Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Just saying hello...

...will you?

(bumped up from previous posting so I didn't miss anyone new.)


I just read on Lizziebelle's blog that it's National De-lurking week in the blogging world. (In all honesty, these things can be pretty corny but what the heck, I'm kind of curious too.)

I have to say it was so encouraging to read the comments from yesterday's post about the little bird. Just knowing that there are those of you out there who show compassion and love for all creatures "restores my faith in humanity" as one commenter, Valerie stated. I was very touched by that comment.

So, this is my way of saying hello to all of you who have been reading for a while (I don't really like the word "lurking", sounds kind of sinister in my opinion) or maybe just stumbled upon this blog randomly while searching for poo bags. Either case, if you want to say hello feel free because you are always welcome here.

I'm also curious to see what people relate to the most on this blog. Is it the psycho kitty, Chumley? The lovable Big lug, Wrigs? My LOVE and subsequent LACK of sunshine!?!? I'd love to know because maybe we can commiserate. Or maybe it's the husband who keeps me laughing, crying and screaming, pretty much all in the same day.

And if you're an animal lover (which I'm guessing you are!) say hello and give a little shout to your pet(s) in the comments! Chumley and Wrigley love making new friends too.

Hope you're having a happy day...
Laura

79 comments:

Anonymous said...

hi I love Chumley. I watch the youtube videos and laugh so much!

Anonymous said...

I love everything. Chumley, Wrigley, the hubby and you too!!!

xoxo

Lindsey said...

hi! my as-yet-to-be named puppy will surely want to be friends with your furry beasts!

lizziebelle said...

i like when tom talks.

and i like watching chumley be sinister. if i ever come to seattle i would bring touf just so he could interact with chumley. i dont know why i think they would have a milo and otis type friendship but i do. i also like wrigs because he is so gentle and obvi you because you smell disgusting i mean because you make me laugh. i smell disgusting.

Anonymous said...

Long time reader first time commenter because I don't have anything good or fun to say. That's why I read blogs and don't write them. I don't remember how I found yours but I check it everyday and enjoy it very much.

Have one cat named Jade but he's nothing like Chumley. Chumley is a character.

Busy Bee Suz said...

I come for the pooh bags. only the pooh bags.

Sheila said...

Hi! I don't remember how I stumbled onto your blog, but I have been "lurking" for quite a while! One of the first entries I read was about a dream you had, where you had springs or something on your shoes....and I seriously laughed so hard I was crying! Even though you have had to move to cold rainy hell, I still find myself giggling at your latest entries about the crappy weather. Certainly not at your expense, but at the way you see things. So, to answer the question, what do I relate to....it is definitely you and your sense of humor that keeps me coming back!....You crack me up!
Now that I am a de-lurker, I would like to say thanks for all the laughs, and I hope that you get to move back to sunny CA soon....you deserve it!

bethanne said...

Hi. I've been reading your blog for a few months now. I don't remember how I found your blog either, but I'm sure glad I did find it. Your posts make me smile & laugh.

I love the Chumley and Wrigley posts. My critter is a 7 year old rat terrier, whom I lovingly call a brat terrier. I could swear that she is part feline, total cat attitude at times.

I'm from Newark Ohio, where it's snowy, grey & cold right now. So I feel for you & totally miss the sunshine right now. But our weather truly does change day to day though. Looking forward to spring. Anyway I love your blog! Thank you for the invite to comment.

Anonymous said...

Hi. I've commented on your blog before - I have a very similar (personality-wise) cat to Chumley named Shadow and another one named Graycee. They send their meow's.

Have a fab day!

Oh - I found your blog through Karyn's blog.

Anonymous said...

I can't believe I made it into an actual post!!! Honestly, you are one of the funniest, most seemingly genuine people I've "met" in a while. It's so nice to hear the stories about your family, your move and your wonderful furry babies. I always thought I was crazy for being so tender hearted about animals and to see someone so obviously moved by others' suffering is refreshing.

Keep up the good work!! I know the move to drab Seattle has been rough on you but girl you have handled it with humor and class!!!! I could not agree more with Sheila about you having such a wonderful sense of humor.

Anonymous said...

