Considering I don’t really care much for most of the celebrities with lists at itunes I’m not that surprised that I hate the songs they listen to as well. But I think Dan Kois was a bit harsh. Billy Corgan and Moby’s playlists were quite good in addition to Thievery Corporation’s - in terms of replayability blah. Was kind of sad to see Liz Phair listed her own songs too - or maybe John Cusack made her add them. I dunno sometimes I think I traded in my elitist music attitudes when I signed the mortgage.

Well except for Cody’s penchant for what I teasingly call ‘lesbean rock’ I still think the Indigo Girls are shrill as all hell and Natalie Merchant needs to clear that air bubble of spit lodged in her throat. But it’s one of our few points of contention and all couples have to keep conversations lively somehow.

link via Melissa via NewYorkish

Chain store Kohl’s (which isn’t in new mexico) is selling a plush hedgehog toy and book by the author of The Rainbow Fish to benefit their philanthropic project Kohl’s Cares for Kids. According to the article I read 100% of the profits go towards classrooms, child life departments, family resource centers, and community outreach programs in benefit children’s hospitals. There’s also a plush turtle toy and a cd of summer music with Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra, among others.

Kohl’s - Kohl’s Cares for Kids®

for the discerning cactus buyer short on time

No I’m not talking about the Cronenberg movie or Precious Moments collectibles but more about the kind of art you can’t stand to see but at the same time can’t look away.

It’s a long story what I was researching but I just ran across this site displaying work that combines taxidermy with sculpture. Seriously. Don’t go there unless you want to be very frightened of fellow man. A case of curiosities - fine art taxidermy & assemblage.

I remember back in 97 when Spy Magazine had a cover story called “Buy this magazine or the dog is art” - a play on the old National Lampoon cover and the trend of grotesque art that was going around - paintings in or of menstrual blood, the piss christ series, that kind of thing.

I really didn’t find that art disturbing. But the kitty flowers definitely give me the heebie jeebies.

We’d been planning to do this for days and wonder of wonders we got off our geeky fat asses and did it this morning. First we packed up the dog and had a nice (somewhat chilly) breakfast on the petio at the Flying Star then went to the dog park downtown for about two hours. Winter had a wonderful time. I had to get off the bench and socialize with the other people so she’d play with their dogs. There was one boy, a heeler mix named “I Spy”, she wrestled with for a long time. I’d never seen her let anyone play rough with her like that - he would nibble on her neck and ears! And she was loving it. I really would like to have another dog she would have such fun. And I’ve noticed she’s always more comfortable with the medium sized dogs. But we can’t handle another dog.

Repeat it with me — Noelle, you can’t handle another dog. Really. You. Can’t. Handle. Another. Dog. Especially. Not. A. Beagle.

Don’t think about Libby’s litter being due on Tuesday. This dog’s face is just indescribable the photos really don’t do it justice. She has the most extrordinarily delicate face for a ridgeback. But I’m not thinking about how beautiful her babies would be. Nope.

Winter would have serious sibling rivalry issues. We wouldn’t have any room left on the bed for us. One word: housebreaking! I think my mother would have an actual conniption fit. We really had planned on waiting until all the pets were gone and getting a puppy and kitten at the same time so they’d be used to each other and hopefully more cuddly together. The vet bills would be even worse than they are now. We have health insurance for the dog - we’d probably get another policy for the other one - more expenses.

We already have a name picked out when the occasion does arise but we’ve had the idea for years. Winter’s name is “Windy Ridge’s Second Mrs DeWinter” based on one of my favorite book/movies, Rebecca. We’d planned on naming the next one “Robert Poste’s Child” with the call name Flora from another favorite book/movie, Cold Comfort Farm.

But we won’t get Flora for a long time. Nope. No cute new beagles for me. But maybe another hedgehog…

World’s Largest Collection of World’s Smallest Versions of World’s Largest Things Traveling Roadside Attraction

Slightly gaudy items but really useful if you like the trashy chic rhinestone thing. Also the best selection of cat furniture I’ve ever seen…catsplay.com

Some things here are silly but others are kind of cool…In the Company of Dogs

Some are probably familiar with this comic strip from independant newspapers like Albuquerque’s Alibi, Birmingham’s Black & White, or Atlanta’s Creative Loafing but I didn’t know there was a website for Slow Wave. Dreams are hilarious material anyway and this guy makes them seem more absurdly funny.

Stylish mostly overpriced but cool-looking pet stuff @ Postmodern Pets. Who says your cat’s scratching post has to be butt ugly?

this ultra cool looking scratching post sells for 375 US.

What do you suppose is in this stuff? Poochi and Kitty sushi. I think they’d prefer the real thing.

If you have five thousand extra dollars laying around you can get a custom-built pagoda for your dog from the greatest spa on earth.

There are also preppie rugby shirts for your dog and for the true label whores Gucci and Polo market to pet owners too. And there’s always planet dog for the crunchy crowd.

Cody’s at work and I keep smelling his scent. Not like stinky body odor just that combination of shampoo, deoderant, and something else, something sweet that all combine to smell like my husband. I kept wondering what was going on then realized the shirt he wore yesterday is on the back of my chair. Something kind of comforting about that.

I know that when my mom and dad were trying to conceive me - they’d been trying for years but had a few miscarriages - Dad would come home during lunch. With a hyperactive seven year old and a heavy phone company executive job they didn’t have a lot of time for each other. Mom would always really miss him on the days she was ironing his shirts - because the steam would bring out his smell even after they’d been washed. So dad would ask her in the morning if she was going to be doing any ironing that day as a sort of *winkwink* thing.

Cute story. I think some people would get creeped out hearing that kind of thing about their parents but I think it’s sweet. As far as I know they’re still pretty sexually active and that’s really fucking cool - hope we’re that happy in our sixties. That story makes Mom sound like Donna Reed though which is hilarious because I think she was in grad school at the time getting her master’s in math.