::: The World's Shortest, Fattest Giraffe :::

Yes folks, it is true. There is such a thing as a short, fat giraffe. It is not native to the Connecticut shoreline, however it has made an appearance and I was able to document it on Halloween of all days! National Geographic will be calling me for my photos any day now. I just know it. This giraffe is the key to my big break.

I took it into my home as it seemed a little "off."


A little "out of sorts" perhaps?


It was quite interested in going into the crate I just happened to have. Odd.


I asked it if it was interested in going "trick or treating" and apparently, it was not.


In fact, I believe the fat giraffe may have been embarrassed to be outside. I really don't know why.


It did spend some time foraging for food. Grazing.


When it wanted to move, surprisingly it could really hoof it around the yard.


It did not, however, enjoy having its photo taken. How unfortunate.


It was quite thrilled to find some greenery. Sadly, its stumpy giraffe legs could not reach.


After much effort, success!


And a veritable feast.


We appear to have bonded, so you will all be happy to know that the tubby, oddly shaped giraffe will be sticking around. :)

Happy Halloween from Gretl and me, everyone! =)

-Julia

Leopards and peacocks and bears... and bulldogs! Oh my!

This past Wednesday, I headed into New York to have Gretl spayed. :) It was not something I was looking forward to, so I happily distracted myself with a day at the zoo, some time spent with a friend for lunch, and even a visit with Gretl's siblings. :) Definitely all wonderful ways to keep my mind OFF of the fact my pup was undergoing "major surgery."

So I headed to the Bronx Zoo! I had never been... and I'll be honest, March 17th is not exactly prime animal viewing time. In fact, I think it may have been the most boring time EVER to go. Most animals were "inside" even though it was 70*. :( But here is what I did manage to see:






This guy cracked me up... he was totally posing for a tourist.

See?



The one "real" animal I really got to see that I can't see locally... a snow leopard.





Oooh! Look! A wild, elusive photographer in its natural habitat. (Yes, I was that bored walking through empty exhibit after empty exhibit.)

Finally! Some signs of life! A ham for the camera!

Who loves "chew" toys.



Until...

He loses them!

Toy overboard!

Oh no!

What's a bear to do?!

Why, go down and get it back, of course!

Victory is mine!

Happy Bear. And yes, I did indeed stand and watch him for way too long. =)

The seals and sea lions put on a good show for the kiddies.





Goodbye!

When I realized I had seen everything there was to see, I went off to visit the OTHER zoo... :) Gretl's siblings. They move too fast to get anything really good and in focus, but this particular one of Gina makes me smile.

My patient was ready to come home... and for the record, this was the torture *I* was subjected to... my baby! Out of surgery...

Behold, the sleeping bulldog in cage #1.

The sleeping bulldog on the Merritt Parkway.

And the drugged up, dopey bulldog in its natural habitat, unable to figure out what the hell happened to her.

:) So glad it's over!!!! Thank god for my camera - it really keeps me sane when I need something else to put my mind on. :) And thank god for my dear friends who kept both Gretl and me company.

Sláinte!

Gretl and I trust everyone had a good St. Patrick's Day and didn't drink TOO much Guinness!


We spent the holiday at the vet getting the infamous spay done. It's all over, thank goodness! But not before a quick performance as the first Irish Bulldog Pimp.


Lady, I am a wee lassie!!!! :)


Such a good sport, eh? :)

3rd Annual Bullypalooza ::: 02.20.10

This past Saturday, Gretl and I packed up for a mini-roadtrip down to Lakewood, NJ for a MidAtlantic Bulldog Rescue's 3rd Annual Bullypalooza, a fun benefit for bulldog rescue!

My co-pilot!

We went as spectators/attendees for once, rather than photographer, but I couldn't resist snapping a COUPLE of pics. Especially since Gretl's MOM came! :) You can't tell they're related at ALL, can you? =)















What's hard for me to swallow is that she's already BIGGER than her mom! =( Where did my wee little peanut go?!

We saw lots of bullies...













Even this big doofy guy...



Who Gretl immediately gravitated to. =)

She showed off her ENORMOUS mouf...

She smiled for the camera...

She got loved on within an inch of her life by friends who have known her since she was born...



And she got a goodie bag full of treats and stuffy toys and leashes! Who's better than her? =) It was 2-1/2 hours down and she was an ANGEL. We stopped at a rest area on the NJ Tpke and that was it! Not even a peep. Just sat up, wide awake and watched the world go by the entire ride.

Thankfully, she was so pooped on the way home, she slept the entire FOUR HOURS it took me to get thru New York City. :) I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do if she woke up while I was in gridlock at the entrance to the GWB forced into a non-EZ-Pass lane with my EZ-Pass in hand. (Grrr.) :)

Thank you everyone at MidAtlantic Bulldog Rescue for a wonderful day full of good visits with friends, goodies, yummy food, and lots of bullie love!