Lynette George

Humans aren't the only beings needing entertainment.

Our fur kids have plenty of balls and chew toys and, unfortunately, things they've procured themselves right out of my cabinets. We always try to give them variety, just to keep them challenged, but my husband might have gone a bit far.

For years, Roger's wanted one of those small, remote control helicopters. His excuse, of course, was that it wouldn't be for his amusement, but would be fun for the fur kids. He recently bought one. It wasn't costly and fit in the palm of his hand. He quickly charged up the new toy and took it on its maiden voyage.

All of the cats sprang to attention like they'd stuck their tails in a light socket, Gomer (our Italian greyhound who's afraid of his own shadow) dove for the nearest hiding spot. Valley, our killer Chihuahua, went into attack mode.

The first flight didn't fare well. It crashed after about 10 seconds, scattering the curious felines and disappointing Valley, who'd been determined to knock it out of the air herself. I, myself, was just grateful my spouse hadn't become a pilot.

As Roger familiarized himself with the controls, subsequent flights worked out somewhat smoother. The tiny machine could hover just out of reach of the swarm of excited pets and zip through air like an oversized dragonfly. Maybe it was a good idea. The cats and dogs were entertained, Roger was entertained, and I was left in temporary peace, or so I thought.

I was sitting there, minding my own business, attempting to watch a movie. And it was a good flick too -- turn-of-the-century cowboys tracking down giant gopher things that were sucking folks right down into the ground. In 20 or 30 years, it's guaranteed to be a "D" movie cult classic!

Just as those big-toothed, gopher critters were about to wipe out the few survivors, I myself was attacked. Roger lost control of the chopper and it smashed into the back of my head, it's tiny, spinning rotors getting tangled up in my hair.

Roger laughed, the cats snickered, and Valley tried to rip the thing out of my head, hair and all. Somehow, I wasn't entertained.

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Happy birthday Thursday to Elizabeth Hopper-Hall of Tom Bean; Robert Leach of Savoy; Jenna Addington and Betty Ford, both of Denison; J.B. Lewis, Joe Petruzelli, Wilma Croney, Asia Sturges, Sandra Kaye Johnson, Kassadee Tovar, Kenneth Lyons and Bradley Kerrigan, all of Sherman; Peggy Schoggin of Van Alstyne; Melvin Walden of Collinsville; Jiffy Sample of Oak Hill, Va.; Allison Bell of Midland; Delaney Slate of Pottsboro; Daisie Smith Wick of Howe; Dorothy Ireland and Forrest Chapman, both of Whitesboro; Karen Bennett of Bonham; Edith Patrick of Chucky, Tenn.

Happy anniversary today to Clyde and Vera Mae Hall of Honey Grove, 70 years; Wayne and Connie Stuntz of Denison, 60 years; David and Pam Deffibaugh of Sherman, 32 years; Earnest Hunter Jr. and Tammy Hunter of Joplin, Mo., 9 years.