October 10, 2006

Yesterday I was trying to think of somewhere to go with Riley that would allow us to enjoy the amazing last-gasp fall weather we’re having, and it was with a guilty, guilty heart that I turned into Marymoor and headed to the off-leash dog area. Who goes to the off-leash dog park and leaves their dog, who by the way goes batshit insane with joy for the dog park, at home?

Well, I do, goddammit, because she wasn’t with me and yes I could have driven home and picked her up but I didn’t. Okay? I didn’t.

(Now I’m doubly going to DIE IN A FIRE for BEING A SLUT! Also Dog Services is going to take my dog away!)

We were trundling along, pointing at dogs (“Da! Da!”), and I got to one end of the off-leash area where a path continues past a fence and into the woods. JB and I have never gone this way, because you’re required to put dogs back on leash to walk there, and the whole point of the off-leash area…so anyway, I decided to see where it went. Being as how I didn’t have a dog with me. (Guilt!)

The path wound through the trees and sunlight dappled the ground. Eventually we moved onto a raised wooden walkway upon which Riley’s stroller wheels made a pleasing ba-bump ba-bump sound that reminded me of being a child myself and riding a Big Wheel on my grandparents’ deck in Michigan. And all of a sudden, the path opened up to the edge of Lake Sammamish, which glittered blue and cool and smooth. Dragonflies darted all around us and Riley said “Teh. Teh.” 

We walked the rest of the trail which led through the marsh, through the forest edge, and back into the meadows that opened into the off-leash area. It was such a surprise, to experience so much beauty in an everyday sort of outing. I was reminded of how lucky we are to live here, how even in the city and suburbs the natural world always shines through.

Maybe I’ll go back on Friday, and this time I’ll bring Dog. 

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:::

Okay, there’s something I just have to say. There’s a certain relationship I think that we have, you and I. It’s the kind of relationship where I can tell you things, and you tell me things, and maybe we agree and maybe we don’t. But the thing is: it’s honest, right? As much as it can be, anyway? So it hurts me, it hurts me deeply to know that nobody, not one of you…

Oh, this is so painful. I don’t know if I can go on. Okay, deep breath.

WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME ABOUT MEERKAT MANOR??

Seriously, people. There’s a whole show about meerkats, and it’s a drama? Hello, clearly something you should have shared before now. Honestly, I don’t know if I can forgive you.

If LIKE ME you had no idea this mesmerizing show existed – well, forget that Project Runway business all the kids are excited about, Meerkat Manor’s where it’s at. Will they ever find Shakespeare? Will Daisy be kicked out of the group? Will Flower spawn, like, four hundred more pups? Will the Commandoes attack the Whiskers? How about Youssarian, is he ever going to get some hot meerkat action?

It is, no shit, a soap opera starring meerkats. Actual meerkats. In the Kalahari. You should check it out: Animal Planet, Fridays.

And if you know about a sitcom featuring platypuses or something, you better kick down.

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samantha
samantha
17 years ago

I LOVE Meerkat Manor! I had the opportunity to participate in surveys about the show before it aired, and got all sorts of cool promo stuff from the show.

Cris
17 years ago

Um, just wanted to say that the pics are beautiful..

:)

em
em
17 years ago

Man, for the first time in ages, I’m really sad I don’t have extended cable. Meerkute!

Sara
17 years ago

Have you read “Life of Pi”? There are meercats in that book, and it’s worth the read for many reasons. I enjoy looking at the meercats at the zoo here in Portland…and I’m both happy and sad I don’t have cable.

LL
LL
17 years ago

Beatiful area! Meerkat Manor is great but can be sad. Shakespeare, I am afraid gave his life for those babies. On the new season his name isnt on the credits. Vai vair sad….

Mona
17 years ago

Is there a great divide between two clans on that show? I will only watch it if there is a great divide. Do the meerkat moms try to one up the other meerkat moms and then they must fight it out? Because that would be too cool for words.

Katie
17 years ago

Have any of y’all seen the movie “Junebug”? That is all I think of when I see meerkats and then I feel like crying and laughing at the same time. Weird. Haven’t watched the show, but my friend’s 8 month old is hooked on it and cannot tear his eyes from the TV screen when its on!

I second the “Life of Pi” book recommendation (in my top favorite list of books, ever!), however, I do not remember any meerkats in it!

Katie
17 years ago

P.S. Beautiful pics and lake! Also, still wondering about that rad-ass stroller.

Chloe
Chloe
17 years ago

Seattle is so motherfucking gorgeous. Wow.

