Showing posts with label Nature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nature. Show all posts

Mike Durrett: CONFIDENTIAL

Reeling: Disneynature's 'Chimpanzee' (2012)

Disneynature's "Chimpanzee" is a remarkable documentary, three years in the making with many more spent in preparation. This motion picture is an alternately sad and heartwarming true-life adventure captured by superlative cinematographers slogging through an African rain forest to observe their subjects. It already claims an Oscar.



"Chimpanzee" (2012) Movie Trailer via YouTube

The tale is suitable for most ages (which, after much bawling and promises to tidy my room, includes me).

Any extreme violence is left off-screen, but next time I'll be watching with my plush Thumper doll nearby. Somehow his presence feels appropriate.

"Chimpanzee" begs to be seen in high definition. You'll miss out if you do not. A Cheetah suit is not required, but appreciated.

I have fresh empathy for our distant chimpanzee relatives and thank them for the cool new table manners.

Mike Durrett: CONFIDENTIAL

Shovel-Ready Throb

Continued From: "Big Weekend," "Meanwhile...," and "It Sucks to Be Mikey


After forking over $600 to have our septic tank pumped, I discovered it was not enough money to get the dirt placed back into the hole.

Silly me.

"Okay, I'll do it," I told my wife. And she let me.

I figured I'd save another couple of hundred bucks and, at the same time, tone and glisten the exotic sinewy musculature we all call "Golly!"

My cats were chagrined I didn't cover up the box with my feet, but that would have meant getting onto all fours and violating my 30-year-old sacred oath: "No push-ups."

No. No. Nope. Too close to push-ups for comfort.

Besides, my godsons read these pages.

I'm faithful, young men! Church, more church!

Mike Durrett: CONFIDENTIAL

It Sucks to Be Mikey

Continued From: "Big Weekend" and "Meanwhile...

Due to government boneheadedness™, this photo op cost The Happy Durretts $700. Bathe yourself in it.

I snapped this memento moments before the septic tank exorcist hooked up the big hose to his suck truck. I had barricaded myself inside the house to escape the forthcoming fragrant ambiance.

It didn't work.

To my shock and "Eww," I discovered the smell was more tolerable outside than indoors, so I strolled over to the scene of the slime and looked in.

I guess it's my broadcasting training, but I couldn't help myself with the play-by-play action.

"Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Spousal Unit. Mine. Mine. Mine. Bug Man. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. In-law to Be Named Later. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Cat vomit. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Unintelligible. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Birthday Boy. Mine. Mine. Mystery meat. Mine. Mine. Mine. Was Lindsay Lohan here? Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. It's squeezably soft; it's irresistible. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Toothless Goon Poltergeist. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine...."

Indeed, I am a proud man.

Oh. And, kids, let this be a lesson to you. You never know where your bendy straw has been.

Mike Durrett: CONFIDENTIAL

Meanwhile...

Cat photos: Where's Morty?

Morty beholds the wonder of my "cat box."

"Daddy's da man!"

Wait 'til he sees me cover it up.

Mike Durrett: CONFIDENTIAL

Big Weekend


Big weekend, digging out our septic tank to comply with some goofy government regulation.


Gophers.


Several hours and shirts later, the deed was dood.


Thar she blows!

Mike Durrett: CONFIDENTIAL

Big Weekend

Big weekend, a luncheon at a deli, which suddenly turned into a panic of exasperation when I excused myself for the Gents.

I found no Gents. There was a broom closet, a couple of trashcans, and the fizzy drinks drain.


I also noticed a door marked "Manly Bunz." This might have been the "Gents" of a bygone era updated into a really annoying piece of pop culture cutesiness. Hey, I had to pee, people!

PEE, I TELL YA!!

I certainly do have Manly Bunz (and mine are spelled correctly), but the door alongside the first cooed, "Shapely Bunz."


Well, hell yeah, I do have Shapely Bunz. Nine out of 10 proctologists agree. The tenth one is into crullers. I have no idea what that's all about.

"Durrett, 'rrett, wherever shall I go? Whatever shall I do?"

Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz? Manly Bunz? Shapely Bunz?

Drat.

I drove my Sopping Bunz home.

Real fast and humid.

Mike Durrett: CONFIDENTIAL

Meet the Neighbors


They were neighing in this yard, one recent morning, when I drove by. I raced home, several blocks down the road, to grab the camera, but the residents were nowhere to be seen when I returned.

I guess they'd trotted off. What the hay?

Or, maybe, they simply did not care to meet you.

It happens.

I've looked for the neighbors again and again ever since. There were no appearances.

They must really not like you.

Mike Durrett: CONFIDENTIAL

Meet the Neighbors

You may know about the 24-hour all-you-can-eat buffet we operate in our driveway, but you might not know we have been fighting the installation of a sneeze guard over the serving table.

And now, thanks to this hare-brain, the county says we must install a cottontail guard....


Attention Neighbors!: Do Not Sit on the Food!

Mike Durrett: CONFIDENTIAL

Big Weekend

Big weekend, Springing into the yard, meeting and greeting the first weed of the season! 


Collect the whole series.

