It's a Bear's Life

Bears on Babies, Installmoo 7: Boy Parts

2008-02-07T17:39:00.000-05:00

Stompy: Jenn got an ultrasoo today. She and Jim got to see Baby. And they found out that he has a brain, and is a boy.

Daphne Rose: That's not the part that makes it a boy.

Stompy: Yup, yup, a big old brain.

Daphne Rose: *sigh* Like our family was short on the boy perspective...

*curtain closes*

*Daphne Rose steps out*

The above was a presentation of Bears Theater. All of us Bears are thrilled to welcome Jenn and Jim's son to the family. We all just want a healthy Baby, with all of his parts in good working order.

And even some of the boy Bears realize that girl parts also include brains.

*much giggling of Bears from behind curtain*

susurrus - fiction by editors

2007-12-19T15:23:00.000-05:00

susurrus's December issue collects work by editors of various publications they like. We Bears think it's a great idea to cross-promote some good publications, so we wanted to post the link here. susurrus publishes some really interesting work--it's a great market for experimental pieces of all genres.

And if anyone's interested, there's a short story of Jim's, Mogadishu, in the current editor's issue.

Jim's Back

2007-12-14T20:27:00.000-05:00

Jim flew back to New York at the beginning of the month to visit his Mom, who is now living in a Nursing Home. She has Alzheimer's, so she isn't very responsive anymore. And she fell in September, so she isn't very mobile either, which is why she finally had to move into a Nursing Home to get the care she needs. All of us Bears send our best wishes to Jim's Mom, and to his Dad.

Jim is now back with Jenn, Chuck, Rupert and all of us Bears. We're glad to have him home.

OK Bye
Blinky

Bears on Babies, Installmoo 6: Between a Grape and a Tomato

2007-11-15T00:01:00.000-05:00

Baby turns 10 weeks old tomorrow!

*much bouncing up and down of Bears*

Which means Baby is halfway between Baby's 8-week size (Grape) and Baby's 12-week size (Tomato).

Either way, Baby sounds quite refreshing!

*much clapping of paws and nodding of agreemoo of Bears*

*much moaning from nausea of Jenn in next room*

Or, you know, maybe not refreshing at all.

*much leaving behind a pickle and quietly sneaking away of Bears*

Bears on Babies, Installmoo 5: Baby's First Sheep Suit

2007-11-09T14:29:00.001-05:00

The wonderful Nonny Mouse sent Baby his/her first Sheep Suit!

*much bouncing up and down of Bears*

And so, in the words of a noble tradition, we say to Baby, "Today you are a man! Or woman! Or sheep!"

*much clapping of paws of Bears*

Thank you, Nonny Mouse, from Jenn, Jim, Baby and All the Bears!

Bears on Babies, Installmoo 4: Halloween

2007-10-24T13:38:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow Baby turns seven weeks. Which is perfect timing, because according to 3D Pregnancy, this means:

The skull is translucent, so the brain is visible.

Best. Halloween. Costume. Ever.

Bears on Babies, Installmoo 3: Heartboo

2007-10-21T14:45:00.000-04:00

What has a heartbeat, but no heart?

A six week old baby.

What has a heart, but no heartbeat?

A vampire.

Which is Jenn having?

A baby.

At 6 weeks, Baby:

- Cannot be exposed to direct sunlight.

- Doesn't like garlic.

- Feeds on the life force of another.

OK Bye
Stompy and All the Bears

Bears on Babies, Installmoo 2: Morning Sickness

2007-10-17T11:35:00.000-04:00

Jenn has been having morning sickness.

*many Bears hugs for Jenn*

The Bears think morning sickness is stoopid, and someone should put an end to it right awoo.

To help everyone understand morning sickness better, the Bears have researched primary sources to compile the best info available. According to Wikipoodioo:

There is insufficient evidence to pin down a single (or multiple) cause, but the leading theories for proximate causes include:

- An increase in the circulating level of the hormone estrogen. Estrogen levels may increase by up to a hundredfold during pregnancy.

- Low blood sugar during pregnancy.

- An increase in progesterone relaxes the muscles in the uterus, which prevents early childbirth, but may also relax the stomach and intestines, leading to excess stomach acids.

- An increase in human chorionic gonadotropin.

- An increase in sensitivity to odors, which overstimulates normal nausea triggers.

Daphne Rose blames morning sickness on the patriarchy, which forces women to conform to the phallogenic rhythms of artificial work and household schedules, rather than live in harmony with the natural rhythms of their pregnancy.

Sigmoond Freud says morning sickness is the result of the mother's loathing of her husband. The subconscious manifestation of this is a desire to abort the fetus through vomiting.

*much laughing of Bears*

That Sigmoond Freud says the funniest things. After he died, the world didn't see another stand-up comic of Freud's genius until Shecky Greene came along.

OK Bye
Stompy and all the Bears

Bears on Babies, Installment 1: Split Pea

2007-10-10T12:57:00.000-04:00

As a publoo servoo, the Bears have decided to post helpful and interesting information about Baby's development, so everyone can play along at home with Jenn and Jim. This is Part 1 of "Bears on Babies," an ongoing series of informatoo posts on Baby.

At this point, Baby is about 5 weeks old. This means:

- Baby will be the size of a pea in about another week.

*much discussion of Bears*

- This means Baby is currently the size of a split pea.

- Baby has two layers of cells, which will develop into all of Baby's organs.

- Baby does not yet have a 'Merican Spress Card.

- We do believe Baby has internoo access, but at this point, only dial-up connectivity.

We will now try to MSN Baby.

The Bears: Hello, Baby! Can you read us?

Baby:

The Bears: Hello! Hello!

Baby:

There seem to still be some technical difficulties on Baby's side.

Hee!

2007-10-09T19:28:00.000-04:00

Hee hee!

*much bouncing up and down of Aunt and Uncle Bears*

The Incident

2007-08-14T17:58:00.001-04:00

This is Wolf "Stompy" Blitzoo reporting.

Recently, Rupert the kitty learned how to join Chuck on the bathroom counter by hopping first onto the closed toilet bowl lid, and then onto the back of the toilet, and finally up onto the counter surrounding the sink.

Earlier today, Chuck was on the bathroom counter, drinking water from the bathroom sink as he likes to do. Jim had just entered...

*tittering of Bears*

Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Bears.

As I was saying, Jim had just entered the bathroom, to, uh, well, do that thing.

*outright giggling of Bears*

Bears! Bears! I'll clear the newsroom if I have to.

Anyway, Jim raised the toilet bowl seat and lid.

*much rolling on the floor, laughing of Bears*

Stompy (shouting over racket): Rupert did a clean, if unintentional, dive into the toilet. Luckily, he was the first thing to hit the water, if you catch my meaning.

*much guffawing and stomping of feet of Bears*

Stompy (screaming to be heard): This is Wolf "Stompy"...

Oh never mind.

Vote for Chuck, Rupert and Mouse!

2007-08-06T18:04:00.001-04:00

The Nonny Mouse posted an lolcat of Chuck and Rupert!

*much bouncing up and down of Bears*

You can see it here!

And while you're there, please vote it 5 stars so the kitties and
The Nonny Mouse can be famous, and get lots of perqs, like free tuna and free caaaandy (for their friends) and free Hugh Jackmans.

Thanks!

OK Bye
Stompy and All the Bears

Costa Rican Oxcart in Canadia

2007-08-03T00:06:00.000-04:00

This is Wolf "Stompy" Blitzoo reporting. Today was an historic day. The Costa Rican Oxcart is up and running in Canadia!

*much clapping of paws and bouncing up and down of Bears*

Here's documentary footage of this historoo event!

First, Papito assembled the parts.

Then Papito assembled his crack team:

Occasionally he had to stand firm when helpers tried to sleep on the job:

But progress was made:

Safety was checked:

And the Costa Rican Oxcart made its historic first ride in Canadia:

*much ecstatic bouncing up and down of Bears*

*pause*

Uh, guys, is there an extra part there in the back?

Papito: No, Signor Stompy.

Blinky: Papito says, "No."

Right there. In the back. You can see it in that last photo.

Papito: Pienso que no, Signor Stompy.

Blinky: Papito says, "I'm fine. How are you?"

I'm fine, thank you for asking. But what about...

*much shushing of Bears*

Oh, yes, very well then. Great job, Papito! Thanks for all your help, Chuck and Rupert.

This is Wolf "Stompy" Blitzoo signing off.

Chuck's a Mom

2007-07-26T23:42:00.000-04:00

So Chuck the Cat has been having a bit of trouble adjusting to living with Rupert the Kitty. Often when Chuck was doing his favorite things, like eating and sleeping and getting cuddles on the bed with Jenn and Jim, Rupert would run over and jump on Chuck, and then Chuck would just leave in a disappointed huff. So yesterday, Jim sat down with Chuck, and 'splained to him that it was okay to be more dominoo, and to set boundaries with Rupert. And today, Chuck's behavior totally changed!

We Bears were very much amazed. Nobody ever listened to Jim's advice befoo.

*much laughing of Bears*

Anyway, in his new dominoo role, today Chuck became an Alpha Mom. Just like a Momma Cat, Chuck started grabbing Rupert by the scruff of the neck

and carrying him aroo.

The first time Jenn, Jim and all of us Bears saw Chuck carry Rupert in by the neck, we all had the same thought.

Yes, that one.

But it was okay. Chuck is very gentle when picking up Rupert, and Rupert totally goes into submissive kitten mode.

Jenn said she had never seen a male cat do that before, so she called the Vet to make sure.

Jenn: So I called the Vet to make sure aboo Chuck's behavior.

Jim: You mean to see if he's gay?

*much making of disgusted noise by Jenn*

Jenn: No, to make sure it was safe, and Chuck wasn't going to hurt Rupert. The Vet said it was normal, and not to worry.

Jenn shared the story of Chuck's new motherhood with her Mom, making sure to tell her she had checked with the Vet.

Jenn's Mom: You mean to see if Chuck's gay?

*repeat of disgusted noise by Jenn*

We Bears all support Chuck in whatever lifestyle choices he makes. And we think he's shaping up to be a wonderfoo Mother.

OK Bye
Blinky

Rupert Giles

2007-07-23T20:04:00.000-04:00

We have a new family member: Rupert Giles. The SPCA thought he was a little girl. But today, the vet said that she's a little boy.

Rupert is very, very animoo!

