Views of the Neighborhood – City Wide Garage Sale – Oh My

Today we’re going to the Lakeway City Wide garage sale at the Activity Center. We are being catered by Gourdough’s of Austin. Our entertainment is Green Day.

Menu

SOUTHERN SPICE AND EVERYTHING NICE

THE TOWANDA  – HOUSE-BATTERED FRIED GREEN TOMATOES, POACHED EGG, AND HORSERADISH HOLLANDAISE

THE FRENCH-EE  – DONUT FRENCH TOAST TOPPED WITH POWDERED SUGAR,
SERVED WITH BACON AND SYRUP, MAKE IT BANANA CARAMEL STYLE OR STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE STYLE

THE McGOURDOUGH 1 – MAPLE SAUSAGE, SCRAMBLED EGGS, AMERICAN CHEESE SANDWICHED BETWEEN TWO DONUT BUNS, WITH A MAPLE SYRUP POUR OVER

PETUNIA – POTATO PANCAKE, SLOW-ROASTED PULLED PORK, OVER EASY EGG, SMOTHERED IN A WHITE CREAMY GRAVY

DIRTY PLUCKER 1 – CRISPY FRIED FILLETED CHICKEN BREAST SMOTHERED IN HONEY BUTTER AND DRIZZLED WITH MAPLE ICING

EL DIABLO  – SMOKED JALAPEÑO SAUSAGE, OVER EASY EGG, PEPPER JACK CHEESE, TOPPED WITH PICKLED JALAPEÑOS AND HORSERADISH HOLLANDAISE

FATBACK – FAT PORK BELLY BACON, POTATO PANCAKE, EGGS THE WAY YOU WANT ‘EM, AND TWO MINI DONUTS SERVED WITH BUTTER OR JAM

FRESH & FANCY – CHOPPED ROMAINE LOADED WITH FRIED CHICKEN BITES, BLUE CHEESE CRUMBLES, CANDIED PECANS, GRANNY SMITH APPLES, STRAWBERRIES, AND RED GRAPES, SERVED WITH FRESHLY MADE POPPYSEED DRESSING

RON BURGUNDY – ANGUS BEEF, APPLEWOOD SMOKED BACON, FRIED EGG, TWO SLICES OF AMERICAN CHEESE, CILANTRO, GUACAMOLE, SLICED TOMATO, AND GARLIC MAYONNAISE

EVERYTHING NICE  – SPICED APPLES AND CHEDDAR CHEESE OR CREAM CHEESE AND STRAWBERRIES

CACHE ME OUTSIDE  -NUTELLA, BANANAS, PECANS, HONEY, AND WHIPPED CREAM

Picture of an old time school bus

Lets get on the bus.

Here we are at the Activity Center

This looks like it’s going to be good.

Got your Halloween decorations.

Ganes, clothes, and La Crosse helmets (You do play don’t you?)

Here is a little bit of everything

Ceramics and pottery.

Rings, beads, and things.

This looks interesting. Wooden long horn skull, Skate board and Marty McFly poster.

Either a big joke or we need to call 9-1-1. Lamps, sleds, and Minnie mouse.

Sports anyone? Putters, rackets, and poker chips.

Here you go. A Bavaria Alp dinner service for eight, swan bowl, dog crate and trike.

Some hardware including fire screens, Birdcage, frame, and bench for faries

Unusal lamps made from other things like a french horn

Lamps of the past and future. I love the movie projector lamp.

More lamps. One of a shoe and one a saw.

Well if you are like me I think we have had enough of the garage sale. Relax now and enjoy the music and food.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Happy Place

A picture of a string with drops of water- the logo for SoCS

 

The last gurgle from the pretentious coffee maker has me near my happy place. The aroma of those Columbian beans freshly ground and tamped into submission, then doused with scalding water, makes me drool. The twin spouts give forth the elixir of life that soon will be crossing my lips. One final drip and a grab of the mug, followed by a big sip of the soothing syrup, will allow the day’s trials to be faced.

Speaking of trials. As the caffeine hits the brain, the realization that the safe problem, followed by the Yosemite Sam problem capped off by the Wile E. Coyote problem, is still unsolved. A look out the back windows verifies that the safe is still there. That means the other issues remain as well. My front security alert tone hits my phone as if to underscore the fact. Lucy and Twiggy live for that sound and are now acting out the part of Igor’s baying hounds. A quick handout saves the walls around the front door from total annihilation.

