artist feature: crispypaintings

Time we had that talk

All I wanted was a cupcake. So we went to Verite/Cupcake Royale in Ballard a couple of weeks ago and got half a dozen - along with my newest art crush, Chris Pavlik.

The magic and mystery made manifest in a meditative mirage

I wrote him to say his colors were romantic, and that his work was Romantic with a capital R. Those clear, clean pigments and intermixing of nature with the heart and soul's puzzlements struck me as close to Caspar David Friedrich. (If he'd had a sense of humor. Which the Romantics rarely did.)

It's only polite to pretend not to notice

Explicit exceptions to implicit rules

I love those rabbits. I love this work.

Check out a wide variety of it at Crispypaintings.com.
All images copyright the artist with kindest permission.

Reverse Sneeze

The first time my dog made that noise...the one where it's not quite a sneeze, not quite a gag, not exactly a cough, but something in between.....I wasn't sure what to think. But, it only last a few seconds and he was fine afterwards.

The phenomenon is known as a reverse sneeze. No one is really sure what it happens, but it could be from allergies or sometimes an even more serious condition. But if it happens infrequently, there isn't much to worry about.

This Pet Place article is a good place to find some more information on reverse sneezes, including ways to get your dog out of them if you are worried or if they are lasting a while.

Only one of my dogs, the one with all the allergy problems, gets this condition on a regular basis. What experiences have you had with the reverse sneeze?

Are Fish Easy Pets?

As a life-long fish keeper, the answer to this question is not a simple yes or no. First, there are the differences between fresh-water set-ups versus salt-water. Having a salt-water tank is much more time consuming and high maintenance then fresh water set-ups.

For those looking for less maintenance, fresh water is by far the choice to make. The advantages to a fresh water set-up is that once the initial set-up is completed, the daily maintenance of the fish are basically just feeding and checking to see if there are any problems with the fish.

By looking for problems, I am referring to checking for unusual behavior, looking for any damaged fins, and checking for any signs of disease or fungus. By observing your fish for a few minutes everyday, you'll start to see what their "normal" behavior is, so that you can spot abnormal behavior. Plus, isn't the point of having a fish tank is to have something to enjoy everyday anyway?

Freshwater Fish also need weekly and monthly maintenance chores. Once the tank is established (i.e., been running for more then a couple of months), you still need to stay on top of checking the water quality of the aquarium. By water quality, you should check the PH level weekly (the amount of PH varies based on what type of fish you have) and the ammonia level (ammonia, even in small amounts, can be fatal to fish). Water softness/harness can also be a factor is you are keeping fish that are sensitive to the amount of harness (dissolved minerals) that are in the water.

As for monthly chores, the tank filter media should be cleaned or replaced at least once a month. Partial water changes are also of importance. An aquarium is an enclosed environment. Fish are excreting waste in the same water they are living and breathing. There is also decaying food in the tank producing ammonia. It is for this reason the tank water must be changed approximately every two weeks. When changing the water, a water conditioner must be added in order to remove any chlorine and other items in tap water that are harmful to fish. These conditioners can be found in most pet stores where fish are sold.

The good news is that once the tank is established, this type of maintenance routine is much lower in comparison to having other pets. If you enjoy a crisp, clean aquarium, then it is worth it to take these steps. If not, it could cause more problems down for your tank, making it higher maintenance.

When all is going well, then fish become an "easy" pet. But when problems occur in the tank, and your fish start to die, there is nothing easy about that!

gin the dog: "it walks! . . . backwards!!"

My friend Doug turned me on to this phenom taking place earlier this year on Britain's Got Talent: a dog who lives to dance canine freestyle, named Gin. Here's a joyous bit of the show introducing Kate Nicholas and her gifted dog:



It's worth it just to see that look on Simon Cowell's face.
As it happens, Gin almost never got to dance for Simon, as this article will explain: she got into some poison by mistake a while back, but all is very well indeed now. In fact, Gin was so kind as to "interview" with Britain's The Mirror. Read it here.

Happy Veterans Day

A great time to reflect and remember all those who gave us the freedoms we enjoy.

"a warlike mouse came down"

. . . to the water to take a drink, and upon being accosted by a regal frog, let him know this:

The mouse, speaking haughtily, said: “I am Crumb Snatcher, and my race is a
famous one. My father is the heroic Bread Nibbler, and he married Quern Licker,
the lovely daughter of a king. Like all my race I am a warrior who has never
been wont to flinch in battle. Moreover, I have been brought up as a mouse of
high degree, and figs and nuts, cheese and honeycakes is the provender that I
have been fed on.”

And pride goeth before a fall, with a short wet trip on a royal frog in between. For the full story of The Battle of the Frogs and the Mice (from The Golden Fleece's chapter on The Life and Labors of Heracles - it's a crazy story Heracles hears from some robbers. Courtesy of Bartleby.com.)

Bread Nibbler struck the first blow. He fell upon Loud Crier the frog, and overthrew him. At this Loud Crier’s friend, Reedy, threw down spear and shield and dived into the water. This seemed to presage victory for the mice. But then Water Larker, the most warlike of the frogs, took up a great pebble and flung it at Ham Nibbler who was then pursuing Reedy. Down fell Ham Nibbler, and there was dismay in the ranks of the mice. Then Cabbage Climber, a great-hearted frog, took up a clod of mud and flung it full at a mouse that was coming furiously upon him. That mouse’s helmet was knocked off and his forehead was plastered with the clod of mud, so that he was well-nigh blinded. . .

Common Pills Not to Give Pets

When our vet first suggested giving our dog on over-the-counter medication for his allergies, I thought - wow, you can give dogs human stuff? But, there are some common human medications that you should never give your pet, according to Petplace.com.

1. Aspirin. Aspirin toxicity (salicylate toxicity) is poisoning that occurs following the ingestion of aspirin or aspirin-containing products. Aspirin can be especially dangerous when mixed with other drugs such as steroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. There is a much higher risk of toxicity. Aspirin interferes with platelets, which are responsible for helping the blood to clot. Disruption of platelet function incr eases the amount of time it takes the blood to clot in cases of wounds or lacerations. Spontaneous bleeding may also occur causing pinpoint bruises to appear in the skin and on the gums (petechiae). Aspirin toxicity may cause gastrointestinal problems, respiratory difficulties, neurological problems, bleeding disorders and kidney failure. Gastrointestinal problems are common in dogs.

2. Ibuprofen is a popular and effective over-the-counter medication available to treat pain and inflammation in people. For dogs, ibuprofen can easily exceed toxic levels. The most common cause of ibuprofen toxicity is a well-meaning owner who tries to alleviate pain in his dog by administering a dose he thinks is adequate without knowing the toxic dose. The initial toxic effect is bleeding stomach ulcers. In addition to ulcers, increasing doses of ibuprofen eventually lead to kidney failure and, if left untreated, can be fatal. Symptoms include poor appet ite, vomiting, black tarry stools, vomiting blood, abdominal pain, weakness and lethargy.

3. Acetaminophen . Common brands include Tylenol®, Percoset®, aspirin free Excedrin® and various sinus, cold and flu medications. Dogs most commonly receive toxic amounts of acetaminophen because owners medicate them without consulting a veterinarian. They also consume tablets that are dropped on the floor or left around. Dogs are less sensitive to acetaminophen than cats. For example, a 50-pound dog would need to ingest over seven 500 mg tablets in order to suffer toxic effects. In the cat, one 250 mg acetaminophen tablet could be fatal. If you suspect that your dog has ingested a toxic amount of acetaminophen, (one pill or more), contact your family veterinarian or local veterinary emergency facility immediately.