Thanks to everyone who contributed to the compiling of the Baboonish Glossary over the weekend. Our diligent wordsmiths Jacque and Barbara in Robbinsdale will sift through your contributions and we will announce an official posting of the work soon.
I have been enjoying the holiday weekend and working on another writing project. I’ll get back to business tomorrow. Fortunately, there is something nice I’ve been holding in reserve for just this moment.
Today’s guest blog is by Sherrilee.
I’ve always been the penultimate dog person. Since I was born, there has hardly been a day that I haven’t had a dog in my life, beginning with Snowball, a little white fluffy thing to Princess the Wonderdog. My mother never cared much for cats, so we never had one and I never missed not having one.
So it came as a surprise that from the minute my daughter could speak, she wanted a cat. (I don’t think “cat” was her very first word, but it certainly was one of the first ten!) I spent years putting off any discussion of getting a cat, although I did try to make conciliatory remarks occasionally like “Well, perhaps next year….” and “We need to do some research first about what kind of cat would be good for us…”. After many years of this, I started to think that maybe a cat wouldn’t be too bad, but certainly never considered it seriously.
When my daughter was six, we stopped at Petsmart on a Saturday to stock up on dog food. She, as always, headed straight over to the adoption area. After loading the dog food into the cart, I went to get her and casually ran my fingers across the cat cages. A black and white “tuxedo” cat immediately jumped up and rushed over to rub against my fingers and when I stopped to look at him, he looked right into my eyes. He had deep bluish-green eyes and he stared at me intently, unlike any other cat I knew. He seemed like a nice cat, but I was in a rush, so I collected my daughter, paid for the dog food and went home.
That afternoon as I worked in my studio, every commercial that has ever featured a cat ran on TV and that night I even dreamed about the cat. When I related this phenomenon to my best friend the next day, she said “It means you’re supposed to have this cat.”
I said “I was hoping to have a less chaotic time of life before thinking about getting a cat” to which she succinctly replied “When you run out of chaos, you go looking for more… go get the damn cat.” After I got done laughing, we went and got the cat.
He came with the name Zorro, which we have never changed. He is completely in charge of the dogs, has a wonderful growly purr, doesn’t do hairballs and is very affectionate. I’ve never been sorry that we have him and I’m sure when he is gone, I’ll get another cat, although I can’t imagine any other cat as fabulous as he is.
What have you done, out of character, which has turned out well?
Trail Baboon 
Good morningto all:
I never thought that I would become an employee in a junk yard. I’m not very interested in doing anything with cars except driving them. To save a little money I have bought a few car parts from junk yards and that is all I knew abou them. Never the less, one of my last paying jobs before retiring was working part time in a junk yard or, as they called, and auto parts supplier.
The junk yard was a family business and I knew one of the family members. At first they thought they would just use me to do deliveries. Then it turned out they needed someone to put parts into storeage and this became my main job. I learned a lot about the auto salvage business and enjoyed working with the other people who worked there. Also, I had flexible hours and could work there in between taking substitute teaching jobs.
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I see that I have not failed to stay in character and make a few writing errors. Also I forgot tpo thank Sherrilee for her good work as a guest blogger. I have enjoyed having a few cats for pets myself.
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ill bet you were a great help at the parts salvage business. i look into new business constantly and the motorcycle salvage business is one i loked into about
10 years ago. there was a company that had just started up that revolutionized the insurance business. wrecked toys sells motorcycles snowmoblies rvs and the like in an auction style presentation and the motorcycles i was looking to pay hundreds for now sell for 4 or 5 times more than they did at that time. it is a very profitable business and the tricky part is finding good people to part out the vehicles and make the parts available to the ebay or online buyers. i am sure you are exactly the conscientious worker they were looking for.
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At the junk yard the key person is the one that waits on people and handles phone calls. This person has to know a lot about parts, prices, and selling. I didn’t even come close to learning to do that. They did appreciated my work on putting parts away. You can’t sell something if you can’t find it. I think there would a lot of potential for making money on motorcycle salvage. The car junk yard business seemed to be a money maker.
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Rise and Shine Baboons:
What have I done that is out of character that turned out well? I started participating on this blog thingy after RH cancelled Dale. Until this came along there was very little on the internet that engaged my attention or interest much. Then, voila, I’m hooked.
