The Tiger

This tiger didn't merely look directly into my eyes.

It reached in deep, and locked in on my soul.

Overheard at the zoo yesterday

"Lana, if you hit your sister, I will spank you!"

This was the same woman who instructed her triplet toddlers to look at the monkeys as their whirling dervish of an entourage passed the Western Mountain Gorilla pavillion.

The Gorilla could barely conceal its contempt. I can't say that I blame it.

The Zoo, Part Two

My son and I took another trip to the National Zoo today. We enjoyed all of the pavillions, and were able to see some of the animals who weren't out the first time around.

The Red Panda has pulled itself out of its despondent state regarding the financial mess our country is facing, and has returned to its regularly scheduled nomming of leaves.

The Prairie Dog, on the other hand, is still pissed about this turn of events.

The turtles are having a lively conference about their options. It's a good thing that their mortgages are already paid off. No shell games for them. No sirree!

These Californians are managing their stress though some yoga. Behold the Upward Facing Sea Lion.

The Cheetah is worried about the ripple effects on the already staggering price of fresh meat.

The Golden Lion Tamarin just coasted through school on his good looks. He charmed his way through Economics 101, and has no idea what's really going on.

The frog is staying in bed with the covers - or in this case, the lily pad leaf - pulled over his head.

The Gorilla saw the crisis coming long ago, and has its affairs in order already.

And the Orang Utan was the one who told the Gorilla that the economic poop was going to hit the fan. But no-one ever listens to the Orang Utan, except the Gorilla.

It will be mine .. oh, yes, it WILL be mine!

So, I was flipping through the print edition of the Washington Post this morning, and there it was ..




.. the end result when some benevolent, creative person wakes up one morning with one burning question: What can I design to make Rose deliriously happy? What could combine her obsessions of Laura Ashley designs, the colour pink, and cute zippy cars? Oh! The Laura Ashley Mini Cooper, that's what!

It turns out that one cannot simply purchase the Laura Ashley Mini Cooper. One must enter a contest at a mattress store.

Fortunately, there is such a store at Dupont Circle in DC. That's just a quick ride down the Red Line on the Metro.

Can you guess where we're going tomorrow?

Requisite DC tourist pics

The White House, South Lawn.

Mr. Lincoln

First Division Monument

Vietnam Women's Memorial

Fountain at the World War II Memorial, with the Washington Monument in the background.

Capitol Hill

You want HOW MUCH for a bailout???

Even the birds in DC are flummoxed by the bailout "plan".

Reflections at the wall

Squeee! Another goal accomplished!

My Red Panda picture is up on Cute Overload!!

Now I really feel like a rock star!

A day late and a dollar short

Behold the view from our hotel window.

Despite the fact that Talk Like a Pirate Day was yesterday, all I could think as I gazed upon this vista this morning was, GAR! Look at t'wasted solar energy as the evil dryer eats my dubloons!

Translation: I wish I could string some 550 cord amongst those light standards so that I could line dry the laundry instead of wasting a dollar and, more importantly, all that electricity, in the hotel laundromat's dryer.

A trip to the Zoo

We were well impressed with the National Zoo. We had visited a few years ago, and left disappointed. It appears that a great deal of work has gone into improving the zoo, and the results are evident.
His Majesty
Her Majesty
Marabou Stork
Red Panda
Peacock
Brown Pelican
Cheetah Girl at rest
FlamingoesAsian Small-clawed Otter
Greater Rhea

Late bloomers

The rose garden at Brookside is, I'm told, at its peak in May. These lovely blooms, however, kept their beauty hidden until now. There's a metaphor in there, somewhere.

Gentle souls

Homeschooling operations have been temporarily transferred to Montgomery County, Maryland. While Steve was being seen at Walter Reed Army Medical Center this morning, William and I took the Metro Train north to Brookside Botanical Gardens. The Wings of Fancy exhibit is incredibly beautiful, as is the entire park. More pictures will follow, if the gods of low-speed hotel internet allow.

And now for my daily moment of DUH!

For most of the five years that we've had Chocolate the Wundermutt, she has travelled in the crate in the back hatch of our Subaru/Saturn/Jetta wagon. This has generally worked well, resulting in only a few short whiny/excited periods on our long trips. Obviously, this mode of transportation is not an option in our Mini Cooper. When we took our first long trip in the Mini, I had anticipated a whiny ride. I was pleasantly surprised - shocked, even - when Chocolate settled right in on the back seat next to William and remained calm for the entire time.

It took me a while to process this new information, but then I had to smack my forehead with a "well, DUH, Rosie!" Chocolate is part Aussie Shepherd. Her instinct is to herd her sheep, and when the sheep aren't available, she likes to round up her people. That task is easily achieved when we're all sitting within 2 feet of her.

It's taken five years, but she's getting me trained after all.

La Serenissima

I had the great fortune to live in the Veneto Region of Italy for a few years. Venice calls itself La Serenissima - the "most serene" - but I beg to differ. In the early morning hours of the last days of summer, the most serene place on earth is the small lake upon which my parents live. As the mist rises over the glassy waters, the silence is broken only by the dipping of my paddle and the splashing of the pike as they jump out of the depths to have some breakfast.