I started reading Karyn's blog (pretty in the city) after I read her book and was highly amused by a series of interactions between Chumley and Beverly. I clicked over to your blog and found myself loving your honesty, hilarity and especially your videos of the animals! I have since become a devoted reader and check in on your blog almost every afternoon!I can't afford my own puppy right now, so I get my animal fix from Wrigs and Chumley's antics!

Gberger said...

You know me; I'm not a lurker here, but I did go to Lizziebelle's and de-lurked there...
I love your sense of humor, your kindness, creative cussing, the hubby, the animals & your random thoughts! Isn't it amazing, that we met through blogging, and then you moved up here? God bless you-- see you soon.

HWHL said...

I don't even remember HOW I stumbled upon your blog (it was one of the very first I stumbled upon) but I was up all night reading your posts and laughing until I cried. I thought (and STILL think) that YOU are absolutely hilarious! And then it was a bonus when I "met" the rest of the family (ie: Wrigs, Chums, and let's not forget your sweet, handsome husband Tom.)

Honestly, I think the first post of yours I read was one of your "mom-ism" posts from WAY back... and I truly thought I was going to wet my pants I was laughing so hard. :)

You're the BEST, Smiley!

Anonymous said...

Where you and Karyn college roommates or just friends?

Gberger said...

I just followed the link to your friend's (charity meals) blog. What a wonderful idea! She sounds like a lovely woman, too. Thank you for the link.

Bon Don said...

Bon Don here and I must say, I lurked here before, I sometimes threw in a few comments but not as much as I do now.

I guess I was shy at first, but not anymore!

I'm just a regular little bar fly now :)

annie said...

I don't remember how I stumbled onto your blog. I have never commented before, but am a daily lurker. I just think you are funny! You seem to be a "tell it like it is kinda girl" and wear you heart on your sleeve. I like that. Also,I can relate to your blog. Some blogs are so "sugar coated" and seem fake. You are the real thing. It is refreshing.

Me said...

Wow, just when my day started to head into the dumper I come back to read these incredibly uplifting comments! You all have made my day much better and I thank you. Now can you all pop out of this computer right this very minutes and come join me in my living room for a cocktail!?! I think it's too early for that...

I am touched again by how many good people there are in this blogging/reading community. I believe that we attract like-minded and like-hearted people so for everyone who said all these amazing things about me, let me reiterate the same sentiments to you. You guys are very special.

Thank you for saying hello j., Sheila, Bethanne, Jane (I do remember your comments about Shadow during those difficult months with Chum!), Valerie, Lauren and Ann. And hello to the anons and fellow blogger friends!

Oh and Karyn (Pretty in the City) and I went to high school together, not college. But then several years later we ended up working together on the Jenny Jones show in Chicago. She was the show flasher. I hope she doesn't kill me for saying that! But, it's true.

Tina said...

I found your blog not too long ago, but I love the Wrigs and Chumley-too cute!

P.S. I hate the word lurking too.

cheeky said...

hi laura - i said hello on lizziebelles' blog so i thought i'd do so on yours too! been reading for a bit - found you through save karyn's pretty in the city blog. you and your husband are hysterical. and if you want to read a new blog check out mine- www.thegreenapples.blogspot.com

cheers!
crissy

Anonymous said...

I am shy so I keep this as anonymous. I enjoy the Beverly and Chumley encounters from your blog and Karyns. That is my favorite and I'm always hoping for more! Your videos of Chumley and Wrigley are so entertaining. My whole family watches them too.

Thank you and the animals for making us laugh.

Unknown said...

I guess I will "delurk" although it's not really delurking for me. I read your blog because you're fresh, witty and I like your sense of humor about things (life, living in this sunless city we call Seattle) and how you love your pets, and the poor little birds who happen to be drawn to your windows!

Maggie said...

I am a regular, and I love everything about your blog. :)

Anonymous said...

No cat, no dog, no husband but It's stories like yesterday that keep me coming back for more.

ChiTown Girl said...

Yeah, yeah, blah, blah...
I still want to BYFFI!!

Anonymous said...

I started reading your blog at the time you mentioned the Seattle move. I live in Newport Beach and could never imagine moving away so I kept coming back to see how you were doing. I am very impressed with how you're handling it. Its like an experiment, moving from the sunniest place on earth to the rainiest but you are doing a lot better than most people I think. Keep that sense of humor!

