Travels with Choppy

A dog and cat in clothing. Puns. Travel. Bacon. Not necessarily in that order.

About

Cast of Characters

Starring:

Choppy

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Choppy is a dog of unknown provenance (the fancy term around here for a mutt), who was a 12-week old puppy when I got her from the Terre Haute Humane Society back in 2009. I gave her the very un-puppy-like name of Tchoupitoulas and immediately shortened it to the much more appropriate Choppy. I also immediately started dressing her up in clothing, and today she owns a wardrobe that rivals a Hollywood starlet.

During 2013, Choppy and I traveled across the United States (hence the title of the blog). During our travels, Choppy visited 43 of the States in the United States, as well as four Canadian provinces and one Canadian territory. I am hoping to increase all those numbers in the future!

Reluctantly Starring:

Schooner

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Schooner is the newest member of the household around here. He is a cat of unknown provenance from the Jefferson (Wisconsin) County Humane Society, who was also about 12-weeks old when we brought him home in November 2015. He is not very good at dressing up (yet), but has quickly adopted Choppy’s love of treats. I have taught him how to sit. So far, this is the only trick he knows. A dog, this one is not.

 

 

Supporting Cast:

Sarah

img_2464The one writing all of this (or, as is more often the case, putting up all the pictures) is me, Sarah. I am a 30-something lawyer who gets on the road whenever I have the chance. I grew up in Wisconsin, but I have lived in Indiana for most of the last decade, both during law school at Notre Dame and later (for work) in Terre Haute. I recently moved back to Wisconsin with my new husband, Paul, who is transplanted from Pennsylvania and learning just how many types of cheese exist. I refuse to count the number of pairs of shoes I own, lest I actually realize how out-of-control that particular habit has gotten. I love watching sports, though the only ones I am good at playing are those where beer features prominently. Also, when I got married my name became Sarah Ferguson. Should you have any desire to treat me like a duchess, I won’t object. Also, I have a completed travel memoir and novel. If anyone wants to represent or publish these, shoot me an email and we can chat.

Paul

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Paul is my husband, the Pennsylvania transplant who has spent his two years in Wisconsin learning about cheese, sausage and the very long season that is winter around here. He is the one who wanted the cat. Like the cat, he is reluctant to dress in costume.

 

 

 

Guest Starring:

Izzy

img_8270Izzy is Choppy’s best friend. She spends most of her life with my brother and sister-in-law in Illinois, where she enjoys the run of a backyard and lives a dress up free lifestyle. When she comes to visit, though, she is forced to wear clothing. It’s the price one pays for free boarding.

 

 

As Featured On:

Buzzfeed

Diply

The Moscow Times

Thrillist

Wisconsin Law Journal

Wisconsin Lawyer

(Please email us any links to or comment on places where you see pictures or articles featuring Choppy!)

158 thoughts on “About”

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  1. Dear Sara & Tchoupitoulas 🙂
    I like your site very much and I particularly like how you make a story our of everything in your daily life! Dont mind me saying – it is small things like this that keeps me going in my daily too 🙂 , i.e. reading your FB updates, holidays, vacations, costumes, CATS..etc!
    So keep posting 🙂

    ps.s wat does Tchoupitoulas means?
    cheers,
    priya
    Malaysia

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  13. Thanks so much for following me over at Roamin’ Gnomials. The gnomes are rather indifferent, but they’re known for being an ungrateful lot. I, however, appreciate it very much!

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  14. LOL! I am so in love with your Choppy! She is so amazingly patient, what with all the costumes and masks, wigs and bunny slippers and all. And then only being allowed to use drinking paraphernalia as photo props. Humph. Miss Tchoupitoulas is the epitome of patience. I suppose we ought to call Her Princess Patience, now that she’s a Ferguson? But the main question I have is, “Why the heck does Choppy not have a published book showcasing her outfits? Or at the least, a calendar.”

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    1. She really is a most patient dog – I think anyone who sees the sessions where she dresses up comes away rather amazed – with few exceptions, I can usually lose her however I want (the diva Choppy does come out sometimes and refuse, though).

      As for a book, it is something I have been working on for a while – hopefully at some point it will become something real that I can share with the world!!

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    1. I’m glad you enjoyed your visit here – it’s home, so I am biased when I say it is a great place to visit (but really, it is!). And I will say hi to Choppy (she is right here with me, so it’s quite easy).

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  17. Delighted that you and Choppy both came to visit my blog. So I thought I should come over and browse around at yours. Sarah, I hope I gave you and choppy a few laughs and you are always welcome at the attic. Have a fabulous weekend. :O)

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    1. Your blog is great! I have to say the pictures on the Champagne Wishes post cracked me up (also, when did I get so old that there are people who don’t remember Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous?).

