Monday Miscellany - some odds, ends and personals . . .

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Some reader comments during the past week:

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My comments about the loss of a loved family pet touched a chord with a number of persons, especially those who have experienced similar loss. As I said previously, "she was just a dog” is not apt. Here is a selection of comments received:

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From Tom C:

Thanks for sharing your bytes about Lucy. The quotes on dogs in your bytes today are so true about dogs. What I observed in my lifetime is those people that do not like dogs are definitely not complete or normal in some way. I also learned that by coming from work and just patting your dog is therapy for one's soul. It releases stress and makes you wanted, especially when you’rein the dumps.

Tom.

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From Doug:

Hi Otto,

I’m very sorry to hear about Lucy’s death. She had a very good innings, but it’s always disappointing when a beloved pet dies. It sounds like she had a very good life and died in as positive a manner as possible.

Here’s an article by one of my favourite writers following the death of their dog Jasper -> http://lileks.com/bleats/archive/14/0214/020314.html

Best wishes to your wife Kate -- it’s a difficult time now.

Regards,

Doug

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From Sue B:

Dear Otto,Kate ,Thomas & Elliot, I`m feeling your loss today ,no words can help the pain ,16 wonderful years of joy ,love , devotion & companionship ,she may have moved on from her old body but the spirit will be strong & the Rottweillers will still freeze as they pass your front fence for years to come ...bless your dear` little Lucy ` now in doggie heaven ,thinking of you all with love ,

sincerely ,susan lilly & teddy 

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From Robyn T (Robyn has featured previously in Bytes in respect of her art works):

Otto

I was saddened to hear about the passing of your long time family member Lucy. After so many years of companionship it is a big loss. This I know because we had our last rotty Crow for 15 years and his partner in matters canine, Les, the bull terrier for 16 years. We assuaged our sadness after bidding farewell to Les by finding a beautiful rotty, Georg, through Hunter Pet rescue and she has now been in the family for 4 years. I've attached photos of each of them-you may notice they bob up again and again in my paintings. Les in particular spent countless hours at the foot of my easel as I laboured away. She was very keen on classical music.

Since Lucy had a bit of a thing about rottys I'm sure she and Crow and Les are getting to know each other.

Regards

Robyn T

Robyn's pics:

Les

George

Crow

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Thanks to all those who sent messages.

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The post on St Patrick’s Day, which featured some Irish humour, elicited a contribution from Sue P:

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Leadlight business proprietor Kerrie commented on the post about the Pink Mosque:

Thanks Otto,

I have now added Iran to the list of must see places. These windows are amazing. However I can’t say I appreciate the Banksy street art. I am not one of his biggest fans. I am too much of a traditionalist where art is concerned.

Kerrie

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Mr Farouk’s letterboxed card inspired a few more observations from Kieran:

There are so many great things about Mr Farouk’s card! 

Why not 9.30 – 7.30? 

Why does he have 2 mobile numbers? 

And what is a specialist unhappy marriage?

As always Otto, great work. 

thx

Kieran

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Caution: Risque content follows:

Truman Capote

I have previously posted a ribald anecdote about Truman Capote. Recently I came across a longer version in its original source format and it had me laughing all over again. 

Tennessee Williams

The following paragraphs are from "Tennessee: Cry of the Heart, An Intimate Memoir of Tennessee Williams" by Dotson Rader (1985):

Tennessee went on to talk about the one time Truman came to Key West.  

"It was two years ago. he had flown to Key West from Mexico, where he was to stay with Mrs. [Lee] Radiwill but left in a hurry because the mosquitoes were terrible. So he came to Key West from the Yucatan. He had never been on the island before, and I suspect that he never will be there again. He was robbed the first night, losing all his credit cards, his address book, and about two thousand dollars. He said that he wasn't in his hotel room when the robbery occured, but the police found no evidence of forced entry. I think he was cleaned out by some street boy he invited home for a private session!"

"Truman came to Key West because he sold excerpts of his book [Answered Prayers] to Esquire, he made one of the conditions of the contract that the editor of the magazine [Don Erickson] had to fly to Key West to pick up the manuscript. He did that because Hemingway used to make Arnold [Gingrich, the editor/founder of Esquire] come to Key West to edit his stories before they were published. Truman was not about to get one thing less than Hemingway."  

"One night Truman, Jimmy Kirkwood, and a friend of Truman's, I, and some other men went to dinner. His friend was very drunk. The restaurant was full of tourists in double-knit suits, and since it was quite late, most of them were as tipsy as Truman's boyfriend. Some distance away, at a round table, sat three couples. Truman noticed them staring at us, and he said, "Watch out! They'll be coming over for autographs!" And a few minutes later, one of the women at the table got up and came over, carrying a menu. She asked Truman to autograph the menu. He did. She left, and a few minutes later her husband came to our table and glared at Truman. 

"Are you Truman Capote?" And Truman said, "I was this morning!" And the man unzipped his pants, and pulled out his cock. He said, holding it in the palm of his hand, "Can you put your signature on this? And Truman looked down at the cock, and up again, and he said. "I don't know about my signature. But I can initial it!"

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