Friday feline

We're kinda running out of outdoor animals.
I mean most of the others of which I have photos are inside or being acclimated to new venues and others of their own species.

That was the case with these big guys.

They were in the same large enclosure with a heavy duty fence separating the two groups until they could get used to each other.
Then the plan was to remove the barrier so they could become one large group.

Huh?

It's one of those days when there isn't enough time to even hiccup.
The Lions have a vision screening session at a local elementary school.
I get to bring the equipment.
So I don't get to do a regular blog post this morning.

such is life

Still at the zoo

But this isn't nearly as easy as it once was.
It seems like there are a lot of other issues calling for my attention.
The blog is not nearly as important as it once was.

I just missed catching one of these guys looking at visitors before he put his head back down.

One of the reasons this isn't going as well as it could is the camera created separate files for some of the images.
They aren't all in the same folder because to do so would create a file name conflict.
There are also some videos I want to convert to tubeofyou to post here.
The first of those may be on Friday.

had the best steak ever while there

Monday update

Yes, really!

I keep hearing from the weather folks that we can expect cooler temperatures.
I am still waiting.

Oh, certainly, some of the days have been what I'd call anomalies, but for the most part we are still hanging around the upper 90s (and sometimes beyond).
So my advice is to just shine on the weather report until it feels like a sweater is needed.

Now back to the regular, scheduled program.

Here's the big fella we saw yesterday again . . .

. . . from where I took that shot photo.

There were also birds on display  . . . outdoors.

White-faced Whistling Duck

 and

Pink-backed Pelican

All in one place

Boy are those ducks loud.

and annoying.

Let's get back to the zoo

This fella's big enough to have a post all by himself.

Once again the camera did the heavy lifting, as the rhino was some distance away.

hardly moved the entire time

Friday

Yeah . . .   that was yesterday.
I drove a neighbor to Sacramento to have a medical procedure.

When I'd found out I was going to be in Sacramento for awhile I made arrangements to meet another friend for lunch.
A picnic was suggested.
It was a perfect day for a picnic, light breeze, warm temperature, bright sunshine, and we had shade.

Because I knew I was going to be traveling all day, we'd opted for finger foods rather than what I'd call typical picnic fare.

So, you ask, where's this heading?

There was iced tea.

Huh?

Well you have to have a cup from which to drink the tea.
I was brought a special cup.

It's a 17 years old collector cup from the team's last season at Candlestick Park.

how cool is that

Friday's felines

We could have subtitled this post, Sebastian has cousins and they're just like him

Snow Leopard

Uh, he woke up!

ever vigilant

I have some other cat stuff, but I have to tube of you them because, you know, they're moving and noising.

made up that last word
(only it turns out it's real

sorry about the quality... clicking the image will enlarge it

Back to the zoo

Did I tell you I wouldn't be post these photos in any particular order?
Well, that's the way it's gonna be and if the squirrels interrupt the continuity . . .   so be it.

We'll pick up here at the cathouse big cats.
I almost didn't see this fella in his little niche.

It was way back in a corner.
Thanks to the telephoto feature he could be brought up close without causing the stir in the following shot.

source: Daily Timewaster

More cats tomorrow because it's Friday

devil made me do that

Let's rethink this

It seems there is a correlation to the subjects about which I write and the number of pageviews.
Subjects related to Flight or Flying generate more views than say . . .   about anything else..

So there I was*, Group "C" #15.
I'd failed to log in soon enough to board any earlier.
That isn't necessarily a bad thing.
As I embarked the plane I spotted a seat about eight rows back from the door on the starboard (right) side of the aircraft.
I said a brief prayer to St Christoper to intercede with the Big Guy to hold that seat for me and find me room in the overhead for my backpack.
I had checked my suitcase despite my experience last August..
When I came even with the seat I found a spot directly overhead for the backpack and inquired if I might sit in the middle seat.
I received and answer in the affirmative.

Things went downhill from there.
The diminutive female passenger in the aisle seat, it seems, was averse to getting out of her seat and I was forced to climb over her to reach my seat.
I'd have attempted to scoot in front of her but the space was filled with here purse and some other paraphernalia which I am loathe to describe.

Within seconds of my sitting she used the call button for the flight attendant.
Shortly the aircraft was full and the cabin door was closed.
The attendants made their was through the plane tell everyone to stow their carry-ons under the seat in front of them and put their cell phones on stun airplane mode.
Guess which passenger was the exception.
They came through again.
They were ignored again.
So the plane ended up taking off with her giant purse in her lap and her phone to her ear.

And she used the call button again while the aircraft was still climbing, not even at 10,000 feet yet.
I could see this was going to be fun.
The plane finally reached cruising altitude but our little friend had fallen asleep or was doing a good job of faking.
The attendants came through with the ubiquitous peanuts and some packaged cookies.
They chose not to wake her.

Shortly thereafter the attendants came through for beverage orders.
She continued to sleep.
The drinks arrived and she awoke.
Using the call button she summoned the attendant, requesting hot water and lemon.
Informed there was no lemon, she said she'd settle for lime.
Thank goodness they had it.
All in all she probably hit the call button at least a half dozen more times.

Later as we approached Las Vegas we were asked to stow the tray tables and return the seats to the upright position,
She needed two reminders.
This time the attendant supervised the placing of her purse under the seat.

As soon as the plane was on the ground her phone was back up and running with a loud conversation with a loved one somewhere else.
It continued whilst passengers began to leave the plane and finally ended when the aisle next to her was empty.
That was when she decided to find her shoes and get ready to get off the plane.
All of the other passengers, including yours truly, and the crew waited patiently while she got ready to leave..

