More on Tiger Attack

"I think it could be feasible for a cat that has been taunted or angered," Jack Hanna, former director of the Columbus Zoo, said Thursday. "I don't think it would ever just do it to do it."

I am inclined to agree with this guy! There is now talk of a shoe and blood found inside the enclosure and a shoe print on the enclosure railing. How accurate this is I don't know, but it appears if this is true that the 3 guys involved in this attack were taunting the cat and possibly hung a leg over the enclosure wall to tease the cat. The wall turned out to only be 12 and a half feet tall, so the zoo is taking the blame for this wall being too low. The investigation continues as to the responsibility the victims played in this attack. They were originally attacked right in front of the enclosure where one of them was killed trying to save his friend. The other two ran to a zoo cafeteria for help and the tiger then followed the trail of blood and resumed it's attack. Police found the cat sitting beside one of the guys when they arrived. When the guy yelled for help, the cat started attacking again. That's when police opened fire and killed the cat. Sounds to me like this cat was being mistreated and decided to fight back this time. How could a zoo think walls 12 and a half feet tall could be enough? I hope all the zoos out there are revisiting their cat enclosure standards so this doesn't happen again.

Tiger Attack

I forgot I wanted to post something about the tiger attack at The San Diego Zoo. It happened on Christmas Day and one person was killed and two others were mauled but survived. The tiger was shot by police and killed. This same tiger mauled a zoo keeper during a public feeding last year in the same week of December. I find this story very disturbing. This cat had been moved to this zoo in 2005 from a different zoo to hopefully breed with tigers at San Diego Zoo. What is going on at that zoo that the same animal is attacking and killing people two years in a row!? This animal had no record of attacks before moving to this zoo. The reports I have found on the incident are all a little different with the facts, so it is hard for me to sort it all out. One report said the cat was 4 years old, another said she was 5. One said the walls around her enclosure were 12 and half feet high and another said 18 feet high. It appears the cat scaled the wall of her enclosure somehow, so knowing the ACTUAL height of the wall is important. 12 and a half feet would be nothing to scale for a cat who is probably almost that height when standing on her hind legs. I find it hard to believe that the wall could be that low. The 18 foot report is probably more accurate. Still, why was this animal so unhappy that it repeatedly attacked people? Something at that zoo isn't right and I hope a full investigation uncovers it. I know this was a wild animal that was acting as a wild animal does, but this cat was born in captivity and raised by humans. For the most part this creates a bond between animal and human that would not exist in the wild, thereby decreasing the chances of an attack. Keeping the animal happy, entertained, well fed, and healthy also decreases the chances of an attack. Which factor was missing here? I don't think this animal was acting out of a "wild" instinct as some have stated. Yes, killing your prey is natural behavior for a tiger in the WILD not one raised by humans that eats out of a BOWL everyday. Stalking becomes a play behavior that doesn't result in killing unless that play is encouraged in that direction in order to release it back into the wild, or something is wrong with the cat or the cat's lifestyle. A PERSON is to blame for this tragedy that has resulted in the loss of two magnificent lives. This cat was too young to be senile, but there could have been a breeding problem--perhaps inbreeding--that caused a mental breakdown for this cat. I could speculate for days on how humans may have caused this to happen, but I just have a very deep feeling that the cat is not to blame. I am however, glad and sad at the same time, that the tiger was killed. She was obviously dangerous and if something was wrong with her or she had been mistreated she is better off in tiger heaven than alive in those circumstances. I always hate to hear of an animal having to be killed, but sometimes that is the only answer. What would they have done with her after she had killed someone and mauled 3 others if she had not been killed? This story REALLY bothers me.

