Winter is over, spring is here ...

It would seem that with Winter, came Commitments -- of the sort that prevent one from sitting in front of a computer and reflecting. Pop Culture Casualty had a baby, for heaven's sake! And the rest of us ... well, one thing or another. I know for myself, though, I've found myself wanting to return to OFP and muse, and ask questions, and make random assertions about the things going on in my life. So, welcome back, dear readers! Are any of you left?

This has been a VERY busy season for me. After spending the past decade either completely immersed in academia, or mostly immersed in child-rearing and attempting to be immersed in academia, my new work life (marketing and devo for a theatre company) is a sea change. As is, of course, living on my own, having been in my previous relationship for 13 years. I feel like I'm becoming an adult, finally, at 37.

To speed this process, I appear to be buying a house. All on my own, on my I-made-more-my-first-year-out-of-college salary. It's not the house of my dreams, and it's not in a sweet neighborhood, and I won't even have the money to do a budget makeover, at least for a while. (Avocado range and late 80s-era fridge, anyone?) However, it's six blocks away from my office, 2 1/2 blocks away from the Broad Street line, and a world away from me having to depend on anyone but myself.

Closing date is Thursday, April 15th, if all goes well. I have to be out of my apartment by June 1st, giving me a month and a half to do some work on the place before I move in. If I'm lucky, and my friends are generous (which they are), I should at least have everything fixed that needs to be. And after we move in, I'm thinking of sharing the place with a new friend:



If this cutie isn't still at the shelter, I'll see about one of her fellow orphans. I may be a grown-up, but I like sloppy dog kisses just as much as my six-year-old.

Hugo's Birthday

Today is the one-year anniversary of the day we brought our dog Hugo home from the shelter. In his honor we had a few people over today to celebrate what we deemed as "Hugo's 5th birthday." Okay, maybe it was more of a housewarming party and we just used Hugo as an excuse, but there was definitely canine treats and a dog-shapped cake involved.

For someone who never had dogs or cats growing up and at one point would have been described as a "non-pet person," my first year as a Doggie Mom has been one of learning. Everyone had always told me about the awesome bond between a dog and its owner, but I don't think I ever quite understood how much I would grow to love that damn dog.

Tim and I had been talking about getting a dog for years. He's wanted one since I met him, and I really warmed to the idea and was excited about it too. It was over three years ago that we got our first dog book and started to decipher the recommendations for which breeds would be the best fit for us. When we were looking for a new apartment last summer, we knew we wanted an apartment that allowed pets. We found one and started searching Petfinder.com even before we had moved in. Fast-forward several weeks and we were on the real hunt for a dog. We read Cesar Millan's book and put his series The Dog Whisperer on our NetFlix. We were a little frustrated in the beginning because we found out a Petfinder dog that caught our eye had already been adopted once we arrived at the shelter (even after we called and they said he was still there). Then, we applied for a dog that was being fostered, and for reasons we will never know, we weren't chosen to be the new mom and dad. I can only assume urban-bias--perhaps they didn't think the dog should be in a city apartment with no yard. Hell, they let anyone have children. We just wanted to save a life, adopt a dog and live happily after.

Well, the last Wednesday in August Tim and I were in Rittenhouse Square Park for their "Concert in the Park" series and the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) was there with several volunteers and several pooches. We went over to say hello and immediately fell in love with one of the dogs. They told us he was a St. Bernard / collie mix (I think the collie part was just a guess)--he has the coloring and face of a St. Bernard without the size. After a nice long walk with the dog, a discussion with one of the volunteers, and a walk with another dog for good measure, we adopted him right there. They said he was about four years old, maybe a little older and a family surrender. Apparently, his old family gave him up because they couldn't afford to feed him. He was skinny and had hair loss on his lower back and tail due to malnutrition. They told us the hair would grow back, all we had to do was feed him. The shelter called him King, but said it hadn't been his name for long and we should feel free to change it. We did, and he's been our Hugo ever since.

I could go into detail about the kennel cough he had when we first adopted him and how it developed into pneumonia, his separation anxiety issues and Houdini-eque escape, our car trip to Florida and back last Christmas, but those are stories that will have to wait. It's been a long day. I have doggie treats and human food to put away. And, a dog to walk.

Happy Birthday, Hugo!

Really?

After writing this post last night, I went to Google images to find an appropriate picture to accompany it. I typed in "garbage cans" and "South Philly." Just for fun I typed in "dog poop." While I was amused by the "I heart U" written in dog poo and the multiple photos of dogs in squat position, THIS PHOTO of a dog poop catcher absolutely blew my mind.

Of course, I had to click on the image, read the accompanying "The Strangest Pet Gadgets" article and post about it the following day.

I thought sure the photo would link to a story on the Onion. But no. Although it seems the perfect Saturday Night Live sketch, apparently this product is real.
I'll let you sleep on that.
Sweet dreams.

Hot Dog!

Dog friendly haunts in Philly:

1. The Sidecar at 22nd and Christian welcomes dogs outside. I just spent several hours with a friend and her dog at one of the sidewalk tables, drinking beer and admiring the other pups scattered around us -- the waiter got Hugo (a super-sweet Boxer) a bottle of water and checked back on him as well as us as the night progressed.
2. Good Karma Cafe on 22nd and Pine welcomes dogs -- if you're grabbing a cup inside, Pooch is welcomed in; if you're sitting outside, your canine friend is part of the family.
3. Tavern 17 at 17th and Locust has a "Yappy Hour" where you can drink people cocktails and Rex can drink his own concoction of broth and so forth. Delicious!
4. Parc is home to the wealthy and the well-fed canine -- you can't walk past without excusing yourself to shi-tzus and bichons who got there before you.

And for bars that sound like they should be dog friendly but aren't:
5. Good Dog may feature many pics on the walls, but Fido has to stay outside. :(