Seven Degrees of Otis

Been a while, friends~ It's swim team season again. . .

And also, I spent a week working with writer & teacher, Pat Schneider; a wonderful teacher of creative writing. Terrific!

Two days ago, my Dad & Otis were on a play-date - fishing. No kidding ~ Dad texts me & says, "Can Otis go out to play?" This is not unusual. See, my Dad is a dog magnet, & Otis has this steel plate. . .

Here's a poem I wrote while working with Pat Schneider. It says it all:

Seven Degrees of Otis
after Wallace Stevens (& Kevin Bacon)

I
He is the small, bobbling tail,
short-legged-Russell-doggie
love of my life.

II
Most pointedly, the only one: bobbling tail,
that has ever really connected with the true me.

III
Sounds ridiculous, and makes me feel a bit neurotic,
but I truly, surely
love his little spirit.

IV

And he understands me.
I can see it in his
supple brown eyes, fringed with furnishings and knowing.

V
And then there’s Daddy!
Ah! They are just best friends, fishing buddies, snack hounds,
those two.

VI
What does it say about a man,
whose best friend, almost literally,
is his daughter’s dog? Ha!

VII
Funny! So joyful and happy and sweet a soul is my Otis!
God knows what He’s doing, indeed, (and Cesar Millan is right)
matching him with me.

~~
Seven degrees of Otis,

indeed.

~~~

An afternoon with Otis

Ok.

My kids are back in school. I'm working part time, but not today...

I'm on the Board of Directors for a group that needs a head/shoulders picture of all their Directors for a website. (Formal pose not necessary, you see...) So, I spend the large part of my morning on tasks related to the Board's needs, then I decide to have a little fun, & get them their picture at the same time -- maybe.

Otis is a funny animal. Squeezable, playful, funny, very happy; and, well, quirky. See, he licks things -- carpets, hardwoods, sofa cushions, piano bench legs; people's legs, toes, cabinets, cups, toothbrushes, suitcases. He's always licking at things too, if nothing but air. So, why I thought this (Otis, a camera timer, & a BoD picture) was going to work, I'm not really sure...

Eventually we got it, I think. It may not work for the BoD & their site, but it was a lot of fun!

Would that the whole world could have an afternoon with Otis every once in a while...

~~~

Uncle Sam-I-Am goes Green!

I do not like this Uncle Sam,

I do not like his health care scam.

I do not like these dirty crooks,

or how they lie and cook the books.

I do not like when Congress steals,

I do not like their secret deals.

I do not like this speaker Nan ,

I do not like this 'YES, WE CAN'.

I do not like this spending spree---

I'm smart, I know that nothing's free.

I do not like your smug replies,

when I complain about your lies.

I do not like this kind of hope.

I do not like it. nope, nope, nope!

Go green - recycle Congress in 2010

~~~

North is Southeast of Due West...?

While my family & I are on vacation, here's a little humor to tide me over...

South Carolina is the only place in the world where North is southeast of Due West.



...and since "my people" are all originally South Carolinians, I know about what I speak...

Enjoy summer!

~~
Curtsy to "Nancynotes" !

Maxine on Senior Obamacare

No time for writing lately, so let's have a little more fun ---

according to Maxine...




Senior Health Care Solution:

So you're a senior citizen, & the government says no Obamacare for you. (Because MD's will no longer take Medicare patients, due to the Fed. Gov't won't pay jack for Medicare expenses.)

What do you do?

Our plan gives anyone 65 years or older a gun and 4 bullets. You are allowed to shoot 2 senators and 2 representatives.

Of Course, this means you will be sent to prison where you will get 3 meals a day, a roof over your head, and all the health care you need!

New teeth? No problem.
Need glasses? Great!
New hip, knees, kidney, lungs, heart? All covered.

And who will be paying for all of this? The same government that just told you that you are too old for health care.

Plus, because you are a prisoner, you don't have to pay any income taxes anymore!

IS THIS A GREAT COUNTRY OR WHAT?!

~~~

Comic Relief

How fairy tales really end:

Cinderella

Snow White

Red Riding Hood

Aurora (Sleeping Beauty)

Jasmine (Aladin)

Belle (Beauty & the Beast)

And finally,

Ariel (The Little Mermaid)

Such is life, no?

~~~