If I Were A Frog
You should be able to see in the picture above a frog, partially buried in the wet sand and within a hop of a nice clear pool of Lake Huron water. Since the temperature here in Michigan has soared tortuously close to fire and brimstone levels once again, all I can say is . . . smart frog.
Wouldn't it be nice to be a frog and just lie here half-covered in wet sand the whole day? Then come out to sing, make froggy love and catch flies all night. Rock on, frog. Who's to bother him, except maybe the occasional snake.
Speaking of rock on, I took this picture when Wendy and I made a planned trip up north to my parents' cabin. I was hoping for a nice, peaceful weekend disturbed only by the wind and the rustle of deer foraging in the nearby woods.
Instead, I was surprised when our beloved neighbors, and I say that with the utmost sarcasm, began setting up for a big birthday bash. So instead of the pastoral sounds of wind, woods and water, we heard bad karaoke at rock concert decibels at three in the morning.
Wendy said the young lady who crooned "I Am Woman" at that early morning hour sounded like a sick cat. I would have preferred a chorus of frogs myself.
On the way back from the north country we stopped and visited my parents to exchange news and gossip. My mother recounted how earlier in the week she heard the terrified screams of a young woman. Peering through a window, she and my father saw their neighbor lady sitting atop her car. Not atop the hood, but all the way on top of their car.
So my dad went out to investigate and as he drew near the young woman, who was sobbing rather uncontrollably, he saw the woman's husband desperately trying to console her, even warning her that their neighbor was approaching to check on the commotion.
What had happened to terrify this woman so? She spotted a snake in their yard. Ordinarily, snakes in Michigan are almost always of the non-poisonous variety, so they're not really that threatening. I guess, unless you're a frog.
Maybe she was having one of those "if I were a frog" moments too.
posted by Big Dave T @ 4:12 PM
16 Comments:
LOL-ah Dave, we don't have a "closet" Helen Reddy, but we have those 2 yappy dogs next door. While we were "on the road" this weekend our daughter-in-law said our neighbors now know how we feel-she let there Sheltie, Lily, out every night to bark and make as much noise as she and our son could stand just to let them have a dose of their own "medicine"
Two in the morning is an atrocious time to be singing and partying in an area close to neighbors. Unless you are of a mind to join the party. I agree with you about the frog's life and the cool mud looks inviting when the temp and humidity take its toll.
At least when your parents' neighbor was freaking out about seeing the snake it was not at two in the morning. Did you tell your mother that?
CARINE--I think there were some paybacks the morning after the party when the folks living within earshot of the party began working with chainsaws, noisy leafblowers, stuff like that. But I'm not a fan of that kind of noise either.
TECHNOBABE--Well, my sister who was staying nearby did join the party. I guess that was an option but we're in bed by ten. I think screaming kind of terrifies anyone, regardless of the time of day or night, especially when you think you're neighbor might be in peril.
It is unconscionable the have a party loud enough to keep neighbors awake, whether the homes are separated by a thin wall or a 2 mile spread. It's just plain old wrong.
OK, I feel better.
Around here, outdoor parties stop making noise at 10:pm. Not a bad rule. If they don't stop, someone usually calls the police (not Me) then they stop.
LYNILU--Couldn't agree more. I think you have to be super-rude to be as annoying as that. And these people are certainly old enough to know better.
CASSIE--Up north, we are without phone service. Even the cell doesn't work. But we were surprised one of the neighbors WITH phone service didn't call.
To be a frog would be cool, but I would prefer a tiger or lion. If the commish of the fantasy football league were animal he would be the ass.
ANONYMOUS--Now Vic, be nice. Your grandpa doesn't like to hear you smacktalking your cousin like that.
Very unusual for Australia over the last decade but the frogs are certainly feeling at home here at present.
Hi Dave ~~ Lucky fog with cool water to swim in. We don't see many around
here these days. They have done a deal with the Tax Office, some business friends put up a bond of sorts and now he can go back to the States. Glad you liked Judas Asparagus - it was clever although the plagues were confusing with the bowels. I didn't understand that one.
We are all having a great time.
Bye for now, Regards, Merle.
my cuz and the commish are two different people. It's like Jekyll and Hyde.
Well, since both teams won their games on Saturday there isn't any untoward hectoring going on over here yet. Just a lovely, semi-peaceful post- at least peaceful on your end.
I had only been at the Mountain house a few days when my cell phone rang and a neighbor said, breathlessly: You don't know me yet but I heard you worked at a zoo and you handled snakes. I have a giant black snake down here in my chicken coop and he's already scared one of the chickens to death and he's eating the eggs. Could you come get him, please? I went and he was no where to be found but a couple days later, when this family hosted the neighborhood 4th of July party, there was great commotion when the snake returned to their hen house. So, in front of 80 folks I picked up the 5 ft snake (he was a rat snake, not a black snake) and held him while her husband drove us a few miles into the wilderness and we dropped off the snake. That was my first impression on all the neighbors. Hmmmm. In conclusion, I am particularly fond of reptiles; karaoke should be illegal.
PETER--Your comment reminds me of a Simpsons episode about the growth of frogs in Australia. Maybe you've seen it.
MERLE--Didn't know that Crocodile Dundee's buddies helped him square everything with the tax office. Can't get away from taxes no matter where you go.
ANONYMOUS--Trust me, same guy.
AMARKONMYWALL--No, haven't seen your buddy around these parts lately. She's probably aware that I'm stockpiling Spartan slurs just in case. My own feelings on snakes run more towards that lady cowering on the roof of her car.
On her snake-loving, karaoke-loathing heels...
I like snakes and frogs because they are GREEN!
I was actually cheering against a SPARTAN team at a Friday night high school football game here.
Typical wolverine behavior (no match for a SPARTAN): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAJVTmtUkic&feature=related
BONNIE--Yeah, I've behaved like that Wolverine too after a particularly tough loss. Still more dignified though than some of the yoga poses I've seen depicted.
I've heard that MSU has a cream puff schedule this fall but are you actually saying that they played your high school team? Guess I'm not surprised.
When I first saw the frog photo, I thought it was another case of wildlife inserting itself uninvited into a shot, like the groundhog in your profile photo. It's been a long time since I've heard a late night frog chorus; in fact, I had been wondering if they still exist after all the hoopla about frogs disappearing. I'm so sorry to hear that your frog concert was ruined by the obnoxious neighbors. Maybe you should try again this weekend.
Hugs,
Betty
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