Natalie said...

I have commented before too, but I keep coming back because you have a great way in telling stories about the large and the small.

I of course love your stories about Chum & Wrigley because I have a 9yr old English bulldog, Spike. I think they would all get a long quite well. Spike likes cats, but they don't like him :)

Clippy Mat said...

i come strictly for the fact that you pay me $5 for every comment.
LOL
if that was true i'd be rich!
cos i'm a serial commenter on your blog. i like it all, but i do have a special place in my heart for chumley.
but strictly from afar.
cos i don't think i could actually live with him.
sorry chumley. you're a tad crazy if you ask me. but in a good way.
the good way being that you belong to someone else.
you're a whole lotta cat to handle.
and i love wrigs too.
he's a gentleman and a scholar.
and has a great bedside manner.
i had no idea you and karyn worked together on jenny jones and you definitely should blog about it.
(this has now become a $6 comment btw.)

Gina said...

everything you write about amuses me :)

Anonymous said...

found you through karyn's blog. love her. love you too! i adore the pics and stories about chumley and wrigley they are delightful, yes, even chumley. :) many of your posts have made me laugh so hard i had to shut my office door!
xoxo
-m

Anonymous said...

Hi! I love Wrigley and Chumley. I have a 10-month old Golden (Cooper) and and a hilarious orange cat (Ellie). I see your two together and hope mine can be friends like that someday. Love your blog!

Bonnie said...

I can't remember how I found yours but with this post realized I've been reading for a few months but never commented. I enjoy your Momisms and other funny stories, and your love for animals is incredibly moving. I always had a dog growing up, with the exception of one year in between the death of one and the acquiring of two others, and miss the two of them terribly now that I'm away from home.

It's also been very interesting and enlightening to read about your sun troubles. I'm the exact opposite, in that if I go too long without rain, I get depressed Maybe it's from growing up in the South and all our droughts, I'm not sure. I've lived in London and all the rain didn't bother me, but even I'm not sure how I'd do in Seattle.

Anyway, hello!

-Bonnie

Anonymous said...

I am officially de-lurking! I actually love that phrase, because it's exactly what us non-commenters do.

I found you through the love affair between Chumley and Beverly on Karyn's blog and felt a weird instant kinship with you (or at least as much as a person can over the Interwebs). I am in Newport Beach too and if it rains here for more than a day I am literally plunged into the depths of misery (and heavy drinking), I regularly freak out when birds fly into our windows, and I am married with no kids but a demonstrative dog who acts like a cat and we treat like child, so I guess I feel like I have a weird vested interest in your story. And the fact that you have such a hilarious perspective on your life - whether it's something good or bad happening - always keeps me coming back.

What's not to like!?

I know you are miserable in Seattle, but hopefully you'll stick it out long enough to make it to the summer, because at least you'll see how beautiful it can be (not that I could take the winters there for a SECOND).

Thanks for all the laughs and the tears (and the suspense - yay for Little Bird!).

Rebecca

amanda said...

Just me and Piglet dropping in to say hello....

Anonymous said...

I love it all! You are so funny. You bring me so much happiness each day. Even when you are sad about the weather you still express your feelings in such a great way! AND Chumley and the videos, man, it's all excellent.

Anonymous said...

I used to read your PMS blog but you stopped updating it. Does that mean no more PMS? I check it monthly just in case. I enjoy this blog too but your rants on PMS were hilarious.

Steph said...

I came across your blog thru Karyns blog (which I found somehow researching NYC). I have continued reading it because you and your animals are always good for a little happy. Thanks!

Little Miss Diva said...

Greetings from your neighbor to the north! My little furball (my cat) Simba and I love your blog. It's often hilarious and touching.

Anonymous said...

I keep coming back to see where your panty liner ended up.

Erin said...

Hi~ I found your blog via a post on Karen G.'s blog. I really enjoy your humor and your love for your husband and pets.

Living in the same area, I often wonder how you are reacting to the weather. This winter is hitting me especially hard, and I'm a "rainy gal", so that's saying something.

Glad to have "met" you.

ChiTown Girl said...

8741--bwah hahahahahaha!!!

Anonymous said...

1) You're funny
2) You're smart
3) You're hot!

