The Saga of the Big Turtle Hand and How it Found It's Way to Karen and Jack's House!!!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

 

Recently, I started a Photo Caption contest (now called Snap, Caption, and Post) and one of the prizes offered initially was a large hand holding a turtle.  After the contest started, I took that prize off the table because I thought I would offer it to Adina to lend her a helping hand since she has a lot on her plate right now.  Well, much to my surprise Adina very politely and very diplomatically said maybe it could go to the next Hopeless Doodle Addict. I wasn’t born yesterday and I know a brush off when I see one, but what Adina did not realize is that hand is big and huge.  I did not want to become known on DoodleKisses as the person who singlehandedly tanked the Hopeless Doodle Addict program because no one wanted to pay to ship that hand.  I knew the only solution was to find that large hand a permanent home.

 

Luckily, one member expressed interest in owning that hand and I quote:

Congratulations to the winners! Leslie's caption was my favorite, too!

PS: I love that hand! If nobody wants it, I'd be glad to.. (wait for it)..  take it off your hands

 

Whether she said it in jest or was serious made no matter to me. I ran it by my daughter, since she was the recipient of this gift from my sister, and she seemed very willing to let go of this beautiful hand.  I can still remember her startled scream when she first opened the gift and my sister saying she gave it to her because she collects turtles.  I thought about mentioning the turtle wasn’t the problem, it was the creepy large hand attached to it, which my DD has never expressed interest in collecting, but I have always taught my children to say thank you for any gift even if it scares you.  We did try and find a spot for it in our home.  I walked around with it for days saying things like, “anyone need a hand?......here, let me give you a hand with that…..I’ve got the whole world in my hand.....talk to the hand,” but after my DH said he was starting to regret asking for my hand in marriage, I cooled it for awhile.  So, until recently that lonely hand sat in the closet and was mostly forgotten.

 

Well, finally, this week, it has made its way to Illinois and to the person who was the only one that said she wanted that hand, Karen (and Jack).  I had help with my plan. One member (who for his/her safety shall remain nameless) reminded me Leslie (Leslie and Halas) lived near Karen. I knew if I asked Karen for her address and told her what I was sending her, I risked losing her as my friend on DK.  I contacted Leslie and we went back and forth with a series of Cloak and Dagger emails and we got Project Turtle Hand (named by Leslie) rolling.  I almost felt like one of Charlie’s Angels and I am sure Leslie felt the same. With Fudge and Vern’s help, I got the gift wrapped and quickly mailed to Leslie so she could hand deliver it to Karen. 

I am attaching the letter I sent to her and even though we are joking, Karen is a valuable asset to DK with her knowledge about a lot of things, but especially dog food.  I truly wish I had a rich, interesting, funny, and hand-some man with real hands not holding a turtle to send her way, but frankly, if I find that guy I will have to first consider my single DD that was kind enough to pass this gift on to you. Karen, I am disclosing this right now, so as not to appear underhanded. I hope you understand.

 

 

Dear Karen,

 

 

On behalf of DoodleKisses, we would like to give you a hand. No one has worked as tirelessly as you have to answer questions in the Food Group and because of you our Doodles have learned never to bite the hand that feeds them.  I am sure there have been times when you want to throw your hands up in the air at some of the questions and wash your hands of all of us, but you never let any situation get out of hand. Our biggest regret is we wish we had another enormous hand, so we could put them together and offer up a round of applause in your honor. I would have liked to write this in long hand, but my handwriting is atrocious, but nevertheless, you are the cream of the crop, the top of the line, and hands down, our hero.

 

I’ve got to hand it to you, when I first offered up this prize on DoodleKisses; you were the only one that expressed any interest in owning this large hand. You were the first to respond and that quick response gave you the upper hand.   I was thrilled to find someone to take it off my hands. On the other hand, the choice was so obvious and you are truly the person voted most likely to lend a hand on DoodleKisses. There will never be anyone worthy of working hand in glove with you!

 

Someday, I hope to meet you and hold your hand, but until then give that hand-some Jack Doodle a kiss from all of us here on DoodleKisses. It is my honor to hand this over to you. I know it has found the home it needs and it is now in good hands!

 

 

 

Heart in Hand,

 

Laurie, Fudge and Vern and All the Paws and Hands Across DoodleKisses

 

 

 

 

P.S. If my sister knew what fun we were having with her hand-me-down re-gift, she would probably want to give me another hand or maybe a finger.

So, without further ado, here is the new proud owner of the large turtle hand. Doesn’t she look happy?

[F, Calla & Luca]

JD looks pretty happy about the whole thing.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Oh and I'm thinking the "best possible uses for the hand" might be a good topic for Yappy Hour.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Laurie, I was thrilled to get that hand! I just can't smile on demand! Shame on Leslie for not telling me a joke or snapping a candid shot while I was unwrapping the 5000 miles of bubble wrap!

We actually did get the bubble wrap in another photo of JD with the hand. See?:

Oh, and had I known my ironing board was going to make an appearance in a blog on DK, I would have closed the mud room door.)  

Leslie actually should have taken a photo of me reading your letter; I would have been blushing I  hadn't been laughing so hard.

The hand is wonderful! It's nowhere near as big as I feared it might be, and the turtle's shell is sparkley! I am sure that 100 years from now, my ancestors will be thrilled when they hear what it might it fetch at auction on Antiques Roadshow.

And I was absolutely thrilled to receive my very own Intercourse PA tee shirt to keep! Thank you, your generosity knows no bounds!

I will be posting my own blog as soon as I have a chance to get some photos of me in the Intercourse PA tee, and choose the next photo to be captioned. That's the hard part. If anyone wants to send me some suggestions, I'd love them.

Meanwhile, Laurie, thank you for the Hand, the tee, (wish I could wear that one for the photo!) and the letter! I will treasure all of them!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I just will say I'm sure this gift will come in handy for Karen even if it is merely used to hole the tissues with which she wipes her eyes from laughing too hard at your totally doodle related posts--hmm,hmm.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I'm pretty choked up right now.  This is truly an amazing tribute to our Queen of Food.  The HDA trophy is certainly great....but what could possibly compare to the hand, especially a hand-me-down hand.  I can see from the picture that Karen is fighting back tears too.  I'm trying to get a good idea of what the hand is made of...it sure looks firm and strong.....and really BIG.  I just know that Karen will put the hand to good use.  Laurie, it was surely a selfless gesture to part with this treasure, but at least you know it's in the best possible hands now.  Karen, you're looking awesome!  Oh, wait a minute...where's the Intercourse shirt?  I thought today was all about you in a restaurant turning the heads of hunky guys wearing the "shirt".  How did that go?

[Leslie and Halas]

It was an honor to personally deliver the hand. I cannot believe how giant that hand is. Karen, that could be Conan's hand.

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

LOL!  This is a priceless story.  I gotta hand it to you guys...you make signing onto DK worth while :-)