Furry Friends

Who's ever heard of an albino squirrel?

In my neighborhood, there lives a furry white creature just this one. No, she did just fall into a bucket of flour. No, she did not get into a fight with a can of paint, but it does come in handy for a game of Hide & Seek during the snowy winter days.

What the heck is albino?

Albus means "white" in Latin. Albinism is a lack or complete absent of melanin pigment in your skin, eyes and hair. It is a form of hypopigmentary congenital disorder. Albinism results from inheritance of recessive gene alleles. The condition is known to affect mammals (including humans), fish, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Humans with this condition often get sunburned if they spend too much time under the hot sun. (Either way, you should always wear sunblock and hats!) Has anyone seen an albino squirrel frolicking in their neighborhood? Keep a look out and check this little furry friend out Facebook!

Can you guess what city this albino squirrel hangs out?

Inventions

There are some things in this world that are unnecessary. In some cases, people can make a fortune off those seemingly unnecessary and ridiculous things.

Don't waste your time. Don't waste your money. Don't be ridiculous.

Unless of course you can make a fortune too.

:(

Boston mourns. New York celebrates. Miss Lou remains passive.

Anyone wanna guess why?

Happy Halloween 2009!

Did you fill the night with hairy scary wigs, velvet capes, semi-permanent face gunk and fake blood?

Gosh, I hope so.

Did you eat all your candy yet? Did you lapse into a sugar coma after jumping off the walls like a psycho? Did you steal all your brother or sister's candy after s/he wasn't willing to trade all your Almond Joys away for Twix and Reeses?

Gosh, I hope nobody caught you.

What did you wear? Did you see anyone else sporting your same store bought costume? Did you steal all their candy?

Gosh, I hope not.

SEND ME YOUR CANDY!

Okay, jk. I never eat junk, remember? Ha.

Miss you all and wish I got to trick-or-treat with you that night!!!

Half

Happy 18th Sunday!

I'm off to brave the 49 degree-windy, rainy weather for my second to last half marathon race of the season. After this one, it's the LAST before the weather drops to ugly.

Wish me luck...

Miss Lou

My usual goals: 1) Embrace every mile, 2) finish without dying and finally, 3) finish without killing anyone. Oh, and 4) Smile at the cameras.

Nobel Peace & Other Wild Things

Congrats to our fabulous President for winning and accepting the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize! Congrats to Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers for writing and releasing the film from Maurice Sendak's infamous Caldecott-winning children's book "Where the Wild Things Are." (You better remember that book from FP!) I suppose it makes little sense to merge these two diverging pieces of news together, but for President Obama's daughter Malia, that may not be so unusual.

On the day of the award ceremony, Malia, age 10, congratulates her father then proceeds to remind him it's Bo's birthday and that it's going to be a 3-day weekend. (Named after the singer/performer Bo Diddly, Bo is the Obama family dog.) Never mind that her father is the fourth president to ever win this prestigious and honorable prize. Never mind he's the third sitting president to win, or that he's the very first to receive the award as a freshman in office. In winning, President Barack Obama joins the elite group of others such as Mikhail Gorbechav (in helping end Cold War) and Nelson Mandela (in his great efforts to end apartheid.) But to his daughters at home in the White House, President Obama is just a good ole' humble and fun loving dad. Aw, shucks...

As a 48-year-old first year president, Obama has more pressure and expectations to take on now. Many believe he was undeserving of such prestige. Some believe it wasn't enough to be selected for simply his efforts and inspiration. But the President was chosen for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples" and he accepted the award as "a call to action." He continues his efforts for change and charity by donating his $1.4 million to charity.

President Obama hasn't yet decided where the money will go...who should he donate this money to? (Sorry, video games, trendy footwear, new sports equipment and junk food fails to fall under the category of charity!)

Three loud cheers for our great and Noble President! King of the Wild Things!

Let the Wild Rumpus Start!

Choices

Happy Sunday, Kids...(or are you now teens? Pre-teens? Yikes.)

What will you do today? Some of you will make warm sticky buns for your family, stay indoors to master that last pre-algebra problem, tinker keys on the piano to warm up those stiff fingers, tackle a few chapters in that (required) book by choice, or decide that today will be the day to build a rocket ship, finish writing your fancy research paper on AEROSPACE ENGINEERING or learn Arabic. Keep IT up, geniuses (and don't forget my bank account number when you make the millions!)

While the rest of you...will sleep in, scarf down a bowl of lucky Captain Crunch or crunchy Lucky Charms in front of cartoon reruns with sleep still tangled in your eyelashes and then spend the rest of your lazy Sunday playing video games in comfy pajamas. But unfortunately, most of you have strict parents that would never allow for sugar cereals, but instead give you a bitter lecture about your lack of work ethic while forcing plain soggy oatmeal, fried eggs with oozy yolks, spinach pancakes and more nagging down your throat. Prizes don't come with those healthy foods and if it did, your little brother or sister would probably have beaten you to it anyway. And if so, you are one of those students who are then dragged to church with ungroomed hair only to get another lecture in the car when you've forgotten your bibles - yet again! You will then try to keep awake during Sunday school, putting more effort in disguising those uncontrollable yawns, only to wish you were still under warm covers and slumber.

