Welcome!

Previously, I blogged at http://doctorfood.blogspot.com/, but apparently remembering emails and passwords is much too difficult a task for someone with a newly minted PhD. While many might be devastated by their lack of memory, I preferred to make lemon drop martinis out of the lemons thrown my way, and I've started a new blog where I can start anew. After all, new existence post-grad school means I am in a completely different place mentally, and a new blog is the perfect new beginning.

Let me begin with a little sadness and a little joy. Zander, my favorite dog in the whole world, my fluffy beast, my canine son, is no longer with us. He left behind the love of his life, the lovely pitbull Zelda, and after months of watching her appetite diminish to the point of starvation and watching her deteriorate to a pile of dog on the couch with no interest in anything or anyone, we decided to get a Golden Retriever puppy.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is Otis Redding Jr.-Jr. at four and a half months:


Of course, training was exhausting at first, and trying to catch puppies who have to go to the bathroom *before* they go in the house is virtually impossible, but he has grown and is well-behaved compared to when we brought him home at 8 weeks. Here's how tiny he was at 8 weeks:

From the moment we brought him home, Zelda Fitzgerald was no longer singing the blues, and she took on the mommy role with diligence and fortitude. As I feverishly finished writing my dissertation and commenced preparing for my final doctoral exam, Zelda dutifully babysat, even telling on him when he did something naughty.

Now they are the best of friends, and as they cuddle constantly, I have more time to cook...and blog. More cuteness below, but a word of warning, these photos may not be suitable for the cooing aloud type.