Greenies, holidays, and memes omnibus.
Dec. 19th, 2005 08:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
misfoksSome time back I'd discovered Greenies, a treat intended to help keep dogs' teeth clean, and which Kinley absolutely loves. More on this in a minute. Lately she's been having a few gastrointestinal issues I won't detail here--not chronic, but frequent enough to make me worried. I've had her to the vet a couple times already for it and we've been trying a few different things to try narrowing down the cause. Her most recent vomit had a couple chunks of some green, rubbery substance I couldn't identify at first, though from my introductory statement it's probably fairly obvious what my current suspicions are. Somewhere amidst ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
saintingie's last multi-hour babble on the phone she mentioned that there've been complaints of intestinal blockages in dogs due to Greenies...and sure enough, after some hunting around I found one or more sources with more info.
I believe I'll be retracting my prior recommendations for Greenies. Thanks for the heads-up, Ingie-Sue.
----
Those who've known me for a while know I'm not really fond of the whole winter holiday season. Some have been a bit confused by this, so this seems like an opportune time for a spot of unwarranted exposition.
Part of my distaste stems from the amount of time spent harping on what amounts to a rather short holiday such that, by the time the day finally rolls around, I'm dead sick of hearing about it. Multiply that by going through the same ordeal, the same tired carols, the same crap every year, and it just turns into something I dread enduring from the very onset. If the whole thing lasted maybe a week at most, rather than firing up sometimes as early as around Halloween and lasting into January with all the post-Xmas sales and such, it probably wouldn't be quite so odious. Count it folks, that's up to a quarter of your existance dedicated to what's essentially a one-day holiday.
Then there's the whole crass merchant angle--the traffic, the mall feeding frenzies, the scavenger hunts for something, anything which might suffice for somehow appeasing the Gods of Commerce and Gifting. Basically, I refuse to partake. That means, don't wait up for something from me, and don't get me anything for the holiday thinking that I'll be doing likewise, because you'll likely be disappointed. What it doesn't mean is that I hold in distain those who still revel in the holiday season, nor that I never give gifts at all. If I happen to run across something I think is just admirably suited for a friend, I tend to get it then think nothing more about it--I don't expect anything back (and if it happens to be near a holiday that's generally sheer coincidence).
By the same token, I never want anyone to feel any obligation, by dint of holiday or whatever else--if someone happens runs across something they feel suits me, that's cool, I won't turn into a raving berzerker and burn your village down (at least, not for that reason). But it's never expected of anyone, and really the best gift from anyone I care about is just knowing they're there.
Or a chainsaw.
----
(EDIT: Forgot to give proper blame tojasra for this one.)
1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before? I'd tell you, but I'd have to kill you.
2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I resolved not to make resolutions. You figure it out.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? That would explain the mess...
4. Did anyone close to you die? Working on it.
5. What countries did you visit? Amerika. I look forward to being back in the land of the free and home of the brave though.
6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005? My youthful optimism. My marbles. My virginity. And yours.
7. What dates from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? I don't remember dates. Now, if you asked about events--but you didn't!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Bringing a little joy to someone who deserved it.
9. What was your biggest failure? Still haven't completed my plans for genocide and global domination. I'll try to do better next year, promise.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? No, I quite enjoyed it. Mainly because it was someone else.
11. What was the best thing someone bought you? 'Bought?' Why not just 'gave?' Or even 'did with?' Humbug.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? A certain mad scientist graduating and launching his career of evil. At last we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi. At last we shall have our revenge.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Yours. Every last one of you. What the hell were you thinking?
14. Where did most of your money go? Away, away, with rum by gum.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? #12, actually.
16. What song will always remind you of 2005? Hurm. Dunno. Dr Reanimator?
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? The former.
b) thinner or fatter? Dunno. 'Bout the same I guess.
c) richer or poorer? Richer, unless you're talking about money again.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Learning.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Sitting at this damn computer. Running around in circles when away from it.
20. How do you plan to spend Christmas? With a random assortment ofgood folks my evil minions. And their grandmothers, oddly enough.
21. Did you fall in love in 2005? Yes.
22. How many one night stands? None. If it's not worth committing to a solid 72-hour marathon, why bother?
23. What was your favorite TV program? Off.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? I, uh...dammit. No. I'm sorry.
25. What was the best book you read? Erm. Considering all I really read this year was The Particolored Unicorn I think Tess of the d'Urbervilles would have to be the clear winner, though I only cracked it open to reference a line I couldn't quite recall.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? Me. Damn, I rock.
