Thanks to Onegoodbumblebee, one of my favorite sites, I have discovered the best, most satisfying procrastination tool yet–sketchfu! It’s like an online etch-a-sketch in color. Some of the artists are really good. Some are funny. Some, like the one above, are just fun. And you can playback their (or your own) drawing, so that it’s like watching an animated film. Like those Woody Woodpecker cartoons where you would see the hand actually drawing Woody. Woody Woodpecker was a real pain in the ass, wasn’t he? I guess he still is. But I like him.


I like woodpeckers in general. First, they are big and clearly marked and easy to identify. Second, their little brains have internal helmets so they don’t get rattled and end up punch drunk like poor Mohammed Ali. I love Mohammed Ali. I met him at some gala dinner somewhere. It was thrilling. He was very polite and warm. People were so excited they were having trouble breathing.

This evening when I walked the dog, there was what could charitably called a briney smell coming from the river. Well, I’m feeling charitable, so I will call it that. Then I walked up the little hill, made the turn at the playground, admired the white billowy hyrangeas and then…between 81st and 80th…the Linden trees! The blooms have arrived. I declare today Linden Tree Day!
And as I stood there drinking in the scent, I noticed a bird in another kind of tree (an acacia? maybe) screaming and screeching. It was wiggling its tail like a mockingbird, but it was backlit and I couldn’t see it very well and I’ve never heard a mockingbird make such bizarre buzzing noises. It was freakin’ out, man. Then it flew back and forth a few times between two trees and I saw that it was definately a mockingbird. And then, I saw the red tailed hawk just sitting there, motionless. The mockingbird was mobbing the red-tailed hawk, the linden trees were in bloom and Hector found a big stick to carry home. When we got back there was the smell of fresh brewed coffee in the lobby. And now I am having a big drink containing gin with its own lovely juniper perfume. HAPPY LINDEN TREE DAY!! It is my favorite holiday of the year.

Here’s a picture of a mockingbird mobbing a kestrel from www.richard-seaman.com

And here’s a picture of a bottle of gin

These are made by Ann Wood, better known for her soul cheering birds, like this one named Abra:

She makes them from scraps of vintage fabric she’s collected, and they sell out so fast that she now offers a bird a day and tells you a day ahead when it will be available. I love them!
Go to Ann Wood’s blog (click here)
This my favorite: