ReadLarryPowell.com

THE NEW YEAR ARRIVES AS WE FOCUS ON A GENTLEMAN CAT & A KITTEN IN TRAINING, PLUS A BETTY WHITE NOTE

As 2021 draws to a close and 2022 arrives with all the sparkle of a diamond ring in the intense strategic lighting over jeweler’s display case at Christmas, I offer this photograph of young and old.
We’re using it to celebrate the feline portion of the theme of our weekend feature, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.

We’re also going to mention someone the animals lost as the year drew to a close: Betty White, not just the actress but the animal advocate. She was 99, almost 100 — made the age seem too young to go, didn’t she. That’s a Parade Magazine photo of the star. Here’s a great quote from Betty White: “If animals have moody days, they handle them better than humans do.” [LARRY NOTE: “As a moody human, I concur!” snarled Larry. Now: back to our weekend edition.]
In the opening photo for this edition, the older cat is The Senator, my companion and advisor since 2008 — he was already 6 or 7 when we got him -- wandered up and stayed. The beige-with-highlights cat is Hastings, i.e., Captain Hastings Streetboy, our latest rescue — born in September of this year, found blind in a street on October 4... Old and young — like 2021 and 2022.
The Senator is a gentleman. He is napping in Martha’s recliner. Hastings, maybe 3 months old (barely) and maybe 5 pounds, is not quite napping — maybe. He was too alert to catch from the front, so he was probably just wide awake and flopped down to plot his next adventure. They represent the changing of years.
This photo captures The Senator with my office cat, William Powell, lounging on one of our couches where they have a perfect view of the TV. 
William is a former neighborhood feral who wandered up one day while I was painting the wooden trim at our old Dallas house. I hated to move him out of Dallas — the city has such a striking shortage of unwanted feral tabby cats. [LARRY ASIDE: I may need to check those cat stats.]
 William decided he liked me and adores Martha, so he moved in.
Every morning William and I have a hugfest at the keyboard in our office before I begin writing — it’s a lot like the relationship author John Steinbeck had with his editor Maxwell Perkins, only I’m not Steinbeck and William doesn’t like to use a pencil on paper. No thumbs.

Now that Hasting the Kitten is out of isolation after all his shots and tests, he and William have become romping buddies though William is still a little bit skeptical of the youngster’s motivations. William sleeps. Hastings is learning. 

Sometimes William sleeps on the beat up chair I rescued off a curb and intended to re-upholster years ago. 
He’s not always stereotypically curled up on the cushion. As you can see, he can nod off while sitting up in the chair like a philosopher who just dropped off while leaning over to listen to a tedious colleague trying to make a point about some theory of successful existence in the intellectual community. 
And we have some youthful photos of Hastings -- he's got a certain happiness that we cannot deny! [LARRY ASIDE: Here he is sitting on my laptop while wearing one of Martha's sparkly homemade anti-covid masks. Martha got him to try it on. It made her smile. It seemed to make Hastings feel all dressed up!]
So, as we launch ourselves into a new year, all of us at readlarry- powell.com wish the world a 2022 that is wonderfully laden with peace and good will and overabundant with joy. May we all find ourselves cheerily embracing a happy planet populated by get-along and do-right people! Not much of a challenge, eh? 
Start by hugging a cat, petting a dog and being a strong, loveable human being. Those 3 steps won’t solve all the planet’s problems, but they’re a start. And, then, maybe mankind won’t be in such a hurry to get off the planet. Not that I don’t trust mankind after 2021. Aw, I’m kidding — kind of. As my dear, late friend, Inky, the Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas, use to say to me, "Life? Lap it up!" Amen.
— Offer global advice or local tasty pie tips by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put LAY OFF THE CALORIES 2022 in the subject line. —-

FROM A CHICKENWIRE TREE TO A LOVED DOG NAMED ODDBALL, WE MOVE TOWARD 2022

EDITION OF THURSDAY/FRIDAY DEC. 30-31 [PetPowellPress] This is a long edition — but it’s appropriate, as you see by reading on.
As we move right on to New Year’s Eve, I’m posting what appears to be a Christmas photo. 
It is not. Though, yes, that looks like a Christmas tree. 
For purposes of this edition, that illuminated piece of art is going to be referred to by it’s household name: “chickenwire tree.” 
My creativespouse Martha made it many years ago. She was in a good mood with me, so she went with chickenwire instead of barbed wire. 

And, as we get to this point, please allow readlarrypowell.com to wish all of you Dear Readers more of the gentle “chickenwire 2022” than the “barbed wire 2021” we’ve just been through. Heck, something was always prickin’ our hides in 2021. Back to my ol’ soft heart:

On Tuesday, when I was in my home office pretending to be working on The Lesser American Novel, my yulespouse Martha decided to take down the Christmas tree and put away all the tinsel and ornaments and “seasonal accents.” She has a dismantleization system. Involved a big plastic bag. I was, mercifully, not part of it. I also am pretty sure “dismantleization” is not a real word.

I’d been typing madly on something and simultaneously I’d run out of words and green tea (philosophical change in my drinking life). I’d heard racket from down the hall and figured “kitten playing rough.” As I walked past the living room door toward the kitchen, I realized Martha had just about emptied the limbs on our wonderful semi-flocked fir tree. It was the least-expensive flocked tree we could find and it looked — wonderfully — as if it had been hit by a traditional Northeast Texas snowstorm —a little bit of snow on the needles, not like that maniac storm from last February that buried the landscape. 
What stopped me in my tracks was the sadness I felt in the removal of the tree from a living room that looked so warm with it sitting there, not glaring in lights, but offering a pensive presence with subdued lighting that gave just the right illumination to the ornaments. (I still can’t find my Star Trek ornaments— in a moving box somewhere in the garage or the storage unit. Beaming along…)

Move to Wednesday morning: On my first trip to the kitchen (feed the livestock time), I was a bit jarred because I’d forgotten that the tree was gone. But, as I entered the kitchen, I saw, on the table in the breakfast nook, one of the greatest creations of Martha’s artistic life: Her chickenwire Christmas tree. 
I thought, “Put it away? Heck, no! It’s the perfect table decoration for a breakfast nook year-round.” 
It’s exactly as author Charles Dickens had “reformed” Ebenezer Scrooge say in A Christmas Carol: “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” Nothing says “Keep Christmas all the Year” like a gloriously lit chickenwire Christmas tree on the kitchen table. 

FYI, that cat is my colleague and respected advisor, The Senator, crossing in front of the camera in his homage to the photo of The Beatles' Abbey Road album cover in 1969 — that ‘60s photo was by Iain Macmillan, a Scottish photographer. Also in the photo? Martha’s treasured Wallace & Gromit clock, inspired by the British inventor and his canine sidekick. That’s Martha’s stylish purse on the table — all is lit only by the tree. And those rolls of wrapping paper? They demonstrate Martha’s faith that we'll have a wonderful Christmas 2022. She bought those roles at “After Christmas” prices. That last photo is what the tree looks like when I turn the kitchen lights on. It’s still merry and bright, just like the rest of us on New Year’s Eve, 2021. Yes, this is a photo for a Happy 2022.
LOOKING FOR A LOST DOG
AS FIREWORKS DAY ARRIVES
That’s the missing dog, the phone number to call, the names this guy — adopted around a month ago — may respond to and he’s microchipped, according to the note we got from Lisa Brooks. He also weighs just 11 pounds and may have been stolen -- he is still being sighted in the area, however. The note reads with desperation, “If found/seen, please call/text (972-213-6872) any time of the day or night or email [email protected]. He’s been missing since the 28th. He was wearing a red harness when last seen near the intersection fo West Parker Road and Ohio Drive. That’s in the Plano Zip Code 75093.
[LARRY ASIDE: This dog is already “on the lam,” so fireworks will only make things worse. If you’ve seen Yoni/Teddy Bear, help get him home before the noise begins. And while you’re at it, remind all your neighbors to properly secure their dogs and cats in a safe place where they can feel loved and comfortable and not be inclined to run for their lives when the first boob sets off a firecracker in your neighborhood.]
‘DON’T GIVE UP ON TOBBY YET,’
SAY MESQUITE DOG BIOGRAPHER
We got the story on Tobby from Mesquite Animal Shelter volunteer dog biographer Judi Brown who has met with him and gotten to know him.
She wrote, “Don’t give up on Tobby yet because he hasn’t given up on himself. He may be 14 years old and a senior but he still gets around ...be it slowly. He is a little feeble with some arthritis setting in but that doesn’t stop him from wanting to explore his surroundings with his nose. Tobby is a 34-pound cream-colored terrier (possibly Cairn/West Highland Terrier) that was surrendered to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 12/28 with a request to be euthanized.
“The reason given was that the owners work long hours and didn’t have time to take care of him. He does have medical issues. The shelter tested him and found him be heartworm positive. He also has an abscess under his left eye. The abscess is currently being treated with antibiotics and will most likely be checked out by a vet. If you don’t touch the spot it doesn’t appear to bother him. He is a cute dog that would be made even cuter with a good grooming, especially around his face. He’s very sweet and friendly. His previous owners said that he lived with other dogs and children and was friendly with both.”
Judi also wrote, “Tobby deserves a chance to live out the rest of his life in a peaceful relaxed setting with lots of love and comfy blankets. Can you provide that for him?” He’s #4931779 — use that ID number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].