Spider in my Van

The other night I was on my way someplace (I forget where) when a spider started running across the INSIDE of my windshield. I like to look at spiders in THEIR habitats and take pictures of them on their webs, however I don't have much appreciation for them when they encroach on my territory because I am TERRIFIED of them. This spider seemed to enjoy itself as it ran willy-nilly all over my windshield as I screamed and tried vehemently not to wreck the van as Katie laughed hysterically at me from the back seat! Really funny stuff when you're not the one sitting with your lap under a nightmare on 8 legs that are slipping around on glass. I could not find a safe place to pull over to get the spider out and I was too afraid it would jump on me to try and swat at it. (Plus I have a huge superstition about killing spiders--it's VERY bad luck--their friends and family find out and send out assassins after you to retaliate!) (GO ahead and laugh! Kill a spider and see if about 5 don't show up in its place!) Finally the spider darts into a tiny space between the windshield and the dash---thank God! At least I can stop watching it and start watching the road again. My eyes kept darting nervously to the spot where it had disappeared, but it didn't come back out. The next day I find strategically placed batches of eggs on my windshield and one part of my dash. Nice parting gift--I'm going away, but leaving 500 of my offspring to entertain you in my absence. Thanks, but NO THANKS! As I used my credit card to scrape away the eggs I felt a little guilty that I was destroying this little creature's magnum opus. I wondered what Charlotte and Wilbur would have thought of me. Wilbur was so excited when he found out there would lots of little Charlottes crawling around in the Spring. I couldn't find myself feeling that same joy as I hoped that I wasn't dropping any eggs that would later hatch in my van, or that there weren't any batches deposited in places I couldn't see. I know I killed some of God's creatures and that makes me sad, but having a predator-free van makes me happy.

God Has Spoken

I went to work today and had a great day. The department asked me to start directing the Christmas program, because they weren't very pleased with the other person's job and they felt I was doing all the work of it anyhow. They also had me make several props and stuff for the program (which happens to be the Grinch) and they all were telling me what a good job I was doing and how creative and awesome my props were. I felt APPRECIATED which was something I hadn't been feeling before. Then Coach asked me if I was going to help her coach the Special Olympics basketball team again this year and said she really wanted my help. The kids were having a great time practicing for the program and I was having a BALL directing them and showing them what gestures to use and helping them learn their songs. I felt like I LOVE my job again and those kids need someone who LOVES them. I had applications all printed out ready to send to animal hospitals and the zoo and something was holding me back from sending them. I kept praying for God to give me sign--WHERE AM I SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING? WHERE DO YOU NEED MY SERVICE AND TALENTS? I went from loathing my job, to loving it again and I am SURE God was trying to tell me I am supposed to work with special kids/people and that even if I feel unappreciated and stressed, I am there for a reason and the kids appreciate me and THEY are who really matters in the grand scheme of things. Our Christmas program is going to be so awesome! Our first basketball game is Friday. I'm back in the swing of things and it's all for the kids!

Dear Santa,

Dear Santa,


I have been a pretty good girl this year and I would like to request first off, that we forgo the pony and just give me a couple of nice donkeys.

I would also LOVE to melt away some pounds with my very own elliptical machine--it's my favorite work out machine and I can't find time to join a gym, so having one of these at home would be so AWESOME!

You know we have all wood floors in our house and they get cold in the winter. I would love some of these really fuzzy and soft chenille slipper socks to keep my tootsies warm!

I want this movie Ratatouille because it looks really cute and I never got around to seeing it in the theater.

I would also love my very own photo printer, so I can print all those photos I love to take instead of just storing them in my computer forever.

The new Harry Potter movie the Order of the Phoenix is coming out in December and I have all the others, so you know how important it is that I have a complete collection with me being OCD and all.

I REALLY need a better computer chair. I have to finish college next year and I'll be on the computer a lot and my old chair KILLS my neck and back. I want one of these cushy ergonomically designed chairs almost more than anything else on my list!

No girl's list is complete without diamonds (any variety will do)!

If you don't have a lot of room in the sleigh, cash is fine. I also take PayPal or local checks (I don't think my bank will accept one from the North Pole...) or even cashiers checks or money orders will be fine.

I also want this new book by one of my favorite authors, Wally Lamb. It's called I'll Fly Away and I have already read the first book of his that is related to this one, so again it's the "complete set" syndrome kicking in again. Sorry, OCD happens.

