Perceptions and Illusions

No worries.

No, no, no, I'm not being insensitive or uncaring! This is all planned.

You are shocked I would be a part of this distardly deed? What are you...oh...I understand now. You are confused about the fireworks. Maybe I should explain a little.

The Space Needle is not under attack. Every year, when a new year begins, people want to make a lot of noise and celebrate the new beginning. Kind of have the old year go out and the new year come in with a bang. To to this we....

No! We do not "sacrifice a building to the great one". You've got it all wrong, we are not blowing up the Space Needle, we're just making noise!

Well, I guess we just want to make a big show, you know, just because we can.

What? No! I do not want you to help out with the fireworks! That would be scary. I think the people in charge are doing a bang up job by themselves.

Yes, I know that you could easily bring down the building, but that's not the point. We want the building to remain unharmed, all the buildings.

Yes, I know you think we are missing out in the fun. But trust me, it is better that you let us celebrate our own way, even if you don't understand. We Earthlings are rather odd that way.

Well, why don't you just yell "Happy New Year"!

And a Happy New Year to you.

Labels: frivolity, Jupiterians, myth or reality, world

My daughter, who has her own apartment, has a cat. To be more accurate, she has a 3 month old bundle of mischievious fur that knows no rules and acknowledges no boundaries.

The patience of every person in this house has been put to the test this last week, as my daughter's little bundle of feline energy was brought to visit in this canine dominated household.

Commonsense told me that since both animals are still babies they would learn to get along if we gave them the opportunity to get used to each other. Conversations with other animal owners reinforced this belief. Predicted length of time-two days.

Well, things often don't go quite as planned. Instead of the predicted two days, it took a little over a week for my stubborn dog to learn to accept my daughter's pig-headed cat.

The cat repeatedly tried to prove to the dog that cats rule and have the right to roam the house at will. The dog decided that herding cats was a great game, and she was determined to keep the cat confined in one particular room.

The cat would make a break for it, the dog would pounce. Everyone would jump up to rescue the cat, since Pepper weighs about 16 pounds, and Jinx only about 4.

Of course, we also wanted to protect Pepper from Jinx's sharp claws. It is amazing how scary a tiny cat can appear if she hisses and shows her claws. And that creepy, low-pitched growl! That growl was very scary.

Or it was to the humans in the house. Pepper seemed to think the show of menace was all a part of a wonderful, exciting game. The more the cat hissed and swatted with her razor-like claws, the more involved Pepper became. Not only did she not back down, there was no holding her back! She seemed more like a hunter than our cute little puppy.

Luckily, we were forced to leave the two alone for several hours yesterday. I'm not sure exactly what happened but we returned to find them playing happily together.

What a relief!

Such is life that the new friendship will be broken up tomorrow, when the cat returns to her usual abode.

Labels: family, life

There are still a few days to go, but outside it looks like the perfect Christmas card.

Looking out my window I can see about 8 inches of snow piled up on our fence. It is still early morning, so there is very little contrast between the white of the snow and the pale gray of the sky. But still, it is beautiful.

What is it about snow? It can turn the ugliest landscape into a thing of beauty. Even town dumps are transformed. Gone are the dirty piles of trash and discarded couches, they are magically replaced by pristine white mountains, seemingly untouched by mankind.

I guess every so often, God wants to remind us that there is a ton of beauty in the world. We only have to look at things the right way.

So we are given the gift of snow. It is cold, wet, potentially dangerous, but painfully beautiful.

Thank you God.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Labels: family, frivolity, myth or reality, world

Step by gingerly step, Pepper cautiously inches her way across the yard.

The puzzled look on her face reveals her thoughts. What is this cold, white, wet mess that has hidden all the wonderful smells? Why does it stick to my feet? Will it hurt me?

Suddenly, she spots a lump in the snow that in some way looks familiar. Her innate curiosity resurfaces, and she trots over to investigate. Could it be, could it be....

Yes! Pepper jumps about in joyful glee as she digs her favorite toy out of the snow. The toy is cold and wet, but unharmed.

Pepper's whole demeanor changes in an instant. Fear is replaced by courage, cautiousness by speed.

A black blur races around and around the yard, defying slippery spots, overcoming hidden obstacles.

Pepper the dog, snow day racer deluxe. Zero to sixty in less than a minute.

Labels: family, frivolity, life