No, deer. No.
A window into the wackiness. Gotta love it. Perchance, bottle that.
Blown in on brisk breezes with lower humidity, welcomed distractions.
Refreshing after so much political huffing, puffing, and hot air. Politicians are probably the true cause of global warming.
Yeah, she’s got milk. And veggies, too. (Houstonzoo.org)
People gladly warm up to some things. Like Opal.
Opal’s birth in late August overwhelmed her mom, Ruby, so protective services stepped in with bottles to assist, but wisely decided not to remove the baby from her mom. Ruby managed to get her act together this week and is now caring for her nyala child on her own.
Opal can be spotted frolicking with the other new nyala babies: Wallace, Fancy, and Fern. Shortly all of them will be introduced to rest of the Houston Zoo’s nyala antelope herd.
Watch Opal star in her own movie here.
Spelling it out. (facebook.com/welovehoustonsign)
Another film crew is a little less in love with Houston after yesterday.
A local real estate firm hired Cut to Create Video Productions to make a promotional marketing video about the city. Pictures of skylines, parks, and, of course, the David Addickes’ “We Love Houston” sculpture parked among side of HWY I-10.
The crew noticed a man strolling back and forth eyeing them, but it’s a very public spot, so they felt safe. Safe until the guy pulled out a gun. They tossed the cameras and equipment and ran to their van.
The robber had a lot to carry on his way to the getaway car. He ended up dropping a tripod and a Go PRo camera – which continued to roll.
Go Pro camera not going without a fight.(Facebook.com/welovehoustonsign)
Once again, selfies are not your friend. (Video and story here.)
He also dropped his gun. Which was plastic. It may shoot pellets. Maybe. Plastic toy-ish.
The production guys still managed to say that they loved Houston. They hardly hesitated or stammered at all.
Note to film crews in Houston: Hire a local guide.
Getting into that spooky Halloween spirit? Not kidding about do not enter…(shiver)©
Local knowledge can be really interesting. Like with this window.
- What’s with the lamp hanging there?
- Why does the sign say “Do Not Enter”?
- Why bother looking at this window anyway?
Stop! Do not run. It’s breaking news. OK. The window broke. A long time ago. So it was not caused by hurricane Joaquin. Work with me here.
It’s the “One if by land and one if by sea” signal church of the American revolution: Boston’s Old North Church. Paul Revere stuff.
At one point a rebellious citizen was being chased by British troops who never cared about a church’s sanctuary or protection. Soldiers ran right on in after him. Rebel crashed through the window and escaped.
The broken window was actually boarded up for a long time. Forgotten.
“Harrumph. Here I am, old and forgotten. Not even an umbrella against the storm.” (Lions guard Old North Church’s gift shop.©)
President Gerald Ford placed that lantern in the window in April 18, 1975, honoring the U.S. Bicentennial Celebration.
Oh FYI. You can’t crawl up and touch the window. They yell. Just like they yelled at mom for touching the Liberty Bell. Got to be genetic.
Interested in “Lanterns, Bells, and Bodies” of the old place? Get an inside look here in Yankee Magazine. (Besides, you guys on the East Coast are bored looking at all the rain, right?)
The original “So you think you can dance”. OPA! (greekfestival.org)
Time for this post to be history.
The most wonderful of all Greek Festivals opens this weekend. Get ready to party. This year featuring Holy Archangels Monastery and Winery. (Greek Orthodox monastery, Kendalia, TX.)
Read more about the monks: “Wine with a purpose: Monks get into the spirits at Greek Festival” (CultureMap)
Or watch news video of the festival’s opening “Opa! The Original Greek Festival kicks off in Montrose.” It’s call “The Original” as it’s the oldest, in downtown (Montrose is a neighborhood), and there’s another big Greek Festival in the Spring.
49th Annual Greek Festival. Four days. Weather’s great. Dance on over. (greekfestival.org)
No, I will not be waving to the webcams. No, dear, no.
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge
Another bottle? What ever you want, baby. Oh, give one to Opal, too. She’s got a lot of growing to reach 150 pounds. Opa! (Houstonzoo.org)
19 Comments
Comments are closed.
Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge 
I agree… the politicians should pay that “hot air tax” with efurrything they purchase, not we :o) the robber was hard-nosed, how bad that the crew tossed the cams away, they could get some good mug shots from that guy :o(
LikeLike
At least the Go Pro camera keep its’ wits about it. The film crew far outnumbered the robber – and with big tripods and heavy cameras they weren’t exactly defenseless…just easily scared witless. Duh.
I took a gun away from kid in school years and years ago (the year a kid in Dallas shot an English teacher because he made a “B” on a paper instead of an “A” – we were all a bit edgy about that. Despite what the media portrays, violence in schools is not new at all. My family all were school administrators and teachers – each summer they compared the boxes of weapons they took away from kids. Rapid fire broadcasting/internet makes it seem there’s more violence.) He pulled the gun out in the classroom and I said “Give that to me” and took it. Say it with fast enough and with enough authority and there’s minute of hesitation. It’a like yelling “Sit” loudly at a charging dog. They get confused. I broke up fights, too…and I’m tiny.
Getting pretty tired of the criminals bullying all the rest of us these days. It’s so much easier these days when the guilty ones take their own pictures of themselves and the crimes. Hilarious. Lock ’em up please!
