
There is only ONE DNC Registry. There is no separate registry for cell phones.
The DNC Registry accepts registrations from both cell phones and land lines. You must call from the phone number that you want to register. If you register online, you must respond to a confirmation e-mail.
While the telecommunications industry has been discussing the possibility of creating a wireless 411 directory, according to the FCC, even if a wireless 411 directory is established, most telemarketing calls to cell phones would still be illegal, regardless of whether the number is listed on the federal government’s National Do Not Call Registry.
For More Information
To learn more about the National DNC Registry and the rules that enforce it, visit the FTC at www.ftc.gov or the FCC at www.fcc.gov. For more information about a planned “wireless 411” directory, visit http://www.qsent.com/wireless411.
This is from www.donotcall.gov
For Release: February 6, 2007
The Truth about Cell Phones and the Do Not Call Registry
*********Despite Re-Circulating E-mail, It is Still Not Necessary to Register Cell Phone Numbers *************
As the number of phone numbers on the National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry surpassed 139 million, the Federal Trade Commission today reiterated that despite the claims made in e-mails circulating on the Internet, consumers should not be concerned that their cell phone numbers will be released to telemarketers at any time in the near future. In addition, according to the agency, it is not necessary to register cell phone numbers on the DNC Registry to be protected from most telemarketing calls to cell phones.
The truth about cell phones and the DNC Registry is:
Contrary to the e-mail, cell phone numbers are NOT being released to telemarketers, and you will NOT soon be getting telemarketing calls on your cell phone.
There is NO deadline by which you must register your cell phone number on the Registry.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations prohibit telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phone numbers. Automated dialers are standard in the industry, so most telemarketers are barred from calling consumers on their cell phones without their consent.
The national associations representing telemarketers have stated that their clients do not intend to start calling consumers’ cell phones.
There is only ONE DNC Registry. There is no separate registry for cell phones.
The DNC Registry accepts registrations from both cell phones and land lines. You must call from the phone number that you want to register. If you register online, you must respond to a confirmation e-mail.
While the telecommunications industry has been discussing the possibility of creating a wireless 411 directory, according to the FCC, even if a wireless 411 directory is established, most telemarketing calls to cell phones would still be illegal, regardless of whether the number is listed on the federal government’s National Do Not Call Registry.
For More Information
To learn more about the National DNC Registry and the rules that enforce it, visit the FTC at www.ftc.gov or the FCC at www.fcc.gov. For more information about a planned “wireless 411” directory, visit http://www.qsent.com/wireless411.
3/31/2007
3/30/2007
3/29/2007
Rejected wedding songs, Part I
"One More Minute" by Al Yankovic
(too bad I'm rejecting this one; it's one of his best)
Well, I heard that you're leavin'
Gonna leave me far behind
'Cause you found a brand new lover
You decided that I'm not your kind
So I pulled your name out of my Rolodex
And I tore all your pictures in two
And I burned down the malt shop where we used to go
Just because it reminds me of you!
That's right, you ain't gonna see me cryin'
I'm glad that you found somebody new
'Cause I'd rather spend eternity eating shards of broken glass
Than spend one more minute with you
I guess I might seem kinda bitter
You got me feelin' down in the dumps
'Cause I'm stranded all alone in the Gas Station of Love
And I have to use the self-service pumps
Oh, so honey, let me help you with that suitcase
You ain't gonna break my heart in two
'Cause I'd rather get a hundred thousand paper cuts on my face
Than spend one more minute with you
"One More Minute" by Al Yankovic
(too bad I'm rejecting this one; it's one of his best)
Well, I heard that you're leavin'
Gonna leave me far behind
'Cause you found a brand new lover
You decided that I'm not your kind
So I pulled your name out of my Rolodex
And I tore all your pictures in two
And I burned down the malt shop where we used to go
Just because it reminds me of you!
That's right, you ain't gonna see me cryin'
I'm glad that you found somebody new
'Cause I'd rather spend eternity eating shards of broken glass
Than spend one more minute with you
I guess I might seem kinda bitter
You got me feelin' down in the dumps
'Cause I'm stranded all alone in the Gas Station of Love
And I have to use the self-service pumps
Oh, so honey, let me help you with that suitcase
You ain't gonna break my heart in two
'Cause I'd rather get a hundred thousand paper cuts on my face
Than spend one more minute with you
3/28/2007
Hey, can you feel it?
