Familiar traits

Some of you may know that in March I suffered the loss of a treasured CD player from my car. She lived a long life of happiness and selflessness until the fateful Disc 4 of 11 for the audio recording of Hard Times (Dickens) was inserted as the last disc she would ever recognize. I had to remove the said disc from the lifeless body of JVC despite tears of sadness and regret.

After an acceptable period of mourning (approximately 2 days), I was ready to rediscover love in the stereo section of Best Buy. I purchased a sister JVC to ease the grief of such a tragic loss (it also helped in that the price was easier to bear).

So, about a week ago, I was getting tired of listening to Wow Purple Disc so I decided to switch CDs. Are you getting ahead of me here;)? So, I pressed Eject... Okay... um, Eject... EJECT! JVC is desperately trying to communicate with me using the only 5 English words/symbols she knows: EJECTING, READING, PLAYING, 00:00, FM1 in that order, continuously. It's obvious she has the same terminal illness her sister contracted. I should have known that the disease was likely to be carried in the family genes.

As I prepare for the grief that I sense will soon ensue, I look ahead to branching out from this flawed family to find love yet again in a new name, a new face, a new life.

To love and its enduring power through technological difficulties...

It's a dog's world

For all the animal lovers who, like me, slip into the deception that dogs have more than a little human in them - here is comfort for your beloved canine that many may not know is possible.

Yes, it's true that sometimes even the most responsible, dedicated pet owner must leave his or her furry friend behind to embark on a trip that may not be ideal for this faithful companion. Never fear, Best Friends Pet Care is here. Now before I proceed, I must assure you I am not being paid to endorse this agency...yet:).

For the right price you can board your buddy in a luxurious "Vacation Villa." It's true - when your pet cannot be at home, this pet hotel makes it as close to home as possible, complete with lambskin bedding, bedtime stories, cuddle times, ice cream treats, and of course daily maid service. For a mere additional $10, your pet can enjoy homemade dog biscuits as well as bottled water (surely you don't fill the water dish from the tap!).

You can also send your dog to Doggy Day Camp - it's great for keeping your loved one from becoming bored at home.

Now please don't think they overlook our feline representatives - this establishment also provides Kitty Condos with an optional Cookies and Milk OR Tuna on a Ritz.

So pamper your pet, and rest assured that while you are on vacation, your furry friend is probably enjoying life more than when you are at home.