"A "Sewer Serve" is another way of saying that the process server didn't actually serve the paper as they were instructed to do, but just tossed it in the "sewer" (or garbage) and signed a "Declaration under penalty of perjury" or a sworn "Affidavit" that they DID serve the paper". (This is what my Mom said when I asked her. She ALWAYS tells me the truth, too!)
So I asked her how come somebody would DO that? And she says she has absolutely NO idea, since professional process servers are paid to either serve the document, or (if the people don't live there anymore) sign a Declaration/Affidavit of Non-Service. Either way the process servers have done their job. Professional companies like my employer, RASCAL, even get hired to find the person or figure out a way to tell the defendant that he's got a problem so he can defend himself. PROFESSIONAL Process Servers (like my Mom) would NEVER do a "sewer serve"!
So then I ask her how come the "FTC*" is having all these meetings about "Sewer Serves"? And "tens of thousands of people" have defaults entered against them and they don't even know they're being sued? And she says to click on the link above. She thinks a lot of these people just don't want to admit they messed up.
Somewhere in fairly recent times people just stopped taking responsibility for themselves and they learned to blame other people instead. Tsk. No wonder so many humans prefer the company of pups, I say. We're everly so less complicated.
Love and schlurpies....
Mary-Margaret
*Federal Trade Commission, not "Furry Terrier Club" (this time, anyway!)
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Clocking in!
I've gotten a few reminders that there are people who actually READ my diary who say that I need to start writing again. Here's the thing! I have to dictate to my Mom, who then has to transcribe Caninidian (or Puplish) into English and then put it on to the computer, which then goes into my blog. She has to be in just such a mood to do so and lately she's been a little distracted.
There are fewer consonents in my language due to the rigid formation of my mouth and lips. So if I try to say something like "Tuna Fish Sandwich", it comes out like "Turr-a-wit Tand-it" (sort of). "Cat" is "Owrrr"; "Out" is "Aurrr". And "Take dictation NOW" is "rrurrr-a-rowr-rrr-RRROW!!" A low throaty growl - "hrurrr hrurrr" can mean a lot of things, including "Have you noticed that the slider is closed and I haven't been out for..oh...let's see...maybe FOUR HOURS??"
We communicate pretty well, but there is room for improvement. At the moment, we're at the office and "The Mother Person" is doing reports. My plan is to sleep until it's time to go home for dinner.
Love you guys...
Mary-Margaret
PS: When I got home tonight I was shooing off cats. Except one cat just sat there and STARED at me. Mom finally got off her duff and came to the window. Whoa...she says, "THAT'S JUST A BABY KITTY, MARY-MARGARET! YOU STOP SCARING THAT BABY!". Oh, like she might like me to have a kitty of my own, maybe? I don't theeeeenk so. But, I have to admit, it was kinda cute the way it kept looking at me. It was grey with a white face and white paws and maybe about 2 pounds worth of kitty...maybe if even that. Note to myself - remind Mom she's allergic to cats.
There are fewer consonents in my language due to the rigid formation of my mouth and lips. So if I try to say something like "Tuna Fish Sandwich", it comes out like "Turr-a-wit Tand-it" (sort of). "Cat" is "Owrrr"; "Out" is "Aurrr". And "Take dictation NOW" is "rrurrr-a-rowr-rrr-RRROW!!" A low throaty growl - "hrurrr hrurrr" can mean a lot of things, including "Have you noticed that the slider is closed and I haven't been out for..oh...let's see...maybe FOUR HOURS??"
We communicate pretty well, but there is room for improvement. At the moment, we're at the office and "The Mother Person" is doing reports. My plan is to sleep until it's time to go home for dinner.
Love you guys...
Mary-Margaret
PS: When I got home tonight I was shooing off cats. Except one cat just sat there and STARED at me. Mom finally got off her duff and came to the window. Whoa...she says, "THAT'S JUST A BABY KITTY, MARY-MARGARET! YOU STOP SCARING THAT BABY!". Oh, like she might like me to have a kitty of my own, maybe? I don't theeeeenk so. But, I have to admit, it was kinda cute the way it kept looking at me. It was grey with a white face and white paws and maybe about 2 pounds worth of kitty...maybe if even that. Note to myself - remind Mom she's allergic to cats.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Powered by Gas!
Or maybe I should say "EMPOWERED" by Gas. I am FOUR - Hear me ROAR!!
It's amazing how the little things in life one discovers that gives them a feeling of superiority. Take "GAS", for example. It's one thing to know about it, and another to take control. For a long time when I was a little kid and I wanted to go to out, I'd scratch at the carpet, then on Mom's legs...and then I start talking non-stop so she couldn't hear her TV program and then she'd say, "Oh? You want to go to out?".
Now that I have the wisdom that comes along with being FOUR, I don't scratch...I don't paw! I don't even have to say a word. Nope! I very quietly hop onto the back of Mom's chair, position my body so my head is at the edge and my tail is in the middle..maybe about 6" from her nose. Then...slowly, silently....(OH I CAN'T STAND MYSELF...HEHEHEHEHEHEH! I AM BAAAAD to the BONE!)...I leak a little post-supper gas.
