Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, November 25, 2023

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, November 25, 2023 

Hi there, we're PIPPA & CHELY, a bonded pair of Bombay 
DSH mix sisters, just a year & a half. 
Our story started in a tough spot—we 
were found in a dumpster, left to fend 
for ourselves as tiny kittens. Luckily, 
a kind soul heard our plea and rescued 
us from that dire situation. Now, 
we're all set and eagerly awaiting a 
forever home.

Let me tell you a bit about us. Pippa 
is the outgoing, super sweet, affectionate, 
and downright lovable sister. 
She's a cuddle enthusiast and can't resist 
a good snuggle session. On the other paw, Chely is our sweet 
and lovable introvert. It takes her a little while to warm up, but once 
she does, her independent and gen-tle nature shines through. We're both 
spayed, vaccinated, and microchipped, ready for the next chapter of our 
lives. Good news for multi-pet households—we get along great with both 
cats and dogs. Playtime is a blast for us, and treats? Oh, we can't resist those! 
We're looking for someone special—someone patient who's willing to give 
us a chance. Once you get to know us, our wonderful per-sonalities really 
shine. We absolutely love being petted, and we promise to bring loads of joy 
and love into your home.So, if you're searching for a dynamic duo that's not 
only adorable but also comes with a heartwarming tale of resilience, that's 
us—Pippa and Chely, ready to add a sprinkle of feline magic to your life! 

Go to https://www.lifelineforpets.org/more-cats-all-ages.html, or use this QR code.

CHRISTOPHER Nyerges [www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com]


ADVICE TO WRITERS

 

I seem to write all the time I always have, even as a child when I doodled 
and wrote obscure poetry. I had a certain awe and respect for the written 
word.

 

One of my mentors always encouraged me to write and to share my experiences 
extensively. I followed that advice, though often felt that my mentor 
was just giving me a pep talk, making me think that my work was better 
than it was. I mean, I had already been writing newspaper columns for a 
few years, and one book, and many magazine articles. I figured if publishers and editors 
were willing to pay me to say something to their readers, well, at least I was not a complete 
loser. 

 

Still, I always sought to find the “secret formula” of the most successful writers. By successful, 
I meant authors whose books sold millions of copies, whether I liked what they had 
to say or not. Yes, writing is an art, but it is also a business.

 

I studied the techniques of Ray Bradbury, Kurt Vonnegut, Walter Mosley, and many others, 
looking for the success technique. I was beginning to think that some writers were 
very imaginative, and I didn’t think I had a great imagination. But I did have another 
important faculty – I was persistent. 

 

Some friends who I regarded as great poetic writers with great imagination, would write 
me letters that I kept for inspiration. When I asked them why they don’t write professionally, 
they simply shrugged and said it was too much work, or that they didn’t want to be 
poor.

 

So I just persisted, writing for myself because I enjoyed the process and the result.

 

Then I recall Garrison Keilor saying that his great inspiration for his Lake Wobegon series 
was his town when he grew up. All the fictional characters of Lake Wobegon were based 
upon some real incident or person from his past. Wow! And yet, most beginning writers 
will say they don’t have anything interesting to write about, that their personal lives are 
very boring and ordinary. They are so close to their own stories that they don’t think the 
world would be interested. So I just continued, writing for my self, writing about those 
themes that I wanted to document for my own memory, or that I felt were important, without 
regard to any polls or inquiries as to what was selling the most.

 

Of my 27 published books, only 3 are fiction. I wrote one book about my childhood, non-
fiction, calling it Watermelon Dreams. That book is all real stories about my childhood, 
though some readers have thought that I made up some of the stories Because those are 
my stories, I really have no idea if anyone else likes them or finds them valuable. I write for 
myself first.

 

My mentor also always told all his students to record their miracles in life, their failures 
and how they overcame life’s obstacles, their experiments, their dreams, their worthwhile 
adventures, and anything that would be worth remembering. I have attempted to do this 
as much as time permits, but, yet, writing is work, and I spend more time writing those 
pieces that I know I can sell –yes, I have to pay my bills too! I don’t just do it for “fun.”

 

And the recommendation to record everything had multiple benefits to me. It’s impossible 
for me to record “everything,” but I do record a lot On a personal level, it helps to record a 
life experience that I might forget in 10 or so years down the road. We forget, but the written 
word is there to remember.

 

Additionally, once we do research, 
those notes are good 
for lectures, podcasts, articles, 
even books. I have told some 
of my friends that their life 
stories are so interesting that 
they should write them up and 
get on the Oprah show to discuss 
it! (Yes, I know Oprah no 
longer has a show, but she still 
sponsors various programs. 
She’s still the Queen of the business, 
as far as I can tell). From a 
writing perspective, everything 
is note-worthy and interesting. 
Some stories are so incredible that even a poor writer would do well by recording them. 
But the art and craft of a good writer is to take the most ordinary everyday event or incident, 
and make it interesting through the telling. Most of us are so blinded by our own 
everyday experiences that we can hardly see anything through the eyes of another person. 
And in that sense, the writer is not just recording words. The writer records the thought 
process and records history. That is the art that writers should strive for.


Pet of the Week

 Sweet Boo is the kind of dog that wears her 
emotions on her sleeve-or tail. This happy lady 
just can’t stop wagging her tail and beaming with 
joy whenever she sees her friends at Pasadena 
Humane. She’s also so quick to roll over for a belly 
rub that she sometimes tips right over!

 Boo enjoys walks and hikes but also likes the 
opportunity to RUN! She enjoys playing with her 
favorite stuffy toy and she’s always up for a game of 
keep-away because she finds that hilarious. 

 Boo is about four years old, seems to be 
housetrained, and likes to show off how smart 
she is when treats are involved. She is a master at 
several cues and wants to learn more. 

 Are you ready for your Boo? 

 The adoption fee for dogs is $150. All dog adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, 
and age-appropriate vaccines. 

 New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal 
Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet. 

 View photos of adoptable pets and schedule an adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.
org. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption appointments are available 
every Sunday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. 

 Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by 
phone calls or email.


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com