A lap top would be a dream come true because then I could skip the cushy chair request and do my homework wherever it is comfortable.

The Nikon D80 camera is more of a wish than a request. I know it's really expensive, but it takes such BEAUTIFUL photos and you know pictures are my passion. The problem is I can't decide if I want this camera or ....

the Canon Rebel Xti because they have such similar ratings. They are both out of my price range, which is why I am asking you to bring me one or the other. I'll be thrilled with either.

Oh yes, and just in case you think I'm being awfully commercial this year and I usually only ask for books or pajamas, I'd be happy with those too!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

The Queen



P.S. I would also like the Lord of the Rings movies and books and The Pirates of The Caribbean movies. I didn't have time to track down the pictures, so I just added this post script! Oh yeah, and the movie Norbit! Okay those are cheaper than the other outrageous things I listed...so here's hoping!

Boredom Breeds Beauty

Today was long and boring. I was mad for a good part of the day because Scott was supposed to take me to the zoo to see the baby panther BEFORE it is all grown up, but we stayed at home and did house work instead--what fun. After our housework was done I vegged out in front of the computer and messed around with itunes radio (which has a very annoying all Christmas all the time channel that apparently today was only interested in playing every version of The Little Drummer Boy EVER made) and read a bunch of random blogs that had interesting titles. I found a few that were very interesting and well written, but most of the others were trying to sell something and so they bored me further. Scott was lost in football land, so I grabbed my camera, my kid, and my dog and went on another nature walk down our street to see what photographic splendors I could find. First of all, let me just say that I have never seen (or almost ran into) so many banana spiders in my entire life. Good Lord! It is like their mecca-land in the woods by our house. Every few feet is a web with an upside down horror perched on it over its artfully constructed zig-zag pattern (which I am thankful for, because these really white parts of the web are what save you from not seeing the webs at all!). I got some pretty cool shots of wild honey bees gathering nectar from these weedy little flowers, a spider as big as my hand!, some really pretty (and again--unknown) flowers, and Katie. I am posting some of my favorites below. Enjoy!

Flower Challenge

This post is a challenge from a gardening blogger who maintains as beautiful a garden as her blog (you can check her out on my favorites links "Blooming Writer"). She did a post of her favorite flowers for this time of year and challenged other readers to follow suit so she could see what their gardens are up to. Well, I must admit that I have no green thumbs and so any plant or flower that can survive without any intervention on my part is always my favorite. These are some garden shots from my house that I took last week --but have NO IDEA what the names of most of these plants are. I'm hoping Jodi can give me hand with that--she is quite the expert. Here are the plants that can survive the wicked gardening practices (or non-practices as the case may be) of the Queen:

This of course is my ever faithful Morning Glory

This yellow beauty and it's beautifully matching inhabitant are unknown to me!

This almost burgundy flower looks somewhat like a Crepe Myrtle (sp?) but none of my others are blooming right now...this one is a mystery to me also.This is a Date Palm in my side yard, it looks cool, but it is VERY messy. The birds and spiders love it!

I have no idea what the GIANT yellow flowers are, but they sure are tall, probably about 10-12 feet tall. I took one shot looking up at them from the ground and I am pretty tall. They look like daisies to me, so I just call 'em Big Ole Daisies--which I'm sure is probably incorrect! The plant below I was told is called a Shrimp Plant, but its not like I would know the difference if it were correct or not.

This plant has such little flowers and they look so dry and kind of like bells and rarely do the flowers all open up at once. Again (here's a surprise) I don't know what they are.

This little beauty is my Tangelo tree which is a cross between an Orange and a Tangerine tree, all I have to say is YUMMY! I could sit under the tree and eat them all day!

I have heard this little white flower called an impatient and a 4 O' Clock, so I don't which if any name is correct. But it comes back every year on its own, so it must like my harsh gardening.