She goes "EEEEYEEEEW...OH, YOU STINK...ICK...UGH...HOW COULD YOU?" and then she sits up and fans the air. In a little bit, she takes a cautious, tentative sniff again and "OHHHH....GAWD....YOU ABSOLUTELY REEK!!" I'm doing the best I can to keep a straight face, here. This procedure usually gets the back door opened and, as I race for freedom, she calls out, "Make it snappy!". I'm pretty quick about it. Honestly, I might not really have to go out at all, but it's the IDEA of POWER that floats my boat. I HAVE THE POWER TO GET THE BACK DOOR OPEN! I like this very much!
Sometimes, just for fun because I like to yank her chain, I save up a little and let loose on the bed just as she starts to doze off. Yup! That gets her wide eyed and ready to rumble all over again.
I wonder what else I can do? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm??
Love, Mary-Margaret
It's amazing how the little things in life one discovers that gives them a feeling of superiority. Take "GAS", for example. It's one thing to know about it, and another to take control. For a long time when I was a little kid and I wanted to go to out, I'd scratch at the carpet, then on Mom's legs...and then I start talking non-stop so she couldn't hear her TV program and then she'd say, "Oh? You want to go to out?".
Now that I have the wisdom that comes along with being FOUR, I don't scratch...I don't paw! I don't even have to say a word. Nope! I very quietly hop onto the back of Mom's chair, position my body so my head is at the edge and my tail is in the middle..maybe about 6" from her nose. Then...slowly, silently....(OH I CAN'T STAND MYSELF...HEHEHEHEHEHEH! I AM BAAAAD to the BONE!)...I leak a little post-supper gas.
She goes "EEEEYEEEEW...OH, YOU STINK...ICK...UGH...HOW COULD YOU?" and then she sits up and fans the air. In a little bit, she takes a cautious, tentative sniff again and "OHHHH....GAWD....YOU ABSOLUTELY REEK!!" I'm doing the best I can to keep a straight face, here. This procedure usually gets the back door opened and, as I race for freedom, she calls out, "Make it snappy!". I'm pretty quick about it. Honestly, I might not really have to go out at all, but it's the IDEA of POWER that floats my boat. I HAVE THE POWER TO GET THE BACK DOOR OPEN! I like this very much!
Sometimes, just for fun because I like to yank her chain, I save up a little and let loose on the bed just as she starts to doze off. Yup! That gets her wide eyed and ready to rumble all over again.
I wonder what else I can do? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm??
Love, Mary-Margaret
Monday, September 21, 2009
An Argument Against Electronic Service of Process
An Argument Against Electronic Service of Process
The American people have specific rights afforded to them that are taken for granted. The right to "Due Process of Law" is one of them. As technological advances are made providing transmission of information electronically, do we - The American Pupple...um..PEOPLE - stand to lose our Constitutionally guaranteed rights?
Read the Argument Against Electronic Service of Process. Have we come full circle? Will we be subject to judgment without notification? Will we be found guilty until proven innocent?
Read and decide!
Mary-Margaret "The Bloggy Doggy" O'Brien
(published as a courtesy to my mother, Michele Dawn, otherwise known as "The Princess of Process")
The American people have specific rights afforded to them that are taken for granted. The right to "Due Process of Law" is one of them. As technological advances are made providing transmission of information electronically, do we - The American Pupple...um..PEOPLE - stand to lose our Constitutionally guaranteed rights?
Read the Argument Against Electronic Service of Process. Have we come full circle? Will we be subject to judgment without notification? Will we be found guilty until proven innocent?
Read and decide!
Mary-Margaret "The Bloggy Doggy" O'Brien
(published as a courtesy to my mother, Michele Dawn, otherwise known as "The Princess of Process")
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Smarty Pants!!
From Michele, Mary-Margaret's mom:
Last night we were all ready for bed, doors locked and lights out, or so I thought. Mary-Margaret wasn't in any of her usual spots, and she wasn't in bed. The last thing I remembered doing is putting the laundry into the dryer. Could I have left her in the garage? Nope...not there. After looking absolutely everywhere for her, calling and calling, and then listening without response for the little tinkling sound her tags make, I thought the unthinkable. [gasp!] Could I have left her outside in the dark?
What kind of mother am I that I have lost my puppy, and maybe even shut her out doors and left her prey to owls, hawks and coyotes? At the exact moment that I thrust open the glass slider door, my sneaky little smarty-pants darted out from under the kitchen table and dove out her little personal doggy door. "Woo hoooooo!", I heard her say as she raced around the perimeter of our property. I swear I heard her gloating to the neighborhood cats at her cleverness.
Next time, I will look under the kitchen table before I fall for that trick again. She knows that the last place I look for her is in the back-yard, and she totally used that to her advantage.
What a little devil! Yorkies are so terribly smart......and sneaky!!
Last night we were all ready for bed, doors locked and lights out, or so I thought. Mary-Margaret wasn't in any of her usual spots, and she wasn't in bed. The last thing I remembered doing is putting the laundry into the dryer. Could I have left her in the garage? Nope...not there. After looking absolutely everywhere for her, calling and calling, and then listening without response for the little tinkling sound her tags make, I thought the unthinkable. [gasp!] Could I have left her outside in the dark?
What kind of mother am I that I have lost my puppy, and maybe even shut her out doors and left her prey to owls, hawks and coyotes? At the exact moment that I thrust open the glass slider door, my sneaky little smarty-pants darted out from under the kitchen table and dove out her little personal doggy door. "Woo hoooooo!", I heard her say as she raced around the perimeter of our property. I swear I heard her gloating to the neighborhood cats at her cleverness.
