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With animals, it's always a hard day's night
NEWS OF NOTE
Friday, Nov. 6, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo The Hampton Inn's scarecrow won the People's Choice Award in the Charles County Chamber of Commerce contest.
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I lead a secret life at night (don't worry, Honey, not that kind of secret).
I am the lightest sleeper in the house, which the pets think is a fine cure for that boredom that sometimes strikes small fuzzy predators after midnight. They notice I'm awake and immediately the jockeying for position atop the comforter begins. If a dog is first to get patted, the cats charge in, butting my other hand with their little furry heads, desperate for a nice scratch behind the ears. This sets the dogs off in a frenzy of jealousy, and soon I'm nearly buried in pests (only an "s" away from "pets," I've noticed) nudging me with cold, wet noses, scooting ever closer to the pillow end of the bad and generally hogging most of the space and the covers. It takes a while to get them all placated, but I have to lie very still or it starts all over again.
Teeny cat Pearl, the Scourge of the Queen Size Paradise, can get very particular about who shares her space and how closely. She is not shy about creating a commotion, either, and we awake a few times a year in the midst of a hissing, spitting cat fight, fur and dogs flying as they scramble to avoid injury.
Pearl has a softer side at night, too. Sometimes she creeps up very softly and gently tickles my hand with her whiskers. This is a signal for me to pet her, which most of the time I'm happy to do. But, as with most things Pearl-related, there's a dark side.
She likes to have you rub her tummy, but only for a certain amount of time. As that amount of time varies from night to night, almost invariably I'll be dozing off, desultorily stroking said belly, when full-on Scourge mode returns. She hasn't actually drawn blood yet, but I'm sure I'll have a fatal heart attack one night when little purring Pearlie turns into a biting, scratching demon in a flash.
Rhys, the sprightlier of the two rescued corgis, can also be a pain, though not in the surprise attack mode of Pearl. He likes to snuggle up close, rest his little snout on my arm and get his pats; so far so good. The trouble starts when I stop. He is extremely unwilling to have a human nearby who is not patting him. He pushes my hand with his nose, he paws my hand, he whines, he paces around the bed. The only way to get him to stop is to pat him until he falls asleep, which, thankfully, is usually pretty quick. Disturb him after that, though, and the whole thing starts up again.
The fall and spring time changes always mess up the poor little monsters' routines. They are very good at telling time based on when they get fed, and when we set the clocks back, especially, they get riled up. On weekends, not realizing that humans are on clock time and are trying to get that extra hour of sleep, they are very concerned, staring into my face with a look that says, "It's half past breakfast time. What's the matter with you?" Pearl just bites random appendages. Being more self-sufficient than the other pets, I think her strategy is, if we wake up and feed her, fine; if not, she'll dine on a little fresh flesh and blood in the meantime.
If anyone knows of a safe, not-habit-forming sedative for pets, please let me know. It can get scary at Chez Davis at night, though not, probably, as scary as the ghoulies mentioned (and this is a frighteningly bad segue) in the item below.
Chamber recognizes top scarecrows
The Charles County Chamber of Commerce has chosen the top scarecrows in this year's Festival of Scarecrows that runs through Nov. 9 in La Plata.
The categories of the festival's competition are scary, theme, business and creative, said Michelle Lekan, chamber spokeswoman. Twelve scarecrow creators received first-, second- and third-place recognition in the contest and four participants were given honorable mentions for their creations.
The Hampton Inn in Waldorf earned the People's Choice Award for a scarecrow dressed like the late Michael Jackson as he appeared in "The Wiz."
The effort came together seamlessly with the help of Stacey Liverpool, Samantha Marks, Patrick Stanley, Tamika Wheeler and Michael Beale, a team of supervisors and managers at the hotel, said Charles Reed, general manager.
"They're definitely excited to have won the People's Choice Award," he said. "We participated because we really, truly want to be involved in the community. … This is our small way to give something back to the community."
Charles County Freedom Landing in La Plata won first place in the scary category with a scarecrow dressed like the priest in "The Exorcist," complete with a head that spun completely around, said Joyce Abramson, director of the nonprofit agency that offers a psychiatric rehabilitation program.