*much waving of paws and shouting of "Hello" and "Welcome" and "Please take your claw out of my foot, little kitty" by Bears*

OK Bye
Stompy and All the Bears

Could the messings about be coming to an end?

2007-07-11T21:09:00.000-04:00

This is Chuck the Cat, posting again on the blog of my friends the Bears, to bring everyone updates on the recent messings about.

Yesterday morning, before I had even had breakfast and a nice snuggle, Jenn and Jim shuffled me into my kitty carry case and into the car. Well, I gave them a good piece of my mind, I tell you. Being on the lam is one thing, but who wants to be shoved into a cage at eight in the morning?

To my relief, it was a short car ride. Then we arrived at our new home. And you'll never guess what I found there.

All of our stuff! Jenn and Jim must have outsmarted the Candy-Bar-Eating Man. Either that, or maybe the Candy-Bar-Eating Man isn't all bad. Hmm...

Either way, the important thing is we have our stuff again. There was my sofa and my love seat and my kitty scratching post and my luxurious Queen-size bed and my dining room table and all my chairs. And also a lot of stuff Jenn and Jim keep around that I never understood the purpose of. You can't lie on it, eat it or chase it. What good is that?

I really like my new home. I can lie on the bed and wait until Jenn and Jim fall asleep, and then sneak up onto the pillow with them. I can lie on my kitty scratching post by the living room window and watch all the activity outside. I still get a little nervous when Jenn and Jim go out--it's a bit new, and a lot of very confusing things have happened recently. But I think I'm going to like it here.

Now, if I could only find out what happened to Spike and Leone.

Yours from his new home,
Chuck

More Messings About

2007-07-08T13:55:00.001-04:00

This is Chuck the Cat. My friends and allies the Bears are letting me use their blog, as most sinister goings-on are underway.

As some of you might know, my brother Spike the Spawnkitty reported recently on messings about. Well, the very next morning after he went public, he and Leone were disappeared. I still don't know what's become of them. And now, I'm on the lam with Jenn, Jim and the Bears. I fear for our safety.

Three days ago, two men with a big truck showed up. I could see them through the window. One was eating a candy bar while he stood beside the truck. Not knowing what was to come, I decided they didn't seem very interesting, so I went down in the basement with Jim to spend the morning playing with my new favorite toy--two strings. Jim made it for me from two strings. There was much banging around upstairs, which sometimes distracted me from my game. About Noon Jenn came down, and the three of us went upstairs.

And you're not going to believe what I found. Everything was gone. Everything. There was nothing there. Nothing. Everything was gone. Everything.

I know. I couldn't believe it.

What happened to all our things? Did this have something to do with Spike speaking out? And what of the strange truck, and the Candy-Bar-Eating Man?

Well, Jenn and Jim were obviously afraid, because they quickly vacuumed up all the cat hair so there would be nothing to use to track me, and then Jenn, Jim, the Bears and I all loaded in the car and headed out. I was so scared I cried for the first two hours of the trip.

For safety sake, I don't think I should tell you where we are now. Also, I don't know. But Jenn, Jim, the Bears and I are sharing a room in the basement. And Jenn's Mom and Dad are staying upstairs. And there are other kitties about--I hear them and smell them through the door. And one time, I even came face to face with one of the kitties. I hear them being called by name--Hazel, Loki, Zak. Could this be the same Loki and Zak that used to live with Julia and Jason? Maybe this is some safe house for kitties on the lam. The only hints I have to what's going on are the memory of the Candy-Bar-Eating Man, and Jenn and Jim's persistent cries of, "I wish the damn mover would hurry up and schedule a delivery date."

Hopefully, I can avoid being disappeared. And find out what happened to Spike the Spawnkitty and Leone.

Yours on the run,
Chuck

They're Coming

2007-07-04T16:57:00.000-04:00

Jim just went out into the backyard to get the lawn mower, and three kitties jerked their heads up out of the grass to stare at him, before leaping over the back fence to make their getaway.

They're growing in number, coming closer every day now. It seems they've heard Sheriff Spike the Spawnkitty is no longer in town.

I think we're getting out of Rock Ridge in the nick of time.

It's like Deadwood, Cocksuckoo!

OK Bye
Stompy

The Bears are sad tonight

2007-06-27T00:32:00.001-04:00

Leone and Spike the Spawnkitty leave for Vancouver tomorrow morning--Jenn's driving them down. We're happy for Leone and Spike, becoo they're going off on a new adventoo, and we know Leone is going to do great at University, and that Spike will love being a big city cat, just like we used to love being big city Bears.

But we're also sad. We'll miss sitting on the sofa with Leone and knitting, and sitting on the sofa with Spike and napping. We'll miss all the snuggles, and all the great times we've shared with both of them

And we know it's a very confusing for the kitties, as Spike wrote so movingly about. Of course, Spike left out that at the time he attacked that shoe in frustration, Jim was wearing it.

*much laughing of Bears*

Have a safe trip, and have a great time in Vancouver! We'll miss you both lots!

OK Bears Hugs
Stompy, Blinky, Spike the Bear, Daphne Rose and All the Bears

Jim Can See

2007-06-11T20:08:00.000-04:00

Jim got glasses. He hasn't groped a lamp or given kitty kibble to a Bear all day.

OK Bye
Blinky

Spike the Spawnkitty

2007-06-07T21:24:00.001-04:00

Jenn had company today.

Spike the Spawnkitty bit the company.

*much laughing of Bears*

Uh, that is, we mean...

*much conversation of Bears about the delicate balance between legitimoo protection of kitty boundaries and biting just for the fun of it*

OK Bye
Blinky

Slushpoo Moosings

2007-06-06T17:40:00.000-04:00

Jim started a new blog blog, called Slushpile Musings. He's going to use it to talk aboo things he's learned aboo submitting one's short stories and poetry from reading the submissions sent to his publication.

Why we blog blog

2007-05-29T11:54:00.001-04:00

The Bears were tagged by Allisoo to give five reasons why we blog blog.

*much serioo discussion of Bears*

1) To show everyone our pretty pretty things!
Here's Stompy, in his pretty pretty spring bonnet by Leone.

2) To solicit caaaandy!
Really. Please send us caaaandy.

3) To report breaking news, as it happens.
(Even if it's that evening or the next day.)
For example, see our last report: Garoo Soo.

4) To keep in touch with all the wonderfoo Bears allies we've made!
We love all our internoo friends--Bears and rafs and kitties and humoos!

5)To subvert the dominoo paradoogm.
In a world with ofttimes rigidly establooshed hierachoos, we like to remind people to stop and view that world from the point of view of Bears and look looks and kitties once in a while, and by extension hopefulloo suggest other groups whose point of view people might want to take into account.

We're not sure who has been tagged yet. We don't rememboo these blog blogs being tagged, but then we have short memoroos sometoomes. So, if you haven't already been tagged, we tag:

1) Dainty Bear (Dogeared)

2) The rafs

3) Cohen

4) Spike the Spawnkitty

5) Andrew Sullivan
(Though he's been really letting us down performing his Bears-stalking duties on our blog blog, so who knows when he'll get aroo to responding.)

OK Bye
Blinky and All the Bears

Garoo Soo

2007-05-27T14:23:00.001-04:00

This is Wolf "Stompy" Blitzoo, reporting live on the Garoo Soo as it happens. Except it happened yesterday.

There's much pandemonioo here, as humoos and kitties are in an uproo to get things rounded up, priced and moved outside. Yes, the humoos have tons of crap to unload on an unsuspecting publoo...

*Cut to picture of sunrise. Queue muzak. Voiceover: "Excuse us for this short break in your regularly scheduled programming*

The humoos have volumes of the most exquisite housewares, decorative arts and furniture to make available to the public at astonishing savings. There are lovely furnitures and fabrics, absolutely covered in cat hair.

*Cut to picture of sunrise. Queue muzak. Voiceover: "Excuse us for this short break in your regularly scheduled programming*

There are lovely furnitures and fabrics, all tested and approved as pet-safe.

The tables are set up. The goods are priced. Jenn, Jim and Leone have divided up the change. And...

*crickets chirping*

But wait! Here comes a car. Here comes a car.

There goes a car. There goes a car.

*crickets chirping*

Wait. This time... Yes! They're stopping.

And there is a flurry of commercial activity. Jenn, Jim and Leone have cleared five dollars. And someone else is pulling up--$11.00! Oh, it's a madhouse. It's a madhouse.

*crickets chirping*

$11.25. Madhouse.

*crickets chirping*

At the two hour mark, Jenn, Jim and Leone have now made enough to pay for the ad they took out for the garoo soo. It's pure profit here on in.

Yup.

Profit.

*crickets chirping*

A few people. A few drops of rain. A few more people. A few more drops. Darkening clouds.

At least the threat of rain is keeping those damn crickets away.

And, with almost $40.00 pure profit, the deluge!

Prices drop, particularly on drenched books with the print all run together.

Leone packs, while Jenn and Jim run off to make dumps of stuff whereever they can.

Salvation Army doesn't do pickups after Garoo Sales. They "don't want what you can't sell." Oh, all high and mighty! Our charity is too good for your donations. Well, Jenn and Jim will just dump the stuff on their back steps, like some toxic waste disposers in the middle of the night, slurking off into the darkness like roaches avoiding the light of day...

*Cut to picture of sunrise. Queue muzak. Voiceover: "Excuse us for this short break in your regularly scheduled programming*

Jenn and Jim donate valuable goods to the Salvation Army, using their approved drop-off point.

Then they donate some goods to St. Vincent de Paul, who are so polite and thankful. Jenn and Jim totally recommend giving goods to St. Vincent de Paul, a worthwhile charity, and such friendly people.

And so, with their house 30% less cluttered, and their pockets lined with almost $40 Canadian in profit, Jenn, Jim and Leone would like to thank their loyal customer base, commend the fine people of St. Vincent de Paul, and bring an end to our programming day.

This is Wolf "Stompy" Blitzoo signing off.

OK Signing Off
Wolf "Stompy" Blitzoo.

P "Blinky" Diddy

2007-05-23T20:21:00.000-04:00

Thinking Blogger Award

2007-05-20T14:19:00.000-04:00

We Bears were all very honored to be awarded the Thinking Blogger Award by the grr.

