Thursday – A Little Personal – Back to the Deep Freeze.

February 24, 2022February 23, 2022 ~ John W. Howell ~ 103 Comments

“Hey, Lucy. How about a ruckus?”

“Might be a good idea after we go outside.”

“Outside? Looks like it is cloudy and cold.”

“Oh, come on. It can’t be that bad.”

“So ask dad if he has the temperature handy.”

“Hey, Boss. Could you give us a read on the temperature?”

“Be happy to, Lucy. Hmmm, right now, it’s 32 degrees F or 0 degrees C., and the Dow is down 66 points.”

“Hold on. Yesterday it was 85 degrees F which is 29.4 degrees C. Never mind the Dow.”

“Yeah, I know, but you have to remember. You live in Texas and have to be prepared for temperature changes. I do want to forget the Dow.

“Wow, Lucy. I’m going to make this quick.”

“Right behind you, Little One.”

“Throw yourself against the door, Lucy. This is an emergency.”

“I think a scratch will do the job.”

“So a scratch will do the job, huh? Now we freeze to death.”

“Patience, Little one. Mom’s coming.”

“Sure is nice to be inside.”

“It is Little One. I think it’s time for a nap.”

And so we leave our heroes while they take a well-earned break from the trials and tribulations of living the life of a pampered pet.

“Whoever is talking, we are trying to rest here.”

Thursday – A Little Personal – Lucy and Twiggy Look for the Sun.

February 17, 2022February 16, 2022 ~ John W. Howell ~ 124 Comments

“Where you off to Little One?”

“I’m trying to see if I can locate some sunshine.”

“Having any luck?”

“Look at my ears. They’ll tell you I’m not.”

“I don’t know what to say. But, sometimes in life, a little rain must fall.”

“after all that cold weather, not today.”

“You can still layout on the lounge.”

“What’s the point? Lay there and be sprinkled on?”

“Well, okay, I see you are determined to be miserable.”

“It’s not that. I was just looking forward to a nice sunbath.”

“And I have been waiting for a T-Bone steak. Sometimes we get disappointed.”

“Where you going?”

To find some positivity.”

“Hey, wait. There is a UPS truck pulling up.”

“Well done on the UPS truck. I think he is in St Louis by now.”

“You were right. A little positivity goes a long way. Nothing like a bark-a-thon to set the day right.”

“you feel better?”

“On top of the world.”

Thursday – A Little Personal – Bad Ice Coming

February 3, 2022February 2, 2022 ~ John W. Howell ~ 140 Comments

“Hey, Lucy. Come here. There’s a bunch of junk on the porch.”

“Okay. What kind of junk?”

“I’m not sure. Looks like old sheets and towels and a roll of grey stuff.”

“Yeah, that is duct tape, Little one.”

“Who wants to tape a duck?”

“Not duck. Duct. It is one of the Boss’s go-to tools.”

“I see by the full watering can something is up.”

“Here comes the Boss. Let’s ask. Hey, boss, what is all this stuff?”

“I’m just getting things ready for a few days of below-freezing temperatures.”

“So you have unhooked the hose, Dad?”

“That’s right, Twiggy. We don’t want our faucets to freeze and break.”

You have to explain a little more, Boss. How do they freeze and break?”

“When the water is in the hose, and it is connected to the faucet, the water can freeze and expand, breaking the faucet.”

“Now that Dad is gone, let me ask. You get that, Lucy?”

“Nope, but as long as the Boss is in charge, I think all we have to do is say we do.”

“Close your eyes, Lucy. I have a surprise for you.”

“Better not be the old Twiggy vanish trick. Okay, they are closed.”

“Open them up and gaze on this faucet wrapped with a towel and duct tape.”

“Oh man, I thought you had found a stray kibble bowl.”

“Look at this masterpiece.”

“If you don’t mind, I’m going in to give someone a sad look and beg for a treat. This has been hard work.”