27. What did you want and get? See #1.
28. What did you want and not get? Fortune, infamy, and a harem of hot babes. Santa will pay for this oversight, oh yes.
29. What was your favorite film of this year? Firefly was fun.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Ignored it, and I don't know.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Fortune, infamy, a harem of hot babes. Global domination. And a pony.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005? Somewhere between Eastern European Military Surplus Vogue and the Gorton's fisherman, I guess.
33. What kept you sane? Nothing.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Didn't meet any. How can I fancy someone I've never met? Maybe Jen counts as a celebrity of sorts but I think of her more as that adorably dangerous little ball of energy, and fancying her is right out. So I'll just say that vixen character from the Dr Reanimator flash and watch Ingrid twitch in horror.
35. What political issue stirred you the most? The Great Swizzlestick Debacle.
36. Who do you miss? Nazis, but I do manage to hit 'em most of the time.
37. Who was the best new person you met? Now, now. Playing favorites isn't nice. I did meet quite a few nifty new peoples this year though.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005? It's apparantly far less devastating to be hit in the chest with a 50mm Sturmpanzer shell than to be next to someone being shot in the chest with a 50mm Sturmpanzer shell. Also, you can kill a man by shooting his toes off if you keep at it long enough.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Hey hey na ha hey hey na ha
Hey hey na ha hey hey na ha
Hey hey na ha hey hey na ha
Hey hey na ha hey hey na ha
...
----
Hey cool, looks like even us cheap-ass LJ moochers get another three icon slots to fill. Hafta work on those...
saintingie's last multi-hour babble on the phone she mentioned that there've been complaints of intestinal blockages in dogs due to Greenies...and sure enough, after some hunting around I found one or more sources with more info. I believe I'll be retracting my prior recommendations for Greenies. Thanks for the heads-up, Ingie-Sue.
----
Those who've known me for a while know I'm not really fond of the whole winter holiday season. Some have been a bit confused by this, so this seems like an opportune time for a spot of unwarranted exposition.
Part of my distaste stems from the amount of time spent harping on what amounts to a rather short holiday such that, by the time the day finally rolls around, I'm dead sick of hearing about it. Multiply that by going through the same ordeal, the same tired carols, the same crap every year, and it just turns into something I dread enduring from the very onset. If the whole thing lasted maybe a week at most, rather than firing up sometimes as early as around Halloween and lasting into January with all the post-Xmas sales and such, it probably wouldn't be quite so odious. Count it folks, that's up to a quarter of your existance dedicated to what's essentially a one-day holiday.
Then there's the whole crass merchant angle--the traffic, the mall feeding frenzies, the scavenger hunts for something, anything which might suffice for somehow appeasing the Gods of Commerce and Gifting. Basically, I refuse to partake. That means, don't wait up for something from me, and don't get me anything for the holiday thinking that I'll be doing likewise, because you'll likely be disappointed. What it doesn't mean is that I hold in distain those who still revel in the holiday season, nor that I never give gifts at all. If I happen to run across something I think is just admirably suited for a friend, I tend to get it then think nothing more about it--I don't expect anything back (and if it happens to be near a holiday that's generally sheer coincidence).
By the same token, I never want anyone to feel any obligation, by dint of holiday or whatever else--if someone happens runs across something they feel suits me, that's cool, I won't turn into a raving berzerker and burn your village down (at least, not for that reason). But it's never expected of anyone, and really the best gift from anyone I care about is just knowing they're there.
Or a chainsaw.
----
(EDIT: Forgot to give proper blame to
jasra for this one.)1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before? I'd tell you, but I'd have to kill you.
2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I resolved not to make resolutions. You figure it out.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? That would explain the mess...
4. Did anyone close to you die? Working on it.
5. What countries did you visit? Amerika. I look forward to being back in the land of the free and home of the brave though.
6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005? My youthful optimism. My marbles. My virginity. And yours.
7. What dates from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? I don't remember dates. Now, if you asked about events--but you didn't!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Bringing a little joy to someone who deserved it.
9. What was your biggest failure? Still haven't completed my plans for genocide and global domination. I'll try to do better next year, promise.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? No, I quite enjoyed it. Mainly because it was someone else.
11. What was the best thing someone bought you? 'Bought?' Why not just 'gave?' Or even 'did with?' Humbug.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? A certain mad scientist graduating and launching his career of evil. At last we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi. At last we shall have our revenge.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Yours. Every last one of you. What the hell were you thinking?
14. Where did most of your money go? Away, away, with rum by gum.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? #12, actually.
