Late Night Ripley

Physics!!

Such a pretty girl.

Guest Doggie Blogging

One of the things I like best about NYC is the plethora of truly big dogs who live there. They all seem estatic with urban life too.

Meet Wimsey, a delightful bloodhound who owns the equally delightful Maria, who came to our Atriot picnic in the Sheep Meadow last friday night, as well as to dinner on Saturday night. Wimsey has his very own blog here: Wimsey's Blog where he keeps everyone up on day to day life in Manhattan.

I must say that Atriots are the nicest people in the world, and I had a delightful time hanging out with them. In attendence at last weekend's festivities were the delightful and witty Res Ispa Loquitor, the fabulous watertiger, Gummo and Mrs. Gummo, the Kenosha Kid (thanks for the chocolate! it was delicious!!), Culture of Truth (who is just as funny in person), the infamous Steve Simmels (we're not worthy), the lovely HoneyBear Kelly and the equally lovely Brooklyn Girl (and of course the previously mentioned Maria.) I hope I haven't forgotten anyone.

I feel truly lucky to consider them all friends.

Arrrrrghhhh!!

I don't know what the deal is with this guy, but he sure was scary.

I feel another movie plot coming on.

I'm a big gurl now...

This is now.

And this was a few months ago, when she was still just a wee little thing.

My how she's grown. I was trying to get a nice identical shot so you guys could really see the size change, but she was not being cooperative last night.

Friday Gurlzzz blogging

Ripley loves her kitty cube. It's a good place to stash her toys and peer out at Maddie.

Maddie and Ripley collaborate on their physics homework.

Then pause for a wraslin' session.

"Come down here where I can bite you properly." I'd like to point out that that is a standard size dining chair and a not-so-standard size kitten. Oy.

Goddamnit- Chick-o-saurus lives!

Why is the National Geographic trying to steal my movie plot? Massive Birdlike Dinosaur Unearthed in China. I swear I'm gonna hafta take a hostage.

While in NYC, Eli and I visited the Museum of Natural History, which had many fine dinosaur exhibits. No chick-o-saurus though.

Anyhoo, I took many pictures of various terrifying creatures, including:

The allosaurus, who went extinct from eating too many small jets. They just aren't digestible.

The T-Rex, our chick-o-saurus rex's ancestor. I must say he's just as scary now as he was 6,000 years ago.

And most terrifying of all, the Bullwinklesaurus.

Daily Ripley

Ripley obligingly sat in a sunny spot yesterday, so I was able to photograph her without a flash. Madeleine ran off (and kept trying to bite by fingers) so you'll have to wait for a pic of her later.

More Animals

An otter.

A very green lizard in the rainforest exhibit.

And our friend the sealioness, who was still waiting for her tasty afternoon snack of herring.

Aliens!!

Well, actually not. Some jellyfish creature model at the American Museum of Natural History.

I just couldn't go to bed with the turdblossom at the top of my blog.

Separated at birth? or the same man?

I think we've established the link between Rove and Voldemort once and for all. To Azkaban!! Toute suite!!


Hat tip to the fabulous Zoe.

Flowers

The Central Park Zoo (actually now called the Central Park Conservation Center) has some lovely gardens.

Some sort of rose.

A delightful bromeliad, found in the rainforest exhibit. I like the spikey alieness of these guys.

More roses.

It was a disappointingly overcast day. Oh well. I took some cityscapes, but I hate it when the sky is grey. So boring.

Bush chooses talking penis to replace Bartlett

I guess the news isn't that surprising, since the republican party really has very little available talent. Bush Names Gillespie As New Counselor.

But sheesh, don't the have anyone who doesn't have a seriously deformed haid?

photo: AP/Charles Dharapak

Morning kitties

Napping.

Did I spy a feather?

You're not leaving again, are you?

There's something about Ripley's expression. She always looks sad to me. (Don't worry, she's not.)

Coney Island

On Sunday Eli and I went out to Coney Island to get some photos before the island gets Trump-erized. Honestly, I think most of the old Coney Island is gone already. There was a distressing lack of carney people and freaks.

I'll be interested to see Eli's photos (since he does things and not people)- I'm fairly certain it will look like we were on opposite ends of the earth.

The photo above is pretty representative of the kind of stuff I like to do- document the moments of people's lives. This ride consisted of a number of reproduction, miniature antique cars going in a circle on a pretty tame track for very small children. They were having a ball.

Interestingly, I stood there trying to catch cute children as they went by. Eli was waiting for them to get out of the way so he could photograph the track. Á chacun son gout.

Sea lions

Where are the zoo keepers?

I want mah fish NOWWWW!!!!

Yes, it was feeding time for the sea lions.

I'm back...

And everyone is just fine. As you can all see for yourselves.

Ripley grew while I was away. A bunch!

Maddie is bigger too, and her tail is more outrageous than ever.

Neither of them are mad at all, though Ripley is being pretty clingy. She won't let me out of her sight. They're both glad I'm home, even if I am tired and cranky. The kittens were in excellent hands while I was gone. My upstairs neighbor and his girlfriend are good friends, and cat lovers. They came in twice a day and played with them, gave them many scritches, and made sure their kitten tummies were full.

I had a miserable flight home. First my flight was delayed because of weather, and then we sat on the runway for a hour. When I got to Austin my car was dead. Again. Tried to jump it. Nothing. By this time it's 2:00 am. I had to take the shuttle back to the airport and get a cab home. Feh.

The dealer towed my car this morning and hopefully they'll fix it right this time. And yes, they paid for the tow and are reimbursing me for the cab ride.

New York pics later.

I'm off

I'll be traveling until late Monday night, and I won't have my laptop with me.

You guys are gonna have to make do with the archives. Sorry!! And rest assured, Maddie and Ripley will be in good hands. A good friend is kitten sitting for me.

Hasta la vista, doods!

Wednesday Ripley

Ripley enjoys sitting in the sink when I'm getting ready in the morning.

And she wants you to know that she is too trying to grow a plushy tail. You can see some of the long hairs here.

Madeleine

She looks more like a big girl kitty everyday.

Her ruff is coming in too.

Slammertime!!

"Whaaaaaa? I didn't see THAT coming."

Libby Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison, Fined $250K

No reaction from Cheney yet. I guess we'll have to wait until after sundown. Or maybe until after hell freezes over, since loyalty is only a one-way street in the Bush world.

Let this be a lesson to bushistas everywhere. You're all expendable.

photo: Getty Images

Then and Now

Maddie the first night I brought her home....

And Maddie today, looking like an all growed up kitteness. Here's a scary thought... she's not done growing.

Sleepy time

Just for Ntodd.

She doesn't look much like a fearsome chainsaw here.

Chainsawwwww!!

"Please turn off the vacuum cleaner. That thing is scaring me."

Togetherness

If you look, you'll notice that Ripley has her paw on Maddie. Silly gurlzz.

RIP Steve

Oh my. What terrible news.

Steve Gilliard passed away today. I think one of the bright lights in the world has gone out. I didn't know him, but I feel terribly sad.

Our condolences to Jen, Steve's family and his many, many friends. He will be sorely missed.

Early Saturday kittenzzzz

Hallloooooo!! Quit making fun of mah big tail.

So sleeeeeppeeeeee....

Ripley....

Miss Chainsaw, hanging out on the sofa, wondering when HER tail will get that plushy.

The Beast!!

The third animal that lives in my house.

And here's the rest of the cat. Her markings are quite dramatic, no?