Mosquitoes as Big as Owls

After a quick visit with family, I was packed back into my green box. When I emerged, I was - Wait! I know this place! I was back in Goodland! I had such a good time last time I was here, so I was very excited.

I didn't get out as much this time, though, because June in Goodland is not quite as pleasant as January in Goodland. If you're not following, it was HOT. But that was only part of it. There were mosquitoes. And no-see-'ems. Now I'm a woodland creature, by nature. (Nurture took me down another path. No regrets.) I don't mind a few bugs. But this was ridiculous. My people were smacking me and each other and themselves constantly to try to keep the little buggers at bay. It was easier to stay in.

I did get to pose on the Goodland sign, though.

And I got to go to Stan's - which is a really happening place to be on a Sunday afternoon.

So it all went well, despite the tenacity of the smaller flying pests.

Where to next?

Nothing Matters in the Whole Wide World, When You're in Love With a Jersey Owl

Well folks, I was packed up in my little green box again, and this time I was unpacked in Wildwood, New Jersey.


We went to Wildwood to watch a friends daughter perform in a dance competition. When we arrived in the room, there were flowers and candy waiting there for her. She shared a few of the special M&M's with me. I thought that was kind of cool.

You can't tell from the picture, but the purple ones say: Fusion XI (her dance team) and the yellow ones say: Go For The Gold

After a quick shower we headed to the convention center to watch her preliminary competition. the weather was cold and gray and rainy, but that didn't squelch my enthusiasm one bit as we headed for the boardwalk. Even through the ugly weather, that first glimpse of the ocean made me smile.

There I am in the shower! How embarrassing!

Sitting on the boardwalk, watching the people go by.

The girls ultimately won the gold in their competition. I enjoyed watching all of the teams perform. It was so graceful and beautiful. Grace isn't something I've had a lot of exposure to this year, no offense intended to my host family.

Gillian let me pose with her medal. Her gold medal, thank you very much!

I learned pretty quickly that one of the best things about the Jersey Shore is the food.

There was good east coast pizza...

Philly Cheesesteaks

And fudge and saltwater taffy.

I made some friends on the boardwalk, as I tend to do.

Some pirate eye candy for any sexual preference

I rode the trams on the boardwalk. The quality of this picture is rather poor, because that ride was BUMPY!

I ended my day at the beach back at the Wildwood sign.

What a fun adventure! It was so much fun making new friends and spending time on another beach, even if it was a cold rainy time. It was a nice reminder that summer is just 'round the corner!

Cleveland Rocks!

The kids in the house were on Spring Break this week so the family packed up and drove up to Cleveland for a visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Now I've heard of Spring Break. I expected alcohol. I expected cute girls. I did NOT expect snow. And yet, snow we got. A couple flurries were flying around as we left Columbus. The sky got grayer the closer we got to Cleveland. Soon it was hard to find the horizon, as the land and the sky were monochromatic. Snow was sticking to the trees, ground, and parked cars. Spring Break, people!!! I had certain expectations!!!

Upon arriving in The Cleve, we went straight to the Hard Rock Cafe before checking into our hotel. We were hungry and it seemed like the right thing to do. A couple Pink drinks later, our moods had lifted. I tell ya: Pink makes everything better. Our waiter was awesome and attentive and said he'd stop by, so if he's reading, Hootie Hoo to you, sir!


The next morning we were off to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I really wanted to have my picture taken outside the Hall of Fame, because it is a cool building, but the snow was blowing horizontally when we arrived. It was cold and brutal and nobody wanted to futz around with pictures.


Unfortunately, pictures were only allowed in the lobby, so they're pretty limited, but here you have it. Pink's rockin' spring break. Owl's gone wild.

Here I am in front of a Neil Young Tribute Guitar

A tribute to rock and roll in general

RAMONE'S!!! Hey! Ho! Let's Go!

There was a special request for a picture of me in front of something "Billy Joel related". How lucky we were that one of Mr. Joel's old bikes was on display in the "photography allowed" lobby!