This guy with the Hollywood pose is Rocky, also an acquaintance of Judi’s. She says, “If you’ve got a loving family that’s not extremely active and are looking for a loving medium-size dog, please come and meet Rocky. He is a 2-year-old, 35- pound brindle and white pit terrier that arrived at the Mesquite Shelter on 12/20 as a stray. He is not fixed. He’s a sweet boy that is very receptive to loving. I get the feeling he hasn’t been worked with much because he doesn’t know the sit command and looked bewildered when I threw a ball. These are things you can teach him. He did stay close after investigating and smelling the yard. He would look up at me with his cute face and just melt my heart. He’s extremely sweet and relatively calm. …” He’s #49286077 — the ID you use when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].

And Judi has one more for this edition: “A beautiful majestic dog that will turn heads.” Her name is Nola (she’s #49319644 at the shelter and use those by-now familiar contact points above). 
Nola was a surrender on the 28th — “unwanted and can’t keep.” A volunteer said the surrendering person says that “Nola occasionally becomes skittish and occasionally jumps on her husband. In the time I’ve spent with her,” Judi writes, “I have not seen any skittish behavior. She appears to be extremely calm and well-mannered. I would refer to her as having ‘southern manners'! She also made no attempt to jump on me.” Nola weighs 59 pounds, Judi says, but she looks larger because of the fluffiness of her coat. And “She comes to you to have her ears scratched. She knows the ‘sit’ and ‘shake’ commands. She even gave me her paw without being asked. Also, it was so cute when I went by her kennel later she stuck her paw out to me!.” Use Nola’s ID # 49319644) when you call the shelter (972-216-6283) or email [email protected].
IN THE SMALL SHELTERS,
ANIMALS AND BAD ODDS
For several years we’ve been watching 4-Legged Helpers, the non-profit, help dogs and cats stuck in small shelters with virtually no human traffic and such lousy odds of being adopted. We’re focusing on these two of many the Helpers are trying to save. 

That “Bulldog mix” Logan and the Husky Aspen are a couple of fellows waiting n the Ferris Animal Shelter south of Dallas. To ask about helping them, call or text Helper Laura Macias at 214-949-2726 or email [email protected]. 
Lively Logan, only about 1, “is such a sweetie pie. He was brought to the shelter by someone who could no longer care for him. He is all love and is a great young dog. Silly, cute lovable, sweet, playful. Adores everyone.”

Aspen the 2-year-old Husky boy, was a stray. Got those blue eyes and a “sweet” personality. “loves children — adores them,” his bio reads. “He was found at one of the local schools waiting to play with the kids. So cute. He knows ‘sit’ and is extremely friendly and personable. Adores people.”
[LARRY ASIDE: A big beautiful Husky “found out and about” and nobody has come for him? Make no sense, does it.]
And here’s a reminder: go to 4-Legged Helpers Inc. Facebook page to see more animals needing help and to keep up with these fellows.
CONTEMPLATIONS

TERRY LYNN’S ODDBALL;

STIRRING PEOPLE &
A WONDERFUL WORLD
Whenever we get an email from our longtime tipster in Burns Flat, way out in Western Oklahoma, the email address is [email protected]. It’s been used to help save many animal lives. And 19 years ago on December 30, Terry Lynn Fisher suffered the loss that inspired her to become the resilient rescuer in Burns Flat. Here is what she sent to me this year to note the inspiration for her mission. Please read what Terry Lynn wrote and sent on Thursday, Dec. 30:

HER NAME WAS ODDBALL…. On this date, 19 years ago, the death of a 9-month-old pup changed things for me forever…
“It was a cold December day. I was out back, fixing the fence where our pups had been getting out…while I was there, two of them got out. I opened the back door and told my sons to go get them. Within five minutes, one was dead… murdered… she was gunned down in the middle of the street …
“The shooter? A city official who had been down the street shooting a skunk.  

“He saw the pups, barking at a lady, drove down to where they were, whistled for my Oddball and as she ran happily towards him thinking he was wanting her, this evil [man] opened fire, shooting my sweet girl until he finally blew enough of her body away to end her suffering… 
“They then bagged her and as they drove by, this person stopped and threw the bag with her bloody body at my son’s feet  I remember her blood splattering out on my teenage son’s boot. 

“I was devastated. … I had never seen such hatred. I later learned that he had done this with many of the animals that got out in our small town.
“I grieved for that young dog… I reached out to other people and met so many others that had things happen in their area, And I got involved with rescuing the innocent animals from pounds and people that no longer wanted or could keep them …
“Now, nineteen years later, thousands have been saved, And not just from my small town.   From all over the place.  And I’ve met some wonderful people… 19 years…. But her death has saved so many   And now, I can actually remember this day not just with sadness, but with knowing that because of a little dog named Oddball, thousands more were able to live… So on this date, as always, remembering Oddball.”
[LARRY ASIDE: Heck, yeah, I’m tearing up. I do every time I read this story. And it helps some to know that Terry Lynn turned her heartbreak and anger into a goodness that has helped so many animals.] …
BEFORE WE ALL MOVE ON to considering the arrival of 2022, Dear Readers, let me just express something I think many of you may feel: Son of a BLEEP, I’ve been typing all year about animals at peril there ARE STILL HUNDREDS of them in North Texas and beyond on the clock. How is that possible? Is nobody paying attention to the appeals by all you wonderful and decent animal people? How, in 2022, can we “enlighten” the public and get these “not me” people to open their homes to loving dogs and cats? Free Lotto Texas tickets with each adoption? Free masks that read ‘I ADOPTED A DOG INSTEAD OF A VIRUS’ OR ‘I GOT A CAT — MORE COMFORTING THAN A POLITICIAN’….
WAY BACK IN 1959, one of the 3 big TV channels ran a New Year’s TV special in which a commentator urged viewers, “Don’t let the fabulous ‘50s become the sicking ‘60s.”
 You may have read or you may recall first-hand how that turned out.
So, I’m not even going to hint that we’re caught up in the second spell of anything called “The Roaring ‘20s.” Whew!!! But, it seems like that every 100 years, something has to go bonkers. That’s how Hollywood find blockbusters. Or did. How about some music? While we work at being good souls, we can embrace the great Louis Armstrong’s wonderful song. CLICK HERE AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
—- Happy New Year and click on ‘comment’ below or email [email protected] and put “WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER’ in the subject line. —-

DOGS, CATS, PEOPLE AND PREDICAMENTS -- IT'S ALL VERY PERSONAL, ISN'T IT!

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY DEC. 28-29, 2021 [PetPowellPress] No need to stop the presses for this note. I’m looking back over non-dieting challenges of the past year.
 I’ve previously mentioned the rescued kitten we’ve been raising — this cutie, Captain Hastings Streetboy.
That’s one of his earlier photos when Hastings was being treated for whatever ailment can curse an abandoned 5-week-old kitten found in the middle of a street with blueberry-sized gobs of “yuck” keeping his eyes shut. [LARRY FYI: Martha, with medical experience as a former Candy Striper, handled the home treatments.]
We thought for a while that Hastings might be blind. He spent virtually the first full month we had him in virtual isolation — not around our dogs or cats while we, with the guidance of Pet Medical Center of Duncanville, treated him for ringworm, the less-and-less common fungal skin infection. Ringworm’ll limit a grown-up human’s desire to cuddle a kitten. My funspouse Martha and I both qualify as “grown-up,” one of us a little more than the other. (FYI: The vets and staffers managed to save Hastings’ vision, too!)
Back to a once-common curse: Last time I was around an outbreak of ringworm among humans was in the 1950s when the neighbor lady’s pre-teen grandsons came down with it in their hair. 
What happened? With their parents’ permission, Meemaw shaved their heads, dabbed all the splotchy areas with “coal oil” — some called it “kerosene” back then — and then painted their heads orange with a nearly glowing iodine product.
My dear beyond-octogenarian childhood neighbor Meemaw Fisher (real name, I swear, “Carrie Fisher”) is gone now, but now and then I think modern medicine may revert to her “old cures.” So, fearing that, I dodge ringworm. So does Martha — for her, a naked orange head would be a dramatic fashion statement she would choose not to dare. We’ll get to this kitten later in today’s edition. Now, let’s try to help some other critters.
BRENN AND BRYCE, TWO DOGS
IN THE WILMER SHELTER
We got the note on these dogs from the folks with 4-Legged Helpers, the non-profit that focuses on smaller shelters without a responsible budget and sometimes without a responsible attitude toward the animals they have.
These two are in Wilmer, on the southern side of Dallas.

Brenn the brownish female is around 10 months old but there’s no public relations department in the Wilmer Shelter to help “market” animals. Bryce, the boy, is probably about the same age. 
They are listed as “BoxerShepherd” mixes.
To ask about helping 4-Legged Helpers save these two, call or text 214-949-2726 or email [email protected].

And go to 4-Legged Helpers Inc. on Facebook to see many more animals in the area that need a break to save their lives.
DENVER AND RYDER
WAIT IN MESQUITE;
SO DOES GOLIATH
Dogs’ faces have such wonderful expressions — in the case of these two, that expression might just be hopeful.
They’re both residents, for now, at the Mesquite Animal Shelter. Thanks to volunteer dog biographer Debra Chisholm, we have their stories.