*much clapping of paws and taking of bows by Bears*

And we've given a lot of thought as to what bloggers we wanted to name as Thinking Bloggers, and decided we would use this opportunity to honor the work being done by Doctors Without Borders, and point readers to the blogs Canadians with Doctors Without Borders are keeping about the work they do.

So, our five Thinking Blogger Awards go to:

1) Made in Bangladesh
2) Suddenly...Sudan
3) Shauna in DRC
4) Lubumbashi Log
5) What a Wahalla

If you want to see a list of the blogs by Canadians with Doctors Without Borders, you can go to MSF Canada's Blog Home.

They're fascinating blogs, and Doctors Without Borders is an organization that's doing great work.

Also, if you're on Facebook, there's a new group you can join to help win money for Doctors Without Borders. It's called: "Help Doctors Without Borders Win $7,000 From 102.1 The Edge."

OK Bye
Noel "Snowflake" Chompsky and All the Bears

Materioo Possessions

2007-05-18T12:24:00.000-04:00

Humoos are very concerned aboo materioo possessions. The last few weeks Jim was all stressed becoo first he had to pack all his stuff in Manhattoo, and then he had to wait while the shipping company said it was in Upstate New York, and then in Montreal, and then it was driving across Canadia. Then he had to worry aboo whether he would have any problems getting it through Canadia Customs, becoo the sheet they gave him at the airport for "goods to follow" said he needed model numbers and serioo numbers for electronics, and he didn't have them, and couldn't get them becoo his goods were already following.

Then the shipping company was a Gong Show, and the driver called at 11:00 pm on Tuesday to tell Jim he would be at the customs office the next morning at 8:30 am. And the driver had the wrong address for customs and the wrong address for Jim, and didn't have a map with him, and only knew what highway he was currently on, with no idea how to get to where he was going, which was one wrong address, followed by a second wrong address, anyway. And since Jim didn't get any advance notice he and Jenn hadn't made arrangements for getting Jim to the Canadia Customs office, and Jenn had to teach and needed the car to get to the university, and Jim and Jenn needed to get a bank draft for the paymoo balance, becoo Canadian Shipping company wouldn't take a personal check even though the originoo contract Jim had with the US Shipping company said they would take personoo check. And the man at Canadia Customs gave the driver a lecture becoo the shipping company hadn't called ahead to schedule their arrival with the local Canadia Customs office . And then becoo there was all the running aroo to get to Canadia Customs and to get the bank draft, since Jenn and Jim hadn't gotten any notice Jim's stuff was arriving that morning, the driver said Jim would have to pay for waiting time. So Jim called the shipping company and 'splained aboo 11:00 pm calls and 12 hour notice and wrong addresses and no map and change in terms and Gong Show service and the shipping company agreed there were no waiting charges.

So, anyway, Jim did finally get his stuff!

*much bouncing up and down of Bears*

But it was stressfoo for Jim at times.

We Bears have a much more enlightened approach. We think aboo the meaning of life, aboo the plight of Bears and look looks and kitties and flesh-and-bloo bears, aboo ending the evil of bears baitoo, aboo how to save the environmoo. We don't get hung up on materioo possessions. We just need the companionship of Bears and rafs and kitties and humoos, the solidaritoo of all our Bears allies, caaaandy, lots of Bears hugs, and Jim's 'Merican 'Spress Card, so if we need something we can order it online.

OK Bye
Stompy

Happy Birthday, Jenn

2007-05-16T17:39:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday, Jenn, from Stompy, Blinky, Daphne Rose, Spike, Papito, Noel "Snowflake" Chompsy and all the Bears! And Jim!

*much well-wishing and yelling of "Happy Birfday" by Bears, and of "Feliz Cumpleaños" by Papito*

Many Bears hugs! And a kiss from Jim!

OK Bye
Stompy and All the Bears

Permanoo Residoo

2007-04-29T15:14:00.000-04:00

Noel "Snowflake" Chompsky: Jim landed in Canadia yesterday! He's now a permanoo residoo!

Blinky: You mean like a stain you can't get out?

Noel "Snowflake" Chompsky: No, not permanent residue. Permanoo residoo. It means he lives in Canadia now. He's an expat.

Spike: Jim used to be named Pat?

Noel "Snowflake" Chompsky: No, it means he's an American living abroad.

Stompy: Jim's living as a broad?

Blinky: It's good he's in Canadia, then. They're much more understanding up here, eh?

Calliope:: Even more than Chelsea?

Blinky: Well, maybe not more than...

Noel "Snowflake" Chompsky: No! No! No! Jim is not a stain! Jim was never named "Pat!" Jim is not living as a woman! I'm starting to think your persistent misunderstanding is willfull.

*much giggling of Bears*

Daphne Rose: Who's Will?

Blinky: Does he dress like a woman also?

*Noel "Snowflake" Chompsky storms off*

*more giggling of Bears*

All Bears in Unison: Welcome to Canadia, Jim!

OK Bye
All the Bears

Stuff in Transit

2007-04-25T10:02:00.000-04:00

We just heard from Jim in Manhattan. The movers just left with all his stuff.

He said it was a bit stressfoo, as moving and having strangers in your apartmoo and all that are. But it seemed to go as well as can be expected, and he didn't see any big red flags. He said he watched them pack a couple things early on, to make sure it didn't look like there were any obvious problems with what they were doing. But then he tried not to watch too much, as sometimes you just don't want to know what goes on behind the scenes--in that way, moving is like making sausage, or a law.

*slight pause of Bears, for sake of transition*

Jim arrives Saturday!

*much bouncing up and down of Bears*

And, maybe someday, just maybe, his stuff will arrive, too.

*much philosophical nodding of Bears*

OK Bye
Blinky

15 Days to Jim

2007-04-13T11:29:00.000-04:00

Jim arrives in Canadia in 15 days!

*much bouncing up and down of Bears*

And when he does, we'll all live together. No more long distance relationshoo. Three humoos, two kitties and an anarcho-syndicalist group of Bears--the way God intended.

I hope he brings caaaandy.

*conversing of Bears and kitties*

And tuna. He should bring caaaandy and tuna.

*conversing of Bears and Leone*

Caaaandy and tuna and yarn.

*conversing of Bears and Jenn*

Caaaandy, tuna, yarn and those little stamps you use to make cards.

OK Bye
Stompy

The 5 Things Meme - The Bears Respond

2007-04-01T15:40:00.000-04:00

Congratulations! The Bears are happy to announce that everyone who responded got every answer right!

*much bouncing up and down and clapping of paws of Bears*

Yes, we know that not everyone gave the same answers. But we believe more than one answer can be right. Also, the Bears don't do the whole grades thing.

*much shaking of heads of Bears*

And if anyone wants to know how we Bears would answer:

1. The Bears learned a naughty word from watching "Deadwood."
True

The Bears posted about it in Cocksuckoo.

2. Stompy's story was told on "Bearography."
True

Here is Stompy's story on Bearography.

3. The Bears took Jim to court in the OJ Caaaandy trial.
True

The story unfolds in
The Bears pursue the great 'Merican activity,
Day One of the OJ Caaaandy Trial,
Day Two of the OJ Caaaandy Trial,
Day Three of the OJ Caaaandy Trial,
Day Four of the OJ Caaaandy Trial and
Day Five of the OJ Caaaandy Trial.

4. Jim taught the Bears and kitties to do lots of tricks by using clickoo training.
False

Jim tried to teach the Bears and kitties tricks using clickoo training. And the kitties did indeed eat the treats. But we wouldn't say Jim taught any tricks.

The Bears tell all aboo Jim's attempts at clickoo training in
Clickoo Training, Part I: Don't Click at Bears and
Clickoo Training, Part II: Kitties 2, Jim 0.

5. The Bears put on an episode of "Whose Bear Is It Anyway?"
True

The Bears posted about it in Whose Bear Is It Anyway?.

OK Bye
Stompy

The 5 Things Meme

2007-03-17T04:26:00.000-04:00

We got this meme from Mystery Mommy.

Here are five statements about us Bears. 4 are true, and 1 is false. Can you tell which are true and which one is false? (Answers in a future post.)

1. The Bears learned a naughty word from watching "Deadwood."

2. Stompy's story was told on "Bearography."

3. The Bears took Jim to court in the OJ Caaaandy trial.

4. Jim taught the Bears and kitties to do lots of tricks by using clickoo training.

5. The Bears put on an episode of "Whose Bear Is It Anyway?"

OK Bye
Stompy

Happy Anniversary Jenn and Jim!

2007-03-14T01:34:00.000-04:00

It was one year ago on March 14, in Costa Rica, that Jenn and Jim got married!

*much bouncing up and down of Bears*

Happy First Anniversary!

We believe that the first is the Caaaandy Anniversary. When everyone sends lots of caaaandy to the married couple and all the kindly Bears who happen to be living with them.

OK Bears Hugs
All the Bears

Novel Recommendations

2007-03-11T16:32:00.000-04:00

Calliope just finished Tishimongo Blues by Elmore Leonard. She liked the dialog, and thought the writing was fast-paced and fun, but didn't think much of the characterizations. In particular, the women seemed to have no distinctive characters at all.

Blinky is about two thirds of the way through A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller. He highly recommends it.

So we Bears were wondering what novels you've been reading. And if you had any novels you recommended?

OK Bye
Noel "Snowflake" Chompsky

Canadia Approves Jim

2007-02-14T15:25:00.000-05:00

Canadia has approved Jim to migrate! Finally, he can come live in Canadia with Jenn and Leone, just like all of us Bears. We throo a big celebratoo!

All of us Bears and Kitties having a party

Hanging on the sofa, playing Nintendoo GoomeCoobe

Spike the Kitty and Rose

Spike the Bear and Ollie

Why watch TV when you can party on it?

Spike the Kitty listening to Noel "Snowflake" Chompsky tell a joke

Chuck exhausted from all the partying

OK Bye
Daphne Rose

Business Training

2007-02-05T14:18:00.000-05:00

Jim gave us caaaandy to announce he's giving the following workshops this month:

Be Your Own Boss: How to Start Your Own Business

Effective Management

If you're interested, or know anyone who might be interested, feel free to drop Jim an email, or post something here.

OK Bye
Stompy

Bears Paw Wedding Vase

2007-01-22T22:29:00.000-05:00

Allisoo and her husband Grant gave Jenn and Jim a beautifoo wedding gift--a Native American wedding vase used by the indigenoo people of the Southwest and Southeast.

