One Man's Viewing of Ramses II

I was a traveler from an antique land
And saw a big-ass trunkless head of stone
Stand upon a museum shelf. On the stand
Half drunk, a worn-down visage lies, that frown
And herpes'd lip and sneer of cold command
Tell those ideas of what a sculptor dread
Yet still survive be it among these things,
My hand doth mock him for I know he's dead
And on his pedestal faint words appear:
'My name is Ozymandias, king of kings,
Look on my bowling, John Erb, and despair!'
Nothing around remains. Round the display
Of that olde bowling wreck ancient and bare,
I'll travel to much better lanes today.

Last Night for the Pengoon

Alas, poor Pengoon, I knew him well, Horatio.

The Academic Decathlon mascot will return to school tomorrow as the whole school year process starts all over again. While it is sad not to see the cheerful penguin in the home, it does prove problematic. Such animals like TV Turtle and Sharkey (who disappeared for a week but was finally found in Miss Jill's jewelry box, don't ask) do not like the Pengoon's presence because he eats most of their fish. The Pengoon denies it all but fish breath is hard to remove.

Only students who are in Academic Decathlon are allowed to touch the penguin. Others receive detention. Such is the power of the penguin... er, Pengoon.

Not to worry, world, the Pengoon will be back home over Christmas vacation. Hey, gotta take the carpool lane once in a while!

Princess Jane Incensed at Mockery

Mister John and Miss Jill looked all regal last week while visiting the Eagle Castle Winery in Central California (either inside or outside the border of Paso Robles). They took quite a quaint picture as they looked very royal here. Unfortunately one rabbit princess did not take kindly to this photo and called it grotesque. While the two humans tried to play it off as some sort of satire, it still did not go over well with either Jane and Phillip.

Mister John (pictured to the left) is sitting at his wife's laptop in Pismo Beach wondering whether or not the quasi-royal picture was appropriate. After a few thoughtful minutes, he decided to go with the photo.

Unfortunately for Mister John, the whole school year process begins again tomorrow. Another 11 months of teaching... the bunnies will miss him. Who will let them out during the day? Indeed.

Miss Jill Disses RBF, Chooses Baileys

Right in front of Commute Bunny, Miss Jill was offered the choice of ice cream, a dinner liquor, or a root beer float. And Miss Jill rejected the frothy drink of choice amid the Erb family rabbits. Commute Bunny and Mister John were shocked that she would eschew the namesake drink of the prominent sneezing rabbit in the household. Mister John of course chose the root beet float. Maybe Miss Jill was holding out for the rubies jubilee.

Meanwhile Commute Bunny angrily opposes being called a Pocket Monkey. More on that later.

Traversing the Central Coast

Miss Jill and Mister John have spent a few days wandering about the Central Coast. They have tasted wine, walked beaches, and survived brush-fires.

The first two days in Paso Robles were quite refreshing, nothing like escaping the big city for a little small time flavor. Actual downtown parking for free! Who would have thought of such an idea? (certainly not Santa Monica) Now we are in Pismo Beach. No, not Pepto Bismol.

Commute Bunny has traveled with us and has met many friends and has escaped the swooping bird who try to say Hello to her.

Commute Bunny Nearly Disrupts Hamlet

While Mister John was off in London on official business, he decided to drop by the Wyndham Theatre and watch a production of Shakespeare's greatest tragedy Hamlet, starring Jude Law. Mister John thought it was an excellent production as it had a much greater variety of humor than the occasionally self-congratulating and often bombastic (yet excellent) Kenneth Brannagh version. He showed up looking quite dapper as Commute Bunny hid behind Mister John's tie and promised to keep quiet and never say, "Kitty! Kitty!" to anyone. He later bribed her with cookies and cream ice cream during the intermission.