Denver (#46716734) is “listed” as a Lab/Terrier mix. He came into the shelter on the 16th as a stray — it was not his first visit. She writes, “Denver was originally at the shelter on 2/26/21 and adopted but unfortunately is now back where he started and his owners have not come to reclaim.  He weighs 70 pounds, is approx 3 years old and is neutered. Denver is ‘cool, calm and collected’ with a mellow personality.  He is well-mannered and gentle.  Denver is friendly and OK with attention and affection.  He does walk fine on a leash and when walked through the bay did not show aggression toward the other dogs. … Denver does not seem to know any commands, does not fetch and showed no interest in toys.  He just seemed content to be out of his kennel and able to stretch his legs for a bit.” [LARRY ASIDE: That last sentence made me a bit sad — he might be resolved to ‘incarceration’ — and that’s awful in a spirited dog. Geezalou, somebody with a good heart adopt this guy!]
Use his ID number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email at rescues@cityof- mesquite.com.
Same system for this guy Ryder. 
Debra calls him a “cutesy little live-wire.” She says her Dog Scanner IDs him as a mix that includes American Bulldog and English Pointer. 
She writes, “He was dropped off as a stray on 12/20 at the Mesquite Animal Shelter.  He weighs 40 pounds, is approximately 8-months-old, is not neutered and has the most interesting coat.  This is one confident, outgoing, fun-loving, tail-wagging bundle of puppy energy.  Many of my pictures of him were blurred as I tried to capture his image when he was still!!  He does jump on you in his excitement --a lot-- and obedience classes would certainly help him to be more adoptable and to fit into his forever home better.  … He does sit for treats and took them gently.  He is a friendly pup with a sweet nature.  He chased the tennis balls I threw but did not return them.  He would seem best suited for a person or family who is active.  At this point he would probably not do well with preschoolers as he would knock them over in his exuberance.  Ryder has lots of potential with someone who would take the time to work with him and stay committed to him and of course provide him with an inside living situation so he can be an important part of the family.”

The City of Mesquite’s shelter has a number of dogs and cats, puppies and kittens, who, as 2021 draws to a close, are absolutely available to become the “important part of the family” in your life. See the adorable adoptables AT THIS LINK. 
Waiting in the shelter’s Cat Room is this handsome 3-year-old orange (maybe tan but looks orange in the photo) and white tabby — he’s #49211959. And take a hint from his name — Goliath — in his shelter bio he’s listed as “large”. Like the dogs and cats waiting, use his ID number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or [email protected].
CONTEMPLATIONS
HASTINGS AND COLLEAGUES
Returning to the latest kitten to fascinate the humans, dogs and other cats in the household. Save ‘em all, you know? Hastings is all-clear and has the run of the house but likes to flop on my laptop.
He’s learning how to communicate with humans — sometimes he’s great. Other times? Here’s an example. Each morning my tenderspouse Martha visits a local store to get her morning Slurpee. A couple of days ago, as she handed over her money and picked up her treat, the young lady looks up at her, nods toward all the scratches on Martha’s harp-plucking hands and asks, “Y’all got a cat?”

Martha replies, “I know it looks like I work on a cactus farm, but, this is from a kitten.”
We’re trying to figure out how to teach Hastings (AKA Hasty Pudding and other polite names), how to communicate without applying claws and teeth. We can pet him for a while but somewhere in that beautiful beige coat, he has a hidden “on” switch for “defense posture.” We’ve raised other cats, but Captain Ringworm could have used some early cuddling, I guess. Yeah, he has a home. We’ll take advice on teaching “Charm Level II” to an already charming little guy at times.

ABOUT WILLIAM: Never had ringworm. Mostly the perfect cat. Having been born and raised in Texas, I am familiar with the Lone Star lingo. Sometimes I’ll walk into a room and see our cat William Powell who’ll glance up from whatever script he is considering. I’ll say, “Hey, Stud,” and he’ll give me a glare, then move on with his silver screen career. He sort of resents the irony of “stud,” but, as I tell him, if we hadn’t practiced what we preach, he’d have had absolutely no power of concentration. So, yep, “Spay and neuter” in the New Year, right? Oh, that's William nodding off while sitting at the window as I write. Never complains about "all that typing."
CONTEMPLATE THIS DOG’S arrival condition. That’s’ our boy Dudley the Angel. What makes this older Border Collie/Chocolate Lab mix so darned special? He’s got the loving and patient personality of your favorite soul on or off the planet. And, he arrived at our Dallas house many years ago with two smaller dogs (we got them into a no-kill shelter). All had been dumped on our street. You know how dumpers do — “Open the door. This looks like a good spot. Get out, you worthless bastards.” Bet that’s closer to fact than it is to fiction.
Anyway, when we realized he was already fixed, we gave thanks. We’d picked up dumped and rescued dogs and cats for 20 years by the time Dudley showed up — he was the first boy dog we got that didn’t arrive with his testicles intact. It was like a miracle in our Zip Code. We began referring to him as “The Miracle Dog of Tarryall Drive.” He’s a great fella. If you don’t have one of these guys, get one — he’s good with dogs, cats, people and snacks.
—- Offer ringworm advice or weather tips by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put ‘QUIT SCRATCHING’ in the subject line. —-

THE FILMS OF CHRISTMAS; THE DOGS AND CATS OF THE SEASON; CONTEMPLATIONS...

EDITION OF MONDAY, DEC. 27, 2021 [PetPowellPress] Our opening is Christmas-personal for this edition. Maybe you can relate. Here’s the deal: I didn’t get enough Christmas. Primarily I didn’t have time to watch my usual Christmas movies. (Keep reading to find out about the dogs Mochi and Robby and the challenging cat Eric.)

The twinkle-light truth for 2021 is I had a great Christmas with actual humans and animals — I just didn’t hit my yuletide quota of Christmas movies! My yulespouse Martha didn’t either. She just won’t gripe about it.
Only because of a scheduling quirk did I get to see one fave film: It Happened on 5th Avenue. I saw none of the Home Alone movies — years ago I swore off those made after Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
Also didn’t see the early ‘70s TV version of It’s a Wonderful Life — It Happened One Christmas with Marlo Thomas, TV’s famous That Girl!. The original It’s a Wonderful Life? Missed it, too — first time in decades. Love that film above most of ‘em, I think. 
Missed all versions of Miracle on 34th St., including the mid-‘70s TV version of Miracle on 34th St. which started veteran TV actor David Hartman who’d soon become the first male co-anchor of ABC’s spanking new rival of NBC's Today Show , Good Morning America.
Saw NONE of The Santa Claus films. Didn’t see A Christmas Story.
And I didn’t catch a complete version of A Christmas Carol (neither Reginald Owen’s nor Alastair Sim’s version — not even the Bill Murray version, Scrooged. Didn’t see Love, Actually — so many great characters and Alan Rickman — miss him. Nor did I see National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
 Didn’t see Christmas With the Kranks. Caught about 4 minutes of Gremlins by accident. 
I had at least 3 months to watch a Hallmark Christmas movie on cable— not a one did I see.
Missed White Christmas (1954), though my favorite film of that sort is its 1942 warm-up act, Holiday Inn. Which I also missed.
 And I didn’t see my favorite Twilight Zone episode with the great Art Carney as a hard-drinker who became Santa Claus, Night of the Meek.

I might spend some time between now and the 4th of July working out a “Can’t Miss” schedule for Thanksgiving-to-Christmas Morning 2022 -- ALREADY????!!!!--- viewing of great holiday films.
That opening photo and the second picture feature my office cat William Powell — oh, yeah! The Thin Man (1934) is set at Christmas — didn’t get to see it this season — yes, the cat is named in honor of the star William Powell. The reindeer in the back ground doesn’t have a name. Yet. 

And that is my longtime, treat-sharing companion, Wendy Louise Wagstaff Arden (film name from Irene Dunn’s character in My Favorite Wife with Cary Grant) _ Wendy loves watching Christmas movies. And she also loves Casablanca. She thinks the Christmas action film Die Hard is a like a hybrid car — lots of electricity and plenty of combustion. I think that’s what she told me as we were contemplating the joy of the season — we both had too many treats.

So, what did I see? I saw a lot of real-life people — young and old — actually enjoying Christmas. Smiles. Laughter. Wisecracks. Ribbing of siblings. Hugging of friends. Heck, yeah, might even have approached the “holly jolly” status.
MEANWHILE, AT DAS
‘PRECIOUS LITTLE MOCHI’
While looking through the big population at Dallas Animal Services — this baby is a “free” adoption — I spotted Mochi (#A1126043). The story is she has been in foster care for 4 months and, DAS says, “is eager to show off all the skills she’s learned from her foster family.”
As you can see, one of those skills appears to be “accept a cuddly ride from a smiling human!” 
The story from DAS is Mochi “loves cuddling; has a tail that wags at the speed of light; likes to play with other pups (ignores cats); crate-trained and potty-trained.”

