Animals as art

[susandennis]

It wouldn't be fair to call me an animal person. I love my cats - they are great comfort and hilarious laughs. And I like well behaved dogs and I think monkeys of all kinds are really fun to watch like on the Discovery channel. I've never warmed up to birds and I think all snakes and most rodents and all insects are just plain creepy. And I'm not at all sympathetic with rabid political animal saviors.

But, I do think there are some animals that are just artwork. I remember seeing my first zebra running around. It was at San Simeon, the Hearst estate in California. They were just running around the field and they were amazing. I couldn't stop staring. If I saw one today, I'd have the same reaction.

I love tropical fish for their color. I've never seen a kangaroo or a koala and I'd really like to. I have seen penguins and they crack me up.

My friend who lives in Wellington, New Zealand, just got back from a shortish (by Kiwi standards anyway) holiday in Australia. His girlfriend, who is no photographer, took a bunch of snaps and he, who is no computer expert, scanned some in for me - because they know I love seeing pictures. There's a funny one of him standing just over a kangeroo. But the one with the best quality is of an animal I've never heard of a lorikeet. I fiddled around with the picture - cropped and generally made better including a funky frame...

These guys are just stunning!