An Aries (Who Knows Some Stuff)
This is Meany Doodles, described as “the spokesperson for the perpetually grouchy.” She’s the creation of Jim Benton, whose other work, It’s Happy Bunny, is immediately recognizable to many of you reading here.
You’ll probably be seeing a lot of Meany Doodles, because she’s immediately recognizable to me. For no apparent reason…
I’m sure most people who collect things know that one of the cool features of collecting is that people think of you in random places and random times when they see an example of that thing you collect. And sometimes they bring that thing to you, which is also cool.
This is from a restaurant called Louie’s on Main in Garden Grove, California, and Jim brought it to me. Now I want to go there and eat. I have an idea! If someone who knows I want to collect red trucks gives me one that’ll make it to California, I think I should drive us there to eat. 😉
An editor’s work is never done.
Going through some of my mother’s stuff, I found these two items.
That seems like about a zillion years ago.
Thanks, Lindsey, for the backdrop.
Wisdom in the form of a button given to me by my mother.
Have I shared this button before? It’s part of my collection from when it was first issued–I think in 1980.
I well remember the efforts I made to arrange a social life around watching television’s Dallas. Mother, Terri, and I were all addicted to the show. My favorite character was Sue Ellen Ewing.
I didn’t see the last few years of the show, but I did see all the biggest cliffhangers including Who Shot JR, Bobby in the shower, Pam’s exploding car, dead Kristin in the swimming pool, and the big fire at Southfork.
I was finally able to watch the first two hours of the new TNT Dallas and am looking forward to catching up. These days DVRs and Tivos make television a lot easier–even if I don’t have the busy life I once did.
And all these years later, my girl Sue Ellen appears to remain a force to be reckoned with. Where’s my Sue Ellen for Governor button?
ETA: I’m all caught up now, and I like the new Dallas. That JR is such a rascal.
Another of many buttons contributed to the cause by Marika. It makes me laugh. In a mwah-ha-ha way.
You know how you can really make them pay? Turn them into fiction and have your way with them. A lot of you who read here are writers. Or you want to write, but have difficulty carving out time. Or coming up with an idea that fires up your cylinders. You should check out Timmy’s site The Idea Jar. It’s a good way to prompt your imagination and flex your writing muscles. It’s a chance to write something short and manageable. It’s also an opportunity to share your writing with others and get some feedback.
Be brave! Stop talking about it. Do it.
The Aries has spoken.
Just a reminder to you about the upcoming holiday, courtesy of Scout’s Honor’s newsletter. You can read it in its entirety at that link, but I hope they won’t mind this excerpt. It may save you and your companion animals a lot of heartache.
FACT- More pets get lost on July 4th than any other day of the year.
During 4th of July festivities, loud noise from fireworks frightens animals due to their heightened senses of hearing, and they become willing to do anything to escape the noise. This behavior is usually unpredictable and out of character, and it may include such things as:
* Chewing through a leash
* Jumping through screens and windows
* Digging under a fence
* Jumping over a wall
* Bolting away from the owner
The good news is that there are many things you can do to help ensure your pet’s protection. Just follow these five simple guidelines to make July 4th a great holiday for both of you!
Don’t ever bring your pet to a fireworks display. The “boom” of the fireworks sounds loud to the human ear. Imagine how loud it sounds to your dog, who can hear sounds up to 60,000 cycles per second — that’s three times greater than the human ear can even register.
2. Keep a collar and ID tag on your pet at all times. Make sure the tag contains legible and up-to-date information. To lessen the chance that a dog slips his collar, be sure you can put no more than two fingers between the collar and the pet’s neck.
Cats should wear breakaway collars, and as a backup it’s advised that they receive a microchip ID implant from a veterinarian. Indoor/outdoor cats are recommended to be brought indoors on the 3rd and to remain inside till the 5th (if you let them outside at all normally). This is because fireworks are legal to buy in many areas and often individuals set them off on more than one evening during the holiday week.
Two forms of ID are always best when it comes to protecting your pet. If an individual finds your pet, the first thing he or she will look for is an ID tag. If your pet is taken to a shelter, it will be scanned for an ID chip upon admittance.
3. Keep your pet indoors in a cool, quiet room. The windows should be closed and the shades or curtains pulled. Often the sound of soft music or the low rumble of a television will help to calm your pet. Remember to leave a light on for your pet, too. These things will help the animal feel safe and secure.
4. Don’t leave your pet outside in the yard on a leash or a chain (ever). Many animals get tangled up in their attempts to flee and end up injuring themselves. And dogs often escape their yards and get lost.
5. If you find an animal who is lost, try to keep it safe and secure at your home. You can take it to a local vet to have it scanned for a micro-chip right away. The quicker you do this, the sooner the frantic owner will be reunited with his or her beloved pet if it’s chipped. You can look for Lost signs in your neighborhood or around where the animal was found. Try that for a few days prior to leaving the animal at a shelter.
Thank you, Scout’s Honor, for the great information!
