Bowling for Carrots

Mister John supervised a student for a Memorial Day bowling tournament. Ah... so long ago since I bowled in those same tournaments. In any event, an adult tournament also was held concurrently so "what the heck," I signed up without even socks.

While my student came in third place in his tournament, I did one better... but I received $100 for my toils. At least my bunnies are happy; they'll get more food.

Cherry Bugg Fakes Limp, Tricks Miss Jill

Another festive day at the Erb household as Cherry Bugg feigned injury to trick Miss Jill into getting more carrots. Mama Bugg also was in on the trick and later said "MEH!" when confronted with the evidence.

Meanwhile Princess Jane and Root Beer Float spent some bonding time underneath the picnic table in the back yard. Who knows what these two talk about but I am betting it isn't about how much they want to have Cherry Bugg out in the yard. I bet they are discussing how to circumvent that new wall guarding the roses. While they could easily hop it, rumor has it that there is an alarm that will go off once a furry bunny in sensed in the forbidden zone.

Great Wall of Bunny Despair

The backyard rabbits are thumping mad with the introduction of a small fence to keep them away from some of the tastier roses planted in the backyard by Miss Jill and Mister John. "This is a thumping outrage!" proclaimed Cherry Bugg as she tried to eat the roses but was instead met by a wire intrusion. "This is worse than what happened to the bunnies in Berlin!" Upon further questioning, Cherry Bugg could not identify any more upon why the bunnies in Berlin were persecuted by a fence or wall but she was sure that roses were involved.

Phillip was not humored by this site either as he said it was completely out of design with the rest of the back yard.

"I am not a chicken" proclaims Cherry Bugg

"I don't understand this perception by some individuals in the (Mr. John/Miss Jill household) that say I am a chicken," protested Cherry Bugg this afternoon. "I do not lay eggs and I cannot fly," added Cherry not knowing the chickens can't fly for long distances. Afterwards, she roosted in the far corner of Mr. John and Miss Jill's bedroom and brooded there in isolation for about three hours.

Mother's Day for Mama Bugg

Mama Bugg, the matriarch of the Bugg clan was quite in a chipper mood yesterday as her daughter Cherry Bugg as well as her granddaughters Root Beer Float and Ruby Jane visited her. Alas, the day ended poorly when Papa Bugg asked RBF for some smokes.

Mr. John and Miss Jill Return from DC

Miss Jill and I returned from DC after a seven day sojourn to the Capital. Excitement and crowds overwhelmed us for the first few days as every school-group and miscreant child ran amuck through the city. We did manage to see almost all of the important buildings in the city.

On our first day there, we decided to take a visitor trolley through the city which ended up being poor planning. Everyone in the city took it that day and it was quite crowded. Even more crowded were the Smithsonian museums. However, we did manage to make it out to the National Cathedral (right) in the morning before trekking out to the National Mall. While Jill and I have no problem taking on insuperable amounts of walking distance, we do hate the throngs of ill-behaved crowds.

We made it out to the Washington Monument many times in our daily ventures (see left).

A side note: that Metro system was so efficient that it left me wondering why LA is still dragging its feet on such a thing. We made it to most of the city. I guess the city subway planners strategically placed the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial a distance from the Metro stop to force those silly tourists to make a concerted effort. Of course they could have crowded onto a trolley. Yeah.

We only managed to climb the steps to see Lincoln (see right) once but it was definitely a great view of the Mall as well as the Capitol so far away on the opposite site.

Along with all of the Smithsonian museums, we did make it to the Supreme Court, the Capitol building, the Newseum (highly recommended), and the Folgers Shakespeare Museum. Yes, that is where I, the British lit teacher, sneak off to pay homage to the great bard Bill. Somewhere around here I have a t-shirt which I bought there. We got to DC and the only trinkets we get are the oddities.

When Jill told me that the NCAA hockey final was to be played that week in DC, I jumped at the opportunity of going. Many years back I attended the Frozen Four semifinals in Anaheim with Jeff but never made it to the title game (stupid Easter!). This time I had the opportunity to see the Miami/Boston U final which went to overtime before BU won, 4-3. It was quite an exciting game and even though Jill and I had no vested rooting interest (I represented with my North Dakota jersey), it was quite enjoyable.

Jill and I also made it to the National Zoo where we said Hello to the pandas as well as some elephants, cheetahs, and seals. Our first hotel was within a mile of the Zoo. Our second hotel in Foggy Bottom (what kind of stupid name is that?) was a little more distant from the Metro. But it did have larger elevators.
In paying due respects to our Catholicism, we rode out to the Basilica in northern DC for Easter services. Wow, that place held over 2500 people. At least that congregation was a bit more orderly than the masses in the Smithsonian.

Anyway, we spent a very spirited week seeing all the sites. Now it's time for us to settle down and relax before besieged by our respective occupations again.

Chip Dutifully Waits on Bed

While Miss Jill and I are in DC meeting with the Prez, the bunnies were to stay behind and celebrate Bunny Liberation Day without us. Last year, they set fire to half the neighborhood -- those rebellious rabbits. So this year we hired a bunny sitter but Chip had other ideas. He snuck into our bedroom and sat on the bed for two days... waiting... for Mister John and Miss Jill. I feel bad for poor little Chip Chip Cherie. He shall be rewarded upon our return.

Meanwhile Cherry Bugg has been quietly patient.

Bunny Day Is Coming!

While some people call it Easter and others call it Passover, those in this household call the big spring holiday BUNNY DAY! Indeed, the Christian masses have usurped the glorious Bunny Day with their own hackneyed version with their own bastardized form of an Easter Bunny. The gall of them!



In clockwise order starting from the upper left: Jane, Root Beer Float, and Ruby Jane all caucused over the upcoming Bunny Day. What should be done, what weeds should be eaten, when to thump... all the essentials. Phillip remained in his tower throughout the meeting knowing that the women might just get it wrong. Meanwhile, Cherry Bugg was not allowed into the meeting as she would stir up animosities over the previous Bunny Election and then lots of butt-biting would ensue. Lastly, Chip stayed inside the house and hopped around looking for a comfortable couch.

Bunny Day is coming! Be prepared!

Bunnies on the Ides of March

Luckily none of our rabbits are named Caesar although they would be quite the imperial name for Princess Jane. Hopefully she hasn't read too much Roman history.

Anyway, the bunnies are out and about today and it's a good time to photograph them. Alas, only Phillip wanted to have his photo taken. Jane was too busy eating weeds while RBF was trying to hide and Ruby Jane was on the run.

New pictures of Chip!

Chip has endeared our hearts greatly. While we have kept him away from the others (mostly from their jealousy of his young spriteful self), Chip has bounced around quite well in the house.

As you can see to the left, he is still quite a small bunny as he is dwarfed by his sisters Root Beer Float and Ruby Jane who still tend to pick on him like a younger sibling.

But Chip, whom Jill calls "My Boy," will grow large enough to push around his sisters in a few years. Good for Chip! But for now, he can hop around in the living room and watch television with us.