Good Evening! Here at Top Comments we strive to recognize and promote the talent of this community by highlighting outstanding comments found throughout the day by the diarist, and more importantly through nominations sent to TopComments at gmail dot com by your fellow Kossacks. When you send in your picks, please include your username and a word or two about why you nominated the comment, and send 'em in by 9:45pm Eastern to ensure they make the final diary.
These nominations are subjective, and certainly not complete (as no one can read the complete site on a daily basis!). But we hope they will serve to shine a light where deserved, and to give the reader a good starting point in finding conversation on the site.
Please come in and make yourself at home...
Apologies for the short diary tonite, life intervened...
First thing we did today was attend the Blessing of the Animals at church. This was our first time at this church for the annual service, so we had no idea what to expect. We packed up Coco the Hamster in his hamsterball, taped it shut for good measure, and prepared ourselves to being the only people who brought a real pet.
Well. There were at least 15 dogs, two cats, at least one chicken, rumor has it a guinea pig, and more stuffed animals standing in for real or hoped-for pets than you could imagine. Coco got blessed with the other live animals and we headed home to drop him off and continue with our planned animal day. What was next, you ask?
As many of you may know, my blogging handle comes from my late dog Brillig. We got him from the Animal Shelter on January 7th 1995, and he was a loyal, faithful companion and family member until he went to Rainbow Bridge on August 25th, 2007. He was terribly missed, and left a huge hole in our family. We didn't, however, want to "replace" him, so we waited until it felt right. The last few weeks have felt right. Kid Brillig has been advocating for a dog, and we decided that we have the time, desire and commitment necessary to bring a new dog into the household.
So off we went, back to that same shelter- by now moved into more modern quarters. We swore we were just looking, and in we went. We were met by some of the nicest, friendliest, wonderful faces ever. And then we went to see the dogs. We looked, reminded ourselves that finding the Right Dog For You takes time, and then...
We found The Room. You know The Room. The puppy room. We shouldn't have gone in, but we did. We cooed at and then walked past the Australian Shepherd mix duo, knowing that we do NOT have that much energy. We almost asked to hold the Rough Collie mix pup, until we learned that the "mix" was likely Aussie Shepherd. So far, we were on track to leave, get a nice lunch at the Salem Beer Works, and head home. But Fate intervened:
Oooh look at these puppies over here!! We looked, and... you can guess the rest. Looking led to cooing led to asking to see it in a meet-n-greet room, which led to me filling out papers that led to...
Meet Vorpal, a female twelve week old Plott Hound mix. Her shelter name was Vivian, which just happens to have been my mother's first name. Mom loved her dog and would have loved Kid Brillig choosing one to spend her rapidly approaching teen angst years with. I think Mom knew we were finally ready for another and sent a sign :-).We have a tradition of naming our pets after Lewis Carroll names, so a quick recitation of Jabberwocky on the drive home led to Vorpal.
Vorpal was very quiet and shy in the shelter, although not afraid. She padded up to us and leaned in that way only dogs can do. We haven't heard a bark yet, she's already chosen a spot of her own (on the living room rug right at the corner of the entertainment center) and we've made a run to the store to get a toy to chew on, and a fluffy fleece blankie. The crate is back out of the basement, the gates are up on the stairs and kitchen, we're remembering that puppies need to go out every two hours around the clock (alarm is set for 3am) and Casa Brillig finally feels right again.
I think Brillig would have approved of Vorpal. I hope he's watching from the Bridge, giving Vorpal all the secrets that only guardian angel dogs can provide to the dog chosen to care for their humans.
With a wag and a pat, it's time for Top Comments! First up, the contents of the TC mailbox. Don't forget that it's YOU who make TC come alive, with your nominations sent to TopComments at gmail dot com before diary deadline!
From llbear:
Worriedgranny's comment in Noweasels' IGTNT diary Finally Home tells us a lot about what a wonderful granny she must be.
From willb48:
From hondaaccordlx's diary, a funny comment by mrchumchum about Sarah Palin's claim that she read the New York Times.
From BeninSC:
JRandomPoster with an appropriate opinion on McCain as a 'maverick.' ;)
From sardonyx:
NCrissieB on the GOP and Elan.
