Miscellany of a Cheshire Cat

It’s actually SNOWING here! Hurray! I’m happy to say that it’s that fine, fast, steady snow that means it’s going to snow for a little while. We’re only supposed to get about an inch but I’m inclined to be optimistic since the storm looks enthusiastic. Of course, I’d be optimistic even if the storm looked totally wimpy. The grass is already starting to just look like little green dots on fields of white. I’ve always loved staring into falling snow. Even in the gentlest breeze makes for captivating patterns. Down, up, sideways and around… where do I learn this dance? I woke up still feeling like I could get the Fop’s cold so I’m resisting running out there in my slippers.

I’ll have to go out later to shovel anyway. I think I’m the only girl in the area who gets excited about shoveling snow. It’s not like we get 24 inches at a whack like when I lived up in MA. I admit that it was still fun to dig my car out but I helped a lot of other people dig their cars out too. My condo building was inhabited by many ladies of a particular age and several little white dogs. Little white dogs are useless when it comes to digging out your car, plus you lose them quickly in the snow since white on white does not a contrast make. It did help me to determine that I do not want a minivan … ever. They are an utter pain in the butt to clear snow off and subsequently dig out. And then? You still might not be able to get out of thep parking space despite the protestations of the Little White Dog Mafia (more on them another time…).

So back to the polar bears! These polar bear pics are still from my last trip to the zoo on January 29th. If you look closely at the polar bear napping you can see that it’s such a good day for sleeping that his tongue is hanging out of his mouth a little. That’s a happy bear! Look at the happy bear feet! He had a monopoly on the sunny and comfy spot that afternoon.

The active bear spent a great deal of time sniffing and snuffling about. I think he was hoping he’d missed some greens somewhere. He loped about, sniffing and pawing at leaves, poking about and generally being boring to everyone but me. (However, since I was basically the only one at the zoo that day this worked out just fine.)

He paused in his sniffing to look longingly at his napping friend with that “I could nap” look in his eyes. Then he sat and sniffed the air so gracefully (photo directly to the left). He’s such a lanky bear. Yes, I want to take him home with me. I’d prefer a polar bear cub, but I’ll take a big bear in a pinch. So utterly cute.
The last picture is my favorite - you may want to click it for a larger version. This bear has a very sweet crooked face and kept making faces at me. This face was, “Yeah, I could nap but my buddy over there took the best spot.” Yes, I enjoy anthropomorphism. It’s a hobby.

Someday I hope to catch the polar bears actually playing about in their pool or mauling one of their giant bear toys! For now, I’m happy with sniffing and funny faces though.

Tennyson (Mr. Large and Gray Cat) is sitting on my desk watching the snow out the window. And now he’s watching me… hmm… perhaps it’s time to feed the cats.

tags: little white dog mafia, philadelphia zoo, polar bears, snow, weather, zoo