There's a nap for that!

I hear this comment more and more these days. And when I do, the speaker always seems to be talking to somebody about a little bitty telephone or computer.

Well, friend, take it from one who knows. There's a nap for everything!

Happy Valentine's Day to all my friends and even a few jerks!

Just wanted to say "Happy Valentine's Day!" to all of my faithful readers. I couldn't decide on a one-size-fits-all card. Some might be happy with a name-droppy little number like this:

Of course, if you're someone I like but not a whole lot, there's this:

And here's one that has a nice sentiment. But I probably wouldn't send it to you unless you're another dog (and I'm pretty sure I'd send it to all dogs):

Tell you what: these three cards and 22 others are in a neat little slideshow at today's Huffingtonpost. Go find one that's right for you and consider it from me!

Lordy, lordy, Jenny's 40!

Today is Jenny's birthday--and it's a landmark--The Big Four-Oh! In honor of the occasion, Hubby Jeff threw a nice surprise party at a restaurant in Orlando. I couldn't go, of course, because they only allow seeing-eye dogs, not feel-good dogs. But I did get hold of some pictures.

Before the party, Jeff spent the morning running Jenny all over town, to give the guests time to arrive. One thing he did was take her for a helicopter ride:

When they finally got to the party, Mike took this photo of Jenny being surprised by Jeannie:

Jenny got to wear a queen hat and fancy glasses. Everybody else who wanted a hat had to look like a unicorn. Here's Jen with her friend Kim (center), who helped Jeff get everything organized. The two unicorns at the left are my nephew Mike and his girlfriend, Sarah.

Shazam! Did you ever see a hornier pair of unicorns?

In this next picture are Jenny's boss, Frank, and Frank's wife, Jeanne. And Jenny, of course, who looks like she still hasn't gotten over being surprised.

Okay, now she has:

Next we have Unicorn Jeff, standing between Jenny and Frank. To Jenny's right are Suzette, Susan, and someone's left leg.

For a 40-year-old lady, Jenny sure didn't have to blow out many candles!

Jenny offers Kim a cupcake:

Man, I would so watch that cake for them!

Michelle stops to offer congratulations and to grab something--presumably from off the table. (I can relate!)

Here's Jenny looking like she's about to be zapped by Bonnie with a stun gun. But it turns out that what's in Bon's hand is just her cellphone and a defective noisemaker.

Bonnie knitted this great pair of wool socks for Jen:

Next we have a pic of Bonnie and Cathy horsing around like they did in junior high school. Cathy's husband, José, looks like he wants none of it:

Afterwards--a well-fed gaggle of party-goers:

Ya did good, Jeff!

There's a Gordon Lightfoot song that I hear Jenny used to like when she was a little girl. I found it on YouTube. The video is grainy, and there's another version that has better audio. But M said I should use this one, because it shows Gordy live in concert playing his big ol' 12-string guitar.

Hope you enjoy! (For the original full-size clip, click here.)

Too much ain't enough! Last year, when Jen turned The Somewhat Smaller Three-Nine, I posted a clip that featured another song, the one for which she was named "Jenny Rebecca." If you missed it and would like to hear it, go here.

But wait! There's more!

Not only is today Puppy Bowl Sunday--it's my sister Bonnie's birthday! As it happens, she's come down to visit us from her home in Kansas, and Jenny and Jeff are up from Orlando. It's nice to have so much of the family together. So this year I thought it would be fitting to wish Bonnie a happy birthday by showing a few family portraits that Mike had squirreled away.

First is this one taken in 1974, when Bonnie was seven years old. She's third from the left.

Here she is two years later, with Jenny and Mike at Halloween. Looks like it was a rough two years for Mike.

I think this one's interesting. Bonnie is second from the right, and Jenny is second from the left. The other people are their four cousins from Jeannie's side of the family. Mike says it looks like they might be "kissing cousins," whatever that is.

A couple of years ago our family got together at Ft. Knox to see M and J's grandkids (my adoptive niece and nephew) in a play called Bye Bye Birdie. (L-R: "Little" Mike, Jenny, Jeannie, Mike, Annabelle, and Bonnie)

I had to stay home from that trip, even though I was part of the clan by then. To read about my incarceration and more about the play, click here.

The very next month they all went to Jamaica (except for yours truly, who got boarded--UH-gain!) Here's a group shot from the day they went snorkeling.

And one of Bonnie snorkeling with my adoptive brother-in-law, Fred.

I guess I don't miss that part of the trip too much, because as you may know, I think swimming in any form is unpleasant. But then, so is going to the slammer.

One of the biggest group photos I found in M's archives was this one from Christmas Day of 2009. (L-R: Mike, "Little" Mike, Jeff (my other adoptive brother-in-law), Jenny, Jeannie, Annabelle, Grandma Grace, Bonnie, and Grandpa Dave. Unfortunately Fred was in Afghanistan, but was able to Skype with them on Christmas morning.)

The next day, Annabelle, Bonnie, Mike, Jenny, and Jeannie finished this gi-normous jigsaw puzzle they'd been working on. It's a picture of Polish Easter eggs.

Family gatherings are special, aren't they? And so is Bonnie! Happy Birthday, Sis!

PS - Bonnie and Jenny's names were both inspired by songs. To hear Bonnie's, check out the video clip at the bottom of last year's birthday post.

Finally! It's Puppy Bowl Sunday!

Wow--I almost lost track of the date. But thanks to a nudge from my friends over at Critter Alley, I won't be missing the Big Game--Puppy Bowl IX. Check out all the details, including a nice video trailer, at the Animal Planet TV website.

Could y'all please pass the nachos?