Thursday Thirteen # 9

Thirteen Things about Life in Dallas 1. There are 2 seasons. Summer and The Rest of the Year 2. There are tons of people. 3. There are lots of things to do, from symphonies, to Broadway Musicals, to Willie Nelson's 4th of July Picnic, to Six Flags, to Horse Racing, to Nascar Racing, zoos, museums, lakes. You name it, you can probably find it here. 4. There are no mountains. Period. 5. There are tons of places to shop. North Park Mall is famous for drawing in celebrities and "rich people". 6. There are LOTS of rich people here. Old rich and nouveau rich. California people love to transfer here because they can buy mansions with what they were paying for their previous houses. 7. Housing is very affordable, but property taxes are VERY EXPENSIVE because there is no state income tax. Sales tax is kinda high also. 8.25% where we live. 8. A lot of people have pools. (Because it's so hot) 9. A lot of people hire out their yardwork. (Because it's so hot) 10. The whole Dallas/Ft. Worth area and its surrounding cities is called the "Metroplex", and it is HUGE. 11. As we've said before, you have to water your foundations to prevent them from cracking and your walls splitting open when the clay soils dry out and shrink. 12. There are still coyotes and bobcats in the outlying suburbs. 13. There are tons of restaurants here.

Tabby Tuesday on Wordless Wednesday

Obi's True Confessions

Suzanne tagged me to do the true confessions meme.

When Maw holds me in her arms, I moan and groan like an old man. I also moan and groan when Maw is cleaning my ears or my eyes.

Sometimes, I eat my stinky goodness so fast that I yack it right back up. Like this morning.

I luf to lay on Maw's lap, and if Dorf or G.T. try to get up there when I'm there, I smack them upside the head. Or if I jump up on Maw's lap and G.T. or Dorf are already there, I smack them upside the head.

I can be a teensy bit clutzy with my big paws and tail. I kinda knock things over without realizing it.

I luf to stick my paw in the water that Maw keeps in the bathroom sinks for us to drink. I lick the water off my paw. And sometimes I shake it and it goes all over the mirror!!!

My armpits get tangled if I don't let Maw comb them. If they get tangled, Maw uses cuticle scissors to snip the mats out, then my pits are bald!!!

When I first came here to live, I didn't know how to leap or climb cat trees. It took me several months to strengthen up my muscles so that I could be a real cat. That was kinda embarrassing. But it wasn't my fault. I didn't ask to live in a garage in a cage for my first nine months!!!

It's also kinda embarrassing that I dribble when I get off the pot. It's not my fault though. I don't have the parts anymore to close off that valve. They got taken away from me at the North Texas Veterinary Referral Center.

Ok, I'm done with confessing stuff. That was embarrassing. My furs are red now.

Luf,
Obi

In Observance

Happy Sunday to Efurryone

Today is the running of the 91st Indianapolis 500. Maw grew up in Indy. During the entire month of May, everything is checkerboard black/white. Everything centers around the Indy 500. All the news is about the 500. All advertisements include something about the 500.

One of the coolest things this year is that there are 3 women racing. Also, Dr. McDreamy (Patrick Dempsey) from Grey's Anatomy is driving the Pace Car!!! He is a co-owner of Vision Racing which has 4 cars running in today's race. It's a huge honor to be the Pace Car driver!!

In other news, it's been raining a lot here and we are very grateful. Our main reservoir that supplies water for our county is finally full, but the backup lake is still 10 feet low because it is east of here and hasn't been getting as much rainfall over it's watershed area. We know many other parts of the country desperately need rain and we hope you start getting some very soon. We know very well what it's like to live in an extreme drought.

Have a great day!

Luf, Us

Photo Hunters #9

Colorful is the Photo Hunters Theme this week. This is a picture of one of Maw's most favorite flowers. A bougainvilliea.

Maw is Honored

Maw is very humbled and honored to learn that Zippy, Sadie, & Speedy ; Parker; and Meezer Tails have nominated her to the 2nd Annual Zeus Excuse Legends Ball!!!

