A LEAP BACK

Hello there Audience, it's me Cloon here on this most auspicious day of February 29 to take you on a magical leap back into the month of February to catch you up on what transpired here at Headquarters...

At the beginning of the month, Neytiri and I were awakened from our snooze-a-palooza by some whistlin' in the distance...

We were surprised to find Varmit the Marmot surfacing and trying to get our attention at o-dark-thirty.   It just so happened to be Groundhog Day and since he had been on strike for the last two years from his Annual Groundhog Day Report and his 5 year Groundhog contract was up for renewal, we weren't sure what his angle was. 

 
As it turns out, he had been spying on Neytiri baking up a storm in preparation for our Oscars party and demanded some cupcakes in order to deliver this year's Groundhog Day Report.  Once he had sampled a few, he announced his early Spring prediction for British Columbia!  Varmit was not alone in his early Spring Prediction...as you already know, famous Groundhogs
Punxsutawney Phil and Wiarton Willie DID NOT see their shadows and predicted an early Spring for Pennsylvania and Ontario!

Unfortunately, Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam DID see his shadow and predicted 6 more weeks of winter for Eastern Canada. 

Taking us a bit later into the month, I hosted our Oscars review right from my brand new office chair wearing my office caj.  (*Note how my interior decorator chose to compliment my furs*)

 

Getting right underway...here was my presentation of Best Motion Picture...

In the Best Motion Picture Category...the 3 Nominees:

1) Joker

This motion picture features a failed stand-up comedian duck whose descent into mini-mugs of ale have gotten him into trouble, trouble and more trouble.

2) Once Upon A Time In Hollywood Clooneyland

 The film follows the celebricat George Clooney and his stunt double Mini-Cloon, as they navigate the crazy world of magic cat tunnels, marmots, maracas and the ever-changing schemes for Num-Nums and dinero. 

 3) Parasite

This motion picture follows a free-rider/hanger-on who infiltrates the Headquarters of a CEO, charming his way in through flattery and false qualifications and exploiting the hospitality of his host.

And the Oscar goes to...

Parasite!

And we wrap up our month by joining the Sunday Selfies Blog Hop

with our furriends at The Cat On My Head.

VALENTINE'S DAY TIDBITS

Well hello there Audience...we have finally emerged out of all the snow to celebrate our 8th Blogoversary and to give you some updates and tidbits of the latest happenings around Headquarters.  

When we last left off, the Marmot Whisperer had arrived on the scene to work his magic on the hibernating marmots, who had been delaying my opening of Clooneyland...

Our buddy Stan The World's Smallest Sheep had been standing by to give his 8th Annual Groundhog Day Report...

 We were all waiting for "Varmit the BC Marmot" to surface for his annual Groundhog Day prediction... If you recall Audience, Varmit has been bribed with Num-Nums for 5 years of early Spring predictions...is under contractual obligation and my purrsonal care to  ensure accurate yearly predictions.  However, Varmit did not surface from hibernation and therefore Groundhog Day was cancelled in the province of British Columbia...

We then realized the seriousness of the situation and were advised by the Marmot Whisperer to pull out all the stops...Chinese food was ordered to bribe the hibernating marmots...

Fancy umbrella drinks were made to bribe the hibernating marmots...

But all to no avail...The Marmot Whisperer is now sequestered in the Secret Research Laboratory working on a master plan to bring the marmots out of hibernation...We will keep you posted on the subsequent developments...

In the meantime, Stan sends his kisses and special Valentine's wishes on behalf of all of us at Clooney's Num-Num Fund...

May love light up your day...

Happy Valentine's Day to all!  Thank you for your friendship through our years of blogging, it means the world to us!

Groundhog Day With Stan The World's Smallest Sheep

Hello there Audience!  Welcome to our 7th Annual Groundhog Day Report with Stan The World's Smallest Sheep!  Wait a minute...I hear some whistlin' in the distance...

 

Yep...just as I thought...it's  our own purrsonal Groundhog "Varmit the BC Marmot"...He came out of hibernation for 5 minutes to give his report...

What say you, Varmit?  Hmm, I think I may just be getting a sense of his prediction...