All I can say is I feel I was privileged to have sat right next to the center of the Universe.

blooger is acting strange

performing unrequested functions

*SJC

That wasn't fair

Yesterday's post was a spur of the moment thing.
The picture is from the series I took at the zoo in Omaha.
That tree really drew my attention.
That's really something when you consider how fantastic that zoo is.
It will be even more fantastic when the current construction is finished.
But enough about that.

you could enlarge this, but why would you want to?

From here on out pictures on this blog from the zoo will appear in no particular order.
Today it's about the giraffes.

now this one . . .   you're gonna want to click to enlarge

I have no idea why the big fellas were on time out, but the keepers weren't letting them out to play.

need to make more time to create blog posts

Monday update

Do to circumstances beyond the control of management there will be only a brief post this morning (afternoon in the east).

Meanwhile this may tide you over until later.

Yeah, It's a teaser.

I know what you're saying:

Welcome to my world.

Saw this

I'm flying again so you'll have to settle for something from yesterday 

. . . because, well, squirrel, and then there's this from f/b 

(only slightly altered from the original)

Time

My internal clock made a partial adjustment to the two hour time zone jump.
I wake early like always (a word I am loathe to use).
It is bedtime that seems to confuse the issue.
The television networks don't help much, either.
All of the evening shows are an hour earlier than at home.
Anyway,  i try to remain awake until the usual bed time.
Not having a lot of luck. 

Travails

Weather will do it.

The Sun came out for awhile yesterday.

But there were still lots of big white puffy clouds.

First off, there were a few sprinkles of rain.

A little later everyone was asked to move further indoors at the convention center, as there were concerns that a tornado could be spawned. 

That never developed.

It was even pleasant enough last night that, after the  banquet, I walked the half mile back to the hotel. 

Finally, I was awakened by the sound of the rain (or maybe hail) pounding the window to my room.

Still after flying

The event I am attending doesn't start until later today and there really isn't much concerning me anyway.

That means, of course, there was nothing happening here yesterday.

The first thing I did was sample the complimentary breakfast provided by the hotel. 

It was excellent. 

I had already determined some time ago to visit the zoo.

My only dilemma was how to get there. 

I asked the valet parking attendant for directions. 

He informed me that if I es willing to wait for a few minutes, the hotel shuttle would drive me. 

I am being spoiled. 

The app on my phone tells me I walked 4.7 miles. 

I enjoyed the zoo anyway. 

It is great now and will be awesome when the current projects are completed. 

My hotel is in the Old Market part of the city. 

There are some really good places to eat. 

I had a terrific meatloaf last night. 

The only drawback to the hotel, so far, is the wifi is kinda iffy in some parts of the room. 

I can live with that. 

After flying . . . a sequel

ER I'm in Omaha.

The actual flying part wasn't so terrible, except for one poor frustrated four year old who could not seem to get the rest of the Universe to cooperate. 

He was three seats over, across the aisle. 

This morning, and, I imagine, every morning, the hotel is serving complimentary "cook to order" breakfast.

It makes the entire trip worthwhile.

Flying

I really, really dislike flying. 

No, that's not it. 

I dislike what is entailed in the effort to fly commercial today.

An inconveient system has been made ridiculous.

That's made worse by passengers who think rules are suggestion that don't apply to them.

Top that off with being maimed when another passenger turns too fast with their carry-on

Monday update

If you stop by here and don't see anything new it's because I am trying to use a portable device.
I'm driving to the Sacramento airport early tomorrow, heading to Omaha for a Lions forum and to visit with folks I only see when I go to those event.
I may have some pictures from the zoo.

Anyway, don't worry.

the cat does enough of that

XV

Nicht, nein, und hell no

maybe tomorrow, too

Friday's feline Buck would loved this

from the usual source

prolly woulda posted it
yesterday

Sure Happy It's Thursday

How can this not lighten the mood?



There are other things, too  . . . a lot!

bagpipes anyone?

Sometimes I just can't help it

I love quotes.

It's sad that he came along before radio, television, and the Internet, huh?

This is so much better.



They shoulda started at the very beginning though.

turn up your sound

I have a theory about this

On September 6, 1519 the Victoria returned to Spain on the first recorded circumnavigation of the globe.
Unfortunately, Ferdinand Magellan, the commander of the expedition, was unable to complete the voyage because of an interruption by the Philippines police, who killed him because they thought he was on drugs he was killed in the Philippines. 

The Sarge does history posts much better.

said it was a theory

Monday update

There is nothing to report.
I looked to see what I wrote last year.
It may be worth a brief look, but that's it.

Hey! It's a holiday.
Bloggers get to take time off, to.

Once more

It is time again for the monthly breakfast at the senior center.
That means, of course, that I had to get up before the chickens so I can help set up.
Then I get to grill the French toast and scramble the eggs.

We're still dealing with smoke from this . . .

source: Redheaded Blackbelt

It is about 20,000 acres and 100 miles away.

unless you're driving.

Rare luxury

The smoke in the air this morning  , , , and yesterday  , , , is palpable,
There's a wildfire burning way up north near the Klamath River.
It's in really rough terrain so it will be awhile before it's out.
There's just enough of a breeze from the north to send it all down here.
Yesterday morning we couldn't even see the mountains from here.

That said, it felt good to roll over and go back to sleep for almost an hour this morning.
It felt so good I forget what time I first woke up.

Have a great Saturday!

Friday's felines . . . yeah, we got 'em

Sure Happy It's Thursday

Last year on this day I posted this.

it was a memorable trip