Sigh. Life, life is hard.
Thursday, November 4 2004
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Look, Ma! No politics!
- The girl in the window
Wednesday, 06 August 2008 - Newsletter: Month Fifty-four
Tuesday, 05 August 2008 - Next thing you know he'll be voting for Obama
Monday, 04 August 2008 - To the rescue
Thursday, 31 July 2008 - Currently listening to: Chromeo
Thursday, 31 July 2008
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1. Brooke said:
Aww, Chuckles.
2. kat said:
I don't know. She looks very sad that the elections are over. Hrm... Either that or she's really sad that Kerry lost.
3. Angie M said:
Furry hugs Chuckmeister!
4. Brooke said:
Chuck's a boy, Kat. :)
5. Chris said:
Sometimes I wish I could have that "I just couldn't care less" feeling that it looks like Chuck has. Or, maybe he's thinking, "That damn costume was humiliating. I BETTER get more pizza."
6. Liz said:
I love the letter to Leta... how's her therapy going?
liz
7. Sven said:
http://etudiant.epitech.net/~bret_a/limecat/
8. Katie said:
Senator Chuckles is just contemplating his 2008 run. Do you think Lassie's available for Secretary of State? Mouse, do you want to be his running mate?
9. dänika said:
the letter to Leta made me cry.
Chuck is adorable. :)
10. jodi-no-blog said:
Sigh... I have to close my office door again, so no one sees me tearing up! Love that letter to the Frog Princess! What a lucky little girl...
11. Regan said:
Life IS hard when you have to compete with cutie-pie Leta for attention!
awwww...I'll give you a pop-tart over here, Chuck!
12. lori said:
Heather, I loved your letter to Leta. We just adopted a seven-month-old and I can relate to so many things that you mentioned. Rather than the thumb, though, he goes for his middle fingers. And it's loud as can be on the monitor!
We, too, plan to teach him about all religions so he can make a decision on his own. I wish our country as a whole would be more open to differences. I cried a couple of tears yesterday. But here we are, stuck again for four more years. Ugh.
Happy nine months, Leta!
13. Karry said:
I wish you knew what kind of dog Chuck was, because my dog looks just like him and the vet can't tell what breed she is either. When people ask me I just have to tell them 100% stray.
That's a very good shot of Chuck there, and you look so much happier in that last photo of you with Leta. I am glad you are feeling better.
Karry
14. Sue From Ohio said:
Your letter to Leta is beautiful. She's a very lucky little girl!
Chuck, life could be worse, you could be my dog and have to live with 2 indoor cats, 1 outdoor cat and 3 indoor kids :)
15. Cantwell Carson said:
Chuck looks sad. He should be happy. Leta is going to crawl around soon. She'll crawl towards chuck and start hitting him, as infants are prone to treat animals. Then he'll have plenty of attention, plenty.
16. beachgal said:
Yay Chuck! He's so cool. And great newsletter...made me weepy.
17. Amanda said:
Oh, Chuck. Dear, dear Chuck. If only you knew the joy you brought the Internet...
18. kim said:
i think it's been said before: those monthly letters are beautiful and usually make me cry. in a good biological-clock-is-ticking kinda way. thank you, heather.
19. Eddo said:
Yeah, more chuck photos for wallpaper- I had a dream last night that I got a new puppy and in the dream I was so happy I cried. Now it seems ridiculous, but last night I really wanted that puppy... it looked a lot like chuck... I WANT A PUPPY!!!
20. janna said:
I had a dream about Chuck last night.
Weird.
21. Sarah said:
Thank you for posting these monthly newsletters each month Heather. I'm very greatful that we get to follow the journey of raising Leta with you. And the bonus Chuck pictures are always great!
22. Susie said:
I'm never envious; I'm always happy for others' happiness. And then along came Chuck. God forgive me, I covet him. I covet Janna's dream about him . . .
Beautiful letter to Leta. What a treasure she will have some day, with a book of these letters. What a treasure she has today, with so much mama-and-daddy love.
23. Africankelli said:
Dooce,
Your entry to Leta this month made me smile. Just think how different this country would be if all mothers sought to teach their children love and compassion above all else.
Hope for the future is in the air.