Since I've only been blogging since January, this is quite an honor! And really, as far as taking care of all the crazy cats here at Forty Paws, I believe I'm just doing what's right. I hate to see an animal suffer because of illness, or ignorance on a human's part. As far as helping to get laws changed here in Texas, that needs to be done also. Since I'm not a native Texan, I also feel it's my duty to help change the good ol' boy mentality that tends to dominate politics here as well as how animals are treated in this state.

In other noos, Dorf has decided that he would like to lend his flashlight eyes to the gardening effort so that Maw can work past dark in redoing all the flower beds. Isn't that so nice of him to offer?

Seven Random Facts About Me (Smokey)

Last, but definitely not least!!! One-Eyed-Jack tagged me, Smokey, to play the Seven Random Facts meme. You know the rules.

Seven Random Facts About Me:

1) I luf luf luf to be brushed. Except hardly any furs come off in the brush. And when they do, they are gray.

2) My right eye is scarred from the Feline Herpes1 virus and so it leaks brown protein all the time. I luf to rub my eye up against other poodins and on Maw & Paw, but I hate to have my eye wiped by Maw or Paw.

3) I leave brown spots on the floor and on the walls when I shake my head and my eye leaks fly.

4) I luf to rassle with Obi and Reno and Sally. I sometimes even rassle with Dorf. I'm the only one brave enough to do that. I luf to chase Jenny and make her scream. That's funny. She is really having fun, but she doesn't want anyone to know it.

5) The best place to sit is in front of the computer screen when Maw or Paw are doing stuff on the computer. Yup.

6) I love tuna.

7) I lay upside down a lot. I'm very secure in my Man Cat-hood.

My tagees: Any poodin who hasn't played yet.

Luf, Smokey

Seven Random Facts About Me (Dorf)

One-Eyed-Jack tagged me, Dorf, to play the Seven Random Facts meme. You know the rules.

Seven Random Facts About Me:

1) My real brother is G.T. Most people can't tell us apart.

2) For several years I was really mean to Obi, Reno and Bow and would chase them and torment them. I also was peeing in inappropriate places. The V-E-T said I was just too stressed from too many poodins in too small an area and so I was on antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds for a couple of years. It was actually my teeth that were hurting very badly. After I had 19 teeth pulled, I feel much better. Sometimes I still chase Obi and Reno and Bow though and I still get yelled at for doing it. (Old habits die hard.) Sometimes I have to go in timeout.

3) I am getting a permanent indentation on my upper lip from my snaggletooth getting caught against my lip.

4) I follow Maw everywhere. I love to sleep with Maw. I also love to help Maw eat yogurt.

5) I like Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese too.

6) I love to lay on Paw's lap when he's reading or watching the talking picture box.

7) My nicknames are Dorfington Fish Stanley, Dorfie, Butthead, and Rubber Baby Buggy Bumper.

My tagees: Any poodin who hasn't played yet.

Luf, Dorf

Seven Random Facts About Me (Reno)

One-Eyed-Jack tagged me, Reno, to play the Seven Random Facts meme. You know the rules.

Seven Random Facts About Me:

1) As I've said in previous posts, I'm a perfectly symmetrical Tuxedo poodin. What is on one side of me is on the other side of me. Even my butt is equal.

2) My right eye is scarred very badly from the Feline Herpes1 virus because I was with that crazy cat lady in her stoopid garage in a cage the longest of the 4 of us and I didn't get the proper medications to help my eye. When Maw can nab me, she scrubs my eye with a warm, moist cotton ball to get the black goop off it.

3) I am also the most terrified of being handled among the four of us "fosters". Whenever it looks like Maw or Paw are getting close enough to scoop me up, I take off. They have to nab me from a deep slumber to trim my nails first, because if I know nail trimming is going on, I'll hide out for the next month!!!

4) I think Maw is a poodin. I chirp to her. I never meow. Maw says that I say, "bluuuurrrppp". Whatever that means. I also coo.

5) I love to rassle with Smokey & Obi. I pull Obi's furs out and leave nice white tuffs of his fur on the floor.

6) I am very scared of Dorf. If he gets close to me, I take off running into the nearest corner and spit and hiss. If he keeps coming, I start screaming. If that doesn't work, I pee myself. Yup.

7) My nicknames are Reno Deno Do, Beanie, or Beaner.

My tagees: Any poodin who hasn't played yet.