A late comment from last night by Why A Duck anticipates next week's calumnies from McCain and Palin.
From Yours Truly:
In jnhobbs's excellent (and first) diary Songwriter Donates Royalties To Planned Parenthood In Palin's Name, jfromga sums up reality and Republicans.
pixxer's comment "to believe Obama associated with terrorists, you have to un-know a bunch of stuff" led to this perfect response by rock2casbah.
A Handsome Man's comment led to a very fun thread.
Next up is Top Mojo! The comments YOU selected by recommending them as you read, I've assembled them using cskendrick/sardonyx style mojo-to-excel goodness!
Top 30 Comments excluding search-identifiable tip jars and first comments:
1) I disagree, I think it's too early by mysticlaker — 341
2) What did the guys think about being called by XajaX — 281
3) Makes me wonder by BigAlinWashSt — 178
4) Nope by GreenCajun — 177
5) These are the tales by kissmygrits — 164
6) Team Obama isn't taken any crap from McCain by Kitty — 153
7) That first photo is priceless. by maconblue — 151
8) That line's already become a caricature by davidkc — 146
9) It is a sad, sad day by Alice AN — 138
10) I repeat - Joe Biden. Is better. Than THAT! by Sarah Pawlenty — 136
11) i've been saying this by chiefsjen — 130
12) There was a huge laugh to be had, by jazzmaniac — 130
13) She became a caricature days ago by RFK Lives — 129
14) This article couldn't come at a better time by mamabigdog — 129
15) Amazing story. Thank you for sharing. by jdw112 — 128
16) Dagnan by princss6 — 126
17) Tina Fey by cleverblogname — 119
18) This article demolishes the Myth of McCain, and by turbonium — 108
19) While the REAL Joe Sixpacks are by BonnieSchlitz — 104
20) Living in south Florida, I'm very familiar by logsol — 103
21) OH Yes by Alice AN — 100
22) Net worth over a million dollars by Dems in 08 — 99
23) I missed most of the Begala/Murphy segment by litho — 99
24) OBAMANOS=Barack's Latino Connection!!!I by serrano — 99
25) Character is Obama's strength, not McCain's by Happy Days — 92
26) I don't get it by whatever66 — 91
27) let's not forget.... by chiefsjen — 89
28) losing a mom is terrible. by CC Music Factory — 88
29) McCain pulls out a gun by FishOutofWater — 88
30) Well consider this comment your by Muzikal203 — 88
Top 30 (plus ties) Comments with no exclusions:
1) New here - what is a tip jar? by dagan68 — 926
2) Tips for being real nt by davidkc — 867
3) Tips for full disclosure and... by Snud — 698
4) tj n/t by jab — 686
5) This is the Story of the Wekk, to me by foxsucks81 — 664
6) Tips and stuff... by jnhobbs — 573
7) Tips for my neighbor by FritztheCat — 547
8) tj n/t by Kula2316 — 539
9) tip jar for a true October surprise by slinkerwink — 490
10) Tips for Jill Biden by Eileen B — 476
11) PS. I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack. . . n/t by LarryInNYC — 419
12) Madmen must be kept out of the White House by pattisigh — 406
13) tj by Tirge Caps — 389
14) I disagree, I think it's too early by mysticlaker — 341
15) That sounds like a really good ad by Muzikal203 — 281
16) What did the guys think about being called by XajaX — 281
17) Yes, our hearts are with you, Joe! by Mokou — 266
18) Tip Jar? You betcha! by Sam Loomis — 259
19) Excellent diary! by bhouston79 — 248
20) Tip jar by Woochifer — 226
21) Are you voting now? by JeffLieber — 222
22) Makes me wonder by BigAlinWashSt — 178
23) Nope by GreenCajun — 177
24) These are the tales by kissmygrits — 164
25) Team Obama isn't taken any crap from McCain by Kitty — 153
26) Tip Jar by GreenCajun — 152
27) That first photo is priceless. by maconblue — 151
28) That line's already become a caricature by davidkc — 146
29) It is a sad, sad day by Alice AN — 138
30) tip jar by Stranded Wind — 136
31) I repeat - Joe Biden. Is better. Than THAT! by Sarah Pawlenty — 136