A Tooth Fairy by any Other Name...

So, it's my morning trek up Ridge Avenue, just before 8 am. All is quiet on the Philly front and there's not much going on. There's a man working on the reconstruction of the exterior of a dentist's office and I tell him that I miss the life-size angels that used to hold center stage in the windows. They were real show-stoppers, held up by visible wires, like a cash-strapped production of Peter Pan, but beautiful and striking nevertheless. "I hope those angels found a good home," I tell the man. "Well, actually, they're in the basement and they were Tooth Fairies, not angels." Are you telling me I passed this dental office a thousand times and it never dawned on me that those heavenly creatures were Tooth Fairies? What a numskull! Sure, it did occur to me that six-foot angels were an unusual adornment for a medical setting, but I just chalked it up to a dentist with an artistic flair and a knack for ornate productions. Sorry, Doc, all that wonderful wordplay, wasted on the likes of me.  I'll think of you - and your Tooth Fairies - every time I floss... Speaking of walks, yesterday's Race for the Cure in Philly was a mindblower. Susan G. Komen, you would be proud of the crowd. The families who walked together to recognize or honor a loved one were particularly striking. Strength - and fun - in numbers. Breast cancer, take that. If you haven't been to this gathering, give it a whirl. It's held every Mother's Day, complete with mobs of people, plus free giveaways and treats to keep up your strength. It's an event where a fine time is had by all, money is raised to battle the beast known as breast cancer, and an army in pink reigns as "Queen for a Day!"

Computer Hell...

Hey, my fellow computer-challenged nimrods, are you out there? I know you are. Oh, sure, you'll admit your insatiable fondness for cocktails, your addiction to bon-bons and your inability to forgo the crisp skin on that deep-fried chicken, but will you disclose the fact that computer programs, I-Pod downloads and tweets secretly make you shake with fear?Where's the support group for that? A good friend of mine holds a Ph.D. in physics and teaches math and computers at a university. He can't believe what a moron I am when it comes to computer technology. How many gigabytes do I have? Uh, sorry, Chard, haven't the faintest idea...it never entered my mind. What's your screen resolution? Couldn't tell ya, although I'm about to resolve never to use my keypad again...How old is your computer? Um, let's see, I recall that the first Mr. Bush may have been in office at the time...Oh, you should have heard my friend's audible cry of angst when he guestimated the age of my machine! He thinks I'm one-of-a-kind when it comes to computer idiocy, but I suspect he's wrong. My guess is there are tons of us, we just don't talk about it in public. It's sort of like the "C" word back in the day, only now, it stands for Computer Conspiracy, ie, Us vs. The-Lucky-Technologically-Knowledgeable-Sons-of-a-Gun. So fellow nincompoops, click carefully, keep your software bafflement to yourself and be careful out there...

Mine That Name

So when Mine That Bird came from waaayyyyyy behind to win the Kentucky Derby this week, everyone wanted to know the origin of the horse's name. I immediately thought of the birds they used in release in coal mines to test for toxic gases. If the bird returned from the mine, it was safe for workers  to go below; if not, bye bye birdie. According to news reports, Mine That Bird's name comes from its parents, Mining My Own and Birdstone. But I think it represents its bravery to venture into unproven territory, ahead of all others.

Keep on Truckin'...

So I never thought I'd say this, but I saw one of those huge Philadelphia trash trucks today and it was gorgeous! The Mural Arts program worked with school kids to design art which was then painted on to several of Philly's trash trucks. You should see them - they are literally works of art. So if they can make a Philly trash truck beautiful, I believe there is hope for our town. Now, if only those nice trash men could make an effort to leave less rubbish on the street when they pick up our garbage, I'd be less grumpy about the litter situation around these here parts...

Weirdness During My Morning Walk

So I'm walking the dog this morning, same old routine, and I pass a guy who actually smiles and nods at me and the pooch. That's nice, people usually avoid eye contact with me and Sammy. Then I notice that the guy has a hook. No, he's not carrying a hook, he has a hook instead of a hand.  So are hooks still a medical option for amputees? News to me. Sometimes, a dog walk is just a dog walk, but other times, it's a real trip.