Philbert the Smart Cow
by
Robin Hall
Most cows spend their days eating grass, chewing their cud and mooing. So did Philbert. But he preferred humming to mooing. Oh, mooing was OK in front of people-Philbert knew enough not to let on how smart he was when humans were near, but out in the pasture, Philbert was more likely to hum Bach than moo.
Philbert was very fond of humming Three Blind Mice and Old MacDonald, and very late at night, if no people were in the barn, Philbert would cut loose with Greensleeves, Its a Small World and Looby Loo. Philbert loved all sorts of music, especially the blues.
And Philbert loved to think: about how to make life better for cows and other animals and people. If only people would love animals and each other more, maybe things would be better.
Perhaps some young child could read about animals and remember that they can have feelings just like Philbert and begin to think about the world differently. Perhaps they might even change some of those things. And perhaps, just perhaps, that child is YOU!
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Horace Goes to School
Horace Goes to School
by
Robin Hall
Horace’s excellent neighbor Miss Poppy knew a secret she shared with only 4 other people in the whole wide world. She knew that Horace was an unusually nice zebra mule, which wasn't a secret. She also knew that he was curious just like you and I. He really understood what everyone was talking about which was more than could be said of lots of people.
Miss Poppy set her fine Flat TV up so Horace could watch any time he wanted, which was quite often. Watching TV was a good way to learn English as many foreigners have found out. There were educational shows on too. English as a second language was on Channel 75 and Horace watched it every day.
Now many of you might wonder how a zebra mule could watch TV and Channel 75 in particular but it was no trick. Miss Poppy had put a remote control in a plastic bag and set it outside the window where Horace watched from. She also put a cut off wooden cooking spoon there so Horace could change channels. Horace loved changing channels just like most men. He also liked watching the whole program too. Horace was a well rounded individual.
After several weeks of ESL, Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers, Horace moved on to more challenging shows like Oprah, Jenny and Hollywood Squares. Next he took a shine to Jeopardy which was a challenge indeed. Horace suspected Alex Trebek didn't’t really know the all the answers like he pretended to.
Horace enjoyed National Geographic programs, W.C. Fields movies, Cracker and the Nanny. The first Francis the Talking Mule series was also interesting and Horace wished he could talk too. Now this started Horace thinking and thinking. “I know I can’t talk but I can learn things and I bet that Internet Peter Jennings mentioned on ABC news, is just the thing.”
Hmmm. What to do? One day Horace and Miss Poppy were watching a CNNFn report about Internet stocks which Miss Poppy owned many of AND sold just in time.
Horace changed to Shopping Channel, then back to the Internet report he had recorded earlier. Miss Poppy threw her socks at Horace but he kept changing the channels. She threw TV Guide without any results either. Then she thought a bit. The Internet!!! “Horace, do you want to have the Internet so you can keep learning?” Horace nodded quickly.
Well, luckily Miss Poppy had plenty of money, in part due to selling the Internet stock short at just the right time. She also the satellite antenna already in place. She called the workpeople, Marshall and Mathilda Morse who were having some trademark differences with Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing and they got to work.
Miss Poppy liked the couple even thought they bickered a lot. They were very careful workers for one thing. They worked hard too, kept up to date on all the new things, never gossiped about their clients and they didn't’t ask questions like why Miss Poppy would want 2 satellite Internet set ups, one for the house and one for the barn.
They also didn't’t ask why she wanted an odd door put on the back of the barn or why she wanted such a funny table built near the window. They just did as they were told like the good workpeople they were. They charged a decent wage. Miss Poppy paid cash. Everyone was happy.
First Miss Poppy called several friends to ask about hardware and software. She checked the library for Consumer Reports and PC World, then she called Dell, HP and Gateway. She also checked ConsumerSearch .
She chose Dell and ordered 2 of everything they needed. When the boxes arrived Marshall and Mathilda came back to install the gear and fine-tune the antenna. They put huge APC battery back UPS on both computers, installed the virus scanners and firewalls, updated them and went home.
Later Miss Poppy showed Horace how to get in the back door of the barn, turn on the computer and reminded him to scan disk and defrag once a week which he did. She also brought another cut-off kitchen spoon and put a clear plastic cover over the keyboard since Horace tended to slobber a bit. Miss Poppy walked out and shut the door. Horace stared at the fine 21" flat panel screen and brayed happily.
Horace slowly typed " search engines " into the Google Toolbar because one of the programs on TV said that’s how to find things. There were many choices but three caught his eye:
Google
Answers.com
Jux2, Comparison Searching. And so the search began.
He asked questions at Answers.com . Then he typed “ online schools ” into
Google. WOW. There were schools everywhere teaching everything Horace ever wanted to know. Miss Poppy had told him he could use her Visa Card for software, tuition and books so he did.
Horace could now talk to Miss Poppy using the keyboard. He asked if he could sign up for a subscription to
LexisNexis . "Sure, but only the basic subscription for now." Horace brayed his thanks.
Horace signed up for some basic computer and Internet tutorials. When he had to put in a name, he was stumped. There were 3 spaces. A first name, middle initial and last name. Horace only had one name, Horace. “Hmmm. Well, most people think I am a mule but that doesn't’t help here. Aha!!” he thought. He began typing. Horace M. Ule, 698 Melody Lane, Music Valley, SG 555047.
After some initial mistakes and dead ends, Horace sent for information on how to get his GED. He signed up for the course. Soon the books arrived and the courses started. Horace had trouble turning pages and rumpled more than a few until one day Miss Poppy saw the books and put a rubber tip on one of his wooden spoons. Plus she cleaned the plastic cover on the keyboard.
Learning was wonderful. The world was at his fingertips, er, well teeth and spoon anyway. Horace quickly learned you don’t have to be seeking a degree to be able to learn and he just took courses that interested him. He did quite well in them too.
You know, that is the way of the world. Most anyone can learn most anything today. You don’t have to dress up for classes either. Why you can come to class just like Horace, in the backdoor in his birthday clothes if you like. You don’t have to be able to talk either, just be curious like Horace and want to learn because its fun.
Horace soon began making friends on the Internet too. Some were from his classes and some were from the Yahoo game site where Horace was learning bridge from a deaf girl who lived in Mattoon, IL.
Horace began sleeping in the barn and would sign on at all hours since he mostly catnapped so to speak. His online adventures were almost like real life ones.
He made many friends that he would probably never see in real life. No one would know that their friend was a zebra mule either. Horace didn't know what his friends looked like.
It didn't matter either as long as everyone was nice and interesting. Why I bet you might have played a game somewhere on the Internet with a wonderfully curious zebra mule named Horace or maybe with a pig named Snorfle and you never knew it.
Life online. What a wonderful concept for a curious zebra mule on Melody Lane in Music Valley.
by
Robin Hall
Horace’s excellent neighbor Miss Poppy knew a secret she shared with only 4 other people in the whole wide world. She knew that Horace was an unusually nice zebra mule, which wasn't a secret. She also knew that he was curious just like you and I. He really understood what everyone was talking about which was more than could be said of lots of people.
Miss Poppy set her fine Flat TV up so Horace could watch any time he wanted, which was quite often. Watching TV was a good way to learn English as many foreigners have found out. There were educational shows on too. English as a second language was on Channel 75 and Horace watched it every day.
Now many of you might wonder how a zebra mule could watch TV and Channel 75 in particular but it was no trick. Miss Poppy had put a remote control in a plastic bag and set it outside the window where Horace watched from. She also put a cut off wooden cooking spoon there so Horace could change channels. Horace loved changing channels just like most men. He also liked watching the whole program too. Horace was a well rounded individual.
After several weeks of ESL, Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers, Horace moved on to more challenging shows like Oprah, Jenny and Hollywood Squares. Next he took a shine to Jeopardy which was a challenge indeed. Horace suspected Alex Trebek didn't’t really know the all the answers like he pretended to.
Horace enjoyed National Geographic programs, W.C. Fields movies, Cracker and the Nanny. The first Francis the Talking Mule series was also interesting and Horace wished he could talk too. Now this started Horace thinking and thinking. “I know I can’t talk but I can learn things and I bet that Internet Peter Jennings mentioned on ABC news, is just the thing.”
Hmmm. What to do? One day Horace and Miss Poppy were watching a CNNFn report about Internet stocks which Miss Poppy owned many of AND sold just in time.
Horace changed to Shopping Channel, then back to the Internet report he had recorded earlier. Miss Poppy threw her socks at Horace but he kept changing the channels. She threw TV Guide without any results either. Then she thought a bit. The Internet!!! “Horace, do you want to have the Internet so you can keep learning?” Horace nodded quickly.
Well, luckily Miss Poppy had plenty of money, in part due to selling the Internet stock short at just the right time. She also the satellite antenna already in place. She called the workpeople, Marshall and Mathilda Morse who were having some trademark differences with Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing and they got to work.
Miss Poppy liked the couple even thought they bickered a lot. They were very careful workers for one thing. They worked hard too, kept up to date on all the new things, never gossiped about their clients and they didn't’t ask questions like why Miss Poppy would want 2 satellite Internet set ups, one for the house and one for the barn.
They also didn't’t ask why she wanted an odd door put on the back of the barn or why she wanted such a funny table built near the window. They just did as they were told like the good workpeople they were. They charged a decent wage. Miss Poppy paid cash. Everyone was happy.
First Miss Poppy called several friends to ask about hardware and software. She checked the library for Consumer Reports and PC World, then she called Dell, HP and Gateway. She also checked ConsumerSearch .
She chose Dell and ordered 2 of everything they needed. When the boxes arrived Marshall and Mathilda came back to install the gear and fine-tune the antenna. They put huge APC battery back UPS on both computers, installed the virus scanners and firewalls, updated them and went home.
Later Miss Poppy showed Horace how to get in the back door of the barn, turn on the computer and reminded him to scan disk and defrag once a week which he did. She also brought another cut-off kitchen spoon and put a clear plastic cover over the keyboard since Horace tended to slobber a bit. Miss Poppy walked out and shut the door. Horace stared at the fine 21" flat panel screen and brayed happily.
Horace slowly typed " search engines " into the Google Toolbar because one of the programs on TV said that’s how to find things. There were many choices but three caught his eye:
Answers.com
Jux2, Comparison Searching. And so the search began.
He asked questions at Answers.com . Then he typed “ online schools ” into
Google. WOW. There were schools everywhere teaching everything Horace ever wanted to know. Miss Poppy had told him he could use her Visa Card for software, tuition and books so he did.
Horace could now talk to Miss Poppy using the keyboard. He asked if he could sign up for a subscription to
LexisNexis . "Sure, but only the basic subscription for now." Horace brayed his thanks.
Horace signed up for some basic computer and Internet tutorials. When he had to put in a name, he was stumped. There were 3 spaces. A first name, middle initial and last name. Horace only had one name, Horace. “Hmmm. Well, most people think I am a mule but that doesn't’t help here. Aha!!” he thought. He began typing. Horace M. Ule, 698 Melody Lane, Music Valley, SG 555047.
After some initial mistakes and dead ends, Horace sent for information on how to get his GED. He signed up for the course. Soon the books arrived and the courses started. Horace had trouble turning pages and rumpled more than a few until one day Miss Poppy saw the books and put a rubber tip on one of his wooden spoons. Plus she cleaned the plastic cover on the keyboard.
Learning was wonderful. The world was at his fingertips, er, well teeth and spoon anyway. Horace quickly learned you don’t have to be seeking a degree to be able to learn and he just took courses that interested him. He did quite well in them too.
You know, that is the way of the world. Most anyone can learn most anything today. You don’t have to dress up for classes either. Why you can come to class just like Horace, in the backdoor in his birthday clothes if you like. You don’t have to be able to talk either, just be curious like Horace and want to learn because its fun.
Horace soon began making friends on the Internet too. Some were from his classes and some were from the Yahoo game site where Horace was learning bridge from a deaf girl who lived in Mattoon, IL.
Horace began sleeping in the barn and would sign on at all hours since he mostly catnapped so to speak. His online adventures were almost like real life ones.
He made many friends that he would probably never see in real life. No one would know that their friend was a zebra mule either. Horace didn't know what his friends looked like.
It didn't matter either as long as everyone was nice and interesting. Why I bet you might have played a game somewhere on the Internet with a wonderfully curious zebra mule named Horace or maybe with a pig named Snorfle and you never knew it.
Life online. What a wonderful concept for a curious zebra mule on Melody Lane in Music Valley.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Pelican Tales:WindSinger Wssssssshhhh
Pelican Tales:WindSinger Wssssssshhhh
by
Robin Hall
Most folks don't seem to notice wind all that much. Big winds, little winds, are all the same unless its tornadoes, monsoons, hurricanes, or himmicanes for the politically correct. Say, what does politics have to do with wind? Heh, heh. Lots of those politicians are windy indeed. Many other Floridians are windy, politicians or not. Cows are blamed for being so windy they are upsetting the ozone layer. Hippopotamuses, dogs, platypuses, gnus and orangutans are also windy and I suspect cats are windy. Well, I say nuts to that. Er, this is pretty silly so I will get on with the story.
