The Emu– Unusual Pets: A Lot Like Me

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The Emu– Unusual Pets: A Lot Like Me

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I have never seen an emu in real life. What attracted this unusual animal to me and caused me to research it was its long, long legs. An emu is about six feet tall and half of its height is in its legs. This is true for me. I am a little over six feet and once I grew… pants were impossible to find. Try shopping for Levis’ young men’s pants 28×36. You don’t find them many places.

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Similarities

While emus prefer to live in the grasslands (grazing in the Australian bush country) but remain close to water, I prefer a wooded area close to water. Mountain streams area AWESOME!

Younger emu have dark feather that turn a lighter shade of brown as they age. I don’t have feathers, but as a youth I would get a very, very dark tan. Now that I am older… not so much.

Emus are solitary birds, but they often form groups (somewhere around 20 emus) when traveling in search of food. A group of emus is called a mob. I am a more solitary person. I find a group of 20 people around be rather mob-like as well.

They are non-aggressive birds unless they feel threatened. I am likely the same way.

Emus have a stride of stride of 9 feet when running. I don’t think my stride is quite that, but people say that I am hard to keep up with on a sizable walk.

Emus drink a lot of water. In fact, they usually drink about two and a half gallons of water each day.

For an emu, 9 to 15 miles a day is a day-trip. If I could travel the world seeing the sights at 15 -20 miles a day… that would be terrific!

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To Learn More

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FYI: For this year’s April A-Z Challenge I am adopting a critter family based on the unusual look of the animal and it having characteristics that are similar to me.

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Written for the April A-Z Challenge 2023 and About Me.

The De Brazza’s Monkey – Unusual Pets: A Lot Like Me

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The De Brazza’s Monkey – Unusual Pets: A Lot Like Me

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I have never seen a De Brazza monkey in real life. What attracted this unusual animal to me and caused me to research it was its head of hair. It appears to have a crew-cut above its orange forehead. I have had a crew-cut since taking up sports again in college. It was an easy haircut to maintain.

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Similarities

The De Brazza’s Monkey prefer living in the swamps and the mountain forests. I prefer the hikes in the forest. I have never taken a hike through a swamp, but from what I’ve seem about swamps on television- I’ll pass on a swamp hike.

They forage on plants and fruits and act as self-perpetuating seed dispersers. I love y garden hobby. But I prefer NOT to pant seeds the way a De Brazza Monkey does.

De Brazza monkeys get their name from their cryptic nature, often hiding from predators and humans.

Their names are Italian for “pay no attention to,” It refers to their technique for avoiding predators. I have the same nature. Leave me alone to do my thing – no fanfare, please.

De Brazza monkeys spend most of their time in trees in small groups. While I don’t spend an abundance of time in tress (actually, very little time- none), I do prefer to be in small groups. I am not one fore crowds.

These monkeys are VERY patient. I am usually the opposite of that. I have to work at maintaining patience.

The De Brazza’s monkey is omnivorous and feeds on a wide variety of food. Their primary diet is fruits and herbaceous plants. They also eat flowers, leaves, and mushrooms.

De Brazza monkeys move around on all fours, picking up leaves and mushrooms and fruits and flowers with its hands. I enjoy collecting many things, but rarely and I moving on all fours.

These monkeys supplement their diet with beetles, termites, and worms. I have taken daily supplements for years and year and years. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

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To Learn More

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FYI: For this year’s April A-Z Challenge I am adopting a critter family based on the unusual look of the animal and it having characteristics that are similar to me.

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Written for the April A-Z Challenge 2023 and About Me.

The Common Spotted Cuscus – Unusual Pets: A Lot Like Me

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The Common Spotted Cuscus – Unusual Pets: A Lot Like Me

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OK. I admit. The similarities between the common spotted cuscus and myself are almost non-existent. I just liked the looks of this weird kangaroo/opossum creature. And I love its name CUSCUS (pronounced cuss-cuss. Cool, right?)

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Similarities

The Common Spotted Cuscus live in the forests (both tropical and hardwood) and mangroves. I love nature walks in the forest (but I have never been to a tropical forest).

They built their homes on platforms in the tops of trees. This is where the sleep. I stayed two weeks one summer in a huge treehouse. It was AWESOME!

The Common Spotted Cuscus prefers the warm, wet climates. I would rather live where it is mostly warm. As far as the wet, I would prefer that it would rain at night so I could play during the day, but we don’t always get what we want.

The cuscus sits under a huge collection of leaves to cool off when it’s extremely hot. Reclining under the shade of trees in the hot of the day sounds like a winner to me too.

To Learn More

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FYI: For this year’s April A-Z Challenge I am adopting a critter family based on the unusual look of the animal and it having characteristics that are similar to me.

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Written for the April A-Z Challenge 2023 and About Me.

Blue Tit – Unusual Pets: A Lot Like Me

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Blue Tit – Unusual Pets: A Lot Like Me

I found the blue tit as I was researching a topic for a flash fiction piece. I fell in love with the tiny bird!

