I’ve been on a crossword puzzle kick lately, after my wife had bought me a book of such puzzles. The puzzles are relatively easy, and only take about 10-15 minutes to complete, at least how I define complete. I might solve 95% of a puzzle and realize there’s no way I’ll ever solve for the last two or three clues. So I simply turn to the solution and then fill in the rest of the puzzle.
But completing such puzzles is not what I’m potentially bragging about.
In one of the puzzles I was doing today, the following clue appeared:
Porky Pig’s love
An answer came to mind immediately, and I checked if it was the right number of spaces. It was, so I filled in the answer, and after filling in a couple of the clues that were using some of those same letters, I was pretty confident I had answered correctly.
But then I started thinking, should I be proud of the fact that I can remember who was Porky Pig’s love, when sometimes I can’t remember who my two U.S. Senators are for the State of Pennsylvania, or who my U.S. Congressional representative is?
Or that I can’t remember the name of a student a day after I just had a half-hour Zoom call with him or her?
And a couple things I’ll never remember, no matter how many times I’ve been told.
I can never remember if red or white wine is the one that is meant to be kept cold.
And I can never remember what the proper way to slice a tomato is – do I turn it on its side or keep it with the stem facing up?
I have to ask my wife every time I do one of those tasks.
But Petunia. Her name will likely be with me to my final days. I wonder if somehow I was strangely attracted to her…
Most likely it’s simply a sign of what a wonderful childhood I had, especially Saturday mornings.
Who knew that spending a few hours every Saturday glued to a black and white TV set would pay off 55 years later?
Now I hope an upcoming crossword puzzle asks for Quick Draw McGraw’s sidekick, the name of his mask wearing alter-ego, or his biscuit loving dog.
And if you’re thinking I’m not ready for the New York Times crossword puzzle, you would be correct…
Well I’m impressed that you can remember her name, so I think it’s something to brag about.
I can remember one of our senators, but the other became vice-president, and I can’t recall who took her place.
One of my favorite Wacky Racer characters was Snidely Whiplash. He had a dog that quietly snickered at him, but I’m damned if I can remember his name. Any help with that?
LikeLiked by 3 people
Never heard of the show Wacky Racers, so sorry I can’t help. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I got the names wrong anyway. With the help of Wiki, I now remember that the name of the show was Wacky Races. And the character I’m referring to was named Dick Dastardly. His dog’s name was Muttley. (Snidely Whiplash was a Rocky & Bullwinkle character).
There were only 17 episodes of Wacky Races, produced in 1968, so that may help explain why you never heard of it. I think you were born too early to be watching cartoons in 1968.
If you’re interested, here’s a trailer of the cartoon, from youtube:
LikeLiked by 3 people
I can’t believe there were only 17 episodes; it left quite an impression in such a short time. Thanks for that clip; brought back good memories. It was good to see Penelope again… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I liked seeing both her and Dastardly Dick again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
and Peter Perfect, and those two cavemen…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t remember the rest, but it was a fun cartoon to watch on Saturday mornings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
the video brought them all back…
LikeLiked by 1 person
this means you have a void in your life…
LikeLike
Oh dear! Well I survived this long , so I think I will make it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
but if you really want to get the most out of life…
LikeLike
LOL!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It looks like a couple of people have already answered, but I did enjoy Wacky Races as well, especially Penelope Pitstop…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, she was sexy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the Sunday morning cartoon laugh! I can see why you liked it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
It was a fun little cartoon. For me it brings back old memories.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And I am guessing Dick Dastardly never won; it was a good lesson to learn at an early age…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think he almost won every race. But somehow, karma came back to haunt him, just in time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess the writers were a bunch of goody two shoes…
LikeLiked by 1 person
They probably had to be, or the censors wouldn’t allow kids see their cartoon. Can’t corrupt their little formative brains, you know.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t think media producers care about such things these days…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not really sure. The only kiddie cartoon I watch these days is Spongebob Squarepants.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No comment. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The mind is a curious instrument. For what it’s worth, I knew Petunia, too. It seems like you’re hanging out with the right crowd.🤣 You may remember my recent post about my two teacher friends. Bill’s father-in-law used to tell him, “Bill, you know more useless s*** than anyone I know.”
LikeLiked by 2 people
Bill sounds like Cliff from Cheers; seems like you are hanging with the right crowd as well…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Petunia isn’t exactly a easy name to forget in my opinion, I better not say why it will stick to my head 🤣
LikeLiked by 3 people
I agree; it is somewhat memorable…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would not have known the answer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Way to go! Bragging is in order. I remembered Petunia — only after you mentioned the name. Love those Looney Tunes. That’s all folks.
LikeLiked by 3 people
there were so many good characters, and many were voiced by the same guy. What a talent!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So would you like a medal now? I remember Elmer Fudd’s name. 🙂
It is crazy the things we can remember so easily!
My husband enjoys crossword puzzles too. He will ask me some of the questions and there has been times when I know the answer and he doesn’t. That makes me proud.
LikeLiked by 2 people
gold please…
and yes, it is fun to come up with the answers to a crossword puzzle when no on else can 🙂
LikeLike
🥇 Here is a gold medal for you. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
thank you – 22 more and I’ll match Michael Phelps…
LikeLike
And that will surely raise your Stats! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe I can become the world’s most decorated blogger, and pose in a poster like Mark Spitz…
LikeLike
Oh gosh! Yes, one just never knows. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I instantly recalled it was Petunia. I def was not attracted to her, strangely or otherwise.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wonder if Miss Piggy was based on her…
LikeLike
Interesting thought!