It was 75 degrees yesterday, with a cool breeze. It made me very excited for summer. I love the change in the seasons.
I used to always vow, every year, "This year, I'm going to have the best summer ever!" Usually, I didn't. Although I did get to see Sugar Ray a few times.
This year, I think my summer really will be great. Last night, I found myself working late and wishing I was outside. But the Boy came and picked me up. He's a great Boy.
On another note, it seems like bulldogs aren't the only ones keeping canine journals and writing with weird doggy accents.
It was 75 degrees yesterday, with a cool breeze. It made me very excited for summer. I love the change in the seasons.
I used to always vow, every year, "This year, I'm going to have the best summer ever!" Usually, I didn't. Although I did get to see Sugar Ray a few times.
This year, I think my summer really will be great. Last night, I found myself working late and wishing I was outside. But the Boy came and picked me up. He's a great Boy.
On another note, it seems like bulldogs aren't the only ones keeping canine journals and writing with weird doggy accents.
3/25/2007
Microsoft Word 9.0
For some reason, I can't open Microsoft Word. It starts to open and I see the hourglass, but that's where it ends...it freezes permanently at the square screen saying "Microsoft Word" etc. and the hourglass. It doesn't finish opening.
After I try to open word and I ctrl alt delete to get out, it says:
The system is dangerous low in resources!
Would you like to terminate the following application?
Winword [Not responding]
There are no other programs still open, as far as I know, except for Windows.
I accidentally must have pressed something this morning that did it.
So for any of you who really know this stuff (more than what I know)
I deleted Word and reinstalled it, including the Microsoft Works office suite. When it turned itself off and rebooted, it said, as it was rebooting,
Could not upgrade the file from %1 to %2
Windows could not upgrade one or more system files
If Windows fails to start run SETUP again
Windows did start, though. And all my other programs are fine. But I can't start Word or open a program that's in Word (unless I do it as a text file after uninstalling Word).
This all has something to do with Windows Explorer 5.5 but not sure what.
Meg
On another note, thanks to those who said you liked my tribute to Meg the dog! She was a sweetie and I miss her. I wasn't going for any high writing quality (obviously), just writin' about my dawg.
For some reason, I can't open Microsoft Word. It starts to open and I see the hourglass, but that's where it ends...it freezes permanently at the square screen saying "Microsoft Word" etc. and the hourglass. It doesn't finish opening.
After I try to open word and I ctrl alt delete to get out, it says:
The system is dangerous low in resources!
Would you like to terminate the following application?
Winword [Not responding]
There are no other programs still open, as far as I know, except for Windows.
I accidentally must have pressed something this morning that did it.
So for any of you who really know this stuff (more than what I know)
I deleted Word and reinstalled it, including the Microsoft Works office suite. When it turned itself off and rebooted, it said, as it was rebooting,
Could not upgrade the file from %1 to %2
Windows could not upgrade one or more system files
If Windows fails to start run SETUP again
Windows did start, though. And all my other programs are fine. But I can't start Word or open a program that's in Word (unless I do it as a text file after uninstalling Word).
This all has something to do with Windows Explorer 5.5 but not sure what.
Meg
On another note, thanks to those who said you liked my tribute to Meg the dog! She was a sweetie and I miss her. I wasn't going for any high writing quality (obviously), just writin' about my dawg.
3/24/2007
All dogs go to heaven
Megan, May 8, 1985–March 24, 1999 (eight years ago today)
My mom always says that because we had Meg, my family is ruined for other dogs.
This is because of Meg’s emotionalism. If one of us was crying, she always came over and licked our faces to stop the tears. She never wanted any of us to be sad, and she loved it when we hugged her.
When she was a pup, she used to like to pull her head out of her collar and bound around the development so we’d have to chase her. But we were scared that she could get hit by a car. One time, I couldn’t catch her for a while, even by holding out a cookie. I used a last resort: I made sure she was looking. Then I sat on a fallen log and put my head in my hands, pretending to cry. She saw this and came right to me.
We bought her for my brother’s birthday when she was eight weeks old. We went into the pet store and all of her brothers in the pen were jumping up and howling with their black-and-white beagle tails wagging. She stood up and simply wagged for us, looking at us with her big brown almond-shaped eyes.
For the first few months, she was a wily pup who, like most pups, chewed wires and jumped on the couch. I didn’t know much of her personality the first few months. Then, one day, my mother told me, “Megan likes to be hugged.” I didn’t believe it. While she was chewing a toy, I went and put my arms around her. Her tail wagged furiously.
