FrostFrog

[AmberLee]

I'm enjoying this thread almost as much as I enjoy reading FF's posts.

[gini]

Perhaps there is a book right here "Conversations with Frost Frog."

Think about what you say, it might show up in PRINT!

[Frostfrog]

I hate to leave anyone hanging, but five hours from this very moment, I must be in my car driving to Anchorage. There, I will board a plane headed for Prince William Sound, where I will then transfer to a boat headed to a certain island. I still have about an hours worth of tasks that I must perform before I can even go to bed to get whatever rest is possible between now and my departure, so I am going to defer responding to the most recent posts for a bit - but I will respond.

Life was better before I crashed my plane. If I had that plane now, I would not have to drive to Anchorage and I could leave at a better time and I would enjoy the flight much more than I will now. I will still enjoy it, but not as much. Although, should I fall asleep, it will be better than if I were to fall asleep at the stick.

[kohala]

FF - will you ever replace the plane?

[Randi]

Originally posted by AmberLee
I'm enjoying this thread almost as much as I enjoy reading FF's posts.

        Same here!!

[Frostfrog]

The Frostfrog is sitting here on the edge of Prince William Sound, too exhausted to post and yet, there have been a few direct questions to which Frostfrog promised a response, so post I will.

First, Kohala: Will I ever replace the plane?

The damn thing cost me $15,900 when I purchased it in 1986. Unlike cars, single engine aircraft appreciate rather than depreciate and so it was worth $46,000 at the time of the crash and my mechanic gave me a quote of $42,000 to repair it.

At the moment, all this is way beyond me. But yes - I will replace or repair the plane and if I first replace I will then repair, for the plane and I have history and I am not going to relegate that history to the used parts business.

Gini: For practical purposes, all words written by anyone on these pages might as well already be in print.

Soledad: When I saw Lord of the Rings, there were scenes that at first look could have been in Alaska, so I believe what you say about New Zealand. There are plenty of strip malls in Alaska, although they are confined to about half-a-dozen geographically confined areas that are only specks against the whole of the state.

But Alaska has an abundance of folks with a tear down and pave mentality; people bound and determined to lay ugliness upon beauty if there is any chance of making a buck by doing so, so who knows about the future?

(As you can see, this is a subject I should avoid on Pet Talk.)

As to ruining my reputation, I write HALF in jest. Alaska is dog country (cats never did accept the notion of pulling sleds). I make a point of seeking out cats wherever I go and sometimes, when I ask if anyone knows where I might find a cat in the community, I get the most baffled looks.

But when I find that cat - the folks that live with it always understand. Or, if its a couple, at least one of them does. Sometimes the other one is perpetually baffled by the cat, but has no choice but to accept it. More often then not, though, the once baffled have become converts, as did you, as did I.

You refer to your cat as "a great little guy" and I'm sure he is. "Little Guy." The words are a bit hard for me to read and even to write. The original black cat was named Little Guy and I always referred to him as "a fine Little Guy," for I have never known a finer individual - of any species.

[Aspen and Misty]

Frost frog. Your words are so peacful. I woudl ahev to agree this is one of my fav threads on pet talk. I'm so sorry about your lose Frost frog. I'm sure your cat was a great kitty. And I'm sure you miss him very much so. I hope you are havieng fun. Where ever you are.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Originally posted by Frostfrog
The Frostfrog is sitting here on the edge of Prince William Sound, too exhausted to post and yet, there have been a few direct questions to which Frostfrog promised a response, so post I will.

For some reason I get a picture of a guy wearing blue jeans, a plaid shirt and a vest, sitting on a pier, jeans rolled up, and feet dangling in the water. Also wearing the tan hat with fishing lures in it. I got all that just from you sitting on the edge of Prince William Sound. See how poetic your words are? Hope you are all rested by now.

[Frostfrog]

Momoffuzzyfaces post reminds me of the image of Garrison Keillor that I had in my mind back in the early 1980's whemn I listened faithfully to a Prairie Home Companion, but had never seen a picture of Keillor. Then, one day, I saw a photo of him in Time Magazine and was a bit taken back at how he did not look at all as I had pictured him. Fact is, he was kind of homely. In time, though, I grew fond of the real appearance of Keillor and now, awkward as it is, it seems to fit him perfectly - much better than did my original mental picture.

I will say this, though - Momoffuzzyfaces did, indeed, get the blue jeans part right. Levi's, to be specific.

