The antidote to stress

The novelistic dog diversion

Check out this darling piece published by Slate last week, that my co-worker sent to me. It's on the role of the obligatory dog bark in a moment of great tension in the modern novel. As a lover of both barks and books, I do appreciate the recognition the dog's voice gains here for its purpose in contemporary fiction, albeit brief.

Bully trends

So, I'm a little peeved that I'm JUST learning about Etsy, the blissfully addictive online store of independent vendors that sell a (girly) variety of crafts, jewelry, bags, belts, art, apartment knickknacks, and my favorite thing of all: stationary. Ok, just discovered they sell cookies, too. HOW DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS!?

No doubt I pursued the bully search, and I have to say, I haven't seen such an extensive collection of squeal-worthy bull terrier artifacts since Cafe press. The perplexing physique and endearing, pinchable face of the bully is apparently irresistible to artists. My heart melted as my mom and I found dead-on representations of the holy trinity: Snarkie, Odie, and Gracie. Not kidding.


Behold the tranquil, somewhat melancholy Snarkie, enjoying a cup of afternoon tea, contemplating a nap after several hours of reading Pascal. He thinks: "All of our reasoning ends in surrender to feeling."


Odie is poised for attack, but he's not sure why, or what he's looking for. He thinks wants a treat. He thinks he saw a squirrel. He thinks he heard his name. He pants, waddles around and gives up with a sigh. As usual, his intentions are good, but he just can't get it together.


Finally, the princess has arrived. Gracie is well-aware of her spoiled brat status, and fully satisfied with being the cutest, youngest, and simply the favoritest of the flock. ...I give up, this friggin' painting looks exactly like her and it's totally freaky. She even lies down that way, and puts her ears back like that, especially when she's about to receive some serious petting.

Puppy alert!

In lieu of my lazy silence this week, I present an adorable, squishable, mushable, 8-week old Jack Russell Terrier that one of my co-workers just brought home this weekend. How do I love thee, little puppy wuppy? Let me count the ways...

Seriously? Your cuteness is hurting me. I can't wait for bring your dog to work day.

Antibiotici e Fellini

Ciao tutti,

Yesterday I went to the doctor and found out that the headaches I've been having for the past few weeks were sinus headaches, and now I essentially have a sinus infection. Needless to say, I got a few tubes of some strong medicine, changed into my jammies, and cozied up with tea and Netflix for the rest of Saturday.

8 1/2 (1963) is one of those Italian movies I've always wanted to watch, but was terrified to attempt without ever having been a film history student. Then when Nine (2009) came out a few months ago, I figured I should watch the original before the (psuedo-)remake. I wasn't expecting to understand it, or comment on it in any way, and I was going to kind of pretend I'd never seen it in case someone might approach me to discuss "il genio di Fellini"... or something.

But I have to say, I think I got it. I really did. I'm not going to articulate (surprise!), but if you go into this film with the notion of: I'm pretty sure this is out of my league, what the hell am I doing? You'll actuallybe pretty relieved at the accessibility and relatibility of the recurring themes and main characters (all of whom you're supposed to adore - at least I did).

I'll show you a clip of one of my favorite scenes. Guido, the main character, is being visited by his wife, Luisa, and her friend, Rossella, at the spa/resort, where he is residing for a time, to relax. Carla, Guido's mistress, shows up unexpectedly, and is seen and observed by all three. Luisa knows what's up, and starts hissing at her husband. Up until this scene, she's been reserved and silently accepting of Guido's unfaithful behavior, which kind of pissed me off. But now she really lets him have it, and you don't have to understand Italian to know what's going on.

The thing is... I really like Carla (sigh).

The scene progresses into a hillarious fanatsy where Guido lives happily with all the women of his life, in one house. Wife and mistresses embrace each other as friends and family. IT'S SO FUNNY! (Feminist friends: the key to not be offended by this sequence is to remember that Guido is the weak and inadequate male character that brings these strong and capable women together in "unreality"). Enjoy.

Paparazzi pups

Whoever thought of melding Lady Gaga with Westminster Kennel Club ads is a GENIUS. Beats the crap out of those weepy Sarah McLachlan commercials.