SedonaEye.com Harley McGuire, Four Paws Up Star Pet Columnist, gets costumed
Sedona AZ (October 27, 2013) – Never evah did I expect to endure such yumiliation! Just look at what “SHE” did to me! Trying to turn this dignified ace reporter into a bunny rabbit? And it isn’t even Easter!
Ya see, it’s like this. We needed to get me food – which of course is always a good trip to the Pet Smart place. But little did I know they would trick me without treats into becoming one of the critters who live in and around my yard!
Guess it could be worse cuz Mom wanted at first to turn me into a FROG! Had that been the case, let me tell ya nevah, evah would this canine be a willing victim – let alone agree to turn into a prince at some future time.
Hmm . . . not so fast . . . having second thoughts here . . . maybe a froggy would have offered more dignity than a bunny rabbit with a PINK bow? Yuck! Lucky for me the ears won’t stand tall so maybe folks won’t really know I’m wearing anything but a new version of a Thunder Shirt.
Anyways, it’s all Pet Smart’s fault because they were having a “good deal” on their Hell-O-Weenie costumes so, of course, that was an offer “SHE” couldn’t refuse. It’s good we didn’t get the moo-cow outfit cuz the color looked same as me, and nary a soul would have known I was even wearing a costume had that been the case.
Harley McGuire is YUMILIATED
The upside of this is one of the bunny’s front paws(?) is holding onto a carrot. Last night when our friends were visiting and an experimental try-on of my new attire was underway, I entertained them by playing with this new mysterious appendage which, for the moment, seemed to have become an attached play toy designed purely for my benefit and yet “they” were having more fun than I. Almost, that is, because truth is it was the thrill of a new experience that was a real turn-on for this pup. But hush, do not let that cat out of the bag. (My feline friends should appreciate that one!)
As it turned out, my revenge was that I refused to sit nicely and pose for the pictures “SHE” was hoping to capture. Ha! Never worry. Three guesses as to just who remains in control over here and the first two don’t count.
In spite of it all, HAPPY HALLOWEEN . . . and remember my Pet Pals – DO NOT eat any of the lethal hand outs – which probably really only serve the purpose of rotting the teeth of those for whom the treats are intended. But wait, it’s very good for people dentists I ‘spose. Ya see there? Cups are always half full for someone!
Four Paws Up!
Lovingly, Harley McGuire
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Harley you look marvelous!!!!!
Hugs & Hisses C’n D
“Pink Nightmare”, says Skipper. I better not get so excited when I see peas the Pet Smart sign coming into view.
little bunny you’re cute!
My Schnauzer is lost. She’s 7 years old, Weighs about 42 pounds old Gray and white. Her Name is LATTE
Lost by Verde Valley School Road near the WEBERS grocery store on October 28, 2013; Phone number 928-554-4474
Well, Harley, we are really LUCKY as there are 3 of us canines in the family, our Mom is toooo cheap to buy costumes. Although we think Fabian was disappointed (because he’s old [15] and has lost a few lbs.)…thought the costume would keep him warm. Anyway, have fun, you look adorable. Nikki, Mojo & Fabian
Hey Har, you look like you have a snowball on your head. :-)
Keep smiling.
Pal Buster
The History Of Halloween Plus 5 Things You Didn’t Know About The Holiday! Thought I would share this fun information that crossed my desk today:
Americans love Halloween. We as a country spend over $5 billion a year celebrating it. But where did the holiday come from? And how did traditions like asking strangers for food and dressing up as ghosts develop?
Halloween has its roots in Samhain (pronounced sow-in), an ancient harvest festival held at the end of the Celtic year. The festival marked the end of summer and the beginning of the dark wintertime. It was believed the spirits of the dead returned on this eve to damage crops and play tricks on the living. It was also believed that the Celtic priests, or Druids, were able to make predictions about the future, which they did during large bonfire celebrations where they wore animal skins and sacrificed crops and animals to the spirits.
In early A.D., Romans came to the Celtic territories of modern day England, Scotland and Northern France, and were the first people to influence the celebration of Samhain. They brought their own holidays: Feralia, the Roman day to honor the dead in late October, as well as another holiday to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. It is possible that this Roman influence is the reason apples are given out and bobbed for on Halloween.
By 800 A.D., Christianity spread to the Celtic Territories and brought with it another holiday, “All Saints Day.” Pope Boniface IV, the designator of All Saints Day, was likely trying to replace Samhain with a similar but holier holiday meant to honor saints and martyrs. Later on, All Saints Day was renamed “All Hallows” and thus the day of Samhain (Oct. 31st) began to be called “All Hallows Eve,” and eventually shortened to “Hallowe’en.”
