Writer’s Workshop: You Be The Judge
by Jenners • 10/06/2011 • Mr. Jenners, Romeo and Juliet, Writers Workshop • 82 Comments
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Although I’ve been a sporadic Writer’s Workshopper again, this week one prompt fit my life a bit too perfectly (almost as if Mama Kat has been observing our household, which kind of freaks me out a bit.) You see, a bitter war has been raging here in the Jenners household, and one of this week’s prompts provided the perfect way to resolve tensions and bring peace back to our home. So, without further ado, here is my take on Prompt 1:
Share a disagreement you’re having with someone and let your readers be the judge!
The issue: What costume should our puppy Romeo wear for Halloween?
You’d think that this wouldn’t be an issue fraught with tension, but it is. At first, we were all agreed on a little bumblebee costume, but I couldn’t find one that fit. So I bought an adorable little ladybug costume, thinking that this would be a pretty even exchange. Well, well, well … Mr. Jenners went ballistic and said something like “No way is he wearing a ladybug costume. He is a boy dog, and I won’t have him wear a girly costume.”
First of all, the fact that we are dressing up our tiny dog for Halloween already crosses some kind of “masculine” line, don’t you think?
Second, Mr. Jenners went out and bought his own costume for Romeo—a clown costume. And nothing screams “testosterone” and “boy” than a brightly colored clown costume with pom poms, right?
I personally find the clown costume to be garish and unbefitting Romeo’s cuteness. I think he looks MUCH better as a ladybug. But Mr. Jenners is dead set against the ladybug costume. Unable to resolve our dispute via BB (who hates having to choose in the best of circumstances and certainly not “Mommy’s choice” versus “Daddy’s choice”), we decided to bring the issue to this blog for a vote. So please take a moment to vote in the poll below and settle this issue once and for all. And, of course, to help you decide, here is Romeo modeling both outfits.
Romeo the Ladybug. (I will admit ... he doesn
Romeo as a (very masculine <----sarcasm) clown
So vote now!! Romeo’s Halloween costume depends on YOU!
You should get The Grouchy Ladybug from the library to showcase a very macho ladybug. Ladybugs are both boys and girls!
I can just see Romeo wandering from person to person “You are too little to fight!”
How funny and cute, mom and dad are debating on what to dress him for Halloween. I think Romeo should be Romeo, being a cute puppy is a great costume in itself. Why hide all that gorgeousness.
You’ve got a point. But still … how fun it is to dress him up!!
I like the lady bug better- except it does seem very girly. But a clown- no one likes clowns. Keep looking for a bee that will fit
To complicate matters, my brother called to tell us that they now have Star Wars pet costumes at Wal-Mart now. I’m seeing Yoda or Darth Vader now … how cute would that be?
I vote for Ladybug! Diego was a ladybug his first Halloween too. And my hubby and son gave me the same arguement, he’s a boy and ladybugs are girls! I ignored them
Plus since Im reading IT, I’m not a fan of clown anything right now….although Romeo is so adorable, he’ll look cute in any costume! I just got Diegos costume last week myself. A Pumpkin.
IT will put you off of clowns … even on cute little puppies. I hope you post photos of Diego in his Halloween costume! I bet he looks sooooo cute! Love that both our puppies were ladybugs for their first Halloweens. (See how I’m assuming the win … even though the vote is tie right now!)
Sorry, but I have to go with the clown. Not really worried about masculine or not, just think it looks better on him based on your pics.
It is funny to me that Mr. Jenners (who took the photos) managed to make HIS costume choice look better!! Very very suspicious.
How funny!! Well that gave me a good laugh. All I can say Jenners, is your poor little puppy. I hope he has a sense of humour
He’s a patient little guy … and tolerates all this (except for the ladybug hood — THAT he doesn’t like at all.)
No clowns!! I would turn it down just because of the creep factor associated with clowns. The ladybug is adorable. It’s too bad you couldn’t find the bumblebee costume. We put that on one of our English Pointer last year and still chuckle at it. Of course, we put a hot dog costume on our Golden Retriever and still laugh out loud at the memory. We need to pull them out again…
I personally find pet costumes very amusing … I figure for all the work I’m doing with him, I deserve some amusement! I’d love to see the hot dog costume! That sounds hilarious!
I voted for nothing because neither costume seems masculine enough for such a cute dog as this. (A LADYbug isn’t masculine.) I think the dog would prefer no costume at all.
Stopping by from writer’s workshop: http://zemeks.blogspot.com/2011/04/wife-v-husband-on-bed-making.html
I’m sure the dog would prefer NO costume … but his family (who is working really really hard to train him and love him) could use the laughs!! : )
They are both really cute.. I think it is fun to dress up your pet for the occasion… I mean, if he had to wear costumes all the time… well that something else… but the occasional holiday fun –
I am a peace maker by nature so I suggest you split the night 1/2 in one costume, half in the other.
