Ryn Gargulinski

Creativity on Fire

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Gone to the Dogs: Origin and Meaning

gone to the dogs

What it means: Deteriorated, became worse.

Variation: Gone to pot.

Another variation: Gone to hell in a handbasket (like my Grandma P. used to say).

Origin:

This expression is believed to have come from ancient China, where tradition dictated dogs weren’t allowed inside city walls. Stray canines hung around outside the walls, amid scraps and garbage.

When criminals and other ne’er-do-wells were expelled from the city, they ended up out with the trash and stray canines. Hence, they had gone to the dogs.

Author’s note:

The above excerpt is from The Rynski Doggie Dictionary. It’s also one of the expressions mentioned on-air when Rynski was a guest on Prince J’s DowntownRadio show. Thanks, Prince J, it was fantastic meeting you. I had a blast!

Spiffy call to action:

Love words, proverbs, origins and/or dogs? Get more of the same in The Rynski Doggie Dictionary. Buy now on Amazon or Etsy.

Top 3 Reasons You Need the Rynski Doggie Dictionary

More than 80 full-color dog cartoons. A humorous take on dog terms, expressions and proverbs. A basic dog info section that helps to ensure you don’t mess with an angry hound. If these reasons simply aren’t enough to convince you to buy your copy of The Rynski Doggie Dictionary, perhaps these next three reasons are.

Here’s what the doggie dictionary can do for you:

raining cats and dogs
raining cats and dogs, illustration from the rynski doggie dictionary

Help you wow the crowd at dinner parties

You’re at one of those stale dinner engagements where, alas, the hottest topic of conversation is the weather. Rather than yawning along with the rest of the crowd, you can perk up the entire party with your astounding knowledge of dog expressions and proverbs.

This is especially a propos since someone just so happened to mention it was raining cats and dogs. Since you read The Rynski Doggie Dictionary, you have the full background on that expression, as well as several others. Suddenly the party is a total blast. Someone even started dancing naked on the table!

let sleeping dogs lie
let sleeping dogs lie, illustration from the rynski doggie dictionary

Earn you extra cash

Whether you’re trying to save money to buy a new robot vacuum or your overall workflow is slow, extra income is always welcome. With The Rynski Doggie Dictionary at your side, you’ll have the knowledge you need to earn it, pronto. You can find instant employment as a fortune cookie writer.

The dog proverbs you find inside the book provide you with fabulous fodder for penning those fortunes.

  • Let sleeping dogs lie.
  • Children aren’t dogs; adults aren’t gods.
  • Every dog is allowed one bite.

Yep, you’ll soon be watching the millions roll on in, thanks to the proverbs in this cartoon dog book.

dog anatomy cartoon
dog anatomy cartoon from book. flews are no. 7, btw.

Increase your chances of going to heaven

Let’s say you’re at the gates of heaven and you have to answer a single question to get in. A massive angel stands before you with one simple inquiry: “What are flews?”

If you read the Rynski Doggie Dictionary, you’d remember flews were mentioned in the dog Basic Body Parts section. It’s simply a term used to describe a dog’s lips. The harps play, the gates open, and you live happily ever after in paradise.

Sound good to you? Then get your copy of The Rynski Doggie Dictionary today!

Thanks in advance for helping to support a Tucson artist, writer, and dog Reiki practitioner (who is diligently applying for positions as a fortune cookie writer).

Jerk o’ the Week: Woeful William

The following is an excerpt from the Little Book of Big Jerks to give you a sneak peek at the types of jerks you’ll meet inside the guide to dealing with difficult people.

Woeful William

Just like everything King Midas touched turn to gold, everything Woeful William touches turns to, well, crap. This guy is a magnet for really bad luck.

His roof leaks. His car stalls. His pants rip. His cat hates him. At one time you actually had sympathy for the chap until you read somewhere that people with woeful outlooks actually cause their own bad luck. Now you just feel like shaking him.

3 Giveaway Traits:

  • Inspired a record number of sad country songs
  • Has had a long lineup of pets that hated him, died tragically, or both
  • Always has an empty chair on either side of him at group lunches and dinners

How to Deal:

Leave at least two empty chairs between yourself and him.

How Else to Deal:

Check out the cool jerk-fighting tools in the Little Book of Big Jerks. Real-life solutions for dealing with real-life jerks.

Septic Bucket List: A Bucket List You Don’t Want to Miss

Dating an astronaut. Becoming an astronaut. Learning to speak Swahili. Your bucket list may be packed with all kinds of glorious things you want to do before you die; some tangible, some fantastical and some just for the fun of the thought.

And the thought of certain activities can be much more exciting that actually completing them. Think climbing Mount Everest or breeding lemurs.

That makes the traditional bucket list a bit impractical. The traditional list also has another factor working against it. Although the phrase and concept of a bucket list have been kicking around for years (excuse the pun), the term really roared into regular use after the release of the 2007 movie of the same name.

Subsequent mentions on TV shows that range from “Glee” to “NCIS” further cemented the concept into popular culture. And when anything soars into popular culture, you know what needs to happen next.

It’s time to rebel.

Enter ‘The Septic Bucket List’

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