The summary reads “downright adorable.” She’s listed as a year-old, 43-pound “Boxer.”
Check out Mochi and other adoptable adorables at DAS by going to the BeDallas90.org/pets site. 
And this LINK TAKES YOU STRAIGHT TO MOCHI!
THEN THERE’S ERIC,
THE DOG ’N’ KITTY CITY CAT
Now this is one of those interesting cats you may encounter if you’re involved in feline rescue. The bottom line on cats is this: They’re all individuals and some are more individual than others. I type that with love and respect. As Dear Readers know, not only am I a dog fan, I am a cat fan.
He’s at Dog ’n’ Kitty City, the no-kill shelter run by the Humane Society of Dallas County. And Eric, born around April 4, 2018, is a resident of the shelter near Love Field.
 He’s a “mostly tan” Domestic Short Hair. And, as you can tell from the photo, he’s quite a handsome cat with the pose of a philosopher — that’s our theory at readlarrypowell.com. All cats appear to be philosophers, we think.
 Get this, though: He was found living on the streets with a sibling. Then he became a resident of the shelter. He calls it home. Why? He’s been adopted 3 times and returned 3 times because he just can’t adjust to a new home. The shelter says that as he agonizes in a new home. Agonizes might be the right word. The little guy hides, stops eating, hyperventilates and “completely freaks out,” his shelter bio says. 
Thus, the shelter has become Eric’s forever home. You can adopt him as a “Guardian Angel” and help keep him happy in his home with a “beautiful calico” the shelter describes as “his girlfriend named Rosemary.” Yes, that is beautiful Rosemary and she, while adored, has a medical problem that makes her extra special when it comes to adoptions. Doesn’t mean she won’t be a wonderful cat for a wonderful person. 
Go to dognkittycity.org to see how to help both of these cats.
ONE MORE MENTION
OF CUTE ROBBY BOY
Oh, we'll do more if needed, but it would sure be great to hear that this cute guy had been adopted.
You know rescue-oriented people must be persistent in order to help as many animals as possible? That’s the case with this guy Robby, said to be a “young male Bulldog mix” who is available via a private animal control concern in Denton County.
The info comes from the big hearts at 4-Legged Helpers, the people who focus on small shelters and other animals who are found in a bit of a fix.
The story on Robby is he’s about 10 months old, happy and adorable and “seems to like other dogs.” …
And there’s this: “Loves to cuddle — cutest thing ever. Loves kids and absolutely everyone!~ Check him out looking at the fish — adorable!”
 You can ask about getting involved in saving Robby’s life by calling or texting Laura Macias at 24-949-2726 or email [email protected]. Or you can check with Laura Hayden at 214-906-7680 or email [email protected].
CONTEMPLATIONS
SURPRISES, SHAKESPEARE & THE CHRISTMAS COUNT
Which do you think can be more startling? Snakes or people? Yeah, I think people have a corner on the surprise element. Here’s an example via the Detroit Free Press. Just before Christmas, the son of an “animal hoarder” called the Detroit Animal Welfare Group and said he’d be coming by to surrender “60 to 80 parakeets from his father’s house.” Showed up with 497 distressed appearanceparakeets stuffed in cages. Here’s a LINK TO THE STORY. [LARRY ASIDE: So, yes, the theory is a human with nearly 500 parakeets is more surprising than the sudden appearance of a rat snake in your garden.] … Need a Shakespeare quote? Read this one today in an email that focuses on comedy. “Better 3 hours too soon than a minute too late.” It’s from The Merry Wives of Windsor. Show of hands, please, by people who have seen a production of The Merry Wives of Windsor. [FYI: Research shows there was a production at the Delacorte Theater in New York’s Central Park in July. Covid canceled some of the performances.]…
The Christmas Count at our house: One light bulb dropped (hit floor, exploded); overnight an ornament from our tree mysteriously hit the living room floor and shattered into about 200 pieces. The cats all claimed to have been asleep at the time. Ever try to give a cat a polygraph exam?
—- Offer lively thoughts for the new year by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put ‘NOT A CLUE’ in the subject line. —-

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYBODY! ENJOY THE DAY, HUG YOUR CRITTERS AND AVOID CALORIES

For this weekend and for Christmas Day, we’re celebrating the umpteenth edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap with some holly-jolliness and “Tinsel of the Mind.”
I’m not sure “Tinsel of the Mind” is an actual condition, but I’ll cop to it.
That’s our boy Griffin (Griffy or Big G), a quite large cat. Quite large.  Griffin Oliver Powell was enjoying a nap once upon a time under the Christmas tree at our old house in Dallas.

[LARRY ASIDE: I once heard that when the North Pole operations were looking for a place that could handle mass manufacturing and swift overnight global distribution, Dallas was in the top two “likelys” until somebody pointed out that sleighs would need their runners refitted with yet-to-be-developed multi-climate tires and that reindeer have trouble landing on roads with potholes. Wouldn’t be able to get car insurance — Texas doesn’t recognize sleighs as vehicles. Anybody else hear that?]

Our reach in this edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap goes from the summerish yule in the Metrosprawl to the actual wintry conditions at our Eastern Seaboard Bureau on Indian Lake in Denville, N.J. -- see the ducks on the pond? There’s some Tinsel of the Mind at work there, too. It’s aided by that layer of snow that fell on Denville on Christmas Eve — photo by noted broadcast and print journalist Andrew Fisher, our Eastern Seaboard Bureau Chief. That’s what it looked like Friday from the deck of the bureau. In a few paragraphs we’ll get to Andy, wife Annie (the first pickleball player I ever encountered) and Chloe the Cat who serves as the Eastern Seaboard Bureau Personnel Manager. 
Back to Tinsel of the Mind:
TOTM is the kind of thing that happens to people who really love the holiday season — symptoms are (a) easily distracted by flickering lights, (b) drawn to “SALE!” signs and open parking spaces and (c) inclined to make a list and check it twice. 
I’m one of them —I’d love Tinsel of the Mind even more if Lotto Texas could see fit to drop the right six numbers on Saturday night! There’s yer merry Christmas!
But, moving along…
Back to this big orange cat, Griffin Oliver Powell, an Oak Cliff stray we picked up after a rainstorm when he was a kitten — that was in 2003 and the big lovable angel went on back to Heaven in 2015. 
He loved the Christmas trees. One year, my focusedspouse Martha snapped the photo of the rascal in a yuletide nap under the tree. He was a gift and still is — photos and memories and sometime I almost think I can hear his basso profundo purr coming down from Heaven when insomnia has me wide awake in the “lateness of the hour.” Could just be a routine window-rattling household snore — many suspects in our sometimes quiet home!
Now, Dear Santa, I’ve been a really good boy this year — got all my vaccinations and a flu shot and something else I can’t remember — oh, yeah, my LCV shot (lycanthropy control vaccination) to control full moon episodes. I’m kidding about that last one. Look, I rescued a kitten and he needed a lot of help. My yulespouse Martha and I have a history of rescuing cats and dogs. And that is how these two couch-snoozers became the spotlight of our Christmas Day/weekend edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.
You see two scenes. One is mere months-old kitten Captain Hastings Streetboy, a rescue, backed up to the backside of the veteran sleeping canine Porche Noel, a rescue. I picked Capt. Streetboy up off Hastings Street in Duncanville -- not even a full handful of kitten, blind with goop on his eyes and starving. Porche Noel is maybe a decade older than Hastings and she got the name because we found her on our front porch at Christmas.
A few minutes after I took the hip-to-hip photo, I captured them in their actual sleeping poses. Porche won her end of the couch and Hastings established a napping domain on his end.

As you may suspect, Martha and I love these two. Heck, we love ‘em all. Even animals we haven’t met and may never meet. Save 'em all, you know. It’s a Tinsel of the Mind thing, maybe. Could just be the morally right thing to do.
At our Eastern Seaboard Bureau there’s this calm and loving cat, Chloe. This is Eastern Seaboard Bureau Personnel Manager Chloe taking a management look at the bureau’s Christmas tree. Andy quoted her as saying, “Yeah yeah. Pretty tree. Big deal.” I think he paraphrased.
He also reports that Chloe has good wishes for Christmasses future and Andy writes, “Things are looking up — like this angle on Annie’s beautiful tree.” Yep, Bureau Chief is third in power and influence at the Eastern Seaboard Bureau. Andy, however, can write a good explanation. For example, regarding adopted-rescue Chloe, he writes, “Chloe got over her love of the mean streets very early; she’s content to watch the birds and squirrels out on the deck and run the house, which is a very big job.”
Andy included his photo of gesturing Chloe explaining that she was saying firmly, “Move that chair a little to the right, OK? Why? BECAUSE I SAID SO!” [LARRY ASIDE: She may be up for Personnel Manager of the Year in New Jersey, I think. Not sure who the other nominees are. It’s a working honor, not a political position.]
And that reminds me, Dear Readers (and the Bureau staff — big Christmas bonus in the mail!) , to thank you all from my heart for your contributions of photos and stories to readlarrypowell.com's daily editions and our weekend feature that celebrates the love you have for your animals year round. We've been publishing Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap since May 5, 2005. It continues to be a weekly joy to see how much people love their dogs, cats, birds, horses, reptiles, amphibians and an occasional in-law.
Now, in a full-on outbreak of Tinsel of the Mind, Merry Christmas to you all and to all some genuine Peace on Earth and Good Will Toward All. [LARRY NOTE: By “all,” we don’t mean the unchanging bad guys who could use some time contemplating the lack of Tinsel of the Mind in their twinkle-free existences.]
And that closing photo is the lad Hastings Streetboy enjoying a full-on Christmas Eve nap with his mentor, my personal counselor in all manner of political, professional and personal matters, The Senator, a veteran napper. Hastings has learned quickly. The Senator has not let his time in a "swamp" stifle his ability to teach the younger among us.
— Offer peaceful tips or ideas for late gifts by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put ‘NO! NO! LARRY! NOT THE CHIMNEY! Thanksgiving to Christmas is a bad spell for my diet. —-

ON CHRISTMAS EVE, WE CITE ANIMALS, PEOPLE, A TALE OF A CHRISTMAS RIDE, ETC.

