Singing a song about taking a dump to the tune of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony does not appear to help a puppy’s potty-training process.

“What’s that in your mouth?”
“What are you eating? Don’t eat that!”
“Leave the cat alone!”
“No! That’s not where you pee!”

#ThingsIveYelledAtThePuppy
#ThingsIHaventSaidSinceWeHadABaby
#LongF–ingWeek #INeedADrink

Reading: This typewriter repairman was told computers were king. Twenty years later, he’s still in business (L.A. Times)

“I will say some things to the machine. I think it helps, when I let him know how I feel.”

Baby’s first destroyed charge cord. (Fortunately, it wasn’t plugged in at the time.)

One nice thing about potty training a puppy this time of year: Frozen dog poop is a lot easier to clean up.

Puppies make a lot of noise when they’re getting acclimated. We love our new guy, but those 1- and 2-year-old shelter dogs are looking pretty damn good right now.

The 10-year-old insisted on turning on the television to see if Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow. (He didn’t.) Turned it on in the middle of a set of commercials.

“Enough with the ads already!” she yelled.

This is why we don’t watch TV much.

I appreciated Stephen Colbert’s extended shoutout to Chicago last night. But it sparked a lengthy discussion at home of who has the best Italian beef. Spoiler alert: Not Portillo’s (okay, but a bit dry; better as part of a combo with sausage).

For those of you who asked me to review the iPhone XR when I first got it:

  1. I miss the smaller size of my old 6S.
  2. I really miss the home button and fingerprint scanner, because …
  3. The facial recognition sucks.

Other than that, it’s a lovely phone.

Reading: GoFundMe CEO: One-Third of Site’s Fundraisers Are to Cover Medical Costs (Time)

You know it’s gonna be bad in Chicago when Lou Malnati’s closes early.

Welp, school officially canceled tomorrow. (Band practice already canceled this afternoon.) My employer is closing its area offices tomorrow. Husband out getting provisions.

I can say that, as a native Southern Californian here since 1996, winter is no longer a novelty.

Reading: The Rise of Anxiety Baking (The Atlantic)

I was stress-baking half the time at my first job out of college 30 years ago. Funny how it’s now allegedly a millennial trend.

“Lincoln Park Zoo will close early Tuesday at 3 p.m. and will remain closed Wednesday, but the polar bears will have both indoor and outdoor access.”

Well, I should hope so.

Reading: Chicago Will Be Colder Than Mount Everest, Antarctica, And Siberia On Wednesday (CBS 2 Chicago)

Woo-hoo! Telecommuting rules!

School canceled today. The tree outside our bedroom window tells us maybe a foot or so fell overnight.

Okay, things could change between now and Wednesday. But I’m not liking the looks of this.

Kamala Harris is to the left of me on an issue or two, but I thought she gave a powerful speech in her hometown of Oakland.

My only huge concern: I may be supporting a campaign to elect a Raiders fan to the White House.

When life gives you overripe bananas, make banana bread (with, if you’re lucky, chocolate chips).

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Husband: “When Ann Coulter’s got her panties in a wad, then all is right with the world.”

Okay, so all this TiddlyWiki talk has gotten to me. Does it have to be self-hosted, or are there other recommended ways besides one’s desktop to store one’s wiki?

As a compulsive collector of quotes and info and digital ephemera, I find it hard to resist this idea.

Reading: Why Scotland Loves Haggis (BBC Travel)

We attend the local Highland Games west of Chicago every year; someday I will brave the foul organ-meat smell of the haggis at the food trucks and actually try this someday.

Reading: Why Are Young People Pretending to Love Work? (N.Y. Times)

“Welcome to hustle culture. It is obsessed with striving, relentlessly positive, devoid of humor, and — once you notice it — impossible to escape.”

I am having a lengthy text conversation with my sister about animal farts. Technology was made for moments like this.

I miss having more than one dog for nights like this.