Snuggie, and Snuggly

Holy cow!  Has it really been almost a month since I posted last?!  One of my friends was nice enough to give me a nudge about it.  I guess time flies when you're having fun.  And great fun has been had by all.  In between Otto being in a perpetual snit about something and taking it out on all the cats and us having to give Wanda transdermal medicine for her newly diagnosed asthma, we've barely had time to decorate our house for the holidays and keep mush on the floor. Sean has managed to find time to play with the buddies lately, despite work and family trips, and I've been trying to get as much cuddle time in with them as possible.  Which has been particularly difficult in Wanda's case, because she still hasn't forgiven me for being the one who took her to the vet a few weeks ago.  She's been pointedly avoiding me a lot and opting to snuggle with her brother rather than me.  Honestly, I've never seen a cat who could hold a grudge as long as Wanda can.  Still, with the mercury dipping, the other buddies have more than made up for it in terms of snuggling, happily piling onto the bed to enjoy our warmth and companionship.

Meanwhile, I had a chance to volunteer with Animal Compassion Network at the "Grove Bark Inn," a companion contest to the famous Grove Park Inn Gingerbread House competition.  This is a competition, too, but it's for model dog houses rather than people houses, and all of the materials have to be made out of things that dogs can eat.  It was a very cool idea, but I have to say that, as a vegetarian, it was super-disconcerting to walk into a room full of "gingerbread" houses and smell only bacon.  Still, the dog houses were all very creative, and I got to hang out with two cool women (and fellow vegetarians) and an awesome dog named Stumpy (who needs a home, by the way).

And, I picked up one last gift from the Asheville Humane Society for my parents' Cockapoo, Zoie:  a dog Snuggie.  Yes, the ones from As-Seen-On-TV fame.  Complete with assurances that it will keep your paws free to do other things, and pictures on the back of dogs playing backgammon and another dog lounging on the couch and successfully using his remote control.  (I say "successfully," because what dog is going to be able to use his remote control with a standard blanket?!  This one has sleeves!)  Don't tell my parents--I want them to be surprised.  Here's the link if you feel like getting one for that special, busy dog on your holiday list!: https://www.snuggiefordogs.com/