Oh yes, I am right on the money, Varmit DID NOT see his shadow and predicts an early Spring for British Columbians!  Woo hoo!  **cough, cough, Varmit has been bribed with Num-Nums for 5 years of early Spring predictions...is under contractual obligation and my purrsonal care to  ensure accurate yearly predictions. 

Now we are moving on location to Stan and his Annual Groundhog Day Report...Stan runs in some mighty fine intellectual circles and has been on the lookout for the latest and greatest Groundhog gossip... 

He has the handle on the latest inside scoops...

Our little buddy will spill the beans on Groundhog Day as soon as he is finished his tug-o-war for his favorite foliage...
Ok, we are ready in 1, 2, 3...

Cloon: Hola Stan!
 
Stan: Hola Amigo!

Cloon:  Now Stan, we are anxious to hear the scoop on all the famous Groundhogs and their predictions...

Stan:  Well, Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil DID NOT see his shadow and predicts an early Spring!   Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam DID NOT see his shadow and predicts an early Spring for Eastern Canada.  Staten Island Chuck DID NOT see his shadow and predicts an early Spring! General Beauregard Lee in Atlanta DID NOT see his shadow and predicts an early Spring!  Ontario’s Wiarton Willie DID see his shadow and predicts 6 more weeks of winter...bummer for Ontario...he was the only Groundhog to predict more winter, better keep that little guy in protective custody! 

Cloon: Gracias, Stan!  Audience, Stan will be surrendering his post he held at Headquarters as our mascot this past year as the Chinese Year of the Sheep comes to an end next week.  We will miss our little buddy and are expecting a Monkey to move in just about any time now...things should be interesting!

GROUNDHOG DAY WITH STAN THE WORLD'S SMALLEST SHEEP

Hello there Audience!  Welcome to our 6th Annual Groundhog Day Report with Stan Sagrado The World's Smallest Sheep!  Now before we get under way, we have a bit of business to attend to from yesterday...Super Bowl Sunday...

Neytiri was cheering for #TeamCat and Ducky, bless him, was on #TeamDuck...

Now we had to break it to the little guy that there was no #TeamDuck...

 

He then decided to root for the Seattle Seahawks to keep it in the fam...

We were getting ready to watch the Super Bowl when we heard this tap, tap, tapping at our front door...
We looked out to see Ducky's relatives on our front mat...
We couldn't believes it!  Aren't ducks supposed to be in Meh-he-Co at this time of the year?
Apparently, they had heard that some "birds" made it all the way to the football finals and decided they needed to watch the game...Since we happened to be having a snowstorm and this was their first experience with snow ever, they wanted inside pronto to warm up...
Anyhoo, we all settled in to watch the Super Bowl together but sadly our team the Seahawks did NOT win...Ducky's relatives were disappointed and dealt by eating copious amounts of popcorn and taking a dip in our swimming pool big bathtub...

Now on to the matter at paw...The Annual Groundhog Day Report with our buddy Stan...Stan is also braving the snow to bring us the most up-to-date information from all the professional Groundhogs out there...

Cloon: Hola Stan!
 
Stan: Hola Amigo!

Cloon: For those of the Audience who aren't familiar with Stan, his native language is Spanish.  Now Stan, we are anxious to hear the scoop on all the famous Groundhogs and their predictions...

Stan:  Well, Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil DID see his shadow and predicts 6 more weeks of winter.  Ontario’s Wiarton Willie was woken from hibernation with lettuce this year and given cauliflower to appease the little guy, apparently he is usually grumpy when he gets woken up every year...at least he gets fresh fruits and veggies NOT dog food like Phil!  I think the fresh lettuce gave him a crisp state of mind and he did NOT see his shadow, thereby predicting an early Spring for Ontario!   Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam DID see his shadow and predicts more winter for Eastern Canada.  Staten Island Chuck did NOT see his shadow and predicts an early Spring! General Beauregard Lee in Atlanta did NOT see his shadow and predicts an early Spring!

Cloon:  Muchas gracias, Stan!  Stan will be spending time with us as our guest here at Headquarters drinking cerveza eating leaves and hanging out...

And last up is our own purrsonal Groundhog "Varmit the BC Marmot"...He came out of hibernation for 5 minutes to give his report...

Hmm, wait for it...I'm receiving some psychic vibes here...
I'm getting the sense of his prediction...