A rare find & not just in the blogging world.

;)

alohab said...

hello! i have been following your blog for a long time now..over a year or more i'd guess. i found you linked to christina shaver's site, who is a friend of my sister (through another friend). i am originally from So. Cal, and miss it very much, so can relate to your missing it. though, not for the same reasons since i am in sunny hawaii. any way, i always enjoy reading your blog. here's to de-lurking :)!

Anonymous said...

Hello Laura! My name is Karrie and I am in Ohio. I have wanted to write to you before and tell you that I have a Golden too. I swear he is Wrigley's doppleganger! My kids even read your blog (after I do, just in case :) and laugh at your Chumley and Wrigley videos and always comment how much Coop and Wrigs look alike. We love your blog and appreciate you putting your life out there for strangers enjoyment. :)

Anonymous said...

Long time lurker, first time commenter from Ohio...I found your blog through Karen Gberger's blog, when she posted your Mint Julep Memories. I have been reading ever since. :) I love your sense of humor!! I have a dog and two cats, so I have to check in to see the latest antics of your Wrigs and Chumley. The video with them and the cough drop wrapper was too cute! Thanks for making me smile and/or laugh out loud every day!!

Anonymous said...

My niece told me about your blog. I'm not sure how she stumbled upon it, but she called me one day and told me I had to read your "momisms" and about "you are boobs!" and I've been hooked since then! A shout out to Josie and Panther in frigid southern Ohio!

Me said...

This is fun! Hello to all the first time commenters. Thank you for sharing your stories! I think I have both Karyn and Karen to thank for bringing you here. As I guessed it seems that you all are animal lovers (even if you don't have a pet at the present time!) Lots of Golden lovers and owners and cat lovers too. Is there a better combination?

I am sooo jealous of the S. Cal commenters because I picture them sitting against a sunny palm filled sky with blue water lapping the sand. UGH!!! I wake up every morning to the same gray sky, it's been like this for a month?? and it's like a bad version of Groundhog day!! Ok I really didn't mean to turn my comment into a bitch fest about the weather but sometimes it's too dang easy!

Anyway, rebeccacdm: sounds like we live parallel lives, except yours is quite a bit sunnier! Crap I did it again. Ok no more weather talk. I haven't had my coffee yet so I'm extra sensitive.

I love Karries comment how she watches the Chum and Wrigs videos with her kiddos (after she checks it first!) Good idea! I know sometimes this isn't PG rated!

Wrigs and Chum are happy to know you enjoy their antics and they would like to say hello to their new pet friends:

Jade, Brat Terrier, Shadow, Graycee, Spike, Cooper, Ellie, Pigley (missed you!), Simba, (I remember your mommy!), Coop, Josie and Panther!!

And I'll give a little shout out to OHIO too since a few of you are from there! Hope you're staying warm!

Me said...

Sorry for all the !!!!'s in my last comment!! WTF? I don't know why I went all willy nilly with them. Will try to tone it down a bit.

Anonymous said...

Hi Laura, I found your blog thru Karyn's a while back. I just enjoy reading your blog....you make me laugh! Thanks! Sending you some sunshine....Mary

Anonymous said...

With all that is sad and depressing in this world I come here for laughs. I have backtracked and read every single post and like others, have laughed so hard I cried.

Thank you.

Gussie said...

I stumbled here from Karyn's blog. But I relate to your poor Chumley. My cat Tino is an overweight, moody grey tabby from a junkyard. He bites, knocks on our bedroom door at all hours, eats my purses and flip flops, opens cupboards and eats our food and had the audacity to pee on our Christmas presents. In spite of this, Tino is my baby.

Anonymous said...

I found your blog through Karyn's as well over a year ago. We have the golden and cat (I have a cat zoo) in common, and would love to find a husband that would entertain me like yours does (and give me funny stuff to write about). I love your sense of humor and honesty, and it's very entertaining!

Anonymous said...

A friend of mine forwarded me a link to one of your posts about you answering the phone, thinking it was your husband and announcing to the store clerk that you were on the toilet. I was hooked ever since. Thank you for sharing those bathroom stories. They are always a good time!

