Sunday, January 9, 2011

Three Apples

To cheer ourselves up this afternoon—what ghastly Arizona news—we visited our dear horse,Wolfie, at the retirement ranch in Woodside, California. As we came over the hilltop above the pastures, we spotted him folding himself up to lie down in the mud in the pasture below. The sun had just broken through a very chilly grey sky.

Mellow Wolfie is thirty this year and as always he likes to rest his bones. I called lovingly from high above in the distant car and again as we rolled in to the yard but he ignored me. It's been extremely gratifying that he has always recognized the old car--after all, we go back twenty-five years. Of course he's glad for the treats, not us. Well, maybe it is us.

No nicker? Wolfie didn’t get up or even turn his head. Of course he was covered in mud. Maybe his ears were plugged. All white horses roll in mud and dust, wanting to be chestnuts or bays. You need a putty knife to groom Wolfie's until it rains but of course, feeling wet makes him roll even more.

“What’s that brown.. thing under his tail?” Jim asked with restrained horror.

“Just his tail,” I replied. “Clogged with mud.” This is a horse living the wallowing life of a hippo. Underneath the filth he wears a thick, insulating polar bear coat and just the right amount of fat and flesh on his bones. Perfect condition.

“Are you going to take him his apples?” Jim asked, looking down at my sneakers, then over the near pasture knee-deep in mud from all the rains.

“No way.” I said. “Heave ‘em.”

Jim wound up and pitched the first apple thirty feet too short. With a resounding thud it lay there among blackened weed stalks. Wolfie did not bat an eye. The second shot bounced twice and struck his tucked front hoof, then rolled under his chin. He blinked his eyes open, nosed around for it, then, eyes closed again, chewed it with evident pleasure.

“Wow,” I cried, gazing up at my husband. The first throw of the first year of his retirement. “What an arm!”

Monday, January 3, 2011

Christmas Afterglow

I need a good answer to the well-meant, How was your Christmas? It's a very long time without mail, is the best I can say. Out here in sunshiney California we've had forty days and forty nights of rain and nary a dove in sight. My feet are cold. Our grandkids are thousands of miles away. And the travel thing, well, too much junking around in the lines.

Okay, not much merriment.What about feasting? Now I remember the old Joy of Cooking warning that a definition of eternity is a ham and two people. What was I thinking?

Fishing around the Huffington Post site, this delightful reminder of the true meaning of Christmas brightened my winter mood. Just click.

http://www.cracked.com/article_18928_the-12-most-unintentionally-disturbing-christmas-ads.html?wa_user1=4&wa_user2=Weird+World&wa_user3=article&wa_user4=recommended




Sunday, January 2, 2011

Borrowed Words To Start the Year

Here are some ideas from John Kinde's wonderful free Humor Power Tips newsletter aimed at stand-up comedians and wannabes. It helps my Toastmaster presentations and often I get a good belly laugh, too. John writes about the mechanics of humor and includes some pithies you might find useful in your daily life.

Stretch yourself in 2011 and tell better stories! Here's an example from today's inbox.
http://www.humorpower.com/>

C. Strength is Weakness

Your strength is your weakness. And the opposite is true. Your
weakness is your strength.

Your strength is your weakness because you come to depend on it and possibly fail to use and develop other important tools. If your strength as a presenter is a high-energy style, you may have a tendency to never use an under-stated style.

On the other hand, your weakness is your strength. It may well be
your secret weapon. Because of the contrast of your weaker skill
compared to your strength, it may have a magical power that may
surprise you. Just a touch of contrast may add power to your talk.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

True Grit, reviewed by a True Grouch

http://www.broadstreetreview.com/index.php/main/article/true_grit_gets_a_remake/

Here's my sincere, honest and cranky opinion of 'True Grit'. Some critics say good things about lousy movies but I'm not one of 'em. If you go to see the black pony leap into the raging river make a pit stop first: the show is over 2 hours long!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Dear Santa, I want, I want..

I’m always glad to see the good old December Hammacher Schlemmer Christmas catalogue. Now I am ready to give you my Christmas list. I'm sure you know I have been a very good girl, as always. Even to my husband! Well, mostly. Here goes.

Like all girls, I want the “5 FT REALISTIC PAINT PONY”. I know, I have had a real horse for 30 years but I want another one. Please, Santa. Just $999.95.

And I want the “FLYING CAR” on the catalogue cover. It flies and if it’s foggy, the wings fold up so I can drive it down the highway at 65 miles per hour. Way faster than the PAINT PONY. It’s also a little truck that pulls the plane which becomes a trailer. There’s a steering wheel, brakes and even a gas tank. Yes, it’s hard to explain but the Hammacher Schlemmer Institute assures me it really flies and they wouldn’t lie, would they? $350,00, special order.

