Mocha

(Another human interjection)
Mocha
January 28, 2006

I met Mocha this morning. She’s a sweet, rolypoly bulldog who was waddling through the greensward past my place. Her mission was clear: she was taking her long, tall, lean, silver-haired human of amiable disposition for a daily constitutional. He called her pampered; I assured him that that was only right, fitting, and proper. We smiled and parted company.

Upon my return to the house, I was promptly accosted and thoroughly sniffed by not one but two inquiring muzzles. Curiosity had been aroused. Fortunately, there was no overt disapproval, as sometimes happens when I encounter other four-legged creatures upon my walks. Mocha, then, is at least contingently on the approved list. It is good to have family approval of new acquaintances.

Skeletal Regrowth

Skeletal Regrowth
January 26, 2006

Winter is a time of dearth
A time to humker down around a hearth
But January brings fresh hope
As buds on trees begin to grope
Their way up out of close-shut sprigs
And birds drift back to begin Spring jigs
The barren bones that have lined the streets
Are filling in spaces, exciting heartbeats
There’s a promise on the still-barren air
That emptiness won’t always be there
Barbecue grills are on display in stores again
And ink is flowing more easily in the pen
Traffic is snarled from new construction
Meant to repair the ravages of winter destruction
True, they’re just buds on barren limbs now
But soon, very soon the world will be . . .WOW!

Subject Fw MONEY

Subject: Fw: MONEY


       Verily I say unto ye..........        Money



       It can buy a house



       But not a home



       It can buy a clock



       But not time



       It can buy you a position



       But not respect



       It can buy you a bed



       But not sleep



       It can buy you a book



       But not knowledge



       It can buy you medicine



       But not health



       It can buy you blood



       But not life



       So you see money isn't everything



       And it often causes pain and suffering



       I tell you this because I am your friend



       And as your friend I want to



       Take away your pain and suffering!!



       So

       Send me all your money



       And I will suffer for you!



       Cash only please!

       After all, what are friends for, huh??



       I HOPE THIS MADE YOU SMILE!!!

       LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE!

JJ

JJ won't play - he's waited and waited, and now it's too late;
He still dreams as he waits by the gate,
But his ship has sailed, he's moved on with his life;
Now he dreams of life without strife
 
Max has arrived, he's ready and waiting
This boy wants loving and for him there's no sating
Today is yesterday's tomorrow
Let there be no sorrow
Death comes to us all — no telling how
Might as well live each day in the now
 
JJ just got sick
But covered it quick
With a stack of magazines
Featuring fantasy teens
So Max has to go down
While PU cleans up after the clown

Down by the Sea

Down by the Sea
January 22, 2006

The sea, the sea, how I long to see the sea
Where waves roll and foam tumbles
Along the shore people stroll and dogs gambol,
Boats bob at anchor and surf rumbles
Sellers throng to hawk their wares
The novice bargain seeker timidly mumbles
But when sunny skies give way to dark clouds
The power of Nature the most arrogant humbles
Then lively crab claws wave in despair
To the beloved depths just over there
Just beyond reach lies their once happy home
Just out of reach beneath roiling foam
As wary humans batten down hatches
Before stormy skies fill in those ominous patches

Morning Mist

Morning Mist
January 20, 2006

This morning a mist lay on the golf course
Hugging the ground knee-high
Golfers and duffers alike feared the terrible force
Of the winter storm just off-shore nearby
And so the links lay open wide
Without a soul in sight
While boisterous souls lined up inside
Using liquid to fend off fright
Now that the sun has burned off the mist
The tale they tell has a different twist
There’s many a story of a magnificent save
From desert’s edge to the mouth of a cave
But truth to tell there’s scarcely a soul
Willing to brave foul weather in pursuit of a goal

Whats Left to Say

What’s Left to Say?
A Sonnet to Bygone Summer
January 20, 2006

My human has taken my voice away,
And left me here with my brother;
I have many a fake mouse with which to play
But since they’re not real, why bother?

The sun that first warmed
Our new house on the Bay,
Where high hopes last summer were formed,
Has cooled considerably, I must say.

The ground is soaked with floating stuff:
There are bugs and beetles and debris galore,
Some of it’s soil, some weeds once so tough,
All I know is cleanup will be quite a chore.

