Between 2010 and 2019, Cauli Le Chat (2006?-2020), feline roving reporter for Mooresville Public Library (Mooresville, Indiana), reported all things interesting to cats (and humans) happening at the library. Related stories from across the state (and beyond) were also included.
Mooresville High School has announced a date on which the 1959 time capsule will be opened. The ceremony will take place at the regularly scheduled school board meeting on Tuesday, July 9, 2013, at 6:30 p.m., at the Mooresville Schools Education Center, 11 West Carlisle Street, in Mooresville.
Mooresville High School Time Capsule (1959) (Click Image to Bigify)
What do you think will be found inside the time capsule? Make your best guesses in our comments section.
Want to know what I'm hoping is inside? Glad you asked.
Canned tuna-in-oil.
Photos of moi from one of my previous nine lives.
More canned tuna-in-oil.
Some of those furry meeces that we felines hide everywhere.
It will probably be all manner of interesting historical stuff, which isn't really my department, so I'll probably send Scowl-Face over to report on the action.
If you're an MHS alumnus, or if you are interested in local history, you should try to attend the school board meeting. Time capsules are amazing things. Maybe they'll find Al Capone's treasure, or whatever it was that Geraldo didn't find on that televised opening of that vault in Chicago way back whenever.
Your Roving Reporter On The Go,
Cauli Le Chat
P.S. In this video, Geraldo Rivera recalls opening Al Capone's vault in Chicago on live television in 1986.
Everybody was disguised at the Library last night, as Programma Mama and, in a surprise return, Savvy (who flew all the way from Florida) hosted a Masquerade Ball in our Bonita Marley Community Room. There was a HUGE turnout--there were more masks than you'd see at a caped crusader convention--and, of course, we have some photos, courtesy of our own dynamic duo. As always, click the images to bigify.
"Wait--Is it cheese or Cleese that we're supposed to say?"
It sounded as if everyone was having a grand ol' time. I could hear the music from my digs several blocks away! Seriously, it was a truly top-notch party--a wonderful success. Big congrats to Programma Mama and Savvy. They deserve a raise, Boss Lady. Oh, wait, Savvy doesn't work here anymore. Still, she deserves something for all her hard work yesterday. I'll pony-up three cans of tuna-in-oil for her. There's a limit to generosity, after all.
Your Roving Reporter On The Go,
Cauli Le Chat
P.S. Here's a video interview with My Yellow Rickshaw (2010).
In this week's early literacy programs at the Library, we're diggin' dinosaurs with Crafty Gal. I'm plenty excited! You can tell because I used an exclamation mark.
Crafty Gal is having her early literacy charges digging for dinosaur bones in our excavation site near our outdoor Kinder Garden youth activity area, which is also my favorite hangout at the Library.
MPL Kinder Garden Outdoor Youth Activity Area
Boss Lady took some snapshots that appear on Crafty Gal's blog. What dinosaurs were discovered? I don't know, but I'm sure of one thing: I didn't use the sand piles for a litter box. Just saying.
Your Roving Reporter On The Go,
Cauli Le Chat
P.S. "Tim the Dinosaur," by the Ziggens, a self-described "cowpunksurfabilly" band from Orange County, California, appeared on the CD Pit Stop (1995).
Casey at the Bat and Programma Mama will be attending the American Library Association (ALA) annual conference and exhibition in Chicago (June 27-July 2, 2013), which is THE bigbash of the year for librarians. Just how big? There's a special website devoted exclusively to this event.
Click Image to Bigify
There are loads of library-related workshops to attend, so they'll be kept pretty busy. Still, there should be some sightseeing time available. There's so much to do in the Windy City!
My Kind of Town
My favorite place is the Shedd Aquarium. Love to watch those swimming dinners!
Shedd Aquarium (White Building, Near Left)
Can You Ride Those Sea Horsies? Just Asking
When will it be MY turn to attend an ALA bigbash, Boss Lady? As the official MPL feline roving reporter, I should be there to cover breaking news. Plus there are lots of vendors giving away free stuff. If it's food, I'd pick-up extra bags. Just saying.
It's never too early to plan my din-dins. Minions, take note.
Click Image to Bigify
What is this Zydeco's, you might query? If you live around Mooresville, Indiana, you probably already know. If not, visit the Zydeco website for more information about the restaurant. Or you could read one of my previous blog postings.
