EDITION OF MONDAY/TUESDAY JUNE 16-17, 2025 [PETPOWELL PRESS]] Felt like quoting some poetry this morning -- we'll get to the "why" in Contemplations.
So, thanks to Lewis Carroll we'll set the tone with his well-known expression, "O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!” Read on and you'll encounter some tales of animals, people and a self-inflicted predicament. And, probably, you recognized the quote. Summertime advice? Check you borogoves daily or they may get all mimsy.
That cat photo? Has nothing to do with Lewis Carroll -- that's my golf-watching cat pal Stevie Ray Treeboy exclaiming when J.J. Spaun sank that long putt to win the U,S, Open. To my knowledge, Stevie Ray has no clubs, but if anyone invents a "Bare Paws Golf Course" he's got a grip on the game. He likes to swat the balls -- that's what I've heard.
3 OVER-THE-WEEKEND:
DOGS WAITING FOR HOMES...
[LARRY ASIDE: Yeah, these are "over-the-weekend" dogs -- I got the emails about them over the weekend. Here are their stories.]
The stories on these three dogs were provided by volunteer dog-biographer Jamie Dotson who met them and got to know them in the Mesquite Shelter. You can see these dogs, more dogs, cat, more cats, and read their bios (without the editing of a mean pencil) by licking on the Mesquite Shelter site HERE.
ABOUT DOC: This first guy is Doc, a 3-year-old, 48-pound neutered Lab Retriever/Staffordshire Terrier (His Shelter ID
is 58226868). He arrived as a stray on April 1. And he came with a "big personality," Jamie wrote. "He always has a smile on his face and a non stop tail wag to everyone he meets. Tho sweet and easy going he is curious and explored everywhere we walked too. Yet he was quick to come back to sit close to me."
To ask about Doc, cite his shelter ID # 58226868 when you email the shelter at [email protected] or call the shelter at 972-216-6283.
Same system for these other two pups provided by Jamie. [LARRY ASIDE: We're editing the bios for space, but you can see the long versions on the Mesquite Animal Shelter available animals list. Get info by citing the animal's shelter ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
ABOUT ROSCO -- Roscoe is the year-and-a-half-old German Shepherd mix -- might be some Black Mouth Cur in his mix, too, the bio says, The 59-pound dog is #58469403 -- cite his number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
Roscoe was surrendered on June 5 because his family said "they could no longer care for him" and, yet, "Roscoe greets everyone he meets with a smile on his face. He was such a joy to spend time with. Tho he may have lived outside, he definitely wants to be an inside pup spending his time cuddling with his forever family. This happy go lucky boy knows the sit command, takes treats gently and enjoys being petted." Not a fan of cats, but might work out with other dogs.
He likes to cuddle with humans, his bio says, and Jamie writes, "This boy has captured my heart and I know when you meet him you will feel the same!" Cite his shelter ID #5846940 when you email [email protected] or call 972.216.6283.
ABOUT BRUNO: Same system for Bruno -- he's #58700550.
Bruno is a 65-pound, 2-year-old male German Shepherd mix who may "have some Norwegian Elkhound and Dutch Shepherd in his mix."
He was an owner-surrender on June 12 -- "they could no longer care for him."
His bio says he'll be one to need periodic grooming. He has a gentle personality, he enjoys being petted and takes treats gently. He takes in every smell in every room and outside walks too. Walking past other dogs barking at him, he showed no interest but we do ask if there is another dog in the home, please ask the shelter for a dog test. He does like toys, but hasn't decided on a favorite one. He would love to find his forever family that can offer him a secured backyard to scout out, yet live indoors where he can spend time with his family companions, and snooze the day away."
[LARRY ASIDE: The home that was described for dogs only -- humans have to work on their own tranquility! Right?]
Bruno is #58700550 when you email [email protected] or call the shelter at 972-216-6283.
CONTEMPLATIONS
WHEN A WARNING SIGN WORKS....
OR, 'WHAT LARRY DID TO HIMSELF'
OVER A DASHBOARD LIGHT!
This is a story of a human who made an effort to plan ahead -- I am that human, Larry "Lost in His Own Time" Powell.
We begin with a fun Father's Day/kids session at a restaurant in Arlington and, afterward, back at home, the Father Figure (that would be your writer, me, Larry P.).
Good meal, good conversation, laughter and then back home.
Martha was tied up watching a British TV mystery and while also reading another British mystery -- she's MultiMedia Martha.
FIRST I TRIED TO GO
TO A FAVE BOOK STORE....
