Pigeon Food

Get Your Freak On, Worm Style

When I went into my garden this morning to trim my basil plants, I saw this:

 

At first glance I thought an amazingly long worm had bored its way through a slug.

On second glance, it looked like a siamese worm.

"Woah!" I told my boyfriend, "freak worm! Eww!"

So I took pictures (because apparently I like taking pictures of gross things).

Once I got to my office, I looked up "split worms" on google, and finally came to the conclusion that this abomination is actually two worms, and that they're copulating.

Thats right. Worm Sex.

The worms were bangin'

Here's a couple close ups: 

Spike has a Bone Pillow

...While dreams of Sugarbones dance in his head...

Husky Sandwich

The Dynamic Dog Trio

Horatio and the Vuvuzela

Spike is Fancy

Spike is a very sophisticated dog.

Hyper!

This frickin' cracks me up. Reminds me of my boys.

Photo Credit: http://svalko.org/data/2010_08_05_14_37_romario_freevar_com_sv_69.jpg

Me. My Dog. My Lake. My Night.

Jack and I took a three-mile long walk around Lake Merritt tonight. We circled it once. It was dark, with only a slight breeze, the air crisp. It felt like fall.

It's placid, the water rippling slightly, the reflection of the Oakland Tribune building casting wavering red light on the black lake.

I don't know why, but something about moments like these make me nostalgic. Nostalgic for what, I cannot tell you. But I feel an overwhelming sense of calm as I look at the silhouettes in the lighted windows of the lake-view appartment. Silhouettes of lamps and potted plants and people. Sometimes people are having parties. Streamers hang in the windows. Sometimes people are sitting outside on the balcony, overlooking the joggers, the walkers, the girls walking their dogs.

I never knew people actually fish in Lake Merritt before tonight. But they were there, a dozen of them, maybe, casting their lines into the murky depths, placing their catches in the dingy white buckets they brought along. The men sit on the concrete sidewalk, their wives or girlfriends sit nearby on a bench, talking in some language I don't understand.

A late-night community. When there's not enough time to squeeze everything into the daylight hours, some find solace in the relative safety of the Lake.

I wonder what is happening in the various office buildings with flourescent lights still blaring on in the darkness. Yes, much of it must be so boring. But I like to imagine important, exciting things happening. Deadlines being met, stories being told. But I am glad to be on the outside. Outside the fluorescent lights. Outside with at least the illusion of fresh air, which is sometimes tainted with the distinct smell of algae.

And I think of home. My house may have a view of a cemetery instead of a lake, but it's mine, with my silhouettes.

Jack Meets Chico, Blitz, Kiva, and Max

Today Jack met my friend's dog, Chico. He smelled him, wondering if this was his lunch.

"What is the little one stuffed with?"




And then he met Chico's Brother, Blitz.
"How did the little one get so plump so fast?"





Jack wasn't too keen with Kiva, even though they had met before.
"Who is this crazy bitch?"





He seemed to get along with Max, the geriatric wonder dog.
"You're alright, Gramps"

He did well, I thought. I was worried because my boys have a high prey drive, but I was very happy that Jack didn't make lunch out of little Chico.

Bath Time

Rainy Days

Rainy Day Dog Walk



I almost fell face-first down the stairs this morning. I donned a pair of rain boots and I briskly trotted down the stairs after retrieving my purse from my bedroom.

With my heart beating quickly from the near slapstick fall, I clipped the leash on Jack's collar. I felt slightly guilty leaving Spike behind, but walking two dogs, who were bred for pulling, by a large body of water can have a few outcomes, none of them particularly satisfying.

They could become fixated on a pigeon or duck and pull me over the ledge into the murky Lake Merritt water.

They could run different directions at such a high velocity that I tear in two, as if I were being drawn and quartered by horses.

They could pull me down the path by the lake, dragging my lifeless body behind them after all my skin gets scraped from my torso.

Or they could have an all together unpleasant altercation with another dog.

No, I definitely wasn't going to take both of them.

The lake was wet. And no, not just because a lake is inherently wet. It was wet with the drizzle that had been coming down for hours. As I opened the car door Jack gave me a hesitant look as if to say "you want me to go out there? Doggy Don't do that!" I thought of Spike, laying in the warmth of the bedroom, and suddenly I didn't feel so bad for him.



Jack eyed an egret with longing. He either wanted to become fast friends with the majestic bird, or he wanted to devour it for breakfast. No Jack, I told him, not today.

Christmas, Holiday, Birthday, or Gifts for any Reason

Etsy mngojuice

Good Morning at the Marina

This morning I wrangled myself out of bed, fighting the oppressive comfort of the comforter. I pulled on shoes and a sweatshirt, and hopped in my car. I went to La Farine, the best bakery ever, and got the ham and cheese puff pastry. These concoctions are filled with unadulterated delight. I swear, the first time I had one I thought I had died and gone to pastry heaven. I'm not one for sweets (except anything gummy) so the savory pastry is right up my alley.

I brought pastries and coffee back to my lathargic boyfriend, and we got our two Huskies (Jack and Spike) ready to go.

They love to ride in the car, sticking their faces just slightly out the window, sometimes with just their noses resting on the top of the glass of the window, pulling up their top lips, which results in their front teeth being hilariously exposed.

We arrived at the San Leandro Marina just as their dog class was starting.


They had a great class, were (mostly) good, and had a nice cool time on this overcast October day.

Clowning Around

Clowning Around by Mngojuice featuring flower ring jewelry
Classic Clown. Will look neat while inevitably scaring the bajeezus out of one your friends who has a clown phobia.

Walking my Dogs

Walking my Dogs by Mngojuice featuring old navy tops
I pack my guys in the car, escape from the city, and have an afternoon.

Jack and Spike are my boys...my wonder dogs, with tongues that know how to sneak their way into your ears.


Dogs help make life worth living.

My Moment: Drinking Coffee while Planning my Next Adventure

My Moment: Drinking Coffee while Planning my Next Adventure by Mngojuice featuring print leggings

I love to curl up in a big chair, sipping hot coffee while pouring over travel books, making notes of where I want to go and what I want to see. Simplly....bliss.

On my shelf sits a collection of travel books, some well-used, with pages torn out and notes scrawled in the margins. Others have been poured over, with a look of longing and whimsy. Someday...someday I will make it to...Romania...Buenos Aries...San Juan...Botswana...

Summer Never Ends

Summer Never Ends by Mngojuice on Polyvore.com

I have decided that I will never have "the perfect kitchen" where all the silverware matches and where everything is always clean, without exceptions.

I am the kind of girl who has Halloween pot holders out all yea round, and who regularly uses a bowl that depicts Rudolf the Reindeer to serve salad.

I only have a few rules in the kitchen and they are
1. Always separate the recyclables
2. close the door to the garbage or my dogs will make a mess YOU have a clean up
3. indulge in heirloom tomatoes (a rule my boyfriend ALWAYS breaks)
And
4. use the most colorful dishes often

Cthulhu Gamer

Cthulhu Gamer by Mngojuice on Polyvore.com

Durian Really Does Smell Awful

Infographic by Culinary Schools.org

I gave Durian two bites...two awful bites.