Fill-Ins and a Bum of a Blooper

Happy Friday to all of our furiends! It's one of the best days of the week, in large part because it's time for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by the clever 15andmeowing and McGuffy's Reader.

Our hosts gave us some great fill-ins this week:

1. My nickname is _________.
2. The first thing I ever won was _________.
3. I have never been to _________.
4. Next year _________.

I scrambled my brain like eggs trying to live up to these. I hope the results are palatable enough.

1. My nickname is Lluugghh. 

(This one is going to take some special explaining. For those who don't know, my name is Lorianne. That's just the generic names Lori and Anne smashed together into one. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, let's just say that throughout school, roughly 99% of new teachers, and anyone else who read my name for the first time ever, butchered it. This still happens to this day. Most often they guess something along the lines of Lorraine, which I understand, given how close it looks to that. But I have heard and seen plenty of other random and weird guesses, like LaRyan. Back to the nickname, though...It came about a few years back when, after an especially memorable butchering of my name by a new acquaintance, my sister told me that I should just simplify things and start introducing myself by simply drawing out the sound of the letter L. I asked her how she'd spell that, and for whatever reason she came up with Lluugghh. And it stuck.)

2. The first thing I ever won was a porcelain doll named Punkin. 

(I was maybe four years old or so, and though the details are fuzzy, I remember there being a raffle at a local kids' event for a doll and winning. She was made of porcelain, which is just great for a child of four, and came with a tag declaring her name to be Punkin. Truth be told, the doll kind of freaked me out. There was something about her buggy eyes, or maybe it was that crooked smirk on her face. My mom put her up on a shelf for me, and I remember feeling hardly bothered at all when angel Rosie's brother Sammy broke off some of her porcelain fingers. When I moved out of my parents' house, I told my mom to keep the doll.)

3. I have never been to Disney Land or Disney World. 

(When people ask me if I've been to Disney Land and/or Disney World and I say no, they often look at me with this aghast look on their face, like I've just sprouted wings or a unicorn's horn. Honestly, though, I've never had any inclination to go to either of those famed theme parks, not even as a kid. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Disney, but I'm not a fan of thrill rides, I'm kind of creeped out by people dressed up in giant plushie outfits, and I'm just as happy watching The Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast from the comfort of my couch, surrounded by furbabies, of course.)

4. Next year is a blank canvas.

(I went back and forth between a number of plans, hopes, and wishes I have for next year. Unable to settle on one, I figured this was good enough.)

Now, on to the next bit of business. It's not only the day when you get your weekly fix of Eddy, but it's also time for the Pet Blogger Bloopers Round-Up, hosted by The Lazy Pit Bull.

This is quite opportune, as active Eddy is arguably the best source of bloopers in our home. This time around, she has a bum of a blooper to share with you.

How's that for "say cheese"?

We hope everybuddy has a wonderful day!

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Don't forget to tune in for today's Blogville Pawlympics event, Tuneful Farting, hosted by Easy!

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Our Tip of the Day:

Did you know that cats can suffer from separation anxiety, just like dogs and humans? Some kitties will experience anxiety when their favorite human is away. Sometimes, this is the reason why your kitty may urinate or even defecate on your clothes or other possessions while you're away. Other signs of separation anxiety include excessive meowing or yowling, pacing or restlessness, obsessive grooming, gorging on food, or hardly eating at all. Although every animal will respond differently, you can try certain techniques to help your kitty feel at ease while you're away. For example, offering distractions, such as in the form of interactive toys, automatic treat dispensers, perhaps leaving a TV on, or even a radio. Especially if your kitty tends to get him or herself in trouble while you're away, you can also try creating a safe room for them to stay in while you're away, a place they can consider their "safe haven" or "happy place" while you're away. Another option to try are Feliway diffusers, to help calm the anxious kitty. Of course, in some cases, more extreme behavioral modification may be required, which can be discussed with a vet or behaviorist. In some more severe cases, anti-anxiety medications may be required. Cats respond to drugs such as Prozac similarly to humans, and sometimes a kitty just needs a bout of an anti-anxiety medication to get their chemistry and anxiety back in check. Again, consult your veterinarian!