Cheers,
Africankelli
24. zchamu said:
Chuck rocks.
He is so cool looking; he's a cartoon dog and an outer space dog and a regular dog all kind of rolled into one.
25. Laura said:
He has got to be THE cutest dog in the world.
26. Drew said:
Heather, you are a beautiful woman and you have a beautiful family. May God bless you and your family for all time.
27. p-hawk said:
Okay, now that you've satiated our Chuck-based needs, some of us have a few suspicions that you might have more George pics. Cough 'em up, please.
28. owen said:
hmmm....teach all religions? does anybody know all the religions. most people are forever stained by the first religion they learn.
29. di said:
life is hard! animals make it so much better, though :)
30. Chessy said:
Yay for the cuteness that is Chuck! All hail our canine cult leader! (His face totally says, "I should have minions.")
31. cindy said:
Chuck looks like all of us did yesterday. Depressed about our current politcal situation.
32. Sara said:
Thank you for the wonderful newsletter you addressed to your daughter. She is a sweetie pie, and reading of your love and committment to raising her in an open-minded, compassionate home made me feel that there may be some hope in this world in which we live now. Thanks.
33. melissa said:
Babies and puppies...warm fuzzy feelings...thanks for the slight cheering up. :-) Leta and Chuck are both so adorable and I love reading about their adventures. I nearly died when you posted Chuck's story with his baby pictures!
Thanks, Dooce. I am still in disbelief, but we won't talk about that! Baby cheeks, puppy ears, ahhhhhh.
34. Fran said:
A doggy bed?...I should have known that he would be lavished with all sorts of stuff. After all, he is the first born.
35. Em said:
Aw, poor Chuck.
Your entry made me cry today. Damn you, dooce! :)
36. Lindsey said:
Congressman Chuckles will always be the winner in my eyes! Go Chuck!
37. Micki said:
lovely Leta. lovely Chuck. really lovely writing in the monthly newsletter.
38. Colleen said:
it's a dog's life... although he does look a bit pensive. Nice, warm, fuzzy shot.
39. Daniel said:
I saw the same sad look on the face of a Kerry campaign worker in the paper this morning.
40. TracyDee said:
Chuck looks pensive today....
41. Colleen said:
Sven, limecat is hilarious.
42. Moxie said:
Chuck: "Woe is me. Having to lounge about in a tapestry dog bed on an oriental rug. Perhaps I can convince them that I cant put weight on my feet like that frog-kid, and they will bring the 1.5 feet of leftover pizza to me."
43. G. McFuzz said:
I had tears in my eyes (good) from today's newsletter. Thanks.
44. Stephanie said:
Chuck is pissed off and wants to go PISS ON A "BUSH"...hehehe :)
45. Melanie S said:
Oh, little Chuck! I want to scoop him up and snuggle with him. He's precious!
46. April said:
Heather, reading your letters to Leta makes all the heartache and pain of infertility seem like it will eventually be worth it. Thanks for reminding me that what it is I'm still fighting for.
47. Tiff said:
Leta was born one day after my anniversary and one month minus one day before my son was born! This of course means she is destined for greatness!
48. Sheryl said:
I was just going to say I wish you hadn't cut Chuck's balls off because he is the *ideal* dog. I'd love to bring another doggie to your house, get some Chuck puppy batter and make a bunch of Chuck Juniors so others could share in the wonderful Chuckness.
But, April, your post breaks my heart. And makes the puppy reproduction idea so trivial.
Best of luck and sincere good wishes to you.
49. wealhtheow said:
Heather--
Your letter to your Leta was exactly what I needed today. Thank you. Thank you so much. As my husband starts to see the light at the end of the (fucking long) tunnel that is grad school, we're talking about kids, and we're both scared of bringing a new life into this world at this time. Your letter reassured me and gave me courage more than you will ever know. Thank you.
50. ella's ma said:
Chuck is just beginning the Annual dreading-of-next-Halloween angst.
I love your monthly newsletters. I write them to my own daughter in hopes that someday she will have some understanding of what an incredible person she is, and how blessed we are that she's here. Leta is one lucky babe. :)
51. Michelle said:
Does Chuck know how famous and widely loved he is?