LikeLiked by 1 person
His sidekick was a burro named Baba Looey. His alter ego was El Kabong. And his dog’s name was Snuffles. Yes, I was raised on Saturday morning TV. And now for the bonus round, Snidely Whiplash’s dog on Wacky Racers was named Muttley. So who can tell me where the secrets plans for the Mach 5 of Speed Racer fame are hidden?
LikeLiked by 3 people
Quickdraw McGraw
LikeLiked by 2 people
🙂
LikeLike
Okay, now you’re just showing off. 🤣
LikeLiked by 2 people
bragging rights to Brad!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Speed Racer was another classic; who can forget the theme song (well at least part of it 🙂 ) And I think it was Dick Dastardly, not Snidely, on Wacky Races. Snidely was on Dudley Do-Right, yet another classic show..
They need to bring all these shows back…
LikeLiked by 2 people
You are correct on the villain. I am reminded of how much I looked forward to Saturday mornings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
it must have been a busy day for Mel Blanc…
LikeLiked by 1 person
we suffer from a bit of selective memory, for many reasons, certain things are permanently embedded, and others drift away with the wind. it has no connection to importance, what we should know, or any other logical reason, other than our brain chooses to grab onto these things and it has its own reasons for sorting what stays in the files from what is quickly dispensed into the trash.
p.s. the sunday nyt puzzle is one of my favorite things and often these little tidbits of info will be useful there.
LikeLiked by 2 people
is it correct that the NYT puzzles get harder with each day, with Monday being the easiest, and Sunday being the hardest? So I’ve got a lot of work to do before I even think about the Sunday puzzle!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Saturday and Sunday are hardest but I love that the Sunday puzzle is bigger and like the challenge •
It took a lot of practice and work before I could finish one and I wrote a post about the first one I ever finished. My daughters were laughing because I wrote teacher bits on it – good job, beth or something.
LikeLiked by 1 person
and I guess it’s bad form to use Google to look up a clue?
I like that praise you gave yourself; it works with kids, and it works with adults!
LikeLiked by 1 person
yes, but that helped me learn. I would do absolutely every answer I could, and then look up what I didn’t know. each time, i began to understand how the puzzle worked. kind of hard to explain but considered it my training. it takes some practice and finally completed one and now I never look up answers and either win or lose. )
LikeLiked by 1 person
did you start by doing Monday’s puzzles and work your way up, or did you just dive right in to the Sunday puzzle?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I went right to sunday and toughed it out, lots of failures/learnign along the way, because that was my personal goal. I’ve always loved crosswords and jigsaws and like a challenge
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! That is even more impressive. I think I’ll go the Monday route so I get those small victories along the way… well hopefully I get some victories…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, get your legs
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just a sign of the stages of life, I guess. My memory for ancient trivia is still fairly good, but there are times I get up from the armchair and wonder what I was intending to do.
Interesting to see the comments about Wacky Races. They changed the character name here, as Muttley was the sidekick to Dick Dastardly. I suppose that was a much more British-sounding villain’s name. Muttley had the best cartoon laugh ever.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Muttley was a great cartoon dog; there are many to choose from. I also liked Huckleberry Hound…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Scooby Doo, Deputy Dawg, Snoopy, Gromit (stretching it a bit), yes there are loads!
LikeLiked by 1 person
how could I forget Scooby Doo – probably my fave…
Sounds like you had a lot of the same cartoons that we had. I’m sure such shows left a favorable impression of the U.S. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think we did. Yogi Bear, the Flintstones, Tom and Jerry…. They were all so much better than anything produced here in the 60s.
LikeLiked by 1 person
maybe we should just stick to making cartoons…
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a thought…
LikeLiked by 1 person
the world might like us again…
LikeLiked by 1 person
It would be one way of repairing the damage the former guy did…
LikeLiked by 1 person
It would be a good start…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like you’re rehashing my childhood.
LikeLiked by 1 person
it was the golden age of cartoons…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahhhh childhood memories..my hubby is the crossword nerd…I tend to know the unusual or outlandish and not the ones I should know…I prefer sodoku…:) x
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like Sudoku as well, but some of those can be quite challenging as well…
LikeLike
I know but as always I love a challenge…:) x
LikeLiked by 1 person
I should have realized that… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha yes you should… that will never change, Jim 🙂 x
LikeLiked by 1 person
👍
LikeLike
“…should I be proud of the fact that I can remember who was Porky Pig’s love, when sometimes I can’t remember who my two U.S. Senators are for the State of Pennsylvania, or who my U.S. Congressional representative is?”
To be honest that sounds like a win to me! This post has reminded me though that I don’t even know the name of the opposition leader in UK politics, a positive sign I’m manage to avoid watching depressing news!
LikeLiked by 1 person
yes, sometimes there are advantages to not being too on top of the news… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Crosswords are fun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have enjoyed doing them; hopefully it does not become an addiction…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Better than crack.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll take your word for it…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I fondly remembered Petunia Pig as the cartoon brings fond memories of watching Saturday morning cartoons. My senators and representatives? Not so much !! Lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
Saturday mornings with a bowl of sugary cereal… the good old days…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is strange that our brain remembers insignificant things but incapable of remembering the important. Talk about embarrassing moments, the most annoying.
LikeLiked by 1 person
it is fascinating how our minds work…
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is amazing how some names are permanently stored in our memory and ready to be retrieved. I was stumped about Porky Pig’s love interest so I appreciate the assist.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad I could help…
LikeLike