Did you use that Photoshop technique that you mentioned on SundryBuzz on these pictures?
I’m just curious– I tried it out the other day (though it took a while to find the equivalent options since I have CS2, not Elements), and it made some photos totally gorgeous– african violet, a shot of my eye got super cool looking, etc. Of course, the ones of my face that I tried it out on made me look even pastier than before…

Anyway… beautiful photos. And I have never heard of this meerkat show (though I am intrigued), so I’m afraid that I am not the one to drop the ball… this time.

Kari
Kari
17 years ago

My grandma-in-law-to-be (whew!) is infatuated with it. I sadly, couldn’t get into it. But I usually have to have watched these sorts of things from the beginning to really like them. Sorry for not telling you sooner? Can I still be your weird cyber stalker type person thingy? :D

mom on a wire
17 years ago

Me? You? Marymoor? Whaddaya think?

thejunebug
17 years ago

I keep seeing adverts for Meerkat Manor and am scared to watch for fear I will become addicted. MEERCATS.

And, uhm, seeing as how your CAT is named Meercat, I’m shocked and dismayed by the fact that you haven’t seen it before now! LINDA, HOW COULD YOU!

Jo
Jo
17 years ago

Beautiful pictures, as always, i envy you having somewhere so beautiful so close to home. And i envy you having cable, i’ve known about Meerkat Manor for ages now, and i’d love to see it, it sounds hilarious. I always feel sorry for meerkats in zoos and animal parks, there’s only ever 4 or 5 of them, don’t they normally live in huge packs?

Anyway, love the pictures, and thanks for the link back to all those comments, they made me laugh out loud all over again.

Becky
17 years ago

Isn’t it awesome? They act just like humans. Even MY HUSBAND is totally into the show, reminding me that it’s on and everything. The only thing that might be better is –maybe– otters.

We are just sick about poor Shakespeare…

Emily
17 years ago

The photos are beautiful as always, but what I really wanted to say is that I love how they named a meerkat after the main character in Catch 22. Is he the meerkat who is trying to resist The Man?

Amber
17 years ago

I haven’t seen Meerkat Manor, and now I’m afraid to because the possibility of addiction is so high. And lord knows I have enough problems turning off the t.v. as it is.

As for the fall pics, lovely — you seriously have such a great eye for photos. Mine would end up weirdly framed with the focus on a dead bug or something. Yours are always artistic.

So yeah, that’s it. What I think I’ll do now is go find an entry someone wrote over a month ago and leave ridiculously fucked up comments. Because I clearly have nothing better to do.

Kaire
17 years ago

I started to watch Meerkat manor, but then I heard this rumor that they are just high paid actors pretending to be meerkats. Then of course there is all the drugs and diva behavior that showed up in the tabliods …

jonniker
17 years ago

I have such a horrible TV overscheduling problem as it is right now. Am I ready to add MeerKat Manor? I’ve honestly never seen a show more heavily marketed than that one (despite the fact that it’s Animal Planet, seriously, they hyped that thing up), and well, I’ve been meaning to check it out. And now I feel like I have to, given the credibility you’ve already earned with the great-ass pants.

robin
robin
17 years ago

Ok, big slut that’s gonna die in a fire (wtf-seriously?)….those pics are absolutely gorgeous. I’m totally jealous of you and you taking a walk in such beautiful surroundings. I can just imagine what that felt like when you hit the clearing.

Jessie
17 years ago

That sounds like a great way to unwind from the week on a Friday night. I didn’t know about it either, but I’m definitely going to have to check it out. Thanks for the tip!

Swistle
17 years ago

I’d had NO IDEA that the punishment for a funny costume idea was BURNING IN HELL. Nor did I realize that coming up with a funny costume idea made a person a slut. Do these people know what “slut” means? I say let’s not tell them. I don’t think their weak little hearts can take it.

I’d also had no idea that there was a meercat soap opera, and now I’m really going to have to consider extended cable.

warcrygirl
17 years ago

Truly, had I known you didn’t know the joy that is Meerkat Manor I would have told you. I LURVE the Whiskers!

justmouse
justmouse
17 years ago

i swear! i knew NOTHING about Meerkat Manor! never seen it, never heard of it, not even sure we GET that channel. however, it does remind me of the time i was at the zoo with my son and we saw the meerkats HUMPING!!! HA HA! my son refused to let me take a picture though. seriously, how funny would that be? to have a Humping Meerkat picture??

Ang
Ang
17 years ago

Breathtaking photogrophy!

Sue
Sue
17 years ago

I found Meerkat Manor about a month ago and I LOVE IT! It truly is a soap opera. Whoever films it should win an award because the photography is great.

april
17 years ago

Hi – from a longtime reader and neverever commenter.

