Whippet Snippets

Viva La Whippet Vida

Nine Dots from WhippetGood on Vimeo.

Pretty Sisters

The sisters from the States share a seat on the deck.

Three's Company

What could have possibly led to three tuckered out whippets? Tune in tomorrow to find out the secret to Ribsy, Daphne, and grass-stained Mirabel's zonked-out states.

the lonesome blog

Ribsy and Mirabel wag their tails apologetically for not having posted in quite awhile. They've been busy frolicking in the good weather, and now that it's a miserable, stormy day they've jumped back onto the blogging bandwagon.

Here's a cute book to curl up with: The Lonesome Puppy by Yoshitomo Nara. In his first foray into the children's book genre, Nara has created a simple yet delightful tale of a puppy who is too large for anyone to notice, until a tenacious little girl climbs up on his back and becomes his friend.

Girl just adores it because she loves Nara's work - especially the recurring little white doggy.

Daffy Dogs

A lazy play date with Niles and Daphne. No running around, yet still no ability to capture them all in one group shot. So individual snaps will have to do, until the next opportunity comes about.

Daphne in her favorite corner of the backyard.

Ribsy all snakey.

Mirabel whizzes her head around. "I didn't do anything!"

Niles with friend.

Talk About the Passion

Let's Begin The Begin and relive the musical highlights of the evening with REM, courtesy of my shameless digital camera filming.

Don't call it a nuisance

You tell em, whippet!

R.E.M. Still Rocks My World

While Ribsy and Mirabel were off for a playdate with Niles and Daphne, Girl roadied up the QEW for her own date with R.E.M. at the Molson Amphitheatre. Now Girl has seen them twice before (in 1995 and in 2004) but never from a second row vantage point, in front of Michael Stipe himself. It was great to be surrounded by hardcore fans - one guy in the front row knew every word to every song and even proudly professed ("yelled") to Michael that he was a fan of Around the Sun (their 2004 flop). Yet, there were plenty of people sitting around me, and I thought, you have no right to be in the first few rows if you're going to plant your ass down during a concert in which Michael, Mike, and Peter were obviously putting in so much effort.

From the opener These Days to top hits like What's the Frequency, Kenneth and Drive to new songs Hollow Man and Horse to Water, it was clear that the band was enjoying themselves up on stage. It helped that I could actually see their facial expressions for the first time ever at a show, and leading the way was the animated, bouncy, flirty, and charismatic Michael Stipe - posing Captain Morgan-style, hamming it in front of the camera, tossing harmonicas and lyric sheets into the audience (and yes I got one!), and proclaiming, as a Southerner, he f*ckin' loved the heat that night! Oh Michael, I heart you!

Highlights included an emotionally stirring rendition of Let Me In, where the band gathered close together to perform; the first tour performances of So Fast, So Numb and 7 Chinese Bros. (he must have looked at me and gotten the idea to perform it); and an encore featuring Fall on Me with Johnny Marr.

Everyone finally did get up for Losing My Religion, which was played during the encore, but to me, it was all those other songs that flooded back all my lonely teenager memories, like Second Guessing, Begin the Begin, even The One I Love. Growing up alongside R.E.M., I was beyond euphoric, and in a time warp caught between pained regret and nostalgic, glossy-eyed romanticism. Thanks R.E.M. for making me a believer again.

Can't wait to see you again.

More photos here.

R.E.M. in Toronto - June 8/08 - Fall on Me with Johnny Marr from Vimeo.

Hoover Control

When Mirabel joined the house, kibble started flying everywhere. Ribsy, who had always Hoovered his meals, began to wolf them down as if the house was on fire. And Mirabel...Mirabel doesn't do anything slow. That includes outracing her big brother to the bottom of the bowl.

While Girl was appreciative that they liked their new high-protein, low-carb food, she hoped there would be a way to curb their enthusiasm - and their gas. These two give Walter a good run for his money.

Enter the DogPause bowl. Cute and colorful, the bowl is divided into four equal feeding zones. Simply scoop and distribute the kibble amongst the compartments, and watch them go at it...more slowly! That's because Ribsy and Mirabel, despite their long slender snouts, can't nose in on the food all at once. They must re-position themselves each time they plunder a new zone. And the bowl itself is designed to slide a bit, which also encourages re-positioning - and slowing down - while eating.

In the few weeks that they have been eating out of their DogPause bowls, Ribsy and Mirabel have definitely eased up on the gas pedal, to Girl and Boy's relief. Dog gas in bed? Not a pleasant way to wake up. Plus it's nice to see the dogs look like they're actually enjoying their food instead of simply inhaling it.

The bowl is a very well thought-out product. For instance, the bowl bottom is shaped like a wave, which means it not only prevents the wobbles, but it also provides a convenient gap to get your fingers underneath so you can easily pick it back up from the floor. Small touches make a big difference!

And in Ribsy and Mirabel's cases, the big difference is the fresh air! Thanks DogPause!

Graze Anatomy

After the first 10 minutes at a park, Ribsy and Mirabel usually settle into the grassy field like little lambs and start chewing sticks, noshing dandelions, and contemplating life in general.