EDITION OF OCT. 15, 2024 OR THEREABOUTS [PetPowellPress] Before we get to my traditional topics, let's take a moment with an annual
event.
A visit to the State Fair of Texas is always a booster shot for me, the kid from distant northeast Texas.
My Dallasbornfunspouse Martha and I went to the Fair over the weekend. And we toured a favorite spot -- the Creative Arts Building and saw great photos (many with animals), paintings, collections of Texana and State Fair items. Oh, and don't forget the fascinating quilts on display. And, of course, nothing says "Texas" like a blue-ribbon boot decorated for Christmas.
In the Creative Arts building we saw some longtime pals working hard to make sure the cooking contests and judging came off with precision and with authoritative judging.
These traditional contests and some new ones are fabulous -- they draw exquisitely talented and ambitious cooks and bakers. [AN ADMIRING FYI: Those Creative Arts people work long hours before and after the State Fair. They help make the State Fair great -- it doesn't just pop up every year ready-to-go.]
The Fair and the fabulous Fair Park buildings are a great pair to promote Dallas and Texas.
After years of observation, I'm kind of inclined to declare that nobody else but Dallas can pull off preserving history while simultaneously moving an entire State Fair year by year into the future.
I also snapped that photo of some of the goats at the Fair -- I think they were waiting for deliveries, i.e., some were expecting kids and one already had one. [LARRY ASIDE: I'm almost certain some were expecting the State Fair Corny Dogs for their morning snack. LARRY EXPLANATION: The GEU requires morning snacks. What? Oh. The Goat Exhibition Union. I may have made that up.]
RECUPERATING NADINE,
A PICTURE OF NEW HEALTH
Our pal Patty Sprong posted a note about this beautiful dog on Monday and it caught the eye of readlarrypowell.com because (a) Patty's a legendary foster mom and (b) she's dedicated to helping animals who need loving help in a warm and loving home -- the kind of home they should all have.
The report from Patty began, "Poor Nadine was spayed today, had two tumors removed, and had a dental with extractions. I think we will both just chill tonight!"
[LARRY ASIDE: Patty's "chill" declaration inspired me to send a quiet note to Patty and Nadine to get the story. Patty provided the answer. I'm not sure Nadine is up to typing just yet. Probably not in the mood to hold a laptop....]
The story is, Patty says, that Nadine is about 6 years old and "was a breeder release." And, she adds, "She is learning about the good life, but will be scared and shy at first. She’s actually house-trained with a doggy door -- and that’s rare for a breeder! She gets along great with my dogs and ignores my cat."
Nadine "needs a little time to heal," Patty says, then "she will be available through Recycled Pomeranians."
Contact the Pom People at www.recycledpoms.org. [LARRY NOTE: I can't get that logo to un-blur on my computer, though it doesn't look blurry when I copy it. Just another challenge in the era of computers.]
[AND, OF COURSE, Dear Readers who pray, Say a prayer of gratitude for all the fosters who devote their time and hearts to making lives better for dogs and cats that need the love of a good human.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
CONFESSION, ART & CARS
The confession is my Monday Holiday wore me down, sent me into confusion and misdirected me when it came to working on my computer. I'll either do better tomorrow or worse. You can't play to a tie with the computer keyboard. ...
I started writing/editing for a living when typewriters were king -- you had to know how to spell, punctuate and paragraph on your own. That was before telephones you could walk around with. How old am I? Cut me open and count the rings. (That's a tree joke -- not sure they still teach "tree lore" in public schools.) As long as I mentioned old school typing, I thought I'd show you an admittedly lousy photo I took at the Fair of a prize-winning painting that, in person, is enchanting and took me back to the era of using pencils to edit stories as I worked in the newsrooms of the past. With sweeping gestures of disgust or frustration, pencils were more dramatic than whining and moaning as you punched a delete button on your keyboard after computers took over on the editing desks. You could throw a pencil across a newsroom, but not a computer. Too expensive to hurl....
So, yeah, we went to the State Fair of Texas and, as is the case for most young people, we were drawn to the new car exhibitions. [WHAT? The State Fair doesn't make you feel young?] We strolled among the new cars and new models of old cars and marveled, in particular, at the astonishing prices. I think our motto for the show became "Can't wait until that shows up on the used car lots." Good grief. Frankly I was emotionally upset that Chevrolet did not present any 2025 models of the legendary small car, the Chevrolet Vega. When the twins were born, I swapped my 1970 Fathom Blue Chevrolet Malibu (beautiful car) for the lower-priced, fuel-efficient 1971 unpleasant green Chevrolet Vega. Lower monthly payment, you know. Alas, the guy who sold it to me did not figure in the bills for "engine melt-down" and "parts fall off." You'd think that by now Chevy would have improved and re-released the Vega. Somebody must have filed a restraining order.
Think I'm kidding about the worth of the Vega? Catch the opening passage in this Motor Trend article.
I live with my automotive memories -- not always a comfortable ride.
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