Next time, I will look under the kitchen table before I fall for that trick again. She knows that the last place I look for her is in the back-yard, and she totally used that to her advantage.
What a little devil! Yorkies are so terribly smart......and sneaky!!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Happy BIRFDAY to MEEEE!!!
Yup. Finally. I am FOUR YEARS OLD. That's my Aunt Debbie holding me.
This time four years ago I was in Missouri all snuggled in with my brothers and sisters and probably nestled up against my birth mother having some lunch. I wasn't there very long, though. Some human yanked me away from my family, sent me to California where I had some surgery on an inguinal hernia, then I got some shots and was tossed into a glass box in a pet store in Temecula, CA. All this before I was even NINE WEEKS OLD, too. Lucky me that my REAL MOM walked in and adopted me. I don't think much about those cold and lonely days anymore. Just maybe on my birthday, I send my fur mom a little love from my heart.
For my birthday I donated my present money to Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue, Inc. at www.ytnr.com to help other kids like me who weren't as lucky to be adopted by a loving family.
We share my birthday at work with people who have businesses there. They all know me and they drop by to have some cake with me. (FYI, I don't get frosting ...just some hunks of cake without any extras, but that's my favorite anyway!)
This is me opening my present from my friends in New York. I got some more cards, too.
After work we went to Bank of America where everybody there wished me a Happy Birthday. Then we went to California Bank and Trust, and we took them all my left-over cake. I just love those ladies and I wanted to do something nice for them. OH SURPRISE! They had a present for me. Another tiny bag of duck jerky and a pink flower barrette with some mint green ribbon leaves on it.
My very good friend, Gina (who is also my personal banker), cut me up some pieces of duck jerky and EVERYBODY said "Happy Birthday". When we got home, Mom accidentally dropped a whole big piece of duck jerky which I grabbed and enjoyed while I was hiding under the kitchen table. See, I'm not allowed to have BIG pieces of jerky...just tiny small ones...ever since I had one go down the wrong way and then horked it up on the teller's counter (along with some other stuff I'd swallowed earlier). But it's the BIG pieces I like best, so I hide when I'm lucky enough to find one.
(This is MY card from AbbeyMia, Harper and Piper! I'm putting it away someplace so I can sniff them anytime I want. Wow...the scent of them sure brings back some happy memories!!)
And the BEST for last! MY CAKE!!!!!
What a great birthday. Thank you to all my friends, and to my Mom especially, for loving me no matter what.
I hope everybody has a great day today!!
Love, Mary-Margaret
PS - Last night before I gave my mother heart failure (see 9/20 post) my mom put the telephone on speaker, and my GrandPapa played "Happy Birthday" to meeeee, his GrandPuppy. I sat very still, turning my ears to the telephone, so I wouldn't miss one single note. I wish Mom had gotten a recording for me. Maybe next time? I sure do love my GrandPapa.
Friday, September 11, 2009
"Pooky", my new neighbor! And "Rufey"!
Something exciting has happened. I have been talking through the fence to a really nice pup for the past couple of weeks. We've only been doing some preliminary "yapping", though, and hadn't gotten to the basics like names or gender or choice of flea deterrent. Yesterday morning we met! Finally, nose-to-nose, we gazed into each other's eyes and even touched noses.
His name is "Pooky" and he's half-chihuahua and half Basenji. Personally, I think he took after his mother since shape-wise he's about the size of my good friend, Jami Ramsey. His color is white with some cafe-au-lait markings and his nose is medium brown in color. He has nice teeth, and his tail curves in an upside-down question mark formation. Last night we each sat on our own side of the fence and "wurffed" quietly at each other until it was time for supper.
My kitty friend, the black cat with white markings, met me when I got home yesterday. She was waiting for me by the front door under the bush. Lately we've been playing tag. Personally, I don't think kitty leaping to the top of my 6-foot fence is fair, since I can barely make it to the couch cushions, but then I've heard cats don't play fair. Good thing I have a new neighbor, dontcha think?
Love,
Mary-Margaret "Welcome Wagon" O'Brien
PS: I made another new friend today. His name is Rufus, but he prefers to be called "Rufey". He's very nice. His mom is a client of ours, so I guess that makes Rufey a client, too. We shared some treats together. (and I REALLY need to get Mom a new camera. Her cell phone absolutely sucks, dontcha think?)
Rufey
His name is "Pooky" and he's half-chihuahua and half Basenji. Personally, I think he took after his mother since shape-wise he's about the size of my good friend, Jami Ramsey. His color is white with some cafe-au-lait markings and his nose is medium brown in color. He has nice teeth, and his tail curves in an upside-down question mark formation. Last night we each sat on our own side of the fence and "wurffed" quietly at each other until it was time for supper.
My kitty friend, the black cat with white markings, met me when I got home yesterday. She was waiting for me by the front door under the bush. Lately we've been playing tag. Personally, I don't think kitty leaping to the top of my 6-foot fence is fair, since I can barely make it to the couch cushions, but then I've heard cats don't play fair. Good thing I have a new neighbor, dontcha think?
