Archive for December, 2009

Enjoy this audio recording of Twas the Night Before Christmas narrated by Jim Degerstrom who Corky calls “Dad”. The photo to the left is Jim’s Dad reading this story to him when he was a little boy more than 50 years ago!

Listen to this mp3 version recorded today for his grandchildren Hannah and Sarah (and YOU) to enjoy on Christmas eve, plus read along with the full text version by Clement Clarke Moore inserted below. In addition, you may download the Night Before Christmas mp3 and take it with you.

Press right button below to listen. (play time 03:41 min/sec)

PLAY NOW

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”

Poem written by Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863)

The photo gallery of Fleet Peeples Dog Park pictures has another 85 doggy photographs added. With 20 per page the new pages are numbered 8 through 12, and linked below. Each photo shown in the galleries is a thumbnail, so click any to download enlarged view 800 x 600 desktop wallpaper versions!

Explore EACH NEW Fleet Peeples Gallery page 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

If you see YOUR dog pictured on my website visiting Fleet Peeples Park near Orlando in Winter Park, and you like your doggy wallpaper, please email Corky from any page to let us know and maybe your doggy’s name, okay?

This blog post is a series of tweets published here in chronological order for the #mummypawty Twitter critter party with the theme of a pretend trip to Cairo, Egypt, and taking a ride on the Nile River.

My guardian, “Dad”, has been to the source of the Blue Nile in Ethiopia for real, and he does my typing in Twitter plus the narration for my videos. I wanted him to tell me and my anipals that African adventure story on Twitter. The challenge was creating a story of 140 character tweets and trying to tell his real life adventure in 25 tweets.

Here goes the true African adventure Dad made to the Blue Nile River presented in a series of 25 tweets.

Trip to the Source of the Blue Nile

Intro a: Dad went with buddies on an African adventure to the Blue Nile source in Ethiopia years ago.

Intro b: The Nile splits into the White Nile and Blue Nile. The Blue begins in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.

Intro c: Destination? A half mile wide waterfalls at the source of the Blue Nile in Bahir Dar.

Intro d: Traveled from Eritrea over a mountain, across plains, then desert to get to the falls.

Intro e: Self guided camera safari of 6 adult males in 2 vehicles. Told little of what to expect.

Day 1a: Expected to arrive at foot of 10K foot high mountain named Soira Amba. Did not see it.

Day 1b: Slept in the African jungle that night. Every wild animal calling that you can imagine.

Day 1c: Same night. Saw a line of lights, obviously torches, move along the far side of the valley.

Day 1d: Night. Nervous? Oh yeah. Wild critters and torch bearers. Had pocket knives only. No guns.

Day 1e: Night. Rotated to guard and watch fire. Surrounded by pairs of eyeballs lit up by firelight.

Day 2a: Awoke. Broke camp. Traveled 500 feet around a bend. 10K foot Mount Soira Amba right there.

Day 2b: Thinking we saw the top of the mountain, squinted and saw more higher up hidden in clouds.

Day 2c: Strained eyes again, twice more thinking we saw the mountain top. Finally did. Majestic!

Day 2d: Half way up mountain attacked by baboons. Not hand to hand combat. They were too smart.

Day 2e: Baboon tactic: climb very high. Lob large rocks at us while too high for us to return fire.

Day 3a: Camped out. Another thrilling night. Morning travel and arrived at mountain top village.

Day 3b: Only person who spoke English? A child. Schooled in the city. Asked our destination.

Day 3c: Replied “Bahir Dar”. He said “Oh, to see the falls?”, then “What is your occupation?”.

Day 3d: Occupation? Dad and buddies were amazed with his incredible English. They said “military”.

Day 3e: “No you’re not. You’re movie stars. Some came through last year. I KNOW what they look like!”

Day 4a: Not mentioned, but each day was like traveling further back in time. Day 4: Grass huts.

Day 4b: Arrived in Bahir Dar. The waterfalls were a half mile wide hillside. Dried up. Drought.

Day 4c: Some civilization catering to tourists. Ate real food in a rustic (being polite) restaurant.