*much oooohhhhing and aaaahhhhing of Bears*

The vase is made by the 's parents. The groom, his parents and all their relatives go with the vase to the bride's house. The parents of both the groom and the bride give the young couple advice. The vase is filled with water or herbal tea. First, the couple drinks from one side, and then from the other side. Then, they drink from both sides at the same time. If they can drink from the vase at the same time without spilling a drop, "good understanding and a cooperative spirit will always be part of their marriage." (Jenn and Jim are still in training for that.)

Best of all, the vase is decorated with Bears Paws. The sheet that came with it says, "The bear if the protector and symbolizes physical strength and leadership. The paw is a symbol of direction and power."

*much agreemoo of Bears*

Jenn and Jim told us to say that they send their deepest thanks and appreciation to Allisoo and Grant!

OK Bye
Blinky

Camoos

2007-01-19T16:34:00.000-05:00

They took this picture of me today. Or, maybe, yesterday; I can't be sure. The date on the file says today. But Jim's laptop is still on New York time, which leaves the matter doubtful; it could have been yesterday.

My name is Camoos. I'm an existentialist camel from Egypt. I met Julia in Cairo, and decided to travel to Canadia with her to live with the Bears.

OK Bye
Camoos

Book Moome and Blog Blog Moome

2007-01-12T20:30:00.000-05:00

We just found out about the book moome from Mystery Mommy. She got it from The Republic of Heaven. Upon investigatoo, we found out The Republic of Heaven is actually a blog, not an afterlife hotspot. The moome is as follows.

Pick up the nearest book.
Turn to page 123.
Post sentences five through seven.

Our problems started almost immediately, becoo the nearest book was The Oxford Companion to Food by Alan Davidson, and it's a big, heavy 1000-page+ hardcovoo encyclopedia, and none of us Bears could lift it. So we called Jim over to help. But he fell on the ice recently, so he can't use his arm. So we called over the kitties, and Spike gnawed on the edge of the book.

Finally, Leone came over and helped us open the book.

We did get to page 123 pretty easy.

But then, we couldn't figure out if the links to other entries in the encyclopedia at the top of the page should be counted as sentences, and if so, how many entries count as one sentence. But if we didn't count them, sentence seven starts a passage of text from another food reference.

So, we got tired of of the book moome. We decided to create our own Blog Blog Moome.

Go to a blog blog you like.
Find sentences five through seven of the top post.
Do whatever it tells you.

We went to our very own Bears' blog blog. In the top post, sentences five through seven are:

Pick up the nearest book.
Turn to page 123.
Post sentences five through seven.

*much raising of eyebrows of Bears*

OK Bye
Stompy

Back to Normoo

2007-01-08T02:42:00.000-05:00

Normoo for Bears and kitties, that is.

Jenn, Leone and Jim were all awoo for a long time, first at Jenn and Leone's Mom and Dad's (where Noel "Snowflake" Chompsky and Daphne Rose went Walkaboo in August), and then in Vancouver for Jenn and Leone's sister Julia and her now-husband Jason's wedding.

We Bears are very self-sufficient, but we think Chuck and Spike got quite lonely with no humoos here to provide laps and tuna. (Don't tell Spike we said that, though.) They are very happy that the laps and tuna have returned.

And we love to see Jenn, Jim and Leone, and all the pretty prezzies they brought back. And Jim made Decadoo Chocolate, which is like chocolate mousse, except you use three times as much chocolate and add orange liquer. So it's a fancy dessert caaaandy.

We wish everyone a Happy, Healthy and Safe New Year!

OK Bye
Blinky, Calliope and All the Bears

Caaaandy Canes

2006-12-22T23:37:00.000-05:00

Jenn brought us caaaandy canes!

*much bouncing up and down of Bears*

Here's wishing all our friends--humoos, kitties, Bears and rafs--much caaaandy and many Bears hugs. A Happy Holiday to everyone!

OK Bye
All the Bears

We made Caaaandy Cookies

2006-12-19T11:41:00.001-05:00

All of us Bears were watching The Food Network with Jim when we saw a recipoo for Caaaandy Cookies*. You take a mint caaaandy and wrap it in a cookie! It's the perfect food!

We made Jim run out and buy the ingredients, and then got down to baking.

Here's our newest Bear (who told us his name is Echo--everyone please welcome Echo to the Bear familoo!) getting the cookies ready to go in the oven.

The cookies just came out of the oven. Echo and I are frosting them.

Echo and me about to eat our Caaaandy Cookies.

OK Bye
Daphne Rose

* We changed the recipoo slightly becoo there wasn't any sugar cookie dough at the SupooMarkoo, and becoo we didn't want nuts. So we used a package with pre-made sheets of reguloo cookie dough, which alsoo came with frosting.

End of the Year Moome

2006-12-17T00:03:00.000-05:00

We got this idea from Allisoo:

1) Harken back to your archives.
2) Collect the first sentence you wrote every month for the whole year.
3) Entertain us.

January
We've been busy Bears lately, with lots of Chreesmoos caaaandy to eat, and lots of Chreesmoos cards to read and look at.

February
We've been very busy helping Jim with preparatoos for the wedding, the trip to Costa Rica, and the great Bear migration to Canadia.

March
Much excitemoo just now.

April
Yesterdoo, Jim drew this pictoo of a Bear.

May
Jim, Papito and I just landed in Vancoovoo Airpoo.

June
Jim just had a short story published in Susurrus.

July
A Happy Canadia Day to all our Canadian family, friends, kitties and allies!

August
Jim recently read Don't Shoot the Dog.

September
In August, Daphne Rose and I (Noel "Snowflake" Chompsky) went walkaboo with Jenn and Jim.

October
This is a horriboo example of the worst kind of scandal-mongering and blame-the-victim headline.

November
Jenn, Stompy and Sergeant Mauja flew to Canadia this morning.

December
All the Bears have arrived in Canadia!

OK Bye
Daphne Rose

Spirit Bears of Canadia Walkaboo

2006-12-09T15:14:00.000-05:00

Back in Augoo, we posted about the Spirit Bears in the City, with pictoos of me with SpiderBear.

Well, in Septemboo, all of us Bears who were in Canadia at the time went on walkaboo with Leone and Jim to see all the Spirit Bears aroo the city, and to take our pictoos with them.

And Jim finally got the pictoos all collected online!

*much bouncing up and down of Bears*

So we'd like to invite all of you to come see our Spirit Bears of Canadia Walkaboo.

OK Bye
Spike

Adopt a Flesh-n-blood Bear

2006-12-07T12:10:00.000-05:00

As a surproo for Jim's birfday, Leone arranged for Jim and all of us Bears to adopt a flesh-n-blood bear through the World Wildlife Fund. That way we can help preserve our flesh-n-blood brothers and their naturoo habitoo. And we get a new Bear joining our family, who is psoochically connected to the bear we adopted.

Here are the adoptoo papers, so we know it's all official!

And here's our new Bear friend. (He hasn't told us his name yet.)

And here is our new Bear friend forming an alliance with Spike, in Spike's naturoo habitoo--his bed.

There are many flesh-n-blood animoos in trouble, which can be adopted through the World Wildlife Fund. Adopting our endangered brothers is a Bears approved way to support all the animoo beings of our planet.

OK Bye
All the Bears

The Bears Have Arrived

2006-12-05T12:17:00.000-05:00

In Canadia! Blinky and Calliope arrived with Jim yesterdoo.

The Great Bear Migration of 2006 is complete--all of us Bears are now together again in Canadia!

And Jim is one step closer to being an immigrant. He got a letter from Canadia that they had opened a file on him. And they couldn't make any promises, but they would assess his file sometime in the next two and a half minutes to forty-seven millenia.

Yes, they really do narrow it down.

OK Bye
Stompy

PS It's Jim's birfday today. Happy Birfday, Jim.

Canadia Caaaandy Publoo Servoo Announcemoo

2006-11-27T13:53:00.000-05:00

This saddens us Bears--caaaandy is supposed to be a happy thing. But we wanted to make sure all our friends and allies in Canadia knew aboo this caaaandy recall from Hershey Canadia.

So by all means, enjoy caaaandy. But please enjoy it safely.

OK Bye
Blinky

And Then There Were Two

2006-11-12T16:18:00.000-05:00

Jenn, Stompy and Sergeant Mauja flew to Canadia this morning. For Jenn and Mauja, a trip home. For Stompy, his first time traveling to his new home in Canadia. We wish them all a safe trip--we miss them.

*much waving and blowing of kisses of Bears*

And now it's just Blinky and me here.

Well, and Jim.

Jim even took the Costa Rican Ox Cart apoo so we can take it with us when we all go to Canadia in Decemboo! We're looking forwoo to all being togethoo in Canadia. The Great Bear Migration of 2006 is almost done.

OK Bye
Calliope

A quiet Canadia afternoon

2006-10-24T00:20:00.000-04:00

Today Leone came home with her new Vogue knitting magazine!

**much bouncing up and down of Bears**

She poured a glass of orange juice, and Daphne Rose, Robson, Noel 'Snowflake' Chompsky, Mosiac, and I all curled up on the couch with a knitted blanket to read the magazine.

**much drinking of orange juice and snuggling of Bears and Leone**

Meanwhile, the kitties ran around and froliced. Leone asked them to calm down. And by "asked them to calm down", we mean threw things at them and yelled 'bad kitties!'.

We really liked most of the patterns, like this one.

But some made us scratch us heads.

It was a very good afternoon.

**much nodding of Bears**

OK bye

Spike the Bear

Bon Voyage, Spike

2006-10-06T21:55:00.000-04:00

Spike left on Walkaboo last night, traveling down to visit Leone and Jenn's parents. (The same walkaboo Noel "Snowflake" Chompsky and I made with Jenn and Jim for their wedding receptoo in August.)

What makes it a one small step for Spike, one giant leap for Bearkind, is that it is the first walkaboo any of us has gone on withoo Jim. Yes, Spike went walkaboo with Leone, and Elaphante--one of the Bears who came here with Leone.

We're all looking forwoo to hearing aboo Spike's adventoos with Leone and Elaphante. We just heard that right now, Spike is watching TV with Leone's Dad.

Have a great time, Spike.

*much waving of Bears*

OK Bye
Daphne Rose

Yellow Journalism!

2006-10-03T13:06:00.000-04:00

Killer teddy bear behind deaths of 2,500 fish

This is a horriboo example of the worst kind of scandal-mongering and blame-the-victim headline. The article clearly notes Hatcheries supervisor Robert Fawcett as admitting, "...it's not known who dropped the bear."