Love,
Mary-Margaret "Welcome Wagon" O'Brien
PS: I made another new friend today. His name is Rufus, but he prefers to be called "Rufey". He's very nice. His mom is a client of ours, so I guess that makes Rufey a client, too. We shared some treats together. (and I REALLY need to get Mom a new camera. Her cell phone absolutely sucks, dontcha think?)
Rufey
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Today is Frontline Day!
Woo hoo. I got "Frontlined" this morning. No fleas for me. Not being the kind of person to keep this good stuff all to myself I made sure I rubbed up really good against Mom's nice work outfit. (hee hee)
Frontline is a little oily so when someone looks at her blouse (chest?) a bit funny today, she just tells them that she's "flea free" for another month, thanks to MEEEEEEEE!!
I DO EVERLY SO LOVE TO SHARE!!
Mary-Margaret
Frontline is a little oily so when someone looks at her blouse (chest?) a bit funny today, she just tells them that she's "flea free" for another month, thanks to MEEEEEEEE!!
I DO EVERLY SO LOVE TO SHARE!!
Mary-Margaret
Friday, September 04, 2009
The Duck Lady Returns!
This has been the absolutely most longest two days of my WHOLE life. We went to the bank this morning about 10:00AM and Xochitl (pronounced Soshi) said Gina wasn't coming in until 12:30. Rats! So I helped Xochitl for a bit, and checked our bank balance to make sure she didn't make a mistake. I would have waited two hours for Gina but Mom said...she PROMISED, actually...that we'd come back later today.
We got there about 3:45PM and THERE WAS MY DUCK LADY GINA! Woo hoo. I tried not to show her exactly how excited I was. I've been disappointed 3 times in a row. I think I'll just maybe act aloof and pretend I didn't miss her. Maybe......
OH HECK! I'm not one to play games. I LOVE HER!!!
Love,
Mary-Margaret
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Where's my Duck Lady?
I go to the bank every day and I have this little routine. We go in and, if there are no open teller windows, I wait in line. I used to let Mom hold me, but now that I'm almost four and I've shown how professional I can be, I can wait in line by myself. I'm very patient and very polite. (Just nobody better try to cut in front of me, though!)
I just sit there waiting for the window to open. Gina is my everly most favorite teller. She and I go waaaaaaay back to when I was a baby. She has little snippets of duck jerky for me. I waited and waited, and no Gina. I followed Kayla and a customer back to the safe deposit boxes but they whooshed me out. I guess I'm not allowed back there unless I sign a card or something. I got back into line and stood up on my tippie-toes to see as high up as I could and I looked EVERYWHERE. No Gina.
Mom was already at the window with Aida, the Assistant Manager, and she called me over, but I just sat in line on the marble floor, waiting for Gina. Marilyn and Jessica and Aida all told me that it's Gina's day off but I would have none of that. Gina just HAS to be there, I said. And I sat down at the front of the line, all by myself in this great big bank, and I refused to budge. I will wait here all day and all night, and all week if I have to. But Gina is my very special teller and I will NOT move until I've done business with her.
The ladies seemed to feel sorry for me, and I think Mom even teared up a little. They all finally seemed to realize just how important Gina is to me. I LOVE her. I really do. I can't imagine banking without her. I have to admit I got a little teary-eyed myself.
Finally my mom came over and scooped me up, saying "Oh, Mary-Margaret! I'm soooo sorry, but Gina isn't here today. Maybe tomorrow, ok?". My heart is broken. All the way out the bank I looked everywhere but ....(sigh)....no luck. No Gina. No "Duck Lady". No duck jerky. I put my head on Mom's shoulder, dejected and disappointed, and then we went to Albertson's.
They had just taken my chicken out of the oven and it was perfectly plumped and done.
Albertson's knows how to make a puppy feel better. I got lots of loves and kisses there. Mom gets sort of embarrassed at the fuss people make over me, and sometimes she sort of turns away and pretends she doesn't know me. I can't help it. I am a people person. And when I LOVE, I LOVE HARD and FOREVER.
Tomorrow, I will see my Gina again and all will be well in my world.
Love and kisses,
Mary-Margaret
I just sit there waiting for the window to open. Gina is my everly most favorite teller. She and I go waaaaaaay back to when I was a baby. She has little snippets of duck jerky for me. I waited and waited, and no Gina. I followed Kayla and a customer back to the safe deposit boxes but they whooshed me out. I guess I'm not allowed back there unless I sign a card or something. I got back into line and stood up on my tippie-toes to see as high up as I could and I looked EVERYWHERE. No Gina.
Mom was already at the window with Aida, the Assistant Manager, and she called me over, but I just sat in line on the marble floor, waiting for Gina. Marilyn and Jessica and Aida all told me that it's Gina's day off but I would have none of that. Gina just HAS to be there, I said. And I sat down at the front of the line, all by myself in this great big bank, and I refused to budge. I will wait here all day and all night, and all week if I have to. But Gina is my very special teller and I will NOT move until I've done business with her.
The ladies seemed to feel sorry for me, and I think Mom even teared up a little. They all finally seemed to realize just how important Gina is to me. I LOVE her. I really do. I can't imagine banking without her. I have to admit I got a little teary-eyed myself.