Your suggestion would be fantastic … if I could sew! He’d be like the Two Face of Puppies. And we don’t plan on dressing him any other time than Halloween … unless he seems really really cold. In which case, I’ve seen some cute little dog sweaters….
The ladybug for sure!! Plus, on Bug’s Life the lady bug definitely was not a lady and was the first to tell everyone! Romeo is a cute doggie!! Is he a Shih-Tzu? We have a miniature yorkie that usually wears a pumpkin outfit…
Visiting from Mama Kat’s
Romeo is a Havanese, which is still kind of a rare breed in the U.S. I think dogs look adorable in Halloween costumes, but I don’t plan on dressing him for everyday wear. (Maybe.) And I need to show that part of A Bug’s Life to prove my case about the ladybug!
Adorable either way, but I actually thought that the clown costume was a SNOW WHITE costume at first, which makes the lady bug the more masculine of the two (Surprisingly.)
At first I was like “What is Caitlin drinking? Snow White?” But now I totally see what you are saying … the colors bring her dress to mind.
Having asked my children for their unbiased opinions the ladybug won hands down
Tell your children they have excellent taste! After all, they agree with me.
Give him some angel wings and devil horns – then he can be a devil in disguise. I love that you want him to dress up.
Oh … I love your idea!!! And it is proving to be very appropriate for his personality. He has a definite devilish side to him.
Clowns scare me, and always have, so I vote for the ladybug. Besides, it is a cuter costume anyway and goes better with his coloring. Mr. Jenners needs to realize this straightaway!
I think you need to come up here and talk some sense into Mr. Jenners!! I thought the colors went better too. Ultimately, a skeleton costume would have been the best probably … or a dalmatian costume!! HAHA! I’ll give him a complex.
I hate to say it but I like the clown costume, not that it *looks* like one. In fact, I think it looks more like a colorful and sparkly cape. I think it looks so cute and adorable on him. Not sure if it really screams “MASCULINE!!” at me though. The hood on the ladybug costume is the only reason why I didn’t choose it. It makes him look a bit weird and uncomfortable. Though if Romeo had a say, he’d probably want to run naked
Romeo would probably prefer to be naked. But if I have to clean up all his poop all the time, I’m getting my jollies when I can.
Our family loves The Amazing Race and one season they were down in South America and some clowns were in an intersection trying to get people to give them money before they would move. One of the racers said to his driver, “Just run them over” to which my oldest son, without missing a beat said, “You have to have a permit for that.” I will never forget it. We laughed so hard.
I voted clown.
Thanks for your comment. I’m laughing at that now too. We love The Amazing Race!!! Though this season, I still haven’t picked my team to root for.
I’m not sure I have a clear cut favorite, either….although I am enjoying watching the grandparents.
How about tying an orange bandana loosely around his neck for Halloween? Or, he could wear some sort of cape, as he’s Super-Dog.
I think you’re on to something with the cape. He has the superpowers after all.
Jenners you know I adore you right?
That being said, I do believe I just tipped the poll in Mr. Jenners favor. The clown costume is way too cute on puppy…the pop of yellow really brings out the sparkle in his eyes AND it seems to fit better.
One for the clown.
Well, you may adore me but you voted against me so “No soup for you!” (I hope you are a Seinfeld fan or my comment may make no sense.)
It reminds me of the movie, I think…Bug’s Life….where there are the circus performing bugs and the “lady bug” is actually a guy (I think it is someone like Denis Leary as the voice). He is beautiful…long eyelashes, etc., but the running gag is he is a boy. I think the choice was tipped in the direction of the lady bug for that reason….and the cute little antennae!
Yes!! I totally remember that!! I think it was Denis Leary … or someone who sounded an awful lot like him. That would be perfect to help make my case!
One of the girls likes ladybug, the other likes the clown. I am torn myself. I will look again…you could take those pompoms off the clown costume and he could be super dog. Which is what I would do. I don’t really like either one… But if I had to choose I would say the lady bug. The red looks cute.
I will say this, he is more interested in chewing on the clown costume than the ladybug costume. (the pom poms).
I think the lady bug outfit is cuter but I like the fact that the clown one doesn’t cover his adorable little face so I’d say lady bug cape NO HAT. clowns kinda freak me out!
It seems everyone is freaked out by clowns. I do think the clown costume photographed better. Suspicious that Mr. Jenners took the photos!
If you’re going to dress him up it has to be the ladybug. The red looks much better wit his fur. Lol. Sammy won’t let me put anything on him. He goes berserk and flies all over the place trying to get it off.
I think the ladybug suits his coloring too. And he tolerates these outfits but I can’t say he is a huge fan. He really doesn’t like the “hat” on the ladybug costume.
Kelly took the words right out of my mouth…there must be male ladybugs because they reproduce and two years ago we were infested, so…just sayin’.
