March 29, 2014

"You can wish me a 'Happy Poop Day.'"

Says Meade 5 minutes after I ask him if it's okay if I blog him a happy birthday.

Context: Meade will be celebrating his 60th birthday by participating in the volunteer spring clean-up at a Dane County dog park (where he frequently takes our neighbors' Labrador Retriever, up after whom he always picks).

How are you celebrating this next blessed day of human existence?

Does your celebration include poop? Poop beyond your own personal bodily production? Poop beyond your own family members, including your own pets? Poop beyond the pets of your neighbors that you've undertaken to squire around the county.

Whether it's your birthday or not — and if it's your birthday, whether you're hitting a big landmark like 60 or not — please take a moment to notice the good and — to increase the good and to magnify your own goodness — to take away some of the bad, even the bad that plopped from somebody else's dog that was not even the somebody else's dog that you took to the park.

And by dog, I mean real dogs and metaphorical dogs, on this beautiful last Saturday in March.

A toast to the formidable Meade:



My old man.

75 comments:

Rusty said...

Well. Happy Birthday, Hobbs. You don't look a day over 59 & 1/2.



Yes. I shoveled husky dog poop a week ago. The backyard is ready for weed and feed.

Irene said...

Happy Birthday, Meade ... from all five of us, humans and dogs.

Anonymous said...

Crazy Street Corner Guy Off His Meds Says:

You let your dogs sh*t on the sidewalk, it is not the fault of the dog but your fault, it is your fault, it is your fault that I have dog sh*t on my shoes and it is my only pair of shoes, my only pair and now they have dog sh*t on them. Go ahead, sleep in your warm bed with your dog on his dog blanket while I sleep under a trash bag in the alley, I'll be sleeping in the alley with my shoes smelling like dog sh*t, they are my only shoes. I hope your dog eats you.

Saint Croix said...

Happy poop day, Meade.

The only death threat I ever got on Althouse was from some guy who was really, really unhappy that I do not pick up after my dog

Saint Croix said...

As Althouse picks up all of Toobin's shit. "Look at this shit! What a mess."

Cleaning America, one little baggie at a time.

amielalune said...

Oh, I thought you were going to say he'd just had a successful morning bathroom visit.

bwebster said...

A fine looking couple, I must say.

As for me and own sweetie, we will spend this day wrapping up our quest to find a suitable house for rent in Utah County. Pickings are slim, especially since we have dogs. Small, short haired, housebroken dogs (MinPins), but even such dogs are unacceptable to many owners/property managers. Sigh.

amielalune said...

Saint Croix: Why would you not pick up after your dog? Unless you're talking about on your own property, where I guess the choice is yours.

What if no one picked up after their dogs?

Guildofcannonballs said...

I sing songs with poop inserted in place of the original lyrics.

For instance, instead of "You Talk To Much" I sing to my dog "You Poop To Much."

Guildofcannonballs said...

Too.

John Enright said...

Happy poopday, Meade. It's my poopday too. I promised my wife that today was the day that I'd clean the yard of our Lab's winter leavings. Happy birthday, as well.

Anonymous said...

Crazy Street Corner Guy Off His Meds Says:

You: you don't know what it is like, having to sh*t in an alley, shi*tting in an alley behind the dumpster with the pigeons all around and the rats and the smell and someone might try to run off with your stuff, you're not done with your business and now someone, they stole all your stuff. They won't let me into Starbucks to use their bathroom anymore, so now I have to sh*t in the alley like a dog while all of you drink your f**king fancy coffees and p*ss in a clean bathroom, clean bathroom. I hope you get butt disease.

Deb said...

Happy Birthday. March is a fine month in which to be born.

FleetUSA said...

Great pics

Leslie Graves said...

Happy birthday, Meade.

Dan from Madison said...

Poop? I got yer poop right here. Spring cleanup weekend at my hobby farm. I got horse poop, cow poop, dog poop and chicken poop all set to get cleaned up.

rhhardin said...

A snow shovel does nicely as a poop carrier. When full, carry it to back fence and toss contents over.

In the summer, cutting the yard with a scythe puts poop back in play until it's reduced to wholesome small pieces.

Dog catalogs list an ingredient to be added to diet which "gives feces an unpleasant taste."

