Arlo & Wes

Watching these two little monsters play is both terrible and cute. You worry which growls are serious and what all is just play... Then Wes has to stop or else he'll get a little pug heart attack.
It's moments like this one on the couch that makes it all worthwhile.

I said I'd never do it

...but my mom had these stupid dear antlers on a headband and she wanted to put them on Arlo. Luckily he was preoccuppied with a new chew toy he got to really be bothered by it.

...never again buddy. sorry.

Arlo's First Xmas

Arlo just turned 7 months old and has celebrated his first Christmas/Christmas Eve with the fambily. He was great with everyone on Xmas Eve, even the little ones.


My mother (as expected) fell in love with him quickly. At times there was a little too much activity for Arlo to handle. He didn't know what to do with himself in a new place. He didn't have a room to hide in or any sort of safe-zone. After everyone arrived and the dust settled a bit, he was cool. I think he liked dinner the best. It was easy to hang out under the table near the little ones and pick up everything they drop.Speaking of little ones, this is Ayden. He's two and he played Santa this year. He knew everyone's name... for the most part.
All in all, it was a success. Our little Monster made it through Xmas eve with my family...

Happy Xmas.

Why are you getting the attention I'M supposed to get?

Lord Wessex

As I mentioned earlier, we are puppy-sitting the wonderful little pug Lord Wessex. He is a cute little smushed faced monster that Arlo likes to attack.
The two of them go in 10 minute spurts of attack/wrestle mode, then I have to break them up so Wes can catch his breath.

Wes loves to sit on your lap and bury his face in your stomache whenever he gets the chance. He's a doll. Arlo is jealous anytime We is on either mine or Stacey's lap. It's pretty cute.

babysitting

It's a little hard to believe that there is part of Lord Wessex (full pug) in Arlo.
Arlo is supposed to be a puggle: half Beagle/ half Pug. He's such a Beagle. There is no recognizable pug traits in this little guy.

Both of them are cute. Wes, being a few years older - can't really put up with Arlo's puppiness. Arlo likes to play and bite and bark and act stupid. It's cute, but I can understand what a pain it must be for Wes and his poor smushed respitory system to have to deal with Arlo.

the two of them are pretty cute together, that's for sure.

Gonna get LAZY next week

Starting on Friday, I have six days off from work for the holidays.
It can't really come at a better time... or perhaps everything is getting terrible BECAUSE we're getting 6 days off... who can say for certain?
All I know is, next week I'm going to do very little work-related things. Lots of needed relaxation.
I plan on spending good, quality time with Stacey and this little jerk (<----), and getting my first Impress the Apes challenge down.
I suppose I'll take more pictures to have on file, instead of recycling these old ones.

No New Years plans as of yet. I have a few ideas, but nothing solid. Boo time flying.

Boy, that little guy looks comfortable in that picture.

at a stand still

there's been a lot of peculiar negativity around lately. I'm trying to not let it get me down, but it's frustrating.

Don't know how much longer I can take my job... especially now with the introduction of extreme disdain for a co-worker, who also sits directly to my right.

I've got a wonderful home life (sure it has ups and downs, but overall, things are great) and my performing/directing is getting better and better (so says I)... so we'll see what 2007 brings.

I was not able to meet my 2006 goal, though I did make the effort to a few times. Hopefully 2007 will be filled with a few more opportunities. I hate this holding pattern (of life) that I've been in for 5 years. It's time I start getting something going myself.

Grooming

Oh boy,
Don't let this cute, tired face fool you.

Trying to trim this guys nails is a next-to-impossible task.

what a baby.

How I impressed the Apes...

These Apes

I have been cast in a show put on by the Blewt! Productions Co. (Creator's of Don't Spit the Water! - Chicago's Crazy Live Game Show (tm)) titled Impress These Apes.

From what I gather, it's going to be a wacky version of America's Next Top Model, only instead of Models they're making America's Next Top Comedy Person - be it through Improvisation, Short Film making, sketch writing, etc. etc.

I'm excited to be included in this project. While I feel like I may have stretched myself too thin with projects, few of them are performance-based projects. I've been doing a lot of coaching and directing - and while I love doing that, I also want to get creative with my own performing. I figure this is the perfect opportunity to do just that.
Watch out, Apes...

sit down stand up

I did my first open mic stand up last night.
It was terrible and it makes me want to rethink this whole show I'm supposed to be a part of...
but I'm generally not one to give up on something, so I'll keep on keeping on with it until I realize it is a big waste of time.

I saw the Robbers on High Street play at Subterranean last night.
They did a great cover of Do You Remember Walter? (Kinks) and seemed to be having a good time.
Monday nights are pretty hard to get a good, energetic crowd - even in Wicker Park. But they did a great job. I didn't stay for the whole show, but all that I saw of the show was pretty darn good.

I need to work on writing one-liners.

ugh.

Tinymixtapes has changed their website. I like the comic book look of it.
www.tinymixtapes.com

time of the season

The snow has fallen here in Chicago.
Currently the temperature is 21 degrees. Windchill in the single-digits. yikes.

On the first day of snow, last week - Stacey took Arlo out into it for the first time in his life. Apparently he couldn't have been happier. He was digging holes and eating the ice.


He's always a happy little guy.

All of his new teeth are in and boy oh boy is he testing them out. 2 leashes, some shoelaces - and a bit of molding along the floor in the kitchen and the bathroom. I hope this doesn't last too much longer. At least we're able to content him on tough rawhide chews. He'd be a monster without them.

a cute little monster.

Little Guy

Today is Arlo's first snow-day
(I will get pictures later).

Here is one of the first pictures we got from the breeder, which forced us to HAVE to get him.
He's just a little guy here...

Still the same. When he lays down, he always has to have his head over the edge of something.
Stacey says I spoil him more than she does.

...it's true. He's my little guy.


Had an interesting commute to work today. I had to evacuate the Redline train I was on due to a fire of some sort. Although it was alarming (with cold, slushy weather) - I remained in a good mood. It's Friday. I was listening to Bishop Allen and kept my walking and thinking pace to the tune of "Like Castinets".
Welcome Snow. Welcome December. Let's get this going.