How now chow chow?

Stuffed toys are comforting items for tiny children and people who have graduated past teeny bopperhood but still feel like children (given that no one is looking *coughcough*). Whether still in their place of honor at the head of you bead or in the dusty bodega where you leave all the things you think you've outgrown, these childhood articles, as a general rule, bring back warm fuzzy (possibly in a literal sense) feelings of nostalgia and associations with milk and cookies, bedtime stories and goodnight kisses.

You would hardly think of stuff toys in relation to stuff like the internet, global markets or credit cards and intense frustration. It goes against all the sugar coated disney conditioning we've had. You might sometimes see a teething toddler gnawing ineffectually on its unfortunate teddy bear but you wouldn't think that a 17 year old would have the same urge, except of course, the chewing off of the stuffed toy's head has nothing to do with growing baby teeth but rather a minor surge of stuffinglust (as oppossed to bloodlust... stuffed toys don't have blood doi.) Stuff toys were never meant to involve this much of a hassle.

Surprisingly few people are aware of how difficult it is to find a particular stuff toy. Lets say for instance a chow chow. Yes, I am looking for a stuffed chow chow. Its that cute bulky dog with the freaky blue tongue...in plushie form. Strange? I thought so too. Let me qualify for moment; this chow chow isn't for me...I'd love a real one but not right now, I'm having enough trouble with acounting as it is without something that might potentially eat my homework, or alternately use it as his little 2 dimensional arinola... This chowchow is in fact for my sister's pet (which is to say her boylet). As we are technically not allowed to have suh creatures sister dear acts through me who is not currently under direct parental observation. There's a cutesy backstory involved that I'm sure you all have little or no interest in so I'll spare you the "awwwww ma gallliiiee that's sssssoooooo swwweeeeet!" details. suffice it to say that we have the "perfect christmas gift" conceptually speaking. Now all we have to do is find the damn thing.

Did I mention that it was rather difficult?

In the analog world it's virtually impossible (haha tiny bit of punning there). There are no retail stores that I am aware of that stock chowchows specifically. (beagles, dalmations and terriers are rather common but our little friend just happens to be a tad more elusive) So in this technological age we turn to? ... The internet! (which isn't just for porn).

Several chow chows have at present been found. Catch 1: many of them are rather ugly. look some more... one very cute--and proportionately expensive (and when I say proportionately I mean hella) one sort of cute and within budget. so settle for that yes? Ahaha! theres another catch. ordering on the internet requires a credit card. Not good. Needs must the mother not know of this endeavour. sigh... Fine. borrow card. catch 3: must register to ebay! fine. catch 4: somethings wrong! make a new email address!! dammit. ok... catch 5: Sorry we are currently allowing only VISA cards! thank you for trying! have a nice day!!

If I ever do get my hands on the stupid thing, I'm going to regress into my teething stage and rip it to bits. Mission objective is no longer seek and give to creature. Current objective: seek and destroy.

Sigh... stuffinglust aside, I really think this is going to be a bust and it's bugging the hell out of me. Seasons greetings... hahay... how now chow chow indeed.