Who knew.

Anonymous said...

RIP: Admiral Jeremiah A. Denton Jr

"We are honored to have had the opportunity to serve our country under difficult circumstances. We are profoundly grateful to our Commander-in-Chief and to our nation for this day. God bless America.”

Absent Companions!

Paddy O said...

"Happy poop day"

That's taking "old fart" to the next level!

Happy Birthday, Meade

Michael said...

Happy birthday.

Michael said...

Happy birthday.

Helenhightops said...

Happy Birthday, Meade! Althouse has all us ladies half in love with you, too. Which is as it should be.

Richard Lawrence Cohen said...

Who's that fat beer-swilling fool next to him? Happy 60th, Meade, brother, and a long lifetime's happiness to you both. Good new photo, too, Ann!

MadisonMan said...

Happy birthday Meade! I will walk my dog and pick up his poop and think of you as I do so :)

cubanbob said...

Happy birthday Meadehouse.
In other previous threads there was a lot of vitriol directed at the both of you regarding marrying up/down. While I don't you both personally and only "know" you both from your blog personifies it appears that you have each other's back and compliment each other. Neither of you married down or up but rather both of you married well. And that is the stuff of a happy life. Congratulations again.
I hope you both have a wonderful day.

TMink said...

God bless you with a wonderful year Meade!

Trey

Big Mike said...

Happy birthday, Meade.

Your Saturday may be beautiful, Professor, but here in Virginia our weather sucks.

Plus Virginia couldn't quite pull it out against MSU.

Sucks. Just sucks.

SayAahh said...

Happy B-Day Meade.

You have won the lotto having Ann in your life.

(And also enjoying time with Zeus.)

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."

David said...

I'd wish you a happy birthday Meade but I already know that's going to happen. So just go and enjoy it. Both of you.

Heartless Aztec said...

Meade is wearing one serious SEG. Good on buddy.

Drago said...

Great pics.

All the best.

Ann Althouse said...

Hi, Richard. Happy Birthday from last Saturday.

I'm glad you're cool with inclusion in the celebration of Meade's day through the use of that photo.

BTW, that photo was taken at 12 Bones in Asheville, NC and that is the one restaurant of all the restaurants I've ever been to that I most want to get back to.

Malesch Morocco said...

Happy Birthday, Meade. You lucky guy!

Tank said...

Yesterday, after my riding lesson, I stepped in horse poop, then I shoveled it up. Part of the deal.

Today - tat enhancement.

That pic of the two of you - lotta juice there, no dryness.

Happy poop day Meade.

Saint Croix said...

Why would you not pick up after your dog?

a) I'm a scofflaw

b) I don't like shit

c) it's good for the grass

I once got into an argument with an attorney who said that shit is not good for the grass, shit kills the grass. I said, "What the hell are you talking about? Shit is great for the grass. Everybody knows that. There are, like, nutrients in shit. Shitty nutrients."

And she said, "Urine kills the grass!"

Yeah, okay, but what do you want me to do, scoop the urine? Mop up the urine from the grass?

In fact I'll add that as number...

4) It's so damn illogical to scoop shit while our dogs are pissing all over your shrubs.

5) My dog did it, I didn't do it, we're autonomous individuals.

6) Fight the power.

That's all I got, six.

Saint Croix said...

No death threats, please.

Happy birthday!

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

I've got two dachshunds and I like things tidy so every day is poop day. The wife and I are going to celebrate Meade's birthday with a teeth cleaning.

Tank said...

@St Croix

I've got a dead spot on my lawn where ALL the neighborhood dogs pee.

I'm blaming you.

lohwoman said...

Happy birthday, Meade. Enjoy the gift of your new year!

Tank said...

At 60, every day that starts with you opening your eyes is a good day.

harrogate said...

12 Bones in Asheville is a treasure. Also the next time you go to Asheville, try The Admiral. I promise you will love it.

dreams said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
FWBuff said...

Happy birthday, Meade! Unfortunately, Ann's post reminded me that I have backyard duty this morning courtesy of our two standard poodles.

jacksonjay said...


Can he do 60 pull-ups?

Freeman Hunt said...

Happy birthday, Meade!

Wince said...

Have a Crappy Birthday, Meade!

(And all this time we thought Titus was weird.)