Luf, Reno

Varyeeous Eyetems ov Inchrest

Karen Jo wrote a limerick for Annie!!! It's wonderful and catches her true spirit!

Now, dis ist sum imbarasink noos. 'Membur Orinch? 'Membur Maw wust goin to trap im an take im to da V-E-T fur his hoo-ha-ectomy? Well, Maw bot da deelucks trap wid 2 doors so dat wunce u trap da poodin, u kin feed it. So, Maw putz da trap togevver an finks sumting funny. She hast Paw luk at it an he sez she follow da derekshuns rite. So he sez to put da divider in front ov da feeder door so da poodin kaint pull da door opin.

So Maw putz da trap owt so Orinch kin git uzed to it. Den she setz it on da nite befor his surjery. Well, Orinch goes rite in da trap an gitz cot!!! Yoo hoo! Way to go. So, he sendz hiz fuud flyin efurrywer cuz he ist skairt. So Maw feedz him stinky goodness thru da feeder door. Sept she putz da divider in wrong. Later, der goes Orinch, racin cros da yard!!!!

So Paw tells Maw to set it agin an mebbe she git lucky an Orinch fall fur it agin. Yeah, rite. So, da necks mornin, Paw asts if Maw set it, cuz it sprung (der waz a cover ofer it). So, Paw goez owt to see if Orinch is cot agin, an luk wat he saw!!!!

Yup! Opie da Opossum! An wuz he skairt an upset!!!

So Maw toldeded Paw to opin da trap an let Opie find hiz way owt. It took bowt an hour, but he finally lefted. Dunt yu tink he haz wunnerful pearly white toofies? Dorf ist enveeyus.

In udder noos, Maw ist diggin up da hole frunt flower bedz an redoin dem wid expanded shale an compost. She ist gonna plant Texas natives an such so dey will grow bedder. An perennyuls. Yup. She wantz to plant a Smoke Tree:

Taint it purrty? (She borrowed dis pikshur frum Da Natshunal Arbor Day Site.

Luf, Us

Seven Random Facts About Me (G.T.)

One-Eyed-Jack tagged me, G.T, to play the Seven Random Facts meme. You know the rules.

Seven Random Facts About Me:

1) I'm hyper. I don't sit still much. I race through the house, run up cat trees, and sit next to the cat flap waiting on a bird to come into the cat enclosure so I can nab it!

2) When Maw is sitting at the pooter, I stand up on my hind legs and pat her arm so that she'll pick me up and hold me over her shoulder.

3) When Maw is folding laundry, I pat her arm so that she'll pick me up and hold me over her shoulder.

4) On the 20th of every month, I get shot. Yup. For my allergies. I don't like getting shot, but it's way better than the itchies. So today, I'm gonna get shot. Yup.

5) I'm picking up on Dorf's bad habits and I torment Obi, Reno, and Bow. I get yelled at when I do that.

6) When Maw is trying to read or watch TV, I sit next to my fishing pole toy and stare at her. For hours. Until she plays with me.

7) I love shredded sharp cheddar cheese, rotisserie chicken, steak, salmon patties from Costco, and aerosol whipped cream. I don't like tuna. Nope.

My tagees: Any poodin who hasn't played yet.

Luf, G.T.

Seven Random Facts About Me (Sally)

One-Eyed-Jack tagged me, Sally, to play the Seven Random Facts meme. Actually, Jack tagged the rest of us here at the Forty Paws who weren't tagged.

You know the rules.

Seven Random Facts About Me:

1) I'm the tiniest poodin here at the Forty Paws. I only weigh about 8 lbs.

2) Maw scrubs the black junk off my right eye all the time because it goops up from my Feline Herpes1 Virus.

3) I love love love to rassle with my brothers Smokey, Reno and Obi. When they get too rough, I just scream and run away.

4) Maw used to take me to the Luv-a-Pet center when she volunteered with the Humane Society to try and adopt me out. But I would start getting a serious attitude within an hour of being locked in that cage and I would start hissing and spitting at people who looked at me. So I got to stay here with all my brothers!!! Aren't I clever?

5) I have several nicknames: Tiny, Tiny Tiger, and Sgt. Sally. I am Sgt. Sally because I patrol the house, garage and cat enclosure and announce my reports by howling.

