Hello younglings, it is another Monkey Monday. I am currently working very hard at the totally super busy campus coffee shop (there is nobody here). Today was pretty sweet: Lucia got baptized, the Timberwolves beat the Nuggets, and I witnessed baby Miriam take her first steps!

Anyways, school has been miserably busy, so as per the recently established norm, today’s issue shall not be super long. We are going to talk about some music and some dogs. Hope you enjoy, and have a great start to your week!

Monkey Monday 3 #7, dawdling in…

A few nights ago I was looking at a bunch of old photos of my old dog Leia, and that made me realize how much I miss her, as well as my dog back at home! So now I want to look at a bunch of dogs.

BOOM. My top 10 dog breeds! This will be a subjective ranking based on the dog breeds that I have experience with, and how AWESOME they are.

Sidenote: There are plenty of breeds that I have little to no experience with, so plenty of amazing breeds will be left off the list. If your favorite dog breed is not on here, do not fret! All dogs are incredible creations. HERE WE GO!!!

10. Bernese Mountain Dog

In tenth place, I have kind of a cheat pick. I cannot recall ever actually meeting a Bernese, HOWEVER some of my favorite dogs I know are Bernedoodles (part Bernese). Plus, the Bernese Mountain Dog is possibly my dream dog, and if I knew any, the Bernese would likely be way higher on my list.

9. Vizsla

While it may be a surprising placement in my top ten, it solely relies on my neighbors dog, Maggie. I spent a lot of time with her, and she was such a crazy, strong, full-of-personality companion. She was such a dork, and yet was also affectionate. The color of their coat is also beautiful, even if the short-haired look isn’t my favorite.

8. Pug

Some love them, some really do not. Me? I think they’re pretty neat. I’ve known some cool pugs in my life; my neighbors are big pug folk, Marty and Missy would constantly be strolling over to my yard. Such cuties. My aunt also had a cute pug named Lola who was so affectionate. I understand some people don’t like their snorting, but they are super sweet, loving dogs, and I do think they’re pretty cute.

7. Jack Russell

This breed is carried solely by the only Jack Russell (I think) I’ve ever known. Tucker. This dude was possibly the coolest dog I’ve ever met. He lived on a big ranch, and when his owner Dennis would take the Ranger out to go check on all the horses across the property, Tucker would sprint alongside the Ranger the whole way, barking with glee. Not only was he crazy athletic, he was a snuggly, protective little guy. Back in the day, me and some other elementary school boys would spend Cowboy Camp at the ranch, and tucker would come sleep with us. Loved that dude.

6. Border Collie

Similar to the Bernese Mountain Dog, I haven’t really known any pure bread border collies in my life. HOWEVER, also like the Bernese, two dogs that owned my heart were half Border Collie. Charley, the dog who raised me, and Leia, the dog I was raised with. They were both super smart and loyal, like a border collie, and I don’t know what my childhood would have looked like without them. Unfortunately, since they weren’t purebread, it wouldn’t feel right putting the Border Collie any higher. Plus, there’s still their shared other half to talk about…

5. Tibetan Mastiff

I have two memories of encounters with Tibetan Mastiffs. The first one was when I was working at good ol’ Forget-Me-Not Café. I was working the host stand, when all of a sudden I see someone walking this BEAST of a dog on the sidewalk. Without a second thought, I abandon all of my duties, sprint outside, and ask if I can pet the dog. The owner gladly welcomed me, and I spent the next few minutes in bliss as I was snuggling with the biggest, gentlest, fluffiest, slobberiest, most loving creature ever. Fast forward a few years, I’m working at the coffee shop on campus, wheeling our cart across the street to pickup some stuff from the kitchen, and I see a man walking another massive, beastly fluff giant. Of course, I again abandoned all my working duties to run over, and consensually pet the behemoth. Both memories are fond. Both dogs were some of the sweetest, most affectionate (and most slobbery) dogs I’d ever met. I don’t know what it’s like living with this Goliath, but I will never forget those memories.