Are you thinking, Santa, that I am a greedy girl and don’t deserve these expensive presents? I was just thinking the same! (Great minds.) So, instead, bring me a “PERSONAL TOWEL WARMER,” $79.95 on page 38. Holds two bath towels at the right temperature and yes, sometimes I like two towels, at exactly 135 degrees. Call me a Princess, I don’t’ care! FYI, it takes up only the space of a small garbage can plus it signals when the towels are done.

While I’m into my beauty routine, drop off an “EFFICIENT EPILATOR”. Better than a razor, 72 tweezers lift and remove flattened hairs from my chin and other areas, never mind where those are.

Oooh, so many goodies to choose from, you dear old Santa. A girl might think you had notions and I bet you did back in the day. Of course now you’re too old and fat although I bet you pinch the bad girls right on their epilated butts, don’t you! Ha! I knew it!

Don’t you dare leave that “WALL CRAWLING SPIDER” in my stocking, you devil! I don’t care if it does have concealed wheels and a powerful, fan-operated suction cup so it sticks to the ceiling. $29.95 is way too much money to scare little Reedie, you meanie.

Instead, get me the $69.95 “VOICE RECORDING PEN,” sensitive enough to capture voices 25 feet away! No more whispering behind MY back. And for the other pocket, the plain video pen, no software necessary, a thrifty $99.95. No one will suspect I’m recording their every move. That might be worth something, you never know.

As a good, good girl, I’ve always thought about my dear husband. So, for those long mornings when I loll in bed and he waits for me to finish the paper so he can read it, he could really, really use the “BREAKFAST SANDWICH MAKER”. It will poach his eggs, burn four toasts and keeps his pre-cooked bacon warm, all at the same time: $99.95.

If airport security can see through his clothing, unscrupulous thieves can read his credit cards right through his pants! He needs a “STAINLESS STEEL WALLET”, which “cannot be hacked” for $89.95.

He works so hard for me. Us, I mean. Say he’s feeling musical while cooling his heels in the airport en route to another sales meeting. Let’s not stint on the “SIX SIDED HARMONICA.” What’s another $499.95?

Too much you say, Santa? Well, surely any good husband is worth $39.95 for a little yard work. Let’s make it fun with a “WEED WHACKING GOLF CLUB” requiring a square stance and proper grip.

And if he just wants to go for a long, long walk away from me—anyone who marries me needs will want to walk, drop off a" GENUINE ENGLISH TIPPLING STICK," $249.95. It holds only one measly shot so he’ll be back on the job in no time.
What, you say I’ve forgotten the pets? Oh, yes, I believe I did. Here’s something to distract Kitty from clawing the couch: a perpetual “LASER IMAGE CHASE TOY” that creates a pretty red dot she’ll never catch.

And to for the neighhor’s loud-mouth pooch the “INDOOR BARKING DOG DETERRENT”, $49.95, that goes off when he does. May NOT break his eardrums or theirs.

Well, last but not least, the grandlings. The internet has made the newest generation way too passive so skip the educational paraphernalia. Let’s teach them some good old-fashioned ways to shoot! First the gentleman-Cheny “TWO PERSON DUCK HUNT”, $39.95. That’s a pretty angry looking target duck. He deserves to be shot!

Next up: the “DOUBLE BARRELLED MARSHMALLOW SHOOTER”, $39.95. Will these weapons actually kill our grandchildren? No! Marshmallows are harmless unless you eat too many. (Not for Granny’s own house, thank you. Fortunately the kids live on the Other Coast.)

Perhaps events of our times have made the shotgun-style hunting too retro. Here’s a “PUMP ACTION MARSHMALLOW BLASTER” more like a real terrorist weapon. Again, only marshmallows. $27.95.

Are these going to capture the inflamed imagination of today’s youth? Yes, because there’s the “MARSHMALLOW TARGET”, another $19.95, which makes four different sounds (not described but surely include realistic cries). Remember, Santa, to remind the children they can have just as much fun taking potshots at the family gathered ‘round the fire or the ornaments on the tree. Hey Kitty, get those claws out of the upholstery!

I’ll have your milk and cookies waiting on the hearth as usual. I can’t wait!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Thursday, December 9, 2010

The What-Guys-Don't-Say Birthday Card

10. "Screw the Game, Rosie's on!"

9. "Excuse me, sir, we're really, really lost. Could you give us directions?"

8. "I don't really care for beer. Too filling. White wine for me, please."

7. "Honey, you up for some shoe shopping?"

6. "Oh sure, she's great looking but what about her personality, hmm?"

5. "I'm just feeling fat right now so I'll have a nice salad instead."

4. "I can't go out tonight. I've got nothing to wear."

3. "Well, I was just reading Cosmo and it said.."

2. "Um, Joe, do you ever get that no-so-fresh feeling?"

1. "This greeting card is way better than power tools!""