Zig Iggs It: Creative Spellers 2

bumbass: (n) A string instrument that avoids work and sponges on others.

Zig Iggs It: Yo Gabba Gabba

If you don't like "Yo Gabba Gabba," you're probably a jerk.

Also-- in order to get kids to eat an item, make the food in question cute and personable? Genius. Logically, it seems like it would fail. After all, who wants to eat their friends? I'll tell you. Kids. Kids want to eat their friends.

I've got to be honest, though. This video would not work on kids of a specific temperament. I give you exhibit A: my sister. When she was a kid, this would have freaked her out. A lot. She was a really sensitive eater when she was a kid. Once, we went out to China Rose (when it was only in Freeport), and someone ordered the Peking Duck for the table. When the very identifiably duck-like duck came to the table, Sammy slowly recoiled. With the judgmental distaste of which only a five-year-old is capable, she looked at my mother, and asked, "Is that duck?" My mother, who sensed the now inevitable tempest, nodded slowly. "Like my friends?" Sammy continued. Silence. I sipped my virgin (but still umbrella'd) pina colada (at eight-years-old, you enjoy this sort of drama). Like any good social scientist parent, my mother quickly started to put together an explanation involving cultural relativity, world cuisine, exploring different foods-- too late. Sammy's tiny fists balled in righteous indignation. She opened her mouth and wailed, "Ducks are my friends!" She then looked at her kin-turned-duck-eating-Judases and, tears streaming down her cheeks, shook her head. Mustering the betrayed injury of Julius Caesar, she looked at us and uttered, "How could you?" I guess it's true: The end is just a little harder when brought about by friends. (She feels much the same about lobster.)

Also, don't bite your friends. I would have benefited from this.

Stuff Zig Iggs: Makin' Cookies

Specifically, cookies that look like Kirby.

Stuff Zig and Cwig Igg: Following Banksy

Boston's Chinatown, Summer 2010

For more Banksy news.

Stuff Zig Iggs: Finn

You know, given my obsession with Finn, I'm really surprised I haven't posted a blog about him. I am full-blown obsessed with this animal. He is impossibly weird. For example, he attacks people while they're peeing. He trash-dives for, specifically, buffalo-sauce covered chicken bones. (And really anything else.) He can't blink effectively, so he perpetually gives you the "wiggy-eye." He hates pretty much everyone and everything except for me, Cwig, and Lola. (Lola is, by the way, a total bad ass, and will eventually get her own post.) He manically smashes his face into cardboard boxes. He drools a lot. He can't retract his opposable thumb/extra claw, so he clicks across the floor.

Yeah, he's weird. I like to think he takes after his mother.

Anyways, enjoy. I don't have a lot of visual documentation of Finn because he's kind of a camera-phobe. However, these are pretty gold.

Stuff Zig Iggs: Making Lists of Animals She Will One Day Own

Every once in awhile, as we sit around the Kingsland-Eddy table, mindlessly picking cat hair off of our clothing, we get into the discussion of "what animal do you someday want to have?" The conversation starts mundanely enough. Lifetime cat-people, my sister and I generally start with dogs. She wants a corgi. I want-- well, I'll get to that. However, my end of the conversation quickly devolves into many, many, many animals. A veritable menagerie. And, by God, I will own these critters!

So, for 2011, 11 animal varieties I will someday have!

1) A Scottish Deerhound

I used to be an Irish Wolfhound kind of girl, but, for whatever reason, these guys jut appeal to me more. Maybe it's the fact that they're the royal dog of Scotland. Maybe it's the perfected combination of a wolfhound and a greyhound. Maybe I'm just hesitant that a wolfhound would eat me. (Speaking of which, does anyone know if these guys eat cats?)

2) A Vietnamese Pot Belly Pig

These piggies are so cute. Look at that fat, smushy face. Also, I'm pretty sure I could ride them into battle. Effectively. Come on, an armored Pot Belly Pig? How magical would that be?

3) A Horse

Because, at heart, I am still a six-year-old girl.

4) A Sphynx Cat

I have already extolled the virtues of hairless animals,
so, Constant Reader(s?), you know my feelings on them. However my love for hairless animals began with the Sphynx. I'm a big tactile person, and they just look so touchable. Also, cats hide a lot under all that fur. And by a lot, I mean their insecurities. This guy? He ain't got nothin' to hide.

5) A Goat

I think goats resonate with me on some deep, intrapersonal level. We're similar creatures. Misunderstood. Strangely cute. Clever. Loud. Obnoxious. A little smelly. Also, the are the living incarnation of Jim Henson creatures.

6) Chickens

All 'dem. All 'dem, now.

7) A Sugar Glider

Oh, come one. Who wouldn't want a sugar glider?

8) A Kyole

These guys toe the line between adorable and noble with expert ease. I can never decide if I want to patronize them with animalese, or paint overwrought landscapes featuring them.

9) A Peacock

When I was at Cardiff Castle in Wales, I noticed that they had peacocks. I didn't realize this was a possibility. Now, I want peacocks too. (A side note, have any Mainers been to the Maine Wildlife Park? Have you seen the albino peacock? Have you seen how the other peacocks beat up on him? Peacock prejudice? He's just an albino jerk? Thoughts?)

10) A Belgian Hare

Personally, I think Belgian Hares fulfill my secret desire to own Cwig as a pet. Look how skinny, long-legged, and judgmental they are? Just like the lad. Also, they are the inspiration for LCdL. Octopus-punchers, they are.

Long story short? I'm going to be a candidate for a bizarre episode of Fatal Attractions.

An addendum: In my web-browsing travels, I found this terrifying image:

I know, right?