NEIGHBORS, DOGS, CATS, GRAMMAR, LANGUAGES AND MARTIANS...

EDITION OF TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY, JAN. 4-5, 2022 [PetPowellPress] You know how things have really changed in America. I got a piece of mail addressed to “Neighbor” at our home address and it had a return address of Carol Stream, IL.
 The word “neighbor” has been redefined, I guess.
Carol Stream, about 1,000 miles from DFW by car, is on the west side of the massive conglomeration known as “Chicagoland” — and it also is just north of Downer’s Grove. No. Downer’s Grove has nothing to do with Orson Welles’ 1938 radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds. The Martians landed in Grover’s Mill, N.J. But as neighbors to the world, I’m sure we all remember that. (We have more about Carol Stream in Contemplations. But, first, check these opportunities to be a good-hearted human on your own portion of Planet Earth.) Oh, that's me and William Powell -- he wanted to show off his pink nose and those eyes over his eyebrows. He's big into illuisions.

A NOTE FROM BURNS FLAT
WHERE …WELL, READ ON… 

At readlarrypowell.com, we’ve been writing for years about Terry Lynn Fisher’s rescue adventures and triumphs in Burns Flat, Okla. 
She’s up against a challenge right now. Discussing “Team Terry Lynn,” the people who help her keep Burns Flat’s shelter no-kill, she writes, “We have never all been sick at same time. It’s been horrible.”
Pneumonia got her first, “but it just wasn’t getting better,” she told us.” Then, this week, she learned that she and her “two sons that help me so much all have Covid." Jason is “feeling better,” she says, but “Scott, Ellie Rose (the granddaughter) and I are still pretty bad.”
Terry Lynn’s been resilient for years. She writes, “I’m sure going to clean and feed in the cold temps doesn’t help.  But like I’ve always said, there are no bad weather days or sick days in rescue.”
And, she also says, “The only place I’m going is to the pound and back!”
In case you want to offer her some help or some encouragement, email remembering_oddball@yahoo.com.
TWO THINGS FROM STRAYDOG
THAT GOT TO YER OL’ TYPER
UPDATE: THURSDAY EVENING NOTE FROM STRAYDOG! The folks with Straydog report that their adopton day at PetSmasrt in West Plano has been cancelled. [LARRY NOTE: That is the era in which we live. Cancel City!] We'll leave the rest of this page posted because it contains information that will help you adopt a dog who isn't going to get to be on display this weekend in Plano. You can still adopt via the Straydog's online operations!]
I was typing along when, suddenly, a teardrop got in the way — is that a country song? Moving along: One piece of art has animals needing homes and the other has a dog who got a home — that’s the way it’s ALWAYS supposed to work out. At every shelter, with every rescue group, with every roaming mutt or cat lunkheads like me and my nonlunkheadunspouse Martha manage to pick up off the streets or out of a park or off our front porch.
Yeah, I’ve visited Straydog Inc., the great “no-kill shelter and sanctuary” in East Texas that is a place for animals and, yes, for people, too. The people who work there and volunteer — not sure they’re called “Straydogians” but why not? — may just find their lives enhanced by the animals they help tend to at this very special place in a state where people have to work hard to make sure animals aren’t treated like trash. 
Both of these pieces of artwork came from the same Straydog Inc. e-mail.
That first one is an announcement about the upcoming Straydog Adoption Day — it’s Saturday the 8th at the Petsmart West Plano. Don’t look for Mack the dog on the adoption list at this Adoption Day. Nope, as that second illustration says, Mack has found a home! [LARRY ASIDE: Based on my experience with dogs and cats and twin boys, I’d say that photo looks a whole lot like he’s having breakfast with a cat! Like nearly everybody else with an understanding of phrases such as “cat- like speed” or “dogged pursuit,” they may be discussing the Dallas Cowboys! Or Mack is about to ask, “How do I get seconds?” And the cat will respond, “Seconds? You can’t stay movie star thin and eat seconds!”]

Now, I don’t know which of Straydogs’ dogs will be at the adoption day, but you can go online at straydog.org and click to the available adoptables where you can see this older gentleman, Sam, a Boxer-mix “born approximately in the middle of 2009,” the sanctuary says. [LARRY ASIDE: Sam’s good with dogs and kids and adults and nobody is sure about cats, but 3 outta 4 ain’t bad. Look at that face! That is the face of a dog with soul. May some good-hearted human have enough soul to match spot-on with Sam.] You also can follow Straydog Inc. on FACEBOOK HERE.
MEANWHILE, OUT AT THE LAKE
A FRIENDS CLINIC SATURDAY
Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake operates (so to speak) in the same general area as Straydog’s location. On Tuesdays, the Friends operate (again, so to speak) the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic at Gun Barrel City.
But on Saturday the 18th, from 10 a.m. to noon, the clinic will be doing “affordable vaccinations, microchipping, heartworm testing and other non-surgical services.” Questions: Call the Friends at 903-451-4701. Masks? Yep, in the building, according to the latest posts.
MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE,
AH, THE SWEET PUPS
One of the great things about the City of Mesquite Animal Shelter is the organization has a gangbuster volunteer program. At readlarrypowell.com, we get to benefit from the work of a couple of volunteer dog biographers, Debra Chisholm and Judi Brown. 