52. a reader said:
Leta always looks so happy in her pics with you and you always look kinda upset. wassup?
53. FUG said:
I like cheetos
54. Gina said:
Ok, I just got all filled up on the last paragraph of the letter to Leta.
Think that means I have Mom issues?
55. Megan said:
I love your monthly newsletters. They're always so loving and candid and really make me want to have children. I am almost 25 and nowhere near it, but it gives me hope that someday I won't be so selfish and I'll be able to love something even more than I love my pets....which is a ridiculous amount. Thank you so much for sharing your self, your family and your congressman with us. I look forward to checking in on your site many times a day and I am never dissapointed, except for when I want more Dooce and there isn't anything new. So, thanks for being here and for making me happy every day.
56. marie said:
stunning eyes and a mother who writes her monthly letters brimming with love . .
i wanna be like leta when i grow up.
57. Shiz said:
I love Chuck! Soon we'll be getting a kitty, because kitties are more our style, and I hope we find one as perfect for us as Chuck seems for the Armstrongs. What a sweetie!
58. Miss E said:
Congressman Chuckles has my vote. But will he come out of retirement?
59. Heather said:
Yay! Dooce is back to it's old self. Looking forward to more stories of Leta, Chuck, and their parents!
60. Carrie said:
He is so adorable. I just want to squish him! (In the most loving way, of course.)
61. Dez said:
Aw, Senator, don't look so sad. Your people and their readers love you very much.
Hilary/Chuck 2008!
62. Amanda from Seattle said:
thanks. I needed that.
63. newmomfromtucson said:
Leta is one month and a day older than my daughter. I agree that THIS is the oh so fun stage of giggles, gummy smiles and funny sounds. It is like having your best friend with you all the time--I'm loving it too. Thanks Heather for posting such special thoughts.
64. Cora's mommy said:
Isn't amazing how much you can love a little person? I asked my husband once, "Don't you love Cora so much you could cry?" He said, "yes.", which suprised me, he isn't usually that *soft*. And I agree with you, Cora is a lot more fun now (9 months on the 14th). She never got better when everyone said she would. I think they lie just to give us hope!
65. The Mighty Jimbo said:
if i believed in reincarnation, i swear, coming back as a dog doesn't sound all that bad.
66. Catalina said:
That letter was beautiful. Thanks, I really needed that today.
67. Fujiko said:
I'm glad to hear that everyone is safe and sound. Praise be to cookies!
68. Mo said:
May the Frog suit live forever. It is a thing of freakish cuteness that weakens me with the power of its cuteness every time I see it. Peas in a Pod? L'il Devil? Baby Punkin? Pah, I say, to every one! The Frog Suit will rule the universe unto a distant future where all wil bow before the cuteness!
69. Mo said:
Of FRANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
70. christy said:
I think if we all had a Chuck the world would be a much happier, more peaceful place.
71. Lactivist said:
I agree - beautiful letter to Leta. If one day she ever doubts the magnitude of her mother's love, she'll be able to look back at these letters and find reassurance.
I think you need a "sucky comments" disclaimer too, Heather. "Comments that suck will be deleted. Don't suck." For the life of me, I'll never understand why cynical people take the time to post. Must be because their misery loves company.
72. Hank said:
Hey where are all the people coming out of the woodwork to excoriate Dooce for letting her dog eat CHOCOLATE?!? Come on internets you can get bent better than this.
73. Kaths said:
Thanks for the Chuck picture, Heather! It's the little things that help when you need them the most.
Kath xo
74. Michael said:
I'm so glad to hear that Jon is safe and sound. Family is such a blessing. And to a lesser or greater degree, depending on your point of view, so are chocolate caramel cookies.
NOTE TO SELF: Get chocolate caramel cookie dough at market the way home.
75. disneymike said:
Oh, great. It's more than an hour to lunch now and I'm CRAVING caramel chocolate chip cookies! LOL
76. Colleen said:
I know the cookies you speak of, and they are the food of the gods! I love those damn things. The gooshy caramel in the middle is to die for, and they start out as squares and bake into beautiful, round cookies. It is like a cookie miracle!
