Farewell Petunia.

A rare picture of Petunia outside. Later she would refuse to pick up the ball on the ground because it was touching the ground.

Today part of me died along with my ever faithful Petunia. She went swiftly-- a quick seizure, and she was gone. I am still processing it. So much of my life was wrapped into the 40 lbs (yes, she had dropped the weight) of one neurosis after another.

Originally from Florida, she was meant to be a show dog, but because she didn't "thrive," she was taken to the vet who explained to her breeder that this puppy had to be on the only puppy in the house. We were happy to take and dote on her. She didn't like to go for walks, unless it was at the mall. Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn, Pier One, as well as boutique stores and a few restaurants that I won't name welcomed her with open arms. Five years ago on the first night of Hanukkah, I was sitting with her at The LA Farmers Market (we were getting her Santa pics done) and a minion, converted her to Judaism. I doubt they were converting every dog they saw, that was just her hold she had on people. Everyone from tourists to paramedics abandoning their patients to local gang members we encounter at Pink's Hot Dog Stand wanted to take pictures with her.

One time someone asked me why almost all my pics of her were on a bed. The answer was because that was her favorite place. She never had a wanderlust. She was my little crazy canine Howard Hughes. She only liked to be outside if she could sunbathe or get attention from people. If it wasn't at least 90 degrees out, she would go outside for the bathroom, and immediately run in like the dog catcher was coming for her.

She was allergic to grass and 27 other items including cats. She snored incessantly, and she NEVER woke up in the single digits. People always commented that she didn't understand that she was a dog. She did always seem baffled and a little offended when other dogs wanted to sniff her. I tried for awhile to make her more dog-oriented, but I grew tired of being in a pack of dogs in the dog park just to look back seeing her sitting on the people bench with the other owners.

Her favorite thing in the world was to play with tennis balls- and only tennis balls. She could catch as good as any dog with a snout-- except she would only play inside-- for hours and hours. My fingers would pickle throwing some mangy ball. And if a ball went out of her reach she would growl and bark until I got the ball for her even if meant dislocating my shoulder, because whatever ball she picked up for the day, she insisted on sticking with it.

Tonight for the first time I can ever remember, we don't have the A/C on. We always kept the house at 62 degrees because that's the temperature she seemed happiest at. I miss having my teeth chattering while she pants because I tried to move the temp up to 63 degrees, just to have her stop as soon as I would turn it back down.

I miss her and everyone of her little idiosyncrasies... I love you, my sweet Petunia.

Does this fur make her look fat?

So maybe her harness is tighter and we are down to the last hole. And yes, she is winded when she runs up the stairs. And we have been getting a lot of YOUR DOG IS FAT when we've taken her out (so when did saying that become acceptable, by the way) but we weren't prepared for the number on the scale at the vets. Toonsters weighs 49 lbs and she needs to weigh closer to 42 (OK so really 40 but I am trying to make her not seem so gargantuan).

Her big problem is-- I don't want to name names--but someone in the household other than myself, the ferrets, or the cat is giving her people food such as blueberry muffins.


While her turn on's include people food, her turn-off's include going for walks, grass, other dogs. We live right across the street from a dog park, but unfortunately, unless they install carpeting, a couch and get rid of the dogs, she is not interested.


If you are wondering, no she won't walk onto the grass to get that ball. She will stand and stare, then stand and bark, then maybe walk the perimeter, but she will not pick up a ball on the grass. And yes, it is embarrassing when she does this.

In fairness to her, who does like to play in their toilet. And it's not that she doesn't like other dogs, she is just ambivalent to them, or more like she doesn't see herself as one of them, OK so my dog is a snob. I didn't raise her to be one, but c'est l'vie, she's from Venus, they're from Mars.

She isn't completely an inactive bon-bon eating couch potato, her favorite past time is her tennis ball, which we are trying to get her more back into fetching versus throwing the ball in the air and letting her catch it without actually having to move.


Though only the 3rd day, she seems to be adjusting well to her new diet.


And WHN assures me he will do his part by walking her more.


Wish her luck and when she is down to her svelt 40 lbs, I will post a picture for you to ooo and ahh over (even if you don't notice a difference, still ooo and ahh.. it will make her feel better.)














As for the cat whose presence is keeping me from new furniture, that fat toothless moany jerk can eat until he explodes.

Christmas at Las Vegas Square

Recently a new outdoor mall opened in Vegas on S. Las Vegas Blvd at the 15 and 215. The mall reminds me of a small town, or should I say, the set of a movie of a small town. I expected the Gilmore Girls to pop out at any moment. They have parking lots, a garage, but for the lazy person in us, also available are metered parking along the "streets" of the inside of the mall. And it wouldn't be Vegas without the valet option.

Not all the shops are open yet, but some that are Apple, Eddie Bauer, Banana Republic, Guitar Center, and Claim Jumper. They also have RAVE movie theater.

Ofcourse right now I love it because it's now 5000 degrees out. Come summer, it will be dead to me.

If you are into Norman Rockwell, through the holidays, they have statures recreating 6 of his magazine covers scattered throughout the mall.

A few days ago, Santa was seeing the doggies. I thought the combo of new mall and Vegas not being the friendliest dog town, it wouldn't be that crowded, but it was packed with pooches! And most of them were dressed. We got there at 6pm and left at 8pm- and there was a still a line.



I was in sweats and having a terrier out dress me was quite embarrassing.

More dogs in clothes:



dog in a kilt



the other bully there



the pony there.



Figured out that mom and dad took her to see Santa on pet night (but look at the fab dog sweater behind her!)



Lil' Dolce & Gabana



Dog in fur...and fur




Dogs that should have called each other before showing up.


Santa's lil' doppelgangers:




Please don't make go over there dressed like this!



I saw someone holding their German Sheppard in this exact same pose!



These evil little girls wanted to be wheeled over and see Toonsters. Once there they stood and started jeering her. They hissed and called her fat and Toonsters just looked at them like what's your damage?



Waiting patiently with her list.


The photo people did a great job. Instead of herding the animals through, they let one into the building at a time and shut the door behind. They also stayed until they got a good shot, so the line was slow moving, but looking at the dogs was fun. Oh, and Toonsters, she got it on the first shot, thank you very much.