Paige said...

lizzibelle and i are basically the same person so that is how i stumbled upon you. you might talk about Chumley more than i talk about bella, my giant standard poodle who has the sassiest personality known to man. i think she and touf would really enjoy spooning Chumley and/or observing little fallen bird soldiers. anyway your blog is great, you are hilarious, and i really love reading it every day.

meow, woof, rowr

bnessabondi said...

Hi, I too arrived here via Karyn's blog. I also have a psycho kitty, Alena, who is currently stalking boyfriend's leg, and likes to drag her claws down our antique wooden bedhead. Your post a while back on digestive issues when you answered the phone thinking it was your husband made me laugh for days.

Anonymous said...

Hello! I don't think I've ever commented before but you're funny, you and the animals.

When did your husband live in Sydney? And for how long?

Sarah said...

I found your blog from Karen's blog. I like reading your complaints about the weather. I also like hearing about your pets. :)

Michelle said...

Well then I guess I need to de-lurk and say hello this week, right? I stumbled on your darling little blog when Chumley was having that sordid affair (one sided maybe?) with that little tart, Beverly. And I am a compulsive lurker to see what is up in your world and with the darling pooch & cat.

As someone who also "suffered" through a five month winter in Seattle...I feel your pain of needing the sun!!

LULU'S BOUTIQUE said...

I try to get here atleast once a day for my daily laugh!! I also love to read about Chumley! Your blog always seems to brighten my day!

P.S. Our new little pekingese girl Dixie says hello to Wrings!!

Anonymous said...

I have never commented before, but now I am 'de-lurking'. I found your blog a few months ago somehow and have been reading it ever since. I especially love reading about Chumley and Wrigs. I have a crazy cat too and can totally relate. Your posts are so funny and I find my self quietly laughing (shhh...I am at work) when I read some of the things you write. Keep up the great stories and I hope you get to see some sun soon! I am from Indiana and it is very cold here (10 degrees today), but at least the sun is out. :-)

Me said...

Welcome, Welcome my friendly de-lurkers! Seems like a few of you are in the deep freeze, except for Craig in Sydney. I'm so jealous!!! Tom lived here for under a year in college. He LOVED it and wants to go back again soon.

I have to ask Michelle, how did you survive those 5 months of winter and was it just 5 months? Did you leave after that or are you still here? Just curious. I'll take any advice you can give me. And yes, Beverly is quite the tart!

And hello to Tino, Bella, Alena, Dixie and Crazy Cat. It's sooo nice to know I'm not alone in my psycho kitty department.

Bundle up and stay warm!!!

Michelle said...

I was there from November - March, working in downtown Seattle, living in Everett. So that meant public transportation in the winter...got stuck for nineteen hours at a Wendy's in downtown Seattle during a blizzard. What sucked is I was working a seasonal job at Princess Cruises, booking people on trips to Mexico. And here I was bundled up like Eskimo Jo! I am now back in Phoenix...sometimes I miss how green it is in Washington, but then I remember the rain.

And I have an interesting little fuzzy as well..Tyson the demon cat. I think he would share "taking over the world" schemes happily with Chumley.

Maj said...

Hi!
I've been reading your blog for a few months now, I followed a link on Karyns blog and liked what I read. :)
So maybe it's fun to know you have readers all the way in Europe! I'm from the Netherlands (Holland).
Keep it up!

Oh by the way: I just love Chumley!!

Anonymous said...

I too found your blog through Karyn's after reading her book. (Hey, you should write one too!) And I check in every day because your antics make me giggle and I am a huge animal lover as well.

I am originally from Zimbabwe and moved to the UK after chaos descended there so I can relate to your 'sh*t splat weather' blues - coming from sunny and beautiful Africa to gray and muddy England was a huge adjustment (not only weather-wise), one I don't think I'll ever fully get used to. But with a sense of humour (or at least a sense of the ridiculous) and a lot of wine, I'm getting there slowly!

So, thank you for putting a smile on my face. Hey, I might be your only Zimbabwean reader?!

Me said...

Wow Emma Zimbabwe to the UK?!? Talk about MAJOR adjustment. And not just weather related. Do you still have family there? That's one of the hardest things about moving away - saying goodbye to your family and loved ones. Even though I find it therapeutic to bitch about the weather, the fact is, I miss my family and friends soooo much but if I focus on that I get even more depressed so I stick with the weather. By the way, it's gray soup again today and my first words when I woke up were "F*CK!!!" I am at the end of my rope.

