Pets

It's the topic that I assigned that I can't bring myself to write about. I feel a little bad about that, unable to gush about my love for my kitty like some people. Animals have always been a part, but never primary, of my life. The house feels empty without a pet, although I've reached a part of life where I'm thinking it would be so much more convenient to not have the added responsibility. (Kudos to mister mrtl for taking over kitty duties while I was pregnant with Bug.)

Part of the problem in writing this post is that I've already talked a lot here about Slava and my general pet situation. What else is to be said? What new angle could I look at this topic to make it new and fresh? Maybe the old trick of writing about nothing to hopefully write about something will work...

Should I talk about Sea Monkeys? Maybe someday (this has me on the idea for next week's topic -- MORE than enough fodder there for a decent, unprocrastinated post).

How about fish? There have been plenty fish in my life. I couldn't name them all, but I'll make an attempt.

My first fish ever was Emily. She lived with us in England, in her bowl with my brother's fish, Charlie. I don't remember much of Emily, but I do know that Emily's birthday was November 2, that she outlived Charlie, and that she died around December 7. How do I know this?

Note my smiles in these.

Note the smile on my brother's face.

I know I had another fish as a kid, after we came home from England; I have a picture somewhere of my cat Socks drinking water out of the fishbowl. I don't remember anything else about that one, though.

The next fish I remember was after I started working at my current job. Having learned a little about feng shui (and thus being dangerous), I decided I needed some Chi on my desk. I decided that I'd get a beta fish and name him Chi, the name just for good measure. A crazy (in a good way; she was a hoot) woman I worked with lusted after a young Navy guy we saw from time-to-time on work-related business. His nickname was Baboo, as in Her Sweet Baboo. One day, as I was telling her about my plan to get a fish, she asked about me what betas looked like. I explained that they looked a lot like goldfish, but they were very colorful and had really pretty tails. She told me that Her Sweet Baboo had a really pretty tail, too. When I got the fish, I named him Baboo-Chi in his honor. Thus started the (short) trend to name betas after guys with cute butts. When Baboo-Chi died and was replaced, the new fish was named Yeurgey, after a guy from high school whose ass my friend and I admired on many trips up the stairs on the way to first period during our junior year. Yeurgey lived for quite some time, being adopted by a coworker when we moved to Texas. He died peacefully sometime in the Spring of '04.

Bug has kind of mixed up the whole beta-butt naming trend. We have replaced Bish with Bubish. Not that I had any other names in mind. Not me.

next week's topic: the worst date

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Someday I'll get back to adding links to those who've participated. I have them all listed. I promise, really. Please let me know if you posted!

Cranky, Kalki, Kranki, Nina, Sharkey, Susie

Comments

[Sharkey]

You and your little brother will be in my thoughts as you mark the anniversary of Charlie's death in the next few days.

Hmm . . . you didn't specify that it was a Dead Pet theme, but that's the way I went too. I know you'll be shocked, what with recent events around here.

[Bucky Four-Eyes]

I didn't participate in the pet motif, but your mention of sea monkeys made me think of this.

[william]

I love "My Mommy is digging Charlie." It say many different things.

Was that your journal? Impressive

[kalki]

Oh, your child writing is TOO CUTE! Love it.

[amy]

Love the check marks beside your sentences. Things were simpler, then.

I love betas too. We are actually going to get one today. We had one called Pirate around here, but I killed it when I was cleaning the tank one day. Then we got Pirate II, and I killed him/her too. So I gave the fish world a break from me for two years. But we are ready to try again. The kids have made me promise to leave the tank alone.

[Daphne]

I hate fish, especially pet fish. Well, it's a creeped-out sort of love-hate relationship I have with fish.

Anyway, I played in a sort of fast way, and now I have to start thinking about the worst date. Will it be rollerskating in the 7th grade with Jen and Ben (not the famous ones) or will it be some horror from a more recent decade? (Right. There are two decades in question, the 80's and the 90's. I'm a bit mired down in childhood right now.)

[ScottyGee]

Fish go belly up too easily. Especially when you cook them. Goldfish really don't taste that goo though. What a waste of 99 cents!

I mean... Never mind. =)

[Nina]

I love your drawings they are precious, I did notice the smile on your brothers face.
I did participate . . . your mention of sea monkeys. I always said no, but one year Shawna got a kit as a birthday gift, from a friend. So we did the sea monkey thing. The kids were always dissappointed when I had to explain, contrary to the illustration, female sea-monkeys do not wear lipstick. And even though they are illustrated as very human-like, wearing clothes and playing tennis and such. That was just not going to happen.

