Happy Day to ME!

Today is my birthday.

As it is my birthday, I reserve the right to take the day off.

So there!

This is it. 

That's all there is.

There is no more.

Why

are

you

still 

reading?

Okay.

Bye.

See 

Ya

Tomorrow!

Our Man Anders

My nephew Anders just turned 18 at the beginning of this month.  He is a very cool guy.  He is a high school senior, and a Bingham High School Marching Band Drum Major.  I like the way he just seems to glow in this picture.  If it's not the sunlight reflecting off the big bass drum behind him, perhaps it is his inner glow shining through.

He's a good guy, and a talented musician.

Love a man in uniform!

 On the field he's all seriousness.

 Photos: J.D. Evensen

I love these photos.  Really really love them.

Anders is so cool, sometimes he doesn't just help direct the marching band... 

...he helps tune up the Universe!

Photo: L.Farnsworth

Wow.  Look at those clouds!

Okay...to be honest, he only directs the rain clouds every now and then, in his spare time.

You know how it is when you're a high school senior.  You are super busy.

I wish he'd come here and direct a little rain this way.  'Cuz maybe he could, you know, if he really tried.

Meet Chimeeguy

Chimeeguy, A Snow Leopard Baby

Continuing our tour of the Hogle Zoo (Salt Lake City, Utah, USA) cats, we have the beautiful Snow Leopard.  This cutie pie (above) is Chimeeguy (Chim-AY-gwee), the newest snow leopard at the zoo.  He was just 4 months old when these photos were taken about a month ago.  He had just been put out for public view that week and was still getting used to life "on the outside"!

Let me outta here!

Look who is being all ferocious!  I love it.  But those huge paws are a good indication that this little guy (above) is going to be a big guy, like his daddy, although the snow leopard is considered only a moderately large cat.

These cats are native to the mountain ranges of Central Asia.  They are also on the endangered list, being close to extinction.

The name is Bond, James Bond... I mean Chim!

I love that face.  What a great face.  Chimeeguy, or Chim for short, is a funny little guy.  He looks as interested in the humans taking the photos as the humans are curious about him.

This is Chimeeguy's mom, Nema

Nema is a class act.  She is 14 years old.  She is absolutely beautiful, don't you think?  Chim is her second cub in three years.  Chim's older sibling Himal was born in 2009 and now has a happy home in the Denver Zoo.

Nema, like most all cats, is a great mom.

If this weird stuff wasn't in the way, I think I'd like to eat you.
You appear to be made of meat and look yummy.

Being a cat, Chim is just checking out the habitat

Chim was enjoying showing off for the camera and all the people.  Like most cats, and small children, he gets a kick out of all the attention.  My good friend Meldee writes:

He climbs and slides down the logs in front to show he can do it. He then comes right up to the fence where all the people are ooohing and awwwwing.  No fear there!

Then, it's back up onto the ledge to play with mom for a while... play with the vines hanging over the ledge, take a quick nap and pose cute for the cameras.

Oh, the life of a little leopard!

I am an ATTACK cat!

Hmmm.... what's this?

How do I get down from here?

Cowabunga!
Would not want to see this coming at me... even though he's only 4 months old!

Sleepy now... Time for a nap...  Bye.

Meldee writes, "The Snow Leopard Trust has a terrific program to help the native people NOT kill the snow leopards.  It's a win/win idea!"

To find out more about these magnificent creatures, and what you can do to help preserve them, visit them at www.snowleopard.org!

If you live in California, you can also go visit the snow leopards at the San Diego Zoo.

Thanks, Meldee and Don, for sharing your great photos of these magnificent beasts.  It was fun getting to meet Chim and his mom.

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

A good friend of mine drove to New Mexico last week for the Balloon Fiesta.  He's from that neck of the woods, and has been attending this event since it's beginnings in the 1970s.

I'm happy that he is sharing his terrific photos with us!

                        

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta began as a small gathering of 13 balloons (and, I assume, their attendant humans!) in 1972.  Since then, it has grown to become the largest balloon event in the world.

According to their website, the Fiesta attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every years during the first week in October.

The Fiesta is now a nine-day extravaganza of color and excitement, celebrating the world's oldest aviation sport.  

It was the Montgolfier brothers who invented a style of hot-air balloon and succeeded in launching the first manned balloon ascent in modern history at Annonay, France, in 1783.  Their first attempts at ballooning sent a sheep, a duck and a rooster into the air.  Ah! the French... what can I say? Eh, Bien!  They probably figured if things went badly, they'd have a really great dinner later... 

Thankfully, the odd trio landed safely after covering about 2 miles in the air. 

Etienne Montgolfier was the first human to lift off the earth in a balloon, making a small, tethered flight from wallpaper manufacturer Jean-Baptiste Reveillon's workshop yard. However, the first free flight by humans was made by Pilatre de Rozier, together with an army officer, later that same day close to the Bois de Boulogne in the outskirts of Paris.

These early flights made quite a sensation!

It's amazing to think that less than 200 years later, man would walk on the moon...

As you can see, the Fiesta is a very beautiful, sometimes silly, and highly colorful event...

... attended by LOTS of people.

