How do You Say "Hootie Hoo" in Spanish?

The family celebrated Cinco de Mayo like many in the United States do: We went out for Mexican food and big ole margaritas. Apparently this is a holiday that is not extensively celebrated in Mexico, but in the United States it's been pretty much appropriated as a good excuse for a cocktail. I am not adverse to this, and actually think there should be more ethnic/cocktail oriented holidays. One owls opinion. Ahem.

The kids had virgin daiquiris that they said were super-yummy.


The grown ups had margaritas on the rocks. Me? I indulged in a little bit of everything.

The kids were tickled, because, as you can see in the picture, the table at which we were seated had an owl on it. I told them if you look hard enough, there are owls everywhere. Their association with me has just heightened their awareness.

I liked this restaurant - I fit in very well with their color scheme. In an era when even some fast food places are taking a stab at understated, it's refreshing to go somewhere that isn't afraid to be big and bold and out there. What's that you say? My digestion? Didn't affect it a bit.

Hootie Hoo, and Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Happy Easter!

I hope your Easter is as happy and bright as ours! What's more lovely than a sunny Spring morning?


I'm posing here in Liv's basket - after she cleared most of the toys and presents out of it! She made my little bunny ears - like 'em?

The Wearin' O' The Green

As today was St. Patrick's Day, I donned my sparkly green hat and headed out for an afternoon (yes, I said afternoon) of green beer and all things Irish. I don't believe I have any Irish in my bloodline, but I'm told everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day, and that's good enough for me!

I drank a couple green beers.

Acquired some nifty new bling.

And made some new friends.

It was an extremely fun afternoon and I'm hoping there will be more like it. People paid a lot of attention to me, as they tend to do when I go out, and I have to admit: I really like the attention.

I was paying attention to what people were wearing. There were folks of all ages who went all out - like my friends pictured above. There was every shade of green imaginable. Some folks just wore a little, some folks wore it head to toe. There were folks stopping in on their lunch hour wearing subtle pistachio dress shirts or a tie with a single green strip running through it sitting next to folks who'd dyed their hair green and were wearing 2 foot tall beer mug hats. But they were all drinking beer at noon!

What a day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Mardi Gras (No I Will Not Show You My Feathers)

I love a nice excuse for decadence as much as the next guy, and Mardi Gras - Fat Tuesday - certainly does provide a nice excuse. With all the traveling I've been doing this year, I was sort of half hoping I'd fall asleep on my perch and wake up in my box en route to New Orleans. That didn't happen. But you can't blame an owl for dreaming.

So no Bourbon Street for me. I didn't even start the day with paczki. Or donuts. That's okay, really, because the whole idea behind Fat Tuesday is to indulge in all the treats you'll be missing out on during Lent. Since I won't be actively sacrificing during the Lenten season, I suppose it would just be excessive of me to overidulge today. Still - there is something to that mass mentality. If today is a day of decadence, by Zeus I want to be decadent, too!

The day is not over - indeed, it's just begun. Perhaps an opportunity to let my feathers down may yet present itself. Now throw me some beads, mister!

Post Holiday Ramblings

The family took down the Christmas tree this weekend. It is a weird aspect of my life that I always watch one family put their tree up and another take theirs down.

Although there was a lot of complaining about how boring it was and how long it was taking (seriously - I've seen a lot of trees come down in my day, and this one took LONG! Multiple days!)I still caught a glimpse of affection in the family members eyes from time to time. Some ornaments just came down and were thrown into the appropriate box. Some ornaments, though, were taken down slowly and held and looked over before being put away. This was my first Christmas with this family, but I got a pretty good feel for them while listening to the things they had to say while they took down their ornaments.

So now I get my first glimpse at what my new digs really look like without holiday decor. The flow is much nicer without the furniture all jammed together to make room for the tree.

I'm hanging out on a ledge above the back door in the family room. It's where they spend most of their time because, you know, it's where the TV is...

I suppose it'll do.

Party Like It's 1999 - Only 10 Better

We went to a party last night to celebrate the start of a new year. It was nice to meet new people - they recognized me from my internet fame, so they were at a distinct advantage. None were shy, though, so I got to know them all pretty quickly.

They had a LOT of good food and a nice variety of beverages. Always one to savor new experiences, I had sparkling wine (3 different kinds!), mojitos, pear martinis, and a beer. Is it: beer on liquor, never sicker? Or: liquor on beer, never fear? Or is it: if you're 6 inches tall and hollow, maybe drinking is a bad plan in any combination? I think it's that one.


When I realized I needed a break, I joined the kids for some sparkling juice, toasted marshmallows, and Mamma Mia charades. Probably best if you don't ask...


Yeah, I'll need a little more practice with the marshmallow thing...


After mingling with the adults (Apparently life IS just like the movies and people DO burst into song at random and sometimes in unison. But rarely in tune. Seriously. Yikes.) and playing with the kids I was introduced to a few fellows who spoke my language. I brought in the new year with the Nutcrackers while all the folks around me kissed anything that crossed their path.

A very happy, healthy and prosperous new year to you all.