Tired of carols and forced jollity? Think that giving and receiving shouldn’t focus on a single day of the year? You’ve come to the right place. I’m here to assure you that you’re not a loser, curmudgeon, or bad person just because you’re not involved in the holiday frenzy (though, for all I know, you…
Holiday stress? Some music to soothe the savage breast
First things first: I don’t think dogs are savages. I often look to Frankie for wisdom, as my last post attests. But every time I’ve used the phrase “soothe the savage breast” in the past, an editor has changed “breast” to “beast”; one even accused me of having my mind in the gutter. Also, the…
WWFD: What would Frankie do?
During my failed blog revamp these last weeks, I’ve been on an emotional roller coaster, one minute frustrated with my web guru, the next hopeful he could accomplish what was promised. I alternated between the personae of six of the seven Disney dwarfs, especially Grumpy and Dopey (I exclude Sleepy because I get insomnia when…
Five Nonfiction Dog Books I Love
[originally posted November 28, 2009] After yesterday’s shameless self-promotion post for Am I Boring My Dog, I thought it only fair to talk about some of the books that influenced, inspired, or otherwise gave me great reading pleasure while I was doing my research. Full disclosure: I started putting this list together for Flashlight Worthy…
A dog as a holiday gift? Think again.
[originally posted November 11th, 2009] It’s approaching that time of year when people drink too much, eat too much, sleep with their co-workers at holiday parties (if they have jobs outside their homes that still throw holiday parties) and otherwise do self-destructive stuff. That’s really none of my business; I’m right there with them (except…
Remembrance of Pets Past: Dia de los Muertos
Halloween has never been my holiday. It might have had something to do with my mother’s dislike of what she considered a religious — and not one of ours — observance, her reluctance to take me on the rounds of my Brooklyn apartment building (which wasn’t especially kid-friendly anyway). It might have had to do…
Frankie: The first five years
Yesterday was the fifth anniversary of adopting Frankie, my first dog, ever. In honor of that occasion, I was going to write a paean to the joys of life with a dog. Not coincidentally, however, the day Frankie was brought over to my house — in rescuer parlance, his “forever home,” a phrase I detest…
Frankie Doodle: International Dog of Mystery
It’s been an exciting week, but not in a good way. First, I thought I was losing my mind. Then I realized I had been robbed. I’m still not sure which was worse. But before I go further, let me assure you: Both Frankie and I are fine. It all started Monday when I came…
Will My Dog Hurt Me?
Don’t worry. I’m not going to regale you with tales of vicious mastiffs who turn on their owners in a fit of rage. Nor do I intend to debunk the notion of unconditional love (though people sometimes forget that dogs don’t always demonstrate it — say, when you interrupt their mealtimes). Rather, I’d like to…
Frankie Doodle Jarolim, the early years
It’s funny. I still think of myself as a novice dog owner. My new book, Am I Boring My Dog, is written from the point of view of someone who’s recently been there, worried about that. But posting the details of my latest contest made the fact that five years have passed since I adopted…