Through that part of the volunteer program, that’s how we got to learn about Murphy, this “happy-go-lucky” Terrier mix who came in as a stray on Dec. 30. Our dog bio tipster Debra Chisholm says the year-old, 61-pound dog “is a a bit nervous and skittish in the shelter environment and seems uneasy with the barking of the dogs.  He walks sort of OK on a leash, but winds himself around and between your legs when you are walking him.  Leash training would be a great idea!”
 The thing is, she says, “Whether walking or just hanging out with him, he stays very close! He did not seem to have any aggression towards the other dogs when walked through the bay.  He loves treats and takes them gently.  When away from the noisy bay, he wags his tail and seems happy to be with a human friend.” Murphy’s shelter ID is #49334270. Use it when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email at rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
This guy Miles is “an American Pit Bull mix who was picked up as a stray by one of our officers … Miles [first] landed at the Mesquite Shelter in 2017 and was reclaimed.  His owners were contacted when he arrived on 12/26 and said they would be picking him up but have not done so and therefore looks like he will be looking for a new home.  Miles weighs 80 pounds, is approx 8 years old and is neutered.  He has a strong pull on the leash and when walked through the bay he did not show aggression toward the other dogs. … He loves to play fetch and is quite good for an 8 year old dog!  He has a fairly mellow personality and a moderate activity level.  He is friendly and has a pleasant nature.  He likes treats and takes them gently.  For a senior boy, he is quite spritely and energetic.  He does have some kind of skin condition on his face that will need to be looked at by a vet.  Will you please help this senior find a home where he can ‘chill’ inside and enjoy his people?” Miles is #36642913.  Yep, call 972-216-6283 or email at rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
Debra says the “Dog Scanner App” says Jimmy might be a mix with Saluki and Sloughi in the family tree — Salukis originated in Egypt and Sloughis in the “Fertile Crescent” of the Middle East. Wherever he came from in his family’s past, he wound up as a stray in Mesquite, delivered by an animal control officer on December 30. “He’s a real looker,” Debra writes, adding, “Jimmy weighs 48 pounds, is about 10 months old and is not neutered.  He has an outgoing and spunky personality, is a curious boy and enjoys time in the yard stretching those long legs.  He is a perky and enthusiastic fellow.  Jimmy doesn't jump on you. He takes treats gently, is friendly and has a sweet nature.  When the other dogs in the bay are barking, he howls.” 
She says Jimmy “walks quite nicely on a leash … He doesn't seem to know any commands.  … This would seem a good dog for an active person or family who would exercise and play with him daily and would teach him some commands.”
Jimmy’s ID is #49335435. Usual Mesquite contact points to ask about him.

See more Mesquite dogs and some Mesquite cats, too, by clicking on THIS LINK TO THE CITY SHELTER.
For example, consider this girl Emerald (#48707256). She’s said to be 4 years, 1 month and 2 days old. She’s small and “gray/black” the shelter’s bio says. She’s in the Cat Room and has been at the shelter since September 21. Long time for a shelter cat. The reason readlarrypowell.com is smitten by her is that championship set of whiskers! They look thick enough to bundle together and use to paint a house! Emerald — might be a good opportunity to have a conversation starter walking around in your house!
CONTEMPLATIONS
A VARIETY PACK IN 3 LANGUAGES
I got an email from a nice person named Dale who asked if I was also a member of the 1970 German class at Texas High in Texarkana. So, I am responding here: “Nein. Ich habe Mitte der 60er Jahre zwei Jahre lang Latein an der Texas High studiert. Könnte mein Bruder gewesen sein.” That’s from the online English to German translator. This is from the online English to Latin translator: “Nec. Linguam Latinam per biennium in medio annorum 1960 Maximum studui. Frater potuit.” I took two years of Latin. Didn't offer German when I was in high school. Lot of words in either language, so in English, the answer is “No.” By 1970 I’d already worked for three different newspapers and was struggling to maintain standards in English grammar and word definition that have, here in the 21st century, apparently been abandoned by people who never learned to diagram a sentence. One more note to Dale: Go Tigers. …

Earlier in this edition I mentioned being regarded as a neighbor of a business in Carol Stream, Il. “Il” is postal for “illinois.” Liked the old “Ill.” better. It grinds me to use “TX” for “Texas,” too — oughta always be spelled out for emphasis on the great Lone Star State. Anyway, is Carol Stream named for a creek or some beloved brook in a city park. Nope. It’s named in honor of the city founder’s daughter, Carol Stream. Here’s a link to the touching history of how a girl born at Christmas inspired the city’s name. …

When I read a headline in late 2021 that a “chip shortage” was affecting American commerce, I thought “computer chips” but when I was sent out just before Christmas to buy Frito Scoops for dipping at a little family gathering I realized the critical chip shortage was more dire than some electronic gadget. Yep, readlarrypowell.com is all about the important things in a happy life. Maybe not having a bucketload of chips for the holidays will help my new year lab tests. Yeah, that’s something a GeezerBoomer will say.
—- Offer diet tips and vegetarian soup recipes by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com and put DODGE THE CALS! in the subject line. — doesn’t listen to me. —-