I predict he will say that British Columbians will have an early Spring! You can click here for the back story on theese one!

By Marmot, I'm right on theese one!  Varmit is doing the happy dance announcing that he did NOT see his shadow this morning and hence he predicts an early Spring for Western Canada!

Remember folks, a little alot of Num-Nums goes a long way!

So, Audience, did your local Groundhog do you right?

Groundhog Day With Stan The World's Smallest Sheep

Hello there Audience!  Welcome to our 5th Annual Groundhog Day Report with Stan Sagrado The World's Smallest Sheep!  We made sure to have a big supply of leaves on hand at Headquarters today in order to keep Stan happy and get the best information out of the little guy.

Cloon: Hola Stan!  Como estas?

Stan: Hola Muchacho!  Muy bien, gracias!

Cloon:  Stan we are all chomping at the bit, so to speak, for the report on what the Groundhogs said today!

Stan: Claro que si!  Well, early this morning before I did my Groundhog research on the interwebs...I went to my local "watering hole" to see if I could hear any good Groundhog gossip and get any inside scoops...

Stan:  Here I am trying to blend in and not look conspicuous...

Cloon:  Uh, I thinks you might have stood out a bit...clearly you're the only miniature "sheep" there...

Stan:  Then suddenly, I couldn't believe my ears!  Everyone was buzzing about the new Groundhog taking British Columbia by storm...

Cloon: Oh tell me more...

Stan:  Well this guy goes by the name "Varmit the BC Marmot" and he is the first representation Western Canada has ever had on the Groundhog scene.  And apparently he has been spreading the word that he has some very valuable information on Spring for British Columbians...but that it will cost us!

Cloon:  Wait a minute, I know Varmit the Marmot!  He lives in my backyard and he did "landscaping" for me last year.  Well, let's call the guy in here for a personalized Groundhog Day report, shall we?

Cloon: Varmit, we can't wait to hear the low-down on Spring!  What say you?

Varmit:  Like Stan said, my highly valuable information comes at a price...

Cloon: Ok, Neytiri is fishing out some yummy timbits for you!

Varmit:  I'm afraid that won't be sufficient...

Cloon:  Oy, yoy, yoy!  Talk about a high maintenance Marmot Groundhog!  Ok buddy, I've gone into my pantry and I have 5 cases of Num-Nums for ya...now I'm going to give you a case a year for the next 5 years to bribe you for early Spring predictions ensure accurate yearly predictions.  And please note that we will never feed you dog food as we think that interferes with 
Punxsutawney Phil's accuracy!  Only cat food will do...

Varmit:  It's a deal!  Ok, here's the goods...I did NOT see my shadow this morning and hence I predict an early Spring for Western Canada!

Cloon:  Woo hoo!  Thanks Varmit!  Now let's move on to all the famous Groundhogs and their predictions...

Stan:  Well, Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil did see his shadow and predicts 6 more weeks of winter and apparently the little big guy has been taken into protective custody because of this!   
Ontario’s Wiarton Willie will be joining Phil in PC because he also saw his shadow and predicts 6 more weeks of winter!   Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam did NOT see his shadow and predicts an early Spring for Eastern Canada.    Staten Island Chuck in New York did see his shadow and predicts 6 more weeks of winter (they better make that PC location big!).  General Beauregard Lee in Atlanta did NOT see his shadow and predicts an early Spring.

Cloon:  Thank you so much Stan for all your info!  Stan will be spending the next few months drinking cerveza eating leaves at Headquarters and is available for Spanish lessons and as a date for the Valentine's Ball!

Now onto our Super Bowl activities...

Here is Neytiri limbering up with her "yogalates" in preparation for our Half-Time Show..

And here is me getting into character to prepare for the Show...

Audience, we are excited to announce the Directorial Debut of Stan The World's Smallest Sheep!  Stan has choreographed our Super Bowl number and directed the video of it...and remember folks, Stan's first language is Spanish so cut the little guy some slack, will ya?

Now presenting our Super Bowl Half-Time Show entitled:

"It's Noon Christmas Somewhere"

Enjoy the Super Bowl!

One Word Wednesday - ACTION!