But the promise of newness that now seems so dead
Can’t really be gone; It’s still in my head.

Semi-Sacrilegeous E-Mail from My Human

A new priest at his first mass was so nervous he could hardly speak. After mass he asked the monsignor how he had done.

The monsignor replied, " When I am worried about getting nervous on
the pulpit, I put a glass of vodka next to the water glass. If I start to get nervous, I take a sip."

So next Sunday he took the monsignor's advice. At the beginning of the sermon, he got nervous and took a drink. He proceeded to talk up a storm.

Upon his return to his office after the mass, he found the following note on the door:

1) Sip the vodka, don't gulp.

2) There are 10 commandments, not 12.

3) There are 12 disciples, not 10.

4) Jesus was consecrated, not constipated.

5) Jacob wagered his donkey, he did not bet his ass.

6) We do not refer to Jesus Christ as the late J.C.

7) The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not referred to as Daddy,
Junior and the spook.

8) David slew Goliath, he did not kick the shit out of him.

9) When David was hit by a rock and was knocked off his donkey, don't say he was stoned off his ass.

10)We do not refer to the cross as the "Big T."

11)When Jesus broke the bread at the last supper he said, "take this and eat it for it is my body." He did not say " Eat me" .

12)The Virgin Mary is not called " Mary with the Cherry,.

13)The recommended grace before a meal is not: Rub-A-Dub-Dub thanks
for the grub, Yeah God.

14)Next Sunday there will be a taffy pulling contest at St.Peter's
not a peter pulling contest at St. Taffy's.

Sun and Rain

Sun and Rain
January 18, 2006

This day that promised to be so bright
Ended up anything but —
Each time I chanced a trip outside,
I got wet; that isn’t right.

Pink hibiscus lies crumpled and wet
Glistening in the bright sunlight
But whenever I venture out to check
The rains fall again and I start back in fright.

No, fright’s not the right word
For that connotes danger
And everyone knows
I’m more fearless than a ranger.

No, that’s not exactly true either . . .
I’m easily startled (because I’m so alert)
My senses are attuned to the slightest changes
In order to avert unnecessary hurt.

Back to the subject at hand for today
The sun teased me mercilessly amidst dark clouds
Inviting me out to play
Only to retreat behind ominous shrouds.

Hawaii people call it liquid sunshine
All I know is I want what’s mine
Give me back my courtyard and grass
Bring back my sunshine and let this rain pass.

Interior Flooding

Interior Flooding
(January 7, 2006 — 5:23 p.m., PST)

The floods rose again today
Soap floated by every which way
JJ thought it would be fun to play
But our other human chased him away

The sink offered another way to drink
But that was off-limits, too, I think
Which is fine, since soon a stink
Filled the kitchen and made me blink

Where can a fellow go for quiet
When all the world is filled with riot
If you’re selling, I’ll buy it
Or settle for a fish, if you’ll fry it

Where is my human, so tall and warm
So able to keep a fellow from harm
My human’s absence has left me forlorn
Filled me with a loneliness not to be borne

Maybe I will drink from that putrid sink
Make myself sick and puke up pink
Or maybe I’ll just be my nekko self
And pout quietly here up on this high shelf

Morning Came Early

Morning came early today, but breakfast didn't; what's up with that?

More suitcases are being piled by the main (back) door. That would be okay, since it signals a possible end of the invasion, but my human's bags have joined the growing pile, and I am not happy.

JJ has gotten special lovings, both last night and this morning; what's up with that?

I don't want to say goodbye, but I don't want to miss my opp either... Must prowl. Constant vigilance!

Suitcases Again

The suitcases are out
But I'm not gonna pout
I'll just lie here
On the dryer
So the bedroom door can't be closed
Without the question having been posed
As to where Max is
Oops! That idea's a fizz
The door just shut

Ownership

To whom does my human belong? To me or to that stranger who has invaded our abode? Since when do I rate merely perfunctory loving before being encouraged to dismount and distance myself? I thought we had settled the issue of work priorities long ago: I come first. When will this nonsense about "other duty" end? I'll give my human one more day... if things don't change, I'll just have to put my paw down. More firmly. 'Nuff said.

Season's Greetings

Max, JJ, and family wish for you and yours a cheery holiday season. In this new year, may you obtain all that you require, receive all that you desire, and enjoy moments of serendipity through every season.