4. English Shepherd

Frequent readers may recognize this handsome, handsome dog as my sister’s troublemaker, Atlas. Atlas is one of the most intelligent, loyal, rambunctious, and overall awesome dogs I know. But Atlas isn’t the only one. My sister’s in-laws all have English Shepherds, and they’re all AWESOME. Ranahan and Fern, two cattle herding dogs, also incredibly smart, loyal, and sweet. Kano (I hope that’s how you spell it), a younger, goofier, but equally as brilliant and loyal dog. They love to work and serve, as well as love and play. Such an awesome breed.

3. Poodle

Oh poodles, how amazing you are. I think it’s fascinating that people give these dogs wacky haircuts, making them super funny looking, when you have a gorgeous fluffy dog right there! I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a few Poodles, as well as a good amount of Golden Doodles, and they have all been some of the best dogs ever. So, so sweet, snuggly, goofy, and VERY smart. Shoutout Gibby and McKinley, the first Poodle-type dogs I ever met. Just a perfect dog, and plus, they’re hypoallergenic!

2. Labrador Retriever

If you know me, you knew this was coming. While Diana wasn’t the dog who raised me, or the dog I was raised with, she was the dog I raised. The first dog that was my companion, and my best friend. She’s not everything I dreamed in a dog. She doesn’t sleep in my bed with me, she’s not much of a snuggler, she’s not even the most loyal dog (she’s a bit selfish at times). BUT, she’s my girl, my hiking buddy, my snake hunter, my bat finder, my mental-breakdown-go-on-a-late-night-winter-run pal. The saddest thing about coming to school is that I haven’t been able to do these past 3 years of life with her, and I may never have that with her again. While she’s my dog, and I can go on and on about how awesome she is, I cannot in good conscience say that the Labrador Retriever is the number one dog, when deep down, I know the TRUE answer.

1. Golden Retriever

Those who really know me, knew this would be numero uno before they got to the Bernese. While I’ve never personally owned a purebred golden retriever, my grandparents have had Goldens as long as I’ve been alive. Angel, Lady (who, I admit, was part lab) Georgie, Ginger, and Lucy. All AMAZING dogs. So sweet, kind, gentle, loyal, obedient, playful, and snuggly. While Diana is the greatest dog ever, it’s like comparing the legacy of the Bulls with MJ (inarguable top 2 player of all time), to the legacy of the Lakers with Wilt, Kareem, Magic, Kobe, Shaq, Bron, and more. It’s just not fair. I’ve known so many Goldens, and they’ve all been some of the greatest dogs I’ve ever met. Also, the other half to Charley and Leia’s Border Collie, was Golden Retriever. Enough said.

-Nate

Crumbling(무너지기) is the second album from Korean indie artist Mid-Air Thief(공중도둑). This album combines folk, psychedelic, and electronic music to create an absolutely gorgeous, nostalgic, timeless atmosphere that is just so nice to the ears. Like genuinely, there’s something so ear-wormy and nostalgic sounding about all these songs, even though I’d never heard them until recently. While a large part of this album is instrumental, there are lots of lyrics which are all in Korean, which I sadly don’t understand. BUT FEAR NOT! This is not AT ALL K-Pop!

This is a fantastic album to listen to while doing schoolwork, or to play drums over — I’ve done both this week! Check it out, it’s really cool.

-Nate

Murmuüre by Murmuüre. As I’m writing this, I’m listening to this album for the first time. I was going to write about a completely different album, but this thing in my ears deserves my immediate attention. I stumbled upon this beast just an hour ago while looking at some music recommendations online. Murmuüre was only released on CD, cassette, vinyl, and Bandcamp, but someone uploaded the whole thing to youtube (which I have linked below). The dude behind this album literally came out of nowhere, dropped this album, and was never seen again.

I don’t know exactly how to describe what I’m listening to, but I’ll give it a shot. Let’s go with Ambient, Atmospheric, Synthy, Black Metal? A blend of sounds unlike anything I’ve ever heard. It’s simultaneously visceral, yet vulnerable. Violent, yet peaceful. Murmuüre so beautifully harnesses chaos and noise in such a captivating way. I feel like I’m levitating listening to this.

Now, as of writing this, I have just finished the final track. Don’t have much else to say. Some crazy music, I’ve never heard anything like it, and am now floored. Give it a chance if you dare.

-Nate