REPORTING ON GROUNDHOG DAY FROM THE CLINK... IS STAN THE WORLD'S SMALLEST SHEEP

 

 

Cloon:  Hello there Audience!  Welcome to our Annual Groundhog Day Report.  Joining me today, on the phone line, is Stan The World's Smallest Sheep to report on the Groundhog Day findings of February 2, 2013.  For those ones not familiar with Stan, his first language is Spanish but he does speak some English as well.  This is his 4th year providing us with his insider's information on Groundhog Day.  Welcome Stan!

 

Stan: Gracias!  Hola Cloon!

 

Cloon: The suspense is a little too much for me...Can you let us know what all the famous Groundhogs predicted?

 

Stan: Si, si Senor!  Ontario’s Wiarton Willie, Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil, Ohio’s Buckeye Chuck and New York’s Staten Island Chuck all did not see their shadows, so they each predict an early spring. However, Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam, Quebec's Fred and Georgia’s General Beauregard Lee did see their shadows and predict more winter.

 

Cloon: Chuck is a popular name for a Groundhog, isn't it?

 

Stan: It appears so.

 

Cloon: Oh but Stan...you forgot one Groundhog from the mix theese year.  What about Balzac Billy from Alberta?  He's the one closest to us...

 

Stan: Imposter!

 

Cloon: Watcha talkin' 'bout Willis?

 

Stan: Well I was surfing the net the night before the Annual Pancake Breakfast that I was planning to attend to witness Balzac Billy in person...when all of a sudden I came across the information that Balzac Billy was never a real Richardson ground squirrel...

 

Cloon: Say what?

 

Stan: Balzac Billy is a human in a gopher suit!

 

Cloon: Say it ain't so...

 

Stan: So I went to the breakfast and started a protest...before I knew it, the po-lice was headed my way...so I started to eat all the leaves I could find before they took me into custody!

 

 

 

Cloon: And what's happening now?

 

Stan: Well, I'm calling you from the clink...you're my one phone call!

 

Cloon: Oy, yoy, yoy!  Ok, I'z going to post your bail pronto!  How much is it?

 

Stan: One Million Dollars!

 

Cloon: No problemo, amigo...consider yourself sprung! 

 

 

 

 

Now In...Groundhog Day Report from Stan The World's Smallest Sheep

Cloon: Audience, joining me in-studio today is Stan, The World's Smallest Sheep.  For those who aren't familiar with Stan, the little guy's native language is Spanish, but he does speak some English as well...Well hello there Stan!

Stan: Hola Muchacho!

Cloon: Thanks for joining us today to report on yesterday's Groundhog Day predictions.  I understand that you were in attendance at some Groundhog Day festivities. Can you share with the Audience what happened?

Stan: Claro que si. I attended the pancake breakfast yesterday in Alberta and awaited the weather prediction of Balzac Billy a local groundhog.  So Balzac Billy, also known as the Prairie Prognosticator, emerged from his burrow and saw his shadow, meaning there will be 6 more weeks of winter.

Cloon: Now theese little guy is supposed to have an accuracy rate of 83.9%!  Which is very impressive! However, us Westerners aren't crazy about the thought of more winter...Stan, how did the other famous Groundhogs weigh in on theese subject?

Stan: Well, Ontario’s Wiarton Willie, Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam,West Virginia’s French Creek Freddie, Georgia’s Gen. Beauregard Lee, Michigan’s Woody the Woodchuck, Ohio’s Buckeye Chuck and New York’s Staten Island Charles G. Hogg all did not see their shadows, so they each predict an early spring.  However, Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil did see his shadow and predicts more winter. 

Cloon: Yikes there must be pressure on Punxsutawney Phil given his prediction is different!  And the little guy usually has quite the crowd in attendance to boot.  I hopes that ice cream and dog food they feed him isn't messing up his predictions...

Stan: Es posible!

Cloon: Uh Stan, in the footage from yesterday, I notice you are fighting over a leaf with 3 other characters... Didn't they feed you any free pancakes for covering theese reports?

Stan: I only eat leaves.

Cloon: Right... washed down with a little cerveza...huh, little buddy.

Stan: Eso es correcto.

Cloon: Did you ever see the movie "Groundhog Day", Stan? Theese one is really funny...

Cloon: Did you ever see the movie "Groundhog Day", Stan? Theese one is really funny...

Stan: (Puzzled look on his face...)

Cloon: I'm just messin' with you little buddy!  It's an inside joke.  Well, Secretary Neytiri has prepared you a full plate of fresh foliage for being our studio guest and giving us the Groundhog Day report...Muchas gracias Stan, it is always fun to have you here!

Stan: Adios Amigos!

Cloon: Does anyone in the Audience live near a famous Groundhog?  Let us know, will ya?

GROUNDHOG DAY WITH "STAN THE WORLD'S SMALLEST SHEEP"

Cloon:  Hello there felines.  Happy Groundhog Day to you all!  I see from the interwebs that some of you are experiencing some very crazy weather and snow today, so please take care to stay warm.  Stay cuddled with your favorite cat toy preferably in a toasty spot.  So, joining me via webcam to give a Groundhog Day report is my little buddy Stan, who happens to be the world's smallest sheep.  For any new Audience members you can read my first interview with Stan The World's Smallest Sheep on a previous post.  Presently, Stan is out in Alberta where he attended the Annual Groundhog Day Breakfast and waited on Balzac Billy's prediction.  So Stan, I can't take the suspense any longer...what happened?

Stan:  Hola Cloon, it was a very interesting morning!  Balzac Billy crawled out of his hole then ran right back in after seeing his shadow. 

Cloon:  Oh, oh.  Theese bodes ill for Western Canada.  We don't likes to hear that we gets six more weeks of winter...So Stan, how was that catered breakfast over there?  How about those pancakes?

Stan:  I'm following a pretty strict diet of leaves right now so I didn't sample the pancakes.  My friends and I (see above photo) hung out eating foliage, drinking water and taking in the festivities.  We thought the musical performance was really enjoyable.

Cloon:  My poor little buddy.  At least if you ate Num-Nums, it would make it more interesting for ya...Now I understand that Ontario's Wiarton Willie, Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie Sam and Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil  predicted just the opposite of Balzac Billy.  They all did not see any shadows and hung around for the festivities and pancakes so that means an early spring out in theese areas.

Stan: Correctamundo Cloon. 

Cloon:  Well thanks so much for the report Stan.  Now take care of yourself little guy.  I'd suggest you put on that little toque "Girlfriend" knitted you a while back, get under a blankie somewhere and relax with a hot toddy.

Stan: Si si amigo!

(Stan heads off to make his hot "beverage" and get cosy...)

GROUNDHOG DAY WITH "STAN THE WORLD'S SMALLEST SHEEP"

STAN SAGRADO, "WORLD'S SMALLEST SHEEP", REPORTS THE RESULTS OF GROUNDHOG DAY

Cloon: Hello there my friend. It's been a long while since we've spoken. How are ya little fella?

Stan: Muy bien, gracias!

Cloon: So I understand that you were in attendance at some Groundhog Day festivities. Can you share with the Audience what happened?

Stan: Claro que si. I attended the pancake breakfast this morning and awaited the weather prediction of "Balzac Billy" a local groundhog.

Cloon: The suspense is killing me! What did theese one have to say?

Stan: Well, "Balzac Billy", also known as the Prairie Prognosticator, emerged from his burrow and did not see his shadow. The crowd was overjoyed with this news as this means there will be an early spring.

Cloon: Excellent, excellent. How would you rate the pancakes?

Stan: No se. I only eat leaves.

Cloon: Right... washed down with a little cerveza...huh, little buddy.

Stan: Eso es correcto.

Cloon: Now, what about "Punxsutawney Phil" the famous American groundhog from Pennsylvania? What did he predict today?

Stan: Well, he did see his shadow this morning, thus forecasting 6 more weeks of winter.

Cloon: I guess it sucks to live out East doesn't it? I read on the interwebs that they feed "Punxsutawney Phil" dog food, so maybe the little guy's a bit confused...

Stan: Es posible.

Cloon: Did you ever see the movie "Groundhog Day", little buddy? Theese one is really funny...

Cloon: Did you ever see the movie "Groundhog Day", little buddy? Theese one is really funny...

Stan: (Puzzled look on his face...)

Cloon: Just messing with you man! Thank you for joining us today with all the insider information.

For a small donation to the Num-Num Fund, Stan is available, this evening, as a "practice buddy" for beginners Spanish. There are limited spots, so act quickly to avoid disappointment...