Puppy Panic

Some people have dogs that are scaredy-cats.

It started off with Jason E: 'Our dog Bailey’s fears seem fairly rational: thunder & lightning, the vacuum. But we discovered a new one last weekend:
The process of putting batteries in the Wii remote just terrifies her'

And then he asked:

'What's the most inexplicable thing your pet is afraid of?'

Some of the many replies to his query:

My friend files his Doberman’s claws with a dremel, but the dog can’t watch. It has to look away while he does it. -Randy

We came upon a worker in a drain so only the top half of his body was showing. This freaked my dog out so bad she wouldn’t walk past -June

My friend's dog was afraid of his own farts. We’d hear a soft eruption and his head would snap up, he’d sniff his rear end and sprint away - all the while looking behind him to see if it was following. wonderful entertainment for two 12 year olds! -Jarrod

My badass-looking Shepherd is afraid of frail elderly people -Steve

I have the most laid-back horse ever, til a baby buggy rolls by -LT

My corgi, Snickers, chases after the vacuum, protects my nephew during storms, and barks at strange dogs five times her size. But yesterday, during a leisurely drive, my fearless corgi dove under the seat in terror when a maple leaf blew in the car window. - Danielle

My cat is afraid of fat people. She broke her leash once, when trying to run away from our large neighbour. embarrassing… hard to explain tactfully why my cat suddenly had to run for her life when he left his apartment -Mimi

My dog is afraid of plates. She will only eat from one if it has sat on the floor long enough for her to believe that it won’t move. If it moves while she's eating? she runs away. - LAM

My cat appears to be disgusted by waffles. Toast and butter a couple of waffles, and he will flee the room with claws extended -Jaime

Our Sheltie, Ace, barks hysterically at toast...
& the word “toast” (because it means “toast”).
& butter (because it goes on toast).
& jelly (see “Butter”)... Ace is very anti-toast. -Chris

Our lab was terrified of a snowman in our neighborhood. I walked her (read: dragged her) over to the snowman to show her that it was harmless. Thereafter, every day we had to visit the snowman. -jane

Wood floors. The dog leaps between rugs to get around -Megan

My bf's dog is afraid of empty pizza boxes. -Christina

Our cat is scared of bananas. She’ll run if she hears you tearing one off the bunch, and if you come up to her with a peeled one, she hisses and bats at you -Donna

My dog is terrified of rain. She’ll beg to go outside to potty, but the second she feels a drop of rain, she runs back in. Which is a problem, cuz we live in Seattle! -kl

Spot was afraid of wind – he’d hear it thru the window and run into the bathtub! The only other thing which scared him was when my ex would make Thai curry -Spiro

My Jack Russell loves the hair dryer, vacuum, fireworks, and anything loud (his favorite being tiny girls as they scream when he chases them) But he is deathly afraid of bubble gum bubbles. It’s straight under a pillow if you blow one his direction -Dez

My bunny is terrified of the sound of foil, panics and bolts -Bonnie

Dog refused to use the front door when we replaced the doormat -Barb

My cat’s afraid of tupperware. - Kat H

My lab mix developed a fear of pasta. If you’re boiling it or even shake the box at him, he hides behind the couch - mee

My dog loves to watch TV, but absolutely LOSES it when animals talk like people (eg. Salem the cat on Sabrina) not sure how much is fear and how much is jealousy, however - Alyssa

My dog is afraid of things with antlers, & me on Halloween - Susan

Our dog was afraid of cameras, remote control cars, & lighters. My parents lined these things up on the couch when they went out so he'd stay off of it -Rissa

My dog is afraid of getting his hair/nails cut and of snow. A few weeks ago we gave him a trim and then there was a blizzard. poor guy didn’t stop shaking for days -vegeb

My dog is terrified of paper plates. every time he sees me eating off of one, he shies away and shakes until I throw it out -RS

Our lab is afraid of unlit candles. Show one to her and she runs away like a mad thing, but comes back for more -Brooke

Mine is afraid of my 16 oz. chinchilla. Laughed so hard at the dog being chased around the kitchen by the tiny chinchilla -Caroline

My dog is terrified of Jesus, Mary & Joseph (plastic xmas ones) -Carrie

Both my dog and cat are afraid of aerosol sprays, or even if I just make a “sssspt!” at them (guess I’m mean since I find it hysterical) -Miss T

my poor doggie is afraid of guitars. unfortunately, i’m gonna have to take blame for that one since i used to chase him around the house with one when he was a puppy -mariaaa

My dog is afraid of the words “Dorito” and “burrito.” -Tiffani

my dog is afraid of the toaster, it pops up she wigs out -Julia

*these anti-toast pets?... dogs -love- toast, yes?*


Too bad those dogs & cats can't talk - wouldn't you like to know what's really going on in their minds, and in those houses?

