Do you like this story?
CSI: Pet Connection: “Sock Puppet, R.I.P.”
By Gina Spadafori
February 6, 2010
.
I had to laugh (bitterly, but still, a laugh) when I woke up this morning to find Puppy Faith’s latest “victim” on the dining-room floor. The timing of this murder is most peculiar, I tell you.
See, this time last week, I had book deadlines and other writing projects weighing heavily on my shoulders, and at the “day job” (which I do like, really) they were pushing me to work more hours even as I had asked to work fewer.
I was thinking it was time to quit (well, technically, retire) from the day job, which I didn’t want to do, but it seemed as if my options were limited.
Except … welll … the last time I left a day job was to write for Pets.com.
Little did I know that Pets.com would collapse not six months later, about six weeks after its IPO. The Sock Puppet and the domain name were about its only assets, and both are still working. I did learn something from the experience, a lot of things, really, most it was about not putting all your eggs in one basket. Nowadays, I have not one source of income, but many. Some sources are very modest, but it all adds up, doesn’t it?
In the end, my status remained quo, The “day job” agreed to the reduction in hours, I got on with the book project after a week of nasty writer’s block, and so it goes.
Which is why this morning I considered the “death” of the Pets.com Sock Puppet to be a mess, not a message.
Thanks, FayBee, for helping me to focus. Good puppy!
Admin notes: I’m in S.F. today pulling a volunteer shift for the S.F. food co-op, Christie’s in L.A. Dr. Becker’s recovering from three weeks on the road, Kim’s heading to Paris (yes, Paris!), Dr. T is recovering from a bout of illness, Liz is giving training classes all day, Phyllis, David, Dr. Narda etc., etc. … Those of you in Snowmaggedon, be careful and stay safe. We’ll be back tomorrow.
Share & Enjoy
|
Facebook
|
Twitter
|
Google Buzz
|
Digg
|
|
Technorati
|
StumbleUpon
|
Delicious
|
Email
|
Home
“Stuffed things. I love stuffed things!” We have the exact same Pets.com puppet, stored in a place where neither Cami nor Harry can get at him. I’m sorry for your loss.
Comment by David S. Greene — February 6, 2010 @ 10:32 am
I *loved* writing for Pets.com ….
Comment by Susan — February 6, 2010 @ 10:44 am
That picture = awesome.
Comment by Brent — February 6, 2010 @ 1:43 pm
*gasp* Did you just say “good puppy”? LOL
Comment by Jill — February 6, 2010 @ 2:17 pm
I remember ordering 40# bags of dog food from Pets.com, having it arrive via UPS in sturdy cardboard boxes, shipped from many states away, and it being a lot cheaper than anyplace local. And thinking “This cannot be a valid business strategy. How are they making a profit this way?”
Found out the answer to that question soon enough. It appears that by buying things from them, I actually helped hasten their demise.
Perfesser Chaos once had a dream job working for a startup magazine for about six weeks. The backers pulled it a week before the first issue went to press, turned hundreds of people out of the building with ten minutes notice, and wouldn’t even give them back the copyright to articles they’d written so they could sell them. Over half the new employees had just relocated to Boston when they did this. This was a huge publishing firm that just hosed people, not a little risky venture. I still use “Biotechnology Week” envelopes and stationery for scrap, 18 years later. And my best friend had her dream job writing and editing and reviewing for Books.com go poof in an instant — bought up and then slaughtered, all they wanted was the domain name.
Emerging industries can screw with you like that.
Comment by H. Houlahan — February 6, 2010 @ 3:01 pm
That sock puppet looks remarkably healthy after the murder.
Comment by Cynthia M — February 6, 2010 @ 8:41 pm
Heather … Dr. Paul Pion told me Pets.com would go under for exactly that reason a year before it did. Oh what the heck, it was fun (and lucrative) while it lasted. And I have TWO MORE Sock Puppets unopened in their boxes, safely in the closet.
And Jill: FayBee IS a good girl, in her own way. :)
Comment by Gina Spadafori — February 6, 2010 @ 9:47 pm
I had used the pets.com basket, too. I was doing a lot of writing for them - lots! - and they paid well. We ripped up the carpet in our house and put down tile thanks to pets.com. When they went under, my income was hurt significantly so I learned the same lesson - the hard way!
Comment by Liz Palika — February 7, 2010 @ 4:01 pm
I loved writing for pets.com too. And like Gina, when I left a good day job to go work for vetmedcenter.com, it folded and I lost my dream job in four months. Have since learned exactly what Gina did, to not put all your eggs in one basket. Hard lessons stick with you!
Comment by Phyllis DeGioia — February 8, 2010 @ 4:23 pm
Dear Faith, Excellent work. Just remember our golden rule. “No Witnesses!” With love-Big D.
Comment by Verde — February 8, 2010 @ 4:29 pm
No evidence, either, my big brother. I eat the evidence. — Faith
Comment by Gina Spadafori — February 8, 2010 @ 4:50 pm