in_the_blue | Feed the Birds.

A buck a cup.

We went to the Oregon Zoo today for a couple reasons: the weather was perfect (not too hot, not too cold). It was Sunday of a holiday weekend, which means most people are out of town and it wasn't very crowded.

But really, I just wanted to feed the lorikeets. You buy these little nectar cups (watered-down apple juice, I hear tell) for $1/cup and walk into the aviary and these lorikeets just land on you and drink the nectar right out of your hands. Yeah, they poop, but it washes off. They're really pretty cool. It's my favorite thing to do at the zoo now, and it's one reason I keep renewing our zoo membership. I can go any time I want and for the simple price of a buck, be covered with birds.

Hannah likes the zoo for another reason: they have french fries shaped like animals. When she was little, we used to have animal fries fights. Rhino versus bear; ketchup versus mustard. Today, we talked about whether the challengers on Iron Chef know their "secret" ingredient and pick their opponent and plan their menus ahead of time. It was a bit of an intellectual discussion to be having with a 10-year-old, but she is a bit on the precocious side. Hannah and I watched the Birds of Prey show while Mitch stood in line for a barbecued something-or-other, and this bald eagle flew right over her head. Wasn't more than 2' away from her. So big, so pretty.

Speaking of birds, we had a pair of black-throated grey warblers in our yard today. They're really fun to watch.

Let's see, what else? Welcome back weary travelers

lostinapapercup and

sff_corgi. Mitch liked the Bebop movie and I'm glad we didn't watch it censored and with ads.

And completely other: go Mary Frances and Guinevere. Those girls rule.