Dear Bacon

Dear Bacon – Humans *think* they can get us.  I’ve got a few tricks up my fur.  I’ve created the Slam-o-helmet.  It protects my little noggin so I don’t get hurt.  Cause you know, I gotta have my cheese.  Clever, huh? Signed Smarty Mouse

❤

Dear Smarty Mouse – That is very clever!  I am very proud of you little fellow.  Still, be careful because you know what happens with only ONE wrong move.  It could be a major ouchie!

---

Dear Bacon – You’re not the only animal with his own room.  I have my own room too.  In fact, I have a big boy bed and not just some toddler bed.  What do you think?  Signed Billy The King of the Pillow

❤

Dear Billy The King of the Pillow – I am impressed my goat friend.  Those colors are very becoming with the color of your fur.  See, we are totally blessed to have our own space inside of the house.  I’m not hatin – I think it’s fantastic my friend!

---

Dear Bacon – We were walking down the street and we saw each other.  We were both like “BRO”.  You know we had to show a little man love.  What?  You never seen two crocs hugging?  It’s the happening thing right now.  Signed Dos Crocs

❤

Dear Dos Crocs – I think it’s great.  I’ve seen women walking down the street clutching croc purses but never two crocs hugging.  I’m sure it freaked a few people out but hey maybe they just needed a hug or two as well.  Love the friendship!

---

Dear Bacon – You know being a purr thing is hard.  We run around the house, we protect the humans from crawley things, we get into everything imaginable and look out the window all day.  It’s a hard life.  By the end of the day, there’s nothing much else to do but pass out on a comfortable spot.  But that’s okay, we trust our humans so we can stretch out without fear.  Signed – Sleeping Kitties

❤

Dear Sleeping Kitties – I understand perfectly about taking care of your kingdom.  I do the same.  And I agree.  It’s hard work.  I also have a tendency to stretch and pass out on the couch with mom after a long strenuous day.  I trust her as well when I go belly up and snore.  You look really comfortable my friends.  Continue on!

---

Dear Bacon – My name is Tiny and I’m in charge.  I have a partner in crime named Sasquatch.  Together, we can not lose.  We run around the neighborhood… okay Sasquatch runs and I ride.  We are invincible.  He is my friend and my protector.  We have a wonderful friendship.  Don’t you agree?  Signed Tiny and Sasquatch

❤

Dear Tiny and Sasquatch – Hey, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.  I think ya’ll look cute together.  Ride on and have fun!!  Life is too short.

 

Travels in the South

Hello sweet friends.  Have you been enjoying our series of Travels in the South?  Today we want to highlight a restaurant that Fozziemom/Fozziedad and my mom/dad visited.  They didn’t eat there but wanted to see the ‘atmosphere’… yeah that’s it.  Atmosphere.  Daddy warned Fozziemom that she couldn’t jump fences and play with the ‘locals’ that hung out here at the restaurant.  You want to see the locals don’t you?

Well one of mom/dad’s favorite restaurants to visit is called The Crab Shack.  It’s located at 40 Estill Hammock Road, Tybee Island.  It’s a unique restaurant plus the wait staff are awesome… some with two legs and others with four legs – snorts with piggy laughter.

Does this picture give you a hint of what four legged wait staff we are talking about?  That’s right – gators.  The restaurant has a little pond out front where they raise these cute little babies.  Aren’t they adorable sunning themselves?  That’s why daddy told Fozziemom she couldn’t jump in and play with them.  It wouldn’t be fair, right?

You can even buy ‘feed’ for the gators and by using a fishing pole of sorts, you can feed the sweet little babies.  Mom/dad said they are so cute… mom might have mentioned wanting one but I can safely say she didn’t bring one home… at least this time.

And does this place seem familiar to you my friends?  This restaurant was also visited when our friends Bill and Jean came for a visit from Canada.  You might remember this picture of the cute little couple standing in front of their newly found friend.

 

Alligator People – Movie Review

Sometimes the best movies are the older black and white movies from back in the day.  The other day mom was flipping through the television guide and came across a movie that intrigued her.  She told us that we *had* to watch this movie.  We were intrigued so popcorn and drinks in paw, hoof and hand, we bundled together in the living room and watched it.