Finally my mom came over and scooped me up, saying "Oh, Mary-Margaret! I'm soooo sorry, but Gina isn't here today. Maybe tomorrow, ok?". My heart is broken. All the way out the bank I looked everywhere but ....(sigh)....no luck. No Gina. No "Duck Lady". No duck jerky. I put my head on Mom's shoulder, dejected and disappointed, and then we went to Albertson's.
They had just taken my chicken out of the oven and it was perfectly plumped and done.
Albertson's knows how to make a puppy feel better. I got lots of loves and kisses there. Mom gets sort of embarrassed at the fuss people make over me, and sometimes she sort of turns away and pretends she doesn't know me. I can't help it. I am a people person. And when I LOVE, I LOVE HARD and FOREVER.
Tomorrow, I will see my Gina again and all will be well in my world.
Love and kisses,
Mary-Margaret
Friday, August 28, 2009
Three strikes and you're "squished"!
My mom is AFRAID of spiders. Big ones...little ones....hairy ones...you name it. She does NOT like spiders.
The other night she was in the bathroom changing my "piddle pads" and I heard her go "EEEEYEEEEEEWWWW!!".
"What? What?", I said, knowing that by now she should be familiar with what appears on a used piddle pad.
"SPIDER", she says. "YUCK!" And then I hear her say something like "Oh, crud. I'm too tired to chase you!". I guess "spidey" crawled into a cabinet or something. Not like I'm going to lose any sleep over it. The next morning, she gingerly picks up the corner of my still-clean pad. Nope. No spiders.
That night she sees the spider skootched up against the wall behind the toilet. She taps the floor next to it and it doesn't move. "Rats. I'll have to get it with the vacuum tomorrow", she says (thinking it's dead). She forgot about it the next day.
The next night she sees it's little body in the same place and reminds herself to get rid of him in the morning. This morning she grabs a wad of tissue to pick up the remains and...[gasp!]... it runs away from her. She goes after it with the plunger but it zigs and zags. It wins. It's fast and elusive. She says "Fine. Stay out of my sight and you live!".
Later this morning, it's right out there in the open between the Weight Watchers scale and the toilet. She grabs another wad of tissue and I hear her saying, "I'm really sorry, but this arrangement is NOT working out!", and then I hear the toilet flush.
My guess is that "spidey" is on his way to a burial at sea. And I won't have to peek under the edges of my piddle pad before I squat. And Mom, despite feeling a little guilty about squishing our uninvited roommate, is glad it won't be having any little "spids" to deal with later. She still hates spiders in general but she did develop some respect for this one. That's a first!!
Love,
Mary-Margaret
The other night she was in the bathroom changing my "piddle pads" and I heard her go "EEEEYEEEEEEWWWW!!".
"What? What?", I said, knowing that by now she should be familiar with what appears on a used piddle pad.
"SPIDER", she says. "YUCK!" And then I hear her say something like "Oh, crud. I'm too tired to chase you!". I guess "spidey" crawled into a cabinet or something. Not like I'm going to lose any sleep over it. The next morning, she gingerly picks up the corner of my still-clean pad. Nope. No spiders.
That night she sees the spider skootched up against the wall behind the toilet. She taps the floor next to it and it doesn't move. "Rats. I'll have to get it with the vacuum tomorrow", she says (thinking it's dead). She forgot about it the next day.
The next night she sees it's little body in the same place and reminds herself to get rid of him in the morning. This morning she grabs a wad of tissue to pick up the remains and...[gasp!]... it runs away from her. She goes after it with the plunger but it zigs and zags. It wins. It's fast and elusive. She says "Fine. Stay out of my sight and you live!".
Later this morning, it's right out there in the open between the Weight Watchers scale and the toilet. She grabs another wad of tissue and I hear her saying, "I'm really sorry, but this arrangement is NOT working out!", and then I hear the toilet flush.
My guess is that "spidey" is on his way to a burial at sea. And I won't have to peek under the edges of my piddle pad before I squat. And Mom, despite feeling a little guilty about squishing our uninvited roommate, is glad it won't be having any little "spids" to deal with later. She still hates spiders in general but she did develop some respect for this one. That's a first!!
Love,
Mary-Margaret
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Kookie with the Yellow Armpits
WOW! Look who came to visit MEEEEE today! His name is "Kookie" and he says "Hello!". His human asked him what he had for breakfast and he said "Cereal!". He's very beautiful, don't you think?
Not that I asked him, or anything....but...he showed me his armpits. They're YELLOW! Perspiration stains, maybe?
When it was time to say "Good-bye", I was sad to see Kookie go. He's a very nice bird. His human says that he terrorizes their Maltese pup at home but I found him to be very polite.
I hope he comes to visit again.
Love,
Mary-Margaret
Sunday, August 23, 2009
A "Shout Out" from Cousin Sophie
My cousin Sophie asked me to give Theresa Brendemuehl of "Doggy Day Spa" in beautiful Kerkhoven, MN a "shout out". She says they are pawsitively FABULOUS and she always comes home beautiful, rested and ready to rock to the music. Hello THERESA!! Woo hoo!
Love ya, girl friend!
Mary-Margaret
Love ya, girl friend!
Mary-Margaret
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Weekly update!
It's hard to get anyone to sit down and seriously take dictation from me. I've been talking my head off and I'm either ignored or told to "Be quiet, Mary-Margaret!". It's not like I'm trying to be rude or anything, but a puppy does need some attention once in a while, even if their mom is trying to balance her business accounts.
