Category: Fourre-tout

Humans are vainglorious. Just because they are using messaging apps like Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger, Viber, Wechat, etc. they believe that they are much smarter than animals.

Nothing could not be further from the truth… Way before the advent of the cell phone, beasties have been communicating  with means that are much more sophisticated than our pathetic little apps.

Scents are their invisible communication tool. Like cover intelligence agents, animals use “dead drops”. They surreptitiously leave encrypted messages in some selected spots and depart the scene with the same discreet way. Recipients retrieve their messages (sometimes in the dead of night) and respond, always with invisible ink.

My cat demands to go out every morning (at the same time) to check her “scented mail.” Nothing very different from what I am doing every day with my own computer.

Once outside, she first inspects the front of the house. She carefully sniffs every bush to see if there is any message. If she finds one, she reads it carefully with her nose. The more intricate the message, the more she concentrates.

Then she goes to the back of the house for the same meticulous inspection. No bush, flower or tree is left unchecked.

“Clearly, animals know more than we think, and think a great deal more than we know.” ― Irene M. Pepperberg

Message retrieving is important to my beastie. If I thwart her routine she gets understandingly upset and will show her displeasure by biting or scratching me, or both. I don’t hold a grudge; I understand the importance of keeping in touch with friends and acquaintances.

Once she has checked her mail, she goes for a nap because you cannot make a good decision without sleeping on it. And sleep she does. Probably ten hours a day…

 “I’ve met many thinkers and many cats, but the wisdom of cats is infinitely superior.” ~ Hippolyte Taine

 So Silicon Valley hotshots don’t believe for a minute that you know best. Animals have untapped knowledge of and could teach you a thing or two.

Alain

PS: my cat is available for consultation

Sixteen teams (with a strong contingent from Sacramento) showed up yesterday at the Pierre Joske pétanque field in Marin County.

They were:

1. Doug Coleville & Shellee Davis
2. Tom Lee & Carmen Ellis
3. JC Etallaz & Beth Lysten
4. Hans Kurz & Sandra Shirkey
5. Jacques Gautier & Emily Etcheverry
6. Kevin Evoy & Barbara Hall
7. Alain Efron & Tamara Efron
8. Noel Marcovecchio & Robin Kehoe
9. Peter Wellington & Teri Sirico
10. Albert Woodbury & Caitlin Woodbury
11. Brendan Cohen & Lisa Vaughn
12. Phominick Lee & Michelle Dang
13. Charlie Davantes & Liv Kraft
14. Mike Lee & Maryanne Curley
15. Wolfie Kurz & Holly Sammons
16. Christophe Sarafian & Genevieve Etallaz

The day started rather well with an offering of coffee and pastries. But things seldom go as planned. My scheme for this event was to play 4 games, and spend the rest of the day taking pictures.

It did not exactly work that way. On our first game of the day we faced Wolfie and Holly who quickly dispatched us with a score of 13-4.
On our second game, we came against Albert and Caitlin Woodbury and due to Tamara’s superb pointing we won 13-3.
We met Phominick and Michelle Dang on our third game. It turned out to be a duel between Tamara and Phominick. Tamara pointed like a queen but Phominick’s murderous shots got the best of us and we went down in flames 5-13.
I was very impressed by the way by the shooting capabilities of the Sacramento’s formation.

So we ended up in Consolante.

On our fourth game of the day, strangely enough we faced Albert and Caitlin Woodbury again and we were successful again.
On our fifth (and unexpected) game we encountered Mike Lee and Maryanne Curley. After a rather lengthy match they overcame us 13-8.

When that game ended, it was already around 3:00 pm. Tamara who was already chomping at the bit, decamped in a hurry and I suited up for my second job as photographer.

I came just in time to witness Mike Lee and Maryanne Curley defeat (13-11) plucky Hans and Sandra in the Consolante’s finals.

Then I turned my attention to the Concours’ finals. It was strictly a (Sonoma) family fight.
Wolfie and Holly faced Kevin Evoy and Barbara Hall. After being led 10-1, Kevin and Barbara managed to close the gap but finally succumbed 8-13.
A deserved victory for Wolfie and especially Holly who can shoot like a pro when the situation demands it.

Final scores:

Concours
1^st place: Wolfie Kurz & Holly Sammons   $58.00 ea
2^nd place: Kevin Evoy & Barbara Hall           $48.00 ea
3^rd place: Phominick & Michelle Dang       $38.00 ea

Consolante
1^st place: Mike Lee & Maryanne Curley       $29.00 ea
2^nd place: Hans Kurz & Sandra Shirkey       $19.00 ea

Alain

PS: Thank you Kevin for the delicious smoked salmon and Jean-Claude Etallaz for the equally delicious cake.

Dogs do it… humans do it… We all do it because we are social animals and we have the same primal needs. We crave the contact with our fellow creatures and the stimulation that it provides.

By a curious coincidence, in Marin County our pétanque field is juxtaposed with the local Dog Park. The purpose of both venues is the same though: to bring similar species together in order to mix and play (with balls).

Whenever I go to the field, I always see dogs straining on their leashes in their eagerness to reach their playground. Humans don’t pull on their leashes (husbands usually leaves theirs at home) but I sense the same eagerness when they stroll unto the field.

Both species want variety, a break from their daily routines.
Variety is the very spice of life that gives it all its flavour. –William Cowper

Dogs as well as people need to meet other creatures on a regular basis to have a satisfying social life. This is important, even crucial.
If you stay home and play video games all day, you will eventually become a loner without any affinity with your own kind. And people like that (in a country bursting with guns) are often assailed by strange thoughts.

Sure, once in a while a fight breaks out between two dogs, but canines are different from people. They don’t keep grudges while people do, and this is the scary thing…

“Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet.” ― Oliver North

Dogs usually don’t carry firearms and they are magnanimous. They forget a disagreement easily. They also abide by an honor code prohibiting them from shooting their own kind. A few warning bites maybe, but no bullets. I know that because canines and I are on the same wavelength and we understand each other.

What do you think of the 2nd amendment I often ask them? There is usually a chorus of answers and it is difficult to understand what they are barking, but I know what they are saying.

We don’t want these noisy, scary things in our midst. There is no need for it. If we disagree with a bitch, we usually keep it civil. We refer to Huskies (aka lawyers) to settle our differences.
These guys are very social, they love to talk and they are very good at getting their point across. No bullets, no sir!

By he way, do you want to play chase the ball? It is a very exciting game…

Alain