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Here is a disturbing story from Florida. I can't imagine any possible excuse outside of criminal insanity.

It's truly a sad way to start the New Year. Barb O'Neill, who personified what Community was all about, has passed away at 71.

Sometimes in order for someone to feel joy someone else must feel disappointment. In this case the disappointment was worth it.

We went to Tammy's sister's house for Christmas Eve. When we got there her Sis was holding a new chihuahua. She was the cutest thing; she didn't shiver beyond a barely perceptible movement, she was comfortable in a crowd of strangers, was passed from hand to hand and was generous in her licks; she behaved herself perfectly around the three-year-old.

They had already named her Daisy. About four days before a friend of theirs had found her wandering a road outside Graham, filthy and without a collar. They kept her a few days but already had dogs and asked Sis and her husband if they could take her. They have an aging pomeranian and plenty of room for another little dog. They gave her a bath and fell in love with her.

Knowing that chihuahuas are rarely strays they wanted to make an honest effort to find her owners. They were going to put an ad on Craigslist but we were all wary of how to word it; if they merely said a lost chihuahua was found they'd be guaranteed to get calls from people claiming they lost their pup. It was suggested they demand an exact description which had me thinking I'd be at a loss how to describe my own baby girl (uh...she looks like a yorkie...her hair's messy...she has eight nipples...etc.)

They looked on Craigslist to see if there were any local ads of missing chihuahuas and the very top thing that popped up was a missing pooch named Daisy Mae! Everyone else was certain that wasn't her. They said the coloring was off, the ears were shaded different. I was waiting for someone to claim her bandana was photoshopped.

Before they went further they got the idea of taking her to a vet and seeing if she was microchipped. An emergency vet was still open so they took her there. Not only did she have a chip but she, who had independently been named Daisy, was the very same Daisy Mae in the ad!

I'm not used to this, this doesn't happen to me. I'm supposed to be the Problem Child that assures others who are somewhat Conservative that they're not being targeted when it's Access Denied.

But twice in a row. Damn Damn Damn.

Now I know there's nobody to blame for this, these things just happen. However, the subject that my two comments were denied over was about how some people don't need to take responsibility for the choices they make, they just need to declare immunity based on their upbringing and blame it on others. Since it's been decreed okay to blame it on others I concede defeat of my previous stance and hereby declare my inability to post a comment is the result of an oppressive regime blind in their Friday Afternoon posting privileges.

Thanks to the privilege and status I was born with I was able to buy a dozen donuts and share them with my equally privileged co-workers which includes women, Asians, Muslims and perhaps even one or two gay people.

I'm now on my hour-long lunch break, two and in some cases four times longer than what many "cogs in the wheel" get in their low-paying oppressive jobs. I'm about ready to take my Yorkie on her walk. Being of the privileged class I have leisure time and means for owning a purebred luxery pet who serves no purpose other than to exist and be part of a privileged happy home. I could probably sponsor five children from Third World countries for what I spend on my four-legged little baby girl.

Tonight, after perhaps a happy privileged hour at the Brotherhood, and after grabbing some dinner (where I'll probably be accused of actively taking part in the capitalist oppression of virtual slaves in the kitchen), I'll look into my growing privileged DVD collection including the new acquisitions which were a result of celebrating a commercial holiday with Christian overtones (though to be fair it's the celebration of a man whose body was Aramaic and whose biological heritage was Jewish so perhaps the PC police will cut me a break...well, one could hope.)

Thanks to my entitlement and privilege I scored big this year. That, and the fact I was a good boy. Stop laughing, the jury acquitted.

I got all seven Harry Potter's in a gaudy treasure chest-shaped box, Nick Drake's Pink Moon, a bunch of schlocky zombie movies on DVD, a bunch of Audrey Hepburn DVDs, The second season of The Simpsons, Shawn Michael's 3-DVD collection, a tin filled with Railroad DVDs (not sure if it was something on PBS but it looks interesting), some lighthouses for my collection, some candles and a whole bunch of gummis and candy.

Among other things Tammy got lots of bath salts and soaps and lotions since she wasn't supposed to soak in a tub during her time on chemo (which is something she loves to do.)

Of course it was a better Christmas than last year: then she had just been diagnosed and started chemo and was facing a uncertain year, now she's finished and she's beaten it and the year hadn't gone bad at all (relatively speaking.)

I'd happily trade all my loot in to insure she stays healthy.

I noticed that the comments to Wally's attack on Drew Hendricks were deleted. I find that curious since the article itself is potentially libelous and is an example of what docents have been saying OlyBlog isn't about.

Anyone care to share what gives?

To repeat the title, Damn, it's snowing again. There's already a film covering the ground. I need to drive in 45 minutes, I don't have much choice. Just because I can drive in this stuff and know how doesn't mean I like to.

Besides, snow's no fun without snowboots and ski jackets and gloves and a yard, and then if there's not enough to build a snowman then what's the point?

Bah!

A conversation in another thread has me thinking of this chorus from a David Rovics song:

For I am the Vanguard of the Masses
And all of you should just follow me
And if you doubt my analysis
You must be in the Petty Bourgeoisie!

We're kinda hung over. Just kind of, in that "we've had six or seven drinks last night...not counting the shots" way.

That's what happens when your company isn't stingy at the Office Christmas Party.

So Tammy's being a trooper and doing The Think Tank right now while I sit at the front desk and catch up...I've been working ten hour days the last two weeks, with about one more week to go. The hours are long, I don't have the kind of online access I normally do, but the overtime looks great on my paycheck.

We're supposed to drive up to Bremerton to see the Lost Dogs tonight. I really don't want to drive on Route 3 today. I don't want to crawl home at midnight again when I have a ten hour day tomorrow. But I'm a nice guy and won't make Tammy miss the show unless the snow starts falling again.

Bah!