Finishing the sentence XXI

Another unfinished sentence I wrote and some responses it elicited in January 1989:

Surely, everyone has the sense to believe that...

...the only reason for school is to see what the limit of stress on students is and then double it. (Dani S.)

...high school is a false, sheltered way of life, and college is the key to independence. (Fran H.)

...the only reason for a good night's sleep is to dream about things that in real life are unattainable. (Carrie H.)

...Led Zeppelin is 15 times better than all new pop bull@#&*. (Will S.)

...religion is merely for people who don't have enough self-confidence to believe in themselves. (Brad B.)

...friends and family are priceless. (Mary C.)

...dancing sets you free. (Sarah G.)

...you should never, ever wear pink and red together. (Leigh M.)

...if everyone respects and cares for the earth, it will remain a good place to live--but I don't think everyone does! (John H.)

...the only things to believe in are the smile of a baby and the cry of a kitten. (Betsy B.)

Truth in advertising?

Although a TV channel listings writer probably shouldn't show a bias when describing a program, whoever characterized "Gilligan's Island" as "an inexplicably enduring sitcom" in my cable menu wasn't entirely wrong.

Pets are family members, too.

Years ago, I asked to take a personal day off from work after a family cat passed away.  My supervisor's response was compassionate and considerate.  "I understand," he wrote. "When our dog passed away, the best thing we ever did was get another (one.)  Although (getting a new pet) never replaces the old one, it started a whole new set of memories for the family."

I always feel lucky to work for or interact with anyone who understands that pets are part of the family.

Freedom of choice--to an extent

I used to have some interesting discussions about theology with a grocery store worker. 

"Where's the line between what's predetermined in our lives and the free will we have?" I once asked.

"Here's where the line is," he replied. "Do you know what you'll be doing at 2:00 next Tuesday afternoon?  God does, but how you react to that situation will be up to you."

Obviously, your mileage may vary, but I thought that was an interesting way to spell out what humans can and can't control.

Finishing the sentence XX

Another unfinished sentence of mine and some responses it received in January 1989:

The most useless, superfluous expression one can utter is...

..."Trust me." (Scott S.)

..."Are we having fun yet?" (Robyn R.)

..."Can you believe...?  It was in the last place I looked." (Betsy B.)

..."I know exactly what you're feeling." (Sue A.)

..."Ooh!  I bet that hurt!" (John O.)

..."Are you alright?"  i.e. "You seem to have fallen off a 300-foot cliff.  Are you alright?" (Jen E.)

"The critters are doing well." And the varmints?

Years ago, I used to receive a newsletter from an animal shelter.  It informed readers about cats and dogs available for adoption and asked for the public's financial support.  In most respects, it was typical of such newsletters.  The newsletter's author had one quirk, however.  Animals were never referred to as animals or pets; inexplicably, the writer always referred to them as critters.  (i.e. "The critters are eating and drinking again since being rescued."  "The critters will appreciate having more space in which to roam."  "The critters thank you for your support.")

I still wonder if the author was a kinder relative of Yosemite Sam's.

This newsletter author's penchant for calling animals critters came to mind years later at work.  I used to supervise a night team of sports data gatherers at a previous workplace.  Shortly after the company moved to a more upscale building, our manager told us it would be important to avoid using profanity during business hours.

"You never know when (name of an executive) will walk by," he told us.  "All of us, including me, will need to be careful not to swear."

Although none of us swore constantly, occasional profanity went with the territory of a fast-paced, deadline-intensive sports job.  For my part, during the early hours of some shifts, I turned into Yosemite Sam.

"Arrrrrggggghhhhh!  That dad-blasted varmint!" I once exclaimed about a coach.  "Why hasn't he turned in his team's stats yet?"

Wondering if anyone had received a fax or email with the missing stats, I walked over to the part-timers' row of desks.  Momentarily forgetting who and where I was, I asked, "Have any of you varmints heard from that coach yet?"

Unfortunately, none of the varmints had heard from him.

Footwear fit for a tabby

A week ago, I wrote about the importance of cats having proper footwear.  As last Saturday's photo illustrated, Rosie enjoyed trying on slippers.  It's also advisable, however, for cats to have comfortable tennis shoes.  Rosie's brother, Sammy, illustrates this:

May 2006: Sammy with one of his preferred pairs of tennis shoes.