Who IS this dog?

Matt and I have always loved our Barley, but we recognize that he may have been a bit much for others in the past. He ate food out of kitchen sinks (ours as well as others), growled and snapped while eating his food or a bone, and even tried to kill another dog, which got him expelled from doggie daycare (though the specific details of that incident are debatable).

Lately, however, he seems to be a completely different dog. When Matt takes Barley for his morning walk, they hike through a nature preserve so Barley can be off his leash. They met up with another hiker and his dog recently, and Barley ran to the hiker, sat down and waited to be pet. "I hope my dog is as good as yours someday," the man said. Matt just laughed.

This morning, Barley sprinted ahead of Matt after leaving the nature preserve. He ended up in a neighborhood, heading straight for a woman who was trying to leave for work. Matt yelled "Stop!" Barley stopped instantly, frozen in mid-stride, sat down and looked back at Matt. "Oh, what a good dog," the woman said. Really? Our Barley? A good dog?

I think the difference is that we've finally stopped trying to control everything Barley does. We give him more independence (like leash-free walking in the nature preserve) and we "pick our battles," as my parents say. The result is a more obedient, more affectionate, more all-around wonderful dog. He's become the dog I dreamed of having when I cried about how bad he was when he was a puppy.

Good boy, Barley.

Ukraine Does Pop

One of Matt's coworkers is from Ukraine. Usually, he doesn't laugh at Matt's comments a la Yakov Smirnoff ("In Soviet Ukraine, car drive you!"), but every once in a while, he unearths a comedic jewel from his homeland that even he can't help but laugh at.

To understand the video, you have to have heard Katy Perry's "Hot 'n' Cold." Try to make it through the first chorus at least:

Then watch this version and tell me that it isn't 100 times better.

I especially like the fact that they refer to Katy Perry as "Katerina Perova."

Wordless Wednesday

My Little Shoes

One of my favorite stores in Baltimore is Ma Petite Shoe, a wonderful hybrid of shoes and chocolate. Aside from the delightful play on words ("mon petit chou" is a French expression which literally means "my little cabbage," but is a term of endearment), Ma Petite Shoe has some of the cutest shoes I've ever seen.

They're a tad pricy, so I only have one pair of Ma Petite Shoes (for now!), but I get compliments on them every time I wear them. It's a shame that a mere photo can't do them justice.

Who's mad with the money now?

Jon Stewart of The Daily Show and Jim Cramer of Mad Money have had an ongoing dispute for the last few weeks. One of the reasons I love The Daily Show so much is that, unlike "real" news shows, they're in a unique position to call people out for what they really are and say what the rest of us are thinking. And the fact that Jon Stewart is much more intelligent and clever than some give him credit for makes these types of showdowns all the more enjoyable.

Check out the recent interview below which brought the Stewart/Cramer feud to a head. Heads up for an F-bomb or two.

Jim Cramer Interview, Part 1

Jim Cramer Interview, Part 2

Jim Cramer Interview, Part 3

Playing dress-up

I used to love to play dress-up as a kid. By high school, I was in all the plays and musicals, in part because I loved the costumes.

A couple weeks ago, Matt and I went to a murder mystery party. It was great to reconnect with friends we hadn't seen in a while, but it was especially fun to play dress-up again:


I was a British romance novelist in love with a chocolate tycoon and Matt was an American boxer with poor hygiene and poorer manners.

p.s. The fur was fake and Matt was the murderer.

Snow puppy

The weather has been sunny and warm in Baltimore in recent days, but just last week, we had our third snow day. Beautiful, snowy scenes like these make me long for the winters of the Midwest.




These types of days also provide a perfect opportunity for some gratuitous video of Barley running in the snow, one of my very favorite sights:

The language of parents

A former co-worker sent me a great video a while ago. I hadn't seen it, and, apparently, I was one of the lone few. I surmised that it hadn't been forwarded to me because I'm not on anyone's "funny mom emails" forward lists. Whatever the reason, here it is, for the other one or two people who may not have seen it:



And thanks to my wonderful Aunt Lana (herself a mom) for sending me the follow-up, which I think is even funnier (and also startlingly accurate, I imagine):

Yes, My Opionion Matters

Matt and my students may not agree, but, according to Nielsen Media Research, I am a much-needed demographic! A lady from Nielsen called for Matt a few weeks ago, and I intercepted the call. She told me that she'd send me forms to fill out (I do love form-filling), along with $30 cash and a small TV diary. Add to that sales pitch the fact that I grew up listening to my parents talk about how they saved Cheers via Nielsen ratings, and I was on board.

Now I get to spend the next week diligently recording every program that our household watches. It's a bit confusing, and I'm a bit overwhelmed by the complicated diaries. She didn't tell me that I'd have to complete a separate diary for each TV and that I'd have to record both Matt's and my viewing habits, not to mention everything we record with the DVR. But if it means saving 30 Rock and my Frasier reruns, I'm up for the challenge.

Of course, that $30 cash from Nielsen will go quickly. I'm willing to help you save your favorites, too, for a price.

Happy National Grammar Day!

As part of our National Grammar Day lesson tomorrow, March 4th, some of my kids will draw pictures of misplaced modifiers. As my National Grammar Day gift to you, please enjoy a few examples:

1. We could see the water tower coming down the hill.
2. Until then, stoplights were run by operators with buttons.
3. Covered in wildflowers, Timmy pondered the hillside’s beauty.
4. Nailed to the fence, Sally saw the “No Trespassing” sign.
5. Jeff bought an old Jeep from a crooked dealer with a faulty transmission.
6. Sam screamed at the barking dog in his underwear.

7. My parents bought a house from a man with no inside plumbing.
8. Being out of order, the president asked me to sit down.
9. Fido was fed food by my dad in a dog dish.
10. Bumping along in a Jeep, the moon looked beautiful.
11. The patient was referred to a psychologist with several emotional problems.
12. Two cars were reported stolen by the Baltimore County police yesterday.
13. Please take time to look over the brochure that is enclosed with your family.
14. Leaking in several places, the Scouts abandoned their tents.
15. As we begin, I must ask you to banish all information from your minds, if you have any.
16. A suburb and inexpensive restaurant, fine food was served by waitresses in appetizing forms.
17. Sizzling on the grill, Theo smelled the Copper River salmon.
18. For Sale: An antique table suitable for guests with thick legs and large drawers.
19. Wanted: Men to take care of cows that do not smoke or drink.

20. For Sale: Mixing bowl set designed to please a cook with a round bottom for efficient beating.