Los Padres National Forest, Christmas Day, 2008

A crocodile, a lion, and a water buffalo meet in a bar . . .

One September day in 2004, a tourist videotaped an event now called "the Battle at Kruger." Many of you have probably already seen this, but for those who haven't . . .

You can find more information about this extraordinary video of an encounter between a crocodile, lion, and water buffalo here.

You can watch the video in many places, but here's one.

Photo by Jason Schlosberg

Where am I? Part 3

Here.


Photo by Vikram Ramachandran

Photos of the Year

The size of this wave just boggles the mind. More Boston Globe photos of the year here.

Granada Hills Holiday Parade '08

"A clean desk can hinder worker efficiency"

There's something both repulsive yet fascinating about paper-strewn offices. What does it mean?

More here.

Your Wait Is Over

I know some of you have been camped out since 4pm last Thursday for the Grand Opening! of our new Valley-Daze Store, Botanica Prints.

T-shirts, notecards and many other necessities of life can be found here.

Our premiere items feature my little brother's botanical artwork, "Mexican Sunflower." Hope you like it and more designs to come . . .

Where am I? Part 2

Here

A Strange and Lovely Place

Where am I?


Here.

Social consequences of a poor economy

"During a prolonged period of unemployment a few years ago, I also happened to be living in the suburbs. Gas prices weren’t what they are now, but I rationalized many other reasons why I shouldn’t bother to meet up with friends in the city. Too late, too many errands, too much else. I kept mainly to myself during those months.

Thinking back, I realize it was that I didn’t want to burden others with my frustration. Facing the inevitable questions discouraged me. How do you explain what you did all day, apart from sending resumes out? “Yeah, still looking.” Small talk is so much more aggravating without any positive news."

So true . . . more here

Minnie

Minnie de Pepé Le Pew
from the house of Come Fly with Me Aurora Borealis

Winner, 2008 Scratching Post Invitational (Stuffed Sofa Division)

Dish Daze

Big Foot, Little Foot

Veer to cute here.

Beautiful Science

Huntington Library exhibition

The shoe less traveled

If I had never become a parent, I would never have found myself saying, "Please take that shoe out of your mouth." Life is full of surprises.

It's a Barbie shoe, by the way.

Swedish Viking Dance Band

Movie pitch: Swedish dance band travels back in time to confront their own ancestors (it could happen). Despite the polyester bell-bottoms and flashy rhinestones, the band members befriend a gang of blood-thirsty, axe-wielding Vikings. This newly-formed extended family sails far and wide in the North Sea of the 10th century, looting and harmonizing as they go. It's "New York, New York" meets "The Seventh Seal." I'm thinking of naming it, "No One Plunders Solo." Part two involves a freak time travel accident of some sort in which the Vikings return to the present and do a show at a swap meet in Southern California (or, Copenhagen, if you prefer). No one in the audience notices anything unusual and our intrepid gang finds fame and fortune in the new, new world. The former band members, meanwhile, are very cold and confused and tired of drinking mead, but, they will survive (possible Gloria Gaynor cover here). To be continued . . .

My daughter, the poet

The oasis,
most pleasant of places.
There are plants, food, and a tree there.
The camel wants to be there.
The oasis.

Dreams and peels

The oozing kitty

It began like any other day. The alarm. Coffee and eggs. The crossword.

I thought I saw promise in a brillant blue sky, but, yet, there was something. Something was up there and it was coming for me. I spun and looked with horror as the evil-eyed cat began to ooze down the stairway. Horror. The horror . . . everything was furry. The End.

It's gold, I tell you!

Gold was first discovered in California not at Sutter's Mill in 1849, but, rather, at a place in the San Gabriel Mountains called Placerita Canyon.

Halloween happiness

Assistance needed

If you're interested in helping our elementary school purchase a telescope, you can contribute any dollar amount here. Thank you.

Pumpkins and friends

Can I take it home? Pleeeaaaase?

This little rascal is so cute, I want to bundle it up and take it home for my very own. More little ones here.

Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.

• Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.

• Also, always avoid annoying alliteration.

More rules here.

Kids' Dash

トトロ

Still from My Neighbor Totoro and a few illustrations inspired by the film . . .

She did say that, didn't she.

• What you need is sustained outrage...there's far too much unthinking respect given to authority.

• I still believe in Hope - mostly because there's no such place as Fingers Crossed, Arkansas.


And more from Molly Ivins here.

12,450 miles

Descend, bold traveler, into the crater of the jokul of Sneffels, which the shadow of Scartaris touches before the calends of July, and you will attain the centre of the earth; I have done this, Arne Saknussemm"

You're frightening me. You're really frightening me.

"I just don't know what to do. No more talk. I'm completely terrified. The horror!"

More emotion can be found in the Dog Run Book.

Accents

If you have any interest in accents, check out this site with a large database of examples from around the world.

"Yonda in da castle of my fadda."

New arrival

Our little kitty, Milo, was killed last month by a coyote who wandered through our neighborhood. Milo was a very sweet tabby who walked into our apartment and our family six years ago and never left. We will miss him very much.

A few weeks ago, we had an offer of a kitten and she's arrived. Our daughter has named her Mimi. She will never replace Milo, but, she will capture our hearts, nonetheless.

Cousins Part 2

Where gnomes go to feel safe

Gnome hats are loaned free of charge! Find out more here.

Friends

“The Letter” from Frog and Toad Are Friends, by Arnold Lobel

---

Toad was sitting on his front porch. Frog came along and said, "What is the matter, Toad? You are looking sad."

"Yes, this my sad time of day. It is the time when I wait for the mail to come. It always makes me very unhappy."

"Why is that?"

"Because I never get any mail."

"Not ever?"

"No never. No one has ever sent me a letter. Every day my mailbox is empty. That is why waiting for the mail is a sad time for me."

Frog and Toad sat on the porch, feeling sad together.

"I have to go home now, Toad. There is something that I must do."

Frog hurried home. He found a pencil and a piece of paper. He wrote on the
paper. He put the paper in an envelope. On the envelope he wrote: “A LETTER
FOR TOAD”. Frog ran out of his house. He saw a snail that he knew.

"Snail, please take this letter to Toad’s house and put it in his mailbox."

"Sure, right away."

Then Frog ran back to Toad’s house. Toad was in bed, taking a nap.

"Toad, I think you should get up and wait for the mail some more."

"No, I am tired of waiting for the mail."

Frog looked out of the window at Toad’s mailbox. The snail was not there yet.

"Toad, you never know when someone may send you a letter."

"No, no. I do not think anyone will ever send me a letter."

Frog looked out of the window. The snail was not there yet.

"But, Toad, someone may send you a letter today."

"Don’t be silly. No one has ever sent me a letter before, and no one will send me a
letter today."

Frog looked out of the window. The snail was still not there.

"Frog, why do you keep looking out of the window?"

"Because now I am waiting for the mail."

"But there will not be any."

"Oh, yes there will, because I have sent you a letter."

"You have? What did you write in the letter?"

"I wrote, 'Dear Toad, I am glad that you are my best friend. Your best friend,
Frog'.”

"Oh, that makes a very good letter."

Then Frog and Toad went out onto the front porch to wait for the mail. They sat
there, feeling happy together.

Frog and Toad waited a long time. Four days later the snail got to Toad’s house and gave him the letter from Frog. Toad was very pleased to have it.

Sierra Swimming Hole

Dollars and Sense

Click on graphic to enlarge.

Uncle Andrew's Farm

Cousins