Day 4d: Elvis sighting! Flick that night at the town theater was an old Elvis movie. Decision was don’t attend.

Day 4e: Slept that night in Bahir Dar in real (being polite again) beds. Return trip took 3 days.
(THE END)

(Nice story, Dad). Hope all the pawpals enjoyed the adventure!

This past week of interacting with animal and human pals in Twitter has created an unexpected emotional toll of pain building up as pet parents type news about pawpals crossing the Rainbow Bridge. Perhaps this pretend Pet Letter from the Rainbow Bridge will help you or someone you know who has lost a pet.

Yes, it is a person behind those tweets typing for their pet and sharing that unique personality from their perspective, yet that persona becomes as real as if that pet could actually talk and type. Here’s a letter they might write if they could.

Pet Letter from the Rainbow Bridge

Dearest Friend,

I crossed the Rainbow Bridge much sooner than you or my guardians expected. It happens to human pals and their friends or family, too. Please don’t be sad or disappointed, at least not for long anyway. There are reasons I left that you may not understand until it’s your turn to pass over.

For now I have permission to let you in on a secret. Truth is there is no secret because God has already revealed words of comfort in the bible for us to find. Perhaps this verse will help you understand why I left so soon.

The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. Isa 57:1 (KJV)

See? As much as you wanted me there, the path my life was taking may have been an even more painful experience for you to witness. Besides being “taken away from the evil to come”, I have work to do making people happy on this side of the Rainbow Bridge. While waiting for you I greeted a human baby, very old kitty, and a grandmother this week. Here’s another secret that’s not really a secret.

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Cor 2:9 (KJV)

Either me or someone you love will be waiting. For now, read that last verse again. You cannot imagine the joy on this side of the Rainbow Bridge, yet the details are not yours to know until you have completed your time on earth and it’s your turn to cross over, so I can’t elaborate.

Time will heal your sorrow. As a parting message, consider one reason behind the short lives of animal friends. You cannot replace me or our special relationship. However, most humans will outlive their pets and the loss of one is an opportunity to rescue another. When the time is right, please search your heart to make room and adopt a shelter pet.

The real forever home awaits on this side of the Rainbow Bridge where there is only joy and no fear or pain. However, there is no limit on pets or people to share your love for eternity. Until we meet again I forever remain…

Lovingly,

Your Faithful Friend

To all my fans, and especially my friends on Twitter, hopefully this pretend pet letter will help ease the pain of losing a loved one and sharing the grief of bad news. If nothing else, understand that life is truly fragile and unpredictable, so make the best of each moment to love and appreciate those around you.

Watch as Corky the puppy (that’s ME) tries to trick Sam the cat into being gift wrapped for Christmas in this new video released on YouTube. The text transcript of Dad narrating the story is inserted below the video shown here. (Playtime 00:49 min/sec)

Transcript of Teaching Sam Christmas Wrapping

Here’s Corky teaching Sam our cat Christmas wrapping. Okie dokie, little buddy… in the box!

No, no. C’mon. Cooperate. I KNOW Christmas is 3 weeks away! You’re not gonna suffocate.

Imma making air holes for you after I close this flap.

Sam! You gotta stay in the box for this surprise to work. Imma writing “To Mom” on the box.

Argh! Come back Sam! Oh, brother. I never woulda guessed Christmas wrapping could be so hard.

The photo below shows yours truly, Corky the puppy, obeying the ultimate leave it command as Sam our cat is allowed to eat a stinky treat (they’re the BEST) off my paw!

Your dog’s health could well depend on teaching them “Leave it” and is especially important when encountering dangerous trash while on a walk or other risky objects indoors. With leave it as a dog training exercise your pet can learn patience, too.

The leave it command has protected me many times in the past year since moving in with my forever family. Going for a walk we find the ground littered with dangerous items like broken glass, chicken bones, or other sharp objects, and even cigarette butts. Inside the home, parents need a big imagination to figure out all the things a baby or puppy finds interesting enough to chew.

Referring to the photo above, Sam the cat is very relaxed as he munches the treat off my paw while I obey the ultimate leave it command. In another house with another dog Sam would be in BIG trouble!