Well, I know. But I've been really busy. See, there's this big hill, and a toddler, and all these dogs. And all these pinecones. So pretty much, a lot of the day is spent throwing pinecones down the hill for dogs to chase. Then, you have to walk down the hill at some point, and throw them back up the hill. So the dogs, and the toddler spend equal time running up and down. For maximum exhaustion of all parties. So that Christmas wrapping paper isn't eaten. Or Christmas stuffed dolls that ride Christmas trains aren't eaten. Not that both haven't occurred. More than once. Someone at a measuring cup. And one diaper. And, most importantly, so toddler meltdowns don't happen. Because it is a 2 year old. But really, everyone has been on pretty stellar behavior. Ice cream and tennis balls are powerful motivators.

Other than that, you know, trips through the perfect sunny, clear weather to the grocery store. Walking the dogs near the sea. Pinecones. Life is pretty rough down here. Are we training any contacts? Um, no. Stays? Maybe a few. Toddlers how to throw pinecones and climb on the wall? Oops. Timmy is the preferred dog of choice, please try not to CHASE HIM! Good dog Timmy. We're coming back tomorow.

They are closing down the rest stops?

If you were one of my dogs, you would have had a really bad day yesterday, staying locked up in the icey cold for a boring work day, then sitting locked up in the car for many hours because right after icey cold work all day, you are taken hostage for a car ride to LA. Which, it turns out, is what EVERYONE else wants to do-take hostages for car rides to LA, all leaving at 3pm from Watsonville too! Like we all called eachother and said, let's all leave NOW! And the road is a parking lot until it is dark on I-5 and finally the rest of the drones take their hostages to motels I guess, leaving us our own road so we can be in Los Angeles by late night time. If you were one of my dogs, you would have thought you were on some kind of crack pot religious pilgrimage evacuation, with one not fun stop at a parking lot crowded parking lot of McDonald's to walk around and pee on a dead shrub and eat some food then get locked back up with a hefty bag of presents and driven around some more. The torture of it all.

But then finding it's worth it to be in LA where it is sunny and clear and there is a backyard and tennis balls EVERYWHERE and Christmas decoration stuffed things eveywhere to kill. Now that's what Christmas is all about.

Be Nice, Don't Bite, and it's Christmas

Need I say more?

Let's start up that Holiday Spirit.

Last night, as I was putting finishing touches on my annual collector's edition Xmas card, Gary looked at it and said, "I don't think you can say 'Don't Let Christmas Kick Yer Ass' on the cards you give to all the kids at the barn." It was in nice big fat Gothic type too.

I was thoughtful, such a rare thing for me to be. "Really? Is that weird to say on a Christmas card?" I was thinking what great branding and a true holiday sentiment.

Being someone of frequent poor to non editing, sometimes I get confused about my various audiences and where certain elements of my personality need to be somewhat toned down or tuned up or shut up. I think last year's card had an antique engraving of a giant dog attacking a man and said something about the holidays smashing us all, but it was on the back. The kids at the barn don't look at the back right? The front had the leering race horse groom staring down the front of my dress. But no poetry about the dogs killing Santa Claus this time!

So this year, I am trying to be nice, good customer service, a friendly Christmas card for all to enjoy. There can only be one card! One for everyone, so that I am not teaching the children bad language or about kicking asses. Even though that is a major theme of Team Small Dog. Perhaps not a lofty theme for us all to strive for, but that's just what I got. This year I decided in the interest of customer service, it is about being nice. See, I am trying to be a Better person! No mean bones in this chowder holder.

If you do not already get a Christmas card from me, email me your address so I can add you to the list. Maybe you won't be impressed. But you'll be able to say, "What Fantastic Customer Service!" Another true meaning of Christmas.