Tag: pony party

Light Emitting Pickle here to bring you the most recent open thread. First, a few words about Pickle Pony Parties:

Please do not recommend a Pony Party when you see one.  There will be another along in a few hours.

The Byrds

Turn, Turn, Turn

Lovin’ Spoonful

What a Day for a Daydream

Mamas and Papas

Dedicated to the One I Love

I must be a west coast person deep in my soul, although I have never been to NYC. I just liked the vibe of Seattle in the same way I loved San Diego and San Franciso. Funny how I like places where the house prices are out of this world and I live in a place where housing is cheap. Of course, the west coast would be even further from my family than I already am.

A few things I noticed about Seattle: people actually walked to places!!! Downtown parking prices may well have encouraged that, plus they had these things called sidewalks!! Memphis city planners might want to look into this whole sidewalk phenomenon. Oddly enough, I think there might have been a connection between people walking and the fact that there seemed to be fewer people with weight issues compared to the south. I really think a smart scientist type might want to intensively study that.

The obvious thing to do for today to to bore the crap out of y’all with pictures. If I was creative, or deep, or reflective, I might provide insight. Nah. Seattle was cool… My husband almost had a meltdown carrying my purse so I could take pictures.

Shirley, now 52, was just 5 years old when she was captured in her homeland and torn from her family. This Asian elephant was sold to the Kelly- Miller Circus, which forced her to perform for 25 years. In 1958, she and the entire circus were detained for weeks by Fidel Castro’s forces in Cuba. Several years later, she narrowly escaped death when she was evacuated just before the circus ship she was on caught fire and sank while docked in Nova Scotia.

In 1977, Shirley suffered a permanent leg injury from an attack by another elephant that ended her life with the circus. The Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo took Shirley. Fearing that her injury might put her at risk with the other elephants, they kept intelligent, social Shirley in solitary confinement for the next 22 years.

Then the Louisiana zoo curator learned about the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, the nation’s only natural-habitat refuge for Asian elephants.

At the time, the sanctuary was home to three other Asian elephants, Tarra, Barbara and Jenny. He contacted the sanctuary, which agreed to take Shirley, and arrangements were made for her journey to the safe haven.

When Shirley arrived at the sanctuary, she was scared to leave the trailer. But at last, she decided to back her way out of it, and the last chain she would ever wear was removed from her leg. Few of the onlookers could hold back their tears.

After a snack of fresh fruits and veggies, a cooling shower and rest, Shirley met Tarra, who gently inspected her injuries. They intertwined their trunks and “purred.” Then the gates to the barn were opened so that Shirley could explore her new surroundings. It took several hours for her to muster up the courage to step outside.

That evening, Jenny returned to the barn and discovered the newcomer-and an amazing thing happened. Jenny and Shirley frantically touched each other with their trunks and then began trumpeting together. Twenty-two years earlier, when Shirley was 30 and Jenny was just a baby, they had spent one winter together in the same circus. Although so much time had passed, they recognized each other instantly. Shirley and Jenny are inseparable now. Shirley is very protective, much like a mother watching over her daughter. After more than two decades apart, Jenny and Shirley will be together forever.

Today’s ‘Phone it in Friday’ is a link to one of my favorite websites, with a couple of examples blatantly lifted from it….

It’s a website which explains the origins of cliches and other terms, which I think is called ‘HaveOrigins’.

Close but no cigar

Meaning: Nearly achieving success, but not quite.
Example: That free throw was close but no cigar.
Origin: Carnival games of skill, particularly shooting games, once gave out cigars as a prize. A contestant that did not quite hit the target was close, but did not get a cigar.

More skimping…skimping ponies…

I’m writing this to you from a room without a bed (its calling my name softly from down the hall) at four in the morning.  So chances I’ll be here when it publishes are slim, and worse yet, I’m forced to skimp on content.