6) I love love love to sit in the cat enclosure. I love love love to go through the cat flap. Yup.

7) My most favorite place to sleep, for right now, is in the middle of the ball track lined with newspapers.

My tagees: Any poodin who hasn't played yet.

Luf, Sally

Seven Random Facts About Me (Bow)

Lookie guys!! Karen Jo featured Bow yesterday for a Kitty Limerick!!!


One-Eyed-Jack tagged me, Bow, to play the Seven Random Facts meme. Actually, Jack tagged the rest of us here at the Forty Paws who weren't tagged.

You know the rules.

Seven Random Facts About Me:

1) I'm Top Cat. Don't get confused about this. I'm the oldest, I've been here the longest. I'll smack any poodin who thinks otherwise.

2) I'm usually in hiding so that Maw can't give me my Prednisolone. I hate taking my medicine, but I also hate yakking when I don't take it.

3) I love sitting in the cat enclosure. I used to be an indoor/outdoor cat for the first 10 years of my life, so I really love being outside, but then Davy was killed and we can only go into the cat cage now.

4) Back when I used to go outside, I came home one night in the middle of the night and Maw let me in. I was covered in used motor oil. Maw never did find out how that happened, but I had to go to the V-E-T where they Gooped me 3 times to get it all out of my furs. Yuck.

5) I have a bee-bee pellet in my back from when I used to go outside. Maw figures some mean kids used me as target practice in the field behind our house.

6) I love love love my heated cat cup. I was perfectly happy with it before Gatsbi and Jenny discovered it. I also love the outside temperature to be in the 80's. That's a nice, comfy temperature for me. Yup.

7) I have told Maw a gazillion times if not ninetytwo eleven that we can have NO MORE CATS. I told her that after Jenny. I told her that after Annie. I told her that after Gatsbi. I told her that after Dorf & G.T. I told her that after the 4 fosters. Does she listen? Now she's feeding that Orinch thing. A Man Cat can only handle so much you know.

My tagees: Any poodin who hasn't played yet.

Luf, Bow

Seven Random Facts About Me (Gatsbi)

One-Eyed-Jack tagged me, Gatsbi, to play the Seven Random Facts meme. Actually, Jack tagged the rest of us here at the Forty Paws who weren't tagged. So we'll be busy for the next seven days doing meme's on effurybody else. But I'm first.

Here are the rules. Each player starts with seven random facts about themselves. Cats who are tagged need to write on their own blog about the seven things and the rules. You need to choose seven cats to tag and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

Seven Random Facts About Me:

1) I was born to a feral mama, but we were all caught at a very tiny age and so none of us kittens ended up being feral. Our mama was released at a barn though after she cared for us and was fixed because she really was totally feral. Maw fostered us and ended up keeping me because I have a neurological issue.

2) I walk with a straight front right leg, so my butt swings back and forth when I walk or run, and my head bobs when I'm eating and grooming.

3) I have been on a d-i-e-t for a few months now and I've lost 1.75 lbs. Since I can't jump up on tables or counters, my food is on the floor and efurrybody else's food is up high. No fair. The V-E-T said I should only weigh half of what I do weigh. Bummer.

4) Since I've lost weight, I can fit through the cat flap again and so now I go into the cat enclosure in the back yard again!

5) I still get my morning tuna, so that is good. And last night Maw made Pork Pot Pie and I had a little bit of pork!!! I jumped on the chair and Maw held the pork in her palm. That's the only way I can eat bean food, when Maw holds it in her palm cause my head bobs.

6) I growl at any poodin that looks at me or gets within 3 feet of me.

7) I love Bow's heated cat cup, and Maw had to buy an extra one just for me because I took over Bow's.

My tagees: Any poodin who hasn't played yet.

Luf, Gatsbi

Wordless Wednesday

Tabby Tuesday

Seven Random Facts About Me (Jenny)

Yuki & Kimiko tagged me, Jenny, to play the Seven Random Facts meme. Here are the rules. Each player starts with seven random facts about themselves. Cats who are tagged need to write on their own blog about the seven things and the rules. You need to choose seven cats to tag and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

Seven Random Facts About Me:

1) I am truly a formerly feral poodin. I wasn't trapped until I was between 3-4 months of age. I have never really learned that it's ok to trust beans, so I'm pretty much terrified of everything. I lived in a cat colony under an old lady's house next to a Taco Bell. I still get cravings for taco meat.