As you can imagine, most any real wind plays a big part in the lives of pelicans. AwwAww's group was very lucky in this matter to have a master WindSinger, Wssssssshhhh. A WindSinger's job is very important so let's just go back a bit in time and learn about Wssssssshhhh and her earlier years. Just get comfortable, relax, close your eyes, listen, Imagine...
In the Dark Before Time, pelicans were just another plain bird among the many species. They were even food for some of the larger birds. They wandered about in small groups just trying to survive. There were many losses. The groups learned numerous hard lessons.
Over the eons however, something happened to the gathering. Perhaps it was their chosen food that had just the right nutrients. Perhaps there was genetic change from random sun rays. Perhaps there were some other reasons. The glorious Change happened whatever the cause, a change not unlike that of other groups. Whereas before there was only chaos, the Light of reason came to pelicans. They had choices to make, as we all do.
Pelicans already had the wonderful gift of flight. It was enough really but they worked hard and chose the pursuit of beauty as their other main purpose. Within this choice there were and are even now, hundreds of more choices. Today, AwwAww is most beauty conscious. Owwa is First Sounder whose exquisite tunes keep the flock together flying in sync, calling them to rest at night, praising them and reminding them who they are. The beautiful Eayawa, Dream Leader, watches over the wonderful ritual of Dream Sharing.
Other forms of beauty are pursued as well, even completely new forms, which brings to Wssssssshhhh. She was born 5 years ago, a rather plain little bird. Nothing unusual really. Another mouth to feed. A fine member of the group of course but that was all. Sometimes the plain members of any group take their own time, dance and sing to a different drummer or make their own music and sing that.
Wssssssshhhh. Her name was strange, like a whisper of wind in the sea grapes. Wssssssshhhh. Wssssssshhhh.
When Wssssssshhhh was quite small her parents and flight instructor, the powerful Waaaaaaaann, noticed that Wssssssshhhh did have quite a knack for flying. She learned very quickly for one thing. Not all that unusual but there was more. Wssssssshhhh could float longer than any bird in memory. She was somewhat small of course but Waaaaaaaann noticed that Wssssssshhhh also had a much longer wing span than other youngsters. Some of the feathers were placed differently as well and were smoother. Odd, but no one thought much of it for a while.
Other traits showed up over time though. Wssssssshhhh could somehow sense when a big wind was coming. Even the elders began to pay attention when one day she sounded frantically and called the group to shelter. A great storm no one had known about hit very quickly but the flock was saved many losses due to this small young bird.
The group also noticed things like Wssssssshhhh's ability to take off more quickly than others. She could soar for hours and knew just which air currents to follow like she could see the wind itself. Wssssssshhhh could see the wind and more. She could hear it and she could sing to it and change its course, if ever so slightly, which brings us back to today.
Wssssssshhhh, WindSinger, sails the winds like the master she has become. She watches her flock in flight and on the ground. In flight, she guides them through the air currents, finds the right updrafts to save them energy and leads them in patterns of splendor while Owwa sounds the beat.
On the ground, she watches the weather and warns the group of storms and winds so all may be safe.
Wssssssshhhh, WindSinger, flies alone too. She flies faster and farther than any pelican ever has with her friend the Wind. The two sing songs to each other. Songs of beauty, songs of speed, songs of distant places and times. WindSinger Wssssssshhhh moves with the grace of a cloud and the speed of a hawk.
WindSinger Wssssssshhhh, master of the beauty of FLIGHT and friend of Wind sails high and far and back never tiring, awe inspiring Wssssssshhhh WindSinger moving through the air as a dolphin in the sea. WindSinger Wssssssshhhh. Look, there she is. Wssssssshhhh. Wssssssshhhh. Wssssssshhhh flying in your own thoughts too. Just imagine yourself in her flock of pelicans sailing far and wide, singing to the wind, seeing the currents, floating for hours.
Return to your place now. Stretch, yawn. Slowly open your eyes. Smile. Remember FLIGHT master, WindSinger Wssssssshhhh. Come back to her another time. Bring your own tales of beauty. Sail with Wssssssshhhh when you wishhhhhh...
by
Robin Hall
Most folks don't seem to notice wind all that much. Big winds, little winds, are all the same unless its tornadoes, monsoons, hurricanes, or himmicanes for the politically correct. Say, what does politics have to do with wind? Heh, heh. Lots of those politicians are windy indeed. Many other Floridians are windy, politicians or not. Cows are blamed for being so windy they are upsetting the ozone layer. Hippopotamuses, dogs, platypuses, gnus and orangutans are also windy and I suspect cats are windy. Well, I say nuts to that. Er, this is pretty silly so I will get on with the story.
As you can imagine, most any real wind plays a big part in the lives of pelicans. AwwAww's group was very lucky in this matter to have a master WindSinger, Wssssssshhhh. A WindSinger's job is very important so let's just go back a bit in time and learn about Wssssssshhhh and her earlier years. Just get comfortable, relax, close your eyes, listen, Imagine...
In the Dark Before Time, pelicans were just another plain bird among the many species. They were even food for some of the larger birds. They wandered about in small groups just trying to survive. There were many losses. The groups learned numerous hard lessons.
Over the eons however, something happened to the gathering. Perhaps it was their chosen food that had just the right nutrients. Perhaps there was genetic change from random sun rays. Perhaps there were some other reasons. The glorious Change happened whatever the cause, a change not unlike that of other groups. Whereas before there was only chaos, the Light of reason came to pelicans. They had choices to make, as we all do.
Pelicans already had the wonderful gift of flight. It was enough really but they worked hard and chose the pursuit of beauty as their other main purpose. Within this choice there were and are even now, hundreds of more choices. Today, AwwAww is most beauty conscious. Owwa is First Sounder whose exquisite tunes keep the flock together flying in sync, calling them to rest at night, praising them and reminding them who they are. The beautiful Eayawa, Dream Leader, watches over the wonderful ritual of Dream Sharing.
Other forms of beauty are pursued as well, even completely new forms, which brings to Wssssssshhhh. She was born 5 years ago, a rather plain little bird. Nothing unusual really. Another mouth to feed. A fine member of the group of course but that was all. Sometimes the plain members of any group take their own time, dance and sing to a different drummer or make their own music and sing that.
Wssssssshhhh. Her name was strange, like a whisper of wind in the sea grapes. Wssssssshhhh. Wssssssshhhh.
When Wssssssshhhh was quite small her parents and flight instructor, the powerful Waaaaaaaann, noticed that Wssssssshhhh did have quite a knack for flying. She learned very quickly for one thing. Not all that unusual but there was more. Wssssssshhhh could float longer than any bird in memory. She was somewhat small of course but Waaaaaaaann noticed that Wssssssshhhh also had a much longer wing span than other youngsters. Some of the feathers were placed differently as well and were smoother. Odd, but no one thought much of it for a while.
Other traits showed up over time though. Wssssssshhhh could somehow sense when a big wind was coming. Even the elders began to pay attention when one day she sounded frantically and called the group to shelter. A great storm no one had known about hit very quickly but the flock was saved many losses due to this small young bird.
The group also noticed things like Wssssssshhhh's ability to take off more quickly than others. She could soar for hours and knew just which air currents to follow like she could see the wind itself. Wssssssshhhh could see the wind and more. She could hear it and she could sing to it and change its course, if ever so slightly, which brings us back to today.
Wssssssshhhh, WindSinger, sails the winds like the master she has become. She watches her flock in flight and on the ground. In flight, she guides them through the air currents, finds the right updrafts to save them energy and leads them in patterns of splendor while Owwa sounds the beat.
On the ground, she watches the weather and warns the group of storms and winds so all may be safe.
Wssssssshhhh, WindSinger, flies alone too. She flies faster and farther than any pelican ever has with her friend the Wind. The two sing songs to each other. Songs of beauty, songs of speed, songs of distant places and times. WindSinger Wssssssshhhh moves with the grace of a cloud and the speed of a hawk.
WindSinger Wssssssshhhh, master of the beauty of FLIGHT and friend of Wind sails high and far and back never tiring, awe inspiring Wssssssshhhh WindSinger moving through the air as a dolphin in the sea. WindSinger Wssssssshhhh. Look, there she is. Wssssssshhhh. Wssssssshhhh. Wssssssshhhh flying in your own thoughts too. Just imagine yourself in her flock of pelicans sailing far and wide, singing to the wind, seeing the currents, floating for hours.
Return to your place now. Stretch, yawn. Slowly open your eyes. Smile. Remember FLIGHT master, WindSinger Wssssssshhhh. Come back to her another time. Bring your own tales of beauty. Sail with Wssssssshhhh when you wishhhhhh...
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Horace Learns to Dance
Horace Learns to Dance
by
Robin Hall
One day Horace was curious about a funny smell in the morning breeze. He sneezed twice, almost fell over and scared the daylights out of that mean cat Phyllis when he barely missed stepping on her tail. The mice all laughed and Horace’ cow friends mooed in appreciation. It was the beginning of another day in Music Valley.
After some oats, water and blue cornflowers that were growing behind the barn Horace followed his nose to the funny smell. He came to a clearing with a broken down house and a hill covered with kudzu. Horace sniffed the kudzu, he was usually hungry and always on the lookout for a new snack but kudzu wasn’t snack food for zebra mules like Horace which was too bad since there was so much of it.
Then a strange thing happened over by a mound of the ever present weed. Bees came flying out of the middle of the hill. Lots of bees. Really lots of bees. They were everywhere. Horace stood still. He knew bees and had been stung a few times. Being curious has some drawbacks, he remembered.
Anyway, the bees didn’t notice him standing there. Horace was a zebra mule after all. Zebra’s stripes help them blend into the scenery so no one can see them, especially lions. The bees danced happily in the air. First one bee moved and swooped around. Then some more followed and finally the whole herd of bees were flying around. It was quite a sight.
The bees danced like that for 7 minutes then went back into the hill of kudzu. Horace walked home wondering about what he had seen. Dancing bees.
The next day, Horace was watching Flat TV at Miss Poppy’s house. A Gene Kelly movie was playing. There was singing all over the place, even in the rain. And lots of dancing. Horace was entranced.
Miss Poppy was dancing and singing too. She had memorized all the tunes and steps and was very good indeed. It was wonderful. There were lots of interesting people in the movie too, and one, Donald O’Connor, who looked strangely familiar as did Debbie Reynolds who looked a lot like Princess Leia from the Star Wars movies Miss Poppy and Horace watched last week.
This dancing was exciting and Horace was very curious as ever. He decided to study up on dancing. But where to go? Horace couldn’t type, so the internet was out. He couldn't’t go to the library either. He tried that one day and the librarian got quite upset and threw a copy of War and Peace at Horace. Luckily Horace ducked and the book landed on the steps by the door.
Hmmmmm. Horace thought and thought, which is what people, zebra mules and other curious beings do a lot of when they are stumped or just curious. Another thing lots of curious folks do when they are thinking, is to walk. Horace was fond of walking anyway and it was good exercise, so off he went.
First, Horace walked to the end of Music Valley. “I will start at the beginning,” Horace thought. He walked for miles and miles thinking and thinking about dancing. Horace hummed a bit when it started to rain, just like the movie. There were cornflowers everywhere and lots of little streams, so Horace didn’t have to worry about nourishment while he was thinking about dancing. He would hum, eat cornflowers and take drinks from whichever stream was near. He walked and walked and thought and thought. Dancing, what a concept!!
Later in the day Horace was passing a small house with another little building in the back. There was music and laughter. Horace investigated. “Horace, DI, Dancing Investigator, on the job,” he thought. The window on the little building was just about right for Horace to look inside. Over against the far wall there was a boom box where the music played. The teacher, as Horace guessed because she was just a bit taller and older looking, was wearing very tight fitting clothes as were the boys and girls. This was curious. Horace investigated some more.
They were all stretching and bouncing around and giggling. Then the teacher got their attention. Everyone got quiet and class began. There were lots of things where everyone just seemed to follow the teacher. Then the class paired off and danced together. Then everyone just danced alone. There was lots more giggling too. Some of the children were new and more than a few fell over or tripped. One stubbed his toe and cried while the teacher consoled him.
Then someone saw Horace and shouted. Everyone ran outside and Horace started to trot off but the teacher called his name. Horace stopped and turned around. He hadn’t noticed before but the teacher looked a lot like Miss Poppy. “Class,” Miss Betsy Jo Twilling Rose said, “this is Horace. He is a friend of my sister Poppy.” Most of the students came over and patted Horace gently, which he quite liked. Miss Betsy Jo brought out some sugar cubes for Horace and told him he could watch dancing anytime he wanted. Then she called the students back to class. Horace watched for a bit more then walked home as it was almost time for dinner.
