Here we go with a Tuesday collection of assorted items, some animals, some not but all absolutely well-intentioned and not nearly offensive to civilization as the continuing coverage of the Tom Cruise/Katie Holmes Love Event.
Love Event. I just made that up. It's a variation of the local TV weather people saying there's a "rain event." Geez, is it raining or is it eventing? .
THERE'S A SUMMER FACE: This is the face of our big dog, Hammy. Officially, he's "Hambone Jack, Canine King of the Blues." He sort of lives up to it in this photo. It was snapped as he enjoyed a lie down on the family couch. He's not really all that blue. He's a big fellow, so he simply rested his chin on the arm of the couch. He's quite the handsome fellow. Big dog, you know. Found him in Kiest Park. He was so starved that his black hair was brown and crisp and you could count his ribs. His hair is shiny black now. And we haven't seen his ribs in years. He's quite the gentleman and he loves to ride shotgun in the minivan or our pickup. Hammy is a comfort. He's what you get when you pick up a big ol' dog and give him a home. Pure affection and a great companion. Sometimes his black nose has red lipstick. Yes, my spontaneousspouse Martha has been known to plant one on that giant nose as she leaves for work in the morning.
TALKING POINT: This is a summer contemplation. Coldest water to jump into? How about the mountain stream in the Charlton Recreation Area in the Ouachita Mountains west of Hot Springs, Ark.? Of course, it's been more than 20 years since I did that. Global warming may have changed things. And, personally, I no longer feel a thrill in plunging into water so cold it makes an IRS audit feel tropical.
TRADITIONAL WARNING: If we are approaching the Fourth of July, then it is time for Anita Edson of the SPCA of Texas to issue the annual warning about holiday noise and animals. I've taken the liberty of enhancing the news release. The SPCA's ideas are in italic.
You would think people would snap to the idea that fireworks frighten animals, but some of them don't. I guess that's why this warning has been issued annually for as long as I can remember. We grow a new crop of idiots each year, so they have to be warned.
Here's the basic thing: Fireworks can make your pet take off. Run away. Bolt. Don't shoot fireworks around your animals.
Put your animals in a safe place.
Don't leave your pets in the yard
And, the SPCA urges, don't take your dog to a fireworks show.
Seriously, folks, why torture the sensitive animal? Nothing good can come of making your dog nervous in a crowd.
The SPCA suggests getting veterinary care for a traumatized pet or boarding the pet in a quiet kennel to avoid the racket
Of course, it is absolutely true that we're preaching to the choir by posting this on a website read by animal-friendly people, but you never know when someone else might stumble across this site and become enlightened, if only for a moment.
One more thing to some of you who have just arrived in Dallas from my beloved East Texas. Don't be confused. "Fireworks" is the city word for "fahr wurks."
DOWNTOWN DALLAS: On Monday, for the first time in a while, I had to drive through Dealey Plaza and I saw something odd going on. Someone was there with laser surveying equipment. This could mean two things: (1) Someone is still trying to track that JFK bullet or (2) the city is contemplating selling the Dealey Plaza/Grassy Knoll/Sixth Floor area to a developer. I'm kidding about that developer thing, though, when you consider that Supreme Court imminent domain ruling...well, this IS Dallas.
THE BIG SIGN: There's a Grandy's down the street from our house. For months the sign read "Steak Meal $5.09 Add Steak for .99." That's funny enough. The steak meal is $5.09, but if you want steak with it, toss in another 99 cents.
The Texas wind has "edited" that sign and it lately has read "STEAK MEAL AD AK." If you didn't know the history of the sign, you'd think only a "d" and a "y" had been blown off. "STEAK MEAL ADD YAK."
