Before The Help I read The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Warning: I started this book over a year ago and found the first 100 or so pages to be so tedious that it took me a 3 hour flight last month and no current issue of Vanity Fair on hand to finally get to page 101. From there on it's a pretty good story.
When I looked at that section on Amazon where they show you what other people bought when purchasing The Help, thinking I could get a good suggestiong for the next book, The Girl... was the other option! Plus its sequels, which I'm not up for at the moment. No help there, Amazon. So blog readers, if you fancy yourselves as book readers too, would you leave a comment with a good book that I could pick up over the weekend? Thanks!
4. Dog stories tend to elicit the most blogger interaction here (not sure what that says about my other endeavors...) so I'm finishing today with an update on Lil Monster's "I wanna be a big girl and roam the house all day" trial and error period.
I've learned that Matt's a softie on this one. I was all ready to pull out the crate and keep it there until Chuckette's 2nd birthday in December. He, on the other hand, did some deep, scientific research (Googling) a few weeks ago when things were being destroyed every day. He found several dog whisperer types claiming that one should train the dog to get a toy and bring it to you as soon as you walk in the door, before even greeting the dog. Once your mutt has successfully retrieved something they should have in their mouths, then you praise the hell out of them, treats and all. The psychology behind it is you teach them not to be anxious when anticipating your return, which thereby reduces the likelihood of them chewing something they shouldn't be chewing to relieve the anxiety. Um, yeah, said I, dripping in sarcasm. But we agreed to try it out for a solid week. After all, we're pretty certain these hounds do enjoy each other's company during the day.
What's the verdict? I *think* it's working. Lil Monster will absolutely still eat our shoes if we're still dumb enough to leave them out (I lost a beloved pair of whale grosgrain ribbon flip flops the other day) but beyond that we haven't had any serious victims lately - knock on wood.
An added bonus is she actually greets us at the door again instead of hiding halfway up the stairs. And there is no better way to end a long day at work than with a wildly wagging tail (or tails, in our house), and the occasional "happy grunt" from Monster. What's a "happy grunt," you ask? Read below for a spot-on explanation within this article.
One of the classic benefits of having a canine companion is the explosive happiness a four-legged friend displays upon its owner’s arrival home. I loved this, especially since Scout has a unique ritual for such occasions. First she picks up a favorite toy (in most cases a quacking duck) and then proceeds to circle you while emitting a guttural moan reminiscent of Ludo from the movie “Labyrinth.” This sound would seem to express anguish and misery in any other animal, but for Scout it means that she is infinitely happy that you are back.
Have a great, happy-gruntin' weekend y'all! And thanks, Lindsey, for the last two pup pics!
4 comments:
I'm sure you've already read them...but two of my favorites "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" and "Hunger Games". I know - two very different reads!! But both what I would consider great summer reads.
I'm reading "Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Slayer", which is a hoot of a summer read! It's by Seth Graehme Smith (hope I spelled that correctly), the same author who wrote "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" which is another great read.
Otto my sewing Lab used to do the happy grunt when we would come home, replete with a stuffed lamb. Hoover, the Border Collie, isn't as interested in bringing a toy, but he will sit there and tell you all about his day!
Okay I absolutely adored The Help...it's gone around my office and I've told just about everyone I know to buy!
The Girl/Tattoo was hard to get into...the only reason I kept pushing through it was because my boss encouraged me...it was worth it though...wasn't it! I have the other two also but I'm waiting for some serious I got nuthin else time to tackle them.
I borrowed Lindsey's copy of The Help and read it in 3 nights, staying up late. Loved it. (Thanks Lindsey!) Check out Little Bee - it is another great story. I can't tell you any more about it because I don't want to spoil the surprise. But trust me, it's good.
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