On the way, his steps were just a little lighter it seemed. It was nice to have some new friends. He had met Miss Poppy’s sister, Betsy Jo and her class and had learned a step or two which he practiced after dinner while his cow friends mooed a tune for him. It was an excellent day. Horace went back to the school often just to be with his new friends and learn a few new steps.
“Curiosity,” Horace thought later that afternoon, “is a pretty good thing. I learned about dancing, met new people and had fun.” Horace knew he wouldn't’t be a great dancer like that Kelly fellow. He also knew that you can learn and do things just because they are fun. “Dancing is for everyone,” Horace thought. “And that’s the way of things here in Music Valley and everywhere. We can do lots of things that are fun even if we won’t ever be in the movies or win awards. Fun is its own reward.” Horace brayed softly with the cows for a while as he usually did each night. Then he went to sleep.
Another day on the farm at Music Valley came to a close. The sun set behind Mount High Note, the air stilled and quietly everyone went to sleep. Some, like Horace, had a smile on their face because they had learned something new and wonderful.
by
Robin Hall
One day Horace was curious about a funny smell in the morning breeze. He sneezed twice, almost fell over and scared the daylights out of that mean cat Phyllis when he barely missed stepping on her tail. The mice all laughed and Horace’ cow friends mooed in appreciation. It was the beginning of another day in Music Valley.
After some oats, water and blue cornflowers that were growing behind the barn Horace followed his nose to the funny smell. He came to a clearing with a broken down house and a hill covered with kudzu. Horace sniffed the kudzu, he was usually hungry and always on the lookout for a new snack but kudzu wasn’t snack food for zebra mules like Horace which was too bad since there was so much of it.
Then a strange thing happened over by a mound of the ever present weed. Bees came flying out of the middle of the hill. Lots of bees. Really lots of bees. They were everywhere. Horace stood still. He knew bees and had been stung a few times. Being curious has some drawbacks, he remembered.
Anyway, the bees didn’t notice him standing there. Horace was a zebra mule after all. Zebra’s stripes help them blend into the scenery so no one can see them, especially lions. The bees danced happily in the air. First one bee moved and swooped around. Then some more followed and finally the whole herd of bees were flying around. It was quite a sight.
The bees danced like that for 7 minutes then went back into the hill of kudzu. Horace walked home wondering about what he had seen. Dancing bees.
The next day, Horace was watching Flat TV at Miss Poppy’s house. A Gene Kelly movie was playing. There was singing all over the place, even in the rain. And lots of dancing. Horace was entranced.
Miss Poppy was dancing and singing too. She had memorized all the tunes and steps and was very good indeed. It was wonderful. There were lots of interesting people in the movie too, and one, Donald O’Connor, who looked strangely familiar as did Debbie Reynolds who looked a lot like Princess Leia from the Star Wars movies Miss Poppy and Horace watched last week.
This dancing was exciting and Horace was very curious as ever. He decided to study up on dancing. But where to go? Horace couldn’t type, so the internet was out. He couldn't’t go to the library either. He tried that one day and the librarian got quite upset and threw a copy of War and Peace at Horace. Luckily Horace ducked and the book landed on the steps by the door.
Hmmmmm. Horace thought and thought, which is what people, zebra mules and other curious beings do a lot of when they are stumped or just curious. Another thing lots of curious folks do when they are thinking, is to walk. Horace was fond of walking anyway and it was good exercise, so off he went.
First, Horace walked to the end of Music Valley. “I will start at the beginning,” Horace thought. He walked for miles and miles thinking and thinking about dancing. Horace hummed a bit when it started to rain, just like the movie. There were cornflowers everywhere and lots of little streams, so Horace didn’t have to worry about nourishment while he was thinking about dancing. He would hum, eat cornflowers and take drinks from whichever stream was near. He walked and walked and thought and thought. Dancing, what a concept!!
Later in the day Horace was passing a small house with another little building in the back. There was music and laughter. Horace investigated. “Horace, DI, Dancing Investigator, on the job,” he thought. The window on the little building was just about right for Horace to look inside. Over against the far wall there was a boom box where the music played. The teacher, as Horace guessed because she was just a bit taller and older looking, was wearing very tight fitting clothes as were the boys and girls. This was curious. Horace investigated some more.
They were all stretching and bouncing around and giggling. Then the teacher got their attention. Everyone got quiet and class began. There were lots of things where everyone just seemed to follow the teacher. Then the class paired off and danced together. Then everyone just danced alone. There was lots more giggling too. Some of the children were new and more than a few fell over or tripped. One stubbed his toe and cried while the teacher consoled him.
Then someone saw Horace and shouted. Everyone ran outside and Horace started to trot off but the teacher called his name. Horace stopped and turned around. He hadn’t noticed before but the teacher looked a lot like Miss Poppy. “Class,” Miss Betsy Jo Twilling Rose said, “this is Horace. He is a friend of my sister Poppy.” Most of the students came over and patted Horace gently, which he quite liked. Miss Betsy Jo brought out some sugar cubes for Horace and told him he could watch dancing anytime he wanted. Then she called the students back to class. Horace watched for a bit more then walked home as it was almost time for dinner.
On the way, his steps were just a little lighter it seemed. It was nice to have some new friends. He had met Miss Poppy’s sister, Betsy Jo and her class and had learned a step or two which he practiced after dinner while his cow friends mooed a tune for him. It was an excellent day. Horace went back to the school often just to be with his new friends and learn a few new steps.
“Curiosity,” Horace thought later that afternoon, “is a pretty good thing. I learned about dancing, met new people and had fun.” Horace knew he wouldn't’t be a great dancer like that Kelly fellow. He also knew that you can learn and do things just because they are fun. “Dancing is for everyone,” Horace thought. “And that’s the way of things here in Music Valley and everywhere. We can do lots of things that are fun even if we won’t ever be in the movies or win awards. Fun is its own reward.” Horace brayed softly with the cows for a while as he usually did each night. Then he went to sleep.
Another day on the farm at Music Valley came to a close. The sun set behind Mount High Note, the air stilled and quietly everyone went to sleep. Some, like Horace, had a smile on their face because they had learned something new and wonderful.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Snorfle @ Home
Snorfle @ Home
by
Robin Hall
On his first day home alone in his new house, Snorfle woke up early. He was confused for a while, but Cary, Jerry, Mary and Red Cherry woke up too and they all had breakfast. The Cherrys had whole wheat and soy pancakes with cottage cheese and blueberry sauce, oranges, strawberries and skim milk. Snorfle had pig chow plus some strawberries under the table from Cary, Jerry and Red. Merry ate all of hers.
Then Red and Merry went to work, the twins went to school and Snorfle went exploring. First Snorfle just walked ALL over to get a clear picture of his new home. Then he came back to the kitchen for some water, more pig chow, without strawberries, and to use the pig litter box. He’d figured that one out yesterday.
Next he ran around each room looking for excitement. The living room rug was VERY exciting and Snorfle rooted around for 10 minutes looking for bugs till he realized that this was not some funny beige grass he had never seen before. It was fun anyway and he rolled around for good measure.
Just then he noticed something. The hallway had been waxed and offered a small pig some real fun. After a few spills, Snorfle got the hang of it. He began by running on the living room rug. When he got to the hall he did a small jump, landed on his hooves and slid to the other end. He bumped into the wall a few times and there were some snout prints on the mirror at the end of the hall that everyone would wonder about later, but this was terrific !
Snorfle trotted happily back to the kitchen for more water and to see if any more strawberries were about. There weren’t, so he headed to the twin’s room. Cary and Jerry had all the usual things ten year old boys have in their rooms: a Brown’s pennant, a large dophin poster and a Dolly Parton poster where she had BIG hair and er, well.
There were baseballs and gloves, a football and soccer ball, and a whiffle ball that Snorfle pushed into every room of the house before the day was over. There was also a toy box that Snorfle could not reach, yet and some tennis balls he could.
He LOVED the furry tennis balls which tickled his very sensitive nose and he pushed them everywhere in the house. Snorfle hid 3 tennis balls under Jerry’s bed, 1 in Red and Merry’s room near the scales, one in the kitchen near his water bowl and one in his bed under the blanket for later.
Then Snorfle took a nap. He dreamed about a pig named Winston. He dreamed about his sister Sne. And he dreamed about the PIG GRAND COUNCIL.
When Snorfle woke up the Cherrys were all home and hellos were shouted, hugs and kisses passed all round, even to Snorfle and Family Time was here. Everyone told about their day, got some praise for doing a good job as usual, fixed dinner together and ate, without TV, so they could continue sharing their day.
After dinner, Cary went to his room. He shouted, “Where are my tennis balls?” and when everyone came to help him they saw the skid marks in the hall and the snout prints on the mirror and wondered and laughed a lot. This was Snorfle’s first day at his new home at 1440 Highridge Rd. in beautiful Lake Swenson with his adopted family Cary, Jerry, Merry and Red Cherry.
The End
by
Robin Hall
On his first day home alone in his new house, Snorfle woke up early. He was confused for a while, but Cary, Jerry, Mary and Red Cherry woke up too and they all had breakfast. The Cherrys had whole wheat and soy pancakes with cottage cheese and blueberry sauce, oranges, strawberries and skim milk. Snorfle had pig chow plus some strawberries under the table from Cary, Jerry and Red. Merry ate all of hers.
Then Red and Merry went to work, the twins went to school and Snorfle went exploring. First Snorfle just walked ALL over to get a clear picture of his new home. Then he came back to the kitchen for some water, more pig chow, without strawberries, and to use the pig litter box. He’d figured that one out yesterday.
Next he ran around each room looking for excitement. The living room rug was VERY exciting and Snorfle rooted around for 10 minutes looking for bugs till he realized that this was not some funny beige grass he had never seen before. It was fun anyway and he rolled around for good measure.
Just then he noticed something. The hallway had been waxed and offered a small pig some real fun. After a few spills, Snorfle got the hang of it. He began by running on the living room rug. When he got to the hall he did a small jump, landed on his hooves and slid to the other end. He bumped into the wall a few times and there were some snout prints on the mirror at the end of the hall that everyone would wonder about later, but this was terrific !
Snorfle trotted happily back to the kitchen for more water and to see if any more strawberries were about. There weren’t, so he headed to the twin’s room. Cary and Jerry had all the usual things ten year old boys have in their rooms: a Brown’s pennant, a large dophin poster and a Dolly Parton poster where she had BIG hair and er, well.
There were baseballs and gloves, a football and soccer ball, and a whiffle ball that Snorfle pushed into every room of the house before the day was over. There was also a toy box that Snorfle could not reach, yet and some tennis balls he could.
He LOVED the furry tennis balls which tickled his very sensitive nose and he pushed them everywhere in the house. Snorfle hid 3 tennis balls under Jerry’s bed, 1 in Red and Merry’s room near the scales, one in the kitchen near his water bowl and one in his bed under the blanket for later.
Then Snorfle took a nap. He dreamed about a pig named Winston. He dreamed about his sister Sne. And he dreamed about the PIG GRAND COUNCIL.
When Snorfle woke up the Cherrys were all home and hellos were shouted, hugs and kisses passed all round, even to Snorfle and Family Time was here. Everyone told about their day, got some praise for doing a good job as usual, fixed dinner together and ate, without TV, so they could continue sharing their day.
After dinner, Cary went to his room. He shouted, “Where are my tennis balls?” and when everyone came to help him they saw the skid marks in the hall and the snout prints on the mirror and wondered and laughed a lot. This was Snorfle’s first day at his new home at 1440 Highridge Rd. in beautiful Lake Swenson with his adopted family Cary, Jerry, Merry and Red Cherry.
The End
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Tree Touching
Tree Touching
by
Robin Hall
The sun is very bright as I walked down the hill. I put the bill of my hat back some so Mr. or Miss, or Mrs. Sun can enlighten me, light up my life. I turn on the final leg of my walk and then touch the fine old tree standing near the path. It feels good, tree touching. I walk on and touch more trees and smile.
I pat one old tree. Some of the bark comes off and I wonder if I hurt the tree? At the next big tree I pause and place both hands on this natural beauty. The wind blows its leaves way up high in the sky and I can feel this huge tree bend in the wind. What a marvelous feeling it is, tree touching.
Another tree beckons ahead. I get there, put both hands on it and look up to the beautiful blue sky. The tree has a big bend in it and then goes on and on skyward, swaying in the wind.
Walk, touch a tree, move on. It is wonderful. Now, don't do this with poison ivy, lions, tigers or bears but trees are just fine to touch. In fact, you can also sit under them, lean on them, picnic under them, play near them and trees hardly notice us at all.
