Monday, January 24, 2011

Message from Dos Dames #4 ~

The ATL's "Best" Weather Report is back!  And yep, the regular news stations are "kinda-sorta-maybe-we'll see-but not sure" talking about snow on Tuesday or Wednesday night.  In fairness as crazy as this season has been I think they are shell-shocked and nervous to give a prediction.  Megan got sold the same goods I did upon moving to the ATL - noooo, it never snows here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xGfZSq7-LU

You'll also find her hilarious videos of when the storm hit a few weeks ago.  Enjoy!

ATL, what is this?! - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1eEbS11uWQ

Trying to go to the store - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDLOYLCZBXs

At the store - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJqhuxWjizM


Sunday, January 23, 2011

Week 3 - Sis

Apartment fever is what I had with all the daily weather changes. Most of the days were just too cold to be out.  Plus finally getting over a long bout with a sinus condition. On Wednesday we received the World Series programs, featuring the SF Giant's Champions. My daughter in California shipped them UPS about two weeks ago, but WEATHER held up the delivery. Then in the mail I received an invitation to San Mateo, Ca. Historical Association which included, "The End of An Era", saying goodbye to 75 years of horse racing tradition. On Friday, even more home reminders, Gallo dry salami from my sister! Horse racing and good, dry salami, two things you can't find in Georgia. Saturday we decided to make our first visit to the Atlanta Zoo. I had seen a tv program here and learned the zoo's animal habitats were very lacking in the 60's and how Atlanta has worked hard at improving the conditions for the animals. The needs of the animals, as far as more suitable and natural environments, etc. are being implemented. It's definitely in evidence that the process of change is going on and should add much to the enjoyment to both human visitors and living conditions for the animals. There are signs covering fences that advertise more carnivores will be added soon. I was surprised at the size of the grounds, as it's much smaller than the zoos I've enjoyed in California. The all consuming weather turned out to be a sunny and brisk and we were outside, oh happy day! Some of the animal stars for me were the meerkats, otters, komodo dragon, elephants and panda bears. The animals that weren't out or seen that day were the: gorillas, giraffes, rhinoceros, monkeys and peacocks. Others I was surprised to see only one of: lion, tiger, leopard and sun bear. They seemed, from a human's point of view, very lonely or bored. Meerkats, as you see, always on guard. I wasn't sure if I was watching a version of an otter Beach Blanket movie with Frankie and Annette or a famous scene, considered very risque at the time, from a really old movie, From Here to Eternity, with Burt and Deborah! Entertaining and quite noisy this twosome were. The Komodo dragon was stunning and at first hard to see because he blended in with the log he was sleeping on. We found the carousel in the kid's zoo section and there we were able to see some of the day's missing animals! Good to be out from noon until 4:30 and breathing fresh air. Today it was football Sunday with some reading and resting after such a busy and exhausting week. ;-)









Week 3 - Lisa

Well the "snice" lingered way longer than I think anyone imagined.  Never seen JoJah snow stick around well into the next week.  I used to roll my eyes as the elderly people around me talked incessantly about the weather.  And now here I am.  My mother is smirking as she does about all bladder related matters too. You do not realize when you are younger that the weather revolves around your aches and pains.  So the light bulb goes on at forty-seven; they did not mean to blather Lisa, they could not help themselves!  Blame the arthritis, bronchitis and all the other -itises that creep up on you!  I am weather beat-down, humbled by my once youthful ignorance and good knees. Other related news linked to "Week 3" my Tia Chickie sent us two sticks of salami and a surprise Tuscany calendar for me.  Thank you Tia, so sweet.  My mom rolled her eyes upon seeing the calendar and thought, "here goes the whining."  Yes, I whined, I WANT TO GO" as soon as I seen it.  <sigh>  We also received our "lost due to the storm" World Series programs from my sister and brother-in-law.  Yep!  Still riding the high of being the 2010 WORLD SERIES CHAMPION SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS!  Finally towards the end of the week the sun made an appearance.  Severe cabin fever that had taken over caused my mom and I to decide to go to the zoo in 38 degree weather.  We had a good time wandering the animal-less zoo.  Taking pictures of all the JoJah dirt red stained animals that did come out.  Yowza when the wind kicked up but we stayed for about three and half hours.  We are very grateful to the critters who made an appearance. I am sure they thought we were nuts.  Wow, the Atlanta zoo is so small.  I'll never complain about the San Francisco and Oakland zoos again.  We are very fortunate to even have two zoos so close in proximity.  Supposedly they have made a lot of changes to the Atlanta zoo.  We can see the efforts but they have a long way to go.  Sunday has turned into a cooking and football viewing day.  Making some chili verde and fudge.  Mom's baking cookies.  Some of it is flying to California tomorrow.  Wish I was!