So yeah, this post while hilarious to me, probably won't be to anyone but my sister, and I am fairly certain she doesn't even read my blog. So yeah, oh and these photos were taken on the cell phone, so crappy they might be.
Come play with me!
So while at Como (I love that place) we wandered into the big cat area. And naturally stopped by the snow leopards. Where we were treated with quite the show from a rambunctious leopard and a rather stately one trying its best to ignore the other. Which lead me to proclaim that we were witnessing the Mikko Kiouv and the Antti Miettien of snow leapards. (Background story: It sure seems like Mikko Koivu demands that Antti be on his line all the time, and in videos, interviews etc it is alluded to that they are always together (much to Antti's utter dismay)
Maybe he won't see me
It started halariously enough, the stately (Antti) was pacing back and forth, looking adorable by the glass, when the other one (Mikko) decided he or she (honestly wasn't paying that close attention) wanted to play. Took a run down the rocks and slipped on the snow and took a flailing leap (that sadly was not captured on camera as it was adorable).
Wait for me!
Then the Mikko leapard jump the other one, and tried to entice it to play. Sadly, the Antti took off like a shot and went and hid in a little cave like area. While the other paced back and forth trying to get his attention. Then decided to play for a bit and entice the other out. It didn't work, so naturally he had to go down and flush the other one out.
Got Ya!
Antti leapt up on to the rocks and stood there as still as possible as if he was trying to ignore the other. Who would stare at him, try to get him to play and then when all else failed, jumped him again. It was hilarious and the look on the leopards face was a "just shoot me" face (the same look that the Real Antti has when ever he is sitting next to Mikko for an interview). Eventually he shoves the other one away and escapes up the rocks. We left the scene with poor Mikko sitting (and plotting) how to get the other to play.
Last Friday (the 18th) my cousin Susie and I, along with my mom's cousin Sylvia, went to the National Eagle Center. The National Eagle Center is in Wabasha Minnesota. Wabasha is a small town along the Mississippi River. And Wabasha like many of the little river towns has a large eagle population. La Crosse, Winona, Prairie Du Chien, Red Wing, you name one they all have loads of 'em.
And Wabasha much like La Crosse has a large wintering population of eagles. By the dams there is a large spot of open water. They like this. Literally hundreds at any given moment, trust me it is awesome to see. Now while we were in Wabasha, there wasn't bunches of eagles flying around. The warm weather had opened up much of the river and they were on the move. But during the 60ish mile drive to Wabasha there were tons flying around, hanging out on the river and just being amazing! (I love Minnesota)
But at the Eagle Center I got closer to eagles than I ever thought possible. They are so beautiful up close. Hell, they are pretty darned awesome from a distance too. There were 3 Bald Eagles and one Golden Eagle at the eagle center. They aren't as big as I expected, I mean they are big and have a huge wingspans, but I figured they weighed lots more than the 8-12 pounds they do. Got to watch one eat, and of course it decided to take a dump too (lovely I know). But hey, I am not gonna share what I learned about that function...
None the less, I loved it, probably because I love eagles.
So yeah, back to Wyoming for this post. Let's just say it is about the time of the year I start missing Yellowstone. Snow Lodge is closed for the winter, and Yellowstone had her 139th birthday and trust me, she don't look a day over 100! But I am saving Yellowstone for some later blog something or other. So we will just have to go with one of the next best things! Cody Wyoming!!
If you haven't been there I would totally recommend it. It isn't big, but it has some cool stuff. Oh and that part of Wyoming is a pretty awesome desert. Of and they have the Buffalo Bill Cody museum, which is gigantic. Honestly though, Cody is a nifty little tourist town with a real history. And there is a definite cowboy feel to the joint (which in my book is always a plus.) Oh and a big ole dam too (if you're into that sort of thing). But honestltly the majority of my trips to Cody were with the main purpose of shopping. Trust me when you live in Yellowstone 80 miles isn't that far... Oh and they have a mock gunfight comedy thing (which is kinda neat) Oh and a Rodeo that in 7 years I never went to, not for lack of trying on my part
And trust me on this the drive to Cody from Yellowstone is totally worth it!