---

^{JE's orig link @} Mental Floss

Here's A Toast?

Odd toasters I've run across recently
*click* images to go to original links.

I see it now; my toaster lacks ambition.

Brevity Is The...

... Soul Of Wit .* _{*I hope. Shakespeare's claim, yes?}
At any rate, the/an explanation is below.
so, without further ado, here's my tacky tale:

---

‘Astronomy’

Had to tell someone, so I went to my best pal. He runs a micro-lending bank in a vacant lot, under the shade of a toothpick tree. His business was slow that day, so I talked while we drank. We got through a fifth of Jack Daniels before he spoke.

‘You’ll get your revenge; we’re going to Torquemada!’

‘We’re going to see the leader of The Tube Police!?’

‘No, no, ‘Torquemada’, the pepper capital of Spain.’

‘Huh? – I don’t get it – I’m as lost as a bear in a 12-step program.’

Ignoring my confusion he continued: ”Those college ’sports’ from the astrolab that glued Uranus open while they poured in Ugandan coffee? We’ll return the favor...

We’re getting the hottest peppers T-town sells, and stuffing them into their wormholes so far that they’ll glow like radioactive isotopes. They’ll be singing a ‘Neptune’ when we get done. Heck, they’ll be blowing bubbles out their kazoos that’ll kill a tarantula at five paces. Lets go.”

Two days later, a new Big Bang took place. Success.

(the end, as it were)

---

Yesterday 'The Daily Wit' posted my story.(link)

Its the first one I've entered as part of their series of random topics. And (I know you guessed) the italicised words were the 15 required items.

I took some care trying to make it as readable, yet as compact as possible, so I was quite pleased when the webmaster there used a quote from Mark Twain to praise my effort... Woo! (insert smiley face here) Hope you enjoyed it.

The Nifty Fifty

No 'Top Chef' tonight? Find fun fare elsewhere...

Food Network's U.S. Burger countdown, state by state
*click* on the image to go to their 'live' map

California's 'In-n-Out' was the only 'chain' I noticed.
Chicago's 'Kuma's Corner' sounds more like Hawaii.
And NY's burger joint? Amazingly, "Burger Joint".

And for my Charm City pals - Baltimore's winner is:
Mother's Fed Hill Grille 'Heart Attack on a Plate'
Is it any good?

Famous Faces

Anyone here look familiar?...

Actually, the image above is part of a visual puzzle from the FBI.
When you click this Famous Faces link you go to a color photo of 40 faces that are in some way related to the FBI, and your job is to guess who is who. Hint: #39 is a not a Conehead from SNL.

But the FBI does have a sense of humor...

... there are 3 'FBI agents' from TV shows in it.

*click image at top to see just the answer page

Nine-tee-nine thangs

The Claw: nine-tee-nine thangs

Couldn't resist another list.
(no food this time, except caviar)

