Why, oh, why can't it be bears?

Magnet #1089 - Colorado Bear

So, during this indefinite stay in North Carolina, I've been surrounded by all sorts of flora and fauna.

Deer. Coming from every which way. I was driving back from the VA early Sunday morning and came across a whole passel (yes, I just said passel) of deer checking out the Historic Salisbury sign.

Ducks and geese. Crossing the road. I kid you not. For years we've been seeing Duck Crossing signs at City Park - my favorite road sign of all time. But we've never actually seen them crossing the road. Until last week, when they stopped traffic.

Cows, horses and donkeys. Given that we live 10 minutes outside the "city" limits, it's not surprising that I pass pasture after pasture full of them. Of course, there was that dead cow on his side on Providence Church Road, in full-on rigor mortis. Eww.

Raccoons. They're freakin' stealing my trash from the backyard. Or, at least I hope it's just raccoons, anyway.

Tigers. Ok, fine. The I-85 billboard for Tiger World, in Rockwell, of all places. My BIL and I are planning to visit once the season begins. I wonder if they have magnets. Hmmmm.

And don't even get me started on ladybugs, beetles, and other tiny creatures of this earth. Blech.

Or the roadkill! Double blech!

All I have to say is if I have to see NC wildlife, why the hell couldn't it be bears? I've only ever been to the Denver airport, so all I really know about the state is what I've learned from Mork & Mindy. But, I've heard stories of friends of friends who live there and they've had bear in trees in their backyard!

Me? All I get is deer stands and target practice in my backyard.

And raccoons. Don't forget the blasted raccoons.

Ducks in disguise

Magnet #466 - Pekkle in Costume

Wanted to use something happy-making in an attempt to make the month of June be the best month ever in 2009.

Sanrio's now retired Pekkle. C'mon. How can you not love this guy.  

He's a lifeguard. Wheeeeet! 

He's a surfer. Hang ten, dude!

He's a pirate! Argh!

I actually have a bigger set of Pekkle with the individual pieces for these costumes on the lower level of my cube at work, so that all the little visiting munchkins can play with him. Kids have a fascinating attraction to magnets - some like to eat them, some like to make funny outfits, and some wonder why Pekkle's pirate outfit doesn't go with the Fuzzy Bear next to the Pekkle set and why Fuzzy Bear's dresses don't work on Pekkle.  Heh.

Anyway, as I was typing this, a supercute news story just came on tv...looks like the news wants something happy to report as well.  Apparently, in Queens, a Momma duck and her flock of ducklings were out for a stroll along a Whitestone Expressway service road...and the little ones fell into the sewer grate!  Oh, noesss!

No worries - the NYPD emergency service guys stopped traffic to fish the nine ducklings out, and they all made it home safely!

Yay! Happy news!