A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....07-08-03..."Iceskater and her Precious Bubba and Lucy"

Dutchess and Billie | Gizmo

[dutchess]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

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We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_bear, dansangel, dutchess, Aquamarine

How precious we "creatures" great and small are. We bring fun, laughter and comfort to you, our human family and friends. . .. and yes . . . aggravation too! We have some great FinestPets for you to meet today and always look forward to meeting yours!

All Creatures Great and Small....
"Bubba and Lucy"...Iceskater's Special Kitties

Happy Tuesday FR friends and FRPets. Gizmo here. Decided to tackle this interview by myself as Codee and FredtheCat are still recooperating from the 4th Festivities. I'm heading to Virginia to meet the infamous Bubba and Lucy…beloved cats of Iceskater.

Iceskater greets me at the door as she heads out the door…to….you guessed it…go Iceskating. Go figure (more about that later) .

Bubba eyes me warily. I assure him that I have an older sister….FredtheCat…and he need not be afraid.

Bubba: Well…welcome then…I guess. Fred??? Fred a "sister" a she?…isn't Fred a guys name????

Gizmo: Mom and dad were "city folks" and never had cats. When Fred showed up as a kitten they thought she was a he until she had babies! What about your name…Bubba…isn't that what they call the worst president in our history…a source of fits, anger…shoes flung at the TV for 8 years….etc. How does that feel sharing HIS name?

Bubba: Well…I was named before anyone ever heard of him. Before him…. Bubba was a cute affectionate name…still is EXCEPT for that one….He's one Bubba we ALL want to forget!

Gizmo: Good explanation. So…Fred will be 15 this year, how about you.

Bubba: What a coincidence…I'm around 15 too. Mom and dad adopted me from the animal shelter when I was just six weeks old. There were only two of us there…vying for their attention. I started doing this cute little "kneading thing" with my paw and that won them over! Now, at age 15 they call me their "distinguished gentlemen".

(Just then Lucy runs into the room)

Lucy: Yeah right…"distinguished gentleman". The stories I could tell….

Gizmo: So tell them!!!!

Lucy: Now…this is all hearsay, as I wasn't adopted until 5 years ago but from what I hear Bubba has always been a little adventurous. At one time they lived in Northern Va. where there was a neighbor who had several huge dogs (black labs, I think). They loved to chase him. Mom says, if they had caught him, he would have been somebody's lunch. Bubba would just scamper up into the dogwood tree in the front yard and the dogs just wouldn't know what to do. That worked fine until the fall and winter when the leaves on the tree were gone. He scampered up that tree one day in Oct/Nov and got this look like "oh s***!, what happened to the leaves??" Mom thought that was just so funny…the look on Bubba's face.

Bubba: Yeah well…I just put that face on for show. Actually I had the situation TOTALLY under control. Hrrumph… .Lucy…I'm off to get some snacks. You talk to Giz for awhile…

Gizmo: Well Lucy, I notice that Bubba only has one eye. So does FredtheCat. It was already gone when Fred wandered to mom and dads as a kitten. How about Bubba.

Lucy: Last winter, he developed a tumor in his eye. You could see it and it covered part of the pupil. The vet said that in dogs those kinds of tumors are usually benign. But in cats, they are often malignant so he recommended taking his eye. The Vet said Bubba could live another 7 to 10 years and assured the folks that he would adapt to having just one eye. Mom was ok with everything until she picked him up from the vet. He had the "conehead" apparatus on and his eye was gone and there were all those stitches. Mom just lost it and the tears started falling. The poor vet must of thought she was out of her mind. I thought it was kind of funny….he'd get so mad when I referred to him as "conehead"!!!

But Bubba has healed nicely from the surgery and he gets around just fine. He is a little more careful jumping up and down but he's adapted well - just like the vet said.

(as Bubba returns)

Gizmo: Hey Conehead…err ah….I mean Bubba…

Bubba: (giving Lucy a disgusted look) Okay Lucy…time FOR ME to tell tales. (Lucy sheepishly stalks off)

Gizmo: Sorry 'bout that Bubba…but har har har….I can just picture you with that cone around your head….hehehehhe.