This is a pineapple plant that grew from a pineapple top that came off a pineapple my mom grew in her yard. It hasn't died in 3 years, but it hasn't produced any fruit either. I'm just proud that some thing I planted on purpose hasn't died!
This is my Hibiscus plant and I know that because it said so on the package when I bought it. It came in a pot with two other plants and this one flowers and has grown a foot and a half higher than its friends planted about 4 feet away. The other two also don't get flowers--they just exist. they are green and leafy and and don't grow or make flowers...it's weird.

The Color Purple

As part of my reflections lately, I have been going on "nature walks" around my yard and neighborhood and finding some of God's artwork that inspires me. I saw this Morning Glory blooming late in the afternoon and couldn't resist a shot. This flower is very symbolic for me because it reminds me of my Granddaddy, who passed away when I was about 14. He was like a father to me and we spent more time together than just about any other adult spent with me during my childhood outside of my mom. He had a wood shop behind his house and I used to spend my summers there learning how to use the tools of the trade. I helped him build tables, gun cabinets, stools, hope chests, end tables, coffee tables, toys, etc. These were some of the most precious moments of my childhood. I had a pretty tumultuous home life and there was a certain peace being in his presence, like all was safe and warm and loving. He never had much to say, but our hearts did a lot of communicating that tongues and voices aren't needed for. Growing all over his wood shop was an incessant vine of Morning Glories. The vine became quite intrusive, even slipping one or two of it's tendrils in through a crack under the door, as if to see what craftsmanship was taking place inside. My Granddaddy never cut them down or pulled them up, or even really made any attempt to control them. He was the one who first told me the name of that truly glorious flower. I asked him why they named it Morning Glory and he said it was because they only bloom in the morning and the blooms close as the day grows later. I don't know if this was true or not, or if he just wanted to have an answer for me; I have noticed that most morning glories do twist up closed by the late afternoon in preparation for their grand appearance the following day. The house I live in now is surrounded by Morning Glory Vines in the woods all around our house and climbing on the house itself. For some reason I cannot bring myself to kill these vines or pull them off of my house because I feel like they symbolize my Grandfather. Every morning I go out my back door and see a whole crop of them blooming gorgeously in the early light of morning and it feels like a giant, "Hello!" from Granddaddy. I feel like their presence here is my Granddaddy saying he will never really leave me and he is protecting my house by wrapping those loving vines around it like his big strong arms would have wrapped around me for one of his famous "bear hugs." I have also noticed that quite a few of the flowers do not close up in the afternoon and this says to me that he is always watching--ALL day, not just in the morning. All of this symbolism makes me think of one of my favorite books, The Color Purple and my favorite quote from the book:

"Listen, God love everything you love--and a mess of stuff you don't. But more than anything else, God love admiration."
"You saying God vain?" I ast.
"Naw," she say. "Not vain, just wanting to share a good thing. I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it."
"What do it do when it pissed off?" I ast.
"Oh it make something else. People think pleasing God is all God care about. But any fool living in the world can see it always trying to please us back."
Excerpt from The Color Purple by Alice Walker

God does please me with my Morning Glories and my memories of my Granddaddy that they bring. No wonder purple is my favorite color!

Deer Fish

These pictures are amazing. I wish I knew who to give credit for them, but someone sent me this in an e-mail and it said they found this deer 1.5 miles offshore. They caught it and put it in their boat and carried it back to shore and released it. Apparently it was too fatigued from swimming to be combative about being brought into the boat. I wonder what in the world it was swimming out to sea for????? Sounds like a good starter for a children's story....The Deerest Fish of All, or the Deer Old Fish...okay, no more corny "deer" jokes. But you have to admit it is really remarkable. These are the kind of awesome nature photos I would like to capture one day. I'll keep my finger crossed for a better camera and some really confused wildlife!

