Trees Are Forever

Do you know what I mean when I say that trees are forever?

Yes, they live on for years and years, but that's not quite it.

There are trees that grow up with us, designed for climbing and adventure, housing entire flocks of birds and colonies of squirrels-- trees that feel and move with us, green and gold and smiling, as if to say "welcome home" whenever we recognize their waving branches. Trees that give us places to read, to think, to watch for thunderstorms-- to play hide and seek-- to paint and laugh, to cool down and to smile.

Trees that mean more to us than we would readily admit.

So, as the birch tree in my front yard is about to be uprooted, nearing the end of its lifespan, I dedicate this post to everything awesome that it's given to me-- to everything awesome that trees have given to us collectively.

It's a cliche for a reason: go hug a tree. Your big leafy bud will stand by you forever.

Happy World Oceans Day!

Perhaps a slightly obscure day of importance, June 8th was first declared World Oceans Day by Canada back in 1992-- a day dedicated to the wetter 70% of our planet and its 230,000 known inhabitant species.  Now recognized by the United Nations, World Oceans Day is making a splash (pun intended), with scheduled UN talks this afternoon from 3:00-5:00.

And the ocean really deserves it. A muse to artists, a challenge to adventurers, a playground for researchers, and a home for Nemo, it really does it all. A multitasking marine force, our oceans deserve our respect.

I mean, where else are you going to find creatures of exquisite awesomeness like the leafy sea dragon, the lionfish, the giant clam, and of course enormous coral reefs?

Our aquatic neighbours need a day of celebration, and for them I present the following-- grab your goldfish crackers and enjoy!

Zorrillas Really Do Exist!

A friend pointed this image out to me today, and it made me smile:

The Zorrilla of my imagination really does exist!

Pro-Environment Awesomeness

There's nothing better than a late-night realization that people out there do care about the environment-- a late-night realization, with a little humour and the right information, that leads to magic.

Or at least to the end of global warming.

For more information, see howtoboilafrog.com, and get proactive about what matters to you.

PS: Check out my new link under Other BEST Things EVER! The Global Ecological Initiative is a great example of what it means to be proactive, and has oodles of information and links for you to enjoy.

Cheers!

Do YOU Know What a Zorrilla is?

Google is my best friend.

This morning, reading an article on nationalgeographic.com, I came across the name of an animal that I had never heard of before.

Having been obsessed with animals in my earlier years, I refused to believe that I didn't actually know what this one was-- I read its name over and over-- ZorrillaZorrillaZorrillaZorrilla.

It sounded pretty at least, sort of rolling over the tongue.

But all I could picture was a sort of zebra-gorilla hybrid.

I would have liked to believe that there was some sort of striped horse-ape out there, somewhere in the far reaches of the Earth, but my curiosity and common sense eventually got the better of me-- admitting defeat, I turned to Google.

It turns out that Zorrillas are very much like skunks.

Stripier and smellier, they're the African equivalent of Bambi's little friend, declared by The Guinness Book of World Records to be the smelliest animal on Earth-- pungent enough to keep lions at bay out on the savannahs.

That's pretty impressive without gorilla-sized biceps to back you up.

Figuring Out What That Flavour Is

The other day I was in the grocery store, buying my favourite brand of pop.

I always stick with the same flavour-- the pineapple variety-- sweet, yet exotic enough to maintain a constant level of excitement, sip after sip, bottle after bottle.

 But this time, the excitement of the one flavour just didn't cut it for me.

Glancing over at my friend, I decided to take a risk and try something new-- grabbing a new bottle-- a new flavour-- a new carbonated culinary adventure:

"'Kola Champagne'?"

It had a soft caramel glow about it, calling to me with its distinctly foreign nature.

"Really?"

I looked at my friend pointedly. There was no turning back now, the bottle of pop was already off the shelf and journeying with me towards the check-out.

Sighing a soft resignation, he joined me as I paid for the pop, musing over the magical mystery-beverage that awaited us.

A twist and a pop and a fizz later, 'Kola Champagne' stood in front of us, joining the two glasses that were already sitting on the countertop, brimming with anticipation.

A gentle pour, and a clink of glass-- we entertained our first sips-- and then our minds exploded.

We had definitely tasted 'Kola Champagne' before.

"But where?!"

We racked our brains, the flavour shooting us back across our childhoods and vacations-- a gustatory gander through time.

A full twenty minutes went by, tasting the pop, musing over its oddly familiar flavour, and then--

"I've got it!"

I jumped up with a grin as I prepared to deliver the answer to all in the vicinity-- my taste buds cheering at the victory:

"White Freezies!"

My friend's eyes widened, and then shone with recognition.

Yes.

 'Kola Champagne' tasted exactly like my favourite childhood summertime treat.

Score one point to me.

New Jobs!

I just got a new job.

There really is something awesome and exciting about it-- about coming into a new place, finding a new desk, and learning new things. There's something special about moving in with picture frames and coffee mugs-- matching names with faces and places with people.

My last job, in direct contrast, had me isolated from the entire existing human population.

Sometimes whole days went by without so much as a friendly "hello!"-- whole days went by without a single syllable.

So understandably, right now I'm as over-excited and enthusiastic as a puppy-- I wave with excessive flourish, and roll around in my chair with pizzazz-- dancing along to my iPod when no one's watching, and taking over the gym at lunch.

It's really great working with lots of people. Everyone stops to say hi-- and everyone has a smile to share, even if their days haven't really been all that great.

So the next little while here should be really, really awesome.