Bubba: Shhhhhhhhsssh..this is just between us guys….but boy did I play the sympathy game….milked it for all it was worth!!!!! Even Lucy was nicer than usual!

Gizmo: Speaking of Lucy….what's her story.

Bubba: In 1998, Mom went grocery shopping and they were having a joint Adopt a Pet thing with the local Humane Society. She normally doesn't stop and had not planned on getting another cat (at least that's what she told me!). Anyway, she came running home and insisted that dad go back with her to look at this "shameless hussy". She said that Lucy had the softest gray fur she ever felt. Dad wasn't thrilled either…but it all worked out.

Gizmo: How'd she end up at the shelter?

Bubba: From what the Humane Society worker said Lucy was picked up by Animal Control and that she recently had a little of kitties although they never found them. Anyway, the Humane Society had a litter of kitties that had no mom, so Lucy became a "surrogate" mom, nursing them until they could eat on their own. Once I heard her story…I was a little more "tolerant". I mean you could tell she had a pretty tough life…. two of her teeth - her canines - were broken off. She still acts a little skittish if mom or dad OR especially strangers try to pet her head.

Gizmo: Wow…. what a sad story. How did she act when she first came here?

Bubba: Well she hid under mom and dad's our bed for about a week. Mom knew I wasn't thrilled so she would feed her and everything in there. After about a week she started venturing out. The shelter said she was very quiet BUT man she talks just like a girl….I mean non-stop…especially around dinnertime. You would think we were never fed!

Gizmo: Heheheh…and we know how girls can talk…just don't know when to shut up!

Lucy: (entering) Excuse me Gizmo…mom always says if you can't say something nice…don't say anything at all!

Gizmo: (sheepishly…) Sorry Lucy…you weren't supposed to hear that…it was…you know….just guy talk!

Lucy: Okay…I'll forgive you THIS time!

Gizmo: Now tell me…are either of you "cuddlers" with your mom?

Bubba: Naw…not really….I kind of like to "hang"…look out over the yard. Lucy wasn't much of one either until mom broke her leg skating a few years ago.

Lucy: It happened right before Thanksgiving, a few year's ago………..mom was trying to do a backspin, caught her toe pick and went down. She was completely devastated. She had to go through the holidays in a cast and was in so much pain.

For the first couple of weeks, she spent a lot of time lying on the couch in the sunroom with her broken ankle propped up. I knew she wasn't doing well and wanted to make it better for her….just like she did for me. So I started crawling up next to her or lie on her stomach and purr and purr just to let her know I understood. That's when we really bonded. I knew I was totally safe and that she needed me too.

Bubba: Now they cuddle all the time. Guess it's a girl thing!

Gizmo: So…what about the two of you.

Bubba: Well, Lucy and I still squabble - on a daily basis. I mean it's kind of a game. Then we'll start grooming each other and then 3 minutes later, we're off yelling at each other, chasing each other around. Sometimes mom thinks we're serious…hehehe it can get pretty noisy…but we're only playing. Lucy has turned out to be pretty cool.

Lucy: Yeah…you are too Bubba!

Gizmo: Pretty cool story and glad to hear you all get along now. You know…these interviews are usually ONLY about FreeperPets…but I've never known an Iceskater before. What's the deal…I mean it's summer for pete's sake. When I first prepared for the interview was afraid I was going to Alaska or Antarctica or something!

Bubba: (proudly) Oh no…mom is an avid iceskater…she tries to skate at an indoor rink almost every day. She's also been in lots of competitions and has three…count them…THREE "coaches" Here's a picture of her practicing!

Lucy: I like to help her get dressed to go to the rink. Most mornings she gets up at 5am to go skate at 6am. She skates about an hour before work. She says it's great exercise first thing in the morning really starts her day off on the right foot.

Gizmo: Unless she forgets and uses her left and falls…hehehe…on the right foot…falls…okay…just a little Giz humor…sorry!

Lucy: Usually, mom wears these wrap-around skirts that she makes. They're simple things with a ribbon that ties around the waist. I LOVE to tackle those ribbons - especially as mom's trying to wrap it around her waist. I also love to attack the laces on her tennis shoes.

