Archive for May, 2009

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Noisy little bird

May 5, 2009

I heard an obnoxious sound and looked to see if I could find the source of this noise. I wasn’t sure if it was a bird or a large bug. It turned out to be this tiny little bird. He/she is about the size of a hummingbird. They fly rather interestingly – sort of a swooping motion.

(By the way, there are no hummingbirds in this hemisphere. Hummingbirds are native to the Americas. Too bad, I think they would like the Jasmine and some of the other flowers here.)

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Wolverine

May 4, 2009

Friday we went to the theatre to see XMen Origins: Wolverine. This was my first theatre experience here. Daddybird went to see The Watchmen, but I boycotted due to the fact that it had been substantially censored and I want to see the original as intended enough to wait until we get back to the States this summer or it comes out on DVD. But, I digress.

The theatre experience was quite pleasant. The seating is assigned when you buy your ticket, not general seating. So, we got the aisle seats in the third row, which sounds like it would be too close, but they don’t put seats right up to the screen like the theatres in the States. It was actually just right.

The corker is that the concessions don’t cost more than the tickets, as in the States. We got a large popcorn, water and a large Pepsi for less than the price of one ticket.

We, of course, stayed until the end of the credits, because we know there is usually a little extra, often important, scene at the end of the credits in these types of movies. I disdain all those who complained about Prof. X being killed in the last movie, because I know they didn’t have the good sense to stay to the end of the credits. This time the scene wasn’t very revealing or surprising, but it did open the possibility of a sequel set in Japan and involving Deathstrike, perhaps??? (Those of you who are not fans are probably not even remotely interested.)

As we left the room, I noticed that there were six men cleaning. It wasn’t that big of a room, but that is what cheap labor will get you.

It was nice to once again celebrate our anniversary with an XMen movie. They really should time them so there is one every year the first weekend in May, just for us.

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Baby birds

May 4, 2009

Here are some of the baby birds on campus. They haven’t been out of the nest long and are trying their wings at flying. It was difficult to catch on video because they are so small and they hurl themselves into the air rather unpredictably.

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Scarab

May 4, 2009

scarabWe met a new category of lifeform. This was around 8 pm, after dark in the parking lot. He was walking very fast. It was a challenge to get a picture.

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Fountain and Pool

May 2, 2009

waterfallA lovely waterfall fountain.
waterfall2The waterfall fountain from another angle. And, yes, that is a pool you see hanging off the side of the hotel. Daddybird thought this was cool, until he saw someone swim by. Not really a view you want to have of the average tourist.pool

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May Day

May 1, 2009

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After the last entry on flowers, Kazul wanted to know what I would do for May Day. Well, here is your May Day bouquet and I don’t think I had to repeat a single type of flower. All but the last picture were taken on campus.
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The petunias were quite amazing. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen so many blooms, so consistently, over such a long period. The temperature has gotten hot enough now that they will not last much longer.
02002104800110101And, here for you Kazul, is a Dr. Seuss tree in a purple pot.tree