EDITION OF CHRISTMAS EVE, 2021 [PetPowellPress] Some photo, eh? That’s a work by Bob Young, husband of Vicky Young, our longtime tipster, critter fan and goodhearted soul who founded The Young Company, the noted "marketing resource"! 

The caption that goes with the photo was written by Bob. It reads, “This photo was taken last year in the plaza at Victory Park, close to downtown Dallas. It was Christmas Eve morning, and the pandemic was keeping most people home. The city was quiet and the plaza was eerily empty, but the sun rising behind the tree seemed like a promise of brighter days ahead. It still does.”
[LARRY NOTE: As a longtime resident and writer regarding Dallas’ changes and ambitions, I see the photo as an amazing tribute to tranquility right in the middle of what I call “busily being built Big D.” We’re using it to open the Christmas Eve edition because the words in the caption included “A promise of brighter days ahead!”
We’ll start those brighter days with a wish for a Merry Christmas for all within the reach of a positive holiday sensation! A smile here, a bit of laughter there, a quiet moment watching a favorite film or listening to a song that means something your particular faith.
It’s Christmas and readlarrypowell.com is comfortable wishing the happiest of holidays to all. And, to all a good night. Hmm. That “good night” line sounds familiar. Let me check something… Credit the man in the photo Clement C. Moore (1779-1863) and his Santa Claus poem. A Visit From St. Nicholas....though there are people who think someone else wrote that poem that begins "T'was the night before Christmas," which is where we are today.]
HOLLY, NOELLE AND OTHER
DOGS IN SMALL SHELTERS…
Appropriately for the season, we mention Holly again and Noelle for the first time, thanks to the folks who work to help animals in small shelters get attention. (You may have heard of the 4-Legged Helpers — may they win Lotto Texas for Christmas if I don’t.)
Earlier this week we mentioned three dogs at the Wilmer Shelter in a desperate placement situation. The latest note regarding that trio reports that two were tagged by Rescues, but Holly was left behind. Wilmer’s shelter isn’t open to the public so the animals must depend on the kindness of strangers, so to speak.
There are two contact points for this group of big hearted animal fans: Call or text Laura Macias at 214-949-2726 or email [email protected]. Or call Leighann Hayden at 214-906-7608 or email [email protected].

That’s Holly in the first photo — she’s a Lab mix who “adores everyone.” She was “found out and about by the Amazon facility perhaps hoping someone would take her home for Christmas.” (Get in touch with the contacts to ask about helping with boarding costs or adopting or rescuing this girl.)

Noelle, in the second photo, is a “baby female Shepherd mix” who is about 3 months old “and the sweetest most precious baby.” The idea is to get her out so she won’t spend the long holiday weekend alone in the shelter.

That brings us to 3 from the Ferris shelter. As the daytime temp approaches the 80s one looks at Aspen the Husky boy and asks, “Hot enough for ya at Christmas?” But, seriously, folks, the was a a stray — found at a local school — knows how to “sit” and “adores people.” He’s 2 or a little younger. 

Rocky is that “loveable pup” with the great face. He’s a Shepherd. mix. His story reads, “Sadly his prior person’s daughter was apparently in and out of the hospital so he was brought to the shelter in hopes someone might see him and give him a great home since the family could no longer care for him.” He’s about a year old and “absolutely adores children.

Dustin, already neutered, is a Terrier Mix at Ferris.
“He is just as sweet and cute as can be.”
What more do you need to know about a healthy cute dog with a wagging tail? 

Use those contact points listed above to save their lives.
And ask how you can help others in the “sphere of awareness” of these noble rescuers. It's Christmas -- give a dog a home.
ASH WAITS IN MESQUITE —
‘FRIENDLY, WIGGLY, HAPPY’
Oh, boy, Mesquite volunteer biographer Judi Brown has run across a handsome little guy — this is 8-month old “mostly Black Lab” mix who weighs 34 pounds and isn’t fixed, but still needs a home. He came in as a stray on the 18th. 
Judi writes, “He’s got all the qualities of a sweet puppy: friendly, wiggly, happy, loving, energetic, outgoing, tail wagging and alert! He also comes with kisses galore. He’s amazingly well mannered and trained for as young as he is. He sits for treats and takes him gently. He’s so motivated by treats that it was difficult to get pictures of him in any other position than a sitting position as he kept sitting in anticipation of a treat. … He did his business immediately upon getting out into the yard indicating he may be housetrained. He got a little tangled up on the leash but I got the idea that he thought that walking on a leash was something he would like to learn to do. When I walked him through the bay he wagged his tail wanting to make friends with all the dogs... even the ones that were barking at him! I did not see any signs of aggression. Ash would most likely make a wonderful dog for a family with children because he’s so gentle, loving, and well mannered. Being as young as he is he could grow up with your children. He would love to sleep on blankets or a bed by them.” [LARRY ASIDE: Yeah, it’s pretty clear that Ash charmed Judi! To ask about adopting or rescuing him use his ID #49279103 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected]. Judi also writes, “P.S: That spot between his eyes is missing hair and probably is a scar.”

He’s not the only animal left at Christmas in the Mesquite Shelter.
You can see more dogs and cats by clicking on the shelter link HERE.
Among those waiting is the grown up “Sandy Claws” and the young but elegant gray tabby Leo.]
CHRISTMAS CONTEMPLATIONS
MUSIC, CHOIR AND THE MANGER
Know what you missed if your were born after the ‘60s? The excitement of being an American teenager who was rock-solid certain that Santa was bringing your house the brand new album by The Beatles. As Beatles protege Mary Hopkin sang, “Those were the days, my friend, we thought they’d never end."….

WHAT ABOUT LATIN? One thing I remember learning at church during the holiday season in (possibly) 1963 involves a second language. I was a member of the “Young People’s Choir” (royal blue robes with silver sashes) at Highland Park Baptist Church in Texarkana. We were rehearsing for what we called "The Christmas Cantata." An interim song-leader thought he could teach the 14 or 15 kids in the Southern Baptist choir how to pronounce a certain Latin line in a song called Angels We Have Heard on High. The line we worked on came out at first with a Northeast Texas accent “Gloria an ex-hell cease day-yoh.” 
But with some help from a choir member who was a 2nd year public school Latin student named Loretta, the choir director finally got us to adequately sing in Latin this phrase “Glow-ree-ah in egg shell seas day oh!” That’s how Loretta explained the Latin pronunciation. We did OK. And some people who have studied Latin will realize that, for one Christmas program in the mid-‘60s, the high point was judged as “Sic friat crustulum.” Idiomatically, “That’s the way the cookie crumbles.” How long ago was that? Many Christmases ago. And, in Latin, “Tempus fugit!”

AWAY IN A 1950S MANGER … David and Dellas Wallace sent us one of those wonderful Jacquie Lawson ecards — a beautifully animated story of Mary and Joseph traveling via donkey to the manger in Bethlehem. Did it remind me of Christmases past? Of course! [LARRY ASIDE: Lately we’ve been reporting on Della’s encounter with Emulie, the Emu who strayed into the Wallace backyard. There are no Emus in this manger story. Or any other manger story that I know of — never witnessed an Australian nativity scene.]

Now, as I explained to Della and David, the manger card reminded me of a childhood time in Texarkana when people a few blocks from our house would do a live nativity scene each Christmas season.
 Pop worked nights, so Mom would be the driver in our one-car family. That one car was a squarish 1951 dark green, un-air-conditioned, 4-door Plymouth. Ah, those were the days. Anyway, we had the 1951 car in about 1955 (no new cars at our economic level!). Mom took us on a nighttime drive past the live nativity scene. “Us” was the three boys —I was oldest at about 8, middle bro Barry was about 5 and Baby bro Garry was close to 3. In those days there was neither a seatbelt law nor a law against naming siblings Larry, Barry & Garry. 
So, as we slowed for a drive-by at the curb near the manger scene on a camping lantern-lit vacant lot, the three of us crowded into one window and stuck our trio of knuckleheads out so we could better see the shepherds and the donkey (might have been a horse) and Mary and Joseph and the Baby Jesus who, we agreed, “looked like a doll.” But, then, maybe we heard the Baby Jesus crying. When you’re not the driver, you can’t pull over, get out and get a closer look.
 Somebody had a record player set up near the manger — record player? That’s what we used to hear music on. In this case, from the car window, we could hear Christmas music — nothing by Gene Autry about a heroic deer or The Mormon Tabernacle Choir. (I think this was a Southern Baptist manger and the hosts might not have thought a reindeer with a red nose was particularly Biblical.) Seems like, in retrospect, that Santa had a “saint” connection and maybe that worked out for all the denominations. As we noted earlier, “Sic friat crustulum.” I think I’d like some Christmas cookies right now, in fact. Can’t have ‘em — had too many since about 1956. Long ago reached my lifetime cookie quota.
—- Offer Christmas tales or Latin jokes by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put “CARPE CRUSTULUM” in the subject line. —-

