We were on a camping trip last week and I noticed that many people had not one dog but two. So there were a lot of dogs around and when people were walking their dogs past a campsite with dogs, they all started barking. Very noisy at times. There were also a few cats on leashes, which were quiet, probably because they were focused on the large chipmunk population. So being out in the fresh air, away from all the city stuff, my mind wondered off onto strange thoughts.
I was thinking about the âPlanet of the Apesâ. You probably know that in the movie, all the pet dogs and cats were wiped out, so people acquired monkeys and chimps for pets. These apes, being very intelligent, probably more intelligent than the owners, learned how to speak English. ( I think this only happened in the the States). Eventually the apes took over, until Charlton Heston came along many centuries later and cleared things up. But they never explained what happened to the cats and dogs.
Well⊠hereâs the prequelâŠ
There were aliens from a planet in the Proxima Centauri system which is 4.24 light years away from earth. These aliens, who didnât look at all like us, and we donât know how many legs they had, or even if they had legs. Like Star Trek, they were exploring worlds âWhere No Alien has Gone Beforeâ, but their technology was far superior then warp tech. They had knowledge of wormhole technology; a wormhole being a fold in space-time. So instead of spending thousands of years in a spaceship to get here, it only took a few weeks, as they could simply jump through a wormhole. Weeks because they had to use their impulse engines to get to the wormhole. The jump through took only minutes, but gave them extreme headaches and anger issues.
So they got to earth and noticed 4-legged creatures leading around 2-legged ones. And the 2-legged ones were picking up all the shit. The aliens got really pissed off at the 4-legged ones because they had legs. Envy issues on top of anger makes for a nasty outcome. So they set up a satellite around earth which sent out brain wave signals tuned to the dogs, which eventually killed them all. For some unexplainable reason, the cats were affected also, and so they too died.
This is just the main plot. Of course there were many side stories on the spaceship⊠the aliens had relationships, including sexual and platonic. Each had its own characteristics and dynamics.
So aside from this story, I also thought about my weekly photo challenge, which was âDaily Ritualâ and the recent death of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys was also on my mind. Hereâs what I wrote for that; and see if you can pick out the photo that goes with it.
Nostalgia kick lately
Beach Boys in my head
Remembering the
Lights Out basement parties
Dance âGrindingâ to âSurfer Girlâ
With my Grade nine sweetheartsNo daily rituals
Only lusty desires and impure thoughts
But now?
My daily ritual is coffee
And when Iâm camping
Making coffee outdoors is
A wonderful thing
[Click on any photo for the slideshow. Please leave comments at the bottom of the page.]










June 22, 2025 at 5:11 pm
Len, it can’t be the whisky. I want to smoke what you’re smoking.
June 22, 2025 at 6:21 pm
Yes it was the whisky… Barnburner of course!
June 22, 2025 at 8:11 pm
“So they got to earth and noticed 4-legged creatures leading around 2-legged ones. And the 2-legged ones were picking up all the shit.” – I love it!!
I guess you’re not a dog (or cat) person, Len!
June 22, 2025 at 8:30 pm
Actually Peg, I really like dogs and cats, as long as they don’t bite.
June 22, 2025 at 10:44 pm
No dogs or cats⊠where are you camping? Are you sure you didnât take a wrong turn and end up in Ohio?
You have a vivid imagination Len.
Enjoy your trip
June 23, 2025 at 12:26 am
Thanks John, but I’m getting people blaming this on magic mushrooms and other stuff.
June 23, 2025 at 12:28 am
Hi Len, did you ask which pictures goes with the test you wrote about the beach boy? If so I would pick the four one.
June 23, 2025 at 12:32 am
Johanne you lose đ The photo challenge is “Daily Ritual” and my daily ritual is coffee. So it’s the last photo… making coffee! The answer is in the poem.
June 23, 2025 at 3:15 am
Loved the prequel. What an imagination. How about writing the epilogue.
Len
June 23, 2025 at 11:27 am
Thanks Len. You have to watch “Planet of the Apes” fo the epilogue. I think it was released in 1968.
June 26, 2025 at 6:38 pm
I think itâs time for you to start writing science fiction for a living.
Nice awning on the van and some good brooding skys in the photos.
Oh, and I like the cow?
June 26, 2025 at 7:21 pm
HAHA! Some people were wondering what I was smoking when I wrote this, but Peter, you’ve built up my self-confidence.