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  19. Hey Choppy. I feel ya. My mom dresses me up, too. It’s mostly when I do my therapy pet work, to make people smile. I used to eat my clothes when I was little. Now I know when I wear a dress, something fun is about to happen!

    Love and licks,
    Cupcake

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  20. Hey Choppy & Sarah (in order of importance, lol): just liked your facebook page with the zillions of other likes. You are one popular furbaby. And Sarah, next time you’re out wondering with Choppy stop by and visit us. You’ll have a lot in common with my hubby and Choppy will have a lot in common with Max & Bella. Have a grrrrrrrrreat week. ❤

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    1. If we are out your way we would be happy to stop by! We love to see people we’ve met online. I’d love to get back on the road sooner rather than later (though for now, bills need to be paid!).

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  24. We may be on opposite sides of the pond, but sounds like we’re rather similar (I’m in early 30s, also a Sarah and travelling around with my dog after quitting my long term job!) Here was I, thinking I was the only one!!! Will enjoy reading your blog.

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  29. Hey Sarah, I just recently started blogging again around last December, and I just wanted to say I appreciate the support you’ve given to my blog previously, ie all the likes,comments etc. I’ll definitely be catching up with your blog now! Great stuff 🙂 And that’s one really awesome dog!

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  31. Hello Sarah and Choppy. Thanks so much for finding and following my blog. It led me back to yours and now I’m having a great time searching for Choppy in all sorts of unexpected places. Great idea for a blog.

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  34. Hi Sarah and Choppy. I just had to pop over and say Hi, thanks to Lynn from Lynz Real Cooking highlighting you. I totally love your About Page and look forward to reading your blog further. Enjoy the rest of the weekend 🙂

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  37. Your introductions of characters is brilliant. Great wit and humor and a skill that places smiles on people’s faces. As a physician using the blog world to attain positive REALISTIC healthy changes to help improve the quality of life people are entitled to experience, I appreciate your blog site and the positive impact it will have on your readers.
    Stay healthy and happy always!

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    Reply

      1. Take your time and browse at your convenience. Most of us are in too much of a hurry most of the time. I look forward to seeing you there and reading your thoughts on the subjects I cover.

        I know you have a special relationship with Choppy, so I thought I would share with you my special relationship with Tucker (my beagle.) I used him in the following post to create a lighter attitude about improving health. I think you may enjoy it:

        Want To Get Healthy, Follow Your Dog’s Advice

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  38. Sarah you really are a certified Dressophile 😨
    I had to follow your blog for intervention purposes !!!!

    And maybe to secretly fulfill my own latent Dressophile tendencies 😦

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  44. Hi Sarah, I nominated you for the 3 Day Quote Challenge. I know you’re really busy and have a lot of posts planned already so no pressure to accept! Today was very hard so I nominated three blogs that always cheer me up and looking at pictures of Choppy and Schooner as well as interacting with you always cheers me up! ❤️

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    1. I made it to your comment!

      Thank you for the nomination! I will try to find time, but I love just being nominated – thank you! And I am so glad we can cheer you up. Even if we don’t get to the award, we’ll keep up the random dressed up animal posts. It’s the least we can do!

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      1. I completely understand. It takes me months to get around to my nominations and I still have 3 left to do! I look forward to your answers when you eventually get around to it 🙂 Chop Chop Sarah! 😉

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  48. Hi, Sarah! Hi, Choppy!

    I paged through your blog and noticed that we have quite a bit in common. I am originally from Pennsylvania, now living on the Gulf coast of Florida. Members of my family once lived in Terra Haute. I love dogs and cats and blogs that feature them and I am drawn to people with a sense of humor. Given all of the above I have decided to follow you. I look forward to reading more of the adventures of Choppy and Schooner!

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    1. Oh my gosh! Your awesome comment got sent to my spam folder!

      We really do have a lot in common – and I love the Gulf Coast. We used to vacation in Fort Walton Beach, back when it and Destin were just sleepy beach towns. Thanks for the follow!

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      1. Hi again, Sarah &, Choppy!

        I’m glad you finally found my comment and I thank you very much for choosing to follow me at SDMM. It will be a challenge for me to leave comments on your blog because I am not registered on WordPress and do not have Twitter or Facebook accounts. Please remember to keep checking your spam folder. 🙂 Thank you again for your interest in Shady Dell Music & Memories, Sarah, and have a nice weekend!

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