Hi Maj! I'm excited to meet another Netherland blogger! Ok here's my small world comment for the day: Do you know Lizette??? She's another blogger who lives in your country so of course I had to ask because wouldn't you know EVERYONE who lives in your country!??! Don't you love when people do that? It's a small world and we're all connected somehow so you just never know.

I'm so happy you all have said hello. I don't want to pressure anyone else to come forward but I have some regular readers (meaning everyday clicks) in Japan, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Buenos Aires, Poland, Greece, and Spain. Or maybe this is the same person who just likes to travel a lot?!

Anyway, everyone has been so warm and welcoming on here and I just want to say thank you for your kindness. You're making me smile. =)

Anonymous said...

I enjoy your blog so very much. You brighten my day and it disappoints me when you have not blogged. I have a golden that is two years old. He is the greatest! Also two adult (outside/inside) male cats that are brothers and a sweet little baby girl kitty (strictly inside).
You have such a kind and sweet voice and I love how you interact with Chumley and Wrigley - no one would ever know they are not humans. Have a great day and thanks so much for the joy you give.

Maj said...

Haha, well, mine is a very small country...but no. ;)

I'll check out her blog though, if I can find the url somewhere... :)

Anonymous said...

Hi! I've been reading your blog for a while (I found it through Karyn's Pretty in the city one) but feel a bit guilty that I've been 'lurking' without commenting, so it's nice to say hello! Anyway, I love your Chumley and Wrigley stories, and since I live in the UK, I can totally sympathise when it comes to the miserable Seattle weather. Think of it this way though - when it's rainy and grey every day it just makes the occasional sunny days more special! Please keep posting - your blog is fab!

Me said...

Bumping up this post to say hello to Susie! And don't feel guilty for lurking -we all do it! But I'm glad you said Hi and can relate to what it's like living in soggy climate.

We're having a sunny day (though it's really cold) but gorgeous. And Yes, I do tend to appreciate these days a heck of a lot more. I'll soak up these rays any chance I get!

Unknown said...

Hi! Found your great blog by reading lizziebelles, and I love it! I'd have to say I read both your and lizziebelles everyday!!Your stories are hilarious! I also love the PMS blog! Too funny! Thanks for sharing!
Elizabeth

Anonymous said...

I got major freaking deja vu with this post.

Anonymous said...

Well, I'm new here, and I haven't read all of your blog yet, but I relate to everything, the cat, the dog, the birds, the snow, the almost non-existing sun, the husband's stories, your family's stories...

Oh, and also, the pooh's stories. Yeah, I like that too.

:-)

Claudia

Anonymous said...

Saying hello from your favorite place, sunny California. Tustin to be exact. We had a few days of rain here and people were making reference to Seattle and I thought OMG if you could only hear this! We really don't know how to deal with rain. I guess that's why we choose to live here!

Anonymous said...

My cat, Addi, has a crush on Chumley. I had to type this for her since she's busy throwing up all over the carpet because I made her mad by getting up to get something to drink.

Kim said...

Hey ! I had to comment the other day when Chumley needed to get "cleaned up"! Oh that was hysterical. You do crack me up. Don't have a clue how I got to your blog but I love it. I live in Louisiana with a husband, 16 year old son, 1 dachshund, 1 dalmatian, and 6 cats. Just rescued the dalmatian and she is proving to be quite a character. Can you believe someone dumped this dog and she lived in the woods. There is a special place for people like that !!!! Anyway love you humor and videos of the pets !!!

Anonymous said...

My family and I get a kick out of Chumley and his attitude. I keep wanting to adopt a cat but after seeing some of Chumley's videos my husband says NO WAY! We think he's one in a million though.

Me said...

Hello to Elizabeth, Claudia, Tina, Addi's mom, Kim and Georgia Peach. Thank you for saying hello and putting up with my traumatic bird posts lately. Kim, that is absolutely atrocious that someone would leave a sweet pup abandoned like that. There is definitely a "special" place for them, but an even more special place for people like you who take in those suffering souls. I really love meeting fellow animal lovers! Enjoy your fur babies and give them a hug and kiss from Wrigs and Chum.

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