16. What song will always remind you of 2005? Hurm. Dunno. Dr Reanimator?
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? The former.
b) thinner or fatter? Dunno. 'Bout the same I guess.
c) richer or poorer? Richer, unless you're talking about money again.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Learning.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Sitting at this damn computer. Running around in circles when away from it.
20. How do you plan to spend Christmas? With a random assortment of
21. Did you fall in love in 2005? Yes.
22. How many one night stands? None. If it's not worth committing to a solid 72-hour marathon, why bother?
23. What was your favorite TV program? Off.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? I, uh...dammit. No. I'm sorry.
25. What was the best book you read? Erm. Considering all I really read this year was The Particolored Unicorn I think Tess of the d'Urbervilles would have to be the clear winner, though I only cracked it open to reference a line I couldn't quite recall.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? Me. Damn, I rock.
27. What did you want and get? See #1.
28. What did you want and not get? Fortune, infamy, and a harem of hot babes. Santa will pay for this oversight, oh yes.
29. What was your favorite film of this year? Firefly was fun.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Ignored it, and I don't know.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Fortune, infamy, a harem of hot babes. Global domination. And a pony.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005? Somewhere between Eastern European Military Surplus Vogue and the Gorton's fisherman, I guess.
33. What kept you sane? Nothing.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Didn't meet any. How can I fancy someone I've never met? Maybe Jen counts as a celebrity of sorts but I think of her more as that adorably dangerous little ball of energy, and fancying her is right out. So I'll just say that vixen character from the Dr Reanimator flash and watch Ingrid twitch in horror.
35. What political issue stirred you the most? The Great Swizzlestick Debacle.
36. Who do you miss? Nazis, but I do manage to hit 'em most of the time.
37. Who was the best new person you met? Now, now. Playing favorites isn't nice. I did meet quite a few nifty new peoples this year though.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005? It's apparantly far less devastating to be hit in the chest with a 50mm Sturmpanzer shell than to be next to someone being shot in the chest with a 50mm Sturmpanzer shell. Also, you can kill a man by shooting his toes off if you keep at it long enough.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Hey hey na ha hey hey na ha
Hey hey na ha hey hey na ha
Hey hey na ha hey hey na ha
Hey hey na ha hey hey na ha
...
----
Hey cool, looks like even us cheap-ass LJ moochers get another three icon slots to fill. Hafta work on those...
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
You taunt me
Date: 2005-12-22 05:27 am (UTC)I've suddenly received a lot of email about dogs dieing from Greenies. A grey just recently passed away this week from complications from the surgery to remove the blockage. :( One of the members of Helping Paws also had to have some intestine removed from a greenie blockage and nearly died.
Did I show you www.petzlife.com yet?
Do people believe you when you tell them you don't celebrate the gift giving season at all? I've come close to violence this year telling people, "KB and I don't celebrate Christmas in any way."
"Oh, we're not religious at all either. Have you put your tree up yet?"
"We don't celebrate."
"I don't celebrate Christmas either but I still put up a tree and buy gifts for me friends."
"WE DON'T CELEBRATE AT ALL. IN ANY WAY. NO TREE. NO GIFTS. NOTHING."
"What's wrong with you then?"
That's about the time when I find my inner viking and have to do everything I can to keep from getting spiritual and laying my hands all over the stupid human.
Zarla didn't make me twitch. I kinda like the Jem hair. I have no issues with cartoon characters unless you actually like Mickey Mouse. Donald Duck is a much better character. Now if you had described things you wanted to do with her or how hot she makes you, then I'd have an overwhelming desire to purge.
Re: You taunt me
Date: 2005-12-22 07:24 am (UTC)Regarding the holidays, my viewpoint has just been misunderstood way too often. On one end, those who think I'm going to unleash my nuklear arsenal of hate if they so much as make mention of the holiday. Then at the other end, those who've pestered me with "Whatcha gonna get me? Huh? Huh?" (and meant it) as if they were still eight years old instead of well into their 30s. I'd just rather the whole thing was toned down lots.
Sorry, no lustful thoughts of Zarla. She's just a cute character. But feel free to imagine some if it'll disturb you any.
Re: You taunt me
Date: 2005-12-23 09:31 pm (UTC)Do I sound like I hate Christmas? I hate being bugged about Christmas or guilted into buying presents because someone else celebrates and insisted on buying me a gift, "trying to get me into the spirit." I do send out cards each year. Sometimes they're christmas cards, sometimes they're holiday cards, sometimes they're New Year's cards. If we had children, we probably would celebrate. Perhaps I'm just weirder than most but I lost my interest in Christmas in 1985 when I was 8. I just realized how "I, Me, Mine" it was and was ashamed of myself. I've never celebrated it since.