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Similarities

The Blue Tit is a tiny bird. I was a very tiny junior high student. I didn’t begin growing until my junior year in high school.

The Blue Tit loves to hang upside down. As a kid, I would try to make the swings turn me upside down as I was swinging. (It never happened.)

Blue Tits enjoy the garden environment. So do I.

They say that the Blue Tit has a loud singing voice and a very charismatic personality. Some say the same about me.

Blue tits have the ability to transmit knowledge from one generation to another. The favorite part of most of my jobs has been the passing on of knowledge!

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To Learn More

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FYI: For this year’s April A-Z Challenge I am adopting a critter family based on the unusual look of the animal and it having characteristics that are similar to me.

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Written for the April A-Z Challenge 2023 and About Me.

Aardvark – Unusual Pets: A Lot Like Me

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Aardvark – Unusual Pets: A Lot Like Me

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I have never seen a real live aardvark.

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Similarities

The aardvark has quite a snoozer on him.

A baby aardvark has to grow-into his ears… but never really does.

A baby aardvark is called a cub. As a kid, I was a cub scout.

When things are hidden, he’s interested in the digging into those concealed places.

Aardvarks prefer the night (being nocturnal animals). I enjoy the evenings more than mornings.

Aardvarks like to dig in soil. I love to garden.

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To Learn More

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FYI: For this year’s April A-Z Challenge I am adopting a critter family based on the unusual look of the animal and it having characteristics that are similar to me.

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Written for the April A-Z Challenge 2023 and About Me.

SEEMS LIKE I’VE KNOWN YOU FOREVER

PHOTO PROMPT © Liz Young

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SEEMS LIKE I’VE KNOWN YOU FOREVER

“Let’s stop. I’ve always wanted to go to a cartomancer.”

“You’ve what?”

“I want to have by fortune told.”

“I think it’s a waste of money. And a waste of time.”

“We just stood in line three hours to ride the most awesome rollercoaster in the world… according to you. Three hours we’ll never get back.”

“Rollercoasters build character. Those death-defying screams will be memories we’ll have forever.”

“I don’t live in the past. I want to know my future.”

“Wow… It’s like I don’t know you at all.”

“Well, we did just meet waiting in line for the roller-coaster.”

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Written for Friday Fictioneers- 100 Word Flash Fiction: March 24, 2023

FLASH FICTION FOR THE PRACTICAL PRACTITIONER

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Do you like writing FLASH FICTION?

Here is a weekly opportunity to allow your creative juices to flow.

Early every Wednesday morning a new photo prompt is revealed and members of the Flash Fiction for the Purposeful Practitioner’s Writing Community try their hand at creating a poem, or a flash piece or a short (under 300 words) story that has been ‘birthed’ from seeing the picture.

You should give it a try!

I know the host. He’s a great fellow. (Full disclosure- It’s me.)

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Written for Flash Fiction for the Purposeful Practitioner.

I’m Far Wiser Now

Photo by Alexander Schimmeck on Unsplash

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I have always been a bit if a daredevil. 

As a lad, my mother shared recipes with the ER nurses at our local rescue sub-station. She probably saw them once a week- thanks to me.

At forty, I like to think I have gotten older and wiser. I realize the thin thread that keeps life in balance. And I have a far firmer grasp on the frailties of life.

I still enjoy a magnificent adrenaline rush…

But I usually experience the rush from a more reclined position.

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Written for Flash Fiction for the Purposeful Practitioner: Week #6.

ACKNOWLEDGE ME

Photo by Tobias Reich on Unsplash

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ACKNOWLEDGE ME

The first three strategic interventions created only a muted response from the defacto-governmental officials. I had personally thought that using their world as a colored pencil- pin cushion was a uniquely creative way to show my disdain for the mere mortals. A few bureaucrats were slightly unnerved, but the majority of the governing bodies were still assuming that they would have a say-so in the new governing of their world.

They feigned concerned at my surprisingly immense powers to effortlessly infiltrate their world. The news organizations in each of the largest municipal groups kept the local populous unenlightened as to my unlimited sovereign authority.

My tauntings had been broadcast to the world as the birthing and showcasing of a budding abstract artist just of the cusp of stardom.

I did not see myself having any desire to become a demonic dictator of my New World Order, but I would be respected and obeyed. If humane warnings and benevolent power displays would not graciously compel them to bend-the-knee, I had other options. 

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Written for Flash Fiction for the Practical Practitioner: Week #5.  

An Easy Choice

Photo by Alexander Schimmeck on Unsplash

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An Easy Choice

“Flip a coin.”

“How on earth is that going to help? There are nine choices, nitwit. A coin only has two side.”

“Do you have a coin on you or not?”

“Why’r ya askin’ me? Don’t ya have any money on you? Am I supposed to pay for everything on this trip?”

“My choice is getting easier and easier.”

“Just what’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know I pay everything with a credit card. Do you have a coin or not?”

“Yes. Here, you flip.”

The coin lands on tails and Andre is elated. “Yes!”

“So, which way are you going?”

“Back home.”

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Written for Flash Fiction for the Practical Practitioner: January