Day two of my massively impressive camera work. I know many of you are wondering (Really just All Things BD) what kind of professional-quality camera I bought.

Here it is:

That's right!  The Cannon PowerShot A1000 IS.  I paid a total of ~$210 at Best Buy for this beauty. Before you swallow your tongue at the cost, this total includes an 8 GB memory card, a 2-year replacement warranty, and of course, SALES TAX.

Usually I avoid the warranties as unnecessary money sucks, but with the age my kids are at now and their propensity to allow curiosity to overcome wisdom, I thought the "accidental" breakage warranty was a good idea. Plus, Best Buy replaces EVERYTHING if something breaks it - including water.

I'm not used to carrying a camera around, so I may be just this stupid. I'm picturing myself playing at the water area at Universal Studios City Park. For those of you unfamiliar with this tourist attraction, just picture a bunch of people with cameras inside a fountain of water that shoots up to about 8 feet high.

But this wasn't what I wanted to blog about today. I wanted to talk about the circus that is dinner time.

Tonight was "left overs" night. It is only Tuesday, and we are already eating left overs. That's because last Thursday I made a pan of lasagna. My kids HATE lasagna, but My Mukor LOVES it.

I make this dish about three times a year.

Well, since the kids don't eat it, and I don't eat a LOT of it, you can only imagine how much we had left over. However, I couldn't bring myself to make lasagna for the kids for the 6th night in a row, so I made them a treat dinner.

I am NEVER a short order cook - or a mom who is willing to make three different meals in order to make everyone happy. Pretty much whatever I make, you eat or don't and starve. I always include a couple of sides on the plate the kids like to avoid the whining.

However, tonight I bent my no-short-order-cook rule just a bit.

BoopaLoop had a hotdog, olives, baby carrots, mild cheddar cheese and a lot of ketchup. LittleMan had a hotdog, baby corn, baby carrots, and pickled beets (ick). So, I personalized their side dishes to make the kids happy. Whatever - it was special-treat-left-overs-dinner night.

However, even with this complicated title, it is ironic that every dinner the same thing happens.

My Mukor and I have been trying for 7 years to get our dog Travis to not beg at the table. I was making a lot of progress with Travis in this skill until My Mukor and I decided to eat at home more.

As I said, every dinner the same thing happens.

Do you see Travis? That's RIGHT! My Mukor is completely oblivious that the dog is right next to him every time we eat! I'm on the other side of the table, and the dog knows that if I see him, he will be banished.

For a few months, I thought Travis was laying down where he was supposed to be until the sound of our scraping chairs alerted him that the meal was over. Only then, is he allowed anywhere near the dining room table. I mean, less work for me if he cleans up after us, right?

It wasn't until one night about 6 years ago that I noticed a shiny, black object under My Mukor's elbow - about 4 inches from his plate. It was Travis's nose!! For crying out loud!! In shock I pointed at the dog and said, "WHHAAA...?!"

My Mukor looks to where I'm pointing, recognizes the nose, and says very calmly, "Oh, go lay down."

Oh sure! That's the dominate spirit. Way to shape that dog up! Sigh...

Now, repeat that event hundreds of times, most of the time without either of us noticing the dog until dinner was over, and you have this picture.

Seriously, it wasn't until I took this picture that My Mukor noticed the dog. So, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right? I now don't bother looking for the dog during dinner. I just keep my head down and focus on my food.

This is what the dog did after My Mukor noticed him next to his elbow in the previous picture.

It is hopeless.