Out and About – Week of March 5th

When you look in the mirror, do you consider yourself good looking? I think most of us consider ourselves to be rather plain. There are some, of course, who think they’re the cat’s meow. I doubt if Madonna or Brad Pitt consider themselves homely. I’m pretty sure that even Ivana Trump looks a bit scary at 4 AM. Please remember that beauty is only skin deep. Real beauty lies within.

This is a very puzzling time for me. I’ve heard there’s a bounty out for anyone caught performing a rain dance anywhere in southwestern Michigan. The temperatures have been quite nice and the sun has made several appearances. The thing that puzzles me is that I don’t know if I should put away the snow blower yet. I know that the moment I do, we’ll receive a measurable amount of the white stuff. After all, March just arrived and this means that we could experience any type of weather Mother Nature throws our way. I’ve seen motorcycles out already, which makes me think that spring is just around the corner. There’s a theory that if March comes in like a lamb, it will go out like a lion, or vice-versa. Remember, this is Michigan. We must be ready for just about anything. We’ve been pretty lucky this winter, when it comes to weather. We’ve had some very cold temperatures, but we’ve had years when we’ve received more snow. Remember 1978?

I must admit I don’t do well with confrontation. I’ll go out of my way to avoid it. I have difficulty holding my own, because I was never taught how to argue, or how to properly stand firm and be assertive. I’m surrounded by individuals who are just the opposite and I envy their ability to demand to be treated fairly and with respect. I’ve sought counseling, with hopes of becoming more assertive. I guess I never caught on. Of course, like everyone, I have a point when I just won’t put up with being treated unfairly. I usually end up raising my voice, only to feel bad after, for losing my cool.

I am not a “Pet” person. I’ve had several dogs and cats in my lifetime, but never when I was living alone. We now have two cats, so disregard what it says at the bottom of this column. I’m a firm believer in getting a dog or cat from Animal Control, because these are animals that no one else wanted. The two that now own “us” do not get along. One is a bit of a bully. The other is terribly shy and it has taken a lot of special attention to get her to even come close to us.

I’ve always been under the impression that cats groom themselves, which makes having them a lot less expensive. Dogs must be taken to a groomer. I was surprised to read that one should groom a cat often, starting when they are just a kitten. “They” say that by clipping a cat’s claws regularly, when it is still a kitten, it will become accustomed to this kind of handling, and will grow to expect it. I tried giving a cat a bath once. Didn’t care much for the experience. I ended up with too much hair on my tongue.

Dogs are more trainable than cats, but you can teach a cat not to do something that bothers you. Rather than throwing the cat across the room for misbehaving, clap your hands or slap a folded newspaper down beside the cat to register your displeasure. Cats dislike loud noises and will avoid provoking them.

To make that special someone happy, give them these three things: Attention – Affection – Appreciation.

The best thing a father can do for his kids is to love their mother.

Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, reach down pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?

See you Out and About!

Submitted by Norm Stutesman

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