Life as a pre-teen can sure s-u-c-k.

Which kind is your Sunday? And how would it be different if you didn't have unreasonable parents and annoying brother and sisters and strict teachers and God down your back and under your skin?

Jai Ho and Jia Yo!

Miss Lou

6-7th Grade: Above & Beyond!

Hello 401,

Thanks for keeping me updated on the dis/likes of your lives and filling me in on the wonders, curiosities, emotional mysteries of your great adventure at Middle/Junior High School (M/JHS). It gets more competitive and harder as the years add on, but once you get used to the different subject and periods, varying personality of teachers, mastering the transition minutes between classes and hours of endless assignments and projects and readings and calculating and dissecting, it's not so so bad, right? (Phew, I'm tired just thinking back on my experiences...zzz.)

In no time, M/JHS will all be over. Some of us love school: the smell of newly sharpened pencils, the hopeful feel of blank white paper and the sour smell of student lockers (ew). Some choose to continue onto more school voluntarily while others loathe at the mere thought of heeding to annoying bells, getting pushed and shoved through crowded hallways, and cringe at the sight and smell of lab goggles and used textbooks.

Advice? Well, you'll just have to continue feeling all these wondrous sensations, giving into each teachers' expectations and trying your absolute best in discovering what you enjoy and do best. (Really, the key is to find out what the teacher wants and begin first by abiding, then adding your own personal and brilliant flare.)

Once you find * IT * - school life will turn into something you look forward to, rather than despise. The IT factor is something that you can't wait to keep on doing. IT instills passion and interest. Once you find IT, time will no longer exist. Great artists feel IT when they draw, paint, play music or write. Biologists and doctors feel IT when they look inside a microscope, splitting cells or holding a scalpel against flesh. Athletes feel IT when they pass through the finish line and break their Performance Record. Musicians feel IT when they write a new song or feel the high energy of their fans on stage. Origami enthusiasts feel IT when they discover a whole new fold, or complete an impossible structure with paper. Animal activists feel IT when they save a whale from endangerment, or cast a broken bone on a naughty puppy. Chefs feel IT when they "wow!" their customers with new recipes and wake the taste buds with great sensations.

Teachers and professors feel IT when their students discover their very own IT. Eaters feel IT when they eat. Sleepers feel IT when they sleep. Veda Bee feels IT when she passes out after eating too many stolen treats. Well, you get the picture...

When do you feel IT? Not happening? Give it time. Explore more. Take more risks. Work hard. Play hard and don't forget to take time for a(n) (un)healthy snack and a long nap as reward.

Keep writing!

Miss Lou

S is for Shediac

Great job Daniel for getting the answer for the last posting. Yes, it helps to research! Now that school is well into it's first weeks, how is middle school?!

Hope all is fabulous!

Miss Lou

F is for Fisherman in...

What C-letter country is this brave lobster man looking out to? He just left a dozen lobster pots out to sea and is checking out if the buoys are still floating safely.

Behind him lives the largest lobster in the ___ but no worries, he's friendly.

What city/country did Miss Lou visit this summer?

Hint: Country starts with C. City starts with S. One of the Maritime provinces. (I think I gave you too many hints!)

Miss Lou's Back!

Yes, this is me. Just lounging around doing my usual summer reading and enjoying the warm weather in my flip-flops. Where is Miss Lou hanging out on this rickety rickshaw? Guess!

The last entry was the Golden Gate Bridge! Congrats Pichu, and yes...let's get together!

Miss you all and we're in the middle of summer!

You can do it!!!

Guess again! The last one is hard, I'm telling you. Two words. South Asia. Oh, so close! Keep trying. I suppose the rule for this is...I won't post new until the last is guessed.

Come on! Don't give up.

S is for a country in...

South Asia. Try again!

This one is tricky. You may think it's one country, but it does not begin with an I. Guess again! If you have been to this place, what does this entrance take you? A museum? Theater? Jail?

Congrats to Anonymous for getting the last post!

N is for...

Many of you have visited this famous tourist sight. Much like Iguazu, these rushing waters share two countries. Name this attraction and its dual nationalities.

Congratulations to Bryan for getting the last entry!

S is for...

Here is an easier one. This city is most important for it's country's silk industry. It is nicknamed "Heaven on Earth" by its people and "The Venice of the East" by foreign travelers. It is one of the oldest cities where students attend embroidery school - both competitive and ranked Top 4. Where is this God sent place?

