Away From Home
Dateline Detroit (MI) – Alas, a short month at home in my beloved Appomattox was the best that I could muster. However, we were able to get some things done. A trip to Kentucky netted us a nice visit with our pals Jon and Charlie, and a Great Pyrenees pup dubbed Brunhilda, who should develop into a fine guard dog once she gets over her human ankle-biting habit and fear of turkeys.
She’s already getting over her fear of horses, but by the time I get back she will be so large that I may forget which one I am supposed to put the saddle on. I’m sure she will correct me if needed.
I was originally supposed to leave for my new assignment via Lynchburg on Monday, but a series of unfortunate circumstances caused me to miss that flight. Instead, I departed for my Pacific excursion from Charlottesville, a first for me. Normally, if a flight is not available for me out of our neighbor to the West, we are usually forced to commute to a more distant, exotic and foreign port of call. Like Roanoke.
On the bright side, it gave me one more day to spend with my beloved Dragon, Pamela, and the myriad of critters that populate our small but cozy little farm approximately 9 miles east of Appomattox proper. That meant two more feedings for our numerous cats – Alex, Featherstone, Stuart, Shadow, Panda, Greebo, Pesch and Wally - our wonderful Arabian horses – Porte, Tribute, Sportin Life, Patina, Valse Triste, Divine Lilac, Aswija, Domina, Porteabella, Porte Cochere, Triumph, Domitian, Domineau, Enzo, Adrian, and Patent Pending – and our bull calf and pigs – Meat 1, Meat 2, and Meat 3. For the animals we are intending to eat, we find that it is not a constructive use of our time to come up with imaginative names for them, names that don’t appear on menus, anyway. Those come later.
Then there is our insane duck dog, Gunner, and his expatriate Canadian goose sidekick, Burt (Enjoy Burt and Gunner at YouTube). I will miss them both, even if Burt serves little purpose other than for field-goal practice after the nasty beast bites me in the ankle. He’s belligerent enough to make PETA hunger for a wee bit of pate.
So, to make a long story short – I know, too late – I am on my way to the western Pacific, Guam and/or Saipan, depending on the day. Perhaps some trips to Japan and Korea will be in order as well, but I won’t know until I make it to the ship. I’ll keep everyone posted on my adventures, time and budget permitting. Not that I am a spendthrift, but my last time out this way, Pamela had to freeze my accounts and bribe the ship’s Chief Engineer to weld my stateroom door shut while I was still inside. I was given a straw and had my meals poured under the door. I’m sure it was all in my best interests, even if the Saipan bars suffered an economic downturn of not insignificant proportions. But I’m sure they’ve gotten over it.
Anyway, stay tuned for further adventures, and before you know it, I’ll be back home in Appomattox. Provided they remember to break the welds and let me leave my room. Otherwise things could get a bit ghastly, especially if they forget to feed me.
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