We soon learned that if two members of my family hugged each other in front of Meg, she’d run over and jump up to try to be in the hug, too.
She had the same hobbies as other dogs – sniffing things, eating, sleeping, walking. But she was so loving. She liked to crawl into bed and roll onto her side so I could hug her.
I had her for half my life – we bought her when I was 14, and she died when I was 28. I saw her go through different changes, from a wily puppy who barked at strangers, to a quieter adult dog, to a senior dog who mostly slept all day and took delight in sniffing things outside.
She had a fierce love for my mother, my brother, and me, and knew all our names. We’d say, “Where’s Mommy?” and she’d look at my mom and wag her tail.
Five Meg memories
1. Italian bread: I live on a street with several Italian restaurants and delis. One time, we were half a block into our walk when Meg noticed a looong Italian roll being thrown out on the sidewalk. It was longer than she was, so she wasn’t sure what to do. She licked the middle for a second. Then she lifted the entire roll in her mouth. She turned around to bring it back to the house.
People were laughing as they passed her. Here was a little white beagle carrying a piece of Italian bread that was longer than she was. One man said to her, “Did you fiiiind that? You’re a lucky dog.”
She set it down on my rug, and then turned around to head back outside so we could finish our walk.
2. Thanksgiving: Her favorite holiday was Thanksgiving, as all three of her family members were there. She was always so excited when everyone was together, that she would even wag in her sleep. One year, we filled her bowl with turkey first, so she wouldn’t bother us while we were eating. When we finally sat down to eat, my mother said, “Look” and pointed to Meg’s bowl. The bowl was already empty and Meg was sprawled on the floor next to it, snoozing.
3. Sitting in the park: I always thought Meg had a good sense of humor. Occasionally she needed to be walked at 2 or 3 a.m. I’d tiredly stroll through the local park in the moonlight while she took her time. As we walked out of the park, she’d suddenly sit down on the grass and stare up at me, as if to ask if she could stay and play in the park. I would say, “You’re funny, Meg!”
If I occasionally gave in and sat down next to her for a few minutes, she’d give me a big wag.
4. Fat tush under the bed: When she was a very small puppy, she would run under the bed to hide. When she grew older, she never quite grasped the concept of having gotten much bigger and fatter. When she wanted to hide, she would still run for the bed, but she would get stuck halfway in, with her big fat tush sticking out.
5. Are you my mother? One time, my mother was staying with me at my apartment. In the morning, she left to go to work. An hour later, I took Meg for a walk, and she saw a woman who looked like my mother. I saw her too: She had the same profile, same walk, and was wearing the kind of long dress my mother likes to wear. Because Meg started wagging and walking toward the woman, I knew Meg thought it was my mom.
As soon as Meg got up to the woman – who looked very confused – she realized it wasn’t my mother and stopped wagging.
The woman looked at me questioningly.
I explained to her, “You look like her mommy. I mean, my mother. We saw her today.”
I wonder if it’s an insult to tell someone that they look like your dog’s mother.
Lifecycle
It's odd to be with someone for their whole life, to see them grow from an infant, to an adult, to a senior. She really matured through the years.
People used to actually come up to me on the street and say, “Look at that faaaaaace!” Sometimes they just would look at her and say, “Faaaace.”
She got cancer, as most dogs do sooner or later. It amazes me that she’s been gone for eight years, because it doesn’t seem that long. Maybe that’s because she was in my life for so long.
But for almost fourteen years, she had a wonderful, fulfilling life full of hugs and adventures. She enjoyed rides in the car, sniffing other dogs, and most importantly, being loved, and giving a lot of love in return.
The day after she died, I had a dream. In the dream, she was running really quickly and leaping over 12-foot fences. In her last few months alive, she couldn't do much running.
I told my mom about my dream. "She was running so fast," I said, "and jumping so high."
My mom said, "Maybe she is."
Megan is now buried in a beautiful pet cemetery alongside other fiercely loved pets, even the smallest ones. Clearly she's in good company.
Megan, May 8, 1985–March 24, 1999 (eight years ago today)
My mom always says that because we had Meg, my family is ruined for other dogs.
This is because of Meg’s emotionalism. If one of us was crying, she always came over and licked our faces to stop the tears. She never wanted any of us to be sad, and she loved it when we hugged her.
