Happy birthday to this little nugget!
Lola turned two on Halloween (an appropriate birthday for a pug who sounds like the living dead when she barks). The plan had been to take the pups to the dog park to show off the costumes we forced them to endure, but the weather did not cooperate. It poured all day and, prissy as they are, both Lola and Ru refused to leave the house for more than a few Continue reading
Sundays have always been my favorite day. I cram all my cleaning and work for the weekend into Saturday so that I can enjoy the quiet of a stress free, lovely Sunday. It’s my day to spend with my family, or to catch up with friends. To go out and explore something new, try a new recipe, or even just stay in bed all day with the pugs and a really good book.
So, I figured, what better day to share with anyone who might be reading other things I love? A funny article. An interesting blog. A beautiful photo of Continue reading
This is Rupert. For a pug, he’s a bit of a giant, weighing in at a whopping 35lbs. He’s incredibly tall and really the only thing about him that resembles his breed is his smushed little face. He is unbelievably sweet and affectionate one minute, and then the next he is running from window to window barking like a maniac (maybe the wind blew funny–who knows?).When he’s anxious, he gets this really intense expression on his face and he looks like a dinosaur from a Disney film. Despite his copious amount of extra skin, his eyes bug out of his head like there just isn’t enough flesh to contain them. It’s a wonder he can close his lids.
Lola is small, but you wouldn’t know it by the noises she makes. A soft pallette issue means she sounds less like a dog when she barks, and more like we’re living with a zombie from the Walking Dead. It’s endearing, except in the morning when she gurgles and whines from her crate for attention. She has the sweetest disposition toward everyone EXCEPT her brother. Poor Rupert has to endure endless teasing, face biting and toy stealing because, unfortunately for him, she’s much smarter and small enough to run where he can’t fit.
Neither of them are anything like what we expected when we’d decide to adopt pugs. Lazy. Sleepy. Quiet. These were all things we’d been told by countless books, blogs and fellow pug owners to expect. Lies.
Is there anytime better than fall in Chicago? The air is crisp, the leaves are changing, and out come the comfy sweaters. Even the food tastes better this time of year! (Though, I will say, as much as I can appreciate the gusto with which America has embraced the big, orange squash, give me apple cinnamon over pumpkin spice any day.)
Today was one of those perfect fall days. I worked from home, which of course means a mix of actual working, playing with the pugs, and catching up on laundry. Nothing like an empty hamper and crisp sheets, absent of dog hair, to make you feel extra productive.
It was overcast, and just chilly enough for a jacket and my favorite scarf. I was actually thankful for the grey sky because nothing makes the autumn colors on the trees pop more. See what I mean… 
I’d scheduled a work meeting at a nearby coffee shop, and I was excited for the chance to go out and explore some more of my neighborhood. My husband and I just moved to the Portage Park area from the north east side of the city. This was a big move for me after living nearly all of my ten years in the same three mile radius. All of the sudden, my whole life moved from the Red Line to the Blue. Anyone who’s lived in Chicago knows that is no small deal, as the east/west public transit in this city isn’t exactly up to snuff. Continue reading
List Maker, Picture Taker 