cheerfulmonk.com

Rose was right yesterday, of course,

Animals may not hate, but some fight to death over who gets to mate with the females..dogs will fight just to establish who is dominate, and there is more but too much to type on phone with.

Not all pups are as kind and patient as Sola,

and Toby,

So how can I, an ex-science major, justify some of my overly romantic visions? That’s easy, I don’t pretend they’re true. I’m with Ashleigh Brilliant,

I have given up my search for truth. Now I’m looking for a good fantasy.

I spend a lot of time reading and trying to understand what’s going on in the world. To keep from getting depressed I balance that time with uplifting stories — often true, but sometimes idealized. Stories that keep me strong, happy, hopefully more kind and loving, and engaged in life. As Merle Shain wrote,

The answer doesn’t lie in learning how to protect ourselves from life—it lies in learning how to become strong enough to let a bit more of it in.

Amen to that.

January 2, 2025

gocomics.com/theothercoast

That reminds me of this quote:

Animals don’t hate, and we’re supposed to be better than them.
—Elvis Presley

Happy New Year!

January 1, 2025

Auld Lang Syne is one of my favorite songs. Here are the lyrics:

Should old acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot
and old lang syne?

[Chorus – this part repeats after every verse]
For auld lang syne, my dear
for auld lang syne
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet
for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup
and surely I’ll buy mine
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet
for auld lang syne.

We two have run about the slopes
and picked the daisies fine;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot
since auld lang syne.

We two have paddled in the stream
from morning sun till dine
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

And there’s a hand my trusty friend
And give me a hand o’ thine
And we’ll take a right goodwill draught
for auld lang syne

And here are two renditions. I posted them two years ago, but they still move me.

Happy New Year’s Eve.

December 31, 2024

gocomics.com/9to5

December 30, 2024

There is more action as the days progress.

December 29, 2024

I can’t show this video here, so if you’re interested, please click on the photo (and skip the first ad).

I’ve been seeing articles that say we’re having a loneliness epidemic nowadays. That hasn’t been true for me. I was often lonely when I was younger, but I haven’t been lonely in years even though I spend most of my time alone. That would no doubt change if something happens to Andy, and I know I would be lonely if I lost my connections through the internet. I would also feel lonely if I had to spend a lot of my time with people with interests different from me.

What about you?

December 28, 2024
 

gocomics.com/boundandgagged

December 27, 2024

Ginny asked, and this 2016 post has the answer:

From one of Sammy’s posts.

They’ve decided to name the pup The Tempest, Tempi for short. Where did they get the name? From the same place they got Banshee and Sammy and Montana’s names — from a book of cocktail recipes. Banshee is named after the Banana Banshee; Sammy’s name is really Sambuca, and Montana’s complete name was really Montana Tornado. They chose The Tempest from the possibilities because Tempi is energetic like Montana was.

Why name them after cocktails? Because when they were trying to decide what to name Banshee and Sammy a friend handed them the book of recipes and said, “Here’s a book of dog names.” It was a helpful joke so they’ve used the book ever since.

August 14, 2016

 

For more details about Tempi visit her blog.

I hope you all have a great Christmas Day and season. I’m repeating what I wrote last year, about my favorite Christmas pictures:

These are two of my favorite Christmas pictures, and I wasn’t even there. Kaitlin, Torben, and the pups had moved to California for about 18 months, and they arrived at their new place on December 22, 2021. I had been watching the weather as they approached CA, keeping my fingers crossed that they wouldn’t get stopped by snow around Donner Pass. They just made it. The road was closed the very next day.

So it warmed my heart to get these pictures of

Tempi:

and their Christmas tree:

It still warms my heart to look at them.

Stay safe and warm, everyone. And have a wonderful Christmas Day.

December 25, 2024

when even Santa is angry.

gocomics.com/offthemark

December 24, 2024