A selection of Various Birds
All Bets Off
With Congress and the President at loggerheads over the budget and increasing the debt limit, all of the National Parks had been closed. Did that mean that that Jerome and his crew of Sandhill Crane buddies couldn’t land or feed at the National Migratory Waterfowl Refuge, their usual wintering place? It seemed that until the issue was resolved, all bets were off, and they might have to make reservations at Motel 6; would Tom Bodette still leave the light on for them? . . . . David, Sf.G.
Stayin’ Alive
Bryan had waited too long; he hadn’t signed up for his food stamps before the wrangling of the political parties shut down or slowed down some facets of government. No Cheetos, pop tarts, or frozen pizza till it was over; back to hunting down and eating insects. The local news quoted his congressman as saying, “It will be over soon, don’t let it bug you…” . . . . David, Sf.G.
No Way
First, Lila had gotten notice that she was cut back to just under 30 hours per week and had her employer’s health insurance cancelled. Then it had taken all day to get through to the new online health insurance exchange, and when she finally got connected, she found out the premiums would cost over half of her take home pay. The straw that broke the camels back was her three almost-grown kids telling her they had decided to live at home until they were 26 so they could be covered by her health insurance plan. . . . . David, Sf.G.
Oh Rats!
Since the President’s wife began trying to change everybody’s diet to include more veggies, fruit and fiber, Paul’s wife had been after him to eat fewer rodents and try some broccoli or rutabagas. Paul could see it now, cruising with the boys on a Saturday afternoon, eating broccoli with ranch dip, drinking herbal tea while all the guys jeered and ate Buffalo cotton rat wings by the dozen and drank beer–yeah, that would work out just fine. . . . . David, Sf.G.
Duck Dynasty
Gwen, Sylvan, and Thomas were miffed on two accounts: First, not being language experts, they had mistaken the name of the popular TV show to be saying Ducks Die Nasty, which seemed to bring an undeserved bad name on ducks; second: how did that dumb TV show about ducks, not have any ducks in some sort of starring role or at least a cameo appearance?. . . . David, Sf.G.
Stinking Paparazzi Again
The General, reporting to the Armed Services Committee and known to be quite “hawkish,” had categorically stated “No comment at this time,” but there they were again, the stinking paparazzi, dogging him as he walked to his armored Hummer. Maybe his tail gunner could sort them out or at least generate a little respect. . . . . David, Sf.G.