EmBlog

Since adopting our dog, Jolie, last fall, Damien and I have had a thrilling time getting to know her better, both as an individual and as one of the canine kind.  I grew up with dogs and so I met Jolie with a certain level of experience.  However, in working from home I have had […]

Just heard about a great website on Vermont NPR.  Their motto is: “Ideas worth spreading”, with the mission: “Bring big ideas to everyone”.  The basic concept is that by sharing 18-minute, thoughtful and animated talks on various topics of our day online, anyone who visits the site can benefit from information and be inspired to […]

Why is it that Americans are so bloodthirsty?  Does it date back to our days of taming the wild frontier, or the residual dreams of meat and potatoes brought over from Europe?  Is it just another expression and celebration of our own wealth, since meat is so difficult (resource-draining, labor-intensive) to produce?  Whatever its source, […]

For as long as I can remember, I have known that I would someday have my own dog.  One of the old family videos shows the day I came home from the hospital, and who should be first to investigate my plump, flushed little face as my mom brought me out of the car?  No, not my […]

I have a new favorite toy! A key chain that has a little green stuffed animal attached to it, called a “Monstarz!”. Cheesy name aside, this is the most awesome stuffed animal ever!  And really makes me want to buy more (ah, what a good consumer…). They come in all sizes and shapes, including pillow-sized, and […]

Sometime last week–either Thursday or Friday, mid- to late-morning–a man came into my back yard with his lawn mower. This is normal; he does it every couple of weeks, though as far as I have been able to tell he doesn’t follow any strict mowing schedule. He does an excellent job cutting our lawn, and […]

Sad news: today marks the death of my dear fishie, Bean. I buried his fragile, feathery red body out in the garden, and hope he brings good luck and lots of tasty vegetables. I hate to say it, but I think it was love that killed him: when his illness and strange behavior didn’t seem […]

Once upon a time, there was a graduate student who reeeeeally wanted a pet. Actually, she wanted a dog. But when she got to the pet store she realized, once again, that getting a dog would have to wait: dogs are too expensive and demanding for a broke grad student. So she decides to get […]