PENELOPE SPEAKS: IT'S ABOUT TIME

Hello. It is I, Penelope. I have been waiting and waiting to get my paws on Lappy (what a stupid name). I know you are absolutely dying to see what I got for Kissmas. I am even more fashionable than usual.

Let's start with my sweater because I have definitely needed it. It has been cold. I don't know why Mom Mom allows it to get so cold.

Isn't it a lovely pattern? It's soft, too.

 Mom Mom wanted me to get up while she photographed me, but I wasn't in the mood.

I know I'm adorable. You needn't tell me over and over––unless you really want to do so.

Now, these are my red jammies.

Aren't I sleek in them? Mom Mom says I'm getting love handles from all the pretzels and cheese puffs that Grandma shares with me. Love handles? How absurd.

I get sleepy when I wear my red jammies. I want to take a nap.

That idiot Franklin dressed up for Kissmas, too. He has lots of fur and doesn't need jammies and a sweater the way I do because he is never cold, so he wore a banana. HAHAHA! It's not a banana. It's a bandanna. I bet some of you believed me when I typed banana! HAHAHA!

All right. That is all.


Signing off as Supermodel Penelope.

Don't tell anyone, but I really like the food Grandma shares. I even like Grandma.

NO MATTER HOW BAD IT SEEMS, KIND PEOPLE ARE STILL WITH US

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

A couple of days ago I went to the pharmacy to pick up some prescriptions. I had quite a few that needed to be filled at the same time.

When I arrived, I was concerned because their card reader was down. I pay for almost everything with a credit card.

I REALLY needed my prescriptions and didn't have time to come back with cash. I had $37. I needed about $50 more.

A man who went to the cash register before I did and paid cash was still there when I was trying desperately to figure out how to pay. I asked if I could write a check. The cashier said yes, but then I put my head in my hands because I realized I didn't have any checks. I seldom pay for anything with a check these days.

I probably looked like this:

I never have no anxiety.

I don't know what I'm going to do, I told the cashier. I need these prescriptions and I won't have a chance to come back later. She said she was sorry, but she couldn't do anything to help me.

The man who had just paid cash was still there. He said, I'll give you $50 and my address. You can mail a check to me.

I darn near passed out. What a thoughtful and generous thing to do. He had no way of knowing if he'd really get his money back.

I thanked him repeatedly and the cashiers talked about it being one of the nicest things they'd seen anyone do.

I went home with my prescriptions, wrote a check for $60, and mailed it to the gentleman. I'm sure he would say that I didn't need to give him an extra $10, but to me it's a way of paying it forward. He can use that 10 bucks for something he needs or he can give it to charity or whatever he wants.

I've had a glow of happiness around me. Have you had a similar experience with a generous stranger?

What I looked like after I wrote the check and mailed it:

Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

P.S. The man said I had an honest face.

NUTCRACKERS GALORE

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

Before Penelope finally gets her turn to show off her Kissmas presents, you might enjoy seeing the way a friend of mine decorates for the holidays. She has a very large collection of nutcrackers, and I took some photos of them this year.

She has so many nutcrackers that I couldn't get all of them in one shot! Next year I need to get down on the floor to get some close-ups. The problem is that I when I'm down, I can't get back up.

Thank you, my dear friend, for sharing your nutcrackers with us.


Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

FRANKLIN FRIDAY ON MONDAY: THE NEXT BEST KISSMAS PRESENT

Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi!
Hi! It's me, Franklin. Do you like the way I made my HIs get bigger and be in different colors? That's something new that I figured out. I bet no other buddy knows how to do that.

Sometimes I sing my HI! Hiiiiiiiiiiiiii! 🎶 

Did you hear me? I hope you heard me. I am just as good as Randy Rainbow.

You already know about my very best Kissmas present. It's Grandma! I want to keep her furever.

On Kissmas we had treats and fun times, and then I got my next best Kissmas present. Santa Paws brought it.

Look! I have my very own sofa bed.

Last Kissmas Penlapee got a sofa bed. I got the not a doughnut. I never knew what to do with the not a doughnut. Mom says that some other doggy might like the not a doughnut and that I am definitely a sofa bed man.

It's so comfy and cozy. During the day Mom puts it in the family room and at night it's in the bedroom. I can curl up on it whenever I want.

Writing all this and looking at the pitchers makes me sleepy. Grandma wants me to sit on her foot, but maybe she can wait a little while because I need a nap.

Goodnight and I'll see you later.

Okay I love you bye bye zzzzzzzzz