Family pic

Birthday with cousins.

Last convulsions of winter

Before leaving for good, the winter decided to show us one last time...


This pics are clickable and enlargeable, in case you want to see all the details of us getting snowed in.

The snow didn't last long, and the very next day Ararat was already visible (which is a certain sign of good weather.)

Check it out...

Essays are beginning to appear on my other blog: http://www.howtosayyes.blogspot.com, including mine. Check it out if you have time. There are some interesting things there. Leave comments and suggestions, like it says in the introduction. Enjoy! And it's good to be back and bloggin'!!

How is everybody?

Movies, movies, movies...

Finally watched The Devil Wears Prada and Raising Helen. Loved the first, liked the second.

Both are really nice films and I recommend them to all who haven't seen them yet.

And it's spring!!!!

Spring

The end of winter has always been the ugliest time of year in this city. Piles of dirty, black, caked snow everywhere, random islands of ice on the sidewalk, surrounded by pools of muddy water, slushy roads, cars and shoes caked with dirt... The trash pick-up service was hibernating in the winter, so by mid-February there was trash everywhere. The weather was grey and foggy, and so was everyone's mood.

But that's over. The spring has come; maybe not by the calendar, but by the look of the city for sure. It's sunny, it's getting warmer, the roads are dry and most of the sidewalks are dry, too. The piles of snow are melting, there are merry little icicles hanging from every roof, sparkiling in the sun, and you can see patches of old grass under the snow in the park.

There will, of course, be more snow before the spring is here for good. There will be another bout of frost, too. But for what it's worth, the winter is over. It was about time, too - from the look of my electricity bills! I think I am about ready to take that winter coat to the dry cleaner's and put the fur-lined boots to rest in a big box. Until next winter.

The Zoo in the winter

I didn't even know our Zoo is open in the winter. Turns out it is, and most animals feel pretty good surrounded by snow. Plus, we got to see many of them in their winter coats, which was quite a treat. It's usually much lighter in color, thick and lush and very pretty.


The lynx, for one, is reddish-yellow in the summer. Now it's napping wrapped in beautiful silver fur.




This wild cat (serval) definitely had something to say! Something hissy.

You know the friendly young people in khaki shorts and colorful animal-themed shirts that run around the LA Zoo and answer your questions? Well, we got them too! There!

Can't help but calling this one "a hog on ice". I know, I know, it's too obvious...

And this one - "Hoot".

Wanna sit down?

This deer didn't like us, I think. Otherwise, why would it be sticking his tongue at us?

There were no monkeys, no hippo, the elephant was away and the bears were semi-hibernating. But we still had a good time.

why no blog

Busy, busy, busy...

Snow, slush, cold, kinda warm, cold again, school, work, lots and lots of work, no time for anything... the usual after Christmas nighmare.

Will be back on the blog as soon as all this blows over.