I am just saying, that's a giant ass cat. It would have freaked me out if it were in my yard.

I was quite startled to learn that cougars grow larger than leopards.

OK, and now I want to give a shout-out to our federal government--or at least the National Personnel Records Center, who may just be some organization. For some reason, Utah wants a copy of Hubby's military discharge papers, his DD214, before they finalize his driver's license. Something about putting a veteran's notice on his license. Three days ago I filled out the webpage to request the document, and they wanted a copy of his signature. I don't have a printer at home and couldn't figure out how to save the correct page so I could print it at work. So I handwrote the required info, had Hubby sign it, and mailed it off the next day. And today I got an email from the NPRC saying "Hi, we got your note, the average time we get those docs out is in ten days."

So kudos to the Post Office for getting the thing to the office so quick, and kudos to that office for acknowledging it so quick. Sometimes it all does work.

And won't life be a huge mess if we ever lose the Net.

Okay, hello, that kitty would have freaked me out too. Biggest thing I've seen lurking undomesticated was a raccoon, but it was a filthy huge one. But that things just screams predator (in the way that screaming is not generally their schtick). Mother Nature reminding you why she put those bits on your tabby.

Good thing it was out near home. There was an escaped tiger (or maybe lion--lion lion) near Simi when i worked there and they just killed it, because the risk of tranquing not working was too high, and where are you gonna put one? Sad, but I doubt that cat's life had been great up to that point either. I mean, Simi.

In our valley, there is a freeway that runs between two sets of hills. On the southish side are the Verdugos and the north ish side are the San Gabriel Mountains. The rule is that Mountain Lions are native to the San Gabriels, so anyone caught on that side of the freeway goes back into the forest. If they are in the Verdugos, though, they get shot. The last time our friend has a mountain lion call, he ended up shooting it because the cat was headed straight onto the freeway itself, via the off ramp going the other direction.

Oooh, kitty!

No red drinks while driving, people. That's the new rule.

I'm feeling mischievous enough to recommend it. And ketchup packets in your pockets while biking.

Just wanted to thank everyone for the recommendations in San Francisco! I'm Monica, Tom's erstwhile travel companion for the summer, and I am really, really looking forward to our trip and to hopefully meeting some of you when we're there. :)

Congrats, Consuela and msbelle!

And Hi, cliomusing! Haven't talked to you since a minute ago!

Welcome, Monica!!!!

Also, kitty!

The biggest animals I've seen in the wild were a moose and a black bear. Not at the same time but both in Ontario.

Okay, hello, that kitty would have freaked me out too. Biggest thing I've seen lurking undomesticated was a raccoon, but it was a filthy huge one.

Largest feral animal I've seen in a residential area was a deer in the Philadalphia suburbs. Runner-up (jumper-up?) is the kangaroo that turned up to the sale of my house in Melbourne before moving to Philly.