Grandma and Grandpa moved to Pacific Palisades when my mom was almost five. They lived in a nice split level, 2 bedroom and den, 2 bath house about 1/2 block from the bluffs. Let's see....moved in about 1949 and....hmmmm. I think they lived there maybe 25 years, but my mom moved out about 1964. This is about how things have changed.
This is what the house looked like back in 1950 when my mom and other "fambly" lived there. See their brand new car?
In the old days, people used an "incinerator" to burn their trash instead of having someone pick it up. Mom says there was a little square in the back right hand corner of their yard with a cement fireplace like thingy that had a metal trap door on the front. They'd throw their garbage into it, light it and voila! Smog!
The incinerator area had a hedge around it and when Mom would get into trouble, usually for disagreeing with HER mother, she'd have haul her "trouble seat" out back and sit there all alone by herself until her mom called her back in. The "trouble seat" was actually a present from Grandpapa's mother, Mila, that she brought back from Mexico. It was painted red with bright yellow and blue flowers and green leaves painted on the back. The seat was made out of woven reeds. It didn't take too long for my mom to wear it out, but I digress.
I'm just telling you this stuff so you'll know how different things are today. No incinerators are allowed anymore, and the house is now a four-story, well designed home that's for sale at approximately 100 times what it was selling for back in the good old days. Where the old incinerator was there's now a spa and pool. And where the avocado tree was that my mom used to climb until she fell out and landed on her head there's a bar-b-que and patio.
Here's what 327 Swarthmore looks like today.
Grandpapa....when you click on the address, the listing will come up. Click on the "See all 25 photos" button and you can see pictures of what "327" looks like now. Pretty much unrecognizable, huh? About the only thing that's where it was back then is the 2nd story balcony, window and door that used to be Mom's room.
I thought you'd enjoy it.
Uh oh...I think I'd better get off the computer and............eeek!
Bye for now
Love, Mary-Margaret
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
This is #980...WOW!!
Can you believe it? This is the nine hundred and eightieth entry I've made into my diary. When we first started blogging, they said we only had up to 999 posts to make. I wonder what's going to happen in nineteen more posts? I should probably ask BaeBae , the hamster. BaeBae is the successor hamster to GirlGirl, who was the successory hamster to FuFu, who was my very first hamster friend. Hamsters don't live very long, maybe 2-3 years. Being so small, I guess, that everything is relative.
That reminds me about yesterday. I got something dribbled in my nose. Bordatella..some kind of kennel cough vaccine. Makes me sneeze a bit. Mom had to give me a hanky to wipe my nose. Me! Mary-Margaret O'Brien with a Hanky!
Oh oh OHHHHHHHHHHHHh! I forgot to mention. When I was at my doctors a lady brought in three baby Yorkie puppies to get their tails "docked". I always wondered why my tail was so short. It's a Yorkie thing. It's not supposed to hurt much, they say. Probably a lot like what gets docked on human males when they're babies. And since neither one of us can talk, how do people know it doesn't hurt? Hmmmmmmm?
So these Yorkies were squeaking and crying for their Mom because they were hungry and probably didn't feel so great after losing their tails. I wanted to just snuggle up next to them but I couldn't. They were in a shoe box with rags inside and just sobbing their little hearts out. I probably would have made a good mother, I think. I just love babies.
On Sunday my mom went all by herself to meet my Auntie C and the twins, Cailin and Clancy, for dinner in Corona. I got left home which was fine because I got my dinner just a little early. I'm told they all had a good time and that Cailin got my mom a "scratcher" and it was a winner. All of $9.00, of which Cailin got $1.00 back for buying it. Lucky us, huh?
Hmmmm. Let's see. I think that brings us all up to date. Mom, Colleen, Cailin and Clancy are going to visit GrandPapa next Wednesday. GrandPapa got all worried that maybe we were paying our last respects and maybe they all knew something that he didn't. Silly man. It's just the last week of summer before the kids go back to school and the only time they can go see him. He IS their great-grandfather, you know. The only one they got, too! He's fambly and fambly should stick together. I get to go, too.
If anybody knows what happens after #999, let us know, ok?
Love,
Mary-Margaret
That reminds me about yesterday. I got something dribbled in my nose. Bordatella..some kind of kennel cough vaccine. Makes me sneeze a bit. Mom had to give me a hanky to wipe my nose. Me! Mary-Margaret O'Brien with a Hanky!
Oh oh OHHHHHHHHHHHHh! I forgot to mention. When I was at my doctors a lady brought in three baby Yorkie puppies to get their tails "docked". I always wondered why my tail was so short. It's a Yorkie thing. It's not supposed to hurt much, they say. Probably a lot like what gets docked on human males when they're babies. And since neither one of us can talk, how do people know it doesn't hurt? Hmmmmmmm?
So these Yorkies were squeaking and crying for their Mom because they were hungry and probably didn't feel so great after losing their tails. I wanted to just snuggle up next to them but I couldn't. They were in a shoe box with rags inside and just sobbing their little hearts out. I probably would have made a good mother, I think. I just love babies.
On Sunday my mom went all by herself to meet my Auntie C and the twins, Cailin and Clancy, for dinner in Corona. I got left home which was fine because I got my dinner just a little early. I'm told they all had a good time and that Cailin got my mom a "scratcher" and it was a winner. All of $9.00, of which Cailin got $1.00 back for buying it. Lucky us, huh?