“I’ll help.”

Thursday – A little Personal – Twiggy and Lucy in the Sun

January 27, 2022January 27, 2022 ~ John W. Howell ~ 98 Comments

“Hey, Lucy, look at all that sun.”

“I know, Little one. It has been a while since we have had some.”

“What do you think? A game of tag, maybe?”

“Sounds good. Man, that shadow makes me look big.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t say that. You are a perfect size.”

“Thank you, Little One. But, just the same, I think I will mind the shadows.”

“You hear that? Let’s go see what it is.”

“I didn’t hear anything. I’ll be right behind you.”

“I knew it. A puma has been in the yard. I can smell him.”

“Come on, there’s no puma’s around here.”

“You can believe what you want, but don’t come crying to me if one leaps out of a tree onto your back.”

” If that happened, I think I’d have more to do than coming crying to you.”

I swear he’s been here. I can almost describe him. Let’s go check the rose bed. Maybe he’s been there too.”

Okay. I think you are on a wild goose chase, though.”

Yeah, I don’t think he’s been here. Hey, what’s happened to the roses?”

“Those hard freezes caused the roses to go to sleep.”

“Someone should wake them up. They look like they are dead.”

“They will be trimmed, and then in the spring, they’ll be back.”

“You promise?”

“Yes, I do. Now, what about that game of tag?”

“I’ll count to ten.”

“Very funny.”

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy and Lucy After the Frost

January 6, 2022January 5, 2022 ~ John W. Howell ~ 100 Comments

“Well, Little One, it sure is a lot warmer this morning.”

“You can say that again. I hate those cold temperatures.”

“Yeah, I do too. I wonder if any plants were hurt with the freeze.”

“Freeze? What do you mean?”

“When the temperature goes below 32 degrees Fahrenheit or zero Celsius, it is called a freeze since that is the temperature that water goes from liquid to solid.”

“Oh, like Frozen the movie. Why are these plants on the porch?”

“Mom pulls them up and covers them. They don’t do well in a freeze.”

“What happens to them?”

“Too cold, and they die. Where you going?”

“I think I left my green stick out here. I hope it didn’t get frozen.”

“Don’t worry about your green stick. It doesn’t get hurt by the freeze.”

“No, wait. I think I left it inside.”

“Well, if you did, then it is safe.”

“I better check and make sure.”

“For heaven’s sake, Twiggy. It’s fine.”

“Where are you going?”

“To check the patio plants.”

‘I want to see them too.”

“What a surprise.”

“Uh oh. Looks like the potato vines took a hit.”

“Lemme ask Dad. Hey Dad, will they come back?”

“Sadly no, Twiggy. But they only live in the summer. So it was time for them to say goodbye.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Well. Let’s see if this will help. All living things have a certain amount of time allocated to them. When that time is finished, they have to move on.”

“What about green stick? How much time do I have with green stick?”

“Almost forever, Little One.”

“I like that.”

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy and Lucy Think About 2022

December 30, 2021December 29, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 99 Comments

Well, Little One, the year 2021 is almost finished.”

“Do we get another one?”

“Why yes, we get another one. It’s called 2022.”

“So why do the years keep changing?”

“Gee, no one has ever asked me that before.”

“You have to wonder. The same question could be, why do the clocks change?”

“The years change because humans need to mark time. They want to know where they’ve been and where they are going.”

“What about the clocks?”

“You have me there, Little One. I can’t think of a good answer.”

“Anything special we need to do when the year changes?”

“We can make up some New Year resolutions.”

“You have to explain more about that. What are resolutions?”

“So many questions. Let’s just say you promise yourself that you will be a better dog in the next year.”

“I thought I was the best I could be already.”

“For instance. Maybe you not bark the UPS person to St Louis.”

“Oh, so resolutions are giving up what you love to do?”

“No, I think it is more thinking of others more than yourself.”

“So the UPS guy doesn’t like the barking, and if I gave it up, he would be happier?”