So there you have it — The Trail Baboon is uncharacteristic of me.
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Jacque, I am another one who would not have thought that I would ever participate in something like this blog. It is now very much part of my life as I am sure it is for most or all of the regulars on tis trail.
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Me too.
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Nice story, Sherrilee, and I’m glad your cat is such a pleasure.
I used to be proud of the fact I’m too smart to own a cabin. It is a strain for me to take care of one lawn, one plumbing system, one driveway, etc. If I bought a cabin, I’d have that many more windows to wash, that many more mice invading the place and that many more trees blowing down in storms. I felt sorry for people who would make long drives up to the cabin, only to spend a frantic pair of days repairing the place before rushing home.
Of course, I’m now one of those folks I used to pity. And once again, I’ve learned I wasn’t nearly as clever as I thought when I felt sorry for cabin owners. The time I spend repairing my home is bad time, time that is no fun. But somehow working on my cabin is entirely different. That is my playhouse, my magical little retreat, and I don’t begrudge the few hours I spend keeping it in decent shape.
There is really nothing like a cabin. I hope I’m able to share mine with some of you this year.
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Okay Steve. I am tempted to take you up on your offer to let any of us use your cabin. I don’t know what the summer will bring. A trip to your cabin does sound good to me.
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You are sure welcome, Jim. We have even had loose talk of a “party” or joint visit this summer. Come meet some new baboons.
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I joined a Rotary club – it was an all-women’s group and it only met once a month. Great group of women. I do not think of myself as Rotary material by any stretch, and these were women not in my social milieu by any stretch, but I’m glad I joined – was a member for several years (until the combination of toddler and Husband in Grad School did in my schedule). It was through that group that I got hooked up with a woman for an informational interview on technical writing (a field I was contemplating moving into at the time) – that woman wound up being a co-worker for 9 years, and working at that company was how I got into web site work (also something I had not anticipated being good at – I was a liberal arts major for pity’s sake – what could I do if I didn’t know programming?…turns out, a lot.)
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P.S. Thanks for sharing the Tale of Zorro Sherrilee. Pretty kitty!
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Well dressed kitty, if a bit formal!
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Morning–
Nice story Sherrilee… I’m a dog person myself. We used to have some cats when I was milking cows and there were a few that I sure did enjoy. But I’ll deny it if you ask me.
We’re at three dogs at the moment; two outside and one inside. Almost had four last fall in that I had to authorize a stray puppy to go to the pound and the guy kept saying ‘Oh, she’s a cutie!’… couldn’t get it out of my head. Stopped to see it the day it was able to be adopted and someone else had already taken it. Whew! Like I need another dog…
Out of character for me? I took singing lessons many years ago. I didn’t expect to become the next Tiny Tim or anything, but I wanted to at least learn the proper way to do it. I didn’t mention that to anyone but my girlfriend (now wife).
Wore some red pants to a party once… maybe twice. That was enough of that…
Nice day out there at the moment!
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I’m impressed-I don’t think I have ever actually even owned a pair of red pants. Maybe I should.
Somehow, I picture you wearing the red pants AND singing like Tiny Tim and playing the banjo (or ukelele) all at once.
Bet Tiny Tim had red pants…..
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I had a pair of cranberry red, very wide bell bottoms way back when…
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Dressing up for a party!
That’s my out-of-character activity.
I usually don’t go in for costume parties, but once I decided to wear a dummy sewed to my side – we called him “Vince”. We stuffed him full of newspaper and arranged the garments so my right arm was enclosed inside the dummy’s body. From there, I could turn a half-brookstick connected to a styrofoam skull that wore the mask, so “Vince” could turn his head to watch people as they walked by. It was a wildly successful costume and almost changed my mind about doing that sort of thing. Almost.
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Are there pictures of you and Vince?
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Ha! Fortunately, no photographic evidence exists, but I think the sewn-together outfits are still in a trunk in the basement.
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Careful, Dale, someone might want to borrow that…
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Who could resist that tuxedo cat, Sherrilee?
A couple of times I’ve had to climb out of my nice, encouraging people persona and really lay it on the line with someone, stand firm and require a certain behavior of that person (an adult, as opposed to with your kid, where it feels more natural). It was almost like watching myself do it, it felt so strange. Empowering, though, I got the desired outcomes.
