#character convocation

[sohannabarberaesque]

Postcards from Snagglepuss

Some notes heading into summertime

OVER LUNCH AT SOME OLD-SCHOOL DINER IN BREEZEWOOD, PENNSYLVANIA: In taking our leave of Ocean City, and on accepting an invite from a certain boon companion of Touché Turtle by name of Dum-Dum to join him and Bristlehound for some houseboating on the Mississippi River, yours truly, along with Huckleberry Hound, as well as Touché "himself," took our leave of Ocean City by way of US 50 unto Baltimore by way of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, and thence on I-70 into this rather crazy crossroads of the Lincoln Highway (as in US 30 in these parts) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

In fact, it's on the former that our party of three will be heading out to the Mississippi River for the most part--eventually to come into US 20 through Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, thereby offering a direct (if somewhat out-of-the-way) routing towards Dubuque, Iowa and the Mississippi, whence, it turns out, Dum-Dum is calling us from.

"So how is my devoted Touché Turtle?" asked Dum-Dum in a rather effervescent style, to which the heroic-minded turtle responded, "My apologies if you're catching our company over lunch ... but at any rate, we left Ocean City this morning on our way to the river."

"And did I hear correctly," Dum-Dum remarked, "that those Goofy Guards are pulling off a little fencing exercise in Ocean City?"

"On the Boardwalk there, yes." [Pause] "And for only $20 a pop."

"I can hardly believe it!" was all Dum-Dum could respond.

"Nonetheless," responded I, "we can't wait to be on the river with you and Bristlehound."

"And I hope you can stand small-town tavern fish fry on Friday evenings!" was how Dum-Dum chimed in. This even as we were having chicken-and-stuffing casserole in the Pennsylvania Dutch manner, and rather generous on the portions besides, no skimping!

And even then, Huck was still wondering as to the next ideal Character Convocation, timed to coincide with the July 4th holiday no doubt ... prompting him to suggest no less than Clear Lake, Iowa and their 4th of July celebrations, one of the Midwest's largest such for a small community.

"You still remember that time at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake where I crossed paths with the Cattanooga Cats, and we had quite the performance--"

To which Huck remarked, "I assume they're still talking about especially that tribute you and the Cats did there to Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper."

"Out of sympathy for the Surf being their last performance before that tragic plane crash on February 3, 1959."

"How right you are, Snag ... and I guess it'll be interesting to imagine the Cats as much as The Banana Splits there in Clear Lake as well."

"Not to mention our whole funtastic pantheon."

"At any rate," Huck remarked over dessert, "Clear Lake for the weekend of the 4th 'tis."

"Oh, and let's not forget Peter Potamus' divers; they'll especially find Clear Lake itself worth some diving."

"I never thought of that, Snag."

"Or, as those Cattanooga Cats sang, 'I never knew the way you'd feel.'"

=============

Meanwhile, in deference to the Memorial Day break, next Monday (the 27th) will see no Postcard in this space ... hence, returning on Wednesday the 29th. And at any rate, enjoy what the weekend brings forth.

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[sohannabarberaesque]

Postcards from Snagglepuss

Scenes from the deli section of a Hy-Vee in Mason City, Iowa

"SNAGGLEPUSS--!!"

"TC--!!"

(And as it turned out, Top Cat brought along his clowder to help in the selection of the delicatessen.)

"And if I may say so, Snag old buddy ... yours truly thought it worthwhile to get a few deli meats and cheeses out of the way--not to mention some bread--for some of the run up to the Convocation."

"In Clear Lake, I take it," Huckleberry Hound chimed it.

"Where else?" was all TC could rejoinder. "Not to mention maybe having a modest little welcome center for the early coners to the July 4th weekend."

"Understood to be especially popular," a clerk at the deli section was quick to note. To which I added, "And it will interest you to know where a number of characters of the Hanna-Barberian persuasion will be over for Clear Lake's July 4th festivities!"

"Hopefully," Huckleberry Hound added, "you and your friends will be able to join your past Saturday-morning favourites over the holiday weekend."

"At any rate," TC remarked to the deli person, "what we have in mind are a few basic deli meats for such among our characters as will likely be arriving early. Maybe some sort of slap-up sandwiches."

"You know Scooby-Doo?" asked another worker at the deli.

"After all," Benny the Ball, TC's trusted leftennant, "we of the Hanna-Barbera Funtastic persuasion KNOW Scooby-Doo!"

To which Choo-Choo rejoindered, "And pretty much everybody else."

Brain, ever the clueless and confused one, took note of the deli selection including "double-smoked ham," prompting a request for a sample to just get an idea of what double-smoked ham tasted like.