But you know what? I do think they know when we care for them. You can feel it next time you are out for a walk. Touch a tree and see. Whee!!!
by
Robin Hall
The sun is very bright as I walked down the hill. I put the bill of my hat back some so Mr. or Miss, or Mrs. Sun can enlighten me, light up my life. I turn on the final leg of my walk and then touch the fine old tree standing near the path. It feels good, tree touching. I walk on and touch more trees and smile.
I pat one old tree. Some of the bark comes off and I wonder if I hurt the tree? At the next big tree I pause and place both hands on this natural beauty. The wind blows its leaves way up high in the sky and I can feel this huge tree bend in the wind. What a marvelous feeling it is, tree touching.
Another tree beckons ahead. I get there, put both hands on it and look up to the beautiful blue sky. The tree has a big bend in it and then goes on and on skyward, swaying in the wind.
Walk, touch a tree, move on. It is wonderful. Now, don't do this with poison ivy, lions, tigers or bears but trees are just fine to touch. In fact, you can also sit under them, lean on them, picnic under them, play near them and trees hardly notice us at all.
But you know what? I do think they know when we care for them. You can feel it next time you are out for a walk. Touch a tree and see. Whee!!!
Monday, March 19, 2007
Roller Coaster Bees
Roller Coaster Bees
by
Robin Hall
Way, way, way, way, way out in Brooklyn, just past the corner of Petunia Avenue and 12,448 th Street sits the rusting remains of the Petunia Avenue Amusement Park. At one time it was a potential rival for Coney Island Park but due to some Union squabbles, no buses would go there and the park just withered up and passed on as many things and people do when no one can come to visit.
Of course the local Humble-Bee Bumblebees didn't mind at all. In fact they loved the place. Sure there were lots of vandals at first. All sorts of footpads, cut purses, thieves, robbers and even worse spray painters, who today are called taggers, came around in their time. But when most of the good stuff was gone and there wasn't anything left unpainted even these hooligans departed and nature returned. Flowers bloomed, grasses and weeds sprouted everywhere and a few trees took root. It began to look like it used to long before people came, except for the tall roller coaster tracks which probably weren't there before people came but I don’t really know for sure.
There were birds, spiders, bugs of all sorts and bees galore, just like out in the country. Some local cats would wander in looking for mice. Stray dogs came too and sometimes had puppies in the falling down sheds. Things looked good for all the plants and animals, including the Humble-Bee Bumblebees until two summers ago. Some smarty pants young developers decided this was going to be their own ticket to riches. They bought the land, hired surveyors and bribed the head of the bus union to come out for a look-see to get several buses an hour going. That’s when the trouble started.
Bill, the BIG BUMBLE, wasn't having any of this. His hive and ancestors had been here, right under the roller coaster for decades, liked the area and were determined to stay. PERIOD. Now Bill was of course Wilhelmena, but all the bees called her BIG BILL just because, if you know what I mean, she was one rough and organized bee. When the surveyors arrived, BIG BILL pounced on the fellow with the laser survey thingy on a tripod. He yelled some funny words, jumped hard, broke the laser thingy and took off. Later he got a nice peaceful job with McDonald's and seemed quite happy.
The Union Boss, Clyde Barry, didn't have such a good time either. BIG BILL had organized the bees, six spiders, a cat and some of the mean looking ants. They were all waiting... Needless to say Clyde didn't come back either and no buses to this day are anywhere near Petunia Avenue and 12,448 th Street.
The local folks were upset at the builders as well. They organized a lawyer party, hired a fine retired judge, a local woman named Beulah Wilson, filed all sorts of writs, habeus corpses and the like and put an end to the developers dreams of quick riches. The neighbors liked nature just as much as the animals and didn't want some fancy condominiums growing where trees should be. It was a victory for all.
You know sometimes getting organized can get you what you want in the world even if its just a little piece of nature in the middle of a huge city. There might be some organizing to do in your neighborhood. Take a tip from BIG BILL, the Humble-Bee Bumblebees and the neighbors around the old Petunia Avenue Amusement Park. Get organized, get a good lawyer, some bees and bugs on your side and see what can happen.
by
Robin Hall
Way, way, way, way, way out in Brooklyn, just past the corner of Petunia Avenue and 12,448 th Street sits the rusting remains of the Petunia Avenue Amusement Park. At one time it was a potential rival for Coney Island Park but due to some Union squabbles, no buses would go there and the park just withered up and passed on as many things and people do when no one can come to visit.
Of course the local Humble-Bee Bumblebees didn't mind at all. In fact they loved the place. Sure there were lots of vandals at first. All sorts of footpads, cut purses, thieves, robbers and even worse spray painters, who today are called taggers, came around in their time. But when most of the good stuff was gone and there wasn't anything left unpainted even these hooligans departed and nature returned. Flowers bloomed, grasses and weeds sprouted everywhere and a few trees took root. It began to look like it used to long before people came, except for the tall roller coaster tracks which probably weren't there before people came but I don’t really know for sure.
There were birds, spiders, bugs of all sorts and bees galore, just like out in the country. Some local cats would wander in looking for mice. Stray dogs came too and sometimes had puppies in the falling down sheds. Things looked good for all the plants and animals, including the Humble-Bee Bumblebees until two summers ago. Some smarty pants young developers decided this was going to be their own ticket to riches. They bought the land, hired surveyors and bribed the head of the bus union to come out for a look-see to get several buses an hour going. That’s when the trouble started.
Bill, the BIG BUMBLE, wasn't having any of this. His hive and ancestors had been here, right under the roller coaster for decades, liked the area and were determined to stay. PERIOD. Now Bill was of course Wilhelmena, but all the bees called her BIG BILL just because, if you know what I mean, she was one rough and organized bee. When the surveyors arrived, BIG BILL pounced on the fellow with the laser survey thingy on a tripod. He yelled some funny words, jumped hard, broke the laser thingy and took off. Later he got a nice peaceful job with McDonald's and seemed quite happy.
The Union Boss, Clyde Barry, didn't have such a good time either. BIG BILL had organized the bees, six spiders, a cat and some of the mean looking ants. They were all waiting... Needless to say Clyde didn't come back either and no buses to this day are anywhere near Petunia Avenue and 12,448 th Street.
The local folks were upset at the builders as well. They organized a lawyer party, hired a fine retired judge, a local woman named Beulah Wilson, filed all sorts of writs, habeus corpses and the like and put an end to the developers dreams of quick riches. The neighbors liked nature just as much as the animals and didn't want some fancy condominiums growing where trees should be. It was a victory for all.
You know sometimes getting organized can get you what you want in the world even if its just a little piece of nature in the middle of a huge city. There might be some organizing to do in your neighborhood. Take a tip from BIG BILL, the Humble-Bee Bumblebees and the neighbors around the old Petunia Avenue Amusement Park. Get organized, get a good lawyer, some bees and bugs on your side and see what can happen.
Friday, March 16, 2007
The Cowncil of Mu
The Cowncil of Mu
by
Robin Hall
A long time ago in the Kingdom of Mu
There were so many Cows no one knew what to do.
Each Cow family was more like a herd
And every day a new baby Muer stirred.
There were Cows on the hill and Cows in the dale
Cows on the road and Cows on the trail.
There were Cows on the farm and in the city too
Why Cows lived in penthouses as well as the zoo.
There were red Cows and white Cows and yellows and browns
There were doctor Cows and nurse Cows and plenty of clowns.
There were good Cows and bad Cows and Cows in between
There were Aberdeen Cows, Irene Cows, Jeans and Kathleens.
There were Cows named Hal, Willie and Fred
There were other Cows named Red, Jed and Ted.
There were smart Cows and dull Cows and some were confused.
There were more Cows than jobs was usually the news.
The Cows thought and they thought and they thought some more
Sometimes they thought themselves into a war.
One cow said, “Put a limit on growth.”
Another cow said, ”Just say no is my oath.”
The Cowncil of Mu met day and night
They had to find a way out of their plight.
And some elderly Muers and some of the young
They knew the danger. About this they had sung:
“Now the kingdom of Mu has beautiful trees. It has beautiful
lands and beautiful seas.
But when there are too many Cows and too little grass
When there is too little food to feed our mass,
When there too many Cows in too many a city
Beauty begins to die — its not very pretty.
Now ugly old greed is always a reason
So let’s make it a law — greed is treason.”
But the Law didn’t pass, who knows why?
So growth and greed continued polluting the sky.
One day Cows weren’t doing so much
They were all content to stay in their hutch.
They forgot how to laugh, how to play, how to think.
Soon their days were wasted with drugs and with drink.
As time went on most Cows slowly forgot
The Kingdom of Mu fell to decay and rot.
Cows could no longer think, play or laugh
Their intelligence fell by half, half, and half.
By now it must be plain to you
The Kingdom of Mu is now the kingdom of moo.
Then people came along and we have a chance
To have a nice place to work, sing and dance.
But too many people are like too many kine.
We MUST find an answer there just isn’t much time.
Some folks will think, “This doesn’t apply to me.”
But even now people are living from sea to sea.
And the oceans are dying at too fast a pace.
So wake up now and slow down this fast human race.
The End?
by
Robin Hall
A long time ago in the Kingdom of Mu
There were so many Cows no one knew what to do.
Each Cow family was more like a herd
And every day a new baby Muer stirred.
There were Cows on the hill and Cows in the dale
Cows on the road and Cows on the trail.
There were Cows on the farm and in the city too
Why Cows lived in penthouses as well as the zoo.
There were red Cows and white Cows and yellows and browns
There were doctor Cows and nurse Cows and plenty of clowns.
There were good Cows and bad Cows and Cows in between
There were Aberdeen Cows, Irene Cows, Jeans and Kathleens.
There were Cows named Hal, Willie and Fred
There were other Cows named Red, Jed and Ted.
There were smart Cows and dull Cows and some were confused.
There were more Cows than jobs was usually the news.
The Cows thought and they thought and they thought some more
Sometimes they thought themselves into a war.
One cow said, “Put a limit on growth.”
Another cow said, ”Just say no is my oath.”
The Cowncil of Mu met day and night
They had to find a way out of their plight.
And some elderly Muers and some of the young
They knew the danger. About this they had sung:
“Now the kingdom of Mu has beautiful trees. It has beautiful
lands and beautiful seas.
But when there are too many Cows and too little grass
When there is too little food to feed our mass,
When there too many Cows in too many a city
Beauty begins to die — its not very pretty.
Now ugly old greed is always a reason
So let’s make it a law — greed is treason.”
But the Law didn’t pass, who knows why?
So growth and greed continued polluting the sky.
One day Cows weren’t doing so much
They were all content to stay in their hutch.
They forgot how to laugh, how to play, how to think.
Soon their days were wasted with drugs and with drink.
As time went on most Cows slowly forgot
The Kingdom of Mu fell to decay and rot.
Cows could no longer think, play or laugh
Their intelligence fell by half, half, and half.
By now it must be plain to you
The Kingdom of Mu is now the kingdom of moo.
Then people came along and we have a chance
To have a nice place to work, sing and dance.
But too many people are like too many kine.
We MUST find an answer there just isn’t much time.
Some folks will think, “This doesn’t apply to me.”
But even now people are living from sea to sea.
And the oceans are dying at too fast a pace.
So wake up now and slow down this fast human race.
The End?
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Interview with a Tortoise, er Turtle
There are several Interviews. They are fun to read with someone and are just like Henry & George, dialogs.
Interview With a Tortoise, er, Turtle
by
Robin Hall
Interviewer: How’s it going, eh?
Turtle: OK. Yourself?
Interviewer: Well, uh, OK I guess. I didn’t figure you could actually talk. I thought the guys at the store were putting me on.
Turtle: Sure.
I: Is it OK to call you Tortoise?
T: NO! I hate that name. Its so French. And how would you pronounce it anyway? Tor twa? No way.
I: Sorry.
T: Sure.
I: What can I call you?
T: Turtle is fine.
I: Well now, Turtle, can you tell me a little about yourself?
T: Like what?
I: You know, the usual. Where you were born, where do you live, how did you learn to talk? That sort of thing.
T: Oh.
I: ??
T: I was just thinking.
I: Sure.
T: How old are you sonny?
I: I, er, I’m 26.
T: Hmmm. I’m almost 103. I hardly feel a day over 80 most of the time.
I: I see.
T: Do you?
I: No. Just a figure of speech.
T: Watch it then.
I: Sorry.
T: Sure. Where was I? Where am I? Heh, heh. Little turtle joke.
I: Very funny. Say, you ever watch Jay Leno?
T: Once or twice. Used to catch the Carson show sometimes. This old coot been trying to catch ME for years had a fishing shack up the bend there would watch. Mostly he just drank beer, fished a little and passed out. I’d walk up near the window and listen in. Past my bedtime though these days, the Late Show. Must be gettin’ old.
