Panda talk

Look at my big boy! His eyes are open and he has grown 3/4 of an inch since his last exam 2 weeks ago. He now weighs 6.2lb. Isn't he adorable? I was having a "challenging" day, but after seeing the new picture and reading the update I feel much better.

From the national zoo panda blog: "During the exam, Mei became anxious as the cub squealed. One of the keepers called Mei away from the den, as she was trying to fit her body through an eight-inch-square window in the den door! After the fourth call, Mei reluctantly came away from the den door to the keeper and accepted some pear, apple, and sweet potato, and calmed down. When we opened the den door, Mei looked in to see the cub and then turned away for a moment before returning to pick up the cub.

Last night Mei Xiang rested on the rock work in the indoor exhibit for three hours and six minutes—the longest period she has rested away from the cub."

Good stuff! You go little guy!

Quote of the day by one of my favorite photographers, John Muir: "Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves."

1984

Photo from Evolve Fish
I love the book 1984 and I like it even more today because I think Orwell's vision has come true. We are living in a totalitarian society where Big Brother (US government) creates "truth" and the Thought Police (Christian Right) who punish out of line thinkers. Strange how Orwell was so accurate in his descriptions of the US in 2005.

I blame a lot of this country's digressions on the Christians. I hate the Christian Right and even more so after hearing Robertson's comments about Chavez. Now, I won't pretend to be a religious scholar, but doesn't the 6th commandment say "Though shall not kill"? Oh, I see "Though shall not kill" applies to everyone but Robertson because obviously he is above the Commandments and God has given him some kind of special privilege to decide what is right for the world. Silly me, I must have missed that announcement on Fox. I say we should assasinate him. Stupid fucker! The more I learn about the Christian faith the more I wish that closed minds came with closed mouths. Ah, so many Christians so few lions.

My friend always used to say that religion was organized by the government as a way to control the masses. How come the meanest, ugliest, and nastiest people I know are Christian's? Does being like this draw one into the religion or does Christianity turn nice people into monsters. They can kill their neighbors and fuck their friends wife but in the end they feel as long as they believe in Jesus and go to church that God will forgive them. I am sorry to report that I am not religous but I have more respect for life and nature than these mindless fucks. I don't need the church to tell me that killing is wrong and sleeping with another women's husband is disgraceful. I use my brain, not the church to tell right from wrong. People should try the act of thinking for themselves. I swear, it doesn't hurt:)

I leave you with this quote: "If going to church makes you a Christian, does going to a garage make you a car?"-Evolve Fish

Big Panda News

Yesterday, August 25, the panda openend his eyes. Hurrah for open eyes! This is a milestone for the cub. I am so proud of him.

I had a thought yesterday on my way home from work. Everyday I see this elderly gentleman in his tweed jacket and red bowtie carrying a briefcase into the metro station. He seems to go home about the same time I do. He must be about 80 and yet he goes to work everyday, probably works about 8 hours a day. Why would someone work at 80? He looks like a lawyer or an academic. In a way he reminds me of Todd in 50 years. Just by the way he walks and looks. My question is, does he work because he has to, wants to, or out of habit? Maybe he likes the act of coming home to his wife. Maybe he has been coming home to her for 50 years and he can't break the routine. I figure, he gets wild monkey sex everyday after work and he doesn't want to lose that so he continues to work. All in the name of getting laid!

So where are we all going when we leave work? Where do all these people on the metro standing next to me go? Do they go home to a spouse, children, dog, cat, parent, panda, mistress, lover? Who and what? Where are we going in anyway?

Quote of the day (actually lyrics from Never Knowing):

"Shocking but we're nothing
We're just moments
We're Clever but we're clueless
We're just human
Amusing but confusing
Were trying but where is this all leading
Never Know" Jack Johnson

Who would it be?

Ok, posting #2 for today. I had a thought during my spinning class. If Mother Earth granted me the opportunity to strap Bush, Osama, and Robertson (Christian Coalition leader) to an electric chair and kill one...Who would it be? I realized I would be torn between Bush and Robertson. It really bothers me that I don't think I could make up my mind and I just might blow the whole thing.

Type AA

I think eventually my personality will kill me. Not only am I Type A but I have surpassed that and moved on to Type AA. Why is that? I have no idea. The anxiety about nothing and my difficulty sleeping because of it, have me perplexed. What would I do without Xanax? I don't know. So when does your personality catch up with you? And isn't it ironical that we can kill ourselves slowly without realizing what is going on. I wonder if I am in a slow death. Morbid I know, but is it true? What does death feel like? How do we know that we are not all going crazy? I belive we all are, just at different speeds. Maybe my speed is picking up. Next week I will try to be Type A and not Type AA for a start. Maybe one day I will be Type B. What I need is a vacation from myself and from humans in general. I have always wanted to do that, but considering my mind shares space with my body this makes it pretty hard to do. I wonder if we would all be happier people if we could get away from ourselves. Each of us always needs some alone time, but sometimes I want to get away from myself. Quite a catch-22. Maybe that is death, when we can truly get away from ourselves. The ultimate holiday.

I wonder if pandas have anxiety? Maybe anxiety is reserved for the lesser species, namely humans. We deserve it though. I am thourghly disgusted with us humans. We wreck the land, rape the wild, and pollute the rivers with our shit. What other animal out there is so destructive of their habitat? I can't think of one. We will surely be the reason for our own extinction. I hope it comes sooner than later. I read yesterday that most marine animals are in danger of extinction. Check out the Washington Post article. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/22/AR2005082200036.html Scientists can rarely agree on anything, but they do agree that humans are the cause of this. Sharks are disappearing, turtles, fish, plankton. Sad but true...they can run but God help them they can not hide. Sad. I hate us.