The movie was called The Alligator People and it was released in July 1959.  It’s a classic black and white starring Beverly Garland, Lon Chaney Jr and Bruce Bennett.  The name sounds interesting, right?  It starts with two psychiatrists talking about nurse, Jane Marvin, in the office.  They administer pentothal to her and put her in a deep hypnosis where she recalls a forgotten past when she was known as Joyce.

Joyce recalls just being married to her love, Paul Webster, and they are on a train for their honeymoon.  They receive several telegrams congratulating them on their nuptials.  But one telegram, Paul opens, reads and immediately starts to panic.  At the next train stop, he leaves the train to make a phone call without a single word to his new bride and never returns.  Of course Joyce gets off at the next time and back tracks to the stop that Paul got off but she can’t find him.  So there she is, newly married but now her husband is missing.  What happen?

Joyce hires private detectives and over the next following months she tries to track down her husband.  One day, she discovers an address for Paul in some college enrollment forms at Cypresses Plantation.  She writes a letter to the plantation but it comes back unopened.  Not giving up, she takes a train to the plantation which is in the middle swamp country in Louisiana.  She gets off the train and the stop is empty except for a large crate that is marked Cypresses Plantation.  Thinking that someone has to come sooner or later to pick up the crate, she waits.  This is when the handyman for the plantation (played by Lon Chaney) shows up to retrieve the box.  She hops a ride back to the plantation with him and the fun starts.

At first, the owner of the plantation and the staff deny knowing Paul Webster.  They tell Joyce that she has to leave but the train doesn’t pick up until the next morning.  The woman over the plantation tells Joyce that she can spend the night but she has to stay in her room and can’t come out.  Of course we know that’s not going to happen, right?  Joyce comes out of the room later that night when she hears someone playing beautiful music on the piano in the parlor.  She creeps down and into the parlor.  She sees a man playing the piano but when she says something to him, he quickly leaves.  This makes Joyce more determined than anything that there is something go on at the plantation.

She confronts the owner of the plantation again the next morning. That’s when she learns that the owner is actually Paul Webster’s mom.  Can you imagine?!  And Paul Webster – where is he?  Well apparently he was in a very bad accident before he and Joyce got married.  But his body was perfect when they got married so who would have thought that.  The mysterious telegram he got on the train?  Well, it was from one of his doctors from when he was in the accident.  That doctor had used a drug that he had created from alligators that made the body whole again.  The downfall that the doctor realized though was the drug would also turn the individual into Alligator People!

This is an awesome movie for sure.  Yes it’s in black and white.  BUT back in the day, they really knew how to write movies and dialogue.  The imaging graphics aren’t as good as the ones today but the story held its own and was good.  I gave it 3 hooves up out of 4.  I would have given it 4 but then I would have tumbled over.  I highly recommend this movie – if you find it, watch it and let me know what you think my friends.

 

Park Sign

 Snorts!  Okay every once in a while I see things on line and they simply amaze me.  I mean really amaze me.  Like for instance this park sign.  For the Fish and Wildlife Service to put up this kind of sign, there has to be a story behind it.  What would it be?  Can you imagine that?

 

Dear Bacon

 

Dear Bacon – Me and my friend Hazel were just out running around the hood minding our own business.  We crossed the street.  There I said it!  We crossed the street!  Humans went all weird on us and started snapping pictures.  I don’t get it.  What’s the big deal?  Signed Two Chicks

Dear Two Chicks – I don’t get it either my friend.  Shakes piggy head.  I look forward to that day where the motives are not questioned of two chicks out for a good time crossing the road and humans not going all wild laughing and pointing.  I do feel for you.  Just chill and carry on is what I say my friends…. oh and stay out of traffic might be more advice 🙂

---

Dear Bacon,  I don’t get it.  I honestly don’t get it.  You see I work in a conservatory park.  Humans come by on boat rides to see us gators out in the wild.  There was this one guy that was leaning a little too far over the boat and his sunglasses fell off his head.  I was just trying to do the right thing.  I got them and was swimming closer to the boat for him to get them.  Do you know he wouldn’t reach out and get them?  What a thank you huh?  Signed The Manners of a Gator

Dear The Manners of a Gator – How ungrateful. You mean to tell me the human would not reach over the boat, into the river, onto your head and get his glasses?  What was he thinking?  Oh doh!  Maybe – and this is just a stretch here – maybe he thought you might be like one of those other gators.  You know the ones who like to bite the hand that touches them.  I’m just guessing that.  Maybe you can leave the sunglasses on the bank of the river for him to retrieve after the trip.  I’m sure he will appreciate that. Awesome job my friend!