Alas, in the middle of Hamlet's great "To be or not to be" soliloquy in the third act, Commute Bunny got bored and trying to sing out, "It's bo-ring! It's bo-ring! The fat man in the front row is sno-ring!" Luckily Mister John muffled this action before this would interrupt Jude Law and the rest of the elite West End audience. Do note that the seat was dead centre, third row. Yeah, he could see the actors spit out ever 'p' word. Commute Bunny did start singing in the fourth act when Ophelia started singing about Valentine's Day and later decided to go swimming with the flowers. No, not Flowers (to the right). Poor Ophelia never had a chance. She was romantically interested in a prince who just saw his uncle kill his father and then marry his mother. Her father talked way too much and her brother Laertes was a hot headed France lover!

All in all, the play was worth the 110 pounds. Superior acting, adequate costumes (Horatio wearing rolled-up jeans, really?), impeccable timing, and solid lighting... I give it a strong 4 1/2 carrots! Now if only my traveling rabbit companion could keep her mouth shut in the Tube as well...

Rabbits Indignant Like Desert Birds in "The Second Coming"

OK, so most of you have never read "The Second Coming" by W.B. Yeats (rhymes with Gates). But there are some desert birds in that poem and you know what? They are quite the indignant little beasties. Or as my Dad, TOME (The Original Mr. Erb), would call them: "mangy rascals." While I would never ostensibly call a bird -- especially indignant desert ones -- a mangy rascal, I don't ask. Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, the second coming. I don't think Root Beer Float and Jane (both picture to the right) care about such silly nonsense. Furthermore that whole cult belief that the world will end in December of 2012 does not amuse Princess Jane in the least. Her reign will not end (do note that the forecast for the San Gabriel Mission Fiesta is God Reigns) and she will remain the lead rabbit on Dewey Street for a very long time coming.

The Dodgers won, 5-0, today. Woot!

I just hope that my bunnies are not slouching towards Bethlehem in order to witness the new Antichrist. What, you still haven't read "The Second Coming" yet? Get your butt to http://www.potw.org/archive/potw351.html and read it already.

Questions to ponder:

1) What do the falcon and falconer symbolize?
2) Why do you think Yeats refers to the Sphinx?
3) If Yeats was so damn sure the world would end in 2000, why didn't it? (Silly Y2K)

Chip Claims He's Not on the Potty Train

Even though Chip proceeded to drink a half-bowl of water in front of Miss Jill and Mister John tonight, he claims he is not planning on going potty on any furniture. Alas, poor Chip is locked up for the time being because a nice tasty computer extension cord is in the room and sometimes he gets hungry.

Meanwhile, Cherry Bugg had the backyard all to herself today. Most of the time she flopped under trees but she did show some vivacity toward the late afternoon.

Bunnies Starve While Couple Eats Dodger Dogs!

Again more dissension within the Erb family/bunny continuum as pictures have surfaced of Miss Jill and Mister John at a Dodger game while the bunnies stayed home in their cages. While there are no facts stating that the couple had Dodger dogs at the game, Mister John did tell Miss Jill to wipe some mustard off her face as they walked in the house that night. The bunnies quietly sulked but Chip did wisely note, "When they are away, I have more time to hop around the house." Good for Chip.

In good news for all Dodgers fans, the Dodgers beat the Reds that night, 12-3.

Miss Jill Related to Greatest Player in Baseball History! (Bunnies Unmoved)

According to reliable baseball sources, my own Miss Jill is related to the greatest baseball player in history.

http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/selfless_jason_kendall

He has always amazed me in that no one in MLB swings at fewer first pitches than him. Maybe he just wishes to find the perfect pitch to bunt every at bat. Life is a series of sacrifices after all.

Alas, Ruby Jane and Root Beer Float disagree with that statement. Life should not be a series of sacrifices but rather a continuous bacchanalian fest full of carrots, grass, and roses. RBF could not be held for comment as she had food in her mouth and that it would be improper to talk.

Meanwhile, one jockey with the last name of Erb won the Kentucky Derby once. That's about it for us. Of course there is that John Erb in Virginia who thinks the big bad Pharma Wolf is out to get him. But I digress from the main topic at hand: Miss Jill is related to the greatest player in baseball history! WOOT!