Yuck

The grocery stores here sell "Asco" brand of dog food and dog treats.

Small problem. "Asco" means "disgusting".

Who buys their dog "Disgusting" brand food and treats?

Hmmm. Come to think of it, maybe my mother should. Meet Osker. He's on the right.



(Lucy's on the left. She's Osker's better half.)

Osker is my mother's dog. He's exceptionally smart, which means that he can also be exceptionally naughty!

As I was talking to my mom on the phone on Saturday morning, I heard her let out a despairing wail. She had discovered Osker drinking her hot chocolate. And not just any hot chocolate... the special hot chocolate that my stepdad buys for her at Christmas and only at Christmas.

I couldn't help but giggle. Sorry, Mom.

Apparently he had really been going at it, because the hot chocolate was all over his face, the end table and the arm of the sofa (upon which he was standing as he committed the crime).

My mom was bound and determined to salvage what remained of her hot chocolate. After all, it was the very last glass of last year's chocolate, and she would have to wait until Christmas day to get a new batch. So she picked up her mug and inspected it...

...and found lots of dog fur floating around inside.

At this point in the conversation, I couldn't help myself. I was seriously cracking up. "Hey, Mom," I said jokingly, "why don't you strain the fur out?"

"Oooh! Good idea! I do have a strainer!"

She actually strained her hot chocolate to get the dog hair out. And then she heated it back up in the microwave to kill any dog-related germs that may have been left behind. Desperation makes people do crazy things. Meanwhile, Osker ran over to his bowl to get a long drink of water.

So, anyway, Osker had better watch out... otherwise he might get this in his stocking on Christmas morning: