On the road again… November 4, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Photography, Travel, Videos.1 comment so far
Where are you going this time, Mom? That’s what my dog Benny and cat Madison seem to be saying as they look at me with that ‘doesn’t this make you feel guilty’ look again.
Raise your hand if beach vacations are on the top of your list? Hmm – I see lots and lots of hands. I too, used to long for an empty beach, a good book and a drink with an umbrella in it. So, what happened to that fun in the sun babe? I am guessin’ the ravages of time and tide have altered my longing to be seen on a beach. Anyhow – I am off for a week – for a fine beach vacation with good friends. Now where did I put that old lady bathing suit?
I am not taking my computer. My goal is to not listen to much of the post-election poppycock and blathering. I plan to unplug, de-rant, enjoy my good buddies and maybe even use their boogie board again. Gasp.
So I once again will suffer the indignities of being poked, sniffed and prodded at airports, gag at the awful smells and be forced to breathe the foul air on the plane and generally try to steer clear of anyone who is coughing, sneezing or wheezing. Alas, no matter how many times I leave for an airport the same nagging questions come to mind.
- Is the dog sitter available? - Is the cat sitter available? - Should I pay my bills before I go away or wait until I come home? – Did I stop the newspaper from being delivered? - What book should I take? What if I don’t like the one book I brought? – Should I leave my windows open? - How much cash should I take? - Did I forget my passport? (you now need a passport to go to the Virgin Islands) - What time should I call to have the car service pick me up? - Is the weather going to be good for the flight? - Will there be turbulence? - Will we make the connecting flight? – What about swine flu? - Will some rat bastard diseased carrier be sitting next to me on the flight? - How many pairs of socks should I take? – Underwear? - Will everything fit in my carry-on luggage? - Do I need a winter coat for when I come home? – Did I pack my Xanax? - Should I set an alarm clock? I never need an alarm clock but I always set one before a trip. I do not even know if the alarm clock works. I am always up before it goes off. Now I have to worry about that too. These are just a few of the things that are running through my brain. Mwah!
See you soon.
Pre-Vacation Post April 27, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Animal Videos, Dogs and cats, Photography, Politics, Travel, Videos, Zoos.Tags: Central Park Zoo, Madison Square Park, Malaysian Flying foxes, Swine Flu, Travel
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Mentally I am already on vacation even though physically I do not leave until very early tomorrow morning. The thrill of a vacation is knocked for a loop with getting ready to go on a vacation. Is the dog sitter available? Is the cat sitter available? Should I pay my bills before I go away or wait until I come home? Will the new plants I just planted this weekend on my patio survive for a whole week? Why did I plant them so early? Did I stop the newspaper from being delivered? Can I eat the food in my refrigerator today? Or do I have to throw it all out? Should I leave the windows open? How much cash should I take? What time should I call to have the car service pick me up? Is the weather going to be good for the flight? Will there be turbulence? What about swine flu? Will some rat bastard carrier be sitting next to me on the flight? Should I buy my lunch today or wait until I get to the Jet Blue terminal tomorrow? Is it going to be cold? Is it going to be hot? How many pairs of socks should I take? How many gigs of memory cards? Did I pack my Xanax?
Getting through the day before a trip is the hardest thing to do. Should I set an alarm clock? I never need an alarm clock but I always set one before a trip. I do not even know if the alarm clock works. I am always up before it goes off. Now I have to worry about that too. These are just a few of the things that are running through my brain at 7 in the morning.
- This is going to be another big week in the world of politics. The Obama Administration is crossing that ever so hyped 100 day mark and the TV Yakkers and the columnists are having a field day comparing him to every other President. The week promises to bring every doctor, pseudo doctor and pandemic expert out in front of your TV screen to talk about the possibilities of your coming down with this new alarmist swine epidemic. There are a few things you can do to avoid getting sick in general (forgetting about this latest flu). Wash your hands often, cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, run as fast as you can from sick people and avoid crowds. If you have flu-like symptoms, stay home and call your doctor.
- I am planning to tune out and enjoy my west coast adventure. My zoo buddy and I have planned an almost impossible agenda but are determined to visit seven zoos and aquariums in seven days. I am sure it is not everyone’s idea of a delightful relaxing vacation but we love it and those venues are some of the only places that allow me to forget about the rest of the world and enjoy those wonderful creatures.
- There is lots going on at the Central Park Zoo. So much so – it was a two montage week. The snow monkeys were chomping on some delicious magnolia petals, the lambs were just being darn cute and the polar bears were very frisky. Check out some of the above and more here and here:
- My local Park, Madison Square Park is ablaze with color. My dog Benny and I take longer and slower walks enjoying the smells and the color. See you all soon.
Knock, knock. Who’s there? January 7, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Animal Videos, Links, Photography, Politics, Travel, Videos, Zoos.Tags: Al Franken, Central Park Zoo, Dianne Feinstein, jeb bush, lemurs, Leon Panetta, Nancy Pelosi, Roland Burris, Senate seats, t-shirt
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Why its Roland – Roland Burris. Sorry Roland, we hear you knockin’ but you can’t come in. Poor Roland Burris. He can’t seem to get a break. The Senate Democrats are not letting him in the front door. The same Democrats unanimously reelected Nancy Pelosi as their leader. I would not have voted for her. However, I would have let Roland in – and I think sooner, rather than later, they will. The Democrats do not want to recognize an appointment from Rod Blagojevich, who is accused of trying to sell the seat to replace President-elect Barack Obama. Burris attempted to be sworn in on the first day of the 111th Congress, but was told by the Secretary of the Senate that his credentials “were not in order.” Nancy Erickson, the Senate secretary, initially cited the absence of the signature of Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White as the reason for rejecting the appointment. Burris is trying to get the Illinois Supreme Court to order White to sign the form. White has no authority to refuse his signature and is claiming the right to unilaterally block an appointment because he simply does not like or is suspicious of the appointing governor. No one has claimed that Burris bought this seat and indeed he would have been on the list of likely candidates for any governor. The Democrats have an uncanny ability to self-destruct. They are allowing this side show to distract attention from the important business at hand. The appointment is only for two years. Let him have the darn seat. I understand they think he is unelectable in two years – but as we know, two years in politics is a very long time. A hearty congratulations to my guy, Al Franken, (above) whose campaign called my house every day after I donated to his campiagn. He will be showing u knocking at the Senate door eventually too.
- Poor Roland. I would have let him in and thrown some of the other fools out.
- I think Leon Panetta as head of the CIA is an inspired choice. His record is great and he has come out loud and clear against torture. Not telling Dianne Feinstein ahead of time is a just way to tell her that she better get on board with Obama’s view on torture. She and Jay Rockefeller should hang their heads in shame for the carte blanche open door they gave to Bush and his thugs on all of their illegal activities.
- Here’s a fun time filler. Just click on a Senate seat to see who is sitting there now and then click again to see who has sat in that seat before.
- Whoa! It seems that Jeb Bush, despite his daddy’s yearnings is not going to run for the open Senate seat in Florida. Perhaps he is the only Bush with a brain. Jeb Bush has decided not to run for the Senate in Florida next year, according to former state House Speaker Marco Rubio. “He said it just wasn’t the right timing,” Rubio said, recounting a phone call he received this afternoon from the former Florida governor and presidential brother.
- Follow up. Remember the guy who was kicked off of a Jetblue flight because of his t-shirt? Well, he just settled his lawsuit for $240,000.
- Al Franken is finally the winner. A Minnesota board on Monday certified results showing Democrat Al Franken winning the state’s U.S. Senate recount over Republican Norm Coleman, whose lawyer promised a legal challenge that probably will keep the race in limbo for months.
- Now THIS is funny!
- Speaking if buffoons. Is anyone going to miss this idiot? The malaprops and mangled statements are legendary. Try to find your favorite in this list. Here’s one of mine. “Too many good docs are getting out of business. Too many OB/GYNs aren’t able to practice their love with women all across this country.”
- Seen the new Black and White Lemurs at the Central Park Zoo yet?
The Jewel in the Crown November 30, 2008
Posted by judylobo in Links, Photography, Politics, Travel, Videos.Tags: Bollywood, Hinju, Moombai, Slumdog Milionaire, Suketu Mehta, Taj Mahal
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I have spent much of the last few days reading about India, perusing my personal India travel journal, looking at my photos of that trip, trying to remember my room at the Taj Hotel in Moombai and watching the nightmare unfold on the graphically nauseating CNN. I wanted to figure out what it was about India that captured my imagination when I was there in 1995. Why it is that I love films about India and essentially like ‘all things Indian.’ Would I return to visit? In a heartbeat.
What I loved about India was the chaos, the color, the sounds, the light, the food, the fact that over a billion people are animated and vibrant and it is one huge Democracy. The country has struggled since its independence from England. It is trying to undo their shameful caste system and for most Indians they still think the possibility of a good life is sure to be had with enough hard work. The City of Moombai reminded me of NYC – only with less rules and more people.
- Check out the trailer for the great new uplifting film, Slumdog Millionaire. You will get an idea of the glorious chaos of India:
- I do confess to snickering when newscasters were reporting in close proximity to the targets during the attack. They were incredulous at the fact that they were allowed to get so close to the action and at times were actually in front of the police lines. I snickered because one of the things that made us laugh while in India was the fact that there are very few rules. Tourists go to places with crumbling steps, no guard rails and danger lurking around every corner. We would look at one another and laugh that in the US none of the places we visited would be open to tourists until every safety precaution was fixed. Our fear of litigation apparently does not exist in India. I liked that.
- The New York Times has had excellent coverage and analysis about the latest terrorist attack and I have read all of those article too. India is calling this their ‘911′ but they are far more used to terror on their own soil than we were. An excellent article in the OpEd section by Suketo Mehta in yesterday’s NY Times discusses why Moombai was attacked and why the author is booking a flight to revisit that City. The article was reminiscent of what we read right after 911. They attack because they hate all we stand for. Do not let them get away with this. He said “If the rest of the world wants to help, it should run toward the explosion. It should fly to Mumbai, and spend money. Where else are you going to be safe? New York? London? Madrid? So I’m booking flights to Mumbai. I’m going to go get a beer at the Leopold, stroll over to the Taj for samosas at the Sea Lounge, and watch a Bollywood movie at the Metro. Stimulus doesn’t have to be just economic”.
- The targets that these cowardly terrorists struck were not random. They were symbolic of everything they hate. In a city of 20,000,000 Indians, they chose to single out the Chabad that served a population of only 4000 Jews and Jews that visit India. There seems to be a growing link between India and Israel. Read this very interesting piece by Samuel G. Freedman from yesterday’s NY Times called Between Israel and India, a Link Based on Culture and, Now, Terrorism- As an imitation news story on the Web site SatireWire put it: “Hinjew leaders today conceded the merger of Hinduism and Judaism has not worked out as planned, as instead of forming a super-religion to fight off the common Islamic enemy, they have instead created a race of 900 million people who, no matter how many times they are reincarnated, can never please their mothers.”
- And who does not love Bollywood?
Greetings from the Heartland February 23, 2008
Posted by judylobo in Links, Photography, Travel, Zoos.Tags: Daily Mitzvah, Great Plains Zoo, Henry Doorley Zoo
2 comments
It has been a ‘fish out of water’ week for this political junkie. I am off on what I have tagged my Four Zoos and a Wedding tour. We are almost halfway through this wacky adventure and it has been a great ride (even the airport part of the journey has been uneventful and drug free). It is hard to believe that the weather has been better in South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska than it has been at home in New York City. Yes there is lots of snow here, but it simply is part of the huge, vast flat landscape and not something that stops the natural flow of the land or its hearty people.
- I have not been paying much attention to the political goings on out there but am aware of the John McCain lobbying fiasco and the new scandal involving GOP Rep Rick Renzi. Does the phrase ‘when will they ever learn’ come to mind?
- The continuing quest for Democratic delegates goes on. The tally I watch is on this website.
- Is Mike Huckabee fighting what he thinks is the ‘good fight’ because he doesn’t have another job to fall back on if he drops out of the race? Here are some thoughts on that issue.
- One of the websites I frequent on a regular basis is called The Daily Mitzvah. Check it out and have a few smiles.
- The first of two zoos on this Four Zoos and a Wedding trip was the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha. I can say without qualification it was our best zoo visit ever (and most of you know I am a zoo nut). We were fortunate to have some special treatment by their top notch Marketing Department and a few open-hearted keepers. Our special treatment included a behind the scenes tour which garnered a chance for us to hold a penguin or two and get kissed by a giraffe. Ever had giraffe spittle in your hair? It is a very cool thing. There will be lots of photos when I get home. The second Zoo was the Great Plains Zoo in Great Falls, South Dakota. Another special tour at this fine facility got us the chance to touch and ooh and ah over three rhinos and to see some of their winter holding animals up close and personal. There is no doubt that the people of the Heartland are special, warm and big hearted.
Much appreciation from this cynical, jaded New Yorker.
Cambodia, Super Tuesday & Water Boarding February 3, 2008
Posted by judylobo in Animal Videos, Photo Archives, Photography, Politics, Travel, Videos.Tags: Cambodia, Mukasey, obama, water boarding
2 comments
Angkor Wat is arguably Cambodia’s most positive image and is of such importance to their culture it even appears on their national flag. Built in the 12th century as a Hindu temple it is one of the only temples in the magnificent area known as Siem Reap that is still a religious site. First Hindu, now Buddhist, it epitomizes the architecture of the Khmer style. It is why we traveled to Cambodia.
- For those that like an abbreviated synopsis of this country’s ravaged history: The Hindu Khmer’s ruled over the vast area since 600 building all of the fabulous temples that tourists flock to today. Multiple invasions from the Thai’s and the Vietnamese saw a decline in cohesive unity. In 1863, the French colonized the region, joining Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam into a single protectorate known as French Indochina. A French puppet ruled until 1941 when Sihanouk was elevated to power. This move and the Japanese occupation during World War Two convinced Cambodians to fight for their independence. Enter our murky history. Cambodia was granted independence within the French Union in 1949. The French-Indochinese War gave Sihanouk full military control of the country. In 1963, he sought a guarantee of Cambodia’s neutrality from all parties in the Vietnam War. North Vietnamese and Vietcong troops had begun using eastern Cambodia as a safe haven from which to launch attacks into South Vietnam, making it increasingly difficult to stay out of the war. A home grown Communist guerrilla movement known as the Khmer Rouge also began to put pressure on the government in Phnom Penh. On March 18, 1970, while Sihanouk was abroad, anti-Vietnamese riots broke out and Sihanouk was overthrown by Gen. Lon Nol.
Combat reached a head in April 1975 when the Lon Nol regime was overthrown by Pol Pot, leader of the Khmer Rouge forces. The four years of nightmarish Khmer Rouge rule led to the state-sponsored extermination of citizens by its own government. Perhaps two million people were massacred on the killing fields of Cambodia or worked to death through forced labor. Pol Pot’s maniacal vision of changing the country into a Marxist agrarian society led to the virtual extermination of the country’s professional and technical classes. They still suffer today from this massacre and decimation of families, culture and history.
This country is only free of conflict for the past nine years and is depending on the tourist dollar to help it regain its place in the world. They are proud that 2007 saw over two million foreign visitors.
Check out my two photo montages of Cambodia here and here.
- It looks like the writer’s strike is coming to an end. How many are tiring of re-runs? Now perhaps we will have a properly overly long Oscar show.
- I only changed my mind about who I was going to vote for yesterday nine times.
- The GOP is losing 28 House seats to retirement. The Dems are only losing five. The current tally is 199 Republicans and 232 Democrats, with four vacancies to be filled by special elections. The chances of the GOP regaining control of the House in 2008 is slim to none.
- Why don’t I hear the candidates talking FISA? It is a very important issue. Attorney General Mike Mukasey refused to answer whether Bush had violated the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act under the Terrorist Surveillance Program. By the way – I am very angry at Chuck Schumer for pushing this guy down our throats.
- This is the latest Barack Obama promotional music video. The Black Eyed Peas’ frontman, songwriter and producer known as will.i.am, along with director and filmmaker Jesse Dylan, son of another socially active musician, Bob Dylan, released a new song Friday that attempts to inspire and get you (or the young people in your house) to the polls.
- For those that need a simpler way to understand what water boarding really is.