I: Sure.
T: Right. Actually like that Leno better but its just too late of an evening. Mosquitoes start buzzing around my nose make me sneeze. I turn in about sundown, put some moss over my nose and sleep like a log.
I: Kinda look like one too.
T: Say, you a wise guy or sumpin?
I: Sorry.
T: Yeah, I sorta do look like a cross between a log and one of those smelly alligators. I hate them critters. One almost got me when I was your age, about the middle of that stupid Prohibition era. Folks was plain mean then. Pl'ice raids made decent folks maddern a wet hen, which by the way are quite tasty. Folks would take out their anger on them alligators and the alligators would always come looking for one of us to take it out on. Or just looking for a snack, never really know with those varmits...
I: Go on.
T: Like I said, I turn in early.
I: How was it in those days? Were people different? How about this swamp? When were you born?
T: Right. Let’s see. Where to begin? Well, I’m not too clear my early years. Something happened around 1910, I was about 13 at the time. All of a sudden... Naw, you’d think I was crazy.
I: No, please go on.
T: All right, but no laughing ‘less I laugh too.
I: OK.
T: OK. So, it was around 1910. Stock market was in pretty good shape, no World Wars. Pretty good time for some folks. Us turtles had a tough time of course, like always. Running from people, alligators, ‘skeeters, dogs.
Ha. That reminds me. There was this old blue tick hound across the way, uh, Winnebago they called him. Dumb name for a dumb dog. Anyway, Winnebago used to chase his tail till he got dizzy and plumb fell over. He actually believed it was food or something. Don’t really know though. Me and the other turtles would just howl when he done that. He’d stagger around for an hour like’t he was drunk.
Still, he never bothered none of us alligator turtles like some dogs would. Just sniff a bit then walk off. Alligator got him one day he was dizzy. I hate them gators.
I: Let me change the tape if you don’t mind.
T: Sure. I’ll get a drink. BRB.
I: OK.
T: Batteries fresh?
I: Yes, thank you.
T: In that funny fall of 1910 something strange happened. One day I was just some turtle then WHAM, I can think all of a sudden. Took me a week to figure out what to do. Man that was weird. Just a turtle, then WHAM.
I: Wow. Then what?
T: Then? That is a tough one. I am sure life was easier before I began to think.
Thinking is a drag sometime you know. All of a sudden you have to occupy time. Before you just
WERE.
Now I know stuff, before I just did stuff. Hard to explain I ‘spose. The other turtles didn’t have a clue what went wrong with me. I couldn't tell them.
I was lonely a lot till I met my wife. Good turtle she was. Had lots of spirit. We swam all over the swamp here, one end to the other. One year we swam all the way round the outside. Next year we’d criss cross and see the islands and all. She almost understood too, almost.
I: Must have been rough, thinking when the others didn’t.
T: Yes.
I: Can you tell me about the swamp here?
T: Well, round 1937 the swamp was designated Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. Things got a little better for the animals here. Before the local folks would cause all sorts of trouble with hunting and all.
Fact, they got even better in 1974 when the interior was declared a national wilderness area. Really keeps folks out good. See that stream over there? Used to be full of soap and fertilizer run off. Whew, was this area nasty. Almost kilt a lot of us. Well, after 1974 all that stopped and its come back real nice don’t you think?
I: Of course. Its beautiful here. Do you have many friends?
T: Not too many. Youngsters come down to the water sometime and behave decent we might be friends for a while. There’s a bear in the woods about 3 miles from here I talk to. Ugly cuss he is but knows all bout trains. He seen them in 3 states. Tells me all about his travels. I'd like to travel on a train sometime...
I: Say, how about a ride in a car?
T: You mean it?
I: Yes indeed. You won’t bite me will you?
T: No.
I: OK. How’s this, you can sit on my suitcases up front. Up you go, now over a bit. You alright?
T: Great. Man this is terrific.
I: Just an old clunker I’ve had since school.
T: Stick shift?
I: Yes. I never liked automatics.
T: How fast this baby go?
I: Almost 80.
T: Man oh man.
I: Watch this. See that bump up there? We can fly a bit when we hit it. Be careful, let me strap you in. OK, here goes...
T: WOOOOOOWwwwwwwwww.
I: I thought you would like that.
T: Say, you’re all right for a human.
I: Thanks. You mind if I come back to talk some more?
T: No. Just honk three times when you come over that hill and I will come on back to the beach here.
I: OK. Well, its been a pleasure.
T: Yeah, me too. Thanks for that ride. I didn’t catch your name.
I: Man, just call me man.
T: OK, man. See you.
I: See you, turtle....
Interview With a Tortoise, er, Turtle
by
Robin Hall
Interviewer: How’s it going, eh?
Turtle: OK. Yourself?
Interviewer: Well, uh, OK I guess. I didn’t figure you could actually talk. I thought the guys at the store were putting me on.
Turtle: Sure.
I: Is it OK to call you Tortoise?
T: NO! I hate that name. Its so French. And how would you pronounce it anyway? Tor twa? No way.
I: Sorry.
T: Sure.
I: What can I call you?
T: Turtle is fine.
I: Well now, Turtle, can you tell me a little about yourself?
T: Like what?
I: You know, the usual. Where you were born, where do you live, how did you learn to talk? That sort of thing.
T: Oh.
I: ??
T: I was just thinking.
I: Sure.
T: How old are you sonny?
I: I, er, I’m 26.
T: Hmmm. I’m almost 103. I hardly feel a day over 80 most of the time.
I: I see.
T: Do you?
I: No. Just a figure of speech.
T: Watch it then.
I: Sorry.
T: Sure. Where was I? Where am I? Heh, heh. Little turtle joke.
I: Very funny. Say, you ever watch Jay Leno?
T: Once or twice. Used to catch the Carson show sometimes. This old coot been trying to catch ME for years had a fishing shack up the bend there would watch. Mostly he just drank beer, fished a little and passed out. I’d walk up near the window and listen in. Past my bedtime though these days, the Late Show. Must be gettin’ old.
I: Sure.
T: Right. Actually like that Leno better but its just too late of an evening. Mosquitoes start buzzing around my nose make me sneeze. I turn in about sundown, put some moss over my nose and sleep like a log.
I: Kinda look like one too.
T: Say, you a wise guy or sumpin?
I: Sorry.
T: Yeah, I sorta do look like a cross between a log and one of those smelly alligators. I hate them critters. One almost got me when I was your age, about the middle of that stupid Prohibition era. Folks was plain mean then. Pl'ice raids made decent folks maddern a wet hen, which by the way are quite tasty. Folks would take out their anger on them alligators and the alligators would always come looking for one of us to take it out on. Or just looking for a snack, never really know with those varmits...
I: Go on.
T: Like I said, I turn in early.
I: How was it in those days? Were people different? How about this swamp? When were you born?
T: Right. Let’s see. Where to begin? Well, I’m not too clear my early years. Something happened around 1910, I was about 13 at the time. All of a sudden... Naw, you’d think I was crazy.
I: No, please go on.
T: All right, but no laughing ‘less I laugh too.
I: OK.
T: OK. So, it was around 1910. Stock market was in pretty good shape, no World Wars. Pretty good time for some folks. Us turtles had a tough time of course, like always. Running from people, alligators, ‘skeeters, dogs.
Ha. That reminds me. There was this old blue tick hound across the way, uh, Winnebago they called him. Dumb name for a dumb dog. Anyway, Winnebago used to chase his tail till he got dizzy and plumb fell over. He actually believed it was food or something. Don’t really know though. Me and the other turtles would just howl when he done that. He’d stagger around for an hour like’t he was drunk.
Still, he never bothered none of us alligator turtles like some dogs would. Just sniff a bit then walk off. Alligator got him one day he was dizzy. I hate them gators.
I: Let me change the tape if you don’t mind.
T: Sure. I’ll get a drink. BRB.
I: OK.
T: Batteries fresh?
I: Yes, thank you.
T: In that funny fall of 1910 something strange happened. One day I was just some turtle then WHAM, I can think all of a sudden. Took me a week to figure out what to do. Man that was weird. Just a turtle, then WHAM.
I: Wow. Then what?
T: Then? That is a tough one. I am sure life was easier before I began to think.
Thinking is a drag sometime you know. All of a sudden you have to occupy time. Before you just
WERE.
Now I know stuff, before I just did stuff. Hard to explain I ‘spose. The other turtles didn’t have a clue what went wrong with me. I couldn't tell them.
I was lonely a lot till I met my wife. Good turtle she was. Had lots of spirit. We swam all over the swamp here, one end to the other. One year we swam all the way round the outside. Next year we’d criss cross and see the islands and all. She almost understood too, almost.
I: Must have been rough, thinking when the others didn’t.
T: Yes.
I: Can you tell me about the swamp here?
T: Well, round 1937 the swamp was designated Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. Things got a little better for the animals here. Before the local folks would cause all sorts of trouble with hunting and all.
Fact, they got even better in 1974 when the interior was declared a national wilderness area. Really keeps folks out good. See that stream over there? Used to be full of soap and fertilizer run off. Whew, was this area nasty. Almost kilt a lot of us. Well, after 1974 all that stopped and its come back real nice don’t you think?
I: Of course. Its beautiful here. Do you have many friends?
T: Not too many. Youngsters come down to the water sometime and behave decent we might be friends for a while. There’s a bear in the woods about 3 miles from here I talk to. Ugly cuss he is but knows all bout trains. He seen them in 3 states. Tells me all about his travels. I'd like to travel on a train sometime...
I: Say, how about a ride in a car?
T: You mean it?
I: Yes indeed. You won’t bite me will you?
T: No.
I: OK. How’s this, you can sit on my suitcases up front. Up you go, now over a bit. You alright?
T: Great. Man this is terrific.
I: Just an old clunker I’ve had since school.
T: Stick shift?
I: Yes. I never liked automatics.
T: How fast this baby go?
I: Almost 80.
T: Man oh man.
I: Watch this. See that bump up there? We can fly a bit when we hit it. Be careful, let me strap you in. OK, here goes...
T: WOOOOOOWwwwwwwwww.
I: I thought you would like that.
T: Say, you’re all right for a human.
I: Thanks. You mind if I come back to talk some more?
T: No. Just honk three times when you come over that hill and I will come on back to the beach here.
I: OK. Well, its been a pleasure.
T: Yeah, me too. Thanks for that ride. I didn’t catch your name.
I: Man, just call me man.
T: OK, man. See you.
I: See you, turtle....
Monday, March 12, 2007
Itzak the Rainbow Beaver
Itzak the Rainbow Beaver
by
Robin Hall
Most everyone loves rainbows and most everyone also loves beavers even if they never met one. This is why.
A long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long time ago there were no rainbows. There were no beavers either. Then along came rain, but no rainbows and somewhat later along came beavers. Well, beavers are partial to wood as you know. They eat some and use some in building their dams. Of course dams like the Hoover dam were not made by beavers. They are usually built by people out of concrete not by beavers out of wood.
Anyway, one day a little tiny baby beaver named Itzak was chewing on a small tree. The rain had started coming down AND there was sun too. When that happened Itzak was startled and he bit too hard on the tree. Since he only had baby teeth when he bit the tree it hurt his teeth and he began to cry and cry.
The GREAT SPIRIT asked little Itzak what the matter was. Itzak said, “I hurt my teeth when the sun came out and it was raining. That had never happened before.” The GREAT SPIRIT spread his giant wings across the whole valley. Each feather was a different color. Then little Itzak stopped crying. He smiled. Then he laughed out loud.
The GREAT SPIRIT saw how happy little Itzak became and from then on when children of any age anywhere are hurt or just want to smile or laugh, the GREAT SPIRIT sends us a rainbow to see or remember and we have little Itzak and the GREAT SPIRIT to thank. Lets all remember to do just this the next time we need our own rainbow.
by
Robin Hall
Most everyone loves rainbows and most everyone also loves beavers even if they never met one. This is why.
A long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long time ago there were no rainbows. There were no beavers either. Then along came rain, but no rainbows and somewhat later along came beavers. Well, beavers are partial to wood as you know. They eat some and use some in building their dams. Of course dams like the Hoover dam were not made by beavers. They are usually built by people out of concrete not by beavers out of wood.
Anyway, one day a little tiny baby beaver named Itzak was chewing on a small tree. The rain had started coming down AND there was sun too. When that happened Itzak was startled and he bit too hard on the tree. Since he only had baby teeth when he bit the tree it hurt his teeth and he began to cry and cry.
The GREAT SPIRIT asked little Itzak what the matter was. Itzak said, “I hurt my teeth when the sun came out and it was raining. That had never happened before.” The GREAT SPIRIT spread his giant wings across the whole valley. Each feather was a different color. Then little Itzak stopped crying. He smiled. Then he laughed out loud.