When she was a pup, she used to like to pull her head out of her collar and bound around the development so we’d have to chase her. But we were scared that she could get hit by a car. One time, I couldn’t catch her for a while, even by holding out a cookie. I used a last resort: I made sure she was looking. Then I sat on a fallen log and put my head in my hands, pretending to cry. She saw this and came right to me.
We bought her for my brother’s birthday when she was eight weeks old. We went into the pet store and all of her brothers in the pen were jumping up and howling with their black-and-white beagle tails wagging. She stood up and simply wagged for us, looking at us with her big brown almond-shaped eyes.
For the first few months, she was a wily pup who, like most pups, chewed wires and jumped on the couch. I didn’t know much of her personality the first few months. Then, one day, my mother told me, “Megan likes to be hugged.” I didn’t believe it. While she was chewing a toy, I went and put my arms around her. Her tail wagged furiously.
We soon learned that if two members of my family hugged each other in front of Meg, she’d run over and jump up to try to be in the hug, too.
She had the same hobbies as other dogs – sniffing things, eating, sleeping, walking. But she was so loving. She liked to crawl into bed and roll onto her side so I could hug her.
I had her for half my life – we bought her when I was 14, and she died when I was 28. I saw her go through different changes, from a wily puppy who barked at strangers, to a quieter adult dog, to a senior dog who mostly slept all day and took delight in sniffing things outside.
She had a fierce love for my mother, my brother, and me, and knew all our names. We’d say, “Where’s Mommy?” and she’d look at my mom and wag her tail.
Five Meg memories
1. Italian bread: I live on a street with several Italian restaurants and delis. One time, we were half a block into our walk when Meg noticed a looong Italian roll being thrown out on the sidewalk. It was longer than she was, so she wasn’t sure what to do. She licked the middle for a second. Then she lifted the entire roll in her mouth. She turned around to bring it back to the house.
People were laughing as they passed her. Here was a little white beagle carrying a piece of Italian bread that was longer than she was. One man said to her, “Did you fiiiind that? You’re a lucky dog.”
She set it down on my rug, and then turned around to head back outside so we could finish our walk.
2. Thanksgiving: Her favorite holiday was Thanksgiving, as all three of her family members were there. She was always so excited when everyone was together, that she would even wag in her sleep. One year, we filled her bowl with turkey first, so she wouldn’t bother us while we were eating. When we finally sat down to eat, my mother said, “Look” and pointed to Meg’s bowl. The bowl was already empty and Meg was sprawled on the floor next to it, snoozing.
3. Sitting in the park: I always thought Meg had a good sense of humor. Occasionally she needed to be walked at 2 or 3 a.m. I’d tiredly stroll through the local park in the moonlight while she took her time. As we walked out of the park, she’d suddenly sit down on the grass and stare up at me, as if to ask if she could stay and play in the park. I would say, “You’re funny, Meg!”
If I occasionally gave in and sat down next to her for a few minutes, she’d give me a big wag.
4. Fat tush under the bed: When she was a very small puppy, she would run under the bed to hide. When she grew older, she never quite grasped the concept of having gotten much bigger and fatter. When she wanted to hide, she would still run for the bed, but she would get stuck halfway in, with her big fat tush sticking out.
5. Are you my mother? One time, my mother was staying with me at my apartment. In the morning, she left to go to work. An hour later, I took Meg for a walk, and she saw a woman who looked like my mother. I saw her too: She had the same profile, same walk, and was wearing the kind of long dress my mother likes to wear. Because Meg started wagging and walking toward the woman, I knew Meg thought it was my mom.
As soon as Meg got up to the woman – who looked very confused – she realized it wasn’t my mother and stopped wagging.
The woman looked at me questioningly.
I explained to her, “You look like her mommy. I mean, my mother. We saw her today.”
I wonder if it’s an insult to tell someone that they look like your dog’s mother.
Lifecycle
It's odd to be with someone for their whole life, to see them grow from an infant, to an adult, to a senior. She really matured through the years.
People used to actually come up to me on the street and say, “Look at that faaaaaace!” Sometimes they just would look at her and say, “Faaaace.”
She got cancer, as most dogs do sooner or later. It amazes me that she’s been gone for eight years, because it doesn’t seem that long. Maybe that’s because she was in my life for so long.
But for almost fourteen years, she had a wonderful, fulfilling life full of hugs and adventures. She enjoyed rides in the car, sniffing other dogs, and most importantly, being loved, and giving a lot of love in return.
