Doves

The haunting song of the mourning dove (zenaida macroura) has been my favorite birdsong my whole life and a constant companion. They live in my courtyard here in downtown DC; they've always been up on the Bush River -- they're everywhere.

They're lovely and their song is sad and meloncholy -- hence the name.

When I moved to Togo the West Africa bird guide was my constant companion. Imagine my surprise when I heard a song one day that was almost my mourning dove song - minus the meloncholy. I look it up -- the African Laughing Dove (streptopelia senegalensis).

I like to think, despite the harshness of life there, people did laugh more and it is only natural that the doves did too.

What sound will the doves make in Morocco? A national dish is pigeon pie, so perhaps none at all:) Are they bi-polar?

I need to get a North Africa bird book, stat!

Romaine Brooks - new art love

Walking around DC with RY on Sunday we stumbled into the American Craft Museum.

Amazing quirky selection of folk art, portraiture, sculpture, and the like. I fell in love with an artist I had never heard of: Romaine Brooks.

Flag Day pic

Just got the official picture. I am pretty happy about Morocco!

Keeping an eye on Thursday

Courage to Togo. I am there with you in spirit.

Elections on Thursday

A lean and hungry look

So I know getting a dog is not a good idea for me, but. . . that was before I saw Caesar.

If anyone knows me from the Baxter era (may he rest in peace), I am a sucker for dogs with...problems. I think Caesar here is missing an eye and my heart goes out to him.

Visit to the shelter?

Here is an old pic of Bax. He was blind and I loved him fiercely.

Car Shopping!

So, if it ain't this:

It's going to have to be this:

This:

Or this:

Though I've always wanted of of these (in orange):

Question is, do I wait 'til I get to Morocco or try and find one now?

I have a Wii Problem

So for those of you living in a hole, here in Washington we have over 3 feet of snow. The government has been shut down since Monday. Today is Thursday.

What better time to play Wii with your friends you ask? No better time, I answer. Until you vigorously bowl and throw the controller at the TV, smashing it. Said TV is brand new, the most I think I've paid for anything save my car back in the day. And my house, but you get the point.

Kind friend offers to get the TV for me, and though armed with my credit card and a note, Best Buy will not give him the TV. Le sigh. More snow yesterday. I tried to get out and get to Best Buy. Nothing doing. Sat waiting for the Metro for a half hour. Went home, blinded by snow. Ventured back out, found a cabbie charging exorbitant fees. He got me to Best Buy (for $50, mind you). Closed! I called them, they said they were open, but no dice.

So, day 4 snowed in and I am reading a travel guide to the USSR. Le sigh. I want to go to work.