After using the speaker to determine Wile is out there, the security disengage routine is complete the front door slams open. My “What.” caused Wile to jump. “I thought we would go over the demolition plan.” Scratching my head and then giving the go-ahead, Wile proceed to detail placing some ACME explosives under the safe. This would be followed by attaching an extremely long fuse allowing us both to run down the block. Wile assured me the safe would be lifted out of the yard, and with the assistance of previously installed ACME mini rockets, he could guide it to the waiting bed of a truck.

He produced a contract that, for the most part, absolved him from any liability. With no other viable alternative, my signature hit the line marked ‘sucker.’ It didn’t say sucker, but the translation was complete in my mind as the ink dried. Wile also gave me an envelope and indicated that he needed to get to work. I told him to watch out for Yosemite Sam, and he seemed unconcerned as he headed for the backyard.

I opened the envelope, and sure enough, it was a letter from Linda Hill. There were four sentences in the letter. The first three read Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “happy place.” Write the first thing that comes to mind when you think of “happy place.” Have fun!

The fourth read I can’t believe you signed that contract.

Please visit Linda’s blog and read how if you want to join in. Here is the link https://lindaghill.com/2022/10/14/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-oct-15-2022/

Happy Place by John W. Howell © 2022

“So your happy place is drinking a cup of coffee?”

“Yes. You don’t have to tell me yours.”

“That obvious, huh?”

“Duh.”

“Well, I could think of worse places than the pub.”

“Don’t get me wrong, I see nothing wrong with your choice.”

“Yeah. You do join me there after all.”

“Not all the time, though.”

“How do you know?”

“Well, I assume you go to the pub without me.”

“You think there is life beyond this post?”

“Um. Never thought of it before.”

“Well, think now. You and I live as long as there is a Stream of Conscious Saturday.”

“What are you saying?”

“As soon as the blog page turns, so to speak, we don’t exist.”

“That’s crazy. What about all those times we hung out?”

“Name one.”

“Last week. We had VooDoo Rangers at my place.”

“That was how the post ended. Do you remember drinking a VooDoo Ranger?”

“Now you are scaring me.”

“You’re right. Let’s drop it and go to the happy place.”

“Sometimes I don’t understand you.”

“Don’t worry. I was just trying to get John’s goat.”

“Who?”

“Never mind. Let’s get going.”

“Yes indeed. I’ll buy.”

“You are the best.”

 

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Goodnews

 

Plastic pollution in Indonesian ports. Image by Anton Wisuda/Mongabay Indonesia

Today’s story comes from the Good News Network. Here it is in its entirety (with typos outside of quotes corrected)

Fishermen Getting Paid to Collect Plastic Trash at Sea, As Indonesia Slashes Pollution

In Indonesia, small-time fishermen are being paid as part-time ocean cleanup crews as the archipelago seeks to tidy their seas and raise awareness among stakeholders at the same time.

The Ministry of Fisheries announced on October 4th that they had stashed around $70,000, or 1 billion rupiahs, to pay fishermen for any plastic trash they recovered from the oceans.

Many countries around the world are setting environmental or climate goals for themselves. One of the largest contributors of ocean-going plastic waste, Indonesia is looking to shake off that reputation by spending $1 billion over the next 3 years to reduce plastic entering the oceans from their shores by 70%.

If an Indonesian fisherman working off the main islands can collect 4 kilograms of trash per day, the government will pay out around $10 for it, which is slightly more than they would get if they spent their day catching fish to sell at market prices.

“This activity is very simple,” Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, the fisheries minister, said at a press conference in Jakarta. “But at least this will raise awareness among the stakeholders at sea and the people around the world.”

“The most important thing is prevention,” Sakti said. “If we can properly conduct prevention, then there shouldn’t be any waste in the sea. Because once the trash gets to the sea, then it’s already damaged.”

Indonesia is located in one of the fastest-developing regions on the planet, economically speaking, and the use of plastic waste has outpaced the installation of recycling infrastructure, especially on the smaller islands.

According to the UK’s Pew Trust, 95% of all fishing activities are small-scale. Small fisheries can’t absorb costs from things like ocean pollution or additional taxes like large-scale fisheries can, making this bottom-up approach to ocean cleanup uniquely suited to Indonesia.

Furthermore, Indonesia is surrounded by some of the most biodiverse shallow seas on earth, a Mecca for divers and snorkelers who aren’t interested in wading through plastic while they do it.