The Plight of the Snow Birds

Last Saturday I went to Walmart to get the finishing touches for Katie's Halloween costume. It was then that I realized that the "Snow Birds" had finished their annual migratory passage to our great state from their northern homes. I could tell this because upon approaching the entrance to Walmart, cops were blocking traffic and a life-flight helicopter was trying to find a place to land to clear away the critically injured people in the wreckage below. I quickly found a different route into the Walmart parking lot, only to find that if I wanted to park somewhere, I would have to find another zipcode to do it in because blue-haired ancient people were coming up the lanes in droves and every parking space was filled by giant badly parked vehicles with out of state tags. At this point I also remembered how a situation like this last year kept me from going to Walmart for 4 months because I was afraid I would go to jail for breaking some rude old geezer's hip the next time I went. I finally parked in a whole other county and walked to Walmart. After I got inside the scene was no better. There were old people EVERY WHERE. The problem I have here, is not that they are old, or from out of state, but that they are intrinsically rude and annoying. I am trying to weave between them and they are either moving extremely slow and blocking all the aisles or trying to speed around on those motorized scooters and run over your toes. I thought that their behaviors in Walmart pretty much match those of their driving skills. They are either bumping you with carts, blocking every one's way, or trying to speed past you to make sure that no one gets the last box of prunes before they do. Which brings me to the point that maybe all old people should not be allowed to drive--not even a scooter or a shopping cart. I know, I know--you must think I am an evil geriatric hater or something, but no one loves their granny more than I do. Love has nothing to do with safety. And some of you may say, what about their rights to drive and get around and I say what about my right to not DIE on my way to Walmart. Or my right to not have the backs of my heel rammed for the entire duration of my shopping trips! Everyone knows the fate of Achilles. I know that when I am pushing 100 and I am racing around at unsafe speeds in the wrong lane in my barge sized car that doubles as an assault weapon I will want to eat these words, but for now, for God's sake if you can't see over the steering wheel stay your ass at home! If you can't shop without being a jerk to everyone in the store just because you are cranky that your hemorrhoids are flaring--stay home! This is enough to make me shop online for the rest of the entire season of "Snow Bird" activity. Now I remember why I was ready to move last winter...I think polar bears would be more hospitable.

Halloween

Here are some of my favorite Halloween pics from this year! Enjoy!

Rattlesnake Festival

Yesterday I went and got a new hairdo--which I absolutely love! It is virtually maintenance free and exactly my style! Hooray for Scott's sister! She is the one who did my hair and Scott's and Katie's yesterday morning. It was like a family hair reunion. After the hair experience we all went to the Rattlesnake festival. It was pretty boring this year compared to last year. Although I can't complain about the boiled peanuts or the funnel cake (which are the prime reasons for visiting any type of festival or fair). Katie went into the FFA petting zoo, climbed a rock wall, rode a pony, and jumped in a bouncy tent. She also watched a reptile show that I was too cheap to pay $5 to get into myself, so I just paid for her $2 ticket and waited outside the tent for her! Today I am headed to Lowry Park Zoo again to scope out the baby white tigers! It is supposed to rain today, so I will just have to enjoy them in the rain...good thing I'm not wearing a white t-shirt!

Glass and Feathers

Yesterday we went to the zoo again and brought Jarhett and Emi with us. It was really cool. This time the Tiger was out and he was roaring and yawning and attacking the glass at the window. There was one guy there who kept putting his hand to the glass and the tiger would either try to lick his hand through the glass or he would jump at him and snarl and slap the glass with his ENORMOUS claws. I got some pretty cool (and blurry) shots of this. I have never been more thankful for the invention of glass in my life. It was the most interactive experience I've had with the tigers there. The guy told us he goes there all the time and the tiger always reacts to him like that, so he thinks he must remind him of a zookeeper or a trainer. He also told us that the tiger we saw is the daddy to cubs who come out in the morning at the zoo, so we are going to the zoo in the morning to see if we can see the babies! I can't wait!!! We also saw Meerkat babies this trip. We dropped a feather into their enclosure and all the meerkats ran out of the holes and attacked the feather and bit it and then scratched it into the dirt. It was weird and awesome all at the same time. We petted the stingrays again and got some pretty interesting photos with the manatees too. We also got to see the kangaroos which were closed last time we went. I think I may be becoming addicted to the zoo...there are so many photo opportunites there. This last trip also let the kids feed the lorikeets which was cool, until one of the birds bit Jarhett. Anyhow, to make a long story short, I am stoked about the zoo!