As to getting over being exhausted - I don't think that will ever happen. I just returned home from PWS and in 25 minutes I must drive again to Anchorage, where I will board a plane headed for the northern most shore of Quebec, where I will spend the next week. I will miss the black cat every day of that week, although I will be confident he is in good hands with my family, who also love him and I will miss them, too.

I do not have time to make a post on Cat of the Day right now, but I will see if I can make at least one from Quebec.

[kohala]

You must get Mrs. Frostfrog or some of the younger Frostfrog family members to take over the posting dutes while you are away! That's a request, not an order
We miss you when you're gone - do you ever check out the "previous cats" when you are home, and post retrospectively? Not that I'm pushing, or anything - much!!!
Fair Winds, Frostfrog

[Soledad]

I miss Keillor's advice column on Salon. He stopped doing it a little while ago, and if Garrison was ever good for anything it was sound, reasonable, fatherly and wise advice. A modern Solomon if you will. I just can't stand to hear him sing.

Perhaps Frostfrog should make his own Pet of the Day advice column. It would be full of winsome prose and sage advice, I imagine. But perhaps it would get too controversial for this crowd. My brief time on this message board has already shown me how delicate most posters are about anything mildly opinionated. It would be fun to try though.

New Zealand is full of natural beauty, as is Alaska, but luckily here people are more conservation minded. It's a refreshing change from the typical development mindset of "gobble, gobble, gobble". When will we learn to create any sort of balance? Oh well, Frostfrog, I too will refrain from going on about this subject on Pet Talk. Perhaps it will be email fodder?

The "little guy" coincidence is strange. I don't think there's a better way of describing him, and I call him that all the time. Yeah, I was once one of the "baffled" and sometimes even now I find myself baffled that I have a cat. I don't know if it would have worked out with any other cat. Mine has such a distinct personality that is hard to find in a cat. We hope to take him with us when we return.

While I'd welcome Frostfrog's family on Pet Talk any day, it could hardly be a substitute for the real thing.

Keep on truckin, FF.

[gini]

Originally posted by Soledad

My brief time on this message board has already shown me how delicate most posters are about anything mildly opinionated.

I gently beg to differ with you Soledad. I think that perhaps we do not suffer fools too well here on Pet Talk. And in the few years I have been posting - we have had our share. Differing opinions - is the spice of life and we respect the great freedom that we have in expressing our own opinions. Pet Talk is an oasis, where people really care about each other and take the time to express just that. Many very good personal friends have been made here that go way beyond Pet Talk and extend into our personal lives and include personal meetings and personal phone communications.

Stay with us for a while and read...........and "hear" the love.

This is a very special and unique forum and we all welcome anyone who cares to join and share their opinions.

Frost Frog and his family are obviously a welcome and refreshing addition to our forum.

[Soledad]

I don't doubt that many loving relationships have been formed on PetTalk. I know people here have long time friends and are generally concerned about each other. But I don't think anyone could mistake Pet Talk as a message board dedicated to social change. It's Pet Talk, it's not about world affairs, or sustainable development. It's meant to be light hearted, I get it, but on the few occasions that a heavy issue has been raised (in my tenure) I have seen things get sticky if they are not worded in the most sugar coated of ways. So be it, that's just the way it is here.

[gini]

I will again, gently say to you - stick around. You registered with us just recently, however, I realize you may have been reading posts for some time.

Social change - if you mean for the care, love and respect for animals - just you watch when there is true action to be taken.

This forum is about PETS - FIRST. You will be amazed how we can gather our energy and respond to a problem. I hope you will join us when the time comes.

When you have the time, go back to the archives and read up on some of the events that have occurred. Sure, there is some tripe, but you will find most are wonderful people, you might like to call friend.

My dream is to visit New Zealand, over Australia frankly. Why? It is the natural beauty of the country that is the draw.

[Soledad]

I see what you're saying. I have been observing Pet Talk for nearly nine months, so I'm not a total newbie.

People here obviously care about animals, and to a degree that does deal with social change. But this is not PETA, and people do not group here to organise or make changes in the system, per se. I guess that's what I meant by social change.

I still stand by my previous point as well, as it has been my experience. But I am open to seeing things differently and plan on participating in Pet Talk for a while.

Again, I don't want to be misunderstood. I am not calling into question anyone's caring nature, I am just saying this isn't a forum I feel comfortable expressing political or religious views. That was the reason for my original comment. I'm sure it wouldn't be wanted, either.

It's just not the appropriate place or audience. In my time here I have observed the absolute truth that the vast majority of people on Pet Talk are truly caring people, so please don't mix my words.