I’m actually writing to see if you’d consider doing a short interview via email. One of the sites I write for is actively seeking blogger interviews and I’d love to interview you. Please let me know. Thank you.

MRW
MRW
17 years ago

I’m ashamed to admit I’ve heard of Meerkat Manor. But in my defense, I’ve never watched it because I can’t handle nature programs. It’s not that I don’t love animals, it’s that I love them too much. I can’t take the inevitable “circle of life” thing. Sure, I know it’s nature that that stuff happens blah blah blah, but that doesn’t mean I have to watch it and become sad. So, I stick to shows where only people experience the “circle of life” because, eh, people, whatever…

ginger
ginger
17 years ago

Once, we lived in a condo building as renters. And one of the condo owners went off her meds and off the rails. And she pulled all the wiring out of the junction box, and sent the Homeowner’s Association a funeral flower arrangement, and set fire to things on her cooktop that filled the hallway with smoke. But the best part was when she danced around the hallway shaking a feather duster and laying a curse on everyone in the building. Why am I telling you this? Because I believe she might have found the internet.

And you can tell Riley’s an Internet Baby, because he already knows how to say “Teh!”

Maya
17 years ago

I hate to brag but this is too good to pass up…I live close to a meerkat facility (http://www.meerkats.com) where you can “adopt” meerkats. Not only can you go see the little cuties – they let you CUDDLE THEM! aaaagh! Needless to say, I’m going to go and get an hour of meerkat loving ASAP.

Mieke
17 years ago

Okay, I for one just found out about Meerkat Manor last week!! I actually cried at the end of the episode! You are right one–a total Meerkat Soap. It’s ridiculous. I love it.

orangepeacock
orangepeacock
17 years ago

I up the saturation in my fall photos, too. They just don’t appropriately capture the essence of fallishness unless they’re supersaturated. Film never seems to get the insane blueness of the sky as much as I’d like. :-D

victoria
victoria
17 years ago

Oh, Sundry. My love for your blog beggars description. Thank you for being yourself and for writing about your life and being such a lovely person.

jen
jen
17 years ago

yohanna is a effin’ psycho. sheesh. who says that?

lovely photos and as many have said in the past i am in stroller love. one day when i have kids they will be in ten buck umbrella strollers unless i can get someone to to buy me one. ooh baby showers! ;)

gnometree
17 years ago

Well, if you had shared with us your insane love of the cute and cuddly critters then I would have made you aware of this program. There was a whole series of documentaries made about that family of meerkats – their communication, their family structure etc and I believe that they have just taken these programs and cleverly cut them together to make Meerkat Manor. Occasionally Animal Planet also have a meerkat madness week. Millions of Meerkats – just for you!!! look out for it. You might also like this game: http://animal.discovery.com/fansites/meerkat/maze/maze.html

Jane
Jane
17 years ago

Ok, So I was just surfing and came across a picture that had me chortling (oh yeah, I’m easily amused) and then I wander over here and see Becky thinking otters are cool…

So, from one otter liker to another..

http://www.hedonistica.com/image.php?path=/2006/10/10/funny_otter.jpg
(*snicker*)

Also: Meerkat Manor has been playing here on free-to-air-TV for the last 6 weeks or so and while I’ve only watched it a few times, I too think it’s awesome. Rawk on Meerkats.

Deanna
Deanna
17 years ago

Loved the photos, Big Wheel memory, finding such a beautiful surprise in the “everyday”…but I’m still pissed about the (obivous) total wack job that wished death upon you. That’s so freakin’ stupid, and I grew up in the deep south…I know freakin’ wack-job stupid folks. (I also know and love a number of intellegent, well spoken southern folk, lest wack job wish death upon me.)

Sorry…focus… LOVE the photos, really. And dog will forgive you! (Cat on the other hand…)

sweetney
17 years ago

meerkat WHA? i had no idea.

lovely photos, though.

fellowmom
fellowmom
17 years ago

I just heard of Meerkat Manor. I saw it on The Soup, which is every busy mother’s best friend. (No need to watch anything else, because The Soup will show all the clips that were worth watching in one handy half-hour cliff’s notes verson of the week in TV.) I was pleasantly shocked to hear such a show existed and am going to check it out. I think writing for that show has got to be one of the best jobs in the world.

行動電源推薦
10 years ago

You truly make it appear so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be really some factor that I believe I would never understand. It seems too complex and very broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!

行動電源推薦
10 years ago

These days, I went to the beach front with my kids. I discovered a sea shell and gave it to my 4 yr old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you place this for your ear.” She positioned the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this really is entirely off topic but I needed to tell someone!