The good news here is a major plastic pollution contributor is taking steps to reverse the behavior. Today’s JohnKu talks about stepping up to the plate. I hope you have a fabulous weekend.

Amends by John W. Howell © 2022

It takes a big heart,

To admit bad behavior . . .

And then correct it.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Lucy and Twiggy Discuss Stuff

 

“So, Lucy. What did you mean by the comment, “The more things change, the more they stay the same?”

“It is just an observation about life, Little One.”

“Yeah, but what does it mean?”

“It means there is a certain continuum that seems to control what we do.”

“Can you repeat that in some language I can understand?”

“Let me give you an example. It is starting to turn to fall, right?”

“The leaves are starting to come down, and the day temperatures are less hot, so I would say it is starting to turn to fall.”

“Notice you used your experience of past falls to compare with what is going on now.”

“I didn’t think about it, but now I see that for sure.”

“So my point is even though the weather is changing and it may seem like a new thing, in reality, it is the same changes as last year.

“So the more the weather changes, the more it is the same as last year.”

“I believe you’ve got it.”

“How about another example?”

“Humm. Well, the more our need for food changes, the more our food keeps us satisfied the same way.”

“I think that example was driven by the sound of kibble hitting the bowl.”

“Maybe after lunch, I can do better.”

“I think we have had enough philosophy for one day.”

“Okay then. I think tag will work better.”

 

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #381 by Keith Channing

In Keith’s words.

“Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put your offering (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before Sunday evening UK time. If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here. Thank you for taking part.”

Link to Keith’s page https://keithchanning.wordpress.com/2022/10/10/kreative-kue-381/

The photo.

The Blink by John W. Howell © 2022

“You think you can get away.”

“I know I can. I just have to turn around and walk.”

“How foolish you are. I have locked onto your eyes, and you are now in my power.”

“Who you trying to fool, you big bully. All it would take is a shot from a gun to eliminate you.”

“You have a gun?”

“No.”

“Then, under my power, you shall remain. A warning to you. I have not had lunch yet, so don’t even blink.”

“What do you mean ‘don’t blink.'”

“You blink, and I strike.”

“What are you, a snake?”

“You are not that lucky. Hawk’s my name. Vermin’s my game.”

“Oh, very clever. Big talk from what amounts to an oversized sparrow.”

“From where I sit, you are in no position to be insulting.”

“Tell you what. I’ll give you to the count of three to buzz off.”

“Then what?”

“If you are still here, I’ll lift my tail and hit you with my best shot.”

“Shot of what?”

“It’s not bourbon, I can tell you that.”

“Now you have me curious.”

“Which is a feeling that killed the cat.”

“You look like a cat.”

“Only to Pepe De Pew. Trust me, I’m no cat. One.”

 

Top Ten Things Not to Do During a Full Moon

Photo by Mike Petrucci on Unsplash

This post ran on October 17th, 2016. Since we had a full Hunter’s Moon last night (The same night as the full moon in 2016 ), I thought we could revisit the post since it will still look full tonight, and caution should be exercised.

* * *

Since last night the Hunter’s Moon was full, I was inspired to give some thought as to what we should never do during a full moon. I hope you enjoy it. Oh, for you scientists out there, this is all made up. I write fiction, so when looking for truth, I would suggest any place but here.

Top Ten Things Not to Do During a Full Moon

by John W. Howell © 2016

10 If there is a full moon, do not go into a graveyard just to see what will happen. If you do, at best, you will challenge your all-time best heart rate. At worst, the total recall of Blair Witch Project will have you running for your life. (So you thought you had everything under control, didn’t you?)

9 If there is a full moon, do not ask that cloaked stranger for directions. If you do, at best, it will be too distracted by the moon to answer you. At worst, it will offer you a ride that will be your last. (Those hairy hands should have been a big clue)

8 If there is a full moon, do not back into any rooms, period. If you do, at best, you might trip and fall. At worst, that snarling thing you thought you saw in the backyard is now behind you. (Every moviegoer knows better, Bunkie)

7 If there is a full moon, do not act on the urge to make hay. If you do, at best, there won’t be a lot of grass where you live. At worst, the farmer will think you are poaching his hay and call the police. (Or worse yet, use that rock salt-loaded shotgun to clear his field.)