.1. [_x_] Started your own blog - Doh!
.2. [_x_] Slept under the stars - camping
.3. [_x_] Played in a band
.4. [___] Visited Hawaii - I will, tho!
.5. [_x_] Watched a meteor shower
.6. [___] Given more than you can afford to charity
.7. [_x_] Been to Disneyland (& DWorld)
.8. [_x_] Climbed a mountain (small one)
.9. [___] Held a praying mantis
10. [___] Sang a solo (does karaoke count?)
11. [___] Bungee jumped
12. [_x_] Visited Paris (on my birthday!)
13. [_x_] Watched lightning at sea (on a big lake)
14. [_x_] Taught yourself an art from scratch (gb house)
15. [___] Adopted a child
16. [_x_] Had food poisoning
17. [_x_] Walked to top of Statue of Liberty
18. [_x_] Grown your own vegetables
19. [_x_] Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. [_x_] Slept on an overnight train (as a kid)
21. [_x_] Had a pillow fight
22. [_x_] Hitch hiked (once, w/ a friend)
23. [_x_] Taken a sick day when not ill
24. [_x_] Built a snow fort (built & destroyed...)
25. [___] Held a lamb (petted one)
26. [_x_] Gone skinny dipping - at night ;-)
27. [___] Run a Marathon (have -biked- 26 mi...)
28. [___] Ridden a gondola in Venice
29. [_x_] Seen a total eclipse
30. [_x_] Watched a sunrise/sunset
31. [___] Hit a home run (desperately wanted to!)
32. [_x_] Been on a cruise (just a weekender)
33. [_x_] Seen Niagara Falls in person (wet!)
34. [___] Visited birthplace of your ancestors
35. [_x_] Seen an Amish community
36. [_x_] Taught yourself a language (Jap./poorly)
37. [_x_] Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. [___] Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa
39. [_x_] Gone rock climbing
40. [1/2] Seen Michelangelo’s David (at London's V&A)
41. [_x_] Sung karaoke (and have the video ;-)
42. [___] Seen Old Faithful geyser
43. [_x_] Bought stranger a meal at a restaurant - yes
` ` *Saw a lady being very kind to an old dude, we paid.
44. [1/2] Visit Africa (Gibralter, & Canary Il)
45. [_x_] Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. [___] Transported via ambulance (knock wood)
47. [___] Had your portrait painted
48. [___] Gone deep sea fishing (deep lake ;-)
49. [_x_] Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. [_x_] Been to top of Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. [_x_] Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. [_x_] Kissed in the rain
53. [_x_] Played in the mud
54. [_x_] Gone to a drive-in theater
55. [_x_] Been in movie (unpaid extra once)
56. [___] Visited the Great Wall of China
57. [___] Started a business
58. [___] Taken a martial arts class
59. [___] Visited Russia
60. [___] Served at a soup kitchen
61. [_x_] Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. [___] Gone whale watching
63. [_x_] Got flowers for no reason :-)
64. [_x_] Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. [1/2] Gone sky diving (indoor 'wind tunnel')
66. [___] Visited Nazi Concentration Camp
67. [___] Bounced a check
68. [___] Flown in a helicopter
69. [_x_] Saved a fav childhood toy ('Tiger' & RA)
70. [_x_] Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. [_x_] Eaten Caviar - (salty fishy bits 'meh')
72. [___] Pieced a quilt
73. [_x_] Stood in Times Square
74. [___] Toured the Everglades
75. [___] Been fired from a job
76. [_x_] Seen London's Changing of Guards (boring)
77. [1/2] Broken a bone (cracked tailbone)
78. [_x_] Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. [1/2] Seen the Grand Canyon in person (flew over)
80. [___] Published a book
81. [_x_] Visited the Vatican (& saw The Pope)
82. [_x_] Bought a brand new car
83. [___] Walked in Jerusalem
84. [_x_] Had picture in the paper (nhs grad)
85. [___] Kissed stranger at midnight New Year’s
86. [_x_] Visited the White House (tour group)
87. [_x_] Killed & prepared an animal for eating (fish)
88. [_x_] Had chickenpox
89. [1/2] Saved someone’s life (pulled kid outta pool)
90. [1/2] Sat on a jury (3 jury pools, not picked)
91. [_x_] Met someone famous (VP Mondale)
92. [_x_] Joined a book club (Quality Pb book-club)
93. [_x_] Lost a loved one - Ma & step-dad
94. [___] Had a baby
95. [___] Seen the Alamo in person
96. [___] Swam in Great Salt Lake
97. [___] Been involved in a lawsuit
98. [_x_] Owned a cell phone
99. [_x_] Been stung by a bee (and wasp -ouch-!)

* Managed about 60, if you count the 1/2s... ;-)
(lets see, 'pillow fight', 'sell GS cookies', 'baby' - very girly list)

Claw's orig link: _ Paper Dolls for Boys_.

Omni 100

*And he likes #42. But he quit reading the list at #66.
They're just trying to keep us busy during TC's hiatus;
after doing the Vege list, up pops an 'Omnivore' one!
So here goes, but after this I think I'm listed-out. ;-)

