HAPPY MARDI GRAS!

Having lived in New Orleans for the past four years it is very weird not to be properly celebrating today. There are no massive parades in Los Angeles (although there was a dog parade over the weekend at the Grove), the city is not shut down, and everyone still goes to work. Luckily for me my employer takes the day off so there is no pressure for me to work too hard.

The afternoon was pleasant so I went for a walk to make sure I cast my vote and when I returned I noticed a package on the stoop. My King Cake had arrived.

Despite having branded boxes (with beads and a Happy Mardi Gras wish) , FedEx managed to damaged the cake slightly. Still, the ingredients are still there so I'm sure it will be delicious.


On a side note, I realize I haven't posted in a while. I've traveled a bit and just got lazy about posting, my bad, I will try to make sure I put up more pictures and such.

Happy Mardi Gras!

Thanksgiving with the family. How does your dog fit into traditions?

For our Thanksgiving Finn joined us as we traveled to my parents. The day was a huge success and everyone loved having Finn join in the festivities. In the morning a small group of us (9.5 people) went out to the Lafayette Resovoir for a 2.75 mile turkey trot. Leash laws were in effect and there were tons of other dogs around so my pace was established by Bear, who did well the first 2 miles but died down the stretch.

After the run we returned home where Finn joined us in watching some football and even got into the action a bit, playing fetch with his cool football toy. A baby gate was needed to keep him out of the kitchen (not that he was in the way, but everyone gets kicked out of the kitchen on thanksgiving unless they are making something). When we finally sat down to dinner Bear really showed his manners. I told everyone he would not beg for scraps or be a bother, but only if we ignored him. Everyone did and no less than 2 minutes later I had to ask the question "Where's the dog". The answer, he was under the table, asleep. He stayed there for 3 hours until we finished dinner and moved to the couches for the tryptophan coma/sleep.

The whole experience was a great success, and when we left my madre even montioned "It's nice to have a dog around the house". I don't know if it was nice enough for them to get another dog, but it made me realize how big a part of my life the little Bear has become. It is fitting that Thanksgiving was the first holiday Finn could be a part of, because he is one of the things I am so thankful for. Now that he has been integrated into our world it would make sense that we start to develop traditions that Finn can be a part of.

Should we dress him up as a turkey for thanksgiving? Make sure he gets a stocking at Christmas? Teach him to bark out the chorus of Auld Lang Syne? Or make sure that he eats soda bread and corned beef on the eve of his birhtday (St. Patrick's day)?

What fun traditions does everyone out there have with their pets, leave a comment.