---

Dear Bacon – HA!  You see I’m there in the front – the white pooch.  We were all standing around at my buddies house telling jokes.  Who would have thought the guys would take one of my jokes so personal.  You know how us guys can be with the boys.  Someone happened to say that I wasn’t the great lover like they were.  When I told them that their mother didn’t think the same thing, they all got personal and started chasing me.  Who would have thought huh?  Signed Who Let the Dogs Out

Dear  Who Let the Dogs Out – Shakes piggy head.  Boys will be boys talking smack and getting into trouble.  You know what I say my friend?  If you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.  Some people just have no room for jokes and having fun.  Keep running out first though – 🙂

---

Dear Bacon – You should have been here pal!  We all planned our weekly play date at the beach with our humans.  While they talked and drunk their Starbucks coffee, we sat on the sand.  We held hands, sung kumbaya and talked about our humans.  It was great fun.  We would have loved if you could have joined us!  Signed The Great Foursome

Dear The Great Foursome – oh WOW!  That looks like so much fun my friends.  The next time I’m out your way, count me in!

 

---

REMEMBER FRIENDS – Dear Bacon issues can’t happen without YOUR pictures and letters.  Remember to email them to me for my weekly Tuesday Dear Bacon issues.  Snorts and thanks!

 

Dear Dezi – Special Edition

September we are highlighting some of my friends who volunteered to help me out with my Dear Bacon issue. Today’s special edition is by my sweet dear purr thing Dezi.  If you don’t know Dezi, you *must* go visit her and check her out.  Tell them that Bacon sent you.  Now, on to some great advice to help out our fellow anipals.

 .

Dear Dezi,
My humans forgot to bring me in for the night. Help! I don’t think they hear me or see me hanging on out here. What can I do? Has this ever happened to you? Signed Knock Knock

Dear Knock Knock,

Oh meez sweet furiend yous need new hoomans!!! But ifin yous gunna stay maybe yous oughtta we-fink goin’ outside or get yous hoomans to put in a cat flap. But fur now at least when yous do get inside again, leave them sum luvly hairball designs on their pillows and in their underwear drawer. Bet they don’t soon fur get that. Me made this hairball once that….oh yeah not da purrawlem. Anyways, don’t furget to steal da T.V. remote and giv it to da neighborhood dog.

.

Dear Dezi,
I think I’m in trouble here. I got invited to the party. I just didn’t realize I was going to be the main attraction to the party. What am I suppose to do now. Little help here please. Signed Walking Dinner

Dear Walking Dinner,
Yous need to stawt investigatin’ yous dinner invitations and make suwe yous not da main course. After all, yous don’t have to accept evewy invite. Yous know this weminds me of da time….oh yeah, it’s not about me. As fur yous situation, it’s too late now, so just point them in da direction of da neawest golden arches and then stawt flappin’ those wings like nevew afur. Yous life just might depend on it.

.

Dear Dezi,
Does the outfit make me look tough? My dad says I have the eye of the tiger but yet my mom says I float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. What do you think? Signed Upper Cut

Dear Upper Cut,
Yous do look tuff. Me wuld suwe want yous in meez corner.  Let me tell yous ‘bout….Aw nevew mind, yous worried ‘bout floatin’ like a butterfly and stingin’ like a bee. You know it’s not always looks dat count. There wuz a famous dude once dat floated like butterflies too. Hims wusn’t much to look at, but hims wuz like da heavy weight champ boxer of all time. So it looks like yous followin’ in da wight footsteps. Keep yous chin up and growl a bit, me finks hims did.

.

Dear Dezi,
I’m ready for the beach. My flippers are on and I’m ready for some adventure. My favorite shows to watch on the nature channel show seahorses. Do you think I can blend in with them? Signed C.Horse

Dear C.Horse,
Yep yous got yous flippers on alwight. Let’s see…will yous fit in? Well these days yous wuld fit wight in most evewywhere so me dusn’t see why not. Yous might wanna check into an air tank tho’ meez not suwe yous lungs can take all at water. Yous know don’t ya’ dat male sea horses hav da babies? Is dat da kinda adventure yous lookin’ fur? Me dusn’t fink it works dat way ifin so. Yous might get luckier and find mowe adventure in da nearby pasture.

