Merry Christmas

and Happy New Year! I hope it's a wonderful week ahead for everyone.

A Christmas Carol

Top Ten and a Rant

Time is out with its Top Ten Everything of 2009. My favorite is the Top Ten Under-reported Stories because I learned a few things. Here is the entire list, some of which is just... odd.

I spotted a sad story on Yahoo this morning: Pop culture main reason Calif has Chihuahua crisis

Chihuahuas make up 30 percent or more of the dog populations at many California shelters. And experts say pop culture is to blame, with fans immitating Chihuahua-toting celebrities like Paris Hilton and Miley Cyrus, then abandoning the dogs.

Pop culture and stupid, selfish people who think it's okay to take an animal in then just dump it off on someone else when it becomes inconvenient. This sort of stupidity just pisses me off. A member of the family pulled this stunt recently and my sister and I went ballistic on that person. Sadly neither of us can take in the animal in question so we're hunting for a home.

For the California Chihuahua problem there is something of a bright side:

"We never have enough supply for the huge consumer demand for small dogs," she said. One of Webb's biggest problems is a lack of money to fly the dogs to other states. Buchwald said she would be happy to help. "Nothing is outside the realm of possibility here. We have a supply-demand isssue," she said.

But it is no solution. Of course there is no solution for stupid, selfish, thought-less people. We just have to put up with them and correct their mistakes.

You can make donations of money or supplies at your local shelter. Petfinder.com (and other sites) can give you a list of shelters in your area. Please, people, don't adopt now - the holidays are the worst time to adopt pets - just go visit them, take some food and think about whether or not you can take on a new family member in the coming year.

Just sharing

an article I spotted:

The Afghanistan War Through a Marine Mother's Eyes

In other news, I had three or four inches of snow at the Farm overnight. It's howling like mad outside right now. The ride back home tonight should be "interesting" if this all freezes up.

First Snow

We got a tiny bit of snow at the Farm on Saturday. It looked like a blizzard out there but very little stuck. What little did stick is now frozen solid to the ground. More snow is predicted for Tuesday night and then rain. So... winter has finally arrived.

Even though very little of the white stuff stuck to the ground I thought I'd take a picture and post it. I have unearthed the camera but it needs to be charged and I can't find the charger. Ah, the joys of moving. I'll come across it eventually I guess.

On my wish list this year is a large embroidery stand with scoll frames. My hands keep cramping up holding onto the hoops so it's time to move up to the big time and have a standing frame. As if I need one more thing...

But no books this year! Seriously, Santa, I've appreciated the books you've given me over the past forty something years but I just don't have any more room for them. Of course this means I'll go on some crazy book-buying binge at my birthday, but for right now no.more.books!

Oh, and for what it's worth, I have not had sex with Tiger Woods.