6 if there is a full moon, do not think your neighbors would appreciate a serenade about the moon and a spoon. If you do, at best, you will suddenly realize why the term “rotten tomatoes” is used to rate talent. At worst, the magistrate will have a tough time trying to justify letting you go free. (Maybe the psychological evaluation will put everyone at ease)

5 If there is a full moon, resist the urge to skinny dip. If you can’t, at best, a quick dip with no one the wiser will be your fate. At worst, after the dog takes your clothes and you are chasing him, the spotlight of your neighbor’s security system bathes you in the light of high noon. (There is a tape that goes with that light, and your neighbor has a pretty high price tag on it)

4 If there is a full moon, under no circumstances do you need to harvest anything. If this advice falls on deaf ears, at best, stick with canned goods. At worst, your quest for a fresh pumpkin at Whole Foods after hours could net you a free night in the county lockup. ( Your roommate Tiny is not the type to feel good about you after the slamming cell door at midnight.)

3 If there is a full moon, do not argue with the traffic officer who just pulled you over. If you do, at best, you’ve guaranteed yourself a ticket. At worst, the officer may be a graduate of an anger management treatment series. (It seems that his events are always triggered during a full moon)

2 If there is a full moon, do not enter a political chat room with the idea of defending your choice for President. If you do, at best, you will be able to turn off your computer. At worst, somehow, the room has discovered your real identity and is threatening to come right over. (Looks like you might need to leave town for a while, huh, Grover?)

1 If there is a full moon, do not answer your door or phone. If you do, at best, it will be someone you know. At worst, there will be a character you’ve never known saying, “I know what you did last summer.” (Yeah, this one is bad. You need to run now.)

Views of the Neighborhood – Potpourri

As you can see from the headline, we are going to see different things today. We are catered by Salty Sow in Austin. Our entertainment is Pink who is appearing here in Austin at the Austin City Limits festival and agreed to stop by.

Menu

STARTERS

TRUFFLED DEVILED EGGS Salty Sow bacon bits

SALTY SOW CHARCUTERIE + CHEESE BOARD all the fixin’s, toasted baguette

ROASTED BONE MARROW bacon + gruyere crust, toasted baguette

TRIPLE-FRIED DUCK FAT FRIES cold bearnaise, 110-minute egg

CHICKEN LIVER MOUSSE IN A JAR apple gelee, pickled red onion, toast

SALAD

BRUSSELS SPROUT CAESAR SALAD candied almonds, dried cranberries, parmesan

ROASTED ORGANIC BEETS goat cheese, pistachio vinaigrette

VEGETABLES

YUKON GOLD MASHED POTATOES neck bone gravy

BBQ HOMINY  BROCOLINI toasted pecan brown butter, pecorino

COLLARD GREENS smoked ham hocks

CHEESE GRITS

QUINOA + LENTILS

CRISPY BRUSSELS SPROUT LEAVES  golden raisins, pecorino

MAINS

CRISP CHICKEN THIGHS fried smashed potatoes, neck bone gravy

CANDIED PORK BELLY collard greens, pot licker, soy balsamic syrup

RANGER CATTLE WAGYU CHEESEBURGER  add pork belly · add egg
caramelized onions, gruyere cheese, pickles, Salty Sow special sauce, duck fat fries

SLOW COOKED BEEF SHOULDER mashed potatoes, glazed local carrots, fried egg

PETITE BONE-IN FILETS mixed mushrooms, red wine sauce

SMOKED PORK CARNITAS add guacamole tomatillo salsa, tortillas, bbq hominy

GENUINE BLACKENED REDFISH quinoa + lentils, smoked tomato, chipotle tabasco lemon butter

DESSERT

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CAKE whipped cream, raspberry sauce

BUTTERSCOTCH BUDINO salted caramel, sweet crème fraîche

BANANA FOSTERS BEIGNETS vanilla ice cream

INNISKILLIN VIDAL – ICE WINE Niagara peninsula, Canada, 2019

RECCHIA recchioto classico, veneto, italy, 2016

Picture of an old time school bus

Let’s get on the bus

Our first encounter is with an Axis Deer and a middle-aged white-tailed buck. Rumor has it the deer escaped from a local exotic ranch years ago. A native of India the Axis was introduced to Texas in 1932. Looks like he has made friends.

I tried to get closer but no dice. At least we get a view of the back of those beautiful antlers.

The dawn brings a demonstration of affection among the high schoolers.

Dawn also brings a group of does having coffee.

We’ve seen this peacock before but now the mailbox and it has had a redo.

I call this “Chair at Dawn.” I guess the trash pick-up gave a pass to this one.