77. Beverly said:
It looks like he gazing wistfully at a plate of cookies. He has the best face.
78. Big Gay Sam said:
My desktop:
http://www.geocities.com/biggaysam/chuck.gif
79. kim said:
Can I just copy and paste your letters to Leta into my scrapbook for MY daughter? You have such a way with words. You make me realize I feel things that I don't even recognize until I see the words. Bless you woman!!
80. Becca said:
Aww poor Chuckles!
81. Amanda B. said:
I'm glad to hear that Jon's ok and all is well.
I also was very moved by the recent letter to Leta. That's what I find so wonderful about dooce.com. Heather shares things that are deeply personal...fears, hard times, joy. Not many people have the gahones-(how in the fuck do you spell gahones- ghahonees- whatever) to do that. A lot of times, when they do open up, it's in this strange self-aggrandizing manner..."dude, i totally got the shingles today but it's ok cause that's just part of my plight."
Heather tells her stories with a sort of matter of fact humility that is really refreshing.
Plus she's so damn funny. (see- chuck goes to the islands, incognito) Awesome.
Keep on truckin' MamaDooce.
82. Liisa said:
...in one giant snarf.
Dogs DO snarf, don't they? Like, just in general, even. I've been trying to find the word of the sound of the thing it is that they do....and, alas, you have done it for me.
Big, goofy, snarrfing freaks. My dog even snarfs in her sleep. Over nothing! Thank you, Heather, for giving my brain a break.
83. Laurie said:
Big Gay Sam-
That is the funniest desktop I have ever seen!
If I didn't work at a law firm that would SO be on my computer.
84. Dave said:
I also love your letters to Leta. My favorite part of this one - "I love it when you growl like a bear because you know that it makes me laugh." Thanks for sharing your life with us. (side to Amanda B, they are spelled cajones)
85. Liz said:
Thank goodness Jon is OK! I would hate to hear that something really bad happened to my internet family!
That is a great picture of Chuck, but then all the Chuck pictures are great! He's such a cool dog!
I absolutely love the monthly update letters - and that one you just posted brought tears to my eyes! I hope that someday I can be as blessed as you and your family are!
86. Kim said:
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=cojones
87. faith said:
I think chuck's just glad the madness is over, halloween, the elections, all he has to do now is make it through Christmas.......
88. Amanda B. said:
Thanks Dave and Kim. I love that word. It's under-used in my opinion. Also on the sadly ignored list would be: squirreled, trouser snake, and haberdashery.
89. Carol said:
Speaking of babies, kids and domestic life, I have a great CD (make that 3 CDs) from a guy named Ralph Covert. The band is called Ralph's World and it's great music for kids AND moms and dads. He's a musician from Chicago and does gigs at Borders Bookstores around the country. He has a website. Not sure the name of it. But moms and dads should check him out.
90. maura said:
he has to be one of the cutest dogs!
carol i have the ralph's world CDs too, they re great! it's kids music that doesn't make you want to climb the walls :)
91. sab said:
this is a comment about your hair, and how I like it that colour.
92. pretendingsanity said:
I think I will have a chocolate carmel cookie to toast your family. Here, here! I'm glad you're all ok.
93. DoulaBrooke said:
www.ralphsworld.com
94. Omeletta said:
Yes, Dooce has grande cajones, or maybe I should say grande ovaries, being that she is a woman!
Speaking of balls, eggs and the like...
Yiddish & Hebrew: baitzim (wonder if it is pronounced bites 'em?!)
Spanish: huevos & uovos & cajones
Of France!!!!!!!: couilles or testicules
German: Eir or Testikel
Russian: Yaytsa
English English: bollocks
Here's where it all comes full circle from yesterday:
"`Ballot` and `bullet` are both derived from words for `balls`. The Greeks dropped a white ball when they favoured a candidate, and a black when they were against. The term `blackballed` comes from this too."
95. Michael said:
Your dog does not look like you or your husband. Which is good. Your little baby girl looks just like Jon. Which also is good because she is an absolute doll. Perhaps you resemble no one familiar -- or maybe Dick Cheney on a bad day. But that's okay; Jesus loves you!