All of the holidays that were melded together to create our modern version of Halloween involved dressing up in one way or another. The celebrators of Samhain wore animal skins at their bonfire celebrations and those that observed “All Saints Day” often dressed as saints or angels. Later on men in Scotland would impersonate the dead on the day, explaining the ghoulish tradition we still observe.
During the mid 1800’s, Irish and English immigrants flooded the United States and brought Halloween with them. From these immigrants we received the Halloween traditions we recognize today, however skewed they are now. For instance, the first trick-or-treaters were far from today’s smiling children with commercialized costumes. They lived in Medieval England, and practiced “souling,” in which poor people would beg for sweet breads, in return for praying for the families’ souls. Later, the immigrants who brought Halloween to America would develop their own version of trick-or-treating, but it didn’t become popular here until the 1930s.
1) Halloween Is the Second Highest Grossing Commercial Holiday after Christmas
What used to be just a singular holiday with minimal things to purchase has turned into an entire “Halloween Season.” Between decorative lights and lawn ornaments, elaborate costumes and loads of candy, the average American spends a pretty penny on this fall holiday. However popular Halloween has become, the recession has affected spending for this year’s spooky night. Spending is down, according the the National Retail Federation. Shoppers will spend an average of $56.31 on the holiday compared to $66.54 in 2008. Some ways people are cutting down include making homemade costumes, using last year’s decorations and buying less expensive candies. For the children’s sake, let’s hope everyone doesn’t resort to giving out apples and pennies. Didn’t you just hate that as a kid?
2) Harry Houdini Died On October 31, 1926
The famous magician was killed (accidentally) by a McGill University student named J. Gordon Whitehead who was hitting him in the stomach repeatedly as part of a stunt. A week later he died of peritonitis from a ruptured appendix. Despite acute appendicitis, Houdini refused to seek medical treatment.
3) There’s a Phobia for That
Samhainophobia is an intense and persistent fear of Halloween that can cause panic attacks in sufferers. Other relevant phobias for this time of year: wiccaphobia (fear of witches), phasmophobia (fear of ghosts), and coimetrophobia (fear of cemeteries).
4) The First Jack-O-Lanterns Weren’t Made Out Of Pumpkins
They were originally hollowed-out turnips. The modern practiced mutated from the Irish tradition of carving faces of the dead onto the gourds and putting candles inside to make them glow. These days your Jack-O-Lantern is most made out of a pumpkin, which most likely came from Illinois–a state that grew 542 million pounds of pumpkin in 2007.
5) One Quarter of All the Candy Sold Annually Is For Halloween Night
Yes, no matter how much we eat for Christmas and Thanksgiving, Halloween has corned the market on candy. As a country we consume 20 million pounds of candy corn a year. Handing out Halloween treats is the perfect excuse to eat some too, as four-in-ten (41%) adults admit that they sneak sweets from their own candy bowl. And if you’re a kid, hang on to your basket, because home is where the candy thief is as 90% of parents admit to sneaking goodies from their kids’ Halloween trick-or-treat bags. But whether your stealing some, handing out some or having yours stolen, chances are you’ll get your hands (or miss getting your hands) on a Snickers bar, it has been the number 1 Halloween candy for years.
Wishing you and your Mom a Happy and Safe Halloween!
The things ace reporters and dogs have to endure for Halloween and on some other occasions… Must say you looked cute though. Halloween here was pretty much a wash out with high winds and buckets of rain. You would have loved my costume which was a shirt with little pumpkins on it. Didn’t need a mask as I just kept on my usual face which hopefully didn’t frighten anyone too badly.
Hope you and the lady of the house are doing well.
Love, Martha
Fan from Kentucky
Well, Auntie Martha, “we” survived the ordeal. Actually, the costume never saw the light of day or dark of night on Halloween because we don’t have the tricksters lurking about in our neighborhood.
Weather here is splendid (that’s ace pup reporter talk) and autumn leaves abound. There was a cold snap last week and lots of wind but my Thunder Shirt and a little pink pill calmed my nerves. I love to help Mom clean up leaves. Great fun and that’s what we will be doing this weekend.
Lovingly,
Harley McGuire
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Love ya!
Your Sedona fan club
http://www.24heures.ch/front/buzz/Une-chienne-revoit-son-maitre-apres-6-mois-d-absence/story/23575517