This is a picture of my old doggie Ralphie/Ralph. I know it's not the best pic in the world, but it's from an old Polaroid picture and was taken inside, so squint. I grew up with this half golden retriever, half Newfoundland, the size of a small pony by the way, dog and had great times with her. She used to go hiking with us and when I was little I would share my ice cream cones with her (hey antibiotic tongue...oh shut up I know it's gross :-). She died when I was about twelve, but I'm still of the belief that if you are going to get a dog...get a DOG people. They are lovely creatures if you can finally get them trained, and none of those little rat dogs...get ones that can pull your kids through snow drifts when walking them the way my dog used to walk me. Just take care of your pets, and they'll give you countless good memories to think of on dark nights when you are lonely. Oh and if you are wondering why she was named Ralph when she was female...long story about a vet making a boo boo on the puppy he gave us...thought he had wrapped one of the males in a towel and it turned out to be female, but by the time my mom got Ralph home she was already answering to her new name, so we just kept it.

I got a cat named Mao...I raised him from a kitten and he's a screwed up looking Siamese, but he's a really pretty cat (I can't find a photo, but I AM looking through stuff still). Mao passed away a couple of years ago and it still hurts. I miss him eating my cheese curls and lying around purring at anything and everything. Mao was a well loved cat. Even those who normally didn't like cats loved him and wanted to take him home with them. He was somewhat brain dead at times in that he'd even purr if you stepped on him, but he could still beat the heck out of another tom cat at age 17 or so and he lived to be 20 years old before he died. I'll always miss him. He was probably the best friend I ever had in that he never judged me, he never did anything in his power to hurt me and all he did was curl up beside me and purr when I was sad and cheer me up as best as he was able. I dare anyone to find a person who would never hurt them and just comfort them when they were sad and just generally make their lives a little brighter for having known them. I don't think those people exist...sometimes you get close, but you can't get it exactly in a person.

Back in PA my family has four cats left, one of which is a purring bundle of orange fur that I miss sometimes. My family doesn't seem to be too fond of him and I feel sorry for him in that.

I currently in Alaska have gotten a new cat by the name of Ginger (my husband named her). She's black and white (and yes I have pictures, but I don't feel like scanning them right this second) and very small. She is also somewhat psycho and likes to do laps and run around bouncing off of things. My sister-in-laws watched her while I was on vacation and have nicknamed her "evil cat" because she would trash the apartment at least once a day to keep the girls on their toes. Her favorite hobby seems to be sitting on my face and purring at different times during the night, but I don't have to worry about mice and I love the little bundle of fur...even if she does drive my husband nuts when she attacks his head in bed ;-).

My sisters-in-laws have a cat named (heh...this'll get interesting) originally Archemedies, then Jake, currently Mr. Cootums OR Mr. Kitty depending on who is talking to him. He's cute but doesn't like the attention so much due to the fact the girls (my sister-in-laws) never let that cat touch the floor for more than five minutes at a time, so he gets all attentioned out really fast.