*If you get this one, where is Venice?

What is this structure called and what is this specific one built for?

Name the city and country!

S is for....?

What parts of the world interest you? I know most of you have been to at least two countries in your lifetime. (China, India, Philippines, Switzerland, Vietnam, Canada...) At my ripe age of... (oh, let's stay on topic here), I would like to now dedicate the next 26 blogs to the 26 countries I've visited in MY "short" lifespan.

Please add to any news, events, famous people/sites, political or arts interests to the comment!

Challenge: Before we begin with the 26-country research, would anyone like to take a shot at guessing where this lion is shooting water? Huh? I was in this country during my Summer 2007 travels.

Countries upon request!

Welcome Mini-Moo!

This sweet cat was rescued off Center Street in the midst of the traffic-filled chaos by my friendly neighbor (aka) Dr. Doolittle. Once he stepped inside, he began exploring into all the rooms and up and down the furniture. We assume he is still a young kitty cat and will soon grow twice its size. MEEE-OOW!

Much like the life of Veda Bee, this curious kitty cat will have a home. Dr. Doolittle will post signs around the neighborhood, but if nobody claims him (fingers crossed!), he will live in our building with plenty of space of choice to sleep, food, water, kitty litter, treats, toys and lots of love!

Tips on Adopting (Cats or Dogs):

-Make a visit to nearby shelters or check online for adoption shows. Some animal rescues bring all their cats/dogs to your local pet supply stores on Saturday or Sunday mornings.

-Make sure your family, your physical house and backyard is suitable for the size of your new furry friend.

-Make a list of things you need and need to know before adoption. (*Example below.)

-Search online for the furry face and e-mail for a visit!

-Ask Miss Gilbert or Mrs. Gifford for more suggestions. They volunteer at Furry Friends Rescue and often times foster dogs before they are adopted.

-Get involved in volunteering, donating (time or $), or fostering. Ask parents first before bringing home a large furry creature!

-If you or your family is not ready but you still love animals, you can always volunteer on weekends for your own interest OR add to your community service hours. They need all the help you can give them.

Enjoy!

*Miss Lou's Questions before Adopting the Infamous Veda Bee:

-Am I ready? Yes! I have no plans to travel or live abroad anytime soon and I would be willing to take her with me if plans change.

-Can I afford a pet? Yes! I take full financial responsibility for vaccinations, adoption fees, food, shelter, treats, toys, travel expenses, emergency medical treatments, flea meds....more treats.

-Who will take Veda if something happens to me? Miss Gilbert is Veda Bee's Godmother since she is an animal lover also. In the last two years, Veda has acquired three more Godparents - on both coasts! Lucky girl!

-How much exercise would you be willing to provide? Everyday! As part of my daily routine, Veda will get more exercise than her laziness is willing. (Sometime I have to drag her!) During the long winter months, Veda gets her exercise by chasing after her doggie food.

-How much space? Lots! Since my old place didn't have a backyard, I took Veda out each day to the dog parks and coastlines. But now she is lucky to have a big, big yard and a wild park just two blocks away!

-How much love are you going to give? LOTS! Neverending cuddles, kisses and pets...of course!

-How will you potty train and discipline? With lots of treats and strict routine. As long as you set initial ground rules and follow them, your pet should eventually follow. Refer to obedience training books, videos and classes...and always ask the previous foster parent for extra help. One of the greatest things about online rescue, is that you can choose a pet that has already been trained!

Good luck!

DM on Stage!

Last night, I had this crazy dream. I was sitting in front of my computer, trying desperately to decode a bunch of silly numbers and letters while the fast-paced Time Bomb ticked along with my pounding heart. The minutes and seconds remaining dwindled fast and like every terrible nightmare, my task had to complete in order to save the world from drowning teenagers! I tried and tried to figure out what the numbers were supposed to mean, but no such luck. Aaah! In my dream, I just sat in front of the computer, panicking and pulling my hair out. What is all this?! How do I stop the clock?!

Did the Absent-Minded Female Heroine save the day? Not sure since she woke up in sheer relief that the weight of the young adult world was no longer her responsibility. (So why were my shoulders still feeling heavy?) Ouch! Very strange indeed. WHAT was in my dinner last night? Geez... (Word of advice: As tempting as it sounds, please stay clear away from marinated tofu cutlets and Fuji apples before bedtime. How about a pint of ice cream instead?)

Before I ramble on, let me introduce Today's Special x-401 Guest. Here's introducing another Superhero in the making...... starring ...... dimming lights ...... flashing spotlight .... drum roll please...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * DM! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

DM is inspiring the world in a unique and clever way. He is designing his very own sculptures with paper. Go Origami!

Check out DM's Origami Gallery!