Good morning Vietnam (and South Carolina) January 27, 2008
Posted by judylobo in Links, Photo Archives, Photography, Politics, Travel, Videos.Tags: Angelina Jolie, Cambodia, Clinton, David Letterman, Indochine, Jon Stewart, obama, vietnam
2 comments
Travel is grand but returning home is even better. Jet lag sadly is the ying to travel’s yang. Our trip to Vietnam was eye-opening, educational, fun and easy on the dollar. What I knew about Vietnam before I left I basically got from the movies or from my youthful over-zealous days of protesting the war. I now know a heck of a lot more about this lovely land and it’s very friendly people. The Vietnamese actually like Americans and we are now their biggest trading partner. Our 20 years of conflict with them was just a hiccup in their ravaged history. For instance, I had no idea that the Chinese occupied their land for a thousand years. After many centuries of self determination the French invaded. They then ruled over their region for another 150 years. During those years, the area which we now know as Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia was called Indochine (which by the way, is a very fine movie starring Catherine Deneuve). When the French left, around World War Two, the Japanese invaded. It gets a little murky here – but pay attention. At WW11’s end, the Communist Viet Minh, declared independence. The French Indochina war then began until France surrendered in 1954. The Geneva accord divided Vietnam into the Communist North and an anti-Communist South. Enter Uncle Sam as the primary champion of the anti-Communist Government of the South and the rest, as they say, is (our) history. For those with short term memory, in 1973 a cease fire agreement allowed the US to withdraw its troops and in 1975 the Southern capital of Saigon fell into the hands of the North Vietnamese. We renewed relations with Vietnam in 1995. By the way, the Vietnamese refer to our 20 year war with them as the American War, not the Vietnam War.
If you crave even more Vietnam history check out this site. For those that do not want to read but choose instead to rent some films about the Vietnam War (and there are many), check out this site.
These are some of the things I learned on my Southeast Asia adventure:
- Bill Clinton is a star in Vietnam. His photo is everywhere. He was the first sitting president to ever visit Vietnam and they are very grateful for that and for the renewed relations with the US.
- Angelina Jolie is a mega-star there. She was mentioned by every tour guide we had on our journey.
- The French may have been invading thugs but they did leave the Vietnamese with some lovely architecture, pastries and bread. Saigon has a very European layout with broad boulevards and parks.
- The Vietnamese dong is trading at 16,000 to one on the dollar.
- Southeast Asia is exactly a 12 hour difference in time with the east coast so if you go there you do not have to change your watch.
- Many of the hotels do not have clocks in the rooms but they do have scales in the bathroom. How many of you out there want to weigh yourself on a vacation?
- This had nothing to do with Vietnam but if you are traveling to Asia and have to go through the new Bangkok airport please allow yourself several hours to get from one airline to another. It is huge and they are expecting 45 million passengers to pass through this year. Gasp!
- I took way too many photos on this journey and was a bit overwhelmed as to how to edit, sort and present them in a cohesive manner. The idea of themes came to me.
1. This montage includes impressions and highlights of Vietnam.
2. This montage features the faces of Vietnam.
3. This montage displays the way Vietnam moves. It seems as if all 80 million people are constantly on the go.
4. The market is the way people shop and is a wonder to see.
As soon as I edit my photos of Cambodia I will be writing about that leg of the trip.
- On to South Carolina. It was a thumpin’. Obama trampled over the Clinton machine and the media goes frothing once again. The airwaves, your mail-box (both snail and e) and your telephone will be flooded with ads and pleas for money and support before the huge February 5th 20 state vote. This Tuesday’s vote only involves the Repugnants because The Democratic National Committee stripped Florida of all its delegates to the national convention since it moved ahead of Feb. 5 without permission. This could be the fall of Rudy. Stay tuned.
- Caroline Kennedy endorses Obama in a well written opinion piece in today’s NY Times.
- Maureen Dowd jumps on the dump Rudy bandwagon.
- Gail Collins always tells it like it is. Check out yesterday’s column about Rudy.
- Frank Rich tells it like it is about the Billary road to possible disaster in November.
- Jon Stewart is back, strong and tells the truth. This latest segment involves the over-reaction of the media to what is actually going on. Check it out for yourself.
- Top Ten Barack Obama Campaign Promises