"You think maybe our guests will go for double smoked ham, TC?" was Brain's query in response to his tasting.

"Now THAT, boys, will certainly be a novelty!" was how TC responded. "And maybe some more conventional deli ham!"

"Maybe some roast beef as well!" was how Fancy-Fancy added to the discussuion, oh so arrogant and everything.

"And, uh, like, pastrami?", to hear Spook enquire.

"Good choices, there, Fancy-Fancy and Spook, as if a couple of ham varieties weren't good enough," quoth TC. "Though it might not be a bad idea to maybe add some turkey breast of the smoked sort!"

Huck chimed in in agreement, adding where he and I might go looking for worthwhile and apropos bread and rolls. I myself suggested a rather hearty multi-grain loaf and Huck recommended a peasant loaf-type bread. We purchased both. TC couldn't have welcomed the choice more, adding that the peasant loaf had a sort of basic charm to it.

"Oh, to imagine a roast beef and ham sandwich done up in some multi-grain loaf," rhapsodised Choo-Choo.

Getting things finally squared away, Huck and I explained that our early arrival was to get some of the early-stage planning for the Convocation out of the way just before the actual weekend got started ... "but we wouldn't mind some sandwiches as well," added Huck.

"Feel free to join my clowder, boys," TC remarked.

And you'll likely imagine how things will go from here ...

*************

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[sohannabarberaesque]

Postcards from Snagglepuss

Who said houseboats have to look flashy?

MUNICIPAL BOAT DOCKS, DUBUQUE, IOWA: When you get right down to the proverbial brass tacks, so to speak, the houseboat shared by Bristlehound and Dum-Dum can't help but manage to hold on in its rather basic lines, for the most part. Even if it was purchased second-hand, as noted previously. A simplicity, let it be said, as would make the former mobile base of operations for the CB Bears, as in the grotty-looking garbage truck they called "the Perfume Wagon," look like a Studebaker Challenger of mid-1950's vintage.

"And didn't I hear somewhere," Dum-Dum was quick to point out after the houseboat was secured in its dock, "that the CB Bears have given up on their Perfume Wagon and switched to a truck camper?"

"You are correct," Huckleberry Hound noted. "And they've basically given up the detective life ... as in Hustle, Bump and Boogie."

"So that's what their names were!", Dum-Dum chimed in.

"Which basically reminds me, Huck," saith I, "that quite a few of us will likely have motorhomes or campers coming over to the Clear Lake Convocation over the July 4th weekend. Ourselves included, even!"

"So will the CB Bears," Huck added, "and the likes of The King and Sheena ... the Banana Splits ... the Cattanooga Cats ... the Hair Bear Bunch--"

Not to mention my noting that Clear Lake State Park, on the south side of town, happens to have camping facilities, adding "And I most certainly hope many such of our crew will be setting up camp there!"

"Ourselves included."

"And did I mention to you, Huck, that Peter Potamus and his divers plan to be hiring a houseboat for an interesting little dive break on Clear Lake?"

"Now that might be an amusing prospect, joining Peter and his divers again in the diver's garb in Clear Lake's waters ..."

Leading, no doubt, to our motorhome as we prepared to get underway to get things going for the 4th of July weekend out Clear Lake way, bound to include a stop at some small-town supermarket of the Red & White sort. Homey. Intimate. Offering some decently practical groceries as might have to sustain us over the runup to the July 4th weekend at Clear Lake--hopefully some old-school hot dogs, smoked sausage even ...

*************

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[sohannabarberaesque]

Postcards from Snagglepuss

Just some notes returning back to Dubuque via houseboat

ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER HEADING BACK TO DUBUQUE, IA: "Just a little reminder, folks," Huckleberry Hound remarked as he was steering the houseboat of Bristlehound and Dum-Dum, which also had the company of yours truly and Touché Turtle, downstream, "we have Character Convocation on the 4th of July weekend in Clear Lake, Iowa."

"And let me guess the reason for the locale," Bristlehound asked in that Bing Crosby-inspired voice of his, "their having some extra-special 4th of July celebration?"

"One of the largest in the Midwest," Huck responded. "Even if they happen to be something close to resort country ... which Okoboji obviously is."

"Not to mention," chimed in yours truly, "plenty of opportunity to run into fans old and new. In walkabout, even ... including the parade on the 4th itself, and throughout the town even, especially along Clear Lake proper!"

(We had to cut the discussion short a bit inasmuch as a rather substantial barge was in close proximity to our houseboat, and we had to stay some distance clear because of its size and wake in pushing six barges. Even then, a couple of members of the barge crew waved at our presence.)

"Pretty massive barge tug," Dum-Dum was quick to remark. "But it's certain to be quite the time in Clear Lake!"