.

Dear Dezi,
I don’t get it. Why are my humans laughing at me and taking pictures? Do you get it? If so, please explain to me. Please. Signed Jagger

Dear Jagger,
My what big teef yous hav.  And they be so white. Yous hoomans shuld be fankin’ their lucky staws yous not need dental work. But hoomans do hav a stwange sense of humor and always wiff da flashy box too.  Meez  mommy is always… ah hoo cawes. I fink yous vewy fotogenic and maybe sumday yous will be as pawpular as Lassie or Rin Tin Tin. Hoo ya’ fink’ll be laffin’ then. Yous dude while yous head on down to da local piercin’ shop and buy yous self a 24 kt. gold gwill.

.

Remember my friends – Dear Bacon can’t happen without *you*.  Please continue to send your letters and questions to me here at the Hotel Thompson at baconthompson@gmail.com

 

Dear Bacon

Dear Bacon,

Who says that the natural order of things in nature have to be that we don’t get along?  My name is Gull and this is my close pal Gator.  We’re like two peas in a pod.  We often play in the water like this.  Gator protects me from other things in the water and we have fun.  Can you believe that it actually blows peoples minds when they see us like this?  Signed Born to be Different

Dear Born to be Different,

Hey my friends.  I think that is absolutely wonderful to have that kind of friendship.  I’m sure the other animals in the water look at you like a two piece snack from KFC but as long Gator is there to protect you – awesomesauce!

.

Dear Bacon,

The humans.  They will pay for this get up.  I feel totally ridiculous.  The nerve to dress me up as some kind of twisted frog.  I think the look on my face tells you everything you need to know.  Do you have any ideas on how I can get the humans back?  Signed Feeling Froggy

Dear Feeling Froggy,

WOW!  Now that is some sort of predicament my friend.  I feel you 100%.  Your humans really did have some nerve in dressing you like a Kermit want to be.  I don’t know whether to laugh or cry with you on that get up.  As far as pay back – evil piggy snorts.  The humans they do have to sleep at some point.  I’m sure you can think of so many different ways to bring down the wrath of Froggy upon them.  Just act innocent in whatever you decide.

P.S.  Can I borrow that outfit for Halloween?  Maybe I can snatch Miss Piggy with it.

.
.
Dear Bacon,
Talk about animal labor laws.  I often read about your life at the Hotel Thompson and how they make you ‘work for your food’ in a way.  Never complain again my friend.  My humans put me to work out in nature in concrete.  It’s a hard and tedious job… especially in this get up.  Help me please.  Signed Mason

Dear Mason,
Oh snap.  Your humans weren’t playing any games were they my friend?  Bless your little heart.  Not only did they dress you but you have to wear those indestructible contruction boots.  Shakes piggy head.  I’m so sorry pal.  I will *never* again complain about having to bring my dirty stuff to the laundry room.  Ever.

P.S.  Dad needs some help expanding the driveway.  When you get done with that project, can you help a human out?

.

Dear Bacon,
What?  Haven’t you ever seen a hamster with his lady working the pole?  Blonde is one of the best pole dancers out there.  I suggest this kind of get up for your bedroom pig.  You might get some girlfriends then.  HA!  Signed Boris

Dear Boris,

OMP (oh my pig!)  My eyes!  What has been seen can not be unseen.  We really don’t need to see this my friend.  Although daddy was interested in that pole action, me and mom are not – snorts.  Ya’ll carry on in the privacy of your bedroom.  And don’t worry about me and girlfriends.  I have one 🙂

.

*Remember friends – keep your pictures and questions coming.  Send them to me at baconthompson@gmail.com

 

Stowaway on Vacation

No trip to Tybee Island is complete without first a visit to the famous Crab Shack where their logo is “Where the elite eat in their bare feet”. Mom and dad have been going here for years – much longer than they would like to admit because it would give away their age – snorts. You can eat ‘inside’ or ‘outside’ in nature near the water amidst the wondering cats that wonder the grounds.  Notice the pretty kitty in the picture to the right.  That’s one of the cats that wonder around while you are eating.  They don’t even beg for food… well they haven’t with mom/dad.  hhmm – maybe because mom/dad make the food disappear too quickly.  I’ll have to check into this.