/s/A Blue State Democrat
96. DeAnn said:
You made me cry again with your monthly letter to Leta. Can you try not to do that so much?!
97. Christilee said:
Chuck is really a cute dog. He looks hung-over from the cookies possibly...
98. LisaG said:
I just sampled some Ralph's World - nice! As a musician and a preschool teacher I am happy - kids music that doesn't make me hurl - yay! My kids are gonna find their Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum!
Thanks, Heather for your world too - glad Jon is okay. Makes politics seems damned irrelevant...
99. LisaG said:
Make that seem. Politics plural seem. Can't let it go. Nope!
100. Carol said:
Tra-la-la-la!! Listening to that right now. So glad people are discovering Ralph.
Ralph for president!!!!
Oops, thats four.
101. Sue From Ohio--the new Florida, HAHA said:
We're so happy Jon is OK. Take the weekend off, sit on the bed &snuggle with your family and eat lots and lots of cookie dough...OH and Dorito's (Milkbones for Chuckie...hehe)
102. tonya said:
Mmmmm, buffalo wings.
Of France!!!!
103. christy said:
Omeletta, I love how "Testikel" looks like something you could get at Ikea.
104. Katie said:
Buffalo wings are new to you? You poor deprived girl.. buffalo anything is the food of gods!
Glad to hear Jon is ok.
I can't thank you enough for this website. It gets me through everyday.
105. Omeletta said:
In France!!!!!!: épicé ailes de buffe
Yes, Christy -
now that you mention it, I think my $150 bedspread from Pottery Barn was called, "Yaytsa"...
106. sio said:
:O
:D
so cute! xx
107. liminalspace said:
oh. dear. god.
the buffalo wings.
once you eat the first one, there's no going back. you inevitably spend the rest of your life in search of THE BEST WINGS EVER.
at least, that's what i say i'm doing when i have to explain why i have eaten 25 or so of the little things.
108. torph said:
I love your monthly letters to Leta. You are such an awesome mom. Do you think you could be my mom even though I'm way, way older then you?
109. GirlGo said:
Hoping there was some fair warning given about the pooping aspect of the spicy buffalo wings. They can burn on the way in and burn more on the way out.
I jumped on the buffalo wing wagon at 29 also. They still make me giddy. Mangia!
110. Lisa said:
I've just now read that Jon was in an accident. I'm glad he is ok!
BigGaySam: I love that desktop. I am still waiting for the Chuck soft toys. I would have to hide them from my own puppy, though.
I believe I need a desktop image of my dog and the former congressman both in that position. Hilarious!
111. Daniel said:
Buffalo wings are to food what oxygen is to survival. Throw in two bottles of Bass Ale and you have the world's perfect meal.
And if you think you enjoyed buffalo wings, wait until you experience BUFFALO WING FARTS. They burn your ass a bit, but they're fun for the whole family.
112. sivvy said:
Gotta stop reading letters to Leta at work, they get me every time.
Glad J is ok.
113. Bean said:
Beautiful letter to beautiful Leta. Thank God one thing went right yesterday-that being that Jon was OK. And seriously...I have that same cookie dough downstairs right now. The only reason I haven't used it yet is the fact that it then requires me to eat 24 cookies in one sitting. Heaven in a little circle I tell ya.
114. popsicle said:
-cute paw'litics picture of chuck. hes such a stud.
yummy. i love buffalo wings and the more tobasco, the better. i would think that if buffaloe's had wings, they would be bigger? go figure..
115. Jeff said:
Ok hank. Beautifull picture, wish i could lounge like that, but don't you know that chocolate is DEADLY to dogs!!!
116. Saladwhore said:
Got a bellyache, Chuck?
117. chellerella said:
Awesome!
I'd like to post the values you want to teach Leta in my grade 2 classroom!
118. Mish said:
OK - you have the cutest dog, baby, and husband in the world; please stop rubbing it in. Mish has pms today.
119. Lena said:
Precious pup, precious baby, but let's talk Buffalo Wings. My god, when you have a good batch you just can't stop. The vinegar fumes rip you a third nostril and the world is a mighty fine place.
If you are every in Birmingham, Alabama, I will gladly take you to the Burly Earl and make you eat the best ever hot wings... OF FRANCE!!!!
