Translation

(Re: the previous post - Jim? Is the gym. Several of y'all have asked who Jim is. See, sometimes, when I'm really tired, I think I'm funny....

Much packing to do today. After breakfast. Need to get moving.)

No penguins in Argentina

So my mom's boss and one of her coworkers went to Antarctica for a three week fabulous bottom of the world cruise (the coworker happens to be married to the boss, so it's not all scandalous like that, calm down). They're back, they had a fabulous time, her boss didn't fall through the ice on a snowmobile like when they went to Alaska, and they brought my mom back a set of salt and pepper shakers (for those who don't know, my mother collects salt and pepper shakers, and her collection is EPIC. Like, four bookcases worth of epic. With some really neat ones, from all over the world, antiques, etc) shaped like penguins. Which they bought in Argentina, where the boat docked.

For some reason, when my mother told me this the other day, I found it just hysterically funny. I finally stopped giggling long enough to speak, and the conversation went something like this....

Me: That's so funny! There aren't penguins in Argentina!!
Mom: No, I think there are....
Me: Nonsense. I think there's only penguins beneath the Antarctic Circle.

(Now, how I could've forgotten the plight of the poor Australian Fairy Penguins nine years ago in their wee little knitted jumpers, I don't know, but, I digress)

Mom: Well, parts of Argentina are pretty far South.
Me (still giggling): Noooooooo. He he...there are no penguins in Argentina!
Mom: Well, not anymore, because they're in my house!
Me (another fit of giggles): That's just hysterical. Penguins in Argentina....(sobering)...right? There really aren't penguins in Argentina, are there?
Mom: I...I really think there are.
Me: Wait, no, there can't be...let me Google.

And, of course, Argentina is the native land to at least four species of penguins. So, given my busy day and my late night (I had dinner with my aunt and uncle tonight, which was WONDERFUL, and went quite late) and early freakin' appointment with Gomer tomorrow, I leave you with a picture of my new favorite species, a native of Argentina, and the best-named bird ever...

...the Macaroni Penguin.

How I imagine it....

So I covered up the hole by the fence this morning with the recycle bin, ran off to work and prayed that my dog would still be there some 13 hours later when I returned. But I was reasonably sure she would be - after all, Maggie had occasionally been known to be corralled with a strand of yarn, and besides, the fact that they were at Maxine's house tells me that they stayed more or less together. Because I don't think Maggie knows how to get to Sparrow's house. And they were out there for a while...I left at about quarter to 7 (egh. I know) and our gardener/handyman/lawn guy got here at about 8:30, and he told Sparrow he hadn't seen hide nor hair of them (or, as he said, in his thick Mexican accent, "No rar rar rar!" Maxine likes to bark at him). I think Sparrow got home at ten or noonish or so.

I'm sure, in their little puppy minds, they had quite the grand adventure. That's a long bit of freedom for a couple of house dogs.

It's so funny to me, too, because Mags and Max do this thing where they sort of pretend to hate each other. Or at least be indifferent to each other. But they're so buds. This is sort of how I imagine it went down yesterday....

Maggie: Kate! Kate! Oh! Kate's leaving! Ohhhh.....I don't think she's ever going to come back...

Little Maxine: We should go over to my house! I bet my mom is home. I bet she's there and she doesn't know where I am and she's all sad because there's no little dog to protect her and chew on her earlobes.

Maggie: We can't go to your house! There's a fence! I always get in trouble when I try to walk around on the other side of the fence.

Little Maxine: No, it's okay! I can get us out, it's noooooooooo problem. I used to do it all the time when I lived over there. Wait, just....let me find.....the right place.....

Maggie: I don't know. What if Kate comes back?

Little Maxine: She's never coming back, you said it yourself.

Maggie: Well, but what if she does? She'll be mad if I'm not here.

Little Maxine: No, she won't! I promise!

Maggie: Well, maybe. But she'll do that thing where her eyes get all leaky and my fur gets all wet and she says "Maggie! You scared me so much! Don't ever do that again!" She doesn't seem to like it when I go on the other side of the fence without her.

Little Maxine: She won't mind! Wouldn't she want you to have a big adventure? Plus, we have to find my mom!! Ooh! Look! I can get under the fence right here! Now we can go to my house!

Maggie: I don't know, Small Heel Nipper. I really don't think I'm allowed to go to your house without Kate or your mom.

Little Maxine: There...I've almost got it...can you help me, here?

Maggie: I don't think I should. Well...maybe just a little over here...you do look like you're having so much fun...

Little Maxine: I'm almost done. Can you get through this?

Maggie: No, maybe a little bit wider. Thanks.

Little Maxine: Success! Come on! Let's go find my mom!!

Maggie: I don't know about this, Short Barky One...I think I should wait for Kate...

Little Maxine: What if she's with my mom?

Maggie: Well, that is true...

Little Maxine (from the other side of the fence): Come on!

Maggie: Well, maybe just for a little while...hey, this is kind of snug...

Little Maxine: Come onnnnn! (distant)

Maggie: I'm telling you, I'm not so sure about....hey! Wait for me!!!

Little Maxine: My house is this way! It's not very far!

Maggie: Hey, is that a squirrel?


It's really lucky for them they're so cute....