Tuesday, November 26, 2013

We Have Our Limits



I have been wondering all day about limitations.  

For example, how many straws does it really take to break the camel’s back?  What if you had a herd of camels?  Does that mean you never have to worry about breaking any backs because there are plenty of backs to go around?  What about the last straw?  Is it really the last straw, or can you get more straws somehow? 

How about enough being enough?  When is enough really enough?  Or should we just say enough already?

If you’d had your fill, does that mean you will not be doled out any more fill?  Is this a guarantee?  So if you’ve had your fill and you make it a known fact – who’s to say you won’t get any more?  Who do we give this information to?  What happens if you get too much fill?  Where does it go?  Is it fattening?  What if it leaks out your eyes?  If the filling leaks out your eyes does that mean you are making room for more filling?  Perhaps this is what enough is enough is all about.

So, then, when would you throw in the towel?  Would it be after the camels’ back breaks, or after we’ve had enough already?  I think going to fly a kite is a much better option -- Lord willin' and the crick don't rise.   

Or we could opt out of camels altogether and go for the lucky strikes.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Walkin' The Dog



Daisy is bi-lingual.  She speaks people and dog.  

She is a one hundred pound dog packed into a two and a half pound Yorkie body.  Smarter than a whip, and all the coy cuteness a dog could muster.

Not really clear on who owns who, but Daisy lives with my cousin Laurie in Boling Brook.  I called Laurie recently to ask how she’s doing on her first million.  We laughed (just like we always do).  When I asked how Daisy was doing with her new trick ‘falling over dead’, she pointed out how it would be nice to speak two languages like Daisy.  Which got me thinking.  Laurie speaks two languages also.  She definitely speaks people, and if it wasn’t for her dog talk, Daisy would not know every trick in the book.  Plus, Laurie speaks a tiny bit polish, and she is a plant whisperer on the side.  She is selling herself short on communication skills. 

Daisy can do every dog trick known to man.  And guess who taught her?  Laurie.  She does all the regular stuff like sit, speak, roll over, and play dead, but she also dances a twirl, tilts her head, and more.  Plus, she doesn’t demand a treat every single time, which is pretty cool.  Currently she is learning to fall over dead when Laurie makes a fist and points her finger and says BANG!  Apparently Daisy is hearing the word ‘bang’ as ‘lay’.  So every time she hears ‘lay’ – she falls over.  I don’t think she is mistaken at all.  I am convinced she is hearing it in a third language – which would be ‘cat’.

Speaking of tricks, a year ago my cousin decides how much Daisy would like a few little babies of her own.  The next thing you know, Daisy is at the groomer, wearing barrettes, and her cutest dresses, and Laurie is making ‘play dates’ with boy yorkies all over town.  No kidding.  And no, there are no babies that resulted in this wild endeavor.

A few months ago Laurie and Daisy came for a long weekend visit.  It was a camping trip for Daisy, as she brought her own tent and all the gear.  She loves camping.  And if she really loves you, she will give you a hug.  This is just part of her personality, not a trick she has to be told to perform.  Seriously, like a human style hug, complete with the head tilt, on the shoulder, arms around the neck, and adoring eyes looking up into yours.  And this just doesn’t happen for every Tom, Dick, or Harry either – she really has to love you. 
I have declared her the Duchess of Boling Brook.  She has the wardrobe, and delicate, ladylike personality to pull it off, complete with a willing owner to escort her to all the celebrity events.

Did I mention……..Daisy is also an Elvis fan.