Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Let My Tribble Go!

I want to thank everyone for the wonderful birthday wishes I received yesterday. I had a wonderful time with my grandchildren who recognize me now. Dinner was with the family and no cake. We’ll have cake on Friday when we all go out to a steakhouse. Having one’s birthday on a work day has its perks and downside. Still, I’m looking forward to having a great night on Friday.

On to today’s subject...and that subject...is tribbles! Or rather my particular two tribbles. For those of you who are Star Trek fans, tribbles are a big part of the series. They first appeared in 1967 in the episode called The Trouble With Tribbles. They also appeared in Deep Space 9 as well as The Next Generation. They are known as the mortal enemies of the Klingons while Vulcans are the only species known to be immune to their effects.

I know their effect on me. I have a large tribble and a small one. I love them and they are part of a very small stuff animal collection which I have. I got mine the year I turned forty when they had a Star Trek experience here in the Las Vegas birthday. For that birthday, I went and sat in Quark’s Bar and had the biggest drink I had ever had in my life. It was served in a fishbowl and wisps of vapor emerged from the dry ice it had in it. It was a birthday to remember in so many, many ways.

Fast forward to the Saturday June 19, two days before my birthday and one before Father’s Day, I hear the phrase from my husband: Let that tribble go! What? Did the man just say tribble? Now over the years, we have had one cat who carried the samll one around as her baby. It was a tussle to get the poor creature away from Samantha because in her mind, it was her baby. In the early days, she would sleep with the darn thing and if I noticed it were gone, all I had to do was find Sam and I’d find my tribble.

But this time, there was a catch. All the cats were asleep in bedrooms with the door shut. That just left one culprit. Jasper, the dog. This creature loves to play chase and come and get me with whatever. I blanched a little when I realized it was he who had the tribble.

Let me tell you a little about Jasper. Last September, we lost our beloved dog Bomber. He was a one of a kind animal who was kissed by the fairies with one blue and one brown eye and I felt the loss deeply. My DH more so as the dog was his jogging buddy. I left little time between when Bomber died and we went to look for another dog. See, I couldn't live in a house without one. I know they are special and bring more into a home. So off to the pound we go to see what's there. There were two we liked and had them brought to us in the enclosure. This little yellow lab was the most mellow dog we had ever seen. He also jogged with my DH on a short trial run. We decided this was the animal for us and did all the paperwork.

When we picked him up the next day, he was dazed from his neutering and we had to have a cone around his head for almost a week. Well, over the course of a few months we came to love this dog despite all his problems. Now, this creature was the product of an abusive home and we didn't know just how much until we got him home. He has a frill of hair that rises when he barks at those who scare him. He had also been shot and I was the unlucky one to find this out by accidentally stepping on his leg and disloging from  his bone the large bb. Still, he has come a long way and we have a long way to go but he provides us with entertainment and companionship with unwavering loyalty. To be honest, I've never had a dog who was my dog. It's an amazing journey.

My office door was open and I hollered out to the DH asking if the dog had my tribble. When the answer was a resounding yes, I uttered the line: Let My Tribble Go! I promptly had the dog by my side with a mouthful of tribble, grinning around the creature. He obviously thought it funny. In a stern voice, I commanded he bring it to me. The dog looked back at his human father then to me, deciding I must be the push over of the two, he came to sit at my feet.

I gave the command for him to drop it and when he wouldn’t my voice became more stern. He gently laid it in my lap and I knew then, he was under the spell of the tribble. I explained to him their importance and he watched me in rapt attention. I also told him he was never to manhandle the tribble like that again.

The DH gave me a wry look and asked, “You think he got all that?”

“He better,” I replied.

“And why is that?” The man stood there positively confused. Didn't he know the importance of a tribble?

“Because if he lives in this house, he’s a Star Trek fan and knows the importance of a tribble.”

The DH gave a snort of laughter, held out his hand and vowed he would put the creature in a place where it couldn’t influence the dog. Fat chance. That dog can find just about anything he wants, buried or not. LOL!

And if he gets the tribble again, he can expect to hear the immortal line Let My Tribble Go yet again.

What’s your favorite pet story? I’d love to hear it! See you all tomorrow!

Lynn

12 comments:

  1. It will be no tribble at all, a paraphrase of Scotty's immortal line at the end of that show.

    The Trouble with Tribbles has to be my all time favorite Star Trek series. I wanted a roomful of tribbles myself.

    This blog was too funny. LOL.

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  2. That is too funny. Our dog Simon was great we found him roaming the streets. Half Chow Half German Sheppard. He was one great big puppy. He loved the kids, loved me and loved to chew through the floor. We took him everywhere but had to leave him with grandma when we moved states to a no pet allowed apartment. He's well cared for and we get pictures. I loved his energy. Now we have a house I'm waiting for the day my DH says lets drive 13 hours to pick him up!

