We are clearly warned not to do this!

Do not use cell phone on the airplane!

The lady behind was shitting herself as I took these pictures. When she informed me that she was about to call security, I noted that my phone was set to "airplane mode" :) These shots were taken on a flight to Atlanta, earlier this year.

Big Pine Key, Florida

On the weekend of 07/14/2007, we visited a friend in Big Pine Key. We did have fun and really appreciated the beautiful sunset!

Butterfly Garden

I have a small butterfly garden in front of our home. I have attached a few shots that exhibit Milkweed with Monarch Butterfly Caterpillars eating them before they cocoon. A few weeks after this shot was taken, we came home to over 30 Butterflies on our patio, drying their wings, to take their first flight! This was an awesome sight. Currently, our plants attract Monarch, Queen, and Viceroy Butterflies. Milkweed is an easily grown plant that attracts Butterflies to lay their eggs on so that the Caterpillars will feed on the plant before morphing into a cocoon. These plants grow back fast after being stripped of their foliage.

For those of you who are wondering why I posted this blog, its because I am probably the only house in this neighborhood that has an animal friendly environment!

More Orchids!

I saw my friend today whose wife gave me an orchid at a discounted price and a freebie at the WOC (listed in the blog below). Her family did not sell all of their orchids and gave approximately 240 orchids to do whatever with, as he did not want to schlep them back to Taiwan! I was informed that I am getting a few orchids this weekend. I am looking forward to meeting them and accepting more of these beautiful specimens! Now, I am trying to figure what type of gift to give them for their generosity. I have posted some picture of a few of my Vandas that are attached to Fox Tail Palms.

2008 World Orchid Conference (WOC)

Yesterday, I traveled to Miami to attend the WOC some a few friends. We had a great time, even though we were taxed for time. The event closed at 6 PM and we did not arrive until 3 PM because I had to present my program at a fund raiser. We saw a lot of awesome specimen of orchids from around the world. My fear of having an asthma attack from the strong fragrance of all of the plants in an enclosed area did not come true and was minimized to only a head ache. The best part was receiving a beautiful orchid for an extremely discounted price and another one for free from a friend's wife who working the event with her family who traveled from Taiwan to present and sell orchids. They also allowed me to hold and smell a specimen that was for sale for 1K! I am so glad that I did not drop it :)! I did for get my camera because I was rushing, so I do not have any shots of this magnificent event :(! I do have a few shots of the colorful specimen that I brought home and that are being exhibited in our living room. I now prey that the cats do not makes these specimen into a new toy!

My 75G Mbuna (Cichlids) tank

My current set up is composed of the following specimens: 8 Yellow Lab, 8 Red Zebra, 2 Maingano, 5 P. Demasoni, 1 Wide Yellow Band, 4 Clown Loach, and 1 Cuckoo Catfish. . I ritually change at least 25 % of the water a week as Cichlids warrant clean, alkalinic (high ph) water, with a lot of circulation. I have crushed coral and many rocks to increase the ph. I have java ferns and anubias to assist in eliminating ammonia. I use two over-sized filters (2 Emperor 400's that circulate and clean 800 gph) to increase the filtration and water circulation. I have a crowded tank because Cichlids are aggressive fish and a crowded tank with lots of hiding spots (rocks and plants) help to minimize aggressive between the fish.