EDITION OF TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY NOV. 12-13, 2024 [PetPowellPress] One of the great ways to start a day is to get to see the beginning of a wonderful sunrise.
Readlarrypowell likes to sleep through sunrises but things are different in our Eastern Seaboard Bureau. The sun comes up earlier in that Atlantic Coast time zone. Here's the evidence from Eastern Seaboard Bureau Chief Andy Fisher, the veteran print and broadcast journalist.
"Brought To You By The Almighty," he labeled this scene. [LARRY FYI: Our photo system has toned down the colors' vibrancy -- we're working on this but, for now, appreciate the contents and nature of the clouds.]
Andy shot it Tuesday morning as the sun was rising over the bureau on the shores of Indian Lake in Denville, N.J.
Yes, there is a cat at the bureau -- this is her, Chloe. That first cat photo shows Chloe supervising in the kitchen with Eastern Seaboard Bureau Chief Executive Officer Annie Fisher.
The second photo shows Chloe helping Andy understand his duties as the Chief Attendant among her basic-needs staffers.
Back to today's photo topic.
What was the weather like at sunrise? Andy wrote, "This is one of those blustery days when car doors get blown into the sides of adjacent cars in supermarket parking lots." [LARRY QUERY: That sound like a Texas parking lot to y'all?]
And, Andy also explained, "Chloe doesn't like being out on the deck on windy days. I think she perceives the flying leaves as birds.
"She'll beg to go out -- excuse me, she's a cat, so she doesn't beg, she commands -- and then hides under the table or a chair, and when Annie opens the door, she's back inside." [LARRY ASIDE: I'm thinking about encouraging Andy to write a book titled "Sunrise With a Cat." I know a lot of cat people who'd appreciate that title and the illumination of the joyful experience.]
FROM A FANTASTIC CAT
WE MOVE TO A 'STAR' DOG
Well, OK, he's a dog with a star's name.
[LARRY ASIDE: If you were a kid going to the movies starting in 1974, you probably remember the hit film about a dog named Benji. More in Contemplations...]
Debra Chisholm, our tipster from the volunteer dog-writing corps at Mesquite Animal Services began this dog's bio thusly:
"This timid Miniature Pinscher is Benji, picked up as a stray on 11/4 by one of our officers and brought to the Mesquite Animal Shelter. He weighs 25 pounds, is approx 6 years old and is neutered.
"Benji has been uneasy since his arrival. One of our volunteers has begun to work with him and
has discovered that once Benji is comfortable with a human who is showing kindness he will snuggle up and enjoy being petted. In fact, if the petting ceases, he will nudge his new friend to continue on!
"Slow introductions are the best approach with Benji. He is calm and gentle. Benji walks nicely on a leash. He needs continued interaction with others in order to build confidence and trust and to be less fearful and nervous. He comes when called and seems to want to please. He has undoubtedly been someone’s beloved pet as he looks as though he’s been well cared for and yet surprisingly no one has come looking for him."
So, when you find yourself interested in giving Benji a home, cite his shelter ID #57210490 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
CONTEMPLATIONS
QUICK COUNT, COWBOYS & CINEMA
As I began typing this on Tuesday morning, it was just almost impossible to believe that what seemed like the eternal presidential election campaign actually ended a week ago and the result was announced so darned quickly!
Plus, it's almost impossible to comprehend that the Dallas Cowboys have figured out even more ways to stink up a stadium. Geez, it used to be so easy to get the Cowboys into a Super Bowl. Unlike some athletes' post-game comments, that sentence was not taken out of context. (I hope fans who hear players protesting their own quotes smiled at that line).
BACK TO BENJI: In case you weren't around in the 1970s, Benji was a fantastically successful movie about a heroic dog. The moviemaker Joe Camp filmed it in what was becoming known as the Metroplex (we'll look into that label some other time). Filming was done in Dallas, Denton andMcKinney -- maybe some other places. And Higgins, the dog who played Benji, was nominated for a PATSY for "best animal performance of the year in a feature film" -- lost out to Tonto the cat who starred with Art Carney in the Oscar-winning film Harry and Tonto. But Harry and Tonto didn't launch a bunch of hit sequels like Benji did. This, by the way, was when people went to movie theaters to see movies, not to have dinner and chew loudly and burp at critical moments in quiet dialogue. I can do that at home watching a download on a TV. But, of course, I don't -- a gentleman is a gentleman in or out of the theater.
-- Offer productive advice by clicking on 'comment' below or by emailing [email protected] and make the subject line read 'GOOD LUCK, SUCKER.' ---