[The Sea Monkeys]

We, the Sea Monkeys, resent the implication that we are somehow not "advanced" enough to perform simple tasks such as applying lipstick correctly, dressing in the latest fashion, quite nattily if I do say so myself, and playing childish sports like tennis. We are, in fact, much further evolved than your ilk. Look at our natural crowns - we are truly royalty in Tuna Town. Bow down before us, and dare not to mock us as we pass.

And tell your kid to throw another packet of brine into the tank.

[eclectic]

Heh! Now you've got me thinking about betas and something that happened at a friend's house with LE.... Maybe I'll post Motif Monday on Wednesday!

[Hänni]

Bah ha ha ha. Who posted as Sea Monkeys? That rocks.

It is the great sadness of my life that I can no longer, because my cats would kill them for shits and giggles, keep betas.

I have had:

*beta-carotene (it's got a butt like mrtls!)
*valentine (red and beautiful)
*Minh Na (twin of Minh Wa kept by my college roomie, Smug Elle)
*Boris Badanov

At work we have a beta named "pixel." So cute.

[Von Krankipantzen]

You would gush if you had an unhealthy relationship with your feline. As I do.

As a kid I only ever had fish as we lived in an apartment. I remember being devastated at the death of my fish. Bawling at school kind of sad. Being mocked by my peers kind of sad.

[greenie]

My pets are currently one spoiled and beautiful Weimaraner and 3 lovely Angel Fish in desperate need of a larger home. I've always had a pet of some form. They have included dogs, cats, cows, deer, fish, birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, pigs, a duck, a lizard and a turtle. These are over the course of many years.

I'm a bit unnerved over my feelings for this dog though. She has captured my heart completely and I would just be lost with out her. YOU HAVE NO IDEA!!! (maybe you do)

I'm gonna go love on my pooper now. XOXOXOXOXO fertile mrtl XO

[mrtl]

Sharkey - Don't waste your thoughts on us. Penny's worth them all. ::hugs::

Bucky - Thanks for sharing that. I love the honest way that Jessica handled that. What a hoot!

william - ::ahem:: "Mummy"

My teacher at school had us keep journals to practice our writing. I'm so happy my parents saved them. When they were first unearthed, I color copied and enlarged several to use for wrapping Christmas presents.

kalki - Why, thank you dear!

amy - Sounds like a good plan, all things considered. Good luck with the new fish!

Daphne - Yay! I love bad date stories. It's a way of refocusing the negative vibes on someone else.

ScottyGee - I know, but they bring so much joy to the children.

Nina - But how do you know that? No more talk of Sea Monkeys from me; it may be topic of convo next week here.

Sea Monkeys - You're being too fucking sensitive. Where's the spermicide?

eclectic - yeehaw! I'll keep an eye out!

Hänni - A butt like mine?? Not much to be thrilled about there.

Kranki - I hug that little crying girl. Sorry for the insensitivity of your peers. Asses.

You and Smellie have a beautiful thing going. Don't change.

greenie - What a sweet surprise!!

I'd be totally in love with Pooper, too. Weimars are such beautiful puppies, and I'm sure the personality outshines that.

[butterstar]

bwahahahaha! Those pictures are totally cracking me up.

I think we all should start journals with one sentence per day and a corresponding picture. This blog thing is just too wordy.

[mrtl]

butterstar - But GAH! To blog them would add the step of scanning (or taking a picture/uploading and all that crap).

I do enjoy coloring, though, and would have to invest in the largest collection of crayons. What are they up to now? 112?

[Nina]

Mrtl & The Sea Monkeys, While the sea monkeys we had in our home for six months were not able to do all of those things, didn't even wear crowns, which could have been their problem. I can't speak on behalf of all sea monkeys. I can only speak for those we had years ago.

[mrtl]

Nina - My experience with Sea Monkeys runs the same. Weren't too entertaining.

[Dima]

My freshman year roommate in college and I got a white molly, and named it Molley (talk about unoriginal), and one day my roommate who had never had a fish, decided to be good and clean the bowl, and didn't check the temp or save some of the old water, needless to say Molley died of hypothermia - my roommate cried for two days and skipped class for almost a week over Molley, who needed two flushes to go down the toilette. Moment of silence over Molley please!

[mrtl]

Dima - ... (silence for Molley) ... Thank you for sharing that moving moment.

Two flushes? = insult to injury, I'm sure.