Invisible Trampoline

Buddy:  Some of you might remember back in December of 2016 we were accosted by two dogs, both the size and breed of Marcus, on our walk.

Micah:  I remember.  The dogs weren't trying to fight but they wouldn't back off.  You and Merci were trying to hide behind Jan and Marcus was being protective and trying to run them off, so it could have had a disastrous ending.

Buddy:  Yes, unleashed and leashed dogs do not mix!

Micah:  Come to think of it, we posted a couple of pictures of the one dog a while back.  (Capital Hockeysticks)  Jan kept trying to catch some photos of him in action but all she could catch were a couple of lousy shots.

Buddy:  Until now.  Jan finally caught some action photos in April.  And last week she heard the owner call the dog "Nautilus".  This is how Nautilus greets us when he hears or sees us coming - unless he's inside the house at the time.

Micah:  Frankie Furter once suggested in a comment we should call the dog "Toaster" since he keeps popping up.  I can see why. 

Buddy:  In this picture between leaps, the bottom of his legs are missing.  That's because he's standing on a hill.

Micah:  That would make his invisible trampoline act more impressive!

Buddy: It certainly does.  We've gotten used to seeing him popping up and down with his tail going twenty miles an hour.  (Jan used the camera's zoom to catch these photos.)  Marcus doesn't even bark at him any more.

Micah:  He looks more like a clown than an aggressive dog.

Buddy:  That's what Jan says.  She'd love to meet him sometime when we aren't with her.

Micah:  Marcus leaps when he's excited, too. We should put the two on a real trampoline and call them the Popup Pitties.  We could make a lot of money.

Buddy: Hey, that's not a bad idea.  If Mudd can do it, the Popup Pitties should be a hit!


If the video doesn't play, click here.

Percy Runs With Idea

Percy:  All right, you guys, listen up!  You've all had turns posting lately.  It's my turn today!

Merci:  What are you going to post about?

Percy:  Whatever I want!  Uh ... do you have any ideas?

Merci:  Mmmm, let me think a moment.  I know!  We can post on why Jan abandoned us last Thursday.

Percy:  Oh, right.  But remind me again, why did she abandon us?

Merci:  It was one of those rare times Jan was invited anywhere besides Walmart, church, Walmart, Toastmasters, Walmart ... and did I mention Walmart?  She often longs to get out of town for different scenery.

Percy:  That's right.  She has said that a few thousand times or more.

Merci:  Well, her friend Teresa took her to lunch at Brian's Buffet in Griffin.

Percy:  So she abandoned us to stuff her face?

Merci:  Yep!  And as Jan has said a number of times, you never know who you will meet when you get out of the house.

Percy:  Who are these people in the photo?

Merci: Elsie (left) and Darlene (background) work for Brian's Buffet.  And Teresa is on the right.  As soon as she saw the camera, Teresa started scooting out of photo range, but Jan has a fast trigger finger.

Percy:  These ladies look familiar.

Merci:  Elsie and Darlene were in the other picture.  They were so sweet and helpful and even told Jan they wouldn't mind if we post their pictures on our blog.

Percy:  If they like to be helpful, they could come to our town and serve us furries our meals.  I'm sure they wouldn't just slap the dishes down in front of us.  Unlike Jan, they'd sprinkle in a little catnip or something tasty, I'm sure.

Merci:  Elsie has written two books for children, Thank God for My Stepfather and Are You Man? According to her bio on Amazon - "Elsie was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti ...  was inspired to write this fable by her great-grandmother, who couldn't read or write but shared her stories in the hopes that one day they would be passed on. Elsie speaks and writes English, French, and Creole..."

Percy:  She sounds very talented. Has Jan read her books?

Merci:  No, she just learned of them the other day and we don't have any children in this house to read them to.

Percy:  Doesn't Marcus qualify as a bratty kid Jan could read to?

Merci:  Can you picture Marcus sitting still long enough for Jan to read him a story?  He couldn't even stop talking that long.

Percy:  Thanks for the idea, Merci.  My post is finished.  All I needed was an idea and I ran with it.