Here is a photo of my favorite quiet place in the greenbelt. It was taken last year.

Here is the place today. You can see we need rain badly.

I thought this manzanita tree looked good nestled in the Oak and touched by the sun.

A shot of the circulating fountain in the greenbelt. Another favorite.

Whew. This was a fright. Even though we may think of Halloween this is a regular feature on a new resident’s mailbox. Not sure of the message here. Borrowing a cup of sugar is definitely not in the cards.

Gotta love the elephant. Didn’t want to do a string of mail toppers but couldn’t resist this one. I wonder how long before it is spray-painted blue.

Our final stop is to admire some of our doe neighbors. The darker one could be a melanistic deer which are all black and makeup about 8% of the population. The Producer is unsure so we’ll just admire the difference.

That is the tour today. I hope you enjoyed it. Now sit back and enjoy the food and music. I hope you all have a great week.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Back of the Fridge”

 

 

A picture of a string with drops of water- the logo for SoCS

 

The coffee is taking an unusual amount of time today. An ear to the machine picks up the usual sounds, so all must be normal. It brings to mind that perhaps divices have trouble getting going in the morning too. Looking in the back of the fridge pays off with not only spotting the half and half but hearing the satisfying sputter and pour sounds of the nectar of the gods flowing into my mug.

The addition of half and half pushes the morning brew into a new dimension whose mesmerizing quality is broken by the klaxon warning horn. Throwing treats on the floor finally gets Twiggy and Lucy to come down from the ceiling and substitute sounds of joy for the ear-bleeding decibel level of their barking.

A gulp of coffee and a sigh precede the opening of the door ritual. Gate thrown open, bar lifted, concertina wire coiled, machine guns on standby, Trebuchet disarmed, Claymore mines picked up, submarine net in the moat raised, boiling oil turned off, hovering drone grounded, bolts thrown and locks undone.

The open door reveals a being that looks like Wile E. Coyote. “Don’t tell me. I called the ACME explosives company and asked for an engineer to help remove that safe and person from my backyard. So please don’t say you are him.”

He nods, and the cold feeling along my spine immediately leads me to believe a problem of monumental proportion now exists. Wile E. Coyote is perhaps the most incompetent user of ACME products. He immediately hands me two envelopes. The first contains a certification of one Wile E. Coyote as an ACME happiness engineer. Looking him in the shifty eyes confirms the depth of the trouble. The second envelope contains a message from Linda Hill. It reads. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “back of the fridge.” Write the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the phrase “back of the fridge.” Enjoy!

If you want to have fun like this, visit Linda’s blog and find out how. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2022/10/07/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-oct-8-2022/

Back of the Fridge by John W. Howell © 2022

“You didn’t do the prompt.”

“I did so.”

“You mentioned the phrase but not the first thing you think of when you think of ‘back of the fridge'”

“Yes, it was the half and half.”

“For heaven’s sake. I thought you would come up with something like a hairy cheese ball or a petrified pork chop.”

“And what kind of story would that make?”

“I don’t know. You are the writer, not me.”

“Who wants to read about a piece of cheese or pork chop anyway?”

“You could have made a humorous thing out of it.”

“Like how?”

“I don’t know. Maybe the pork chop that ate New York.”

“Good thing I’m the writer here.”

“What does that mean?”

“Your suggestion sucked.”

“Gee, don’t hold back on my account.”

“I thought you would mention a Voo Doo Ranger in the back of the fridge.”

“You have one?”

“The Producer just loaded twelve in there.”

“Twelve? For you, that’s a three-month supply. Maybe I can help you with that.”

“Maybe so. Give me your keys.”

“I’m only going to have one.”

“Says the man with no self-control.”

“I resemble that. Okay, here are the keys. Where’s the opener?”

“I thought you would say trading car keys for a church key.”

“Now you know why I’m not the writer. Opener?”

“Top drawer over there.”

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF Fri-Yay/Good News

Today’s good news story comes from the People Magazine newsletter. You may have already seen it, but if not, it’s a good one. Here it is verbatim.

PHOTO: LAKE HUMANE SOCIETY

Ohio Dog in Shelter Over 2,555 Days Finally Finds His Forever Home: ‘Flip Is a Very Loving Dog’

Flip’s new pet parent told PEOPLE the rescue dog is adjusting well to home life and recently enjoyed his first nap in a big bed.

After spending years in the shelter system, Flip the dog has a forever home.

