Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Cute Animals 'n' Shit

Those who know me well know that in the days immediately before I'm due to set off on a big trip, the best thing to do is keep away from me. I cease entirely to be the sweet-tempered frolicking teddy bear beloved of millions. The combination of packing, the anticipation of air travel, and the wrapping up of a thousand work details turns me into Vlad the Impaler, only without the wry sense of humor.

About the only person who seems to be able to calm me down is C, who managed to get me out of the apartment and into the fresh air (or what passes for it around here) for much of the weekend.

On Saturday, he good-naturedly accompanied me to the Zen Center to celebrate Vesak–Buddha's birthday. A merry time was had by all, though I was disappointed that they did not attempt to put 2,500 candles into the cake. The cake was very pretty, topped by a blue frosting elephant. C said if he were Buddha he'd rather have a big Mrs. Field's cookie with a Power Ranger on it.

On Monday, we paid a visit to the Lincoln Park Zoo, a short distance from our neighborhood, and I was able to lose myself for a little while in photography. I will be using a new telephoto lens on the trip, and this was a great chance to work with it.

We saw a leopard. Leopards always make me think of Gloria Swanson.



We saw a feisty, one-legged bird of some sort.



I often look like this on Monday mornings.

We saw a monkey who was contemplating the fact that George W. Bush still has more than nine hundred days left in his final term.



We learned that in monkey families, just as in human families, naptime is often mostly for the benefit of the adults.



We found a monkey who has evidently been practising yoga.



If I could do this, I'd give up my day job and go into porn.

And I took a picture of my favorite monkey of them all.



Gotta go. Break's over. Time to slap a couple people.

30 comments:

  1. Awww, is the last picture the lucky C? I want a shot of the two of you!

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  2. Talk about a big evil grin! It could be the monitor or it could be C contemplating what he's going to do to you when you're too cranky.

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  3. Anonymous11:22 AM

    Great photos! Too bad you didn't get any pictures of the wildlife at the Palmer House Hilton this weekend. It was Mr. Leather 2006!

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  4. Anonymous12:19 PM

    Amazing photos, o beloved frolicking teddy bear. Good for C for getting you away from yourself for a while.

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  5. While C is quite a cutie, my eyes keep returning to the fabulous bird. Such malice in that glare! What had you done to piss off that bird?

    And, for the recodr, I'd much rather have a cake than cookie. But that's just me. The power ranger thing is cute, tho!

    Yokele, have a great trip. You will be in my thoughts and you will be greatly missed. Don't forget to buy me something crazy and expensive that I don't really need!

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  6. Seems like the only solution is to tie you up and work on you till you're happy or dead.

    Have a great trip, and if you have the ability to borrow strength from someone else, call on my flying bravery. I am absolutely fearless when it comes to anything flying.

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  7. Hmmm, we could have a cute monkey contest.

    Wonder how frantic I'm gonna get before my big trip. I doubt I'll be slapping anyone, in any event.

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  8. So Buddha gets naff cakes too..at least you don't drag trees into the house and have to spend a fortune on pressies for the kids.

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  9. I sillyparsed that as "a blue farting elephant" and thought "wow, maybe Buddhism ~is~ for me after all!"

    Colour me disappointed when I went and double checked ...

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  10. Beloved by "millions"?

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  11. Anonymous2:44 PM

    I've been wanting to get into photography for as long as I can remember. Can you recommend a very good camera (digital) - one with excellent macro abilities?

    I'm a great admirer of your photographs - and your knitting and cartoons, too.

    Thank you.

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  12. Anonymous2:57 PM

    You're back to slapping people? What happened to the buddha gig? Are you back to being Little Thundercloud? I dunno which of these personalities I'll most enjoy meeting.

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  13. Anonymous3:38 PM

    That last pic... what great eyes!
    Thanks for sharing that one too!

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  14. Anonymous3:54 PM

    I rather have the same expression as on the monkeys face when I comtemplate how much longer King George has in office.

    Before you get on the plane, take a Q-tip and put a thin layer of Neosprin just inside your nostrils. This will protect you from all the nasty microbes flying around the cabin.

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  15. What can I say -- bon voyage, will have to do.

    If you should see a Public Letter-Writer at work in Istanbul, I'd like a picture of him. 25 years ago, they congregated near the market with (what I am sure were) battered Remingtons.Nowadays, they probably have Blackberries, or do I mean Blueberries? One of my husband's artist's pictures is called, The Turking Letter-Writer. That's why I want it.

    Cheers. Jean

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  16. I meant "Turkish"

    Jean

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  17. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  18. Great pics, Franklin. Thanks. Hope the packing goes well. First time I flew to the US I didn't bring any bras with me, but I guess that won't be a problem for you.

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  19. Anonymous5:35 PM

    Well, look at it this way: with your traveling companions being who they are, you don't have to worry that you forgot to bring the good underwear...

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  20. Anonymous8:19 PM

    That first monkey looks like Clinton making that stupid frowny face of his.

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  21. Great photos, especially of last subject. He is a hottie. And if it's C, even better! ;-) I have to agree with C about the cake for Buddha. I think in this day and age, a Mrs. Fields cookie with a Power Ranger on it would be MUCH more appropriate. Either that, or Bob the Builder (Can we do it? Yes we can!). :-D

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  22. Have a wonderful time, Sweetness and Light. Those pics from the zoo were just great! Let's do some photography together at Rhinebeck now that we both have awesome cameras. I need a macro lens AND a telephoto. Where's that sugar daddy?

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  23. Franklin, you are as amazing a photographer as you are a knitter! I love the picture of bird doing flaming impersonations, and monkey that thinks it's a porn star (perhaps it is! Who can say what is what in the primitive and mysterious simian world!). And if that is C then when it is your birthday I'll just give you a Mrs Field's cookie with HIM on top... Happy Birthday Franklin, Happy Birthday etc etc... should I sew him up a Power Rangers uniform?

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  24. Great photos! You have many wonderful talents, and how fortunate you are to have C. We all should be that lucky.

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  25. Great pictures - I love the captions, too!

    Have a wonderful trip. Your million fans will miss you. :-)

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  26. 'Leopards always make me think of Gloria Swanson.' Priceless.

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  27. "We saw a feisty, one-legged bird of some sort.
    I often look like this on Monday mornings."

    I just went and checked in the mirror. Yup. I look like that on Mondays and every other day of the week, too.

    Seriously, though. Amazing photos. I wonder what kind of fun you'd have taking that camera out for a day roleplaying as an international spy?

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  28. Great pictures and greater captions, I laughted out loud! And since today was my birthday, it was lots funnier than my cake with 58 candles!

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  29. This can't succeed as a matter of fact, that is exactly what I believe.

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