Yes, who indeed dropped the Bear? Who tried to kill an innocent Bear, and in committing this heinous crime inadvertently killed 2500 innocent trout? Or was the trouts' death inadvertent? Did this master criminoo know what havoc he would reak not just on the poor Bear, but on the trout below? What cruel young fingers, sticky with death and Cheerios soot, executed this foul act?

And what of this "reporter," who overlooked the facts just to sell more of his tainted copy?

*much storming around in anger of Bears*

Solidaritoo accused Bear!

OK Bye
Blinky

PS Thanks to Smartchickie for bringing this outroo to our attention.

There's a New Bear in Town

2006-09-28T16:24:00.000-04:00

You remember how we told you in our post on our Canadian Rockies Walkaboo that we had a surprise?

Well, Jim got talking to a lovely Bear named Robson, who had been living in a gift shop with a number of Bears. Jim and Robson struck up quite a friendship, so Jim asked Robson if he'd like to come live with us. Robson said yes, and he came home with Jenn, Jim, Papito and me (Spike the Bear)!

*much bouncing up and down and waving of hello of Bears*

Robson

Robson with Spike the Spawnkitty

Robson with Chuck

Robson with Spike the Bear and Papito

Chuck - becoo he asked us to include this pictoo of him

Please all join me in welcoming Robson to the Bear familoo!

OK Bye
Spike

Canadian Rockies Walkaboo

2006-09-25T23:30:00.000-04:00

Papito and I (Spike the Bear) were talking Saturday morning.

Spike: Wanna go walkaboo?
Papito: Si, Signor Spike.
Spike: Jasper and Mount Robson?
Papito: Si. Que bueno.

So we got Jenn and Jim's lazy bums off the sofa, loaded up the car, and off we went.

Papito and I wore our seatbelts, so Allisoo wouldn't worry aboo us.

We drove towards the cloud-covered Rockies.

We stopped for pie in McBride.

As we came out from under the cloud cover, we saw Mount Robson ahead of us.

We found a nice place to stay right near the base of Mount Robson--Mount Robson Lodge--where we got a cabin.

Then we headed on to dinner in Jasper. Jasper is in Alberta.

We saw elk tracks in the sand.

And then we saw elk--a Mom and her baby.

By the time we got back to the cabin, Papito fell fast asleep.

The next morning, Papito got to play in a habitoo not at all naturoo for a Costa Rican Poison Dart Frog.

Jenn and Jim went on a 9 mile hike around the base of Mount Robson, to the north tip of Kinney Lake.

And on our ride home we got to see our flesh-n-blood broo!

*much bouncing up and down of Bears*

Jim held us up to the car window so we could see, while Jenn yelled, "Keep your window rolled up! Keep your window rolled up." It was great fun for all of us.

And as a fitting end for our trip, we drove under a dramatoo sky.

Papito and I had a great time on our Canadian Rockies Walkaboo with Jenn and Jim. And, in our next post, we have one more surprise from the trip to tell you aboo.

OK Bye
Spike

British Columbia Walkaboo

2006-09-12T15:33:00.000-04:00

In August, Daphne Rose and I (Noel "Snowflake" Chompsky) went walkaboo with Jenn and Jim. We had a seven hour drive, and then all spent a week at Jenn's paroonts, where Jenn and Jim had their Wedding Reception.

Here Daphne Rose and I are on the trip down, on the wooden bridge at 108 Mile Ranch. Daphne Rose is wearing her Riding Bonnet, which Leone knitted for her.

The first few days at Jenn's paroonts we prepared food, cleaned, shopped--it was a flurroo of activitoo. Then on Wednesday, lots of people came over to celebroo Jenn and Jim's Wedding Reception.

They had a yummy cake.

And got lots of prezzies.

Daphne Rose and I enjoyed the festivities. Here I am telling the guests a story. Daphne Rose is wearing her Party Bonnet, which Leone knitted for her.

The next day, Jenn and Jim visited the Gray Monk Winery. (Which Jim kept calling the Monastery.) They went on a tour, did a tasting, and then had lunch on the patio overlooking Lake Okanagan.

We had a great time at Jenn's paroonts, and everyone agreed it was a wonderful reception. But eventually, we had to return home. Daphne Rose and I sat in the backseat on the drive back. Daphne Rose is wearing her Journey Home Bonnet, which Leone knitted for her.

On the way back, Jim tried to get a beaver shot.

Why is everyone laughing?

As you can see, Jim missed the beaver shot.

Why does everyone keep laughing?

There's a statue of a beaver holding a beer, and Jim tried to get a photo of it while we drove by. I fail to see what's so funny about a missed beaver shot.

Stop laughing!

Hmmmph!

Anyway, Jim did get a pictoo of Castle Cariboo, which you can see is spelled properly: CaribOO!

And so Daphne Rose and I returned home safe, and the two of us and Jenn and Jim had a great reunion with Leone, the kitties and all the Bears.

OK Bye
Noel "Snowflake" Chompsky

Spirit Bears in the City, Part I: Spike Meets SpiderBear

2006-08-22T23:45:00.000-04:00

All over British Columbia, Bears are on display in the great "Spirit Bears in the City" Bearstravaganza!

Here I am with SpiderBear, whose full name is "When Raven Became Spider: A Journey With the Spirit Bear." SpiderBear lives outside UNBC, so he is very smart.

Thanks to Leone for helping with the pictoos!

OK Bye
Spike

Clickoo Training, Part II: Kitties 2, Jim 0

2006-08-10T14:52:00.000-04:00

Jim has now moved on to trying to clickoo train the kitties. First, Jim needed to give the clickoo meaning to the kitties, by clicking it and then giving them a treat, so they would build up that association. The kitties did seem to like that part of the training, and quite happiloo took treats as Jim handed them out.

Then Jim tried to teach them to follow a long wooden spoon, so he could lead them into new positions, over varioo obstacles, etc. He tried to do this by waiting until they touched or moved towards the spoon, and then clicking and giving them a treat, so that they would learn to follow the spoon aroo.

This is where the clickoo training started to break down. Whenevoo Jim held the spoon in front of Spike the Cat, Spike just stared intently past it at the kitty treats. If Jim tried to hold the spoon in front of Spike's face to encourage him to touch it, Spike walked over or aroo the spoon to get a better view of the kitty treats.

It didn't go much better with Chuck the Cat. Whenever Jim held the spoon up in front of Chuck, Chuck grabbed it with his paws, pulled it to him and bit it. Rather than go to the spoon, he prefered to bring the spoon to him.

In sum, so far the kitties have learned that Jim gives them kitty treats, that for some strange reason known only to him he likes to hold a long wooden spoon and clickoo while giving them kitty treats, and that he keeps a bag of the kitty treats in the drawer of the new sideboard in the dining room. The kitties now like to sit on the sideboard and look at the drawer.

So far, Jim has learned that you can't clickoo train kitties any more than Bears.

OK Bye
Spike the Bear

Clickoo Training, Part I: Don't Click at Bears

2006-08-02T23:07:00.000-04:00

Jim recently read Don't Shoot the Dog. Sometimes Jim reading is a good thing, as it keeps him busy while we borrow his 'Merican 'Spress Card and order caaaandy online. But other times, reading gives Jim ideas, and Jim with ideas can be difficoo for all of us. Don't Shoot the Dog gave Jim ideas. It's a book about clickoo training, which is a way to teach animoos to do tricks and things. Every time the animoo you're training does something good, you click a clickoo, and then give him a treat.

Well, first thing Jim wanted to do after reading the book was clickoo train us. As you can no doubt imagine, Bears don't "do tricks." Bears are witty conversationalists, urbane raconteurs, and we are not above the occasional pratfall to get a laugh. But we do not "do tricks." Luckily, we had Noel "Snowflake" Chompsky and Blinky, with their extensoo experience in nonvioloont resistoonce to advise us. When Jim got out his clickoo and a bunch of caaaandy to give us as rewards, we stayed absoluteloo still. We didn't move a muscle. Eventualloo, Jim stopped sitting in front of us with his clickoo, and just gave us the caaaandy. So we quickly trained Jim not to clickoo train us.

But now, Jim has turned to the kitties: Chuck the Cat and Spike the Cat.

Hurry back for our next installmoo, when we see if Jim has any more luck clickoo training kitties than he had clickoo training Bears.

OK Bye
Spike the Bear

Rutabagas for Jim, Caaandy for Us

2006-07-18T17:41:00.000-04:00

We like it when Jim gets a story published. Becoo then he wants us to advertise for him, which means we get caaaandy!

*much bouncing up and down of Bears*

Jim's short short "No Choice" was published in FlashShot today. FlashShot mails out a new 100 word story every day. The last 10 stories are kept online, if you want to check out Jim's story from today.

Also, Jim wrote a couple of pieces--"The Silver Goblet" and "The Rutabaga of Baba Yaga"--to enter in the monthly flash fiction contest on Louise Bohmer's Dark Prose. "The Silver Goblet" was a runner-up for May, and is posted here. And "The Rutabaga of Baba Yaga" won for June, and is posted here--it's the July 15th entry. (Note: Rutabaga is not Bears' approprioo.)

OK Bye
Stompy

Argh!

2006-07-08T15:03:00.000-04:00

The Pirates Site

Francis "Stompy" Drake: Avast, ye land lubboo!

Jean "Blinky" Lafitte: Walk the ploonk, matoo!

Anne "Calliope" Bonny: Yoo hoo hoo, and a bottoo of roo!

*much moving of forearm back and forth as if singing a sea chanty of Bears*

Anne "Calliope" Bonny: And now to find the lost treasoo of caaaandy!

OK Argh
Jean "Blinky" Lafitte

Nicholas Cage Played with My Girlfriend's Tits

2006-07-03T13:29:00.000-04:00

That's the name of Jim's new short story, that was just published by Opium Magazine here.

Except for the racy title, it's Bears approprioo!

OK Bye
Stompy

Happy Canadia Day

2006-07-01T00:35:00.000-04:00

A Happy Canadia Day to all our Canadian family, friends, kitties and allies!

*much waving of paws and sending of good wishes of Bears in Manhattoo and Bears in Canadia*

OK Bye
Stompy, Blinky, Spike, Papito, Daphne Rose, Essie, Noel "Snowflake" Chompsky, Calliope, Sargeant Mauja, Ollie, Liam, Rose and Maximillian Grrr

BadgerBadgerBadgerBadger

2006-06-27T15:56:00.000-04:00

Wheeeee!

Allisoo - Thank you for introdoocing us to this wonderfoo site!

*much scampering about of Bears yelling BadgerBadgerBadgerBadgerBadgerBadgerBadgerBadger
MUSHROOM MUSHROOM*

And if you want to really have fun, run it in multiple windows, not in sync.

*much more scampering about of Bears yelling BadgerBadgerBadgerBadgerBadgerBadgerBadgerBadger
MUSHROOM MUSHROOM*

OK Bye
Stompy

PS Yeah, thanks a lot, Allison. - Jim

The Invisiboo Hand

2006-06-22T13:40:00.000-04:00

Jim's science fiction short story "The Invisible Hand" is now online in the July Issue of Byzarium.

He said to tell Allisoo that it was inspired by the same experiences that inspired the Costa Rican guide post on the BuffyGuide. But this is a story, so it's fun.

OK Bye
Stompy

Noneuclidean Cafe Issue #3 is Online

2006-06-18T14:49:00.000-04:00

The new issue of Noneuclidean Cafe just went live. Jim said he would give us caaaandy if we told you about it!

And he said he would give us an additional piece of caaaandy for every new subscriboo we could get for him. Subscriboo is free. Just send an email to

subscribe@noneuclideancafe.com

And so that we can keep track of how much caaaandy he owes us, put "Bears" in the subject line!

*much bouncing up and down of Bears*

OK Bye
Stompy

Macboo

2006-06-17T17:43:00.000-04:00

Jim saw Shakespoo in the Poo last night, with Liev Schreiboo as Macboo.

He waited for free tickets yesterdoo morning with JuliaProome from the BuffyGuide. Then, yesterdoo evening, he met up with JuliaProome and BostonWillooFan. They had a picnic dinner of French bread, an assortmoo of yuppie cheeses, organic prosciuttoo made from humanely-raised pigs, olives, potatoo salad, chocolate chip cookies and fudge. Very yummy.

Then they saw the play. Jim said it was excelloont. The staging was very interestoo, with the three Weird Sisters appearing throughout the play, not just when they had lines, but whenever there were killings, or aspects of the prophecies came true. And the ghosts of the dead--both the murdered characters and the soldiers who died in the war--came back to stand bloody and watch later events. They really staged it as a horror story, which is what it is.

If you're in the New York City area, or you're going to be visiting over the next month, during the play's run, we recommend it--four paws.

OK Bye
Stompy

A Yuppie's Naturoo Habitoo

2006-06-13T16:25:00.000-04:00

Jim went shopping at Whole Foo todoo, and he heard the most yuppie announcemoo ever: "Our prosciutto maker is here today. If you want to try a sample, he's set up next to the sushi bar."

*much laughing of Bears*

The naturoo habitoo of flesh-n-blood bears is the wildernoo. The naturoo habitoo of Bears is a comfy sofa with a broadband internoo connection, Jim's 'Merican 'Spress Card and lots of caaaandy. And the naturoo habitoo of Jim is the sushi bar at Whole Foo!

*much nodding of Bears*

OK Bye
Stompy

PS Jim came home with quartoo pound of prosciutto and a package of brown rice sushi. They see him coming a mile awoo.

Fun with Caaaandy

2006-06-09T18:38:00.000-04:00

Well, not quite caaandy--Mentos.

And Diet Coke.

We're making these two guys honorary Bears.

Let's watch...

OK Bye
Stompy

The finger is where?

2006-06-01T14:38:00.000-04:00

Jim just had a short story published in Susurrus. It has something to do with a finger, apparently in a naughty place. But he won't tell us where. He said it isn't Bear appropriate.

Here is the link. But he said not to go if you prefer to maintain a Bear-like innocence.

Also, Jim just sold a poem to Wicked Karnival, which should be in print in Issue #8 in the Fall.

UPDATE ONE

Jim just found out he also sold a short story to Wicked Karnival, which will be in Issue #9.

*much clapping of paws of Bears*

UPDATE TWO

This is a very good day for Jim. He just went down to check the mail, and there was a check for a story he sold last month. His first check for his fictoo! We think he should buy caaaandy so we can all celebroo!

*much agreemoo of Bears*

OK Bye
Stompy

Balticon

2006-05-31T09:27:00.000-04:00

Jim went to Balticon over the weekend. It's a Science Fooction and Fantoosy Conventoo in Baltimoo.

Stompy: Did you wear your hat with the little proopelloo on top?
Jim: I don't have a hat with a propeller on top.
Stompy: Did you feel left out, being the only one withoo a proopelloo hat?
Jim: No one was wearing a propeller hat. Those are just silly stereotypes about people who like science fiction.
Stompy: So you didn't get to meet lots of people dressed up as Klingons?
Jim: Go eat your Hobbit caaaandy.

OK Bye
Stompy

The Past Lives of Bears

2006-05-25T15:23:00.000-04:00

In a Past Life Calliope Was...

She Was: A Jittery Executor of Sacrifices.

Where She Lived: Mongolia.

How She Died: Typhoid fever.

In a Past Life Blinky Was...

He Was: A Greasy Mathematician.

Where He Lived: Japan.

How He Died: The Plague.

Who Were You In a Past Life?

Maximilian Grrr's Big Adventoo

2006-05-19T11:50:00.000-04:00

When Jenn flew from Manhattoo to Canadia in Febrooary, some of us Bears made the trip with her. There was me (Spike the Bear), and also Essie and Rose and Liam.

Well, Jim arrived a week ago Wednesday, and he gave us all a big hello, and many Bears hugs. But then he asked, "Where's Maximillian Grrr?"

And there was much consternatoo of Bears, kitties and humoos, as Maximilian Grrr was nowhoo to be foond, and Jim was sure he had flown up with us. Also, Maximilian Grrr had nevoo been animoo, so we were all very worroo how he would be able to take care of himsoo, wherevoo he woo.

Then, last night, Jim and Leone dragged the big comfy chair in froo of the TV to play with the GoomeCoobe. They never even looked where the chair woo. But when Jenn got home from being a Professoo, she pointed to where the chair woo, and said, "Who's that?" And we all looked, and there was Maximilian Grrr! He'd gotten all animoo, and gone and hid on us behoo the chair!

(At least he claims he hid on purpoo. Some of us think he just fell ovoo--Bears do that a loo.)

When we were all unitoo agoo, there was much bouncing up and down of Bears and humoos. The kitties didn't bounce up and down, but we could tell they were alsoo very relooved from the way they were sleepoo.

*much agreemoo of Bears*

OK Bye
Spike the Bear

Jim asked to make this post

2006-05-17T14:00:00.000-04:00

I am a kitchen God!!!

Well, not really, but I was very pleased with what I made for Jenn's birthday last night.

Jenn, Leone and I formally celebrated Jenn's birthday on Saturday. I made filet mignon with a red wine and mushroom reduction sauce (very yummy if I do say so myself) and roasted asparagus. Then we exchanged presents, and had cake and ice cream for dessert.

Well, between Jenn, Leone and me, Saturday's leftovers were all finished up by yesterday, Jenn's actual birthday. I took her out to lunch. But unfortunately she had to teach last night, so she wasn't getting home until late. She had dinner out, between work and teaching, so I hadn't planned on making dinner. But I realized I didn't have a treat for her on her actual birthday when she finally got home.

And the only thing in easy walking distance was the 7-11 at a nearby gas station!

However, I was inspired by the fact that an episode of Top Chef had a challenge where all the chefs had to make dishes with things purchased at a gas station market. So I wanted to try my hand at what I could do with stuff from the 7-11.

Well, we had a mango in the house, which seemed like a good starting point. So I went over and browsed the 7-11: aisles of chips, cookies, sodas. Not very inspiring stuff. Then I found Hagen Daaz Mayan Chocolate Ice Cream, and two-bite coconut macaroons.

When I got home, I finely chopped the macaroons, mixed the crumbs with with 1/2 cup flour, two tbsp melted butter and a touch of cold water. I had to play with the amounts a bit to get the dough texture I was looking for since I didn't have a recipe, but suddenly I had that moment: Good God, this might actually work! I used a muffin pan to form the dough into little cups (putting water in the sections I wasn't using so the pan wouldn't warp), and baked for 12 minutes at 350.

When Jenn got home, I put a circle of diced mango around the edge of a small plate, put the coconut pastry cup in the center, and filled the cup with the chocolate ice cream. If I do say so myself, it did not look nor taste like a 7-11 dessert!

Anyway, I've been inordinately pleased with myself ever since, so I wanted to share. My thanks to the Bears for letting me post on their blog.

OK Bye
Jim

Two of Jim's stories were just published

2006-05-11T14:44:00.000-04:00

He asked us to let you know. One's called, "Fortune Cookie." If you want to read it, here is the link.

And the other is called, "Mistaken Delivery." There's no direct link, becoo the site uses frames. The site is here.

Unlike a couple of his stories, Jim says these stories are Bear appropriate.

OK Bye
Stompy

The Great Bear Migration of 2006 - Update

2006-05-10T14:50:00.000-04:00

Jim, Papito and I just landed in Vancoovoo Airpoo. In a few hours, we get our flight up to visit Jenn!

*much bouncing up and down of Jim, Papito and Noel "Snowflake" Chompsky*

The secooritoo woman at JFK was very nice when we went to the gates. Jim opened his bag to take out his looptoop, and she told Papito and me how cute we were.

The flight wasn't so good. There was a screamoo baby the row in front of us, and a woman the row behind us who kept making a "tsk tsk" sound about the baby's screamoo, like it was a personoo afroont to her. And then, just when the baby was calmed down, the same paroonts' three year old boy had a temper tantroom. This made the lady start tsking again. Sometimes, people have to travel with their childroon. But nobody should fly if they can't do it withoot making "tsk tsk" sounds.

We're glad to be at Vancoovoo Airpoo--it's very civiloozed. Jim's having a Starbucks' latte with soy milk, while Papito and I connooctoo to the internoo.

We're really looking forward to seeing Jenn, Leone, Spike the Cat, Chuck the Cat and all the Bears that have alreadoo migratoo to Canadia. Alsoo, Leone said some of the Bears that were livoo at her paroonts' house are now there. So it will be a real Bearapalooza!