The GREAT SPIRIT saw how happy little Itzak became and from then on when children of any age anywhere are hurt or just want to smile or laugh, the GREAT SPIRIT sends us a rainbow to see or remember and we have little Itzak and the GREAT SPIRIT to thank. Lets all remember to do just this the next time we need our own rainbow.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Do Animals Think?
Do Animals Think?
by
Robin Hall
If you were an ant, what would you think? Ant thoughts: Feed the Queen, clean the nest,“Hello, friends. Where is the next picnic?” What do you think ants think?
Are bear thoughts more wonderful than ant thoughts? Or do bears just think about salmon, summer, winter, berries and cubs? Do bears think? What you think they think?
Does a cat in your house think about mice, catnip, catnaps, balls of string, scratching the couch and that pretty yellow canary? What do you think a cat thinks if it thinks?
Do dogs ponder and imagine beautiful things? Do dogs think at all? Or do they just sit in the sun, chase leaves and toads, look for food, sleep, wander about and meow?
I am always wondering about these things. What do animals think? Do we look funny to them?Do we smell funny too?
Well, I don’t know.
Its fun to think about what
Animals think about.
Don’t you think so too?
by
Robin Hall
If you were an ant, what would you think? Ant thoughts: Feed the Queen, clean the nest,“Hello, friends. Where is the next picnic?” What do you think ants think?
Are bear thoughts more wonderful than ant thoughts? Or do bears just think about salmon, summer, winter, berries and cubs? Do bears think? What you think they think?
Does a cat in your house think about mice, catnip, catnaps, balls of string, scratching the couch and that pretty yellow canary? What do you think a cat thinks if it thinks?
Do dogs ponder and imagine beautiful things? Do dogs think at all? Or do they just sit in the sun, chase leaves and toads, look for food, sleep, wander about and meow?
I am always wondering about these things. What do animals think? Do we look funny to them?Do we smell funny too?
Well, I don’t know.
Its fun to think about what
Animals think about.
Don’t you think so too?
Alfred the New Gnu
New Gnu Fun
by
Robin Hall
Here are tales for you about Alfred Gnu,
Our Bewildered beasty friend.
Alfred's sister Lulu Gnu has a tale or two
There are other animals 4 U.
Umar, the lion, Hattie the chimp, lots of silly gnu food,
Imagine the fun, riding a gnu into the green dark scary wood.
Alfred the New Gnu
by
Robin Hall
Alfred knew some things other gnus didn’t. For one thing, Alfred knew he was a gnu. He also knew he was a new gnu though he didn’t know how new or how he knew he was new, he just knew.
One day not so very long ago, Alfred was born. He was a very new gnu at the time, a baby gnu. Then a few weeks later he knew he was a gnu. How? Some British tourists were passing by in their hired Toyota Land Cruiser and one of them said, “Look, Alfred, there is a baby gnu.” That is how Alfred knew he was a gnu and a baby too. The other gnus didn’t pause much from eating but Alfred did and at that very moment he knew. He decided his name WAS Alfred too.
“I wonder if the other gnus know much?” Alfred wondered. They didn’t seem to know much and Alfred couldn’t ask them or anyone. Alfred had many thoughts from that moment on. He wondered if other animals knew what he knew? “Were they conscious?” might have been the question an educated person would ask. Alfred wasn’t educated but he was conscious and he knew that too. Well, what to do???
Now Alfred started wandering around looking at things in a new gnu’s light which was very bright. He watched the herd of gnus. He watched his parent gnus. They didn’t treat him any differently. Alfred watched the other animals too and how they watched the gnus. He watched the lions too and the lions watched back. Alfred knew they didn’t know much but he knew they were hungry so Alfred stayed with his herd. He was a smart gnu.
Which presented a problem. Most smart people can go to school. Alfred wasn’t a person and there were no gnu schools for a new smart gnu to go to. The teachers would probably say there were no gnu desks for you to sit in and since he couldn’t talk or sign, how would he answer the questions even if he studied hard and knew all the answers? Hmmm. Besides, the children were frequently not very nice to those who were different and a new gnu who knew, would be VERY different don’t you think? Yes, I do too. So, what to do???
Alfred knew there were other ways to learn than going to school. You could just watch animals and people. You could read but that was somewhat difficult since there weren’t any gnu libraries. “I can just do things. Which is a fine way to learn too and that is what I will do!!”
Well, Alfred knew there were many questions and he could not solve all his life's problems in one day so he made a plan. “I will keep growing, I will get very strong and fast, I will keep learning the best I can. I am a new gnu and I will do what I can do rather than try to do what I can’t do.” And he did.
The continent Alfred lives in is called Africa. It is very, very big and there are many adventures for a new gnu to have, so I will come back often and hope you do too.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Imaginationing: U and Your Cup
I wrote several guided imagery exercises and incorporated them into some of my stories. Its very nice to have someone read them to you. If you are alone, record them and play them back to yourself. It is fun.
I call these exercises, Imaginationings. You can use them to reduce stress, work your imagination and make up your own versions. If you do this, why not share it? Send it to me and I will put your name in the title OR start your own blog. Send me a link to it.
Imaginationing: U and Your Cup
Imaginationing, using your imagination, is fun. Let’s try something new and also familiar. Remember your favorite cup? Go get it again and bring it to your chair... Hold your cup in both hands and look at it, really LOOK closely.
Look at the rim, the top; look at the handle; look at the bottom. Sometimes we see things but don’t really LOOK, don’t understand. But we can learn to go deeper into things. We can use more senses and we can use our imagination.
Now while you are looking, FEEL the cup too. Feel the top, the handle, the sides, the bottom. Put the cup over one ear and LISTEN to your cup. What do you hear? Put the cup in the palm of your right hand. Rest your right hand on your left in you lap.
Get comfortable. Leave noises for another time. Close your eyes. Sit there quietly and listen.
Can you feel your cup? Can you hear your cup? Is it heavy? Use your imagination and make it heavier. It is pressing down on you hand and is very heavy...
Take a deep breath. Let it out... Now make your cup get lighter... It is just right sitting in your hand... Now imagine your cup getting still lighter... Let it rise to your eye level... With your eyes still closed, LOOK at your cup floating there... Look at the top. Look at the handle. Look at the side. Now imagine the cup turning to you so you can see the bottom...
Blow gently on your cup and it floats farther away... Breathe in through your mouth and bring your cup back...
Now let your cup float gently back to your hand... Feel the bottom. Feel the weight. Feel the handle and top...
You are in your chair in the same place. You feel very good. Slowly open your eyes and look at your cup... Smile. Your imaginationing is over for now. You can return later if you like and use a spoon or ???
I call these exercises, Imaginationings. You can use them to reduce stress, work your imagination and make up your own versions. If you do this, why not share it? Send it to me and I will put your name in the title OR start your own blog. Send me a link to it.
Imaginationing: U and Your Cup
Imaginationing, using your imagination, is fun. Let’s try something new and also familiar. Remember your favorite cup? Go get it again and bring it to your chair... Hold your cup in both hands and look at it, really LOOK closely.
Look at the rim, the top; look at the handle; look at the bottom. Sometimes we see things but don’t really LOOK, don’t understand. But we can learn to go deeper into things. We can use more senses and we can use our imagination.
Now while you are looking, FEEL the cup too. Feel the top, the handle, the sides, the bottom. Put the cup over one ear and LISTEN to your cup. What do you hear? Put the cup in the palm of your right hand. Rest your right hand on your left in you lap.
Get comfortable. Leave noises for another time. Close your eyes. Sit there quietly and listen.
Can you feel your cup? Can you hear your cup? Is it heavy? Use your imagination and make it heavier. It is pressing down on you hand and is very heavy...
Take a deep breath. Let it out... Now make your cup get lighter... It is just right sitting in your hand... Now imagine your cup getting still lighter... Let it rise to your eye level... With your eyes still closed, LOOK at your cup floating there... Look at the top. Look at the handle. Look at the side. Now imagine the cup turning to you so you can see the bottom...
Blow gently on your cup and it floats farther away... Breathe in through your mouth and bring your cup back...
Now let your cup float gently back to your hand... Feel the bottom. Feel the weight. Feel the handle and top...
You are in your chair in the same place. You feel very good. Slowly open your eyes and look at your cup... Smile. Your imaginationing is over for now. You can return later if you like and use a spoon or ???
Quit Buggin' Me
These dialogs between two roaches, best friends for ever and a day, can be fun to do with someone else. George and Henry live in New York.
Quit Buggin’ Me
by
Robin Hall
George: Sure is dark in here. Hey, Henry, you got a match?
Henry: What?
George: I said, do you have a match?
Henry: No.
G: How about a flashlight then?
H: NO. No match. No flashlight.
G: Don’t get sore at me.
H: I ain’t sore at you.
G: You sound sore.
H: Shut up.
G: See, I knew you was sore.
H: George, you are a moron. You been watching too much TV. Where would a roach like me carry a match, IF there were any small enough to carry? I got no pockets, no purse, no bag, no where to put matches. Plus fire scares me. And where would I get batteries for my tiny flashlight? You been in that butter milk up in 604 again?
G: Well, er, I did have just a bit. Smoothe, silky, yummy.
H: Oyvey. What am I going to do with you? Leave him alone for 5 minutes and he’s into some body’s batch of homemade buttermilk.
G: Was good.
H: Sure. Ok, just relax. Sit down and breathe deeply. That’s it. Better clean off those feelers too.
G: You’re a good friend Henry.
H: Sure.
G: So, do you have a flashlight?
G: Heh, heh, just teasing.
H: Sure.
G: Whew, that was some trip.
H: Sure.
G: Man, its mighty dark.
H: George, we are in a drain. The same drain we were in yesterday. It was dark then. Its dark now.
G: Sure is dark though.
H: Ok, try this. Is it darker today than it was yesterday? Think real hard.
G: Well, its dark all right.
H: But darker than yesterday?
G: Uh, I can’t tell. Its dark.
H: But darker than yesterday or the day before?
G: Its pretty dark. You really don’t have a flashlight?
H: ROACHES DON’T HAVE FLASHLIGHTS!!!
G: Oh. Too bad cause its awful dark.
H: Come on, I’ll get you home.
G: Where is that?
H: Where it always is, under the sink in 304, third crack on the left.
G: Is that far?
H: Not far now.
G: Sure is dark. Oops. Sorry Henry.
H: Yeah, yeah. I walk on them too.
G: Dark. Are we there yet?
H: Finally. Try to get some sleep.
G: Ok but its still dark.
H: Goodnight George.
G: Night Henry. Can you sing to me?
H: Ok, but just one song. What’ll it be?
G: Home on the Range.
H: Home, home on the Range, where the deer and the antelope play. Where seldom is heard a discouraging word, and the sky’s are not cloudy all day...
Quit Buggin’ Me
by
Robin Hall
George: Sure is dark in here. Hey, Henry, you got a match?
Henry: What?
George: I said, do you have a match?
Henry: No.
G: How about a flashlight then?
H: NO. No match. No flashlight.
G: Don’t get sore at me.
H: I ain’t sore at you.
G: You sound sore.
H: Shut up.
G: See, I knew you was sore.
H: George, you are a moron. You been watching too much TV. Where would a roach like me carry a match, IF there were any small enough to carry? I got no pockets, no purse, no bag, no where to put matches. Plus fire scares me. And where would I get batteries for my tiny flashlight? You been in that butter milk up in 604 again?
G: Well, er, I did have just a bit. Smoothe, silky, yummy.
H: Oyvey. What am I going to do with you? Leave him alone for 5 minutes and he’s into some body’s batch of homemade buttermilk.
G: Was good.
H: Sure. Ok, just relax. Sit down and breathe deeply. That’s it. Better clean off those feelers too.
G: You’re a good friend Henry.
H: Sure.
G: So, do you have a flashlight?
G: Heh, heh, just teasing.
H: Sure.
G: Whew, that was some trip.
H: Sure.
G: Man, its mighty dark.
H: George, we are in a drain. The same drain we were in yesterday. It was dark then. Its dark now.
G: Sure is dark though.
H: Ok, try this. Is it darker today than it was yesterday? Think real hard.
G: Well, its dark all right.
H: But darker than yesterday?
G: Uh, I can’t tell. Its dark.
H: But darker than yesterday or the day before?
G: Its pretty dark. You really don’t have a flashlight?
H: ROACHES DON’T HAVE FLASHLIGHTS!!!
G: Oh. Too bad cause its awful dark.
H: Come on, I’ll get you home.
G: Where is that?
H: Where it always is, under the sink in 304, third crack on the left.
G: Is that far?
H: Not far now.
G: Sure is dark. Oops. Sorry Henry.
H: Yeah, yeah. I walk on them too.
G: Dark. Are we there yet?
H: Finally. Try to get some sleep.
G: Ok but its still dark.