This picture to the left is where you walk up to request a table. They were still decorated for pirate fest and it looks like one of the mateys didn’t make it past the gator – PLOL (piggy laughing out loud).

Mom and dad highly recommend this restaurant to newcomers or oldcomers. It’s a place to let down your hair, kick off your sandals and snarf down some excellent food. And if you know my mom/dad, they are creatures of habit. They always get the same meal when they go there – with the exception of maybe an appetizer or soup.

.

But before I talk about that, I have to tell you about a little stowaway they had. I can’t say that I’m surprised because I helped the little fellow jump in their suitcase – snorts. What? He wanted to go to the beach and he hadn’t seen the humans in a while. It was all in good fun.

So mom/dad found him all hidden in their suitcase so of course they had to rescue him. He was so thirsty from being hidden for the long four hours so he had to get a drink from dad’s soda at the restaurant. And of course after a potty break, he said he was extremely hungry. So mom/dad let him look at the menu so he could order first… you know being famished and all.

.

He ordered a huge platter of steamed food. I’m not sure who was more shocked when it came – us or the waitress – when he looked at it and said, “That’s mine, where’s ya’lls?” The little booger.

Mom and dad told him he couldn’t eat it all in one setting – my goodness he would be a boulder and unable to ride in the Smart car back home if he did. Upon that reasoning, he decided to share his feast with mom/dad.

.

There was potatoes, corn, crab legs, Jonah crab, sausage, shrimp and mussels. Mom described it in one word – delicious. They also had key lime pie but dad made it disappear so fast that mom didn’t get a chance to even take a picture of it!

After that mountain of seafood, mom and dad decided to take Bashful for a walk around the restaurant. I’ll tell you for a moment they thought they were down under visiting our good friend Fozzie at http://dinz1234.wordpress.com/ Of course, hers are bigger – snorts. But they were still scary and oh so close for picture taking. And yes, they are real my friends. Bashful got scared and hid back in mom’s pocket. He’s so shy.

They would actually let you feed these gators hanging out in the pond. Mom didn’t get a picture but there was actually a sign hung up that stated, “Do not feed your children to the alligators. They may make them sick.” Snorts.

I hope you enjoyed these – more to come later!

.

 

Gator Boys – Piggy Shivers

Mom and dad have been watching this show called Gator Boys on the Animal Planet channel on television. I have to admit I was kind of timid in watching this show at first. Those are some big gators! They look so scary. But, the show has grown on me. Now, I’ve gotten to know the guys on the show a little bit better and I’m not so scared hesistant to watch at all.

The show usually takes place at the Everglades Holiday Park in Florida with Paul Bedard and Jimmy Riffle. Florida is their first love and they perform alligator wrestling shows, airboat excursions and catch nuisance gators in the area. If you are ever in the area, I’m sure their show would be awesome to see first hand! (21940 Griffin Road, Ft Laurderdale, Florida.) I think mom and dad actually want to go see them now in person. I hear a field trip coming up!

This season that have relocated to Mississippi to actually work at the Gulf Coast Gator Ranch to help find and save the alligators that were misplaced by Hurricane Katrina. That’s right, they’re actually going to get paid to do what they love so much – isn’t that awesome! Hopefully it’s just a temporary move while work is being done in Florida.

These two guys are amazing!

They catch gators with their bare hands. Paul Bedard will actually go into the water to swim around looking for the alligators while Jimmy Riffle pulls the gators out of the water. They tag team in getting the gator on land The two of them then ‘tire out the alligator’ by making it flip around before putting it in the back of their truck.

If that’s not enough excitement for you – read this! Paul Bedard will kiss the gator’s snout and Jimmy Riffle opens the gators mouth and puts his chin on his snout. WHAT?! I know – I was as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs the first time I saw this. But now, I’m just in awe.

Heck, if you two ever want to wrestle cute ole me, I’m game. You don’t have to tape my snout up or anything. I won’t bite. And heck, Jimmy you don’t have pull my tail to get me out of the water. I’ll let Paul even kiss my snout.

Love you guys!!