Mike Durrett: CONFIDENTIAL

Fun in the Snow

Snowbound: Day 4 -- The video illustrates a good reason for me to be stuck in the house, safe from the inclement weather. I did elbow a glass lamp to the floor and breakage today, but that's another story for another time. How dare you bring it up?!

Anyway, glad I did not pursue the TV reporter career. This would be me.



"Owned by a Sled" via YouTube

Mike Durrett: CONFIDENTIAL

Big Weekend

Friday
Me and the missus and the cummerbund attended the theater, "A Tuna Christmas."

Favorite quote: "I've seen better hair on anchovies."

Afterward, looked in window at Fantastic Swams.

Saturday
Survived wife-inflicted Outlet Mall. My only outlet necessitated an hour-long slog through Kirkland's. I manned sniveling babied up, faced debilitating boredom, puzzlingly pleased female mindset, and inhaled oppressive candle-scented oxygen to the point of phantasms.

Let out, mauled.

Sunday
Watched the first episode of National Geographic's "Great Migrations." So violent and disturbing, I great migrated myself off the couch and returned the DVDs to the store unwatched.

Mike Durrett: CONFIDENTIAL

Big Weekend


Friday

Quiet evening at home with no cat on fire.

Saturday

Pussy Inferno (See: Fire That Cat!)

Sunday

Deep freeze with no cat on fire.

Snowbound. Cabin fever. Hell. No naners.


Photo: Our place on the right. Thanks to Sally Smelcer.

Mike Durrett: CONFIDENTIAL

Big Weekend

Big weekend, consulting the Cartecay River Mud Meter. 


O brother, where art clamdiggers mine? 

Mike Durrett: CONFIDENTIAL

Squirts

Not long ago, while standing on our porch, I thought I heard a cat mewing repetitive distress. My eyes searched the area near the house. I discovered the source of what would be more appropriately described as clicking noises, coming from the trees.



It seems the lass on the left was in the midst of a whirlwind courtship. I observed the rascal on the right gather his courage and climb up to join her.



Moments after these romantic photographs were snapped, the suitor chased the pulchritudinous prize down the trunk to the ground, where they raced under the woodshed and passed into the forest.



I lost sight, but I could hear increasingly frantic activity amidst the dense growth and -- go, girl! -- the young miss zoomed across the driveway into the opposing brush. Six lads, all attired identically, were in hot pursuit.

I shook my head and dared to speak me wisdom, "Prom Night."

Mike Durrett: CONFIDENTIAL

Sock It to Tee

Continued From: Meet the Neighbors?

At 1 a.m., the next night, I looked out the same window to see this thug stealing my sweat socks! Four of them!

Marauder!


I have been battling the weeds in our yard. They ate our deck, the tool shed, Donna's self-esteem, and, we think, a mail lady.

I fold my work clothes after each perspiration-drenched skirmish and place them on the porch chair for another round.

Apparently, the nocturnal visitor was snooping and became highly stimulated by my manly scent (who doesn't?), because, after his curious rendezvous with my cotton footwear, he returned to the chair seat and rolled, burrowed, and slobbered into my navy blue tee-shirt and old sneakers, biting feverishly at the materials. He was as aroused as kitties in catnip.

I began to feel the humidity waft off his slobber when an unrelated rain shower pelted the house. The varmint skittered across the porch and down the steps, disappearing into the woodsy darkness.

After an additional observation period and the recitation of several Psalms and a brief prayer to that gardener on HGTV, I opened the kitchen door to the porch. The large wok strainer and spritz bottle of Extra Strength Febreze gave me defensive courage as I clutched them hard, shuffling gingerly into the outside.

I did not see the intruder, but I did find the missing clothing in a disheveled pile beneath the rocking chair. The white crews were sopping with trespasser saliva. There were big drool splotches on my shirt. I'll get a tetanus injection and baby aspirin before I search my shoes.

And then it hit me.

What if my neighbor isn't a he? What if she was looking for a cozy spot to birth babies?

Nuh uh. We'll have none of that. The love nest had to go.

Seconds later, I salad-tonged my various spittle apparel into a plastic bag.

I heard Willie Nelson croon, "Michael, don't let your sweat socks gross up to be daddies...."

Mike Durrett: CONFIDENTIAL

Big Weekend

Big weekend, taking it all back.


I didn't realize you had to be so technically inclined and willing to learn new tricks to work at Walmart.

Mike Durrett: CONFIDENTIAL

Table With a View


We are very content to feed the locals, who visit our forest famous wildlife buffet frequently, alone and in groups. It can be standing room only.


Under the cover of kitchen, through the cooking glass, we watch. Guests flocking in range from birds to deer, bunnies, raccoons, squirrels, and opossums. We close down when the bears appear because we are afraid to serve their kind and they are notoriously bad tippers.

Generally, there are no complaints from the clientele, although...


There are occasional food fights.

Mike Durrett: CONFIDENTIAL

Snow Place Like Home


Today: the first 80-degrees weather of the year. The unusual, multiple snows of recent months are surely ceased for seasons. Life is grand, here on our cabin's creek, even in winter.


Surprise visitors drop in.


And the fishing is always good.

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