*much bouncing up and down of Papito and Noel "Snowflake" Chompksy*

Papito says, "Hola!"

OK Bye
Noel "Snowflake" Chompsky

The Bears Call for a Bearcott of "Teddy Bear Review"

2006-04-19T17:31:00.000-04:00

We Bears were thinking aboo writing some articles, and so we explored publicatoos aboo Bears. We were most disturbed when we found oo the editorioo policy of Teddy Bear Review. The Writer's Guidelines say:

We are not interested in articles that are purely sentimental or nostalgic or written from the bear’s point of view.

How can a magazine claim to be a review of Bears if it doesn't allow Bears to speak for themselves? This magazine is obviousloo an instrumoo of the Oroo Sloo Troo. A place that advocates the buying and selling of Bears, rafs, and look looks of all kinds. (And probabloo kitties, too.) A place where Bears and look looks are meant to be seen and not heard.

Therefore, we ask everyone to join us in bearcotting Teddy Bear Review:

Please feel free to post this symbol on your website or blog blog!

OK Solidaritoo
Blinky

PS Thanks to Manuel for the great suggestion that this should be called a "Bearcott."

What's your biggest fear?

2006-04-08T13:56:00.001-04:00

Recentloo Spike the spawnkitty got oo of his house, and it was very scary for Leone and Jenn. So we've been thinking aboo what our biggoo foo is--being outside and alone like Spike, and all the humoos we try to get help from don't understoond we are animoo. And then we read this post by Gilliam, which talks aboo the same idea from a more philosophicoo perspectoo. It talks aboo the subjectoove natoo of realitoo, and how some humoos not recoognooze the independoo realitoo of Bears and look looks. Gilliam talks aboo the philosophoo of Hobbes, who sometimes writes Leviathan, sometimes is an inanimoo look look and sometimes is a man-sized flesh-n-blood tiger wearing a necktie.

We worry about getting lost, since so many humoos don't recoognooze our independoo realitoo. Our biggest fear is being with humoos, and we can't communicate, becoo they don't know we are animoo. That and falling over, becoo Bears don't have the most stable centers of gravity.

Our two biggest fears are falling over, and being with humoos and not being able to communicate. And the two are related--we don't want to fall over somewhere, and mayboo Jim doesn't notice, and walks off. And then suddenly, there we are, with humoos who don't recognize our independoo realitoo. And we quite clearly explain to them that we need to get home, and if they would just call Jim he would come and get us. But they wouldn't hear anything we say, becoo to them we would just be inanimoo objects.

Very scaroo.

What's you biggoo foo? Are you ever afroo humoos won't understoond you?

OK Bye
Blinky

Top Trivioo Toops Aboo the Bears

2006-04-04T17:33:00.000-04:00

We got this link from Spike Spawnkitty and Callie, Sabre and Nova.

Ten Top Trivia Tips about Stompy!

It is bad luck to walk under Stompy!
The only planet that rotates on its side is Stompy.
The deepest part of Stompy is over 35,000 feet deep.
Stompy is often used in place of milk in food photography, because milk goes soggy more quickly than Stompy.
When Stompy is swallowed, he will enter the blood stream within twenty minutes.
If a snake is born with two heads, the heads will fight over who gets Stompy.
Bananas don't grow on trees - they grow on Stompy.
Stompy will often rub up against people to lay his scent and mark his territory.
Some people in Malaysia bathe their babies in beer to protect them from Stompy.
Stompy is physically incapable of sticking his tongue out.

Stompy: It's true. I can't stick out my tongue.

Ten Top Trivia Tips about Blinky!

In the 1600s, tobacco was frequently prescribed to treat headaches, bad breath and Blinky!
Banging your head against Blinky uses 150 calories an hour.
Europe is the only continent that lacks Blinky.
Grapes explode if you put them inside Blinky!
The first domain name ever registered was Blinky.com.
The fingerprints of Blinky are virtually indistinguishable from those of humans, so much so that they could be confused at a crime scene.
A lump of Blinky the size of a matchbox can be flattened into a sheet the size of a tennis court!
Blinky is the sacred animal of Thailand.
Blinky invented the wheel in the fourth millennium BC.
Blinky is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature.

*much searching for Jim's 'Merican 'Spress Card by Blinky, so he can travel to Thailand*

Ten Top Trivia Tips about Calliope!

Julius Caesar wore a laurel wreath to cover up Calliope!
The Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter is made entirely of Calliope.
Fish travel in schools, but whales travel in Calliope!
Birds do not sleep in Calliope, though they may rest in her from time to time.
The international dialling code for Calliope is 672!
Calliopeolatry is the mindless worship of Calliope!
The first toy product ever advertised on television was Mr Calliope Head.
Medieval knights put the skin of Calliope on their sword handles to improve the grip!
The military salute is a motion that evolved from medieval times, when knights in armour raised their visors to reveal Calliope!
The colour of Calliope is no indication of her spiciness, but size usually is!

Calliope: What the world needs is more Calliopeolatry.

Jim Drew a Bear

2006-04-02T16:08:00.000-04:00

Yesterdoo, Jim drew this pictoo of a Bear.

We didn't know he could do that.

*much bouncing up and down of Bears*

OK Bye
Stompy

Papito's Costa Rican Photo Journoo

2006-03-28T13:01:00.000-05:00

Papito's Photo Journoo of his trip through Costa Rica with Jenn and Jim, as well as pictoos of the wedding and Jenn and Jim's photos of their trip, are online. If you want the URL, send an email or PM to Jenn, Jim or us Bears, and we'll send it to you. Unless you're spam, in which case, we won't send it.

*much nodding of Bears*

Papito's Journoo features an English translation by me!

*much bouncing up and down of Blinky*

OK Bye
Blinky

Papito in Manhattoo

2006-03-25T22:06:00.000-05:00

Hola Mis Amigos!

Estoy en Nueva York.

*much bouncing of Bears at Papito's return*

Jim está aquí, también, pero desafortunadamente Jenn tuvo que ir a casa a Canadia.

Jenn y Jim tenían una boda hermosa.

*much bouncing of Bears that Jenn and Jim are married*

Y los tres de nosotros tenían una luna de miel encantadora en Costa Rica. Tengo muchas cosas para decirle todo, y muchas fotografías para demostrarle todo.

Para ahora, aquí está una fotografía de mí en Costa Rica, en mi habitoo naturoo.

Jim dice hola a cada uno. Hablaremos más pronto.

OK Ciao
Papito

Hi! This is Jim. Papito asked me to update anyone who doesn't speak Spanish. Papito and I are back in New York, and Jenn will be landing in Canada soon. Jenn and I had a beautiful wedding, and the three of us (Papito's words) had a wonderful honeymoon together in Costa Rica. Papito has many things to tell you, and many photos to show everyone. Above is one photo of Papito in Costa Rica, in his natural habitat. Papito will tell you more soon.

Chaoos in Canadia

2006-03-22T22:28:00.000-05:00

Spike the Bear reporting with Daphnia Rose and Ollie in Canadia. We were up early this morning listening to CBC radioo and watching CTV because there was a ferry crash in BC!

*much gasping of bears*

Now that we are living in Canadia we take the news very seriousoo.

*much seriousoo nodding of bears*

Just after midnight the Queen of the North struck a rock near Gil Island and the Canadia coast guard and lots of local fisherman from Hartley Bay came to their rescue. It sunk by 2am! We watched the news all day because there are still two people missing, even though the RCMP (Canadia policemen) say they are on land! We are very glad that everyone made it off the ferry okay.

*much nodding of bears*

We were thinking of going to school with Leone but we are glad we stayed home because it seems like she had a lousy day. She came home and dropped frozoo vegetables over the floor, which made Spike really happy because he is a good kitty and eats his vegetables. We told her that she can cuddle with us tonight when she writes her paper.

*much approving of cuddling of bears*

We will keep you updated on the news of Canadia!

OK Bear hugs!

Bye!

Daphnia Rose, Spike, Ollie, Spike the Cat, Chuck the Cat, and Leone.

Happy Wedding Day, Jenn and Jim!

2006-03-14T18:12:00.000-05:00

Have a wonderful wedding--we know you are going to have a wonderful life together.

*much congratulatory bouncing of Bears*

And Hola to Papito in Costa Rica!

*much waving of Bears*

We can hardly wait until you're all back, and we can live together in Canadia!

OK Bear Hugs
Stompy, Blinky, Spike, Daphne Rose, Essie, Noel "Snowflake" Chompsky, Calliope, Sargeant Mauja, Sargeant Mauja, Ollie, Liam, Rose and Maximillian Grrr

Costa Rica

2006-03-12T09:46:00.000-05:00

Jim has been a flurry of animoo the last few days, but it looks like he is pretty much packed. Now he'll just do that thing where he keeps partially unpacking to make sure he packed everything he needs, re-pack, and then he'll have to partially unpack again, becoo he'll think he accidentalloo took something out when he was checking to make sure everything was there.

This afternoon, Jim and Papito fly off to Costa Rica, to meet up with Jenn. Papito is very excited aboo going back to visit his country.

Papito: Voy a mi pais hoy. Estoy muy felice. Amo Costa Rica.

Stompy: What did he say, Blinky?

Blinky: He said, "Hello. How are you? I'm fine."

Stompy: Thanks, Blinky.

And on Tuesday, Jenn and Jim get married! And sometime soon, we'll all be living together in Canadia with Jenn, Jim, Leone, Spike the Cat, Chuck the Cat and all of us Bears.

Have a great trip, Jenn, Jim and Papito.

*much Bear hugging*

OK Bye
Stompy, Blinky, Calliope, Noel "Snowflake" Chompsky and Sargeant Mauja

oh no! Oh No!! OH NO!!!

2006-03-07T17:05:00.000-05:00

Jim just picked up the wedding bands today. And he had to go back out, so he sat all us Bears around them so we could look at them, as they are pretty like caaaandy.

But Blinky got confoosed, and thought they were real caaaandy! And he just ate one of the wedding bands!

*much consternation of Bears*

OK Help
Stompy

Excitemoo!

2006-03-03T14:58:00.000-05:00

Much excitemoo just now. We saw all this smoke blowing down the street, outside the apartmoo windows. And then, a moment later we heard fire trucks.