THE GUY DROPPED THE BEER....PLUS, GOOD STORIES & APPEALS FOR HELP FOR ANIMALS

EDITION OF THURSDAY, DEC. 23, 2021 [PetPowellPress] Bleary-eyed one morning this week, I staggered into the kitchen to prep breakfast for the livestock and my not-quite-awake eyes caught a glow outside the kitchen window. I pulled open curtain over the sink and what to my wondering eyes should appear, but this lit-up dog face. I’d forgotten about the Christmas scene Martha had created in the front flowerbed — a big white dog pushing a big envelope into a mailbox. Kind of put me in a Christmas mood — yes, that is a pig with wings on the window sill. I think he’d been talking to the dog. 
Now, on Wednesday morning, I was in the middle of an attempted theft at a drug store. Merry Christmas indeed. More in Contemplations. First, some animals in need, including a delivery that would make Santa (a) envious and (b) reaching for a lump of coal over the dump-the-puppies philosophy.
WE PRESENT THIS MOM,
HER PUPPIES & A RESULT!
Gail Whelan, founder and spirit of the Companion Animal Network, sent out a note that I read early Wednesday. The message began, “Someone dumped this mom and puppies at a man's house and he is begging for help.” Gail was prepared to help with transports and a donation.
So, along about mid-day I checked with her and she happily wrote back, “WELL..... HERE IS A GREAT UPDATE.   The SPCA of East Texas is taking the whole family in January.  I will have them here (in her East Texas home) until then (If I live through it).  The SPCA of East Texas is always full but I gave it a try and got a call back ASAP saying they would take the family.  I could not be happier.”
To help Gail continue her life-saving work, contact her at 903-957-3226 or email [email protected]. You can reach the SPCA of East Texas by clicking HERE.
One more report from Gail. In mid-November we wrote about a girl named Poppy who was in a tough spot. Gail wrote us this note: “BY THE WAY..........  Poppy, the perfect black lab girl -- has a fabulous home in Prestonwood now.  THEY ADORE HER!!!!”
We wrote about this girl Poppy in mid-November after getting a note from Gail about the 6-year-old, 88-pound Lab girl. She was, Gail reported, “losing her home through no fault of her own.” And, now, with some help from determined Gail at the Companion Animal Network. this girl has a home. [LARRY ASIDE: Kind of feels good to know that Poppy will have a home for Christmas.]
A DOG NAMED BROWNIE
NEEDS A GOOD HOME NOW….

CHATA HAS BEEN BETRAYED…
We learned of Brownie the Dog from Judi Brown, veteran dog biographer for Mesquite Animal Services. And in these two photos Brownie looks as if he’s auditioning for a role in a movie. “I can play very serious; I can play playful.” 
Judi says Brownie is “a fun-loving happy energetic dog looking for an active family that wants to play with him. He thinks the world is his oyster. With his easy-going joyful attitude he’s delightful to be around! Besides that he’s really cute! Brownie is a five-year-old brown and white terrier pit that arrived at the Mesquite Animal Shelter as a stray on 12/17. He weighs 49 pounds and is not fixed.”
Motivated by treats, wants to please and is “a lap dog wannabe,” Judi writes. He’s #49272714 — use that number when you call the shelter at 972-215-5283 or email [email protected].

Judi also met and worked with Chata, this 6- or 7-year-old bulldog who weighs in at 74 pounds — arrived at Mesquite as a stray on December 15. 
“The animal control officer,” Judi writes, “said it was obvious that she broke out of her fence and then did not know how to get back in. Her owners were called but have not chosen to reclaim her. She also came in with a Boxer that she had lived with. The boxer has been rescued. Chata has been being passed over possibly because she’s overweight.
“But she told me she would be willing to go for a walks with her new owners,” Judi wrote, then added, “It would also benefit her to be put on a diet. She does walk well on a leash although she wobbles as she walks along beside you. … She’s timid and spent her time in her kennel in the back of the kennel where she’s not very visible to the public. When I took her out into the yard she wanted to retreat into the corner for security. However I got down on the ground with her and spend time petting her. She was very receptive to loving and liked being petted. She wagged her tail. She has been overbred, has some moles on her neck, and a tumor on her right paw. The best adjective to describe her is SWEET! When she went back into her kennel she did not retreat. She was standing up as though she was more confident. This loving, gentle girl is already spayed! She has so much love to give you!” Chata’s ID is #43462201. Call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
CONTEMPLATIONS
THE ATTEMPTED HEIST
Now and then you’ll get a surprise for Christmas. Along about the middle of Wednesday morning I walked into a neighborhood drug store that was playing upbeat Christmas music for all of us customers. It was, indeed, Christmas at the drug store. Cheerful greetings from employees. Lots of signs of Christmas! 
I needed a few things including lightbulbs — our living room lights are dimming. Probably wore themselves out trying to out-glow our Christmas tree.

Anyway, all the items I bought fit into one small plastic bag.

As I was paying, a tall blonde walked past me and into the “airlock” between the inner sliding doors and the outer sliding doors. 
It took mere seconds to sign and pay and as I picked up the bag and turned to my right to go, a guy carrying three boxes of bottled beer — the kind innocent people buy — ran, yes RAN, around me and was just two quick steps from the open sliding door. 
But, fate was not on his side.
Having to move around me had invalidated his escape route.

Just as he dodged me, I heard an employee shout “BANDIT! BANDIT!” and the sprinting thief whammed into the gently closing door, dropped all three boxes and fell to the floor. Four or five other employees arrived at the scene of the...well, attempted crime.
One young male employee, also yelling “BANDIT! BANDIT!” arrived and missed grabbing him as he scrambled, clattered and spider-crawled his way out to freedom.

Yes, the employee missed the speedy would-be bandit, but did manage to save the beer. I said, "Must be really good beer" and the employee replied, "I wouldn't know. Never tried it." Too soon for a wisecrack, I guess.
Another employee said something like, “I think that woman in purple was his helper.”

The Lady in Purple and the guy who ran, stumbled and fumbled like he’d once had a running back contract with the Dallas Cowboys need to rethink their career choices.
 I hope whatever is keeping him and his sidekick from being good and decent people is soon under control. They’re too young to spend life as crooks.
And, snatching beer from a drug store — is that any way to spend time at Christmas? Yep, surefire way to get on the naughty list. Well, in some jurisdictions, anyway.
—- Offer law-abiding advice or other tips by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put ‘HANDS UP! DON'T DROP THE BEER’ in your subject line. —-

CHICKENWIRE; CATS AND DOGS; SAILING THE GIFT; LEMON DROP KID SONG

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, DEC. 22, 2021[PetPowellPress] Ah, midweek and time to celebrate a favorite Christmas tree. That is the chickenwire Christmas tree Martha made about a decade ago.
That is Stevie Ray, celebrating his 3rd Christmas with us, but getting his first good look at the chickenwire tree as it is being tested for the 2021 season. After I shot the photo, Stevie Ray asked, "Hey, you, what the heck is chickenwire? And what is a 'chicken'?"
 I replied, "Go ask your mother. She made the tree." 
My original reply was, "They're kind of like reindeer only they can't fly as far, they have feathers and you can't can't find plant-based 'Reindeer Nuggets' in the frozen food aisle."
Ah, Christmas. The joy of yelling "tag" and passing the question to the next person in line! 
Later in the day I was writing on a laptop on our dining room table and caught the tree in its full glory...Not a single cat climbing on it -- unlike the other tree in our living room. The first couple of days it looked like we were hosting a Climbing Cat training session for the next Olympics. You've heard the question, of course, "Does a cat have a climbin' gear?"
AMONG THE ANIMALS WAITING
GOOD PEOPLE IN CARROLLTON
We have a "secret tipster" called "MBrown" who keeps an eye on Carrollton Animal Services and the adorable adoptables and "rescues" in that city shelter. 
MBrown wrote to us Tuesday about animals whose "faces are haunting me."
You may agree. And MBrown also tipped us to Bone, James Bone, a dog. Read on. And remember, the website for Carrollton's shelter is HERE.
This dog is, MBrown wrote, "an 8-year-old regal beauty." She's in isolation and it may be because of a skin condition. 
Brittany (#49019802) is a little over 8 and is listed this way "Setter, Irish Red and White/Poodle, Standard." You can see all that in her pictures.
 Her intake date was November 5 and her current stage is "available." And MBrown absolutely described her perfectly as "an 8-year-old-regal beauty."

MBrown's feline spotlight is on this no-name-known-yet cat #48982857, a beautiful Domestic Shorthair Mix who is a little over 3 years old and is "large." Gray and white and, surely, at some point had a name that he recognized. Now, he's waiting for a rescue, not a home just yet. He came in on October 30. Look for him in the Cat Room at Carrollton Animal Service. This cat is, however, available only to an approved 501c3 Rescue with experience in handling feral or semi-feral cats.
And MBrown also sited this guy named Bone, James Bone (#491179724). He's about 2 years and a month old, is in the large dog kennels at Carrollton and has been in the shelter since Nov. 20. The shelter says he weighs 59 pounds, is a Shepherd mix and came in as a stray. Plus, he's available for adoption right now. And because the shelter's Happy Straymas celebration is underway, you can adopt James Bone without paying a fee. Yep, free dog for Christmas.
MBrown wrote, "The shelter seem to be over run with cats lately." Indeed, if you go to the animal adoption page at the Carrollton shelter, you can see cats with holiday names -- i.e., there a Blitzen waiting for a home.
Remember, CLICK ON THIS LINK.
And MBrown closed her note with this situation. She wrote, "I saw a very tiny gray cat outside my house.  I fear for his life, as there are coyotes about.  He is very fearful.  May be feral, but I doubt it."
[LARRY VIEW: We know the challenges! May some "peace on Earth and goodwill toward that cat" help MBrown work things out. In the meantime, maybe someone can put up some "Spay & Neuter" signs in Carrollton!!! They work as effectively as a "yield" sign on Central Expressway.]
NOW, LET'S MOVE INTO THE AREA
OF SMALL SHELTERS & ANIMALS
And see if you can help an animal find a home for the holidays.

