Birthdays, Earthquakes, and the Animal Menagerie

This week there were two earthquakes in San Jose- we didn't feel them at all, but we were discussing the topic with the neighbors at my birthday party this week (here's my birthday pie video for all those that were not able to attend... note Ruben singing from his kitchen window!)

...we all decided it would be smart to prepare for the next earthquake by stockpiling some water and propane for the grill so that if we all have to sleep outside or something we will have water and the ability to cook all of the meat in our freezers. I wish we could stockpile chocolate cream pies too (the one James made me was quite delicious... photo at right).

Apparently James took the earthquake preparation idea to heart- this week he started what I like to call..... James' Ark. On Thursday he bought two Betta fish for his desk at work; Saturday we got two peeping little Ameraucana chickens (in Half Moon Bay while we were at the Pumpkin Festival); and today he decided to get a bullfrog and a slider turtle in Chinatown so that he can display them as invasive species in his giant fish tank exhibit. This wonderful animal menagerie is all stored in our laundry room. ... the kids around here love it and what the landlord doesn't know won't hurt her, right?

The chickies are super cute and I'm getting beyond my initial resistance to taking on more pets that have the ability to stink up a whole city block- they will eventually provide us with 2 eggs a day in beautiful shades of green and blue. I think you will all agree they are cuties.

We need some cute names for these girlies- send us some suggestions!

Animals have actually been the theme of the week. We got back from Bridget and Justin's wedding on Monday to find that Mandela had been locked in our bedroom for 5 days with no food. Thankfully he at least had water because I had left a glass on the bedside table! He had used our bed as his litter box (so much for that $1500 mattress) so we spent a good deal of time getting the mattress clean, bought new pillows and sheets and triple-washed all the blankets.... Mandela seems fine- no residual trauma that we can tell. Doesn't he seem so innocent?

All in all, it was a great week at James and Jess' (AKA Chateau Merde de Chat)...