DogTwist.com

I recently started writing for a UK-based web site called "Dogtwist.com."  They've done a nice job putting the site together and the employer is one of the friendliest I've worked for, so I thought I'd give them (and me) a plug. I've written two articles for them so far: one on pets and divorce and one on dogs in other cultures.

The dogs in other cultures article is one I just finished and was harder to write then I expected. While researching, I came across a lot of horrible things done to dogs in other cultures that I won't go into here. (Not that horrible things don't happen to dogs in our culture. I live in an area where people seem to think it's acceptable to chain a dog in a backyard and leave him there for the next seven years.) But I ended the article with what has been a favorite quote of mine for some time:

 "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."  - Gandhi

I think the greatness of a person and their moral progress may also be judged by the way the individual treats their animals.

Let's all go out and be great today.

"Kiss My Kitty Butt" Home Game Sweeps The Nation

My friend Ed has two daughters, ages I think 9 and 11. He called me last night about six and I heard the screams and laughter of about 5 pre-teen girls. "Dena's on the phone," said Ed, and all the girls shouted a chorus of "HI!"

"What's this about?" I asked.

"The girls are playing Denaball," Ed replied.

I have no memory of inventing a game called Denaball, so I took the bait. "And what, exactly, might that be?"

"That," said Ed, "means they've taken one of their stuffed cat dolls and lined up on either side of the dining room table. The object is to push the cat doll past the players on the other side, and have it fall all or partially off the table."

"Uh-huh," I said.

"Well then, if you succeed, you yell, 'Kiss My Kitty Butt! " As he said this, screams of laughter came from behind him.

How cool is that? There is no greater compliment in life than to have a group of pre-teen girls--the harshest critics on the planet--embrace your vision of a world filled with "Kiss My Kitty Butt!"  I begged Ed to send me a picture of the girls playing the game, to post on the blog. I also asked for the complete set of rules, so I can post those as well. Then all of you can enjoy the home version of "Kiss My Kitty Butt."

I didn't stop smiling all night.

Do You Watch U-Tube?

If you're under 30, you no doubt are well acquainted with U-Tube, the site where bored, marginally talented people with way too much time on their hands post video clips for those of us who are bored, completely untalented, but also have way too much time on our hands.

I never go to U-Tube unless someone e-mails me a link with the requisite, "This is funny!" note attached. Even then, I may or may not visit. There are too many other things I'd rather do in life than sit in front of a computer all day and surf. (One of them is sitting in front of my computer blogging about how superior I am for not spending all my time surfing.)

Anyway, I friend sent me a link to a funny cat video. Here it is: http://youtube.com/watch?v=mHXBL6bzAR4&feature=related. I enjoyed the first video so much, I found a second. Here's that one: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Qit3ALTelOo&feature=related. Then I was having so much fun, I found a third: http://youtube.com/watch?v=DpA2tMrQ4RU&feature=related.

At this point, it was obvious I needed help. I managed to close down my U-Tube connection and haven't dared go back since.  I see now how people get sucked in and suddenly 2 hours have disappeared.

Not me. I'm logging off right now.

But you should go watch the cat videos. They're really funny.

If You Need Me, I'll Be Reading

Pluto must be aligned with Mars or some odd planet formation has taken place. How else to explain that in the last 2 days every single magazine we subscribe to has hit our mailbox? Seriously, the mailbox is spitting them out like pez. Sitting atop my kitchen table are the latest issues of:

• The New Yorker
• Newsweek
• Pink
• The Toastmaster
• Writer's Digest
• Poets & Writers
• Vegetarian Times
• Runner's World
• Travel & Leisure
• Working Mother

I could read from now until Tuesday non-stop and still not be done. Not that I won't try.  My type-A personality can't STAND to let them sit there unread. They must be read--and right now!

I'm not checking the mail tomorrow...