It was a simple-enough desire: Drive to a favorite suburban book store (member of a big, big chain) to peruse the latest magazines -- I like Writer's Digest, theater magazines, the Santa Fe magazine, etc. Magazines with which I can relax and I'm not challenged by their crossword puzzles. I've subscribed to The New Yorker for decades and never finished a single New Yorker crossword. I just ain't that smart.
HAPPILY DRIVING
TO THE LITERARY
GRAND DESTINATION
So, yeah I got in my car -- Martha, the dogs and cats all stayed in the air-conditioned comfort of our domicile -- and I went driving. I got to the shopping center and parked in an incredibly open parking lot at the bookstore. I blamed the absent cars on Father's Day celebrations in restaurants.
BUT I WAS WRONG!
ONCE SAFELY PARKED,
as is my style, I hopped out (using a loose definition of "hopped") and walked up to the double-doors. Each door had a sign that said, "TEMPORARILY CLOSED DUE TO POWER OUTAGE MAY OPEN AT 3 PM." That's a photo I took. "Rats, I thought and got back into my car."
AND THAT IS WHEN THE
HELLISH EMOTIONS ARRIVED.
NOTHING TERRIFIES ME
LIKE A CAR THAT 'NEEDS WORK'
When I started the car on this 90-plus Sunday, not only did the engine and the radio fire up, but so did a light in the big middle of the dashboard.
It warned authoritatively
"SERVICE ENGINE SOON"
and I immediately began to fear an expensive, time-consuming, life-disrupting problem with the Challenge of the Legendary Catalytic Converter.... Call it "Fear of Auto Repair Check-out Stand." I think loan companies once named the "Catalytic Convert" the "Profit-Making Auto Challenge of the Year." Oh, I made that up...but it coulda happened....
TRUTH IS THIS: ON SUNDAY PM
MY MIND WENT NEGATIVELY WILD.
I immediately feared daily disruption and eternal bankruptcy. Car repair ain't keen medical work -- car repair is a labyrinth of challenges and payoffs and punishments for failing to comprehend just what an owner SHOULD have done.
I was in such a depression for the rest of the day. Woke up several times that night. Got up at 4 a.m. and tried to feed the irritated and drowsy cats. Their Feline Union rep emailed a "cease and desist until 8:30 a.m." order to me.
I just knew I was about to face the challenge of having to hunt down and buy another car in an era where even a bag of donuts is priced beyond my means and beyond my dietary wisdom.
WITH MONDAY MORN' CAME
AUTO ENLIGHTENMENT
On "Early Shower Monday" I looked like I'd been up all night -- The bags under my eyes were so big they nearly dangled -- they were much larger than anything you'd see riding the luggage belt at the airport.
In a defensive movement, around 7:45 a.m. I drove to the place that always changes the oil and the filters for my wonderful 2018 Ford Edge (radio plays, a/c blows cold)....
I decided I'd do all that stuff I'd had done sometime last fall) --change the oil and the assorted filters. Get the team of workers to check anything they could check while I sat in the car and watched.
In the meantime, the young lady running things asked me why I'd come in a little earlier than my annual visit. "Warning light came on," I explained. "Service Engine Soon," it said and I explained I was afraid it was something awful even though the light hadn't come back on this particular Monday morning.
She reached into the car and pushed a couple of buttons on my space age dashboard.
Suddenly, magically, on the screen was the warning that had struck my heart cold and chilled my blood: "Service Engine Soon."
And she patiently explained, "Last time you were here you got us to code this message into your display screen so you wouldn't forget to change the oil when it was due. It's due."
AND THERE YOU HAVE IT FOLKS:
A GUY PUNISHED EMOTIONALLY
BY HIS OWN AUTO EFFICIENCY!!!
I forgot the one moment in 2024 that I decided to be efficient so I wouldn't miss changing the oil and filters when they were due in 2025. A year later, I've terrified myself and frightened my savings account into the jitters.
Yes, I scared my own self into an evening and night of misery and automotive repair fear while "wondering what's going to happen next."
I'd put my own self into a nearly 24-hour-long rotten mood in 2025 because I didn't remember how brilliantly efficient I was one day in the early autumn of 2024.
Yes, I do not mind confessing to how big an idiot I can be without even trying. There's got to be some way to make money out of this gift of idiocy I've nurtured for decades.
Perhaps I can take up a singing career. Though I am pretty sure I saw a warning sign on my car's radio that read, "PLEASE DO NOT SING ALONG OR THE ENGINE WILL OVERHEAT AND EXPLODE."
Pretty sure that's what it warned. I'll check with my friends at the oil change place....They're kind to nitwits with no apparent knowledge of reality..
---- Offer advice or philosophy for the rest of the 21st Century by clicking on 'comment' below or email [email protected] and put 'THANK YOU FOR BEING A CHUCKLEHEAD, LARRY' in the subject line. ---