Now here's the contact info for the animals we're going to discuss.
 We got the info from veteran animal advocate Leighann Hayden. Call or text 214-906-7680 or email [email protected] to ask about these animals.
 These first three are in the Wilmer Shelter. And, transport is available if you contact those points above.
Sabrina is a German Shepherd mix -- has a great ability to pose for a picture, as you can tell.
Then there's Holly, a female Lab mix, who appreciates a snack, apparently.
And that brings us to Nicholas -- (not St.Nicholas, but if you're a good pal for this dog, he be saintly!). Nicholas is believed to be a purebred Labrador Retriever.
This final photo exhibition is of Robby, a "male Bulldog mix" currently in the care of a "private animal control" in Denton County. 
His bio reads, "Robby is just as sweet and as cute as can be. Already neutered & fully vaccinated. Only 10 months old and so HAPPY and adorable. LOVES to CUDDLE - cutest thing ever. Loves kids, and absolutely everyone!!!"

Once again, call or text 214-906-7680 or email [email protected] to ask about these animals.
CONTEMPLATIONS
SAILING PACKAGES; TV ADS; HOPE & BELLS
While reading a neighborhood bulletin board Tuesday I found this "sign of the times" -- haphazard work by a 'delivery professional.' And let me declare admiringly I never heard of Neiman-Marcus sailing a purchase toward somebody's front door! Stanley Marcus knew how to "mind the store" and respect the customer. The woman in Fort Worth wrote, "I been waiting on a package I ordered online. Well, today I was looking out the door and [DELIVERY] pulled up. I was fixing to go meet him when all I see is my package flying in the air. He stopped the truck, stood on the last step and instead of putting it on the porch, he just threw it in the yard. I just stood there in shock. I understand they're extra busy and long hours, but COME ON!"
WHERE ARE THE HORSES? I must not be watching enough sports this year. I have yet to see a Budweiser Clydesdale Christmas commercial. 
I did find this LINK, however, to a story about a number of Clydesdale Christmas commercials.
PERHAPS THIS SONG is your holiday favorite, too. May be tied for first place with several other holiday songs. It was first performed by Marilyn Maxwell and Bob Hope in the 1951 film The Lemon Drop Kid. Here's the LINK.  If it doesn't work, Google "Bob Hope Marilyn Maxwell Silver Bells. The song is part of the enjoyable Christmas film built around a Damon Runyon short story. As I type this, I know there are people reading who have heard of Bob Hope. Maybe some know of Marilyn Maxwell. I'm not sure how enduring writer Damon Runyon has been. But, maybe, for Christmas 2021, this will give those folks some well-served yuletide spotlight.
--- Offer tidings of joy or winning Lotto Texas numbers by clicking on 'comment' below or by emailing [email protected] and put 'ELF SUIT TOO TIGHT' in the subject line. ---

CHRISTMAS JOYS, A LITTER OF PUPPIES, EMUNEWS, A '65 RECOLLECTION OF SISTERS

EDITION OF TUESDAY, DEC. 21, 2021 [PetPowellPress] This photograph is a convergence of seasons. You see at my funspouse Martha is at work in her true field of endeavor, wrapping presents, and the little kitten, Captain Hastings Streetboy, is enjoying the sounds and springing-abouts of his first Christmas. Yes, the Christmas season and Kitten Season converge.
He’s the fellow I picked up in October from the middle of Hastings Street in Duncanville — he’s healthy now and can see and has enjoyed slapping flocking off the Christmas tree, trying to pull ribbons off of packages and posing motionless with Martha for a holiday photo.
He has defeated ringworm — and, as you know, ringworm is tough. An outbreak once grounded a certain 8 tiny reindeer. You cannot not be scratching out of unison and simultaneously manage a shingle-shaking safe landing on a rooftop. That’s what I heard. That was the year in the ‘50s everybody got a tube of ointment in their stocking if a grandmother tapped out her Lucky Strike and declared “That child’s nose is glowing red!” 

Perhaps I misremember the entertaining folk tales of my childhood in Northeast Texas, land of pine trees and pastures filled with red-nosed ticks. Let’s move along with items of the day not related to fiction. MORE CHRISTMAS MEMORIES IN CONTEMPLATIONS…
AN UPDATE ON IVY JOY,
THE RESCUED KITTEN
As you can see in that photo on the left, Ivy Joy is no longer a kitten.
In late 2010 or early 2011 (my mind slips) we began writing about her after Houston rescuers Frank and Edna Taylor managed to save her from a solitary life in a dangerous field. She was adopted by the Ragland family in Dallas and has lived what is accurately described as “a wonderful life.” You may recall that Frank and Edna loved this cat so much that they drove her from Houston to Dallas to make sure she arrived safely!
She is an extraordinarily beloved cat!
Recently Ivy Joy encountered some medical problems. We’d been monitoring her progress via the loving words of her human Lezli Ragland. On Monday, we spotted this message from Lezli, “Hello Everyone From Ivy Joy!!! She has healed nicely from her cancer surgery and her bladder issues, etc., are doing better since back on the steroids. She is happy, feisty and full of joy…..She will be rechecked in a few more weeks. Thanks for the love and purrs. Our hearts are connected by paws.”
And that photo on the right is the very first picture we ever posted of Ivy Joy — that was taken before she was “Ivy Joy” — she was snapped while exploring a little trashcan in the Taylor household! Just a kitten and now such a beloved cat. That is a happy story!
SUCH A CROWD OF PUPPIES,
PLUS DAD; MOM’S SAD STORY
This is one sad danged story. 
A Momma Doberman gave gave birth to 11 puppies. The people who had Mom and Dad and the 11 puppies, decided to give up Daddy and the puppies. Mom? She had died.
Here’s the story from the folks at 4-Legged Helpers who continue to monitor opportunities in small shelters in the greater Metrosprawl. The info note reads, “This is a sad case of a mommy dog that passed away apparently and someone released Daddy who is a purebred Doberman and all 11 puppies to the shelter.   Daddy dog is a wonderful dog.  Very sweet and loving.  About 2 years old.  Very friendly.  Loving.  Gives kisses.  Knows sit.    Sorry - I do not have all the puppy pics but have most - there are 11 total.  They all look very similar.  Puppies have had 2 sets of vaccinations and have all been dewormed. Please help!!”







CALL/TEXT 214-949-2726 or email [email protected]


 

AND NOW WE RETURN TO
THE EMU ADVENTURES
When last we addressed Emulie the Emu, our pal Della Wallace was monitoring the situation of two stray emus wandering her Oak Point neighborhood.
What do you do with an emu when your house is focused on dogs, visiting cats and a raccoon colony? 
Our pal Della Wallace, the veteran rescuer and advocate, talked with neighbors and, after some calls, got the “stray” emus into the care of the Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch in Denton County.

Della kept us up-to-date on Emulie’s situation. Well, except for identifying the gender of an emu — we both know how to peg boy or girl cats and dogs, but emus are a different challenge. Probable takes more than picking them up, turning them over and looking between their back legs. First, they don’t have back legs…

For a while Emulie was “in a grove of trees next door and I can’t see her,” Della wrote. “She is sharing a water trough with a couple of cows. She is being fed grapes and other fruit.”

And Della reported this odd thing occurring at the same time as Project Emulie. “Birds are everywhere,” Della wrote “About 20 geese next door, birds in my bird-feeder and of course Emulie still eluding the guy trying to catch her in the pasture next door!” 

She proved a little difficult to catch, but the professionals managed to get her and the other wandering emu.
 As the pros were beginning their work, Della wrote that Emulie was “hiding in a grove of tree.” The Della wisecracked, “They think they may have to tranquilize her. Probably finish up tranquilizing each other.” 
But, everything worked out and the pros got Emulie and his or her mate (uncertain!) to safety. Everything was tranquil without being tranquilized.
CONTEMPLATIONS
EMAIL, MUSIC & YULE DELIVERY


“Are these the BARN DOORS YOU WANTED?” read the email subject line and immediately I thought, “Oh, no! Another mistake trying to order a ring for Martha!” Fortunately it was not an error, just an advertisement. I’m not buying barn doors until I have a barn. And I won’t have a barn until Lotto Texas comes through for me. …
HERE’S A SONG FOR THE SEASON from Tony Bennett.. My favorite line is “from now on our troubles will be out of sight.” There are two versions of this song, as you can learn by reading this story by Maddy Shaw Roberts on the Classic FM page HERE. …
AN UPBEAT CHRISTMAS MEMORY: I'd have photos to go with this story, but we didn't have cellphones with cameras in 1965. We didn't have cell phones, either.
When I was a kid reporter and a senior in high school in December of ’65, I was not only a full-time Texas High student and full-time reporter (4 p.m.-11 p.m.) at The Texarkana Gazette, I was working part-time (on my nights and afternoons off) on a delivery truck for Montgomery Ward. It was a big department store chain many of you kids don’t remember. I needed the money to pay for junior college in the fall, assuming I'd graduate from high school in Spring of '66. (I did both.)
On one Saturday day-shift in delivery, the driver John Butler (father of a kid I knew), and I loaded up the big delivery truck. One of our last stops of the shift was going to be at a house atop a hill just west of downtown Texarkana. It was to an older house — two flights of stairs up from the street and another flight into the residence. 
We were lucky we weren’t delivering a refrigerator or a “hide-a-bed,” two torturously impossible items to smoothly deliver up a flight of stairs. This time we were delivering a “console stereo” — a piece of cabinet-styled furniture about 4 feet long and 2 feet wide — inside were state-of-the-art stereo speakers, a tube-powered radio and a “record player” that played 45, 78 and 33 1/3 rpm records. You could stack records on the spindle and the mechanism would “drop” the record and the arm would move over the record, lower the needle gently to the record’s edge and then begin to play the music! It was magic! 
We parked in front of the house. The family’s Italian name was on the mailbox so we knew we had the right home.

