Elephant Diaries

Wow! Almost a year since my last post! Free at last, free at last!

Tonight I saw Elephant Diaries on TV from the Animal Planet network. They showed how they rescue orphaned baby elephants and help them get over their trauma. Most of the elephants have seen their mothers killed by poachers.

It was incredible to see the care they took with the babies. Two keepers slept with one baby elephant the first night after its rescue because it was so afraid. It is a fascinating show with a lot of love. It is a repeating series. I will look for it.

The Last Mimzy

This movie has some sci-fi aspects. Some of the reviews said it went over the top on fantasy.
I loved it! See it for yourself! I watched it twice!

The Last Mimzy - Fun Facts from the review

The Last Mimzy is based on the 1943 short story Mimsy Were the Borogoves. The title of the story is taken from Lewis Carroll's "Jaberwocky," a famous poem for which Carroll made up several words, some of which are now become part of the English language.

Information about the movie can be seen at:

http://kidstvmovies.about.com/od/thelastmimzy/a/thelastmimzys.htm

Feeling Better

Here I am, back again. I took some time out to do some healing work on myself. I feel much better. Lots of things helped. But the ones I noticed the most were my new chiropractor and his belief that the body can heal itself if the mind gets out of the way and the energy is allowed to flow where it needs to go. I think that was a combination of his words and mine. Friends are the other thing that help. Why do I deprive myself of them so often?

I got up early this morning and went for a walk around the neighborhood while it was still fairly cool. This is Tampa, Florida. Fairly cool is 80 degrees at 8 am. I was able to walk more rapidly than usual without any pain or discomfort. Several dogs barked at me. My daughter tells me that is how they say hello. A medium size black dog started to follow me. I wasn't afraid as I have often been in the past. I told him not to follow me, to go on home. A man came out of a shop and called the dog to him. When I walked by Gladys and Buford's house, they were sitting out in the carport. They called out a greeting and asked how I was. Buford said, "Where's your stick?" "I forgot it," I told him. If he hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have even noticed it! I always carry a stick on my walks to protect me from dogs running loose.

The Saga Thickens...

Date:	Thu, 30 Jun 2005 11:08:42 -0700 (PDT)
From:	yellowcap
Subject:	the orchid cactus saga...

After studying epiphyllums on the internet, I wonder if I have ever
seen my orchid cactus "bloom." I don't think I have ever seen the full
bloom.

From what I read, I get the idea they open at night.  I have never
stayed up to see them open.  I must see the pre and post bloom. The
current bud is beginning to wither.

Some people report a fragrance when they bloom. I have never noticed
it.

I'd like to try to propagate more plants from this one.

I've been to a lot of gardening sites on the web. Hoorah for the
internet.

Hugs,
yellowcap
The kid who loves plants but has a purple thumb

My friend B. wrote back that the orchid cactus blooms in the middle of the night.

I said:
I've never seen the trumpet part. Isn't that funny! I was so in awe of the bloom itself that I thought I'd seen the whole thing! Now it is gone. Completely disappeared! I wonder if an animal came and took it. I am looking forward to next time when I will know to stay up later at night and check on it! Does it open several nights repeatedly?

Yellowcap,

It should be open just like a trumpet, or you are not seeing it. They do open at night and then close early in the morning, although on a heavily overcast day they can remain open throughout the morning.

B.

Orchid Cactus plant

Orchid Cactus plant
Originally uploaded by Swirled Peas.

This is what the whole plant looks like. It is growing in spagnum moss. The bloom is at the bottom almost touching the ground.

Close-up of orchid cactus bloom

Close-up of bloom
Originally uploaded by Swirled Peas.

My orchid cactus has only bloomed three times in fourteen years - so this is an event.

Books and Movies I Have Enjoyed Recently

I found these movies thought provoking and worth seeing with friends to discuss (possibly more than once):

What the Bleep Do We Know? On the nature of reality - quantum physics meets metaphysics.

I (Heart) Huckabees. Existential detectives investigate individuals' angst. Explores "what's it all about?"

Crash. Main themes: Racism and perception. We are all connected. Click link for review:
http://www.spiritualityhealth.com/newsh/items/moviereview/item_9729.html

Books:
The Soul of a Butterfly by Muhammad Ali. A spiritual memoir. Somewhat repetitive but I really enjoyed it. I listened to the audio version on CD read by Ossie Davis.

Yellow flowers

Yellow flowers
Originally uploaded by Swirled Peas.

These little flowers surprise me each spring. They look like orchids.

Dreaming

Dreaming

Sometimes when I am dreaming,
I meet a boy who wears green grass on his head
and a paper bag around his body.
He has an engaging smile.
We roller skate thru abandoned downtown malls
and slide down tubes at amusement parks.
He takes me home to his old two story townhouse
with dusty barren rooms.
We listen at the walls to the neighbors making wild love.
Then we make loud sounds to entertain them
And laugh so hard we fall on the floor.
Sometimes when I am dreaming.

Yellowcap
4-21-2005