The Wump World

The Lorax is probably the first book that comes to mind when people talk about children’s books which touch on environmentalism and preserving nature for future generations. And I have no complaint with that. Doctor Seuss (aka Theodor Geisel) wrote a powerful story, which connected with kids quite well.

But for me, I also remember The Wump World. I couldn’t have been much past first grade when I first read the tale of these gentle creatures and how their world was overrun. I can’t be certain, but this was likely also one of my first introductions to the science fiction genre as the Pollutians came to the Wump World in what were clearly spaceships.

Out of the blue, a friend recently asked if I’d ever heard of the wumps and after checking that we were talking about the same thing, I felt compelled to revisit the Wump World.

Although the book is 44 pages long, it’s worth noting that every page is also illustrated with a color, pencil-drawing. It’s a fast read for an adult and given that it’s stuck with me for more years than I wish to recount, it seems a reasonable kid-length.

The story tells of the Wumps and how their idyllic existence is one day interrupted by the arrival of “The Pollutians” (to an adult, the name is hardly subtle, but as a child, I scarcely noticed it). It’s a dismal life for the Wumps, but much as with The Lorax, there’s a hopeful ending.

So yes, get the kids hooked on The Lorax, but don’t forget to visit The Wump World too.

Leaves

So, it seems I’m that neighbor. You know, the eccentric one…. (Shocker, right?)

For the past ten or so years, every fall, I’ve been out gathering up the leaves, running them through a leaf vacuum/shredder, and using them to mulch the garden, fill the compost bins, and mulch various flower beds.

Initially I just gathered up all the leaves that inevitably blew into the driveway – the winds work out just right for deep drifts of leaves to pile up against the gate into the backyard. And since they’re gonna end up in the driveway, I’d proactively gather them up from the street in front of the house. This has worked out quite well, and over the past seven or eight years, in order to make sure there would be enough, I’ve also gathered up some of the bags of leaves neighbors have put out for curbside pickup.

It’s worked quite well. I’ve been growing cannas in a flowerbed built around the lamppost and this year, some of those stalks got to be around eight feet high.

The neighbors have noticed my leaf gathering. Two weeks ago, the neighbor two doors down texted my wife to let her know that if I was interested, they had seven bags of leaves at the end of their driveway and could they possibly have the bags back afterward? (Seems fair to me.)

This past weekend, the same neighbors asked me if wet leaves were OK and I said I would happily take just about anything except black walnut which they don’t have anyhow. (Black walnut leaves contain a chemical which hinders the growth of other plants.) On Sunday evening, four bags of leaves mysteriously appeared at the end of our driveway. On Monday evening, I filched two more the neighbor in between had put out for pickup and during the day Tuesday, another one just “appeared” as if by magic.

That’s a total of seven bags.

A short while ago, I came in from walking the dogs. I’ve only moved two bags of leaves this week, but to my surprise, there are now eleven bags at the end of the driveway.

That’s a whole lot of leaves!

Public domain Image via Pixabay.

Deadpool 3

On Twitter, Dylan Beattie pointed out that Disney’s ownership of Deadpool, along with Star Wars, Mary Poppins, and other properties opens the door to a variety of beloved characters appearing in the next Deadpool movie.

So… here’s the premise for #Deadpool3….

Deadpool 3 starts off with Wade and Vanessa deciding to start a family. The new movie takes place perhaps eight years later; they have two kids, a boy and a girl, and they realize, they need to hire a nanny. And it’s Mary Poppins.

The overall plot is still hazy, but a few highlights spring to mind… The “Mary is cruder/more violent than Wade” twists are too obvious. But mid-movie, the entire cast breaks into a musical number? That’s got potential.

I’m picturing a general melee with both sides fighting, and singing at the same time. In the midst of this mayhem, Poppins moves around in her usual “practically perfect” calm and collected way, moving fragile items moments before a body flies through that spot.

In the middle of the fight, Deadpool picks up a priceless vase to hit someone over the head.

The music halts as Poppins glances sharply at him.

“Wade!”
“Oh. Sorry Ms. Poppins.”

Deadpool puts the vase down and shoots/decapitates the thug instead.

“Much better. Carry on.”

The music and singing resumes.

At the end of the song, Deadpool addresses the camera.

“I know what you’re thinking. How can we have a Mary Poppins scene without a Dick Van Dyke cameo? It’s like he wouldn’t return my calls.”

Dick Van Dyke is in the background, waving to the audience, a finger on his lips.

Late for Work

An email to the boss, explaining why I was going to be late for work.

Wow, what a day this has been.

The Furball and I were hired to take these two farmers on a charter.  Not right around the corner, but not exactly the other side of the galaxy either.  It seemed like it would be pretty routine, but first the old guy got in a bar fight (never mess with the elderly, you never know what tricks they might have up their sleeve) and then there were – of course – some “imperial entanglements.” And then, when we finally did reach our destination, the place had been demolished; nothing but rubble as far as the eye could see.

And that’s when things started getting seriously weird.

So I will be in, it’s just taking a while.  Somewhat on the bright side, I met this girl along the way.  She was kind of cute, but her “I’m a princess” attitude got tiresome.