"This is the second year in a row that we've won first place," she said. "I have a creative staff. We really enjoy doing it. It's a fun activity that gives our staff and clients something to be involved in together. They're already planning on what they're going to do for next year's festival."
Edward L. Sanders Insurance Agency in La Plata got first place in the theme slot for its depiction of cartoon characters Fred and Wilma Flintstone.
The company has participated in the festival since it began, said Sara Sanders, spokeswoman.
"We just really enjoy doing it, and it's fun looking at the other scarecrows in town," she said.
Other first-place winners are Century 21-New Millennium in La Plata in the business category and HOUSE in La Plata in the creative category, Lekan said.
The second-place winners are Best Western in La Plata in the scary category, Charles County Public Library in La Plata in the theme category, Southern Maryland Business Network in the business category and Mr. & Ms. Salon in La Plata in the creative category.
Third-place awards were given to Community Bank of Tri-County in La Plata in the scary category, La Plata Community Garden Club in the theme category, Candy Clark Boutique in La Plata for the business category and Sleep Inn in La Plata for the creative category.
Honorable mentions were given to Charles County Business Network, Charles County Arts Alliance, Software Performance Systems and the town of La Plata.
The winners will be formally announced during La Plata's Salute to Veterans event that will be held on the lawn of town hall at 305 Queen Anne St. beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday, Lekan said.
This year's festival was a resounding success, Lekan said, adding money raised from the event will be donated to the Spring Dell Center in La Plata, a nonprofit organization that assists individuals with disabilities.
Lekan said the chamber is going to start planning for next year's festival in August to give folks more time to plan for the event.
"The event was very successful," she said. "We had a lot of new companies that participated this year."
High school drama season gearing up
Student actors in Charles County's six public high schools are preparing for fall plays, which begin this month. The following is a list of school plays, ticket and contact information for each high school:
First in the fall play season are productions at La Plata, Maurice J. McDonough and North Point high schools.
La Plata will present "Reckless," a comedy by Craig Lucas, at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 12-14. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and $4 for thespians. Call 301-934-1100.
McDonough will present William McNulty's "Dracula," at 7 p.m. Nov. 6-7 and at 2 p.m. Nov. 8.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students and $7 for student thespians. The show is not intended for young children.
"We liked this particular version of Dracula because it is action packed with special effects — especially the second act," wrote Jana Heyl, drama teacher at McDonough in an e-mail.
Tickets for the show can be purchased online at www.mcdonoughdrama.com. Call 301-934-2944.
"My students have done a fantastic job designing and building all of the technical elements as well as researching and bringing ‘to life' the characters," Heyl wrote.
Heyl said the play tries to stay true to the Bram Stoker original from which the play is adapted.
McDonough students will also be hosting "Dracula's Lair," a haunted cemetery in the back of the auditorium, to raise money for Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat. Dracula's Lair will open 30 minutes before and after each production show time. Entrance fee is $1 or four cans of nonperishable food items.
North Point High School is presenting "The Man Who Came to Dinner" at 7 p.m. Nov. 12-14. Tickets are $8 for adults, and $5 for students and senior citizens.
Next in the fall play season are the productions from Henry E. Lackey, Thomas Stone and Westlake high schools.
Lackey will present William Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20-21 and 2 p.m. Nov. 22. Ticket prices are $8 for adults, $7 for students and senior citizens, and $6 for thespians.
Students at Stone are performing Robert Harling's "Steel Magnolias" at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19-21.
Ticket prices are $7 for adults and $5 for students. Call 301-645-2601.
Westlake will present "Look Homeward, Angel" by Ketti Frings, based on the novel by Thomas Wolfe. Show times will be at 7 p.m. Nov. 19-21. Tickets are $8 for adults, $7 for students and $6 for thespians. Call Donna Wolfram or Ed Shafer at 301-753-1758.
Forum on wind power scheduled Nov. 17
A wind power forum will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center at 44219 Airport Road in California. The forum is sponsored by the Potomac River Association.
Speakers will address financial incentives, practicality, legal issues and advisable locations.
For more information, go to potomacriverassociation.org or call Dudley Lindsley at 301-373-2551.