Mr. Butler and I pulled the boxed console stereo out of the truck, shut the door, then began to walk the bulky item up the stairs. Mr. Butler, a slim fellow of about 5-10, who wore his Montgomery-Ward uniform like it was a Marine uniform (very crisp!), began backing up the first flight and if, hefting my end of the console, followed him very carefully. These were steep steps made of decades old cement. You had to be careful where you stepped. 
We made it all the way. And Mr. Butler took one hand off the console to ring the doorbell. Inside we could hear happy chattering exploding. The door opened and the “Mom” stepped aside to let us into this “decorated for Christmas” home.
There were also three teenage girls there — sisters, all beautiful, all happy, all with wonderful smiles and brown eyes. They were so excited they were giggly. One of them had a record album in her hands. 
Mom showed us where to set up the console. Mr. Butler expertly cut the box away from the console and pulled it aside, telling me to fold it up. As I folded the box, Mr. Butler plugged the stereo into a wall connection. Then he opened the top of the console, reached in and turned it on. The yellowish glow of the radio dial accented the white paint on the wall. 
Mr. Butler looked at the girls and said, “It’s ready to go.” 
Mom said, “Put on a record.” And the girl with the brand new record album— she looked like maybe the middle sister — smiled and stepped the the console. But she wasn’t quite sure how to put the record on the spindle or start the turntable, so Mr. Butler helped her by giving her directions so she could actually put on the record and start it. And soon, that home of happy kids was gleefully listening to the stereo sounds of a brand new copy of Elvis’ Christmas Album from 1957.
I remember that day and seeing those sisters get that big family gift. It was, from the eyes of a helper on a delivery truck, a very Merry Christmas for three kids and a Mom.
Even now, in December 2021, 56 years later, the joy on those faces at the first notes of Santa Claus Is Back In Town still helps me find my own smiles at Christmas. And, of course, as a dedicated Boomer I miss the sound of new vinyl sliding down the spindle and slapping flat onto the record that just played. But just thinking about it makes me a little merrier. I hope you’re merrier, too. Turn up the volume. Shake the department store home-furnishing paintings off the wall!
— Offer tune tips or lectures about moving along into the future by clicking on ‘comment’ or by emailing [email protected] and put 2021 NITWIT in the subject line. —-

A MERRY MONDAY, DOGS AND CATS WAITING, A PEGASUS EVENT IN 'LIVING BLACK AND WHITE!'

EDITION OF MONDAY, DEC. 21, 2021 [PetPowellPress] Here we are at the outset of the week heading toward Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and if you're reading this in a nation associated with the British Empire, "Boxing Day" on the 26th. I think in the U.S. we celebrate "rasslin' day."
For this special week-long period of prayers for "Peace on Earth and good will toward all," I figured we oughta start each edition with something upbeat.
"Say it with roses," the advertisement urged way back in the previous century. Turns out it works in this decade, too. 
Those are the roses I gave my funspouse Martha on the 15th for our 30th anniversary. 
They're QueenBerry Roses, according to the tag on the plastic. I got lucky. They were bundled for sale at Cox's Farm Market in Duncanville -- how lucky? A dozen big, beautiful roses for $12 plus tax. I've bought a lot of roses through the years --- a fellow like me has to maintain an Apology Budget. Never bought 12 for $12 unless it was off the side of the road from a vendor peddling Tyler Roses.
 Nope, this bundle was the greatest rose bargain. They have lasted so long that they are part of our Christmas display next to the dining table -- along with the pumpkin from October. Might try to "leave it all up" year round.
Also in the display, that cat message. My son Bret, who has one dog and no cats, gave it to me years ago. My son Bart, who has dogs and kids, laughed. He knows we long-ago passed that particular line by more than one cat. I blame Martha -- I'll need to check with the folks at Cox's to see if they have more roses.
PIPPI'S BIOGRAPHER WANTS
TO GET HER 'HOME FOR CHRISTMAS'
Yes, indeed, Mesquite volunteer dog biographer Judi Brown is hoping to inspire someone to give sweet Pippi a home for Christmas and beyond.
Pippi (#49253274) is a 2- to 3-year-old, unspayed, 27-pound Blue Heeler mix who came in as a stray on December 14. 
Judi describes Pippi as having a "fun-loving, enthusiastic, playful personality."

After spending time with Pippi, Judi writes, "If you have an active family and are looking for a smaller dog to play with and to train, then come and meet Pippi. She’s very sweet. She’s very loving and gives kisses galore. She’s curious and even got into the toy chest to take out some toys. However, when she got them out she didn’t seem to know what to do with them. She wasn’t interested in chasing a ball. She didn’t seem to understand what I wanted her to do when I tried to get her to sit. She wants to please so these are some things you could teach her. She spent time exploring the yard with her nose and seems to have a keen sense of smell. When she got done exploring she stayed close to me. It was difficult to take pictures of her because she stayed so close.  Sometimes they called this a Velcro dog! She is definitely looking for a friend."
And, Judi wrote, "She would like nothing better than to get a loving home for Christmas." Use her ID #49253274 when you call the shelter at 97216-628 for email [email protected].
See more of Mesquite's adorable adoptables -- dogs and cats -- by clicking HERE.  Year-old sweet girl Sandy Claws, who we cited last week, is still waiting.
STILL WAITING FOR SOMEONE
TO OFFER HOMES FOR THIS TRIO
We've mentioned the three before. They're among the dogs that fall into that category of "not in a big shelter, but in big trouble if nobody saves 'em."
That dog is Elias, only 2, medium-sized and adorable, his bio says. He's waiting in Denton County.His promoters with 4-Legged Helpers report, "He has an amazing talent and it is SO CUTE - He can catch treats midair. Any treat! He also can sit on command, walk on a leash, and his best talent is giving sweet kisses. He absolutely adores children and especially enjoys bath time ..."
[LARRY ASIDE: Ah, a dog who can talk your kid into taking a bath! Invaluable!]

The cats are 8- to 10-week-old boys Jack and Bill. Strays at such a young age. They're adorable and affectionate and waiting for someone to give them a home or homes. [LARRY NOTE: We vote for "homes" -- we've got experience with the joys of a pair of cats who enjoy each other. Lots of cute photos and cuddling.]
Ask about Elias and the kittens by calling or texting 214-949-2726 or email [email protected].
CONTEMPLATIONS
TAUNTING, A MYSTERY AND A TUNE
How long before the U.S. House, Senate and the two big politcal parties get together and decide to call "TAUNTING!' penalties on the campaign trail or in the heat of congressional "discussions"? Can't you see that? A ref standing at the front of Congress and waiting to throw a yellow flag at somebody who's taunting? The ref won't have enough flags....
NO POLITICS HERE, JUST ACTING...For years we've been telling you about a joy of the stage, the "In Living Black & White!" productions by the fabulous Pegasus Theatre founder/ director Kurt Kleinmann. Coming up on the calendar beginning Dec. 29 at the Eisemann Center, Pegasus presents Prime Time for Murder! The summary says "Prime Time for Murder! takes place in a television studio where the program Mystery Theater is broadcast live. The year is 1950 and television is in its infancy. Harry, Nigel, and Lt. Foster are hitting the small screen, but when the television show goes live, someone ends up dead. Will our trio solve the murder before their feed gets cut? Don’t touch that dial!"
 Read about the Dallas-based theater at pegasustheatre.org. Get tickets to Prime Time for Murder! by clicking on the Eisemann Center's calendar page HERE. 
When you're at the theatre's site, you can also see opportunities to help the show go on, as it must. A $15 donation does a week of Covid testing for one actor; $65 will pay for a week of make-up for an actor. Wig rental? $100 for one actor. There other listings. [LARRY ASIDE: When I was doing theatre, I'd have begged for donations to pay someone to whisper my lines into my for my forgetful ears!]
MUSIC OF THE SEASON and other seasons, too, was on the playlist Friday night at The Kessler in Dallas' Oak Cliff when several of us gathered to enjoy the Christmas show by fabulous performers Kelly Willis and her hub Bruce Robison and a great band. The show was about a third Christmas songs and the rest traditional Texas and Oklahoma Country or maybe Country Rock. Among the songs was this traditional number performed wonderfully by Kelly Willis. CLICK HERE for Santa Baby. I can recommend several others that are full of wit and romance. Probably do that later this week.
--- Offer tune tips and gift ideas by clicking on 'comment' below or by emailing [email protected] and putting "STAY OUT OF THE CHIMNEY, SLIM!" in the subject line. ---