Yes, I do love dalmatians (also cattle dogs but I lack icons.)

[venetia_sassy]

Meme snagged from melusina.

Comment to this post, and I will list five things I associate with you, They might make sense or they might be totally random. Then post that list, with your commentary, to your LJ (or just add a reply back to me). Other people (including me) can get lists from you, and the meme merrily perpetuates itself.

Baking

For many years, my only form of cooking. And it was usually around Christmas. For the last few (five? Six? When did that happen?!) years, I’ve been more about the cooking than the baking (except when I’m upset and don’t know what else to do) but this year, I’ve felt able to branch out a bit more. And now it’s Christmas time … always the perfect excuse! I’d probably bake more often if it wasn’t just me and Mum at home. But even half-batches are large for two people!

For a while, I have been on a quest for the best my favourite chocolate chip biscuit. I’m still wondering if I can find a more classic example but for now? These I Want to Marry You cookies are at the top of the short list. Highly recommended!

Dalmatians

They are crazy, amazing, beautiful dogs! When I was four, one of our cattle dogs died. When we were talking about getting another dog, I asked for a ‘spotty dog’. I’m not sure if I’d seen Disney’s 101 Dalmatians at that point but it’s when I first fell for the breed. Reading the original 101 Dalmatians novel by Dodie Smith (one of my all-time favourite novels) only cemented it.

Our first Dalmatian was very sweet and smart but sadly had no road sense. She died at nine months old. I don’t really remember her but we have photos.

Our second Dalmatian was my childhood companion. She was wonderful – endlessly patient and loving and fun. We used to bounce on the trampoline together. She died suddenly at almost nine years old. Started shivering one day and acting sick. We took her to the vet, they kept her overnight for observation, next morning we got a phone call. That was hard. She was such a great dog.

Our current Dalmatian is not the best example of the breed. She’s a neurotic mess with very little brain (well, she might have brains but she doesn’t appear to use them.) We did see her mother so we should have known better but puppies rarely appear neurotic. But she does have her sweet points. She smiles more than any other Dalmatian I’ve met. And it’s a terrible smile! She wrinkles her lips and twists her nose and generally looks demented - then sneezes because she’s sucked in too much air. But you can’t help laughing and smiling back – so maybe that’s a pretty good smile after all.

MCR

I didn’t even know who they were a year ago (okay, fourteen months.) I wasn’t even sure what Bandom was! Then, when I accidentally started reading Panic fic, I came across a reference to Mikey Way being pretty and when I saw a picture of MCR I assumed he was the redhead! When someone posted the video of Sing, I still thought redhead’s name was Mikey! But I loved the vid, started seeking out more of their music … then the fic … and now I know they are the most adorkable band ever and I am going to see them in concert next month!

Australia

My own crazy country, land of my birth and upbringing. I’ve only been overseas four times (though I long to add to that) and I was too young to remember two of those! My dad was from New Zealand and came over when he was twenty-one. He lived here for the rest of his life and the only hint of his origin was his support of the All Blacks. *g* My mother is a fifth-generation Australian, her ancestors arriving at respectable distance from the convicts (which I find a trifle disappointing. One of my friends had an ancestor in the First Fleet.)

As much as I want to travel, I have trouble imagining living anywhere else. Ever read Dorothea Mackeller’s A Sunburnt Country? Hear the song (which should be our anthem!) We Are Australian? Yeah.

Also, Bill Bryson’s Down Under. I laughed so hard I could barely breathe, reading that book. I definitely recognised my country, for good and ill, in that book.

Redecorating

It’s certainly the current theme around here! Mum’s cane armchair has been reupholstered and returned today – with a brand new matching ottoman. The chest of drawers for her bedroom is arriving tomorrow … I think things will slow down after that. But we have to think about framing the various pictures ….
 

Comments

[melusina]

Fun! It's really interesting to get the backstory on all of this. . . (You don't have to give me 5 more things - I just wanted to comment on your things!)

[venetia_sassy]

Glad you found it interesting - turned out I had a bit to say about these subjects. *g*

[turlough]

Are Dalmatians as rare in Australia as they are here? It must be years since I saw one last and it was at a dog show.

Hearing that you thought Gerard was Mikey makes me giggle :-)

Redecoration ftw!!

[venetia_sassy]

They're not that common - medium dogs you're more likely to see here are labradors, retrievers, staffys, border collies, cattle dogs, kelpies. But when I went to that dalmatian fun day, there were about thirty dals and I doubt they'd travelled that far! Though for years, we didn't meet anyone else with a dalmatian but in our current road there were two others (gone now) and a few at a property in the next road. Also, after the live action 101 Dalmatians came out, there was an upswing in irresponsible backyard breeders - and subsequent dumpings. *witness my rage*

It took a few fics before I was able to get the faces right. It was very odd. But they called Mikey pretty! What was I supposed to think?

The new chest of drawers has arrived and Mum is happy. And the rug is still gorgeous!

[turps]

Mikey is very pretty. I agree with that.

My brother used to have a dalmatian and she had a lack of brains too. Cheerful, endless energy and a tail like a whip, but no brains.

[glitteryv]

I love this meme. In truth, I figured you liked dalmatians because of your icon, but getting the backstory was groovy. *g*

You know, the one reason why I will not LOL at you thinking that Mikeyway was Gerard when you first saw MCR is because I thought that Frank was a girl when I first saw a photo of MCR. It was a promo pic for Danger Days when he had the long hair and was all buttoned up.

Anyhoo, feel free to give me 5 words. :D?