You can buy tickets to ride in these crazy balloons, but you have to book your ride well in advance of the event, as they are very popular and go fast.

Hey!  An Elvis sighting!  Cool.  I'm all shook up!

The Albuquerque event features not only hot air balloons, but also gas balloons.

Here's a famous gas bag... er balloon:

The Pink Elephant (see the sky to the right of Darth Vader) is apparently there to represent the light side of the Force...

This appears to also be a great event for photographers!

Most of these balloons are made out of the same nylon fabric that parachutes are made of.  They are also quite colorful, and imaginative in design.

P-H-R-O-G!  He's got rhythm and a Ph.D.
Remember that song?

The Fiesta is held every year on the first week of October, so you have plenty of time to plan for next year!

For more information about this event, visit their website at:  http://www.balloonfiesta.com/

Photos: GDLeigh

Boxed Cat

There are thousands of stories about Jack in the asphalt.. er, carpeted apartment, um, jungle... this is one of them [cue music: dat dat DAAA!]

Few know to what lengths Jack goes to secure his home from the attacks of scary monsters!

Jack attacks his nemesis, Mr. Kitty

Mr. Kitty resists being placed in the box... but it is to no avail!

When I get boxes in the mail, I always tell Jack that the inside is for me, but the box is for him and he can play with it.  He really really loves this.

Last week, I got a fun show as Jack attacked his stuffed toys and they popped in and out of the box according to Jack's whims.  I got a real kick out of his play.  He is always so very focused when he does this.  I could tell he was having a great time, and the box was just the right size, of course, to be a very effective toy for my little boy!

Having vanquished Mr. Kitty, Jack takes five before attacking the dastardly Mr. Bunny

Mr. Bunny is thrown mercilessly into the box!

An unsuspecting bunny risks Jack's fury once again as Jack stealthily approaches!

Jack tries closing the box on the white bunny, but the bunny resists...

Jack finally chases Mr. Bunny out of the box again and ruthlessly claims it as his own!

His foes vanquished, Jack enjoys the sanctity of his box once again

Our home is once more safe from intruders and big hairy monsters!  Hooray!

The End.

Eating Yanji

It's been a while since I've posted an update on my nephew and family in China.  So, I thought I'd mention the food...

It was interesting to me that in an obscure corner of China that there was a real attempt at making things "international", i.e. Western in their appeal!  I'm glad my nephew Daniel includes pictures of all the little things - including the food and shares these gastronomic delights with us.  I have to admit I'm very curious about China and its people, and hope you are too.

Yanji is way up in the northeast, close to the Korean border.  I can only assume it's getting very cold there right now.

Here are some more glimpses of the international hotel where Daniel stayed.

Mostly deserted cafe

The lights of the city (above) are beautiful at night.

Strange to see the Beatles in what looks like a Karaoke Bar in this faraway place

Chocolate Waffles - Yum!

These looked really good, but were not what I'd expected to see in this far away place!

Neither was this:

Hot chocolate with cream, cinnamon and a little love

Hot Chocolate from the coffee shop in the Yanbian International Hotel

Instead of looking exotically Eastern, it looks pretty Western to me!

I love the comfy chairs and the grand piano.  Thanks, Daniel, for another little glimpse of China.

Hiya, Cupcake!

Okay, so shoot me!  I've been on a foodie mystery novel binge for months now!  I just can't help myself.

First there were the Donut Shop mysteries (see my post from August 2, 2012 titled, "Deep Fried Delights"), those delicious morsels of evil by Jessica Beck.  I charged through eight of those without coming up for air.  Now I'm only waiting for book 9 to appear in December (Due out on Kindle 12/24/12)

Now, there are the Cupcake mysteries by Jenn McKinlay.

I snarfed these pretty quickly as well!

The first three books, in order of their appearance

I must admit that the real draw for me with the Cupcake Mysteries is that they are set in Arizona - more precisely, Old Town Scottsdale.  As I'm a Zonie and quite familiar with the settings for these books, they have proved irresistible to me.

The most recent book in the series, Red Velvet Revenge (see above) was set at a rodeo.  It was a lot of fun.  I mean, for being murder mysteries, they are light on the yucky parts and heavy on the friendships, quirky personalities, and good relationships.  They are just the kind of books you want to occasionally snuggle up with.

Book 5 in the series, titled, "Going, Going, Ganache", is due out in April of 2013.  I'm waiting impatiently.

Dear Jenn, write faster...

All these foodie mysteries are not deep literature, but I firmly believe they serve a purpose.  Sometimes you just need to be taken somewhere not too deep, you know - somewhere fluffy and sweet.

Do you know that place?  That's escapist lit at its best.

And then, I probably should mention this: just like the Donut Shop Mysteries, they come with some great recipes.  Remember recipes?  I think I remember what they are! Those lists of ingredients and directions so you can actually bake the cupcakes yourself, should you be so inclined?  Back in the day I may have baked a cupcake or too.  I am even tempted to try a few of these recipes.

Cool motivation.

Author Jenn McKinlay

As the next book in this series doesn't come out until April, I'm going to have to get my sugar fix in some other way in the meantime.

Come to think of it, there's a little cupcake bakery in Uptown.  I should go check it out!