Swedish flamingoes massacred in frenzied anteater attack

The Local (Sweden) ^ | April 5, 2011

[ConservativeStatement]

A flock of ten flamingoes have met a brutal end at a zoo in Eskilstuna in eastern Sweden after a curious anteater broke into their compound and clawed them to death, leaving a further five birds nursing injuries.

[Monkey Face]

OH.
MY.
STARS!

I have coloring books and crayons (because I like to color in the books!) and will bring them out the next time she is here!!!

Thanks for the idea! (I feel so embarrassed...)

[Tax-chick]

A ream of cheap copy paper is just as good for a child, especially if you help her draw the picture she wants.

[Tax-chick]

Oh, you know what else? I just remembered, from when Anoreth’s godmother was babysitting her: preschoolers love to pour water. Get out some pots and measuring cups, and let her dip water from one to another.

[Monkey Face]

I suspect, knowing her mum, that watercolor paints will be welcome HERE, but not “there.” (LOL!)

G-Mas are so lenient...I hear...

[sionnsar]

Well, for what it’s worth, those of us here are always wishing for easy travels, smooth security checks, and no lost luggage for you!

Nothing really to complain about on this trip. A series of mishaps meant I boarded with no breakfast, but elite status otherwise mitigated the impact.

The "personal entertainment center" for my seat didn't work; no movies to while away the time on this flight -- but that was okay because I had my MP3 player to listen to and the Kindle to read. Except, to my amazement, I discovered that my row had no reading lights. Not that they weren't working, there were none installed, this was by design! Bizarre.

But fortunately I keep a mini LED flashlight in my "aboard bag", a 3.5''x7.5''x 2'' pouch that holds everything I anticipate needing on the plane. So I pulled out the flashlight and proceeded to read.

Life's not bad. And at the end of trip I was waved through Immigration and Customs so quickly (and pleasantly!) my head is still spinning. *\:^)

[Monkey Face]

She was fascinated by my 64-oz mug, and was dismayed to find that it was empty, even with the straw!

I’ll make sure she has some “water-carriers” of her own.

THANKS!!

[sionnsar]

G-Mas are so lenient...I hear...

Someday, LoM...

I knew my co-worker (corporate team partner) at last week's event was young, but during one discussion I learned she is the same age as older daughter.

[sionnsar]

BTW, trying to get a few photos from last week up this evening. If I can stay awake that long.

[Monkey Face]

I would love to have a Kindle or a Kindle Clone, but maybe my next birthday will provide it. (By me, most likely! LOL!)

It’s good to have you back. Those of us on the UT have grown accustomed to your style!

[Monkey Face]

G-Mas are awesome! I can say that because (due to the age of my parents) all my grandparents had passed away. I never heard stories or felt the love. So whatever I can give, to whomever I can give it to, it COUNTS!!

[sionnsar]

It is SO good to be back! Last week, and the one before, were so hectic I pretty had to forget about the outside world.

Not that it's going to be much different this week; I have a ton of things to wade through the next three days before I... board another airplane.

How've you been?

[Monkey Face]

Well, golly, sion...
Twice a week, I walk to the post orifice, then through the desert to Walmart, then an additional 1/3 mile to the bus stop. The actual mileage is three miles. Since I’ve been walking, *pant-pant* I’ve managed to lose 21 pounds.
I keep looking behind me, and the stuff is not THERE! LOL!

My clothes are growing, and that’s either good or bad...can I AFFORD smaller clothes?

[sionnsar]

I need to do more of that. In Paris I kept walking until the feet were ready to scream, then rested and started again. Covered more on foot than I thought I would do, but was glad for Metro!

Coming right along with the photos...

[Monkey Face]

Somehow, when I begin to walk, my stride is something to be um...noticed? Back in the day when we had no other means of transportation, it was nothing for us to walk three to five miles to get where we needed to go, and back again. It was what We Did.

Now, I can walk downhill to get where I need to go, but I also need to make sure that the way home is within the time frame that will put me on the correct bus to get me home...

I’m too old for this stuff...

[sionnsar]

I’m too old for this stuff...

I know that feeling. Time to find new stuff...

[Monkey Face]

But what would we DO with it? Pray, tell?

[sionnsar]

Didn’t we face that with the old stuff when it was the new stuff? Is the old new stuff different from the new new stuff in ways different from the old old stuff vs the new old stuff?

[Monkey Face]

One of the reasons I like you so much, Sion...there is nothing new, old or in between that you don’t have a really good grip on! :o]

[sionnsar]

Photos coming up.

Here's the DeutscheBahn bullet train I took from Paris to Saarbruecken. It attains speeds over 200 MPH -- faster than my aircraft (Airbus A330) attained this morning when it lifted off from the runway! I've seen these in previous visits; amazingly fast and the movie "Atlas Shrugged" brought them to mind. Add a little speed and keep the price competitive, I'd choose these over crummy Alaska Airlines (air? what air? you need to breathe or sumpin?) in a flash.

Here's what it looks like in First Class (4 Euros more than coach for this trip). I didn't expect the nice lunch they served.

[Tax-chick]

My grandmother, which is my kids’ great-grandmother, always said, “Oh, let them do it!” when we visited with our children, and my Dad would say, “You didn’t say that to me!!!”