Thanks for snorting along, Easy
LikeLike
I bow my head that you were able to manage that situation… think you are one of the heroes, we need so much to avoid bad things…
LikeLike
There’s a hero in everyone. There are those to protect – there is no choice.
Could be why tiny dogs manage to defend their owners if necessary. (It all comes back to dogs somehow. Dogs rock!).
LikeLike
Always add an animal in a post for an “awww” factor. Didn’t know antelopes were so tiny! With the recent shooting of a film crew, I can understand why they ran for their life. Hope the police caught the bandits with the selfies!
LikeLike
Those tiny little hooves! Cute, indeed. Now that it’s cooler, I’m planning on getting out to see all the critters for real instead of web cams.
It’s getting seriously funny around here with the hilarious criminals. Yesterday they caught a woman who shoplifted a $6,000.00 Versace dress. (They had security cams) Authorities found her posting pictures of herself/selfies in the dress that afternoon on FB and Instagram bragging. You couldn’t write this stuff and have people believe it.
It’s a big city here. You do have to be aware of your surroundings….or hire a local guide who knows how. HA HA. Thanks for hoofing along
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awwww, such cute baby antelope. Too bad that film crews have to have armed guards now – won’t be long before all citizens will have to open carry or chance being mugged.
Fun story about the Boston church window. Should take up a collection to have it fixed – Bwahaha!
Great post Phil. Lots of fun to read.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How about if the film crew got some self esteem …maybe martial arts can build their confidence…they did outnumber the guy and have heavy equipment with them. Seriously, no gun really needed, just a brain. This bunch would never survive in the jungle (or many places now). Got to be aware of surroundings and suspicious people. The guy walked by multiple times – that didn’t make them wonder? Even the nyala would have been suspicious! You may be right about returning to that law of the jungle where only the strong survive. Maybe not such a bad thing? HA HA
Apparently the window was hidden behind a wall during a past renovation. It was uncovered and restored around 1976. So now that it been “touched” by a president no one can touch it? Oh, maybe they are afraid someone will steal the lantern and sell it on eBay? HA HA.
Hope you’re running up to speed and the weekend offers delight and amusement. Thanks for lighting up the comment stack!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The very moment I heard the story coming out of Houston about the “We Love Houston” incident I knew you would be writing of it. Ironic isn’t strong enough a word. I don’t know what is anymore. To be trying to capture the beauty of a city while someone is committing a crime against you? It also reminded me of my post about the USA Network delaying showing their season finale of their show “Mr. Robot” because of the live TV shooting in Virginia. (and again…thank you for your comments on it…) The episode apparently had a scene similar to the real life event. As you know my questions were then…and remain after Oregon again yesterday…what will be different a week later…and do we ever stop to absorb the fact this is considered entertainment until it happens for real? There is an annual Greek Festival in our area which is traditionally very well attended. I love their logo! Have a great, safe weekend everyone!
LikeLike
Is it laughter or hysteria? Irony for sure. The universe seems to be writing scripts that would be dismissed as unbelievable if an author penned them. Always as serious question whether art mimics real life or the opposite. Considering all the intentional meanness, bullying, and violence paraded across screens and in music not a big surprise that people who have grown up indoctrinated by these attitudes (from the time their eyes are open) just shrug. Decency, kindness, and doing the right time because it’s the right thing to do even if no one is watching – those are hard for parents to instill in kids these days. Ugliness gets applause. Violence is seen as a quick answer to any problem. The media/internet gives instant “fame” to those who should be shunned and removed from society. We are lucky there are those who struggle to give balance.
Meanwhile good to take time and dance to the music. Thanks for muttering along. Hope your weekend is full of fun and few skinned knees
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s something about the cuteness, vulnerability, and some undefined quality, about little mammal babies that makes them almost all adorable. Deer and antelope are easy to treasure, but even baby mice and other rodents look nearly as precious…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Planned that way, no doubt.
(Things OK that way? Didn’t know if you’d been called in to help as trauma counselor even if diff. state. Neighbors help neighbors. That whole town in our thoughts and prayers. )
LikeLike
We here in New Hampshire are awash in hot air (and hot hair thanks to the Donald) with all the political stumping. Do they really think it matters? All those plaid shirts and suspenders are not buying the slick guys from DC…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Can’t fool plaid! (But the sharp talkers never actually realize that.) Thanks for giggling along
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, and deer season opens soon so there you go!
LikeLike
And the deer ones know it. One local herd already settle in a neighborhood house’s large yard/field where they safely wait out the weeks of danger…and munch on prime lawn grass early in the morning in the fog. No dumb bunnies there! Thanks for hoofing it over
LikeLiked by 1 person
We were so busy last month that we missed the fall Greek Festival. Luckily there’s another one in the spring. Oh for some real homemade spanokopita and baklava!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The wild festivals are fun, but all that homemade food – they make take out plates! You can call ahead! Luckily the rest of the year, we have a large group of Greek Texans here and some really nice hole in the wall family run Greek restaurants. Feeling like you’re getting sick – stop by there and it’s all better. Can’t ever be in a hurry, though – once reason once you’re in the door, stress just melts away. One of the best kept secrets near the NASA complex. (And they did talk rocket science over lunch).
Oddly, we found a really great one in Little Rock, AR, too. Tiny, but wonderful and such nice people. Opa! Thanks for musing along
LikeLike
Opal is adorable! That poor film crew. That’s a really cool sign. 🙂
LikeLike