This is Jon Bon Jovi's bike. Sorry about the dreary quality of the picture. It was, as I said, quite the dreary day. Regarding Mr. Bon Jovi, the ladies in my host house say, "Secret squeeeee!" every time his name is mentioned. I take it they think he's cute or something. There is a family story that has to do with him. A couple years ago Tam was still putting love notes in the kids' lunches. Lea asked her to stop. She said they were embarrassing. Tam still wanted to express some love, so she started writing lyrics and rock and roll trivia on Lea's lunch bag. She checked out a "Today in Rock History" site run by, I believe, the very Rock and Roll Hall of Fame about which we're speaking today, so that she could give some historical significance to her notes. They were going to school, after all. One day - I think it might have been Richie Sambora's birthday - Tam wrote some Bon Jovi lyrics on Lea's lunch bag. But Lea forgot her lunch and Tam had to drop it off at school. Earning her the nickname, for the rest of the year, among all the office staff: "Bon Jovi Mom".

I bet she's been called worse.

Signs of Spring

I love watching how people react to those first signs of spring. The first warm day or two, the first robin sighting, spring bulbs coming through the newly warmed earth's surface... all of these things happen every year. We know they're coming, they're not a surprise. And yet they are a gift and we have a tendency to receive them as such.

People in general are just happier to see the sun shining and to see winter coming to a close. Ironically, people have the same reaction in the fall when the air starts to smell different and the leaves start to change color and they start to need a sweater to handle the new crispness in the air.

Yep, spring and fall are certainly the most celebrated and anticipated seasons. Winter is long and cold. Summer is long and hot. Spring and fall are short, and sweet, and beautiful with their promise of change.

Spring is particularly beautiful with its promises of renewal. Every major religion celebrates some sort of rite of spring. Pagans celebrate rites of spring. It is really quite universal - this need to acknowledge this season of hope and rebirth; based more, it seems, on our very humanness than on the faith into which we were or weren't raised.

So welcome, spring! I look forward to warmer, sweeter days with people who are feeling warmer, kinder and sweeter.

Bring it on!

Pink's Excellent Island Adventure

When they started wrapping me up in my box, I'll admit, I was a little confused. Generally I only go in the box when it's time for me to be traded to my next family. Now I know sometimes the passage of time is difficult to judge, but I was pretty close to sure an entire year hadn't gone by already. Imagine my surprise when the box was opened and I felt warm island breezes blowing through my feathers! I had been taken on vacation!

I found myself on Goodland Island, a small island next to Marco Island on the Gulf Coast of Florida.

Here are some photos of me on my most excellent adventure. I hope they warm you up a little bit, if it's cold where you are!

Putting on sunscreen before the boat ride to the beach. If this is my natural color, can you imagine what I'd look like with a sunburn?


Heading out of the canal and into the Gulf

Soaking up the rays


Buried in the sand


Minding my conch farm.


The full effect of the farm


Riding a golf cart around the island. Like the sign behind me says: You can't make this S$%# up.

I really like margaritaville...


Headed for home.

What an exciting adventure indeed!

Snow Day

So it snowed in Columbus this week. It snowed a lot, by Columbus standards, I'm told. I don't know about that. I've spent more winters in Johnstown, PA than anywhere else and, well, let's just say I've seen more snow. Everyone here is all excited about it, though. The kids had a snow day right in front of a four-day weekend, providing them with a pretty nice little winter break. It would be more fun if it weren't so darn cold! That's the real weather issue. Even taking my Western PA upbringing into account, -11 is COLD! Even that wouldn't be so bad if they'd just let me sit on my nice warm perch, but no!

They're so jazzed about the snow they think everyone else will be, too. "Come on, Pink!", they yell, grabbing me and taking me out with them. Does anyone stop to put a coat on ole' Pink before heading out into the sub-zero outdoors?


Why no, as a matter of fact, they do not. They did make me a warm beverage when we came back inside, though.


That sure was nice.

Wherever you are, stay warm!