sock

This Is No Ordinary Love

I've Got 2 Tickets to PARADISE!

Agent X and I went to The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show yesterday. It was my first outing after having been smote down with strep throat (which explains the minimal posting lately) and I could not have been more happy to share my debut with thousands of dogs!

Where did dog shows come from? Beauty pageants? There are more similarities between the two than just talk about bitches. For example, all the dog owners are striving to achieve a narrowly-defined manifestation of perfection, which has something to do with leg-length, musculature, a glistening mouth, a nice "topline", and an erect tail.

But when dogs win, they do not squeal or cry; their owners do. I cannot put my finger on it, but the desire to compete surely is conncected to the owner's sense of vanity. The dogs are there because of the doggie treats. I had no idea that every move they make is prompted by the promise of a scoobie snack. But you'd think that if the owner's are so fixated on appearance, they'd make an effort to wear decent shoes.

Don't get me wrong, I had a GREAT time. I adore all dogs, big and small. I'd rather run around in a field with them than show them, but that's just me. (Hell, I'd rather run around in a field than just about anything, to be honest, dog or no dog. Cute guy preferably. Anyway....). One very special feature of the dog show is that you can also do a little meet and greet with the dogs behind the scenes, something that should be instituted into all shows - fashion shows, rock shows, broadway shows, etc. I got to meet some of my favorites -

Levi in show:

Levi face-to-face:

(so cute I can barely stand it!)

- and see how some of the magic is made.

I swear, some dogs had a whole team of groomers and handlers.

("....the Never-Ending Story, reach the stars, fly a fantasy dream...")

That is a dog. See?

Join me tomorrow for Part 2 - Chihuahuas!

By the way, I found my future dog:

WATCH THE FINALS tonight at 8 on USA.

Cognitive Dissonance

As all followers of "sock" know, I am animal friendly. I mean, who has not thought, on a particularly dark day, or even not-so-dark, that they would prefer the company of animals to people? I just don't think I could get through life without the soothing presence of an animal snoozing nearby.

Okay, you get it. So when I heard that the White House had a little christmas movie featuring Barney, G Dub's Scottish Terrier, I had to check it out.

I'm reluctant to pass this on, because the storyline is pathetically weak and GW, Karl Rove, and Ari Fleischer just goof off like the frat boys they are, but Barney -- he cute! Someone please save him!

Barney Cam II: Barney Reloaded Released Friday

It shouldn't suprise anyone that Barney is clearly more talented than Bush. Also, according to the New York Times, Bush has called Barney "the son I never had", which I'm sure makes his daughters feel great.

There's a new girl in town...

... and she's looking good!
There's a fresh freckled face, in the neighborhoood!
There's a new girl in town, with a brand new style!
Presenting: Miss Edie!
If things work out she's gonna stay awhile!

forgive me

I know it's a mortal sin to post about your pets:
Gothamist: Gothamist Notes 1: What Not to Do When You Blog,
but here's a shot of my cat fetching.

It's the little things, isn't it?