2) Because I'm scared of everything, I've only been to the vet maybe 4 times. Maw & Paw always say it's a good thing that I don't get sick because they would never be able to treat me. I did catch ringworm one time when Maw brought it home from the Luv-a-Pet center when she volunteered with the Humane Society. But it just had to go away on its own because Maw couldn't treat me.

3) I love to sit on the top step of stepladders. I let my legs hang over the edge.

4) I am called "Velcro Toes" because my claws are so long that they stick to the carpet as I walk.

5) I let Smokey chase me and I scream like I'm being tortured. That's fun.

6) I love tuna and tuna juice.

7) Bow is my best poodin friend. We've been together for a very long time.

My tagees: Any poodin who hasn't played yet.

Luf, Jenny

Photo Hunters #5 Five

When we posted for Photo Hunters a couple of weeks ago for "Rare" we had a similar photo, but with 6 poodins in it. This time there are only 5 poodins in the photo. From left to right, Dorf, Reno, Smokey, Obi, and Sally.

Seven Random Facts about Me (Annie)

Abby from ManxMNews tagged me (Annie)! Here are the rules. Each player starts with seven random facts about themselves. Cats who are tagged need to write on their own blog about the seven things and the rules. You need to choose seven cats to tag and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

Seven Random Facts About Me:

1) My full name is Lil' Orphan Annie because I was abandoned by my real momma when I was a week old, and someone took me to the police station. A nice policeman took me to a vet who gave him KMR and a bottle, so he took me and my bottle to PetsMart to try and find someone to take me. Luckily, Maw was there and brought me home with her.

2) I really like to go pee pee in the bathroom sinks. So Maw keeps them filled with water so I can't do that. And the other poodins use the sinks as water bowls. Some of the poodins play in the water and splash it on the mirrors.

3) I love to help make the beds. If another poodin tries to help, I get REALLY mad and spit and hiss and attack them and make them leave. It's MY job to help make the beds.

4) I am a daddy's girl. I love to lick his aftershave off him. I love to sit by his pooter screen and get fur all over it and his papers.

5) I love to play "Where's Annie?" Maw and Paw cover me with newspapers and then they ask "Where's Annie?" and I surprise them by leaping out!!!! It's lots of fun. Sometimes they put a spongebob ball under the papers with me and I play with it.

6) I hate to walk on throw rugs. I leap over them to avoid walking on them.

7) I personally think my life would be much better as an only cat, but that would be difficult in this house. I really hate it when evil intruders come to visit my yard, like Orinch, and the black cat with the fat cheeks. Yup.

My tagees:

Any poodin who hasn't played yet.

Luf, Annie

Seven Random Facts About Me (Obi)

Icon Baxter Bentley and Suzanne tagged me (Obi)! So I guess I better get busy before efurry cat out there has been tagged!!!

Here are the rules. Each player starts with seven random facts about themselves. Cats who are tagged need to write on their own blog about the seven things and the rules. You need to choose seven cats to tag and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

Seven Random Facts About Me:

1) I have a couple of nicknames: Obi Dobi Doo, and Dooberry Doo. Please don't tell anyone.

2) I am skeered of mostest efurrything.

3) I believe in striking first, asking later. So if anudder poodin is lookin at me, I wop 'em on da hed.

4) I usually eat stinky goodness or tuna so fast that I yak it all up. Then I haf to eat again.

5) I luf to lie on Maw's lap, but then she starts wiping my ears out, or combing my arm pits, or picking the goobers out of my eyes. Then I leave.

6) I get Metamucil in stinky goodness every night so I don't have squishees in the bathtub.

7) I am extremely photogenic.