Heartless Aztec said...

Love 12 Bones. And Tressa's Blues Bar too.

The Crack Emcee said...

Happy Poop Day, Meade! You know what's up. I love you, man!

And, Ann, I also LOVE the new photo!





jr565 said...

"Happy poopday, Meade. It's my poopday too"

You say it's your poop day
well it's my poop day too yeah
Theya say it's your poop day
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your poop day
Happy Poop Day to you!

SteveR said...

Happy Birthday Meade, any day you're being the "picker upper" and not being the source for some one to clean up after is good.

RigelDog said...

Aha---"my old man."

somefeller said...

Happy birthday! Here's a meditation on aging, shared with me by a prominent judge:

As you get older, your definition of a great weekend changes.
At age 20: I had great sex this weekend! What a great weekend.
At age 40: I had a great meal this weekend! What a great weekend.
At age 60: I had a great shit this weekend! What a great weekend.

Meade said...

Thanks for the birthday wishes, everybody! I wish you all happy day too.

sunsong said...

Happy Birthday Meade! Lovely photos.

Biff said...

Happy day, Meade! Great photo, too.

Anonymous said...

Nice couple pic. Happy Bday!

ken in tx said...

The problem with dog pee is that it is too concentrated. If you dumped a handful of nitrogen based fertilizer on the grass, it would burn it yellow just like dog pee does. Take a squirt bottle of water with you when you walk your dog. Water it down. It will make the grass greener, not yellow.

rhhardin said...

My dogs have never burned the lawn, nor have any of the neighbors' dogs.

The trick is don't fertilize.

Then the lawn needs nitrogen, and turns green instead of yellow in spots.

HG said...

A very happy Birthday to your man...been a big fan of the both of you since the beginning

HG said...

Happy 60th to Meade

Bob Ellison said...

Happy birthday, Meade!

Mark said...

Happy Birthday, Meade, and a much belated congratulations to both of you.

Bob R said...

Happy Birthday, Meade...keep 'em coming.

RLB_IV said...

Happy 60th to Meade. Enjoy

Joe said...

Oh, for Pete's sake! Meade and I were born on the same day.

Twin son's of a different mother!

chillblaine said...

Hello, I hope your birthday doesn't suck. By the way, FWBuff, two standard poodles is the ideal canine family unit! Salud!

MD Greene said...

Best to you both!

William said...

Am I the only one who really liked "up after whom?" Wonderful syntax, Professor!

Unknown said...

Happy Poop Day then and what not
sixty isnt a thing if your still putting the steel on target, only regret i will cop to for living like theres no tomorrow in the long gone yesterday...pissing away the compound interest
No Tears

Saint Croix said...

happy birthday, Joe!

Saint Croix said...

I've got a dead spot on my lawn where ALL the neighborhood dogs pee.

That's a pee dominance thing. One dog urinates. Another dog smells it and he thinks, "Oh yeah?" And he pees on top of the pee. And then another dog smells that. "I got something to contribute!"

It's almost exactly like an out-of-control Althouse thread.

Mind you, girl dogs do not do this. My girl dog used to pee on asphalt. I have no idea why. You'll have to ask her.

Anyway, the next time you read a thread and a bunch of guys are ranting and raving and one-upping each other, just think to yourself, pee dominance.

Ann Althouse, shutting down the comments thread = "Get off my yard!"

Saint Croix said...

The problem with dog pee is that it is too concentrated.

They ought to pass a law. Dog owners have to walk their dogs when it's raining, so all the urine is watered down.

Hey, you're violating the Walk Your Dog In the Rain statute!

Yes, yes I am.

Saint Croix said...

1) My dog has to pee right now!

2) I can't hold an umbrella and a leash and a bucket full of dog shit. Come on!

3) Yeah, but if I walk her in the rain, I'll get wet.

4) George Washington died of pneumonia. And Tippi Canoe!

5) I'm pretty sure there's dew on the grass.

6) It's about to rain. That is a cloud!

7) She only pees on asphalt, officer. I have trained my dog not to kill the grass.

Saint Croix said...

I wish somebody would pass that law, I want to try these out in Court.

nina said...

Happy Birthday, Meade! I, too, collected poop today. Chicken shit. Does that count?