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.

[Tax-chick]

LOL!

[sionnsar]

If you ever get the chance to to taste sage hen on an authentic Native American menu, take it. You will not be disappointed. (As long as it’s in North America!)

Noted, and thanks.

[Darksheare]

Being a grandparent is a different task altogether from what I hear.
Good luck.
[The Horrible Tale of Ingbar Blurgerwhelp as a bedtime story may be of order.]

Oh, happy Birthday Face!

[Darksheare]

The bravest man in all of Graknia was one Ingbar Blurgerwhelp who did single combat against a stale tuna melt in the King’s refrigerator that had begun waylaying passers by to demand tribute and prisoners.

[Monkey Face]

I play with her with what I have at hand. I pay attention, I let her know i’m listening and that I think she is important. But I have nothing to help her play...just me and the stuff in my “KAV.”

So I need input about Little Redheads!!

[Monkey Face]

No thanks necessary. I’ve had it and I can still taste it...almost 40 years later. ;o]

[ThomasThomas]

It is behind a dairy farm near where I live.

[Tax-chick]

Two-year-olds like arranging things into patterns. If you can find some colored blocks or something like a Chinese Checkers set, that can occupy them for quite a while. “What if we line up all the reds? Now can we put the reds alternating with the blues? How about the triangles and the cubes?”

A ream of paper and some crayons is good, too. Little kids love to color sheet after sheet of paper. I usually give each of the little boys a ream of paper for Christmas and birthdays. Watercolor paints, 99 cents for the cheap ones at Hobby Lobby. I can send you a gross, if you’d like.

[Darksheare]

Thunderstorms rolling in, shutting down.

[Monkey Face]

Ummm...
Thanks, Darks...
I think.

Could you FReepmail me the Horrible Tale of Ingbar Blurgerwhelp? We LIKES Bed Time Stories...

[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!!!”

[Monkey Face]

Ay-yi-yi!

What an AWESOME place to be!
I can’t help but wish I had the gelt...

[sionnsar]

.there is nothing new, old or in between that you don’t have a really good grip on! :o]

Just hanging on for dear life, I am... *\;^)

Some photos mostly without comment from Saarbruecken. Don't know why it doesn't appear in the guidebooks I looked at, I found it a pleasant city, both old and new.

There is much more, and much to be said. But this city was unknown even to most of the Germans present. I would hope for a return visit so I could see more of the place.

[Monkey Face]

Since I never had grandparents that I could relate to, I’ll be most lenient to the chillren that are presented to me on occasion.

The Little Redhead is an absolute joy. When she is more comfy with me, and I have more things to keep her occupied, I’ll keep her overnight. I’m sure mom and gramma will enjoy that...or not...Mom seems to be a worry-wort.

:-])

[sionnsar]

Ay-yi-yi! What an AWESOME place to be! I can’t help but wish I had the gelt...

Me too, which is why I do it on the company dime. (Whilst retaining as best I can my reputation for being a frugal traveller.)

But I think you'd enjoy the photos at least.

[Tax-chick]

Just like “Rick Steves’ Europe”! We watch it on PBS. Also Rudy Maxa. Free “travel” in the comfort of your living room, with wine.

[Tax-chick]

Color, build blocks, walk around outside, watch a cartoon ... sleeeeep. Keeping a 3-4 year-old overnight is da easy.

If your health holds up, I’ll fly you over here sometime to hang out with the Offspring while DP and I go to ... Charlotte or somewhere ... alone!

[Monkey Face]

I would love to have visited Saarbruecken when I was in Deutschland. Sadly, my spouse at the time was (something less than a hero, but you didn’t hear it from me...) not interested in historical places. The doo-doo head.

[Monkey Face]

Any time I’m in a new atmosphere is a good time for me. I have something to focus on besides Me, Myself and Irene. Let me know when you want some alone time. But PLEASE!!! Don’t send me thru ALANTA!!!

In the meantime, I’ll haunt the thrift store and Walmart and see what I can find. I have a couple of patterns for cloth books, but I don’t know where they are...it would be so much fun to make one for her...

[Monkey Face]

I have lots of Pixar Movies, so she will most likely be happy to cuddle up with me to watch them. Popcorn and Kool-Aid?

[Tax-chick]

Hobby Lobby sells cloth book prints. I’ll check the clearance next time I’m there, which should be soon. Bill bought some drawing pens that weren’t just what he wanted.

[Tax-chick]

Colorless beverage. Sugar-free lemonade (close to colorless) or diet 7up or equivalent. Little kids always spill.

[Tax-chick]

Good night! All gone here except Jake and me. He’s chewing, loudly. Hopefully he won’t throw up; I think that’s usually Shannon.

Tomorrow is a ... Monday.

[sionnsar]

Just like “Rick Steves’ Europe”! We watch it on PBS. Also Rudy Maxa. Free “travel” in the comfort of your living room, with wine.

This is TV, right? I don't watch it (except in hotel rooms evenings IF I have time and there is something interesting -- this rarely occurs).

Believe me, it is more fun to go places where you don't speak the language and make your way around.

I told LoM earlier that I was engaging Paris much more by having to deal with it directly instead of through LoM as translator/interpreter. (But I had already reached a certain level of comfort with the natives' English.)

Downside is you can get lost/in-trouble faster, and it can be a LOT more frustrating to recover.

[Monkey Face]

Thanks for all your help! I’m so at a loss about baby girls!!

Have a good evening! And let me know when you want me to baby sit...;o]

[sionnsar]

Sadly, my spouse at the time was (something less than a hero, but you didn’t hear it from me...) not interested in historical places. The doo-doo head.

I daresay LoM could have properly described me with that term once upon a time. Maybe even to this day (though she'd never do it publicly or even privately *\:^).

But... we learn from each other. She already speaks some "Engineering." (After a few decades of marriage I think she'd excel at Engineering: do they offer a French Lit minor in that? -- OTOH, You Do Not Want to mix French Lit and Engineering!)

And I am beginning to learn about "history" (the chapter of life preceding the invention of the Transistor), and of :ancient history" (the chapter of life preceding the invention of the Vacuum Tube).

[sionnsar]

Paris:

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c236/sionnsar/2011-05-Europe/th_017.jpg?t=1305510735 target="_blank">

[sionnsar]

Some I seem to have missed:

[Tax-chick]

[NicknamedBob]

"Tell those folks I said Hey, NnB, although it’s not my birthday."

Tiamat says "hi".

[Tax-chick]

How nice! Tell her I miss her and I hope she’s still dancing vigorously!