Precious little Oliver nipped at the neighbor last night…and drew blood. That’s right, the old Polish lady next door bent down to pet him, he started barking like a mad man, and he nipped her knuckle. No worries, she had an alcohol pad handy in her pleather purse and isn’t going to sue us.

I’ve already emailed three local dog training facilities and Oliver’s life will be getting a lot more disciplined very soon.

When I heard that the new Gnarls Barkley video was banned from MTV for failing the Harding-Test and potentially causing seizures, I had to watch it! I know you’re curious now that you heard it was banned and you’re not supposed to see it. Go on. Watch it…

WARNING: Don’t press play if you are prone to spazzing out. I don’t want to be held responsible for anyone choking on their tongue.

For the past two weeks, either Mike or I have been sick every single day, and Ollie has been a saint through it all. He cuddles up with us, doesn’t bark, and takes a break from playing tug-of-war.

Too bad we were on too much cold medication to be able to enjoy it!

We thought that since he’s been such a good dog, we’d reward him with some new pet supplies, so we stocked up on bones, ropes, and a new collar. I also bought enough heart worm and flea medicine to get through the spring, but Ollie doesn’t appreciate that as much as he does a new Kong.

Anyone else notice a change in their pet’s behavior when they are sick or something is going on around the house? They really are a tremendous judge or character and mood!

I’ve only been back in Chicago for two weeks, so I’m still familiarizing myself with the news stations. Particularly the meteorologist, because we all know that Chicago weather is crazy.

All of the familiar faces are there. Andy Avalos, Steve Baskerville and Tom Skilling, but there’s a new meteorologist in town, and she may be the perfect person for the job. Amy Freeze is the chief meteorologist on Fox 32 and even has her own website, Freeze Front.

That’s like being a vet named Dr. Barker, or a dentist named Dr. Les Plack, or a lawyers named Dewey, Chetham, and Howe. Amy Freeze had no choice but go be a weather girl.

My sister read somewhere that if you talk to your pets, and tell them what their day holds, it relieves their stress and they are better behaved.

Yesterday, the maintenance guy was scheduled to stop by the apartment to take a look at the heater, and I had to use the baby gate to keep Oliver in the kitchen. I prepared Oliver by telling him who was going to show up, how long he was going to be there, what he was doing, and that the nice maintenance guy was going to let him out of the kitchen when he was finished working.

When I came home, I saw the maintenance guy in the parking lot and was fully prepared for him to tell me that Oliver barked all day, nipped at his ankles, and caused a stir. He told me the exact opposite. He said that Oliver laid in his bed the whole time he was working and just looked at him.

So, do you think the technique works, or I’m just a crazy lady who talks to her dog?