tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397358923899448909.post1369263646366783647..comments2023-06-20T00:31:15.932+10:00Comments on But I digress ...: 'Tis the season and all thatCarinthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09490217708697574505noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397358923899448909.post-62638889701694055302009-12-26T22:55:21.349+11:002009-12-26T22:55:21.349+11:00Oh, the cat in the Santa hat is too cute! And how ...Oh, the cat in the Santa hat is too cute! And how did you get her to stay so still? Ours squirm and run about when the cameras come out, demanding lavish gifts in exchange for posing even for a moment.<br /><br />Hope you don't hate me after this, but I must confess that I am not a dog person. I don't know how it happened that I don't like them, because when I was growing up I did have a dog of my own whom I "raised" since she was a puppy. Nonetheless, as an adult I have gradually grown averse to dogs. This always puts me in an awkward situation with respect to how to behave at people's houses where dogs are central and interact with visitors as a matter of course. To me it seems that expressing to my friends that I am uncomfortable with the dog climbing on me or licking me will hurt their feelings and will make them feel hostile towards me (a "dog-hater" in their house?), so I do not say anything and dutifully play with the dog when it comes to me for attention. But it does make me uncomfortable and as a result I do not look forward to visiting households where I know I will be in such close contact with the dogs. Not really sure how to handle it, because if I say something I <i>know</i> it will hurt their feelings and we'll end up not seeing much of each other anyway. <br /><br />As for the shoe thing - That drives me nuts. Of course I take them off if someone requests it, but personally I do not think it is an appropriate request to make of visitors. I simply do not think it is reasonable to require guests to remove any part of their attire. Afraid of dirt being dragged all over the house? Well, that's the risk/price of entertaining company, IMO. Many people consider feet to be intimate, personal parts of the body and may not want to expose them.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.com