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  3. I saw tribble and just had to come over. not sorry i did. Like P.A. I loved that show. We had a precious little darling that was with us for 17 years. she topped out a 4 pounds and I took her nearly everywhere with me. one day in the car parts store, she laid in my arm, quiet as could be as people went in and out until one little old lady came in. she went ballistic barking. I mean she exploded as soon as the woman stepped in the door. it embarrassed the woman, but the clerk laughed and said she was like a tribble and the lady was K.

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  4. We were moving when our beloved cat Ryker disappeared never to be found. I went every other day to Animal Control to check. One day I found a cat, so like Ryker to be the big brother, the clincher was his name was Mr. Stryker. His previous owners where Air Force and had been transferred to Japan which does not let in pets. They had had him declawed. I was furious at this abuse, but I took him home anyway, after all it was their sin not his. He was so sad and 2 days later came down with Cat Pneumonia. My daughter and I nursed him thru it and he fell in love with us and would sleep with her. We lived in the country and at first he would sit in the door of our house and just watch. One day he went outside and became King of the Neighborhood (our 4 neighbors had dogs and they where terrified of him). He would hide behind doors, cat giggling, and jump out and attack me and my daughter by wrapping his paws around an ankle and not let go. We would drag him across the floor, as that cat grin got larger and larger. He loved to bring me presents, although the live bird was a bit much. He had trouble climbing trees so my daughter would carry up into the tree house where he would set watching the birds, dreaming. We still miss him desperately and it's been 11 years.

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  5. P.A.,

    I had forgotten all about the last line until your quote here. The show I saw recently was the Next Generation one and that had me laughing up a storm. And the dog decided the tribble was his. LOL!

    I have to agree. While it might not be my favorite episode, it ranks up there in my top ten.

    Thanks for stopping by!

    Lynn

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  6. Hales,

    I so understand about the great big puppy syndrome. Bomber was about twice the size as Jasper and we got him when he was only 6 weeks old. He hid in the coat of one of my best friends to sneak him home. I thought the DH was going to kill me until he saw him. The face won him over immediately.

    It was the same with Jasper's face. He has a great one and is so expressive. But he's still a puppy and gets into so much trouble. We've noticed with just one of us, he's perfect. Get the two of us together and he's an absolute pain...LOL! He'll grow up some day but hopefully not too soon. He's like the grandkids and will keep us young.

    Thanks for stopping by.

    Lynn

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  7. Larion,

    What a great story!

    I had actually wanted to get a little dog but my DH needed a jogging buddy. And most of the time, he's great. However, recently he tripped up my husband and sat there patiently waiting because my DH landed hard with lots of scrapes and bruises. Jasper treated him like a king the rest of the day. I guess he knew he did wrong. LOL!

    Thanks for stopping by!

    Lynn

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  8. Leila,

    What a touching story. He sounds like a wonderful cat. Reminds me of our Nermal. When he was older, he got thin like many cats do and would sit in the front yard. One day some little girls thought we were starving him and took him to the pound. Now the pound knew we owned him but chose to leave him in a cage with a wet blanket. He was twenty years old and never really recovered.

    I had the pound chastise the girls for coming into our yard and taking the cat. It was not the right thing even though the intentions were good.

    Nermal did live another six months and reached the ripe old age of 21 before we lost him. Most of our animals live long and prosper but they are all fixed so no offspring. We've been lucky enough to replace each animal as they pass with one nearly as good.

    Thanks for stopping by!

    Lynn

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  9. that is so funny.I love star trek two.your dog is cute.I have a cat that keeps stilling things ran off whit my pin the other day and i still have not found it.

    sasluvbooks(at)yahoo.com

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  10. Thanks, Stacey!

    I can't name the times when Jasper has run off with a shoe or a pin or something else he isn't supposed to run off with at all.

    Just tonight, I had to confine him in the office with me because he was barking at the cats on the bed with him and my DH. Once I had him settled down, I let him back in the bedroom.

    Thanks for stopping by!

    Lynn

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  11. He's adorable Lynn. So sad these dog that are abused.My son got a Jack Russell from the shelter that had been abused but he was the most adorable dog. We were all together for Christmas one year and my son asked everyone to come together for a family photo.I was on the sofa and all of a sudden Scooby jumps up and actually sat still looking at the camera. I swear I thought this dog was half human the things he did and responded to.Great post. :)
    Carol L.
    Lucky4750@aol.com

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  12. Thanks, Carol, I love your story too!

    If I had a large place, I would rescue as many as I could. I've often talked about going back to my farm in Ohio and doing something like that but here in Nevada is where I'll remain.

    Thanks for stopping by!

    Lynn

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