Hmmmm. Let's see. I think that brings us all up to date. Mom, Colleen, Cailin and Clancy are going to visit GrandPapa next Wednesday. GrandPapa got all worried that maybe we were paying our last respects and maybe they all knew something that he didn't. Silly man. It's just the last week of summer before the kids go back to school and the only time they can go see him. He IS their great-grandfather, you know. The only one they got, too! He's fambly and fambly should stick together. I get to go, too.
If anybody knows what happens after #999, let us know, ok?
Love,
Mary-Margaret
Friday, August 14, 2009
BLEGHHHH! YUCK!
Fridays are my favorite day. I get to kick back, relax and I look forward to my weekend. I still hop up and greet people, sniff them, lick them...whatever floats their boat. My point is, I'm easy to get along with.
One of the servers came in this afternoon and sat down to wait for some papers to sign. Naturally, being MEEE, I hopped into his lap. First come the back rubs, then the tummy rubs and then...........OHMYGAWSH! He puts his fingers in my mouth. Then he starts hunting around my gums....then my teeth. "Say AHHHH!, Mary-Margaret!". Like what is this guy up to? This is soooo weird.
Mom gives him a funny look and says "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?". He tells her he's just checking out my teeth and gums to see how healthy I am. ER.....HELLO? I just had my dental? I am just fine, thenkyewveddymuch! Eeeeeyewwwwwwwww!
As soon as I could get free I hopped over onto the chair next to him. I spent the next half hour trying to get the taste of his fingers out of my mouth. Mom says I looked like I'd just eaten peanut butter. Oh, if ONLY that were so. But fingers? YUCKY!!! I think I'll steer clear of him for a while.
Good grief!
Happy weekend.
Mary-Margaret
One of the servers came in this afternoon and sat down to wait for some papers to sign. Naturally, being MEEE, I hopped into his lap. First come the back rubs, then the tummy rubs and then...........OHMYGAWSH! He puts his fingers in my mouth. Then he starts hunting around my gums....then my teeth. "Say AHHHH!, Mary-Margaret!". Like what is this guy up to? This is soooo weird.
Mom gives him a funny look and says "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?". He tells her he's just checking out my teeth and gums to see how healthy I am. ER.....HELLO? I just had my dental? I am just fine, thenkyewveddymuch! Eeeeeyewwwwwwwww!
As soon as I could get free I hopped over onto the chair next to him. I spent the next half hour trying to get the taste of his fingers out of my mouth. Mom says I looked like I'd just eaten peanut butter. Oh, if ONLY that were so. But fingers? YUCKY!!! I think I'll steer clear of him for a while.
Good grief!
Happy weekend.
Mary-Margaret
Sunday, August 09, 2009
We Wrote to Oprah!
I dictated and Mom translated, edited and pushed the "send" button.
You all know I've been stewing over this court ruling. One of my friends on another group suggests that we all write to Oprah, since she's an animal lover and she would definitely understand our outrage.
I wrote the Oprah Show. This is what I said (pretty much):
On July 31, 2009, the California 4th District Appellate Court, Div 3, ruled that a woman wasn't entitled to be compensated for the loss of her 5-year old pet that died as a result of "alleged" negligence by a veterinarian. The last paragraph of the ruling reads: "We recognize the love and loyalty a dog provides creates a strong emotional bond between an owner and his or her dog. But given California law does not allow parents to recover for the loss of companionship of their children, we are constrained not to allow a pet owner to recover for loss of the companionship of a pet. Accordingly, we conclude the trial court did not err in striking McMahon's loss of companionship allegations." This would appear to include human children as well as pets.
The full ruling and (lack of) reasoning can be found at McMahon vs Craig . Similar rulings from other states are found here .
I think this is outrageous and merely allows the heavily lobbied veterinary interests to continue to operate without assuming responsibility. Help!
If you want to get involved, please write Oprah at Contact Us - Oprah.com.
Thank you.
Mary-Margaret O'Brien
Local Union Representative for WAYOUT*
(*Worldwide Association of Yorkies Opposed to Unfair Treatment)
You all know I've been stewing over this court ruling. One of my friends on another group suggests that we all write to Oprah, since she's an animal lover and she would definitely understand our outrage.
I wrote the Oprah Show. This is what I said (pretty much):
On July 31, 2009, the California 4th District Appellate Court, Div 3, ruled that a woman wasn't entitled to be compensated for the loss of her 5-year old pet that died as a result of "alleged" negligence by a veterinarian. The last paragraph of the ruling reads: "We recognize the love and loyalty a dog provides creates a strong emotional bond between an owner and his or her dog. But given California law does not allow parents to recover for the loss of companionship of their children, we are constrained not to allow a pet owner to recover for loss of the companionship of a pet. Accordingly, we conclude the trial court did not err in striking McMahon's loss of companionship allegations." This would appear to include human children as well as pets.
The full ruling and (lack of) reasoning can be found at McMahon vs Craig . Similar rulings from other states are found here .
I think this is outrageous and merely allows the heavily lobbied veterinary interests to continue to operate without assuming responsibility. Help!
If you want to get involved, please write Oprah at Contact Us - Oprah.com.
Thank you.
