Awkward family holiday card photos
Some of my favorites from the Awkward Family Photos website (click a thumbnail to see the full photo in all its glory, then use your “Back” button to return to this page):
Kiss someone’s forehead today!
I hereby declare today (and for that matter, every day) International Kiss Someone’s Forehead Day. As you can see, it’ll make you BOTH feel better!
(Thanks to Nick for the submission!)
Cat bloopers
I’ve done my fair share of on-camera work, and sometimes it doesn’t always come out the way you’d planned when the director says, “Action”. Good thing I have a fondness for blooper reels (another reason we stay after the credits of movies…just in case).
I also love animals, and although I don’t have a cat–we do have a dog and a bunny–I appreciate how silly they can be. And apparently they’re pretty gutsy hunters and great with children. Who knew?
So now for your viewing pleasure, a cat blooper reel. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect from this…but once you see a cat pants a guy in the kitchen (:29), there’s no going back. Enjoy!
Tarra & Bella
Sunday Morning did a feature this morning on Tarra and Bella, the unlikely friends at the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. After a past few tough days (too much loss), this brightened me up right away and improved my day like nobody’s business. The video is below, check out the complete story at the CBS website:
And here’s my favorite recent update from ohmidog:
Disney pitched a live action movie that would star Tarra or another trained elephant. Scott Blais and Carol Buckley, cofounders of the sanctuary, answered with a resounding no.
“It just goes against the core of who the sanctuary is,” Blais said.
“We don’t want them to be in those environments where they’re dominated and trained to perform for people,” Buckley said.
As Hartmann summed up: “Here at the sanctuary, they’ve got this crazy idea that animals — elephants especially — aren’t just here to serve us. They honestly believe that some animals are here for the same reasons we are — to love and do for others, whether it’s appreciated or not.”
Now that’s refreshing…
Jasmine, rescue dog and 50-time surrogate mom
Jasmine, a 7-year-old greyhound, was found dumped in a garden shed in 2003. She was brought to the Nuneaton and Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary, nursed back to health by the sanctuary staff…and found her true calling.
Since arriving at the shelter, Jasmine has played foster mother to five fox cubs, four badger cubs, 15 chicks, eight guinea pigs, two stray puppies, and 15 rabbits. As of December 31, 2008 (when the full article on Jasmine appeared in The Daily Mail), she was caring for Bramble, a tiny 11-week-old roe deer fawn found semi-conscious in a nearby field.
Check out the pictures below to see more of Jasmine and her brood.
(By the way, this story and the accompanying photos have been confirmed to be 100% true and real by snopes.com…at one point they put a towel under the barn owl so her claws wouldn’t hurt Jasmine, but that’s the only “work” that was done.)
(Thanks to Tina for the submission!)
Happy Birthday, Chanel! 21 years old…or 120
Did I mention that Chanel is a rescue dachsund mix? World’s oldest dog, she’s doing just fine and “loves to play.” Her owner attributes her old age to a daily glucosamine treat (good advice, we’re starting that with Charley tomorrow).
From the article on the Today Show website:
They say every dog has its day, but this one has had more than most: Chanel, a dachshund mix, is going to be celebrating her 21st birthday (that’s 120 in human years, according to Chanel’s veterinarian). And though she wears “doggles” for cataracts and gets cold easily, there’s life in the old dog yet.
The birthday girl, looking sporty in a pink sweater and the trademark red goggles she wears because of her cataracts, visited the TODAY show set in New York Wednesday with her owner, Denice Shaughnessy.
How to give a cat a pill vs. how to give a dog a pill
Helpful (and oh so true) advice for pet owners:
HOW TO GIVE A CAT A PILL:
- Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat’s mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.
- Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.
- Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.
- Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm, holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.
- Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.
- Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat’s throat vigorously.
- Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.
- Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.
- Drink one beer to take taste of pill away, check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans. Apply Band-Aid to spouse’s forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.
- Retrieve cat from neighbor’s shed. Get another pill. Open another beer. Place in cupboard and close door so that cat’s head is sticking out. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.
- Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Pour shot, drink. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Apply whiskey to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw ruined T-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.
- Call fire department to retrieve the !@#$%&*cat from across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrap.
- Tie the little !@#$%&*’s front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind to leg of dining table. Get heavy-duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of filet steak. Hold head vertically and pour water down throat to wash pill down.
- Get spouse to drive you to emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new dining table.
- Strongly consider arranging for SPCA to collect mutant cat from hell. Call local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.
HOW TO GIVE A DOG A PILL:
- Wrap it in bacon.
- Toss it in the air.
(Thanks to Tina in St. Thomas for the submission!)