120. Cat said:
Some unsolicited advice, a good bleu cheese (of France!!!!) mixed with ranch dressing to accompany le buffalo wings.
121. Rose said:
Such a beautiful dog. Ours is an SPCA supermutt too.
Your letter to Leta made me weep. Thank you for making some of yesterday's tears, good ones.
Thank you for all of the laughs, and thank you for sharing the harder aspects of your life. In both of these regards, you help so many people.
Do I sound like a fawning sycophant yet?
122. Amber said:
Sven,
I love how pissed that cat looks. Is that yours?
Dooce,
Maybe Chuck's sad there is no politics? Just kidding. He is probably just coming down from the cookie high.
I'm pregnant and now I must go find some caramel cookies. Thanks.
Love in Christ,
Amber <><
123. Kim said:
ex·co·ri·ate To tear or wear off the skin of; abrade.
To censure strongly; denounce: an editorial that excoriated the administration for its inaction.
(sorry, but I had to look that one up.)
124. Pooze said:
Caramel? You like caramel? You MUST try to make what I just had the other night- a VODKA CARAMEL!!! Heh Vin Lee!!! (Just don't use the stuff that gets all hard when it touches cold things... I don't think that works.)
125. Taylor said:
Much Better =)
126. Chloe said:
Come on people. Everyone knows that chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats (yes, I know that not literally EVERYONE knows this, however, the vast, vast majority of dog and cat owners do). One cookie won't do anything. Also, a vet informed me that if it is milk chocolate, there is so little of the toxic ingredient there that it really shouldn't have any negative effects, with a reasonable small amount of chocolate (However, a pug should not ever eat an entire bag of Hershey's kisses. Including the wrappers. I don't own a pug, but I knew some people who did).
The no doubt tiny amount of chocolate within one cookie isn't going to harm Chuckles. Lordy.
127. marvi said:
hi there!
this is the first time i se ur website and may i say it kicks asss!!
it's very funny and yet a little sad.i'm so addicted to it!
and heather...ur beatiful!! keep the good work up!! peace out
128. juli said:
Was this before the cookie or after? Looks pretty innocent, must be before.
129. Carol said:
Heather,
I'm brazilian, live in Chicago and have been studying English for my entire life, but it's your site that teaches me the most. I just love the way you write. Don't you ever leave us all.
Thank you
130. Fran said:
Glad to hear that Jon is okay.
Sorry that you've had a deprived childhood with no buffalo wings. I'm sure you can make up for it.
And Chuck should be okay with one cookie. As a vet, I can say that baker's chocolate is the most toxic and contains the most theobromine. However, it's not recommended to give any chocolate to dogs or cats. Not that a chocochip caramel cookie hasn't hit the floor around my house ;)
131. Boulder said:
so, what, george has to come over to take a picture of the raccoon car?
132. -leslie.- said:
I just wanted to tell you that you are perfectly perfect in every way. And don't let my abuse of vodka tonight fool you in the slightest.
133. midwifegoddessannie said:
do buffaloes have WINGS?????
134. Super Turtle Girl said:
Oh little pup! Chuck!!! You rule. I can almost hear you sigh in that picture. If you ever get sad...you know I'll take you in.
135. Mary said:
I wrote in Former Congressman Chuckles on my ballot for President.
I was really hoping he'd win.
136. mish said:
Wrote long comment and somehow?? deleted it. In short: ONIONS ARE ALSO TOXIC TO CATS AND DOGS.
137. danielle said:
So, if you like buffalo wings, you ought to try a buffalo chicken breast sandwich if you ever see one on a menu. I'm not so fond of chicken skin (or eating around bones, for that matter), so I like the sandwiches better. yum. :)
as an aside: I'm glad to see a photo of _you_ with Leta in your letter to her. I'm always wishing I had more pictures of my parents with me in my baby pictures... particularly since they had kooky 70's clothes and hair.
138. Jazzy said:
I love me some buffalo wings. Buffalo Wild Wings has the best ever, but I don't know if you have one there Utah. Yummy. Now I am craving wings.
139. annakay said:
just discovering buffalo wings? well, that's what you get for spurning tgi friday's!