"And no doubt plenty of opportunity being afforded for us to just be our own funtastic selves," Huckleberry remarked, "particularly along the lakeshore, downtown and in the carnival area."

"And lest we forget about the Surf Ballroom," chimed in I, "where yours truly crossed paths with the Cattanooga Cats one evening!"

"You mean THE Cattanooga Cats?" Huck asked surprisingly. "Country, Groove, Scoots and Kitty Jo?"

"Correctamundo," replied I. "And Kitty Jo's pet hound, Teeny Tim."

"And did I hear correctly about Scoots having consierable dexterity in playing several musical insturments?" Huckleberry continued.

"Correctamundo again ... standup bass, 12-string guitar, banjo, dulcimer, mandolin, musical saw, Gahoon, harmonica ..."

"I never know one of our own could play a musical saw," Bristlehound remarked. "Let alone heard about it."

I also went on to explain that among the more obvious absences will have to be The Goofy Guards, their being in Ocean City, Maryland over the summer doing a fencing challenge for visitors. Leaving no less than Touché Turtle being willing to demonstrate fencing skills and invite visitors to try their hand.

"Oh, and lest we forget," added I, "both the Cattanooga Cats and The Banana Splits have acknowledged commitments to appear." Only to be cut short by my mobile going off; Top Cat (or is that TC?) was calling to announce his clowder's coming over for the Convocation, "sophisticated or otherwise!", as TC remarked. "Not to mention at least one symposium with the crew," remarked he.

Next stop: Dubuque Municipal Harbor. Thence westward to Clear Lake.

*************

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[sohannabarberaesque]

Postcards from Snagglepuss

"Ocean City, here we come!"

So here we are, Huckleberry Hound and yours truly, sitting in a somewhat cheesy-looking motel near one of our former hangouts back in the day, Kings Dominion by name, about halfway between Washington, DC and Richmond, Virginia, having driven along US 1 as opposed to I-95 much of the night through Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia following quite an interesting diver's holiday with Peter Potamus and the Hair Bear Bunch off the Florida Keys.

Said motel, it turns out, being something of a staging area for many of us fellow Funtastics heading to the Character Convocation planned and timed to coincide with Springfest out Ocean City, Maryland way in a weekend's time.

Think of Springfest, if you will, as a sort of summer prelude on Maryland's Eastern Shore, particularly before the major crowds come over and turn an otherwise docile town of some 7,750 people (that's the year-round populace) into Maryland's third-largest city (as in as much as 163,000 people) on busy weekends. And the contingents of fellow characters bound to arrive ahead of same as a convoy of sorts, prompting Huck and I to find a party room of sorts nearby to explain the logistics of the warmup to Springfest as much as Springfest proper ...as well as a more direct, logically logical even, routing into Ocean City from our staging ground:

I-95 to US 301 (Virginia Exit 104), crossing Fort A. P. Hill and the Potomac River via the Nice-Middleton Bridge into Maryland, picking up US 50 near Bowie;

US 50/301 via the Bay Bridge to the route split in Queenstown;

US 50 to Maryland 404 near Wye Mills, continued into Delaware and joining US 113 near Georgetown;

Continuing on US 113 to the junction with Delaware 20, thence on Delaware 20 and 54 to practically the Maryland line, becoming Maryland 528 and, hence, into Ocean City proper.

Which, at any rate, means plenty of overtime for our trusty cell phones, and plenty of charging time as well, just to remind the whole contingent, Ruff and Reddy onwards to the Skatebirds, Kwicky Koala and even Crazy Claws--the Funtastic sort of crowd, mind you--of developments and the meetings ahead.

"And there's also the crab dinner to think about," Huck admitted.

"Not to mention," added I, "the meet-and-greets. Especially along the Boardwalk and at an outlet mall, even!"

So just be thankful that we're not turning to strong liquors as the way to maintain steady nerves as things press forward. And there's more of this where it all came from....

*************

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[sohannabarberaesque]

During a fan encounter with Skids from The King's crew during a Character Convocation some while back

SOME FAN, taking stock of Skids' bucket-cum-hat on his head: So what's with the bucket on your head? SKIDS, explaining all: Obviously it's not a Shriners fez, which is of maroon felt and inscribed with the Shriners' symbol and shrine out front. SOME FAN: That figures ...

[sohannabarberaesque]

We could just imagine this as announcement of a forthcoming Hanna-Barbera Character Convocation:

[sohannabarberaesque]

In searching for mating season road trip haunts--or, for that matter, fresh and fascinating Character Convocation locales--your atypical Funtastic types so delegated can't resist the ilk of