Yuck. An infestation of anything is gross and horrible … even a relatively cute bug like a ladybug.
I am terrified of clowns so…yeah…go with anything BUT the clown…….
The fear of clowns seems to be very pervasive.
I’m going with option D…Super Dog! Put that little red cape back on him and let him fly!
You make a very good point!! He’s already demonstrated his amazing flying abilitites.
I’d hate for Romeo to have gender- or species- confusion, so I’m gonna go for the clown outfit, even though I think dressing up pets is freaky weird.
Maybe the entire family could embrace the circus costume adventure – Jenners, I bet you’d make a lovely bearded lady. Mr. Jenners could be a lion, and BB could be the lion tamer!
Hey …. have you been looking at my chin hairs again????!!!!???
Nope, too worried about how long my hairs on my chinny chin chin are getting!
I voted for a costume, even though a part of me thinks you should spare the poor dog.
I know, I know. He doesn’t like the little hood thing on the ladybug costume. He doesn’t seem to mind wearing them otherwise. It is mostly for our own amusement sadly.
Well clowns freak me out so I went with ladybug. But how about putting him in a Romeo inspired medieval shirt and you could go as Juliet??? See how the literature major in me can’t help herself?
I love your idea!! I do feel like his Juliet as he seems to be in love with me. He follows me everywhere … and if I leave his sight, he runs to find me. And he pees whenever I come home from excitement. lovely!
I thought Halloween was supposed to be scary, not cute. Both outfits look waaay too cute to me.
How about you dressing up as Cruella and have Romeo as the 101 dalmatian?
Ooohhh….that is a fun idea. He has the dalmatian colors but they just aren’t organized enough. Wouldn’t that be funny to dress up a dog as another dog????!!!
I voted lady bug only because I’ve known you longer than Mr. Jenners and well that always wins. And maybe as far as cuteness factor goes those little antenna like things look adorable on Romeo. However both costumes are so cute!! I think you should save the clown costume for next year.
Thanks for your support, my friend!! And at the rate Romeo is growing, it is possible NEITHER costume will fit by this Halloween. He’s gained 2 pounds since we got him and I swear he is getting longer!
Clowns are freaky, but if I think about it as a circus outfit I’m okay with it.
Since he’s a boy dog I asked my boys which they liked best and they said the circus outfit. It must just be a boy thing. I think they’re both cute though.
There must be something “boyish” about the clown outfit I guess!
Sorry – but I don’t like seeing dogs in costumes, no matter how cute they look…
I do see your point. There is something kind of degrading about it. But we just couldn’t resist….
I declare this poll invalid, as we already have one person admitting to voter fraud. We can’t be sure how many people voted multiple times, as I know I could easily skew the results in my favor, if I myself was an evil clown for Halloween and was inclined to do so.
My blog, my rules. The poll results are valid … unless you start to win.
I have to just come here and say….
ha ha ha ha …
this is so awesome!
Is Mr. Jenners not aware that dressing Romeo up as a clown is a slippery slope? You will be sending that dog on its way to pure evil [cf. Stephen King's IT for a treatise on clowns = evil].
Ladybug ALL THE WAY.
I’m sure that is how Cujo came to be … he was dressed as a clown for Halloween as a puppy and then led to his downfall.
I voted for the clown, sorry, I go with the more “masculine” costume. This is why I am glad I have cats. Kitties don’t play that game.
Hmmmm. I suppose I shall forgive you.And you’re right … cats wouldn’t tolerate this type of ridiculousness.
Oh, Lady Bug or bust, man! I have this intense fear of clowns, though, so that MAY be skewing my answer just a leetle bit.
You’re not alone. I suspect that more people fear clowns than love them.
Totally with Sandy on the evil clown thing…
I think Stephen King might have ruined clowns for everyone.
I’m with you Jenners, sorry Mr Jenners, but it has to be the ladybug (we call them ladybirds here in England). For one thing I don’t like to stereotype things as being for males or females and for another, I know its for Halloween, but I’m terrified of clowns.
Even a widdle itty bitty furry clown? Yeah … clowns are creepy no matter WHO or WHAT is dressed as them!
Okay, I cheated. I saw this first on my phone and voted there then voted again when I got on my laptop! Uh…I don’t see the ladybug as being “girly” at all. There are plenty of boy ladybugs. Judging from the number of them I see at certain times of the year I know they are breeding somehow!
For the record – my votes went for the ladybug. Both are cute, but I like it better.
Thanks for your support. Though Mr. Jenners saw you comment and cried “Voter fraud.” We’ll just ignore him.
Uh, doesn’t Mr. Jenners know that clowns are EVIL? Tell him to go read “It” and see if he still wants that cute little fur face posing as a creature that drags children down into the storm drain and eats them.
And let me tell you, the little fur face has the sharp teeth to nibble up the children too!