-1. _X__Venison - imo, off the bone is better
-2. ____Nettle tea
-3. _X__Huevos rancheros - 'si' - ole'!
-4. _X__Steak tartare - like it but never order it out
-5. _X__Crocodile - we've had gator jerky
-6. _X__Black pudding - in England
-7. _X__Cheese fondue - oh yum!
-8. ____Carp - oh yuck, I've seen'm, unlikely!
-9. _X__Borscht
10. _X__Baba ghanoush
11. _X__Calamari - and octopus
12. ____Pho - maybe? - have eaten at V' restaurants
13. _X__PB&J sandwich - did all Americans say 'yes'?
14. ____Aloo gobi - maybe? local Indian buffet is huge
15. _X__Hot dog from a street cart - only if -hot-
16. ____Epoisses - can't get unpastur. cheese in U.S...
17. _X__Black truffle - as tiny pieces in other food
18. _X__Fruit wine made w/o grapes - sure!
19. _X__Steamed pork buns - love'm
20. _X__Pistachio ice cream - yum, but hate it colored
21. _X__Heirloom tomatoes - our CSA grows'm
22. _X__Fresh wild berries - pick'm fresh, yum!
23. _X__Foie gras - my favorite is homemade
24. _X__Rice and beans
25. _X__Brawn, or head cheese - once I think
26. ____Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper - not that brave
27. _X__Dulce de leche - lovely, lovely stuff
28. _X__Oysters
29. _X__Baklava
30. ____Bagna cauda - nope, hate anchovies
31. _X__Wasabi peas - in rice cracker mix
32. _X__Clam chowder in sourdough bowl
33. ____Salted lassi - salty yogurt drink?
34. _X__Sauerkraut
35. _X__Rootbeer float - still miss The Green Store
36. _X__Cognac with a fat cigar - not simultaneously
37. _X__Clotted cream tea - hard to find good CC here
38. _X__Vodka jello - not recently...
39. _X__Gumbo - had it, and hated it
40. _X__Oxtail - in oxtail soup
41. _X__Curried goat - in a Jamaican take-away
42. ____Whole insects - not ~knowingly~
43. ____Phaal - can't take it that hot...
44. _X__Goat’s milk
45. _X__Malt whisky priced (not -worth-) $120+
46. ____Fugu - not til someone eats it first ;-)
47. _X__Chicken tikka masala - niece's favorite
48. _X__Eel - not my favorite
49. _X__Krispy Kreme doughnut - yum 'glazed'
50. _X__Sea urchin - as roe
51. _X__Prickly pear
52. _X__Umeboshi - nummy Japanese plum
53. ____Abalone
54. _X__Paneer - Matar Paneer = my fav Indian
55. _X__McD’s Big Mac Meal - embarrassed...
56. _X__Spaetzle - local deli owner is German!
57. _X__Dirty gin martini - some are horrible
58. _X__Beer above 8% ABV - in Belgium
59. ____Poutine - gravy & cheese fries? woo
60. _X__Carob chips
61. _X__S’mores - 11 seconds in microwave...
62. _X__Sweetbreads - I wanna try the TC ones
63. ____Kaolin - you mean the mineral?
64. ____Currywurst - Jaipor meets Munich?
65. ____Durian - not likely, either
66. _X__Frogs’ legs
67. _X__Beignet, churro, e-ear, funnel cake (all)
68. ____Haggis
69. _X__Fried plantain
70. ____Chitterlings, andouillette - no chitlins
71. _X__Gazpacho
72. _X__Caviar and blini - but not together
73. ____Louche absinthe
74. _X__Gjetost, brunost - love Swedish brown cheese
75. ____Roadkill (Deer, etc. accidentally run over)
76. ____Baijiu - no Chinese vodka for me
77. _X__Hostess Fruit Pie - 'yes' I confess
78. _X__Snail - sounds better en francais ;-)
79. ____Lapsang souchong - smoky tea? hmm
80. ____Bellini - peachy champagne sounds good
81. ____Tom yum - 'ew' to cilantro, head-on prawn
82. _X__Eggs Benedict
83. _X__Pocky - love Japanese snacks
84. ____Tasting menu at a 3* Michelin restaurant.
85. _X__Kobe beef - in a mini 'hotdog', no less!
86. _X__Hare
87. _X__Goulash - see 'Gumbo' above...
88. _X__Flowers - violet, nasturtium, squash
89. ____Horse - not that I know of
90. _X__Criollo chocolate - in eco cocoa
91. _X__Spam - now there are new flavors?...
92. _X__Soft shell crab -none are truly soft!
93. ____Rose harissa
94. _X__Catfish - farmed - pretty bland
95. _X__Mole poblano
96. _X__Bagel and lox - not combined, actually
97. _X__Lobster Thermidor
98. _X__Polenta - see 'Gumbo' again ;-)
99. ____Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
00. ____Snake

Since they inspired me to do mine, I give you StickyGooey's list, and Andrew's original Omni 100.

100 Vegies

Vegies by the numbers...

These two bloggers threw down the Vegetable Gauntlet:
DogHill Kitchen -and- Feeding Maybelle.
And since I don't have Top Chef to recap, here goes...

'See how many of these 100 you have tried.'