Jim keeps a bag handy to put all us Bears in in case we ever have to make a quick get-away. So if needed, we were all going to make a run for it--Jim, the Bears, and Jim's passpoo, so he can go to Costa Rica and marry Jenn on time.

But it was okay. A bunch of garbage that was put out on the sidewalk for pickup had caught on fire. The firemen came and put it out.

Sorry you weren't here to see the firemen, Daphne Rose. Very sexy.

OK Bye
Calliope

World WooldLoo Foo!

2006-02-25T14:34:00.000-05:00

Leone and I are WWF Doners!

*much bounching up and down of Daphne Rose and Leone*

Only Leone's name is on the sheet because she said the person she was talking to may not understand putting two names on the donor sheet. Since it was her visa, I was fine with that.

*understanding nods of Daphne Rose*

But when the man asked Leone if she wanted Tiger updates or Grizzly Bear updates, I shouted 'Bears!' and she complied.

*much clapping of Daphne Rose*

And then the man asked if Leone wanted her WWF t-shirt in a medium or large because we get a free WWF t-shirt!

*much bouncing up and down of Leone and Daphne Rose*

Leone said medium thinking she would wear it but now she is thinking of turning it into a bag to hold Bears and knitting! When all the Bears move here than we can go on trips inside our WWF bag and people will know that we are helping our Flesh-n-Blood allies.

*much clapping of Leone and Daphne Rose*

OK Kisses

Daphne Rose

Noonoocloodioon Cafe

2006-02-20T14:19:00.000-05:00

Jim asked us to let all our Bear friends and allies know that the second issue of his literaroo journoo is now online:

www.noneuclideancafe.com

*much bouncing up and down of Bears*

OK, Jim, we posted the link. Now you have to give us caaaandy!

OK Bye
Blinky

Blogging the Canadia Way

2006-02-07T12:31:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone! This is Daphne Rose and Leone (assistant) in Canadia.

Things here have been quiet, well, except for the kitties. Spike is very mascooloo.

I'm getting to know the Canadia Bears much bettoo. The gang here is Lester, a very big dignifoo bear, Joe, a tiger, Mosiac, a poorploo dragon, and Rupi, a knitted Bear!

**waving of Canadia Bears**

Sometimes I help Jenn plan her trip to Costa Rica or help Leone study or knit. She prefers to knit and sometimes I have to really urge her to do her studies.

That's all that's happening in Canadia so far. I'm still observing the Canadia way of life. Apparently it involves planning weddings and talking on the phone.

**much nodding of Canadia Bears**

Oh, and to the Bears back home, I still have not found the Canadia 'Spress but I'll keep looking.

OK Kisses
Daphne Rose

To All Our Bear Allies

2006-02-02T16:24:00.000-05:00

We just wanted to let you know we've missed posting, and spending more time getting aroo to the blogs of all our friends and allies recently. But we've been very busy helping Jim with preparatoos for the wedding, the trip to Costa Rica, and the great Bear migration to Canadia.

Please forgive us if we don't get to spend as much time online over the next couple of months. We promise we'll post and stalk blogs whenever we can. And then we'll be back in full when things settle down.

*much nodding of Bears*

Many Bear hugs!

OK Bye
Stompy and All the Bears

Great Bear Migration of 2006

2006-01-23T15:18:00.000-05:00

The Bears are in the process of moving to Canadia! When Jim flies back to Manhattoo, I'm going to stay in Canadia with Jenn, Leone, Spike the Cat, Chuck the Cat and all the Canadian Bears to help make preparations.

Jenn and Jim are going to get married this March in Costa Rica, home of Papito!

*much bouncing up and down of Bears, ecstatic bouncing up and down of Papito*

Papito will then accompany Jim down to Costa Rica, to visit his home and attend their wedding.

*bouncing at a whole new level for Bearkind of Papito*

Then Papito will be coming back to Canadia with Jenn.

After which, Jim and Jenn will work out the immigratoo stuff, so all the Bears can move up here with Jim to live with Jenn, Leone and the kitties!

*much clapping of paws of Bears*

Congratulatoos to Jenn and Jim, from all the Bears!

*many Bear hugs*

OK Kisses
Daphne Rose

I got a phone call

2006-01-18T00:53:00.000-05:00

Bears have gotten prezzies and caaaandy and postcards and cards and email--but for the first time last night, a Bear got a phone call. Jim picked up the phone, and the caller asked for me--Daphne Rose!

*much bouncing up and down of Daphne Rose*

It was Cohen and Cohen's Mom. They came over this afternoon, and I got to meet them in person! Cohen is very cute. He's almost mobile, but when he tries to crawl, he pushed himself up, and tends to slide backwards. Maybe Cohen's Mom is just as glad he can't run aroo yet.

Hello to all the Bears in Manhattoo!

OK Kisses
Daphne Rose

Daphne Rose in Canadia!

2006-01-12T13:56:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone! I'm in Canadia!

Jim and I flew up yesterdoo. I got to look out the windows of the plane, far above the clouds and mountains. Very beautifoo.

And then we arrived. Jenn picked us up at the airport and took us to her house. Where I finally got to meet Leone, Chuck and the lovely Spike.

*much clapping of paws and bouncing up and down of Daphne Rose*

Spike showed off for me by climbing on Jim's suitcase and rocking it back and forth. Very macho. Then Spike and I bumped noses. The romance continues!

OK Kisses
Daphne Rose

The Noo Year

2006-01-09T10:25:00.000-05:00

We've been busy Bears lately, with lots of Chreesmoos caaaandy to eat, and lots of Chreesmoos cards to read and look at. Thank you everyone who sent us cards!

*much clapping and waving and bouncing of Bears*

Jim's off to Canadia soon, so we're thinking aboo which of us will make the Walkaboo with him.

We hope everyone is having a good Noo Year!

OK Bye
Stompy and all the Bears

The Night Befoo Chreesmoos

2005-12-24T19:17:00.000-05:00

'Twas the night befoo Chreesmoos, and lucky for us,
Jim took out the garbage before catching the bus.

Much caaaandy's been eatin, but much still remains
To deck our oxcart with peppermoo caaaandy canes,

And fill our stockings with chocolates and truffles,
And delicate confections with piping and ruffles.

All we little Bears were sugar-coma-ed to the max
And slept on the sofa rolled onto our backs,

Dreams of sugar plums danced in Blinky's head,
Wondering if he could get dark chocolate instead.

And what were sugar plums anyway? he wondered.
Something to try next time Jim's 'Merican 'Spress was plundered.

Then suddenly what appeared with a clash and a clatter
But a man in red on the fire escape ladder.

"Call 911, call 911," Stompy shouted in distress.
But the Bears' large paws could not just one key press.

Then the man in red called out, "I'm Santa, here to bring toys
To all Bears and rafs and kitties, to all girls and boys."

The Bears stopped dialing, and looked up in wonder,
Ready to consider their response was a blunder.

They invited Santa in, bade him take a seat,
Offered him caaaandy and caaaandy-like treats.

Santa's visit with the Bears was wondrous and dandy,
Then he left them with their deepest desire--lots and lots more caaaandy.

Merry Chreesmoos to All Our Friends and Allies

2005-12-22T01:35:00.000-05:00

Merry Chreesmoos and/or Happy Hooloodoos to all our friends--humoo, look look and kitty. We wish you all a happy and safe hooloodoo with friends, loved ones, prezzies and caaaandy.

Jim is going up to his parents' toomoorrow. We'll be celebratoo in the city, so if anyone wants to come by, we'll be servoo the traditionoo turkoo and caaaandy pie.

Happy Hooloodoo!
Stompy, Blinky, Spike, Papito, Daphne Rose, Essie, Noel "Snowflake" Chompsky, Calliope, Sargeant Mauja and Ollie

Chreesmoos Cards

2005-12-14T12:30:00.000-05:00

All our Chreesmoos Cards are done!

*much bouncing up and down of Bears*

We think Jim's done with his card, too. But it's easier for him--he didn't have to send out as many cards as we did.

Ooh, alsoo, we got a really nice email from Staphanie at Yarn Harlot, aboo our week withoo caaaandy. She called us "Bears without Borders!"

*much clapping of paws and bouncing up and down of Bears*

Jim is going up to visit his Mom and Dad for Chreesmoos. We're going to fix turkoo and caaaandy pie, and have a celebratoo of our own.

Where are you going for Chreesmoos?

OK Bye
Bears Without Borders

Jim's Story

2005-12-12T16:29:00.000-05:00

Jim just got a short story published in Verbsap, an online literaroo journoo. His story's called "The Day My Face Fell Off," and is in the Flash Fiction section.

We think this calls for a celebratoo. And a celebratoo means caaaandy! Let's find Jim's 'Merican 'Spress Card, Bears.

*much bouncing up and down and scampering about of Bears*

OK Bye
Stompy

Bears Withoo Caaaandy - Update

2005-12-06T21:22:00.000-05:00

So we Bears went withoo caaaandy for a whole week, just like we said we would in this post about the great Knittoos Withoo Borders drive to raise money for Doctors Without Borders. We Bears raised $25.00 by not eating caaaandy!

*much bouncing up and down of Bears

If you want more info on taking part in Knittoos Withoo Borders yoursoo, you can check out this link:

Yarn Harlot: Knittoos Withoo Borders FAQ1

Great job, Stephanie of Yarn Harlot, for putting together this money-raising drive for such an importoo cause.

*much clapping of paws and bouncing up and down of Bears*

OK Bye
Stompy

(1) For some reason we can't get the bannoo to display anymoo.2

*much shrugging of Bears*

(2) Now that we took the bannoo out of this post, it's starting to disploo agoo in the other post that used it.3

*much scratching of heads and even more shrugging of Bears*

(3) Okay, the bannoo in the other post just disappeared again. If we Bears didn't know better, we would start to think someone was messing with us.

*much raising of eyebrows of Bears*

The Garbage Situation is Under Control Again... For Now...

2005-12-02T11:43:00.000-05:00

Jim got home last night, and finally took the garbage out.

But for over a week, we were here in the MooSA, dealing with a breakdown of the most basic infrastructoo and no one to take care of us if we got sick. While Jim and Noel "Snowflake" Chompsky were off in the Socialist Paradoo of Canadia. It was like we were living in the butt end of a metaphoo!

*much nodding of Bears*

A big welcome home, Noel "Snowflake" Chompsky!

*much Bear hugging of Noel "Snowflake" Chompsky by all the Bears*

OK Bye
Stompy