Life, the Universe, and Everything!

[vulgarweed]

Well, happy birthday to me, and I know a lady never reveals her age, but I am no lady: I've just become the answer to the Ultimate Question.


Observed it with my mom, on the Mile-High Swinging Bridge at Grandfather Mountain, near Blowing Rock, NC. We also went to the nature museum and saw the animal "habitats" (essentially, a zoo, but with local wildlife): three black bears (one actually cinnamon colored), a golden eagle, lots of deer, and a cougar*. Bonus animals not actually part of the exhibit, but hanging out there anyway, included a bevy of chipmunks and one hilarious raven who obviously found something fun to play in on one of the big rocks in the deer enclosure.




*no, it wasn't a mirror, smartass.

Comments

[vulgarweed.livejournal.com]

Thank you once again!


I don't want to jinx it, but...seeing a raven on my birthday can't help but be a positive sign for me. They're on the increase in the Appalachians, but they're still not very common. I was lucky, and this one in particular really seemed to be getting a kick out of life at that moment.

[quantum-witch.livejournal.com]

That's pretty awesome! :D I really love animal omens, even if I don't always quite get what they mean right away.

On my wedding day, we saw a blue heron standing on the side of the road (I have one of its feathers), and a black squirrel ran across the road near home (I don't have any part of it). XD

[vulgarweed.livejournal.com]

The meaning isn't always clear, for sure. Honestly, I'm a leetle unnerved that I've seen both Coyote and Raven in the wild in the past month, which is pretty unusual for someone who spends most of her time at a computer in Chicago--trickster energy is taking an interest in me, that's for sure. But also, these critters aren't just representatives of some archetype, they're individuals in themselves, and I'm just glad their funny badass selves crossed my line of sight when they did.

Was it a Great Blue Heron? (I ask because there are Little Blue Herons too.) Great Blues are so incredibly elegant. And patient. There's one who lives in the lake in my parents' neighborhood, and I remain amazed at how long it can stand completely still, and how gracefully it walks when it does move. That seems like a very good omen for a marriage.

[quantum-witch.livejournal.com]

If you start seeing loads of spiders in your home, then you can officially worry about tricksters ;)

I didn't know there was more than one sort. I have no idea, then. It was about 3ft tall, and just stood there until we stopped the car nearby. It strode away and then eventually flew off. I suppose symbolism for the crane could be applicable. :) And we have been together quite a long time now.

[vulgarweed.livejournal.com]

I'm an arachnophobe. Whenever I see a spider in my room, I immediately make sure Madimi sees it too. (I wouldn't kill one myself. But I'm shameless about using the fact that I live with a hunter much higher up the food chain.)

3 feet tall? Definitely a Great Blue. They're such beautiful birds.

[quantum-witch.livejournal.com]

Chuck sweetly handles all spiders that invade us. You should be cautious about letting Madimi at them, though, even a small bite could be unpleasant. My first cat got a bite on her lip from just a little house spider and it swelled up, we had to get antibiotics. :( They are still poisonous, after all.

Yep, he was beautiful all right :) Made my heart leap when I saw him.

[vulgarweed.livejournal.com]

I'm single, so I have to improvise. :D Madimi is SUCH a fast huntress -- and I have scratches on my ankles and calves to prove it, even now.

Aw. I think I'm getting maudlin 'cause I miss her, even though I know she's well cared for. (Annoying Roommate L is a massive animal lover, so that's one thing going for her. She loves Madimi, so I know my girl is getting spoiled even more rotten)

The town of Kent, Ohio is FULL of black squirrels. It's a genetic mutation that for some reason is especially common there, they even host a Black Squirrel Festival every year. (My personal theory? It's that the town is desperate to be known for something that isn't the Kent State shootings, CSNY "Ohio" and all that)

[quantum-witch.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure I've got this... who are you missing? Is Madimi gone?

Suddenly realized how stupidly late it is, so my capacity to understand is fuzzy.

[vulgarweed.livejournal.com]

I'm at my parents' house in North Carolina right now. Been here since late Monday night. Madimi is in the care of my roommate.

I miss Madimi. But I know she's in good hands--L has a lot of bad qualities, but lack of love for animals is definitely not one of them.