On September 16, PEOPLE shared the black-and-white dog’s story. At that time, the 7-year-old rescue pooch had spent over 2,555 days in Ohio shelters waiting to be adopted.

Jennifer Schorr, the associate director of the education division at the Buckeye Community Hope Foundation, heard about Flip’s situation through a Facebook post. Having lost her beloved German Shepherd to illness a few months ago, Schorr wasn’t looking to adopt a new dog right away.

“But when I saw Flip, he melted my heart, and his story melted it even more,” Schorr told PEOPLE, adding that she knew she wanted her next pet to be an older dog “that needed some TLC.”

Enamored with Flip’s sweet face, Schorr reached out to Lake Humane Society to ask about adopting the dog, who was in a foster home at the time. The shelter told Schorr that they didn’t know much about Flip’s history, except that he spent time at a shelter in Youngstown and likely experienced abuse early in his life.

Flip the dog finds a home after over 2500 days in the shelter
JENNIFER SCHORR

To ensure that Flip and Schorr would be a good fit, Lake Humane Society asked Schorr to visit the canine, so she made the 3-hour drive to the shelter to meet Flip face to face.

“They told me he might not warm up to me at first, but it was just the opposite. He came and sat next to me, and he even gave me kisses,” Schorr said of her introduction to Flip.

After this first adorable interaction, Schorr met with Flip again and then had the dog visit her house in Pataskala, Ohio.

“Flip trotted right in and made himself at home!” Schorr said.

Flip the dog finds a home after over 2500 days in the shelter
JENNIFER SCHORR

Schorr’s residence is now officially Flip’s home, and the pup has continued to amaze his new owner with his warm, welcoming personality.

“Flip is a very loving dog and loves to cuddle on the couch with you,” Flip’s pet parent shared.

And while Flip is still nervous about some new things, Schorr is content to “go slow” with the dog and let him adapt to home life at his own speed.

“We take walks around the neighborhood, and he is the perfect dog. He is adjusting very well to being out of the shelter. He actually slept with me in bed the other night for the first time ever in his life. He was in heaven!” she said

Flip the dog finds a home after over 2500 days in the shelter
JENNIFER SCHORR

“I am confident Flip will be just fine living with me in his forever home. I love him so much already,” Schorr added.

Schorr also said that she hopes Flip’s story inspires others to adopt their next pet, so they can experience the companionship that blossoms after you save a life.

“There are so many loving dogs that just need a chance to become your furry friend. Some may need more care and attention than others, but they all deserve it. The tail wag, kiss on the cheek, or smile on their face lets you know how much you are appreciated. It is never too late — Adopt!” Schorr shared.

The good news here is that Flip is now in a loving home.

Today’s JohnKu talks about pets. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Pets by John W. Howell © 2022

You can buy a pet,

But so many need good homes . . .

Adopt one

Thursday – A Little Personal – Lucy and Twiggy Play

“Lucy, it’s another day. Got a game in mind?”

“I haven’t given it much thought up to now.”

“We could play tag.”

“We just played that yesterday. Let’s think harder.”

“Yeah, you’re right. We haven’t played Water Buffalo and Puma for a while.”

“That’s true. I always like that game ’cause I don’t have to move fast.”

“Okay, then it’s settled. You are the water buffalo, and I’m the puma.”

“I have to get into character. One minute while I grow some horns.”

“Okay, I hope the Stanislavsky method stands you in good stead.”

“The water buffalo stands on the prairie above the water hole sniffing the wind.”

“The puma decides that the water buffalo would make a tasty lunch.”

“Jeepers. The water buffalo is taken by surprise as she catches the scent of the puma.”

“The puma decides to do a flanking maneuver to avoid those deadly horns.”

“The water buffalo swings around to protect the flank and the butt.”

“The puma goes for a direct frontal attack, counting on speed for an advantage.”

“The water buffalo stands steady and prepares to lower her head to meet the puma.”

“One last burst of speed, the puma does a slight fake to throw off the water buffalo.”

“The water buffalo braces for a direct hit from the puma.”

“The puma was not ready for the about-face of the water buffalo.”

“The water buffalo surprises the puma with a burst of speed and in the end avoids danger.”

“Nicely played, Lucy. But, unfortunately, I was not ready for that evasive trick.”

“Well, it shows that old dogs can learn new tricks.”

“You can say that again. How about I buy you a drink.”

“Very kind of you, Little One. Have the barkeep set up a pan of water? That is hot work.”