H: Goodnight George.
G: Night Henry. Can you sing to me?
H: Ok, but just one song. What’ll it be?
G: Home on the Range.
H: Home, home on the Range, where the deer and the antelope play. Where seldom is heard a discouraging word, and the sky’s are not cloudy all day...
Friday, March 9, 2007
Pelican Tales: AwwAww
Pelican Tales: AwwAww
by
Robin Hall
There are about two nice days in Florida each year, for driving that is. Traffic up and down I-95 and I-75 is usually just a nightmare. Traffic on the older US 27 is even worse and there are no nice driving days there. All over the Sunshine state, where it rains most every day about 4 PM, there are cars rushing about with people inside sweating, cussing and hanging on to the steering wheel for dear life.
Now this mild traffic pronouncement could easily be seen by any sane tourist, other calm observer and the state's wildlife population which was NOT confined to the Everglades by any means. Most crocodiles didn't care all that much for traffic reports. They were busy scaring folks, sleeping, eating, swimming and doing whatever alligators do when people aren't watching.
Most snakes, frogs, cows, the state's 3 cougars, 15 bears, 53 deer and assorted birds DO care about all that traffic but don't have much say in the matter. Roads and cars are just about every place only plants and animals used to be, and still should be, but no one is likely to move out. People like the warmth. Animals like the warmth and quiet times of old. People win most of the time.
If we look up at the sky traffic, well, till there are flying cars, the sky traffic isn't that bad. Sure, airports annoy the locals but planes are the only way people can fly. People like to fly. Birds do this naturally, don't have to build airports or have buses, taxis and cars to get them out of airports and home to TVs, air conditioning and their swimming pools.
All these things frequently went through AwwAww's mind. Lots of other things went through his mind too. Beautiful thoughts: pretty memories of hundreds of wonderful sunsets, his many fine friends, good food, swimming, sunbathing and most of all, AwwAww thought of flying. How could anything be so marvelous as flying with his flock, each wing beat in tune with the others. Sailing, swooping, turning all in unison. "It is the most enjoyable, ecstatic feeling anyone could have," he said out loud one day. All his flock agreed.
The traffic just didn't matter when they were aflight. They could soar right over those noisy cars, land in a quiet inland pond, the huge Lake Okeechobee, Lake George, the Indian river or hundreds of other places of delight far from cars, exhaust and usually people.
Now pause a moment to imagine what this life of flight might be like. Just get comfortable in your chair, close your eyes, breathe deeply and go flying with AwwAww and his pelican friends. Imagine your friends along with you.
You take off at dawn, look east and see all the sunrises in the world. You rise higher and higher, see the purple's, oranges, blues few groundlings other than pilots ever get to witness. Your group of friends has decided to fly inland today, to feed in beautiful Lake Kissimmee. What a name. You fly in tune with your brothers and sisters in flight, wings beating to your own drummer, Owwa the soundful Owwa. The groundling's problems are for them to solve. You have flight and beauty today, tomorrow, forever.
You near the lake. Owwa's soundings stop. All are on guard, looking. Owwa's tune changes and you all descend gracefully, land, relax.
The group begins the ritual of circling a school of fish, heading them to shallow water where all can feed. The group. Life. Beauty. Food. FLIGHT.
The group stays the night there in this wonderful place. Tomorrow, who knows? The inland water way, St. Johns, Apopka?
Remember where you are now. Breathe deeply. Come back to your chair refreshed with the vision of the lives of these beautiful creatures. Pelicans, flying magicians. Practitioners of the art of FLIGHT, knowers of beauty. Birds of the kingdom. See them, look there, here.
Where there is warmth, there are pelicans. Owwa, the sounder, his brother the observer of sunrises and sunsets, AwwAww the wise, AwwAww the splendid. Come back to them another time in your thoughts, share the other stories with your friends.
There are many dazzling sights from above, many wondrous imaginationings to unfold. Return to us. Return and share your own remarkable tales. We will be here. We will listen. Write your own tales, your own wonders. Imagine what beauty you can find.
AwwAww © byRobin Hall
by
Robin Hall
There are about two nice days in Florida each year, for driving that is. Traffic up and down I-95 and I-75 is usually just a nightmare. Traffic on the older US 27 is even worse and there are no nice driving days there. All over the Sunshine state, where it rains most every day about 4 PM, there are cars rushing about with people inside sweating, cussing and hanging on to the steering wheel for dear life.
Now this mild traffic pronouncement could easily be seen by any sane tourist, other calm observer and the state's wildlife population which was NOT confined to the Everglades by any means. Most crocodiles didn't care all that much for traffic reports. They were busy scaring folks, sleeping, eating, swimming and doing whatever alligators do when people aren't watching.
Most snakes, frogs, cows, the state's 3 cougars, 15 bears, 53 deer and assorted birds DO care about all that traffic but don't have much say in the matter. Roads and cars are just about every place only plants and animals used to be, and still should be, but no one is likely to move out. People like the warmth. Animals like the warmth and quiet times of old. People win most of the time.
If we look up at the sky traffic, well, till there are flying cars, the sky traffic isn't that bad. Sure, airports annoy the locals but planes are the only way people can fly. People like to fly. Birds do this naturally, don't have to build airports or have buses, taxis and cars to get them out of airports and home to TVs, air conditioning and their swimming pools.
All these things frequently went through AwwAww's mind. Lots of other things went through his mind too. Beautiful thoughts: pretty memories of hundreds of wonderful sunsets, his many fine friends, good food, swimming, sunbathing and most of all, AwwAww thought of flying. How could anything be so marvelous as flying with his flock, each wing beat in tune with the others. Sailing, swooping, turning all in unison. "It is the most enjoyable, ecstatic feeling anyone could have," he said out loud one day. All his flock agreed.
The traffic just didn't matter when they were aflight. They could soar right over those noisy cars, land in a quiet inland pond, the huge Lake Okeechobee, Lake George, the Indian river or hundreds of other places of delight far from cars, exhaust and usually people.
Now pause a moment to imagine what this life of flight might be like. Just get comfortable in your chair, close your eyes, breathe deeply and go flying with AwwAww and his pelican friends. Imagine your friends along with you.
You take off at dawn, look east and see all the sunrises in the world. You rise higher and higher, see the purple's, oranges, blues few groundlings other than pilots ever get to witness. Your group of friends has decided to fly inland today, to feed in beautiful Lake Kissimmee. What a name. You fly in tune with your brothers and sisters in flight, wings beating to your own drummer, Owwa the soundful Owwa. The groundling's problems are for them to solve. You have flight and beauty today, tomorrow, forever.
You near the lake. Owwa's soundings stop. All are on guard, looking. Owwa's tune changes and you all descend gracefully, land, relax.
The group begins the ritual of circling a school of fish, heading them to shallow water where all can feed. The group. Life. Beauty. Food. FLIGHT.
The group stays the night there in this wonderful place. Tomorrow, who knows? The inland water way, St. Johns, Apopka?
Remember where you are now. Breathe deeply. Come back to your chair refreshed with the vision of the lives of these beautiful creatures. Pelicans, flying magicians. Practitioners of the art of FLIGHT, knowers of beauty. Birds of the kingdom. See them, look there, here.
Where there is warmth, there are pelicans. Owwa, the sounder, his brother the observer of sunrises and sunsets, AwwAww the wise, AwwAww the splendid. Come back to them another time in your thoughts, share the other stories with your friends.
There are many dazzling sights from above, many wondrous imaginationings to unfold. Return to us. Return and share your own remarkable tales. We will be here. We will listen. Write your own tales, your own wonders. Imagine what beauty you can find.
AwwAww © byRobin Hall
Music Valley
Music Valley, Where the Music Grows
by
Robin Hall
Deep in the forest is a magic valley filled with farms.
Look a bit closer, I will tell you its charms.
At the fiddle farm, where all the fiddles grow,
You plant fiddle seeds in big long rows.
You plant bow seeds too, and before you know
You have a lot of fiddles and you have a lot of bows.
Fiddledefiddledefiddledo!
Right next door more music grows.
Drum seeds get planted in nice round rows.
You plant drum stick seeds just so so
You have a lot of drums and sticks to make them go.
RatatatatatatRatatatatatat!!
Right down the road where tubas grow,
You plant tuba seeds in curlyque rows.
You plant french horns too in smaller curly rows,
You have french horns high and tubas down low.
Oompapaoompapapa;oouoouoouohohoh!!!
Music Valley, where the music grows
Has lots of farmers and lots and lots of rows.
Across the street the trumpets grow.
You plant trumpet seeds, in trumpety rows.
You plant trombone seeds in sliding rows.
You have trumpets at the windows and trombones at the do's.
Dodododododo, doO, doO, doO, doO!!!!
If close your eyes, who knows?
You might find your own farm with rows and rows.
You might find a car farm and down the road
Find a truck farm where the trucks all grow.
Zoom Zoom Zoom zzzzzzzzzzzzooooommmm..
by
Robin Hall
Deep in the forest is a magic valley filled with farms.
Look a bit closer, I will tell you its charms.
At the fiddle farm, where all the fiddles grow,
You plant fiddle seeds in big long rows.
You plant bow seeds too, and before you know
You have a lot of fiddles and you have a lot of bows.
Fiddledefiddledefiddledo!
Right next door more music grows.
Drum seeds get planted in nice round rows.
You plant drum stick seeds just so so
You have a lot of drums and sticks to make them go.
RatatatatatatRatatatatatat!!
Right down the road where tubas grow,
You plant tuba seeds in curlyque rows.
You plant french horns too in smaller curly rows,
You have french horns high and tubas down low.
Oompapaoompapapa;oouoouoouohohoh!!!
Music Valley, where the music grows
Has lots of farmers and lots and lots of rows.
Across the street the trumpets grow.
You plant trumpet seeds, in trumpety rows.
You plant trombone seeds in sliding rows.
You have trumpets at the windows and trombones at the do's.
Dodododododo, doO, doO, doO, doO!!!!
If close your eyes, who knows?
You might find your own farm with rows and rows.
You might find a car farm and down the road
Find a truck farm where the trucks all grow.
Zoom Zoom Zoom zzzzzzzzzzzzooooommmm..
Horace the Zebra Mule
Horace the Zebra Mule
by
Robin Hall
Horace the zebra mule was very curious and in more than just the usual ways. First, Horace was a mule. That is pretty curious when you think about it. But Horace wasn’t just any mule, curious or not. No. Horace was a zebra mule. His dad was a zebra and his mom was a horse. But that’s another story.
OK, now being a zebra mule was curious indeed and Horace was no exception. But he was really curious, just like you and I are. Horace wanted to know about everything.
When he was very young, his folks knew he was curious. Horace was always wandering about looking for new things. He found mice quite entertaining and would watch them for hours doing mice stuff like eating wheat, digging tunnels in the hay and running into them when that mean cat, Phyllis, came into the barn. Horace kept his eyes open for Phyllis and warned the mice when she looked hungry. Horace was a very nice mule as well as being curious.
Horace liked to watch the cows too and he loved all that mooing. Horace frequently tried mooing but, well, it just wasn’t the same coming from a zebra mule and one or two of the cows would laugh out loud, but he didn’t mind.
Several of the nicer cows rather appreciated his attempts at being social and would moo loudly when Horace was near. Horace would sort of bray in tune. The sound was certainly unusual. I wouldn’t go so far as to say it was melodical but it was fun for all. Some of the chickens would squawk a bit. No one was sure if all the noise bothered them or if they were just joining the chorus.
The geese definitely liked the barnyard choir and would fly up on Horace’ back while he paraded around and would honk at the passersby. The pigs were quite enthusiastic about the B Choir and lent their squealing voices as did the goats. However, Ben, the grey old dog didn’t seem to hear the music and just ambled off when the Barnyard Choir was in session.
Even Phyllis the mean cat had to admit the B Choir, as they had come to be known, was fun and she would snarl in tune on her better days which were relatively few.
One day Horace heard a lot of noise and wandered next door to see what all the ruckus was about. Workmen, well, one work man and one work woman, were installing satellite TV at Miss Poppy’s house. Horace watched the goings on for some time. Work was interesting to observe.
The workpeople were bickering a bit so Horace assumed they were married. First, they dug a square hole about 50 feet from the house, tamped the dirt, put in some rocks and tamped some more. Then they placed a pole and anchor in the rocks, made up some concrete and filled the hole with it.
They dug a small trench to the house while the concrete got hard, laid the cable in the trench and covered it up. Horace couldn’t even see where they had dug. The couple were very careful workers. Then they went into the living room to install the boxes and hook up the TV. A few minutes later they came outside, put the satellite dish up, aimed it a bit, took readings, went inside to make sure the whole thing worked. They finished off the concrete and then left.
