OK, gang, that kid from Oklahoma has won "American Idol." We can get back to worrying about Sunday's European Union vote in France, the price of gasoline down the street, the Michael Jackson trial, what's wrong with Tiger Woods' golf game and ... aw, never mind. Life's too short to worry about most stuff involving transitory humanity. We've got dogs and cats to save and Plano has that fabulous Books and Barks thing coming up!
THE ODD GRAFFITI: Sometimes I have trouble reading and understanding the graffiti on signs and walls. It's the font. Or the spelling -- I've never bothered to learn "streetlish." No trouble with this one, however. It's on a wooden fence on the west side of Zang Boulevard near the I-35 entrance/exit. It reads, in two-foot-high letters, "GO NAVY." I guess we've got some patriotic gang roaming the streets in bellbottoms and funny hats.
NEEDING A HOME: Gail Whelan of Companion Animal Network sends this note about this dog in the Canton Animal Shelter. "He is less than 2 years old and a Husky/Malamute mix. He was chained and left to die when the owners moved out. A passerby saw movement in the tall grass and called for help."
Now, let me just halt this for moment to remind folks that abandoning animals is a crime. If someone can track down the jerks who abandoned this animal, why, I wouldn't mind spending a little tax money on a good trial and a few years of jailhouse food for them.
Moving along, Gail writes, "Despite what this dog has been through, he has a fabulous personality. He is recovering from some injuries -- from being kicked or hit....He is heartworm negative and now on HW prevention.
"As soon as we can find a foster home, we will pick him up and have him neutered.....This unbelievably sweet dog deserves to live the rest of his life in loe and luxury."
Respond to canadoptions@yahoo.com.
Gail adds, "The next time any legislation comes up for vote to strengthen or add any laws to stop this type of abuse, please contact your representative."
Yes, indeed. The current session is drawing to a close and by "sine die" on May 30, well, every problem in Texas -- from taxes to school finance -- will no doubt be solved slick as grackle poop on a downtown Dallas car.
It is not too early to begin working on the state's fine bunch of legislators for the next session. Animal abuse is a year-round problem. Putting pressure on legislators should be a year-round effort -- the professionals see it that way, so should the "amateur" citizen/lobbyists.
The big challenge is persuading thick-headed legislators that animal protection bills are not meant to make life difficult for farmers and ranchers, they're meant to put pinheaded animal abusers into cells. I don't know -- there must be some sort of "off-switch" that is installed on the logic process when some of these birds take the oath of office. I'm just talking about a tiny percentage of the legislators, of course. Honest.
PLANO'S HOLIDAY PLANS! Debbie New at the Plano Animal Shelter reminds us that the big Books & Barks celebration is scheduled 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Memorial Day -- that's Monday, May 30 -- at Hoblitzelle Park, 7500 Red River Drive, in Plano. (It's off Legacy between Custer and Alma.)
It's for dogs and people! there'll be flyball, frisbee, agility and training demos and dog games. Sparky the Firedog and McGruff the Crime Dog will be there. So will a bouncing house for kids -- always wanted to try one of those, but, dangit, I'm well beyond the weight limit unless they can set one up on the moon and get me there on an economy flight.
Among the dog contests are Best Wagger (10:30 a.m.), Best Barker (11:30 a.m.) and Best Trick (12:30 p.m.).
Personal aside: Are there "morning dogs" who'll wag better at 10:30 a.m. and evening dogs who wag better as night falls? And, I know there are "best barkers" after midnight.
Debbie says, "We expect over 1,200 persons to attend an the proceeds from vendor booths are divided between us [Plano Animal Services] and the Friends of the Plano Library."
The event is free -- there'll be free ice cream, water and chips and free bandanas for dogs. (Visit www.planotx.org/animal/.)
Books & Barks combines two great loves of most of our lives, doesn't it? Reading and critters. It may be the ideal event. And with ice cream!
THE VOICE: You probably read about the death of Thurl Ravenscroft. Most stories made a big deal out of the fact that he was the voice of Tony the Tiger and a whole generation of TV-watching Baby Boomers knew the slogan "It's GRRRREAT!"
I can even remember trying to imitate that voice as a little kid after watching Frosted Flake commercials on black-and-white TV set -- probably caught the commercials during an airing of Superman with George Reeves or The Mickey Mouse Club with (swoon) Annette Funicello.
Memorable all those things are, indeed, Yoda, but let's not overlook Mr. Ravenscroft's great contribution to Christmas and to trivia contests all over America. The question began "Who sang?" The answer: In the 1966 TV special "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," Thurl Ravenscroft sang the unforgettable "You're a Mean One, Mister Grinch."
Dr. Seuss wrote the song, but Mr. Ravenscroft delivered. It opens with "You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch. You really are a heel. You're as cuddly as a cactus, You're as charming as an eel...." Ah, they don't write 'em like that anymore. And nobody sings 'em like Mr. Ravenscroft.
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