Gizmo: Well the curiosity got the best of me so the three of us headed over to the ice rink, digital camera in hand. I was pretty impressed with the pictures I took…but admit I've had some pointers from jkphoto and Billie!

Gizmo: So that's it Finest Friends….Two more special FreeperPets, rescued and living the good life (and making life so much better for our special Iceskater). Me…I'm heading home…I suddenly miss Codee and FredtheCat and especially mom's lap…so enjoy….see you all next week!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 07-07-03...Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[dutchess]

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[dutchess]

Welcome. It's FRPet Day! Please stop in and meet some very special kitties and their VERY SPECIAL MOM, ICESKATER (apologies for the delay today...power outages around the state!)

[dutchess]

We're here FINALLY! And just in time for another storm front coming through!

[Dubya]

"THIS IS NOT A JOKE If you ever want to see these people again, bring me 5 lbs. of fresh tuna in a plain brown bag. THE CAT."

[dansangel]

(((((((((dutchess))))))))))

And here are more even *special* hugs:

*~{{{{{(((((dutchess)))))}}}}}~*

I'm so sorry for your trouble today. But, you made it here and that's the most important thing.

Now, I'll go read about iceskater's "kids."

Love ya sistah!

[Dubya]

Cat Humor
Larry, a local football star, is jogging down the street when he sees a building on fire. A lady is standing on a third story ledge holding her pet cat in her arms.

"Hey, lady," yells Larry, "Throw me the cat."

"No," she cries, "It's too far."

"I play football, I can catch him."

The smoke is pouring from the windows, and finally, the woman waves to Larry, kisses her cat goodbye, and tosses it down to the street.

Larry keeps his eye on the cat as it comes hurtling down toward him. The feline bounces off an awning and Larry runs into the street to catch it. He jumps six feet into the air and makes a spectacular one handed catch.

The crowd that has gathered to watch the fire breaks into cheers. Larry does a little dance, lifts the cat above his head, wiggles his knees back and forth, then spikes the cat into the pavement.

[Aeronaut]

Good afternoon Dutchess.

[dutchess]

Thanks for bumping yesterday's thread (and your words of encouragement). LOL...we just got our power back and another storm front is coming through! My poor animals are "spazzing" this week!

[dutchess]

Hi Aeronaut...You don't know how happy I am to see you!

[dutchess]

Oh...Dubya...that joke is so-o-o-o BAD :o)

[Aeronaut]

You don't know how happy I am to see you!

Really? It's good to be seen.

[martin_fierro]

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBUDDY!

Enjoy your day, FigureSkater!

[ST.LOUIE1]

We're here FINALLY! And just in time for another storm front coming through!

Well hang onto your cat....I mean....hat....or both! LOL

Glad you finally had success, Dutchess.

Really neat interview. : )

[ST.LOUIE1]

Nice fur family, Skates! : )

[Dubya]

"One Liners"




Old telephone books make ideal personal address books. Simply cross out the names and addresses of people you don't know.

Fool other drivers into thinking you have an expensive car phone by holding an old TV or video remote control up to your ear and occasionally swerving across the road and mounting the curb.

Lose weight quickly by eating raw pork and rancid tuna. I found that the subsequent food poisoning/diarrhea enabled me to lose 12 pounds in only 2 days.

Avoid parking tickets by leaving your windshield wipers turned to fast wipe whenever you leave your car parked illegally.

No time for a bath? Wrap yourself in masking tape and remove the dirt by simply peeling it off.

Apply red nail polish to your nails before clipping them. The red nails will be much easier to spot on your bathroom carpet. (Unless you have a red carpet, in which case a contrasting polish should be selected).

If a person is choking on an ice cube, don't panic. Simply pour a jug of boiling water down their throat and presto! The blockage is almost instantly removed.

Save on booze by drinking cold tea instead of whiskey. The following morning you can create the effects of hangover by drinking a thimble full of dish washing liquid and banging your head repeatedly on the wall.

[Dubya]

Howdy to you.

[Saundra Duffy]

Great pics. Love it! Thank you.

[dutchess]

Thanks brotha Louie!

{{{{{{{{LOUIE}}}}}}}}

[dutchess]

Great picture martin! Now that was pretty fast too!