Horace was quite interested by now. He had heard about TV but had never seen it. So he slowly wandered over to the window to look. Luckily the TV was on the other side of the room and it was a beauty. A fine 34" Sony KD-34XBR970 HDTV TV that probably cost Miss Poppy a bundle. The sound was excellent but Horace was disappointed because the picture was in black and white.
There were some people in Kansas. There was a tornado. Then the tornado stopped and the screen turned colorful. It was amazing, just like outside. Real life. Then there was a yellow brick road, lots of singing, a tin man, a talking lion, a funny scarecrow, a beautiful good witch, an ugly bad witch, lots of little people and a pretty girl. Well, Horace was amazed.
Then a funny thing happened. Miss Poppy walked back into the living room and saw Horace wathcing TV. At first he didn’t see her since the TV was so interesting and Horace was sort of singing along like he did with the B Choir.
Then Horace noticed Miss Poppy watching him. He got embarrassed and started to walk away, but Miss Poppy came after him. She said, “Horace, do you know what the TV movie was about?” Horace nodded. He couldn’t talk of course. Wouldn’t that be silly, a talking mule? But you know, I bet there are plenty of animals, and people too, who can’t talk but do understand a lot of things and we just don’t notice them.
“Well, I’ll be hornswaggled,” Miss Poppy chuckled. “I knew you were curious but this...Now Horace, not everyone will appreciate a curious zebra mule you know. You will have to be careful when you are out in the world. Special people, and animals I guess, are sometimes misunderstood. You watch out when you are away from your family and from me. Its a jungle out there.”
Horace nodded. Miss Poppy gave Horace some sugar and told him to come back any time and watch HDTV and he did. Often.
You know, being curious is fun and its a good way to learn. But like Miss Poppy said, you have to be careful out in the world and watch out for each other. Horace never forgot and he when he traveled around being curious and learning new things, Miss Poppy’s words stayed with him through many fine adventures in Music Valley.
by
Robin Hall
Horace the zebra mule was very curious and in more than just the usual ways. First, Horace was a mule. That is pretty curious when you think about it. But Horace wasn’t just any mule, curious or not. No. Horace was a zebra mule. His dad was a zebra and his mom was a horse. But that’s another story.
OK, now being a zebra mule was curious indeed and Horace was no exception. But he was really curious, just like you and I are. Horace wanted to know about everything.
When he was very young, his folks knew he was curious. Horace was always wandering about looking for new things. He found mice quite entertaining and would watch them for hours doing mice stuff like eating wheat, digging tunnels in the hay and running into them when that mean cat, Phyllis, came into the barn. Horace kept his eyes open for Phyllis and warned the mice when she looked hungry. Horace was a very nice mule as well as being curious.
Horace liked to watch the cows too and he loved all that mooing. Horace frequently tried mooing but, well, it just wasn’t the same coming from a zebra mule and one or two of the cows would laugh out loud, but he didn’t mind.
Several of the nicer cows rather appreciated his attempts at being social and would moo loudly when Horace was near. Horace would sort of bray in tune. The sound was certainly unusual. I wouldn’t go so far as to say it was melodical but it was fun for all. Some of the chickens would squawk a bit. No one was sure if all the noise bothered them or if they were just joining the chorus.
The geese definitely liked the barnyard choir and would fly up on Horace’ back while he paraded around and would honk at the passersby. The pigs were quite enthusiastic about the B Choir and lent their squealing voices as did the goats. However, Ben, the grey old dog didn’t seem to hear the music and just ambled off when the Barnyard Choir was in session.
Even Phyllis the mean cat had to admit the B Choir, as they had come to be known, was fun and she would snarl in tune on her better days which were relatively few.
One day Horace heard a lot of noise and wandered next door to see what all the ruckus was about. Workmen, well, one work man and one work woman, were installing satellite TV at Miss Poppy’s house. Horace watched the goings on for some time. Work was interesting to observe.
The workpeople were bickering a bit so Horace assumed they were married. First, they dug a square hole about 50 feet from the house, tamped the dirt, put in some rocks and tamped some more. Then they placed a pole and anchor in the rocks, made up some concrete and filled the hole with it.
They dug a small trench to the house while the concrete got hard, laid the cable in the trench and covered it up. Horace couldn’t even see where they had dug. The couple were very careful workers. Then they went into the living room to install the boxes and hook up the TV. A few minutes later they came outside, put the satellite dish up, aimed it a bit, took readings, went inside to make sure the whole thing worked. They finished off the concrete and then left.
Horace was quite interested by now. He had heard about TV but had never seen it. So he slowly wandered over to the window to look. Luckily the TV was on the other side of the room and it was a beauty. A fine 34" Sony KD-34XBR970 HDTV TV that probably cost Miss Poppy a bundle. The sound was excellent but Horace was disappointed because the picture was in black and white.
There were some people in Kansas. There was a tornado. Then the tornado stopped and the screen turned colorful. It was amazing, just like outside. Real life. Then there was a yellow brick road, lots of singing, a tin man, a talking lion, a funny scarecrow, a beautiful good witch, an ugly bad witch, lots of little people and a pretty girl. Well, Horace was amazed.
Then a funny thing happened. Miss Poppy walked back into the living room and saw Horace wathcing TV. At first he didn’t see her since the TV was so interesting and Horace was sort of singing along like he did with the B Choir.
Then Horace noticed Miss Poppy watching him. He got embarrassed and started to walk away, but Miss Poppy came after him. She said, “Horace, do you know what the TV movie was about?” Horace nodded. He couldn’t talk of course. Wouldn’t that be silly, a talking mule? But you know, I bet there are plenty of animals, and people too, who can’t talk but do understand a lot of things and we just don’t notice them.
“Well, I’ll be hornswaggled,” Miss Poppy chuckled. “I knew you were curious but this...Now Horace, not everyone will appreciate a curious zebra mule you know. You will have to be careful when you are out in the world. Special people, and animals I guess, are sometimes misunderstood. You watch out when you are away from your family and from me. Its a jungle out there.”
Horace nodded. Miss Poppy gave Horace some sugar and told him to come back any time and watch HDTV and he did. Often.
You know, being curious is fun and its a good way to learn. But like Miss Poppy said, you have to be careful out in the world and watch out for each other. Horace never forgot and he when he traveled around being curious and learning new things, Miss Poppy’s words stayed with him through many fine adventures in Music Valley.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Snorfle the House Pig
Meet Snorfle
Tempest in a teapot,
Red’s socks in his shoes,
A Valley full of Daffodils
What’s a child to do?
Snorfle's here to nuzzle you,
He's got something up his sleeve,
Robin writes the silly tales,
To make you laugh and sneeze.
Snorfle’s Home’s for everyone
We’re here both night and day.
Drop by when you have the time
To read, and sing and play.
SNORFLE THE HOUSE PIG
by
Robin Hall
Snorfle was a beautiful baby. His sister and brother and father and mother and grandfathers and grandmothers were all beautiful too. And smart. And they are not just beautiful outside they are beautiful inside as well. All pigs are taught at a very early age that outer beauty is a gift, but inner beauty must be earned and takes much work.
Part of this work is their wonderful knowledgeof the history of their Clan, the Vietnamese potbellied pig. Every pig learns the history, myths, and legends of pigdom all the way back to the mother and father of all pigs, Thanh and Cadao, for a pig with a history knows he or she has a place in the world and knows where love comes from.So by the time pigs are two weeks old, each one knows the story of how Thanh and Cadao met, fell in love, married and had a family.
When he was three weeks old Snorfle learned to talk to other pigs and began to understand the history of humans and other animals. Young pigs learn that human history was sometimes very dark. And the way they treated pigs was unspeakable.
But for some people, and their numbers are growing, an open heart is helping them to have a better relationship to pigs and other animals.Which brings us back to Snorfle and his family. Their mission is to help bring more love into the hearts of humans.
When Snorfle was four weeks old, a very special part of his training began. Snorfle was learning to enchant humans. As with all pigs, Snorfle learned to extend his love and beauty all around him. Humans are naturally affected, and if their hearts are open, they are enchanted.
Finally at eight weeks old, it was Snorfle’s turn to adopt his human family. Now Snorfle was born on a beautiful small farm near Cassadega which was owned by the Birdsong family. Snorfle was very lucky. So were Jerry and Cary Cherry, but they did not know it yet. The boy’s mother Merry Cherry had had her heart opened by a potbellied pig named Winston who lived near the Cherry’s home in Lake Swenson, so when Merry Cherry saw the Birdsong’s announcement of a pig open house, the stage was set.
When Sunday came, Merry Cherry, her husband Red Cherry and the twins Jerry and Cary Cherry all piled into their van and set off for Cassadega. Snorfle was waiting for them.
For pigs begin learning telepigathy at 5 weeks so they can understand humans and so they can contact pigs all over the world. As they get older and stronger, they can join the PIG GRAND COUNCIL, but that is another story.
All the Cherrys were very excited when they drove into the the Birdsong’s driveway for while one pig is full of love and beauty, dozens of pigs are overwhelming and love extends outward as far as hearts can hear.
Of course it was love at first sight. Jerry, Cary, Merry and Red Cherry were instantly enchanted by Snorfle and vice-versa.After a bit of bargaining by Red and Mr. Birdsong, humans feel compelled to buy and sell precious things, Snorfle got into the van and went home with the Cherrys.
The neighbors knew something wonderful had happened. Snorfle’s love and beauty are quite powerful, and the Cherry house was filled with joy.
And this is how he became Snorfle the House Pig at 1440 Highridge Rd., in beautiful Lake Swenson and had many adventures with his newly adopted family Jerry, Cary, Merry and Red Cherry.
The End, for now.
Tempest in a teapot,
Red’s socks in his shoes,
A Valley full of Daffodils
What’s a child to do?
Snorfle's here to nuzzle you,
He's got something up his sleeve,
Robin writes the silly tales,
To make you laugh and sneeze.
Snorfle’s Home’s for everyone
We’re here both night and day.
Drop by when you have the time
To read, and sing and play.
SNORFLE THE HOUSE PIG
by
Robin Hall
Snorfle was a beautiful baby. His sister and brother and father and mother and grandfathers and grandmothers were all beautiful too. And smart. And they are not just beautiful outside they are beautiful inside as well. All pigs are taught at a very early age that outer beauty is a gift, but inner beauty must be earned and takes much work.
Part of this work is their wonderful knowledgeof the history of their Clan, the Vietnamese potbellied pig. Every pig learns the history, myths, and legends of pigdom all the way back to the mother and father of all pigs, Thanh and Cadao, for a pig with a history knows he or she has a place in the world and knows where love comes from.So by the time pigs are two weeks old, each one knows the story of how Thanh and Cadao met, fell in love, married and had a family.
When he was three weeks old Snorfle learned to talk to other pigs and began to understand the history of humans and other animals. Young pigs learn that human history was sometimes very dark. And the way they treated pigs was unspeakable.
But for some people, and their numbers are growing, an open heart is helping them to have a better relationship to pigs and other animals.Which brings us back to Snorfle and his family. Their mission is to help bring more love into the hearts of humans.
When Snorfle was four weeks old, a very special part of his training began. Snorfle was learning to enchant humans. As with all pigs, Snorfle learned to extend his love and beauty all around him. Humans are naturally affected, and if their hearts are open, they are enchanted.
Finally at eight weeks old, it was Snorfle’s turn to adopt his human family. Now Snorfle was born on a beautiful small farm near Cassadega which was owned by the Birdsong family. Snorfle was very lucky. So were Jerry and Cary Cherry, but they did not know it yet. The boy’s mother Merry Cherry had had her heart opened by a potbellied pig named Winston who lived near the Cherry’s home in Lake Swenson, so when Merry Cherry saw the Birdsong’s announcement of a pig open house, the stage was set.
When Sunday came, Merry Cherry, her husband Red Cherry and the twins Jerry and Cary Cherry all piled into their van and set off for Cassadega. Snorfle was waiting for them.
For pigs begin learning telepigathy at 5 weeks so they can understand humans and so they can contact pigs all over the world. As they get older and stronger, they can join the PIG GRAND COUNCIL, but that is another story.
All the Cherrys were very excited when they drove into the the Birdsong’s driveway for while one pig is full of love and beauty, dozens of pigs are overwhelming and love extends outward as far as hearts can hear.
Of course it was love at first sight. Jerry, Cary, Merry and Red Cherry were instantly enchanted by Snorfle and vice-versa.After a bit of bargaining by Red and Mr. Birdsong, humans feel compelled to buy and sell precious things, Snorfle got into the van and went home with the Cherrys.
The neighbors knew something wonderful had happened. Snorfle’s love and beauty are quite powerful, and the Cherry house was filled with joy.
And this is how he became Snorfle the House Pig at 1440 Highridge Rd., in beautiful Lake Swenson and had many adventures with his newly adopted family Jerry, Cary, Merry and Red Cherry.
The End, for now.
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