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Happy Boxing Day

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If you live in a Commonwealth country, you’re celebrating Boxing Day today (likely by shopping for discounted Christmas items). If you live in the USA, you probably have no idea what Boxing Day means.

In the most simplistic terms, Boxing Day is simply the day after Christmas, December 26th. The history of the term ‘Boxing Day’ is generally taken to refer to the British habit of gifting their servants and tradespeople with boxes of food and fruit on the day following Christmas (an early version of a Christmas bonus). It’s also been suggested that it refers to the habit of the Church of handing out alms to the poor on this day, taken from the tithes gathered in the Church poor boxes throughout the year.

There may also be a more decidedly pagan history behind the name. Tradition says that the Wren, or King of the Birds, was captured in a box during Solstice festivities. The boxed wren was then taken from house to house, where householders would ask him for the boon of a successful year and bountiful harvest. This tradition is mentioned in the classic book of English mythology and magic, the Golden Bough.

Wikipedia explains the common protocols for decided when Boxing Day will be celebrated:

In common usage, 26 December is continually referred to as Boxing Day whichever day of the week it occurs on. If it falls on a Sunday then in countries where it is a Bank Holiday the Statutory Holiday is moved to Monday December 27th to ensure a day without work. As Christmas Day would therefore be a Saturday, Tuesday 28 December is also declared as a holiday in lieu.

We’re celebrating Boxing Day by eating leftover Turkey for lunch, and Pho for dinner, from the Vietnamese restaurant around the corner from my daughter. After we drop her off, we’ll eat a big bowl of noodle and seafood soup. Then I’ll try to find someplace where I can buy an industrial sized box of puppy pads.

Here’s a photo of Mae’s puppy boy, taken last night. He’s almost completely better.

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Happy Night Before Christmas

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Mae’s baby boy is doing much, much better. He’s gained a full ounce and a half, which is an amazing turn around. I’m still bottle feeding him, now about every four hours instead of every two.

The kids took some photos – I’ve been slacking off in the photo taking department, I fear.

There are some of the Bunny pups, a few of Nicole, Ryan, Amy and Derek, and a few of our tree – which fell over early this morning, smashing some of my imported, antique, hand blown glass ornaments.

Sigh. I knew it looked lopsided.

Oh well, it’s the things like this that make Christmases memorable, I suppose. Nothing says ‘Hey, do you remember?’ like an emergency tree water mop up at 6 am, while the dogs run around your feet, sniffing out their gifts from the boxes under the tree and just generally being happy to see everyone up so early.

Enjoy the photos, and have a great, tree-accident free Christmas. BTW, the rest of the photos are here –
http://flickr.com/photos/frenchbulldogs/sets/72157603537591975/

My Christmas Wish List

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Dear Santa Claus:

I know you’re really busy this time of year, what with the last minute gathering of the gifts, and the packing of the sleigh. I don’t want to take up much of your time, and, even if I did, I’m not sure how much attention you’d pay to the wish list of a non believing ethnic atheist Jew. That said, if you have some spare time, could you look over my wish list and see if there’s anything you can do?

I’d really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance,

Carol

My Wish List

Adequate SpaceI wish that not one single dog, whether Frenchie or Lab or Doodle or any other breed, is spending their Christmas in a cage that looks like this one.

I wish that there was some kind of deity who could give the people who operate puppy mills the kind of punishment they deserve.

I wish that every politician who allowed legislation to pass saying that this much space is legal was forced to spend just one night in a cage that gives them ‘adequate room for exercise’.

I wish that every single stupid celebrity who bought a throw-away puppy from a pet shop was forced to visit the puppy mill where their dog’s parents still live. While there, I want them to actually see the bitch who gave birth to their puppy. Then, I wish on her the gift of speech, so she could curse them to hell (using small words that even Britney and Paris could understand).

I wish that every single Pit Bull in the world could have a home as good as the Pit Bulls of Bad Rap.

For every Sophie in the world, I wish for soft beds, warm laps, cookie stuffed kongs, soft words of kindness, people who care, and the chance to spend the remainder of their lives living in dignity and compassion.

I wish that pet stores would finally be banned from selling live animals, including bunnies.

I wish all of the K Kids have safe, happy trips to their new homes, and that there’s no longer a reason for dogs like Cosette to need French Bulldog Rescue.

I wish that the stupid, ridiculous, pointless, ‘Dangerous Dog‘ legislation here in Ontario, and all over the world, could be over turned, so that legislation based on pragmatic reality could instead be introduced.

Most of all, I wish for the basics we all ask for – peace on earth, and good will towards men – and animals. Can we not forget the animals this year?

French Bulldog Comics, contest update & all aboard the FBV Express!

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The comic strip ‘Pooch Cafe‘ tossed in a sorta gratuitous reference to French Bulldogs in the last few days strips. Rather than laboriously explain it to you, I’ll just post the strips in question.

Pooch Cafe Comic Strip - French Bulldog reference

Pooch Cafe Comic Strip - French Bulldog reference

A few years ago, someone in France almost blew a gasket when they noticed a page on the French Bulldog Rescue Network titled ‘Surrender a Frenchie’. Six pages of blog ranting ensued, with the writer stridently objecting to the insinuation that the French had a tendency to surrender. When it was finally pointed out to him that the page in question actually referred to giving up your French Bulldog for adoption, his response was a rather abashed ‘nevermind’.

I wonder if I should track him down and send him a link to this comic?

Contest-a-palooza!

Holy cow, are some of you guys creative (and a bit twisted, a few of you). Keep those captions coming – I’ve finally decided on what the prize will be, and it is a SUPER good one, that should also do some super good things for a super good cause. Isn’t that super?

All Aboard the French Bulldog Village Express!

I admit that, from time to time, I get rather cynical about Christmas. All the gift buying, gift wrapping, festivity planning frenzy can wear a type-A personality down, I tell you. In spite of this, I can still stumble across something that warms my heart, and reminds me of what Christmas should be all about – giving from the heart, for the sake of giving.

This year my redemption came in the form of the French Bulldog Village Christmas Express. This colorful little train allows donors to decorate it, in exchange for a donation. You can give as little as a few dollars, and still make a difference. All money donated goes to an incredibly worthy cause – the Karen Krings Memorial Fund. This fund not only allows FBV to rescue and place dogs themselves, but it allows other rescue groups to apply for funds to help dogs they are fostering or caring for. In this way, even the most underfunded rescue can still take in and care for a French Bulldog in need – something that is, quite sadly, needed more and more often these days.

So, go forth and give – a little, or a lot, as you can afford. Me, I’m donating a tree, in memory of our little boy lost, and all the other Frenchies that have given me such joy over the years. It’s the least I can do for all of those Frenchies out there who have never known a lap, or a kiss, or the feel of hands touching them in kindness. Give a needy Frenchie a Christmas gift, and help yourself to remember what the season is really supposed to be about.

http://www.frenchbulldogvillage.com/french_bulldog_express.htm