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Can I get back to you when I have figured out what my character is???
I do my level best to just slog along like I am supposed to, and then, I just cannot do it any more and kick over the traces-or so it seems.
As it turns out, I generally have been plotting my departure from the beaten path over a long period of time-so I suppose staying on the path indefinitely would be really out of character for me.
I don’t see that happening any time soon.
I shall continue to ruminate on this one.
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thanks, VS – a very nice kitty to a very nice home – with clouds painted on the walls – exceptionally great home.
i don’t think i have a character image in my head – i know other people do of me. my Mom, for example, would always say “did you ever think that you’d be out there milking goats twice a day??” well, yes. that’s why i bought the farm and the goats, Mom.
but truly uncharacteristic would be joining the Toastmasters or going to huge open houses or seeking out busy social settings. or weeding my garden. 🙂
thanks, VS – fun reading today.
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I’m right with you on that one, biB. I often feel like there is some script that everyone around me is reading, and I just don’t know the expected lines, because no one gave me a copy of the script.
Meanwhile, I am merrily reading along in the script I got, and wondering why none of the blocking seems to be working out with all the other actors.
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Great metaphor! I feel so reassured knowing that you are out there. We might be reading similar scripts but we’re not on the same stage!
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Different drumbeat. You an Aquarius, mig?
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Fun story today, VS! Nice kitty too!
Well, I’m really changing. As I get older, I find I have less and less tolerance for huge noisy crowds and for having beer spilled on me. That said, the Rock Bend thing has worked out well. I’ve been part of the committee for several years now, although I’ve lost track of how many.
It’s a really FUN but somewhat hyper-social thing to do. I enjoy it immensely but can become somewhat overwhelmed with it at times, especially in the last few years when things were really bad at work. It’s a great opportunity for me to work with others in a creative way; it’s much different from my day-to-day work life. It’s impossible to give any one person credit for the entire Festival. We have hundreds of volunteers and it wouldn’t exist without them. My part in the whole thing is relatively small, but enormously rewarding. And it has worked out very well.
Enjoy the sunshine while it’s hear, Babooners!
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Here. “… while it’s here.”
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Way OT, but, could any of you theater people use a set of very heavy, quite new, Scarlet O’Hara/Carol Burnett-esque draperies for use on sets etc.? They were for a bay window area, I think there is one panel that went over a sliding door so is a side-draw about 4′ section. I believe there are 4 additional panels that each covered half of a 4′ section. They are pretty neutral, beige with a touch of pale green and beautifully custom made about 3 years ago. They were in our dear friend’s apartment and the building management had no interest in keeping them with the unit. If anyone thinks they can use them or would like to see them, I would love for them to be salvaged for some useful purpose.
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Saw it in the window and I just couldn’t resist it….
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Jellicle Cats come out tonight,
Jellicle Cats come one come all:
The Jellicle Moon is shining bright —
Jellicles come to the Jellicle Ball.
Jellicle Cats are black and white,
Jellicle Cats are rather small;
Jellicle Cats are merry and bright,
And pleasant to hear when they caterwaul.
Jellicle Cats have cheerful faces,
Jellicle Cats have bright black eyes;
They like to practise their airs and graces
And wait for the Jellicle Moon to rise.
Jellicle Cats develop slowly,
Jellicle Cats are not too big;
Jellicle Cats are roly-poly,
They know how to dance a gavotte and a jig.
Until the Jellicle Moon appears
They make their toilette and take their repose:
Jellicles wash behind their ears,
Jellicles dry between their toes.
Jellicle Cats are white and black,
Jellicle Cats are of moderate size;
Jellicles jump like a jumping-jack,
Jellicle Cats have moonlit eyes.
They’re quiet enough in the morning hours,
They’re quiet enough in the afternoon,
Reserving their terpsichorean powers
To dance by the light of the Jellicle Moon.
Jellicle Cats are black and white,
Jellicle Cats (as I said) are small;
If it happens to be a stormy night
They will practise a caper or two in the hall.
If it happens the sun is shining bright
You would say they had nothing to do at all:
They are resting and saving themselves to be right
For the Jellicle Moon and the Jellicle Ball.
– T. S. Eliot
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🙂
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always the appropriate verse. thanks linda
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