Some of my all-time favorite characters are Eeyore (had you noticed?), Oscar the Grouch, Grumpy, and the Grinch.

When I was a child, my father and I would watch "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," and argue over whether the Grinch was a good guy or a bad guy, my dad insisting Grinch was good.

Grumpy from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves" resembles Dad so much he took the name as his CB-radio handle and Mom sewed a "Grumpy" patch on his camping coat.

His world view is so dank and moldy we call him the original Eeyore. But, like Eeyore, he's always willing to help and is at a loss when shown kindness.

Yes, he's grumpy and grouchy, but just watch him with his dogs. Watch the vigil scene in Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and just see who cries harder than anybody -- Grumpy! The rest of us Pollyanna softies are ready to deal with the loss of a pet before too long. Dad comes completely undone. Dad loves deeply and strongly -- even little critters.

He's really such a marshmallow, his gruffness reminds me of my hedgehogs -- all prickly spines because without them, the soft, tender belly is utterly vulnerable.

This Dad-altered cartoon is a microcosm of him:
1) his nickname for me is "Mutt" because when he saw the 1967 hospital bill he said all he'd wanted was a dog anyway;
2) he started to misspell "Mutt";
3) he thought enough to make these alterations to give me a chuckle;
4) he saw this while at his work as an aerospace engineer, yet misspelled "Buki" [see #2].

Dad decided to save money once by grooming his poodle , Cujo, himself...I called her "Zippy the Pinhead" until it grew out.

He saves money by not buying new cars...even if it means no A/C in the summer heat. He was known at work as the guy who had THAT CAR with a bizillion miles on it. He still HAS it, but now drives his new car, which only had a zillion miles on it when his mom left it to him.

Believe it or not, he does have a few joys in his life, like blowing bubbles with his granddaughters.

He loves the mountains , especially the Sierras , and moped at work because he isn't among the pines. But wouldn't you know, when he's in the mountains, he pines because he doesn't have the money to stay because he's Retired. *sigh*

You'll never guess what inspired us to buy this book.*

You'll never guess who "Captain Anxiety" reminds me of.

 
You'll never guess why Raphael's angel on the right is my favorite angel image from the visual arts.

Dad is the original Grinch, Oscar, Grumpy and Eeyore. That's why I love the characters so much.

And then there's his teddy bear...

My teddy bear, Chester, and Suzy are Dad (and his teddy bear, Humphrey)'s worst enemies.
In fact, the only thing worse than Chester and Suzy are squirrels! , and quite frankly, Dad and Humphrey think Suzy and Chester finance squirrel-raids on Dad's pecan trees.

Not In My Backyard!: by Dale Taylor. Oscar the Wiener Dog (aka Morris) and the battle of wits for his backyard against squirrels and more.

Retirement at Agony Acres