1. _X__ Edamame
2. _X__ Cha Soba (prefer regular soba)
3. _X__ Arame (love a good seaweed salad!)
4. ____ Earth Balance Buttercream (?)
5. _X__ "Homemade" sprouts (homegrown)
6. ____ Green Bamboo Rice
7. ____ Absinthe
8. ____ Eat at raw restaurant (do at home, no e.coli)
9. _X__ Fresh (real) wasabi
10. ____ Deep fried pickle
11. _X__ Fiddleheads (baby fern heads)
12. _X__ Garlic stuffed olives
13. ____ Smen (maybe in a restaurant)
14. ____ Goji Berries
15. ____ Shiso or Perilla
16. _X__ Amaranth
17. ____ Pomegranate molasses (had'm but not together)
18. ____ Water convulvulus (Water Spinach)
19. _X__ Eggplants: Japan, Indian, Sicilian, EasterEgg(!)
20. _X__ A Zen Buddhist Vegan Meal
21. ____ Kohya Dofu
22. _X__ Wild Asparagus (as kid, picked it near home)
23. _X__ Elderberry
24. ____ Candlenuts (kemiri)
25. _X__ Salsify
26. _X__ Nutritional Yeast
27. ____ Pandan (maybe when out to eat?...)
28. _X__ Roman cauliflower
29. _X__ Anything with acorn flour
30. ____ Poi
31. ____ Chaya (tree spinach)
32. ____ Pitahaya (dragon fruit)
33. ____ Asafoetida
34. _X__ Fried plantains
35. ____ Basil seeds (grow basil, but never ate seeds)
36. ____ Cardoon
37. ____ Durian (eww, seen it but never opened one)
38. ____ Ground Cherry or cape gooseberry
39. ____ Fresh water-chestnut
40. _X__ Cashewnut cheese
41. _X__ Nettles
42. _X__ Tofurky, or any vege product resembling meat
43. _X__ Kimchi (at Kang Suh~sp?~ in NYC)
44. _X__ Masala Dosa (at a local Indian restaurant)
45. ____ Lotus Seed
46. _X__ Matcha (powdered green tea, in foil packets!)
47. ____ Loubie Bzeit
48. _X__ Quince (used to have a quince by the garage)
49. _X__ Blue Potatoes
50. ____ Injera - ew, sour fermented pancakes?
51. _X__ Nasturtium
52. _X__ Turkish Delight or Lokum
53. _X__ Spruce tips (even made boiled 'spruce tea')
54. ____ Breadfruit
55. ____ Mangosteen
56. _X__ Swede or Rutabaga
57. _X__ Garlic Scapes (taught niece to cook w/garlic buds)
58. _X__ Lavash (had 'lavash pizza' in June w/my cousins)
59. ____ Candied Angelica (maybe on a cake?... dunno)
60. _X__ Rambutan (I've had lychee nuts)
61. ____ Sambal (if a restaurant put it on, I didn't know it)
62. ____ Bhutanese Red Rice
63. _X__ Candy-cane /Chioggia beets (our CSA grows'm)
64. _X__ Mango
65. _X__ Ras el Hanout (to make a Top Chef recipe ;-)
66. ____ Vegan marshmallow (are T.Joe's vegan?)
67. _X__ Umeboshi (had it for breakfast in Japan)
68. _X__ Red Currants (and black currants, love'm)
69. ____ Puy or French lentils
70. _X__ Millet
71. _X__ Fresh Bamboo shoot (prob., in Japan)
72. _X__ Jerusalem artichoke
73. _X__ Wild strawberry
74. ____ Jambool
75. ____ Po cha or Yak butter Tea
76. _X__ Adzuki beans
77. _X__ Shirataki (have my zero carb ones in my frig!)
78. _X__ Manioc, yucca, cassava
79. _X__ Quinoa
80. ____ Ramps (I have leeks in my frig, but no ramp)
81. ____ Chufa (sedge is edible?...)
82. _X__ Purslane (have some growing wild right now)
83. ____ Curry Leaves (Kadipatta)
84. _X__ Sorrel
85. _X__ Sumac (had sumac 'lemonade')
86. ____ Vegan cupcake (maybe? but doubt it)
87. ____ Montreal bagel (I had cafe au lait in Montreal)
88. ____ Peri-peri
89. ____ Syllabub
90. _X__ Chartreuse (we cooked w/it long ago - yuck)
91. ____ Kamut berries
92. _X__ Kalamansi Lime (had 'bitter orange', looked same)
93. ____ Aloe
94. _X__ Morels
95. _X__ Raw “bread” (I've had bread dough, that count?)
96. ____ Dandelion wine
97. _X__ Rosti (fried shredded potato with cheese, yum!)
98. ____ Loomi
99. ____ Stinky tofu (sounds awful...)
00. _X__ Something grown by you (lots n lots)

I'm at about 50 so far... if you'd like to do your own tally, see the lists on their pages (links above) to figure out your unknown ones.