My tagees:

Jazper who lives at The Wren's Nest

Rosie at Rosie & Friends

Eric and Flynn

Ping at Manx MNews

Mr. Hendrix aka Bendrix

Oscar the Puppycat

Bombay

Luf, Obi

Wordless Wednesday

Tummy Tuesday

We hope that question #3 from yesterday didn't confuse too many of you. The correct answer was "D. all of the above". The Okapi uses its very long tongue to pull leaves off trees, and to clean its ears, nose, and eyes. Everyone did really well on the quiz!!! What do you think we should learn about next? Hhhhmmmm.

Here is Obi, enjoying some rays of sun yesterday.

PoP Kwiz on Okapi

Hello Efurrybody and a Happy Monday to you! We all had a grate tyme at Chey & Latte's wedding and were so impressed to see the Queen and efurryone else in attendance. What a lovely turnout.

It ist tyme fur a PoP Kwiz on wat u lerned last week in skool. U lerned abowt da Okapi. Very gud.

1. Da Okapi is related to what animal?

a. Woofies
b. Zebras
c. Giraffes

2. Where duz da Okapi lif?

a. China
b. Democratic Republic of the Congo
c. Venezuela

3. What duz da Okapi uze itz long tongue fur?

a. To clean itz ears
b. To pull leaves off trees
c. To clean itz noze
d. All of da above.

4. What duz a baby Okapi not do fur da firzt 50-60 days of itz life?

a. Poop
b. Eat
c. Walk

Gud luk on yur kwizez. Pleeze dun't look at udder studintz ansers.

Luf, Us

Picnic Sunday

Annie is all packed and ready to go on a picnic today!

The Foster's 5th Birthday!!!!

Happy Purrfday to You,
Happy Purrfday to You,
Happy Purrfday Dear Sally, Smokey, Reno & Obi,
Happy Purrfday to You!!!

Today is the 5th Purrfday for The Fosters. Since we've had them for over 4 years, they really aren't fosters anymore, but it's much easier to call them "The Fosters" when collectively referring to the 4 of them. These are the guys that were stuck in cages in the Crazy Cat Lady's garage for the first 9 and 10 months of their lives. They have Feline Herpes1 Virus, or Feline Rhinotracheitis. And yes, they really are siblings.

This is Sally.


This is Smokey & Reno.


This is Obi.

Funny Friday

Paw tot we shud share dis cartun wid doze of u dat dunt git it in yur lokal paypurs.

(Click to biggify)

Thursday Thirteen # 8

1. The Okapi is native to the Ituri rainforests in the north east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and was known only to the local people until 1901 when it was discovered by Sir Harry Johnston. It is pronounced "o-copy".

2. The Okapi became officially recognized as the Okapi Johnstoni in 1902.

3. The Okapi is the emblem for the International Society of Crytopzoology that was founded in 1982 to document and evaluate science of unverified animals.

4. It is classified in the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Mammalia, order Artiodactyla, family Giraffidae. It is NOT related to the zebra.

5. The male possesses small horns on his forehead, similar to the giraffe. The horns are covered with skin that is never shed.

6. The Okapi's tongue is 13" long and it uses it to pull leaves and shoots off tree limbs. It can also clean its ears, nose and eyes with it.

7. Here is an Okapi born at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago September 27, 2006.


8. The Okapi is part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP) which is overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), where member zoos across North America cooperate to produce offspring of threatened or endangered animals.

9. Okapi are ruminants, meaning they have a multi-chambered stomach and chew their cud like cows do. They are also ungulates, or hoofed, animals.

10. Here is a picture of one of the Okapi that Maw used to study as a Research Aide at the Dallas Zoo. The research was non-invasive, meaning they did nothing directly to the animal, only observed its activities and recorded those activities at certain timed intervals. The majority of Okapi studies have been conducted in a zoological setting because of the reclusiveness of the Okapi in its natural habitat of the dense rainforests. It is a solitary animal as well, and only comes together for mating, or when the mother is caring for her calf. She typically cares for a calf until 2-3 years of age, although it is weaned at about 6 months of age.

11. Here is a picture of one of the babies that was born at the Dallas Zoo during the time Maw was a Research Aide. The Okapi moms tend to leave their babies on nests of limbs and leaves in the wild for long periods to go off foraging for leaves and grasses. In a zoo setting, the mom would have 2 stalls in the barn and would leave her baby on a bed of hay while she went to the other stall to graze. Also, from extensive research from studying the Okapi in zoo settings, it has been determined that the babies do not defecate for the first 50-60 days of their lives. This is believed to be a survival mechanism so that their natural predator, the leopard, can't readily find the nesting baby.


