CATS, A TEXARKANA SOLUTION, SANTA AND TWISTER NOTES

EDITION OF THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016 (PetPowellPress) -- In our previous edition we examined “Five Reasons To Have A Dog Around the House.” For this edition, we will address “FIVE REASONS TO HAVE A CAT AROUND THE HOUSE.”
 Let me add -- quickly -- that there are many more than just five reasons to have any of these animals around the house. Once you get to know the individuals, you learn how each offers a separate joy in your life. Now:
FIVE REASONS TO HAVE A CAT AROUND THE HOUSE
(1) Unlike dogs, cats understand the need for stealth, an especially important understanding if you are a person who likes to sneak a midnight snack. Most dogs not able to stealthily pursue snacks.  Snacks make a dog too happy to contain the joy. Cats can take a snack or leave it and will get even with you later.
(2) Cats will listen to you only briefly, but they are great companions for sitting at the front window and watching a summer rain pelt the flowers. Our cat Deputy Chief Kittie Leigh Johnson likes to watch the water gather on poorly angled sidewalk from our driveway to the front porch -- she pretends fish are going to begin jumping from the impromptu pond.
(3) Cats are easier to move off the couch or the bed so the human can stretch out. Dogs pretend to be either asleep or big bags of cement.
(4) Cats are happy to teach you the art of patience. They will demonstrate the art of quiet observation, then spring onto whatever you’re reading: Magazine, paper, Nook, Kindle, iPad or they will repeatedly slap the pencil (or pen, in my case, of course) that you are using to work a crossword puzzle. This may happen once in your relationship. But it WILL happen. The mood will strike the cat.
(5) Cats will rid your home of pests, i.e., mice, large bugs, rats and relatives who do not like cats. They are invaluable in a social world.
Hold on a second. OK, I’m back. Deputy Chief Kittie Leigh Johnson amewsingly notes, “No play about dogs has ever been the longest running show on Broadway.” [LARRY ASIDE:  One of Kittie Leigh’s all-American relatives, Tom, is said to have lived with young T.S. Eliot before he moved to England and wrote Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. It is a thin volume -- not sure how many cats qualify as “practical” and that is another great joy of having one around the house. The Joy of Impracticality.]

I already have Kittie Leigh Johnson as a bundling partner, but if you find yourself needing a companion who can purr without demanding a ring or your signature on a pre-nupt, you could go to a local shelter or visit with a rescue group and get a new cat friend.

That top photo is the cover of our latest album, “K. Leigh & LahRee Diggin’ Big Dee.” The other photo shows that a cat will sleep in a briefcase when given the opportunity.
CONTEMPLATIONS: In Monday’s edition we reported about a rumor that had jolted the Texarkana Animal Shelter -- that there would be mass euthanizing of animals. And we noted that intrepid reporter Ashley Gardner of the Texarkana Gazette had discovered that the truth was the shelter was experiencing some problems with an area that had reached such a state of disrepair that the shelter was being taxed. Now, Reporter Gardner reports that Texarkana businesses and citizens have reacted positively to the challenge facing Shelter Director Charles Lokey. The story reads, “Aloha Aire fixed the air conditioning and other local businesses have offered to fix issues including holes in the walls, hanging insulation and more.” You can, if the pay wall doesn’t block you, read the Gazette’s followup story HERE. Yep, my first professional newspaper comes through for the animals. Glad to see community journalism telling stories and getting help for people and animals who need it. Reporter Gardner also gave readers a great quote from Shelter Director Lokey. It was a message to citizens in the Twin City. He urged, “Spay and neuter your pets. We don't need unwanted pets. We're overrun with unwanted pets so please spay and neuter and be responsible with your animals." [LARRY ASIDE: We’ll just go ahead and declare that Charles Lokey’s message perfectly fits Dallas, Texas, and surrounding area. Unspayed and unneutered animals have no understanding of state and county lines. If you want to offer to help the Texarkana shelter by donating or volunteering, call 870-773-6388.] ... Just in case you wondered and you have yet to finish your Christmas shopping, you can go to this SITE, emailsanta.com/clock.asp and see how much time is left until the holiday. FYI: Bad Santa 2 opens November 23 -- what? Yes, a sequel 13 years after the first one. Stars Billy Bob Thornton and Tony Cox again. Female lead? SMU’s own Kathy Bates.  She won a Best Actress Oscar for Misery. Billy Bob won his Oscar for writing Sling Blade. Tony Cox? One of the great comic actors -- plus he was in an episode of one of the most entertaining TV detective shows of all time, Psych. Let me be the first to say, “Merry Christmas. Hot enough for you?” ... Ever wonder if tornadoes affect lives not in the immediate storm area? The big Cowtown tornado of 2000 wiped out Fort Worth’s Sweet Shop USA building and eventually, because of Trinity River work near the Shop’s replacement location, the World’s Greatest Chocolate Maker moved to Mt. Pleasant right up I-30 in Northeast Texas. I dare anyone to challenge the “Fudge Love” truffles for  chocolate- lovers decadence! Oh, my, moaned the hefty writer. Anyway, there’s that tornado. Then, earlier this year, a tornado hit an East Texas processing plant that produced the magnificent, adored, inexpensive Ozarka Sparkling Water. Ozarka told Readlarrypowell.com that production is returning to normal and my favorite sparkling water will soon be repopulating the stores I frequent. In the meantime, I have one more chocolate note. On the Sweet Shop USA website reviews, someone wrote, “Amazing. Sea salt camels are the best." I am almost certain the writer meant “sea salt caramels,” but, you know, if I were not a vegetarian and if Sweet Shop USA could dip a camel, I’d give it a shot and I’ll bet it would be the greatest chocolate-dipped camel in East Texas.
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