Definitions

Wednesday at the park, C had her preposterously cute "some kind of bulldog" foster puppy with her. Only a few weeks old. It has a speckled nose and is such a sweet package I just want to smoosh him and call him George.

"What kind of puppy is that, Durga?" asked M.

"Actually, it's a hamster."

The pic is a bit blurry because the puppy should really be called Wiggles.

The photo doesn't do him justice.
He'll go back to the Humane Society and be right out again to his new home. There's a waiting list for adorable puppies! He'll be an amazing dog for being fostered from so little by people.

He is squishy. Mmm.

We're off camping this weekend. It's a huge group of us at a big Earth Day event. There are some permaculture and other plant people there I can't wait to see again. Stella gets to come, too, and we're sharing a site with B and B, which is always great.

Regarding B and B, she's in theatre and grew up here, and he's a leonine adventurer. Last year he took the kids on a spooky walk through the bamboo forest at night. Baird was big-eyed in smiling terror. He can't wait for this year.

They know tons of people, which makes their campfire hopping. Totally fun. And they're some of my favorite people, so everything else is just a bonus.

Speaking of fire, there must be one in the Everglades right now. Since yesterday there has been a smokey smell, and a thin veil of smoke sometimes, depending on the wind. Today it smells wetter. Could be they're getting it under control.

It's so dry here this time of year. The canals are very low. There was an egret fishing at the beach the other day. It made me wonder if what's left of the waterways were a bit tapped from lack of rain and over-fishing by all the birds. The swamps are dry, with only gator wallows left. And everything is super flamable. We'll likely be burning only charcoal at camping. But the temperature is perfect, so it will be a lovely trip, with nary a mosquito.

I'll limit myself to only one plant purchase, and remember the drums for the biggest drum circle in SW Florida. It's one of the best I've seen, honestly second only to ones I attended the summer I spent at Omega in the late 80s when Baba Olatunji was teaching, and a few Afro-Cuban jazz things in NYC that were full of professionals. That's saying something, because there's nothing sadder than a lame drum circle. And this one rocks. Great attitude on top.

It's a "no politics for Miranda" weekend, by the way. Kinda has to be. (Can I be a strongly anti-dark green, bright green libertarian?) Find me at the Roots & Shoots craft booth. Groove on!

In sum, we have a hamster puppy, a dry swamp, and an eco-political mashup. I'm content.