This year's event is being advertised as a "friend-raiser," which is a cute play-on-words. Twenty percent (20%, for those who prefer numerals) of all proceeds benefit MPL.
Help the Library while you're having a terrific meal. No downside, really.
Four words, Programma Mama and Boss Lady: Carry-out Bag for moi. (Maybe that's five words.) Just saying.
Your Roving Reporter On The Go,
Cauli Le Chat
P.S. Guy Fieri of the Food Network's television series Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives visited Zydeco's in October and December, 2010 (original air date: Oct. 3, 2011).
Hey, library youth staff! There's no need to be unhappy. You can go to the CYPD. Broadway Gal explains.
2013 CYPD Conference Promo Trailer
Here's the promo in the video's description:
"Can you find the misspelling in our video?
"Come to the Children's
and Young People's Division of the Indiana Library Federation's 2013
Annual Conference! August 25-26, 2013 - www.ilfonline.org
"Produced by Suzanne Walker / Starring the CYPD Board and Suzanne's Legos with Sammy the Toucan.
"Video Committee:
Karen Bower
Lauren McPike
Will Smither
Staci Terrell
Suzanne Walker
"CYPD 2013 - Leading the Charge"
What prize do I get for finding the typo, Broadway Gal? Just asking.
The CYPD conference is action-packed, fun-filled, and plenty informative for all you Hoosier youth librarians out there. It is definitely the to-be place this August. I'd go, but I'm just my Library's feline roving reporter, and, besides, Crafty Gal and Casey at the Bat could take along Aggie McPooch and Queenie.
Your Roving Reporter On The Go,
Cauli Le Chat
P.S. This is the original music video for "YMCA," by the Village People. It was the only single released from the LP Cruisin' (1978).
The MPL composer, whom I call the Music Man, has uploaded a new music video featuring all five movements of his flute quartet, The Mysterious Forest (2012), which we have used extensively as the soundtrack for several library videos.
This
new video features one of the Music Man's own photographs, which would
make a terrific CD cover. We've previously blogged about two recorded versions of this composition:
P.S. Here are a couple of the Library's book trailers featuring movements from The Mysterious Forest. The first includes portions of two of the original flute compositions; the second showcases part of one of the strings arrangements.
One of Wild Thang's early literacy music videos is about to top 100,000 viewings on the MPL YouTube Channel. Give her a $100,000 candy bar, already, Boss Lady!
Animal Alphabet Song, by Miss Jaymi ("Wild Thang")
(former MPL early literacy specialist)
$100,000 candy bar wrapper (1980s)
That's the Library's most-watched video, by a two-to-one margin. Congratulations, Wild Thang (if you still read my blog)!
Your Roving Reporter On The Go,
Cauli Le Chat
P.S. Here's a classic television commercial (1979) for the $100,000 candy bar.
Exciting news from Programma Mama! The Library's Masquerade Ball (Monday, June 24, 2013, from 6-10 p.m.) is now open to all ages! It's FREE! Adults, kids, teens--basically, your entire family, but not your slobberdog (sorry!)--are all welcome to attend. There will be food and soda (while supplies last), as well as a live band, My Yellow Rickshaw.
My Yellow Rickshaw Promo Trailer
Naturally, you should dress up for this event. We will have masks at the door for those who forget their own (don't you wear yours daily?) or for folks who don't want to wear a costume. But it's definitely more fun if you do full masquerade attire.
To register for this super fun bigbash, visit our online calendar or call (317) 831-7323. Don't miss this FREE summer social scene. I can't wait to see your costume and mask.
Your Roving Reporter On The Go,
Cauli Le Chat
P.S. My Yellow Rickshaw covered Los Lonely Boys' "Heaven" at Pub Theology Indy at Wolfie's Waterfront Grill in Noblesville, Indiana (2012).
The Library's composer, whom I call the Music Man, has just re-voiced "Imagination Land," which is the second movement to the symphony Music Therapy for the Deranged. We recently blogged about the re-voiced first movement, which has been critically acclaimed.
The new voicing is frankly an improvement over the original, which we really enjoy, too. The second movement truly comes alive in your imagination. Let's have a listen.
"Imagination Land"
Second movement from Music Therapy for the Deranged
(2013 Orchestral Remix)
by Daniel E. Buckley
The Music Man has his own "music video" for "Imagination Land," which includes one of his own photographs (he is also an accomplished photographer).
