SuperEggplant

Peter and I are going off to the woods and the river to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. The trouble is, we got this new dog, ya know, and can you guess who is coming over to dogsit? My insane brother. Can you guess how much he knows about dogs? About as much as I do! We grew up without any animals (except goldfish, but you couldn’t really see them because the water was too murky. I remember one time I was under the table in my little makeshift fort, making glitter pictures and listening to my cube radio, and I reached into a box of plastic toys, and I grabbed this lightweight dry thing. It took me a while to figure out it was one of our goldfish! I think it was Mr. Rourke) because we are allergic to everything.
Anyway, what’s nice about having siblings is that even if they are loony tunes, you can always impose upon them, because they are family and have no choice. Good luck, Sashi! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA.
[Please note that I am not entirely evil. I am leaving him some TimTam biscuits to enjoy.]

My valentine knows me pretty well:

Peter also got me a gift card for Forever 21, a store I have never visited because I haven’t been 21 in, well, FOREVER, ha ha, and the clothing there has never been on my radar (you won’t see me in any plunging necklines). I saw a cute blouse from there in Lucky Magazine, though, and I mentioned it to Peter. It was very brave and sweet of him to go there. Now I just have to muster enough courage to go and redeem the card.
The pooches are doing a bit better. Thanks to everyone who commented on that! It was really traumatic for me at first, since I know next to nothing about dogs and canine behavior. I have decided to take the existential route and to just let things be. Here they are in one peaceful moment:

Someone have me committed, please. I decided it might be nice for Deedle to have a canine companion, since her separation anxiety has been a little severe lately. I also decided she should have a basenji companion, since, well, I like basenjis. I certainly wavered and went back and forth, but then the perfect dog sort of appeared and fell into our laps. May I introduce Barkley*:

He’s a 2-year-old brindle boy (everyone told us that having two basenji bitches was tantamount to suicide, or would that be homicide?), and he’s really a good dog. His owners decided to rehome him because they are out of town a lot, and the dog was forced to spend a lot of time by himself. He and Deedle got along fine (we met at a dog park), and they were great on the drive home (2.5 hours), but once we got inside the house (i.e., Deedle’s turf), she decided she hated him and has been horribly snarky ever since. So much for easing any sense of loneliness or anxiety! I’m hoping this situation resolves itself quickly, though, because I have places to go and people to see, and I don’t want to come home to basenji hair and blood! How could she hate this little guy?

*Yeah, the name’s gotta go. I think we are going to call him Berkeley, since it’s pretty close to Barkley (unfortunately, Peter would not agree to Sparky).

Last year you all gave me outstanding advice when I asked about non-greasy facial moisturizers. I have been happily using the highly recommended Aveeno Positively Radiant Facial Moisturizer ever since. Well, now I need some more advice. I have been thinking that my blotchy face could use a little smoothing out, but let’s face it (ha ha, no pun intended), I am not the foundation-applying sort. So, I’m thinking tinted moisturizers might be the way to go. Please share your thoughts, experiences, and suggestions! Comments on tinted moisturizers from drugstore brands to fancy schmancy ooh-la-la brands welcome and appreciated.