Thanks for sharing ! We wish you best of luck in building Miss Lou & Veda Bee a new house! I mean, building your next fabulous creation. Who needs fancy store bought materials when you've got recycled paper and your clever fingers? Careful of cuts and callouses.
Can you guess how many pieces of pink paper were cut and folded to create this spiky flower design? What color paper did DM use to make this pink spiky thing? (No, it's not a trick question.) Most importantly, how does it all stay together without glue? Help!

Is this magic or an optical illusion? Is this his hand, or a figment of your imagination? If it really is his hand, is it really DM's or a hired hand model?

Is this edible version made out of banana skins and Twinkies? And is it REALLY yellow and white? Ask these mind-boggling questions to the Origami King himself, but first...check out his gallery and order your very own masterpiece! Or watch his YouTube video and try it out yourself. Can you build the designs above? Other kinds?

Thanks DM and hope you return as our guest very soon!

Happy Post 4th Weekend, Kiddies!

Good morning and happy Post 4th of July Weekend!

Where did you end up going?

On the Esplanade in Boston, my friends and I found an empty spot on the grassy spot not far from the Hatch Shell and parked ourselves on blankets, pulled out our many unhealthy snacks (yes, even me!) and listened to the music blaring out of Sound Tower #4. Can you find us on the Charles River Map? (Don't ask how many there were, but boy, were they loud! But fab choice of music indeed.) We played cards and ate until our tummies felt sick. People brought their tents, tarps, guitars, children and well-behaved doggies. (No, Veda prefers to be away from crazy crowds.) Others hit beach balls while some even took naps. (Not a great combo - beach balls and naps. Yes, some fights broke out! Call the Boston PD! What's the #?!) The sky was clear blue with scattered clouds to hide the sun during moments of intense heat. It was fabulous with no thunderstorms or rain, hooray!

At eight o'clock after the National Anthem, the Boston Pops performed with Neil Diamond. But I'm sure your favorite part would've been the Supersonic Jets blasting across the sky - when they near blown out my eardrums. Vaaaaa-rooooomroaaar! Scary...but what a sight! Fast and furious.

Neil Diamond sang his infamous "Sweet Caroline" to the audience of 500 million and repeated his trademark song after commercial break while dancing his old legend body away. There's just something to be said about thousands of different kinds of people of all ages singing along one song. Talk about unity! What songs did you play during your picnic-party-noise-polluting BBQ?

Around ten-thirty in the evening after the sky grew dark, the crowd inched toward the Cambridge side of the water to view the strategically-designed, ever beautiful crackling sky. The Sound Towers played a well-thought out arrangement of popular songs to add to the already crowd-pleasing excitement. (Yes, that is Grease you hear blaring in the background.) What other songs do you recognize as the fireworks flash and pop? What other songs would go with works?

In hopes all your fantastic celebrations were filled with good eats, music and NOISE!

Always,
Miss Lou

Happy 4th Weekend!

So much to see and so little time! Thanks for all your e-mails! I loved hearing about all your summer adventures, classes and downtime.

Keep writing, kids!

Now before this becomes an official food blog, let's see what is in store for all the kiddies around your area on this special Independence Day weekend. Will you be hiking and picnicking with the fam? BBQ-ing in the backyard with your 100 million Asian relatives? YouTubing the flight of the monarch and matching it with your favorite tunes? (Ashank? You know what I'm saying...) Or will you be venturing out to the Great Big City to see the works explode on fire?

On this side of the world, the fireworks and crackers have been setting off each night. In the same area each night - yup, right outside of my window. Loud and clear, and scaring the pee pee poo poo out of poor Veda. She shivers like a cat and hides under the croak of my arms. (Ribbit!) Some watch dog she is, but I find it rather endearing and enjoy the cute cuddle.

Here are some of the greatest things to do on this sunny 4th weekend:

1. Blow up a rafts, buy lots of cold drinks and crunchy snacks. Drift down the American River with friends and family. Don't forget the life vests and sunblock!

2. Hike up on feets with a picnic basket of treats to Coyote Hills or Mount Diablo to watch the sun go down and the fireworks fly up. Leave your iPods at home!

3. Fire up the BBQ and grill the corn, burgers and buns. Yums!

4. Alameda will host their annual parade with theme: Clean & Green!

5. Cupertino will host a pancake breakfast to set off their AM parade.

6. And if you're wiling to make the small drive to Santa Cruz county, you can celebrate with parades and events in Watsonville, Boulder Creek and Aptos (this last parade features Great Pyrenes dogs in their parade!)

7. How about a parade with live music and fireworks? The 11th Annual Hometown parade will take place in Antioch at 7pm. Firework show will begin at 9:30pm. Free Admission!

8. If you enjoy music, Vallejo Symphony Orchestra will perform in Vallejo with an after party from 2:30-6:30.

9. Or how about just some quality time to catch up with your fun ones?

Miss you all!