The day after she died, I had a dream. In the dream, she was running really quickly and leaping over 12-foot fences. In her last few months alive, she couldn't do much running.
I told my mom about my dream. "She was running so fast," I said, "and jumping so high."
My mom said, "Maybe she is."
Megan is now buried in a beautiful pet cemetery alongside other fiercely loved pets, even the smallest ones. Clearly she's in good company.
3/22/2007
3/21/2007
Trivia
Trivia went well tonight and was relatively crowded. A special thank you to the "veterans" who came out tonight after a while of absence from trivia! That means Blerg, J.C., the Mets fan, travel-writer guy, and anyone I'm forgetting.
Jon B. was an excellent co-host.
I got myself into a bit of trouble when people disputed my visual round twice. They thought my photo of a greyhound was actually a whippet, and that my Scottish Terrier was really a "West Highland White Terrier." They said that a West Highland Terrier IS a Scottish Terrier. Maybe it's true; I don't know. But I had to make a quick executive decision. Half the room wanted me to decide one way, and half the other way.
So if you ever host trivia, make sure you have your answers right, because drunk smart people can get really bloodthirsty!
Update: I see the confusion. These breeds look similar. However, a West Highland White Terrier has shorter ears than the Scottish terrier I had pictured. So my decision was correct.
Whew, I can sleep better tonight.
Trivia went well tonight and was relatively crowded. A special thank you to the "veterans" who came out tonight after a while of absence from trivia! That means Blerg, J.C., the Mets fan, travel-writer guy, and anyone I'm forgetting.
Jon B. was an excellent co-host.
I got myself into a bit of trouble when people disputed my visual round twice. They thought my photo of a greyhound was actually a whippet, and that my Scottish Terrier was really a "West Highland White Terrier." They said that a West Highland Terrier IS a Scottish Terrier. Maybe it's true; I don't know. But I had to make a quick executive decision. Half the room wanted me to decide one way, and half the other way.
So if you ever host trivia, make sure you have your answers right, because drunk smart people can get really bloodthirsty!
Update: I see the confusion. These breeds look similar. However, a West Highland White Terrier has shorter ears than the Scottish terrier I had pictured. So my decision was correct.
Whew, I can sleep better tonight.
What a drag it is getting old
Things I can't eat now -- most of which I could eat as a kid
1. Ice cream (unless I take a lactose pill with it)
2. A big wad of fresh wet mozzarella (ditto)
3. Chinese food with MSG
4. Too much stuff with asparteme. A little is okay. But yesterday I drank sugar free fruit punch and had something else, I forget what, but it didn't help. (Actually Asparteme/Equal wasn't available when I was a kid, but.)
5. Probably more stuff someday. Drat.
Things I used to eat a lot as a kid that I don't bother eating now
1. Sugar cereal (I like it but I don't eat bkfst at home too often)
2. Hot dogs (no thanks)
3. Donuts (not good for me)
4. Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches (although I had one last week - that felt good!)
5. Yoo-Hoo
Things I ate because my mother made me, that I'd never eat again if I can help it
1. Canned vegetables
2. Chicken roll sandwiches (gross)
3. Rye bread with seeds
4. Omlettes with onions. I like onions, but not in eggs
5. Meatloaf
Things my mother lied to get me to eat
1. "Girl Scout spaghetti." (It was really green spaghetti made from spinach!!)
Things I can't eat now -- most of which I could eat as a kid
1. Ice cream (unless I take a lactose pill with it)
2. A big wad of fresh wet mozzarella (ditto)
3. Chinese food with MSG
4. Too much stuff with asparteme. A little is okay. But yesterday I drank sugar free fruit punch and had something else, I forget what, but it didn't help. (Actually Asparteme/Equal wasn't available when I was a kid, but.)
5. Probably more stuff someday. Drat.
Things I used to eat a lot as a kid that I don't bother eating now
1. Sugar cereal (I like it but I don't eat bkfst at home too often)
2. Hot dogs (no thanks)
3. Donuts (not good for me)
4. Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches (although I had one last week - that felt good!)
5. Yoo-Hoo
Things I ate because my mother made me, that I'd never eat again if I can help it
1. Canned vegetables
2. Chicken roll sandwiches (gross)
3. Rye bread with seeds
4. Omlettes with onions. I like onions, but not in eggs
5. Meatloaf
Things my mother lied to get me to eat
1. "Girl Scout spaghetti." (It was really green spaghetti made from spinach!!)