Merci:  I think you ran with more than an idea.  I think you conned me into writing a post for you.



(Hey, Elsie & Darlene, if/when you see this, there is a contact form in our left sidebar.  Send us a message with an email address and we'll send you a copy of the pictures.)

All That Noise Yesterday

Rusty:  Do you think we'll get an award for this?

Micah:  Probably not, but we deserve one.

Rusty:  It's not easy putting an interview post together each week.

Micah:  I know.  We didn't make it last week and almost didn't make it this week.

Rusty:  But we did.  Despite Jan leaving us without computer access while she gallivanted off to who knows where while we sat here listening to you know what.

Micah:  Storms, Rusty.  It's okay to say "storms".

Rusty:  I don't want to say it.  It serves her right having to walk the dogs in the rain.

Micah:  Yes, but despite her disrupting our schedule, we managed to post our Friday cat interview.

Rusty:  Yes, our friends can stop by Mousebreath to read  Athena the Creative Cat. 

Micah:  We're not expecting any storms today, are we?  I need to catch up on my naps.  All that noise yesterday kept me awake.

Rusty:  Most of that noise yesterday was you snoring. 


We are joining the Pet Parade hosted by Rascal and Rocco, Basil the Bionic Cat, Barking from the Bayou and Owned by a husky.

Thankful Thursday Thursday

Cyndi:  Okay, Marcus, what was so important you switched my Thursday post to Thankful Thursday Wednesday?

Marcus:  I wanted to tell everyone about my new blue ball.

Buddy:  You already told us about that.  It's old news.

Cyndi:  You've had it over a week. 

Marcus:  But this is about my new new blue ball.

Buddy:  There is no new blue ball, only a used blue ball.

Marcus:  Here, let me show you.  These are my new blue ball and my new new blue ball.  

Buddy:  I don't believe it, Cyndi.  The old new blue ball has a twin!

Marcus:   ♫ My new new blue ball.  My new new blue ball.
                    I luv, luv, lu-u-uv my new new blue ball.

               ♫  I bite it and chew it and nudge it with my nose.
                    I hold it, then shove it, and follow where it goes.
                    I roll it and bounce it.  It travels everywhere -

Cyndi:  Stop singing! Where did you get a new new blue ball?

Marcus:  Amazon sent it.

Buddy:  Amazon just sent you a new new blue ball?  For no reason?

Marcus:  Of course there was a reason.  Astro and his mom read my My New Blue Ball post and thought I am deserving of a new, new, blue ball to play with outside.  So they ordered me one.  And then Jan insisted I take my old new ball outside and keep the new new ball - the one without the slobber - inside.

Cyndi:  It took less than two seconds to cover the ball  in slobber and dirt.  That is one reason Jan won't let you bring your outside toys inside.  Another is that piece of shredded football next to the new ball.

Marcus:  But I like the taste of dirt!  And it's fun to shred my toys.

Buddy:  You won't be shredding this ball any time soon.  Hopefully.

Marcus:  I love you new new blue ball.  I'm sorry Jan won't let me take you back inside so you won't be lonely, but she says you're already on the grocery list.

Buddy:  Gross list.  It's already on the gross list.

Cyndi:  Marcus, you're talking to an inanimate object.  You don't expect it to answer, do you?  

Buddy:  He probably does.  After all, he thinks he communicates with geese.

Marcus:  They're making fun of us, but don't worry, we're going to be the best of friends.  I'll come out to visit and exercise you as often as I can. 

Thank you Astro and mom.  I'm so grateful!

Finding safe toys for me is hard.  In case you, too, need an almost indestructible toy, here is a link to where my two were purchased.  (Purchased - this is NOT a product review!)

Yesterday a comment was left on My New Blue Ball post: This is Paul from Rocco & Roxie, the maker of the ball! If this ball is chewed/chomped on, it will last a long, long time. However, if it gets picked at by small bites, it can be torn into small pieces fairly easily. In the last pic above, it looks like Marcus is picking at it!   

Buddy: You must have lost your toothy touch, Marcus.  Both balls are still in one piece. 


 We're joining the Thankful Thursday blog hop at Brian's Home.