“You have hit the nail on the head, Little One. I think you have the idea.”

“Between you and me? That’s not going to happen. I’ll have to think of another resolution. Maybe giving up snowboarding.

“Well, you work on it. In the meantime, I hope Dad resolves to do something about these leaves.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy and Lucy in Photos

December 23, 2021December 23, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 95 Comments

“Hey, Lucy. I thought you didn’t like sweaters.”

“Mom wants a photo with me in it.”

“Wow. You are barely in it.”

“I know it’s a little tight.”

Hey Mom. Lucy’s sweater is too tight.”

“It will be fine for one photo.”

“Thanks anyway, Little One. Might need a Supreme Court ruling.”

“Tell you what, Lucy. Just roll around, and maybe you can wipe it off.”

“Better quit that, Little One. Mom’s calling us to the fireplace.”

“I wonder if we have to smile?”

“I think we just stand here and try to look intelligent.”

“How do we look intelligent?”

“Don’t ask me. I always look goofy. I think something is going to be good at dinner, though.”

“OMG, Lucy. You are so gross.”

“Don’t you smell that? Okay, the faster I look intelligent, the quicker this will be over.”

“Looks like we are in for a long night.”

“I’m trying, Little one. But, it might be easier if I could breathe.”

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy’s New Toy

December 16, 2021December 15, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 105 Comments

“What’s that, Little One?”

“My new toy. It’s called a green stick.”

“What’s it taste like?”

“Humm. Let me see.”

“Well?”

“I think it tastes like a margarita.”

“Wait a minute. You have never had a margarita.”

“I know, but I’m thinking a margarita would taste like my green stick.”

“I wonder if the big shots at the toy company know that?”

“Well, if they don’t, then someone ought to tell them.”

“Ya hear that you big shots at the toy company. Marketing pro Twiggy says your green stick should be sold as a margarita flavor.”

“Would get a lot of new users, I’ll bet.”

“I think I’ll stick with the bacon flavors.”

“Of course you will. When the next big thing comes along, you’ll still be taking a nap.”

“Hmmm. Now that you mention it. Hey mom. Open the door, please.”

A Little Personal – In memory of My Friend Charlie

December 14, 2021December 13, 2021 ~ John W. Howell

Ten years ago tomorrow, I lost a dear friend. His name is Charles L. Gruner, but I always called him Charlie.

Charlie and I met in 1982 when I moved from the East Coast to the Midwest. The company I worked for was headquartered there, and I was given an opportunity that I couldn’t refuse.

I really can’t remember how I met Charlie and his wonderful wife, Joan. I think it might have been a gathering at a neighbor’s house. Charlie lived a couple of blocks over, so it must have been at one of the neighbors. All I know is we hit it off immediately. He is one of those guys who you instantly like. He had a laugh that could be heard across the room. So, if you didn’t know Charlie, you knew of Charlie.

Our relationship became closer as we both went through periods of challenge. I finally moved away from the area to pursue a new position on the West Coast. We stayed in touch, and then I got some heartbreaking news in 2006. Charlie had Cancer. Well, he beat it that time, and we went on as if nothing was wrong. Although we talked on the phone, I didn’t see Charlie again until the summer of 2011, when I traveled back to the midwest. It was as if we had never been apart. We caught up, and the day flew by. Before the time together was over, Charlie told me he was going to write a book. He wanted to impart some of the knowledge he had acquired in his business life. Charlie was a very successful CEO, and such a book would be a treasure.

One dismal day in December of 2011, his wife called and told me Charlie would not live. I was struck dumb. Twenty-nine years of our friendship was over way too fast. Yet, I was able to talk to him one last time and told him how much I loved him.

Charlie did write his book, and it became published after he was gone. As I indicated in my review, it is a great tool to be kept hidden. If discovered, the secret of the reader’s success will be uncovered.

I still miss Charlie and carry some fond memories.