Balm for a Bad Day

Here’s a little humor for my sister (and anyone else battling the clueless or malevolent). 

 
[Art by Erin Smith.]

Why I May Never Be on the Frontlines of Animal Rescues

 






















[Art by Erin Smith.]

Are You Following Your Dreams?

Sorry posts have been so lean lately. Here’s a little something for you, whether your glass is half full…

“Follow your dreams. They know the way.”

—Kobi Yamada

or half empty…

“I’m sick of following my dreams. I’m just going to ask them where they’re going and hook up with them later.”
—Mitch Hedberg

[Art by Odilon Redon.]

Clueless and Curious—A Bad Combination

As I’ve written before, my beloved first cat was not the sharpest of our menagerie. She was a porcelain figurine come to life—small and delicate of frame, glossy white coat, emerald eyes—and had no idea how to be a cat. She’d been weaned too early, was abused and brain damaged, and by the time I met her at four months of age, had become an adoption failure (she was brought back to the shelter by one family for not being energetic enough). Miss P saw the world through a much different lens than other kitties, a lens perhaps unique to her alone.

But what she lacked in feline savvy she more than made up for with her sweet, sweet temperament and uncanny empathy. I thought of Miss P when I saw this picture, for she certainly would have been the cat curious about the Big Sparrow:

It’s a Matter of Perspective

I liked this photograph at first glance because it has two of my favorite critters in it.

 But then I saw its message and liked it all the more.

Second Amendment Twist

“Support your right to arm bears.”
—Cleveland Amory

[Photo by Lil Polley.]

Sacrifices Animals Make for Us

Plenty of books blaze titles about animals who taught authors the secret to happiness, love, health, finding a soulmate, etc. News media pick up stories about pets who rescued their humans from certain peril. But somewhere in between lie the subtle acts of kindness animals perform on our behalf that we’re not quick to recognize:

[Captioned photo from I Can Has Cheezburger?]

But I Did Not Shoot the Deputy…

[Artist unknown.]

Holy Terror!

[From I Can Has Cheezburger?]

Homage to a Dinosaur

Surprise! I’m not talking about animals today. Instead, I’m highlighting a communication tool from yesteryear.

My mother and I were chatting on the phone the other day and she mentioned meeting the former typing teacher from my high school. I never knew the woman for I had not taken any typing classes. In fact, I distinctly remember staying as far away from that classroom as I could.

I did not type, much to my father’s chagrin (after all, he owned a typewriter repair business, as did his father before him). He made many attempts over the years to stoke my interest in becoming a typist—thinking, I suppose, it would assure me an income as an adult. The only keyboard I had an affinity for was the kind that produced music. I had great penmanship: Why would I need to learn how to type?

Truth be told, the sound of typewriters unsettled me back then. But the aesthetics of the machines have never lost their appeal to me.

Imagine my delight when a Lull reader sent me an example of a typewriter as music—the unusual and agreeable blend of machine clickety-clacking with symphony orchestra. Here, for your pleasure, is a concerto by Leroy Anderson, performed by Alasdair Malloy:

[Thanks to the Lull reader who sent the video.]

Bird Shenanigans

 This is just what I often see/hear at our bird feeders:

[I don’t know who originated this captioned pic. Do you?]

Say What?

I read this the other day:

“Ethics is the new competitive environment.”
—Peter Robinson, business leader

Oh, Mr. Robinson, how you make me laugh. I know it wasn’t your intention. But, honestly, there are so few of your kind who care about social responsibility and the high road—opting instead for shareholder happiness and the bottom line—that I’d hardly call your arena “competitive.” But we can keep dreaming, can’t we?

[Graphic from the Everything Small Business Journal.]

Back to the Grind

If you’re having trouble getting excited about your next project/shift/week at work, here’s something from Garfunkel and Oates that should either renew your sense of purpose or make you chuckle.

For Typography Aficionados Only

I’m part of a small tribe who appreciate typefaces and graphic design. This post may appeal only to my fellow tribe members.

In the long-running battles between traditional fonts and computer-generated versions, Comic Sans has gotten flak from both sides of the divide. Regardless of which side you’re on, I think this monologue from the typeface itself will give you a Monday chuckle. (Beware: It’s loaded with expletives.)

[Joke from Confessions of a [creative] superhero; graphic art by Andy Thaeger.]

Go with the Flow

Though Monsieur Renard writes truthfully here, his observation still makes me smile. Hope he does the same for you.

“There are moments when everything goes well; don’t be frightened, it won’t last.”
—Jules Renard

Obsessed with Animals

If you’re a longtime reader of Lull, you may have guessed by now that I’m pretty bonded to animals. Always have been.

But I want you to know I realize this puts me squarely in a minority, and I want you to know I have a sense of humor about it.

I happened upon a list called “You Know You’ve Been Doing Rescue Too Long When…,” and though I’m not a professional animal rescuer, I could certainly relate to some of the “faults” on the list. Here are a few:

You have a mental list of people you’d like to spay, neuter, or euthanize.

You stopped at a house with a “Free Puppies” sign in the yard to have an “educational chat,” and your family had to post your bail.

You absentmindedly pat people on the head or scratch them behind their ears.

You needed a prescription to recover from Old Yeller [not to mention every animal-related book I’ve checked out of the library this year!].

[Pic is Oliver, the Pygmy Hippo born recently in a Swedish zoo.]

Ducking Responsibility

“Don’t leave the duck there. It’s totally irresponsible. Put it on the swing, it’ll have much more fun.”
—From Sleep Talkin’ Man

If you need to laugh today (and really, who doesn’t?), visit Sleep Talkin’ Man to read the vile insults and random remarks spilled each night from one man’s slumbers.

[Photo by SJ.]