12. The Dallas Zoo has been very successful at breeding the Okapi. One of the reasons is that they have trained the females to "pee in a cup" during their morning feeding of hot oatmeal. The Okapi love love love hot oatmeal for breakfast. So, the Zoo Keepers make up HUGE batches of oatmeal to give to the Okapi every morning. The Keeper holds a cup on a very long pole under the Okapi's tail and she will urinate, then the Keeper dumps a big glop of warm oatmeal in their food pan as a reward. The urine is analyzed to determine when the females are in estrus.

13. Here is a picture that appeared in the Dallas Morning News of L-Jawar and John, the lead Okapi keeper back in 1996. The caption says that L-Jawar was hand-raised, so his mother must have rejected him. This would also explain why L-Jawar was so comfortable with John handling him. Most of the Okapi were naturally skittish around humans.

PoP Kwiz

We almost furgot da PoP Kwiz on Cedar Waxwings!!! In kase u lost yur notes frum last week, Cedar Waxwings were da subjekt of owr TT13.

Here are yur kwestshuns.

1. Wat du Cedar Waxwings eat?

a. Poodins
b. Wax
c. Fruit

2. How long r Cedar Waxwings?

a. 7" (18cm)
b. 4" (10cm)
c. 5" (12.7cm)

3. Wat kolour r da tipz of da Cedar Waxwings' tails?

a. Cedar
b. Yeller
c. Purpil

Good luck on yur PoP Kwiz!! Dunt look at udder stoodint's ansers. Dey mite be rong.

Luf, Us

Updates on Tuesday

Here is a closeup of Orinch's face. Isn't he a cute liddle bugger? If you look really close, you can see his bits under his tail. He's a BIG Man Cat!!!

We don't want to lead you astray in thinking that we are going to foster him and find him a home. We don't do that anymore. We're no longer with the group we were with for 3 years, and we gave up on fostering when we reached 10 poodins. We ended up keeping too many special needs cats and the ones we grew too attached to.

Orinch might belong to a neighbor who hasn't fixed him, we just don't know. But we're going to "fix" him so that he can't make babies. We don't think he has a family, because he was really skinny when he first started coming into our yard this winter.

Also, we have discovered that we have flying ants, not swarming termites which makes us extremely happy!!! Yippee Skippee!!!

And, in other noos, some "experts" say we are out of the drought, although the lake that supplies water to this county is still 6 feet below normal. Most cities in this county are still under mandatory Stage 3 Drought Restrictions which means automatic lawn watering restricted to one day a week, soaker hoses around foundations can be run 1 hour per day, no car washing, or runoff from yards allowed. And many cities impose a surcharge on water usage above maybe 15,000 gallons, or 20,000 gallons per month. Depending on your city. So we are very grateful that we have been receiving some very good, soaking rains once a week the last few weeks. The "experts" had predicted a dryer, and warmer, spring than normal. Of course, we still have 2 months of spring to go, so we aren't counting our gallons before they fall from the sky!!!

As we mentioned last week, foundations need to be watered here. Most foundations are cement slabs. Basements are rare here, although modern technology and money are building some basements in the multi-million dollar homes. The reason basements are rare is because when the ground contracts as it drys, the basements would cave in. Not a pleasant experience for the homeowner. Neither are shifting foundations which happens when the ground becomes so dry that is contracts. And then when we have soaking rains, it expands. So, when it contracts and the foundation begins shifting, doors begin to stick, and walls begin to crack and pull apart. I've been in homes where there were 2 inch gaps between the walls and the ceilings, or in the walls connecting rooms. Foundation problems cost thousands of dollars to repair. Sometimes it can all be done externally, and sometimes they have to come in and rip up the flooring and drill into the concrete slab and "do stuff". Don't know what it is they do, but it's a mess!!! So, last year during the hottest months of the year, there weren't soaker hoses to be found in stores and home improvement centers.

Having grown up in Indiana, and living 10 years in Omaha, NE, these types of issues were unknown to me.

Happy Tuesday to efurryone!

Luf, Us