"Imagination Land" (Composer's Music Video) (2013)
My Library is so tremendously fortunate to have its own composer. We're planning to use the new versions (as soundtracks) of movements one and two of Music Therapy for the Deranged in upcoming Library videos.
Sparkle the Designer Cat has alerted her feline readers that we have an important celebration approaching.
Everyday is pretty much cat world domination day, but it's important to have a designated day for celebrating. That way, we will be assured of timely snacks from our minions.
How, my human readers might wonder, will we felines manage to dominate the world? We manage quite well, thank you. It's all a matter of our secret weapon: Massive cuteness. Humans are powerless to resist.
Watch Sparkle demonstrate some amazing cat skills in this AmazeCats video. We so dominate! Slobberdogs couldn't do that.
My many fans often ask what I do when I'm not hanging around outside my Library. Well, as a feline roving reporter, I am, of course, covering the reporter's beat around town, digging up stories to post on my blog, and doing the occasional dumpster-diving for quick snacks when there are no minions present to supply them upon demand. Naturally, I take time to play with tiny buzzing or crawling dinners, which I never eat but simply enjoy pretending to hunt and capture. We cats must keep our predatory skills well honed, in case din-dins are late. Minions can be so undependable!
When I'm visiting my minions' house, which is down the hill from the home where I live mostly, I partake in one of their favorite pastimes: watching fifty-year-old television programs. One of their favorites is (drum roll, if you please) . . .
Mister Ed was a talking horse who only spoke to his owner, architect Wilbur Post (portrayed by Alan Young). Ed was always getting Wilbur into (and, subsequently, out of) trouble to hilarious effect. The cast included retired western movie actor Allan "Rocky" Lane, who gave Mister Ed a wonderfully distinctive voice; Connie Hines, who played Carol Post, Wilbur's amazingly understanding wife; Bamboo Harvester, the palomino horse who played Ed; Larry Keating and Edna Skinner, who played the Post's neighbors, Roger and Kay Addison; Leon Ames and Florence MacMichael, who played Colonel Gordon and Winnie Kirkwood (replacing the Addisons as neighbors in seasons 4-5); with regular guest appearances by Jack Albertson (as Kay's brother, Paul Fenton, a music publisher, for whom Ed wrote two hit tunes under Wilbur's name), and Barry Kelley (as Carol's father, Mr. Higgins). Series producer/director Arthur Lubin, who had directed the Francis the Talking Mule movies (1950-1956), worked with horse trainer Les Hilton, who "discovered" Bamboo Harvester as the ideal horse to portray the title character.
Why didn't Mister Ed sign his hooftograph? Just asking
Mister Ed was smarter than the humans surrounding him
(No surprise to moi)
Love those specs, Ed
TV's Mister Ed was inspired by the collection of grown-up stories written by Walter R. Brooks, most famously remembered today as the author of the children's book series, Freddy the Pig. Brooks focused upon rather adult humor--the horse and his master, Wilbur Pope, drank together frequently, which is when most of the talking occurred--which led magazines like The Saturday Evening Post (where, incidentally, Scowl-Face used to work in the mid-1990s) to request that Brooks tone-down the booze. Instead, Brooks submitted to magazines tailored toward an adult male audience. Alan Young started the rumor that the TV crew made Mister Ed talk by rubbing peanut butter under his upper lip. Actually, it was a nylon strip, which Ed would then move his lips to attempt to remove. Quickly, however, Mister Ed learned to move his lips himself whenever the actors stopped talking and, eventually, when trainer Les Hilton touched Ed's hooves. Mister Ed was an amazingly intelligent horse, as both Alan Young and Connie Hines have declared during recent interviews.
Mister Ed riding a surfboard
Mister Ed was a cute American situation comedy typical of the early- to mid-1960s. It is still quite funny and charming. Alan Young has written a delightful autobiography (revised ed., 2012) that shares many memories of working on the TV series.
My minions think the TV series is a hoot, and I like watching Mister Ed doing all the funny things the show's writers created for him. It's good plain fun. There's not much of that on contemporary television, so far as I've seen. We'll watch the old classics, thank you very much. You could do a whole lot worse, as any episode of The Soup readily reveals.
Your Roving Reporter On The Go,
Cauli Le Chat
P.S. In this video clip (from season four, episode one, "Leo Durocher Meets Mister Ed" [September 29, 1963]), Mister Ed demonstrates some helpful batting tips for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Actor Larry Keating died during the filming of this episode. He was a terrific character actor who made the series immeasurably funnier.