So my sister and cousin did a Polar Bear Plunge over the weekend up in Minneapolis. Crazy, I know, but hey it was for a good cause, and they did get to meet and plunge with Cam Barker (a Minnesota Wild Defenseman). Like I said it was for a good cause, it would have to be, seeing as how my sister is not a water person. So the proceeds benefit the Special Olympics. Which is a worthy cause, and a special side note, my cousin Susie is a Special Olympian. So it was extra special for both her and my sister, personally knowing who will benefit from this!
Susie
Blocks of ice taken from the lake
Kevin Gorg and my gorgeous sister Agnes!
Susie, Cam Barker, Agnes (Team Barker)
Barker and Nordy
Did I mention Cam Barker (name drop) was a part of this years plunge. He was team captain for Team Barker Go Wild! This was the team that Agnes and Susie were on. Barker (who by the ways is so nice & way adorable) and FSNorth personalities Mike Greenlay and Kevin Gorg led plunge teams. Team Barker was pitted against Team Greenlay and Gorg (or Team Frozen 5 Hole). Friendly competition to see who could raise the most money. Team Frozen 5 Hole was the larger of the two teams (probably about twice the size) but Barker's team was plucky! Oh and Cam was matching all donations made to his team! Not to mention his team had the adorable (yet unidentifiable) MN Wild mascot Nordy plunging too. (I have to think that all that fur would be awfully heavy when wet)
Waitin' to Plunge
Greenlay interviews Barker and Nordy
Frozen 5 Holes
So where was I when all this was going down. Well, not plunging that's for sure. Yeah, it is a good cause and all, but seriously I am not crazy! Anyhoo someone (me) had to document this for posterity. That's right I was taking pictures and of course live tweeting the event. Seriously you can check out the hashtag FrigidBrigid for all the exciting updates. Yep, that was me freezing my butt off on aluminum bleachers in 27F weather just for pictures. And I had primo seats cause I got out there early enough, while everyone else was in the VIP tent warm and probably swilling soda and eating chili (or that is what I imagine at least) while my toes and fingers were freezing as I documented this for your enjoyment. (whine, whine, whine)
Team Barker!
And they plunge
Me and Cam Barker
Then it happened, the plunge, a bit of an interview of Barker by Greenlay and then they plunged! It actually looked kinda fun, in that shock and awe sorta way. And they got to chill in a hot tub, while I (and my mom who did the video- she joined me right before the plunge as she was with the other two right before) bolted to the VIP tent, where I warmed up and had some soda and chili. Oh and did I mention that this is when I met Cam Barker (no big deal). Yeah, he was handing out and signing shirts (Team Barker) and autographs. Got a picture with him. Somewhere in that search of #FrigidBrigid there is a pic of Susie, Agnes and Cam Barker. And finally here is some video of the excitement!
Still in New Mexico... this time to one place I want to drag my best friend too. She is the subterranean type. Not sure where it ranks in the largest known cave category, but I am certain that it is towards the top of the list. It is beautiful! And I totally fell in love with caves. Funny story, but it was warmer inside the cave than outside. And here I was looking for warmth...
Carlsbad is pretty cool. Like most caves you go down an elevator and exit into a strange new world... Well at Carlsbad you enter an underground lunchroom (gift shop). You'll never guess what they call it... yeah, the underground lunch room. We ate and gift shopped, my mom bought a bat visor. And then we headed out on the tour of the Big Room (creative, I know). That was the only room I toured. In a previous trip my parents saw one of the other large rooms. But I figure that you can't see everything or you'll have no reason to come back. Always leave something for next time. Words I live by.
So, the big room, it was huge, every time you though you were near the end, you went a round a corner and it was bigger. Sometimes smaller, and you'd look in one direction and you couldn't see more than a few feet in front of you face. You'd see a little opening and behind it there would be a bigger room. Or a pit that seemed to go on forever.
So they got bats. Lots of bats, I really wanted to see them, but it was too cold. Seems that at that time of year they send a few scout bats out and if it is cold the few that stay year round, won't venture into the cold. Lame in my opinion. But hey, next time!