Mary-Margaret O'Brien
Local Union Representative for WAYOUT*
(*Worldwide Association of Yorkies Opposed to Unfair Treatment)
Friday, August 07, 2009
California Appellate Ruling Bad News for Pets
This disturbs me everly so greatly. I sincerely hope that the Plaintiff takes this to another level. The impact that a ruling like this will have on all pet owners, especially those with disabilities who rely on service animals in their daily life, is so far reaching it's boggling. What were those Judges thinking??
California Appellate Court ruling - August 4, 2009
Animal owners cannot recover damages for emotional distress or loss of companionship over a pet’s injury or death caused by negligence, the Fourth District Court of Appeal has ruled.
Div. Three held Friday that a San Francisco attorney whose dog died after surgery cannot recover such damages against an Orange County veterinarian who allegedly rendered negligent care and then lied to cover it up.
Metropolitan News-Enterprise Online (Drop down to August 4th Publication of Ruling for the whole decision.)
To me, this is like giving license to vets to rake in the money without providing the necessary care, compassion and personal accountability to the pets of the world. What can we do (besides avoid Tustin veterinarian Diane Craig)? Even the California Veterinary Medical Association supported the ruling. How harsh! How cruel! How mercinary!
Humans rely on us to sniff out survivors of earthquakes, terrorist bearers of bombs, and drug smuggling vessels. We are trusted to rescue snow bound people in the Alps and babies from swimming pools. How many of us have given our very lives to save our beloved human from certain death? We bond...we love....we CARE! And they treat us like chattel...something to be owned without emotional value.
I OBJECT!!
Mary-Margaret "The Activist" O'Brien
PS - GrandPapa's shoes arrived in ONE box. Whew! That had me worried.
California Appellate Court ruling - August 4, 2009
Animal owners cannot recover damages for emotional distress or loss of companionship over a pet’s injury or death caused by negligence, the Fourth District Court of Appeal has ruled.
Div. Three held Friday that a San Francisco attorney whose dog died after surgery cannot recover such damages against an Orange County veterinarian who allegedly rendered negligent care and then lied to cover it up.
Metropolitan News-Enterprise Online (Drop down to August 4th Publication of Ruling for the whole decision.)
To me, this is like giving license to vets to rake in the money without providing the necessary care, compassion and personal accountability to the pets of the world. What can we do (besides avoid Tustin veterinarian Diane Craig)? Even the California Veterinary Medical Association supported the ruling. How harsh! How cruel! How mercinary!
Humans rely on us to sniff out survivors of earthquakes, terrorist bearers of bombs, and drug smuggling vessels. We are trusted to rescue snow bound people in the Alps and babies from swimming pools. How many of us have given our very lives to save our beloved human from certain death? We bond...we love....we CARE! And they treat us like chattel...something to be owned without emotional value.
I OBJECT!!
Mary-Margaret "The Activist" O'Brien
PS - GrandPapa's shoes arrived in ONE box. Whew! That had me worried.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
WHY do some people have dogs?
Me and my mom went out working today. One of the ladies we were serving didn't want me to leave.
"My daughter wants a puppy JUST LIKE HER", she said. "We have a big dog but he's outside all the time!"
Mom asked how come, and the lady said, "He sheds too much!". Ouch, I thought. Poor baby. Probably was a cute puppy but now his parents pretty much ignore him. And it's been like over a hundred outside here. I get all thirsty just walking from the office building to the car.
Then the lady continued on by saying, "My daughter wants a little dog she can keep in her room!". Hello?, I said. How boring is that? Confined to a room all day? Yucky!
Why do some people have dogs? Sheesh!
Mary-Margaret "Animal Rights Activist" O'Brien
"My daughter wants a puppy JUST LIKE HER", she said. "We have a big dog but he's outside all the time!"
Mom asked how come, and the lady said, "He sheds too much!". Ouch, I thought. Poor baby. Probably was a cute puppy but now his parents pretty much ignore him. And it's been like over a hundred outside here. I get all thirsty just walking from the office building to the car.
Then the lady continued on by saying, "My daughter wants a little dog she can keep in her room!". Hello?, I said. How boring is that? Confined to a room all day? Yucky!
Why do some people have dogs? Sheesh!
Mary-Margaret "Animal Rights Activist" O'Brien
Grandpapa's "Dissle"
Whoopsie! No wireless connection anymore. My Uncle Greg finally confirmed that either the router he was connected to was moved OR somebody "passworded" it. How RUDE! My poor GrandPapa, a Nuclear Physicist, is baffled by the complexities of computers and even though he's totally solved the question of the origins of the universe (photons, non-photons, and all), bytes and pixels whoosh on by him.
My Uncle Greg convinced my GrandPapa that he needs to get "Dissle" for his very own self. While checking out the whole set up, my Uncle Greg also figured out that GP was paying way too much for telephone by itself, and he actually found a package where GP could get phone AND dissle for less than he was paying for just phone.
Uncle Greg rocks!!
Everly so gratefully yours,
Mary-Margaret
My Uncle Greg convinced my GrandPapa that he needs to get "Dissle" for his very own self. While checking out the whole set up, my Uncle Greg also figured out that GP was paying way too much for telephone by itself, and he actually found a package where GP could get phone AND dissle for less than he was paying for just phone.
Uncle Greg rocks!!
Everly so gratefully yours,
Mary-Margaret
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