Quote of the day (very fitting): "It is high time that the ideal of success should be replaced by the ideal of service" My man Einstein

Panda and other stuff

Look at how big my boy is getting! So far he has not openend his eyes, but I watch him all day at work so I am sure I will not miss it. He is so cute, I love him. Oh, on another note. The second set of cheetah cubs are out at the National Zoo. The first set, born last November, was the first cheetah litter ever at the National zoo. Check out the pic. Are they not adorable? I could eat them up.

Todd has gone to Oregon to visit his ailing grandma. I took him to BWI at the ass crack of dawn today. I don't even think God was up yet. Ah the things we do for love or sexual favors...whatever.

I found out today that the results of the IPRS scholarship will be announced in December. December? That is like 3.5 months after the closing date. Why would it take so long? I can not even begin to speculate, so I won't.

Good news though. I got some $$$ from work to take a class this fall. Advanced statistical methods. Sounds interesting huh? I can't ____ wait! This class should ROCK!

Anyway, I am void of anything intersting to say today. Actually, I am too lazy to put it into words. Some things just take too much energy to express. So I leave you with this quote:

"True religion is real living; living with all one's soul, with all one's goodness and righteousness." Albert Einstein

Magellan

My new t-shirt, check it out! From evolvefish.com

Farmer Katia

Whew what a weekend! Todd, Cappy and I housesat for my mom this weekend. We played in the garden all weekend picking and weeding. I even have the ass crack sun burn to prove it...ouch! It was a blast and the dogs enjoyed themselves immensely. Keith built a ramp into the pool so the dogs could get in and out. Cappy loves the water more than her cousin and it was a bitch to keep her out of the pool. We ended up blocking the ramp with a fold up chair. One time she got in and the ramp broke. So guess who had to get in, at 7am, and get the dog out. That's right, moi!

Todd and I were giddy with happiness playing in the dirt. It felt good for the soul. I am just amazed at what mother nature can provide for us. The tomatoes are sweet as sugar, the peppers are juicy and tart, and the green beans are out of this world. I can't eat anymore tomatoes though, I have a rash on the back of my tongue. Among other GI problems from too much fresh fruit and veggies. Eeeek! Most of all, I liked having the day to myself. Todd and I had ample time to discuss future plans about Australia and any other mindless shit that came to mind. I really enjoyed hanging out with the dogs and getting kisses all day long. Talk about feeling loved. There is nothing quite like the unconditional love of dogs. I pondered that a lot this weekend. Unconditional love, what a great thing. There are few places you can find that in this world. I am proud to say that all my good friends have it, otherwise they would not be my friend as it is a requirement I have. You have to love me at my worst. Todd is good for it and my dog is second to none. Dogs have man beat when it comes to love. I am convinced. Maybe humans should take a lesson from dogs and be a little nicer to their neighbor, even when their neighbor has nothing to offer or is a dick. We all might be a little happier. This picture is of a fireman in N.C. who rescued a pregnant female. The photographer said she walked across the yard and stopped in front of the fireman. He bent down to pet her and she licked his face. I wonder if pandas give unconditional love.

Which leads me to the quote of the day: Jason Jordan
True love does not come by finding the perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.

...and one more, because it is Monday and we all need some words of wisdom.

My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am. ~Author Unknown

Nuh Awlins

I just downloaded some pics of my trip to N.O! It was awesome! As you can see, me and Greta were involved in civilized activities. We were doing things only ladies of "up standing moral character" would partake in. Thanks to Lori for having us. She ROCKS! She is the hottest lesbian I have ever met. Lori, if I was gay I would be on you like white on rice. Ok, you too Greta.

It is raining very hard today. I like it though, we need the rain. I am off to the country to dog/house sit for my mom. It will be very nice to be out of the city for awhile. I like to fall asleep to the sound of the crickets, it is a real treat. I am waiting for my Rotary International scholarship interview in September and staying around the apartment only heightens my anxiety. Is it a bad omen that it is on 9/11? I had no choice in the matter. God, I hope I get it. It will be just the ticket we need to get over to Australia sooner than later. I really want to do my PhD with Dr. Hill in Brisbane and this scholarship is much needed. I wonder what the other applicants are like. I just hope it all comes to fruition. Todd does too. He really wants to leave DC, and I don't say I blame him.

Have you checked in on the panda cub today? He should open his eyes any day now!

Ciao

Quote of the day: A friend is someone who will bail you out of jail, but your best friend is the one sitting next to you saying "that was f***ing awesome" J-dub.

New home for my thoughts

Ok, I am too lazy to move my old blog over so today I start anew! A couple of friends have been hounding me to move my blog over to something that is easier to use and can hold more pics. Besides a few of my peeps, I don't know anyone else who uses eblog. Anyone out there? I have finally sucumbed to peer pressure. Woe is me. Anyhoo, we will see how user friendly this is. Attention eblog, this is a trial!
Check here for my new thoughts on life and my quest to own my very own panda! I wish I could have one. Todd says we could try and make one...but I know what his motives are. I would have 11 children and still not have a panda! Check out the new pic of Mei Xiang's cub from animalplanet.com. Too cute. It has no name, but if I were to name it I would call it George. Can you tell I am obsessed with pandas? But wait until I start talking abut the Tiger I want!

Enough procrastination for today. I have got to get this research paper off of my desk and to the publisher NOW! I am such a lazy SOB. I border on pathetic.

I leave you with this tought: "If you cut off my reproductive choice, can I cut off yours?"