Tuesday, October 10, 2006

What I Want For Christmas


I did a post some time ago about the twin epidemic. I didn't know the half of it.

Chinese zoos are experiencing a PANDA breeding boom with 16 baby pandas about one year old. 38 more giant pandas have been artificially inseminated, which amounts to a population explosion for the formerly endangered animals.

They look exactly like the stuffed one I had as a child. I have serious Pandas Envy, and may have to move to China soon and find work in a zoo. Since I don't presently speak Chinese, that may be an unrealistic assessment of my job opportunities there.

I can't believe how adorable they are.

These pictures were in an email from my cousin Billie in Maine, Who Never Reads My Blog. Ha ha, Billie. I'm tel-ling!

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

Billie here. See, I DO read it. Just have never commented before. Love you.

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Billie!

I knew I could flush you out if I kept trying.

Will YOU give me a panda for Christmas?

Love you, too.

ditzymoi said...

make that two billie! those are way too cute!
we can have panda play dates :)

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Kim,

Neat idea! We can all play Barbies with them.

Move over, Truffle. We've got a new bedmate.

Michael C said...

I want to take one on my morning walks with me.

mist1 said...

That explains a lot. I think I was artifically inseminated with pandas.

Sean Carter said...

A cute pic... Hope you get that job in China.. Peep into this amazing Christmas Blog to check out some really cool stuffs and unique ideas

Christina_the_wench said...

If they didn't shit or piss, they'd be the perfect stuffed animal! Now I want one too. Make it three, billie!

Anonymous said...

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww....x 100
I too have always loved pandas...I had a giant stuffed one not so long ago..he he, but yeah, I'll take one too...

jali said...

Cute babies!

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Michael,

I'll see if the pet store has panda leashes.

Mist,

You've always said you were irresistible.

Sean Carter,

Clever way to spam.

Christina,

Well, who doesn't?

Odat,

Won it at a carnival?

Jali,

Get 'em while they're hot!

Pendullum said...

I remember years the Chinese government lent our zoo a pair of Panda Bears...
They were the cutest things you could everhave seen. The line ups were atronomical. I kept on going through, staring for my alotted 10 minutes and then running to the back of the line for another look...
They are just so adorable...

Maria said...

So cute... so cute... so cute!!!! Thanks! ~M

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Pendullum,

I did the same thing until they figured out that a lot of people looked exactly alike.

My heart,

Yes. Yes. And YES.

~Macarena~ said...

How can I stop that horrendous blog's automatic song so I can hear George Michael sing?

I LOVE pandas! I still recall the sandbox where I forgot my panda Pammy's cub, Andy.

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Macarena,

What music? I'm confused.

I hope Andy found a good home.

Lex said...

I love pandas too. They are so incredibly cute.

I used to wonder why babies (of all species) are so cute. Someone told me it's for survival, so they don't get eaten.

If that's the case, why do we say, "S/he's so cute I could eat her/him up?"

I would love to squeeze those panda babies...and love them, and hug them, and squeeze them...

Lee said...

I'm known as and fairly proud of my cold, hard bitch status, but I swear these little creatures make me melt into a soft, pink little puddle of cushy sweetness. It's really rather gross!

Nihilistic said...

OH OH...I want that black and white one in the back!

Law Fairy said...

Oh my god. That baby panda is so cute it HURTS.

I want one!!!!!

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Lex,

Baby animals are so cute so they don't get eaten by their own mothers. This is not always successful with humans, however.

Lee,

A soft, pink little puddle of cushy sweetness. I don't think I can add anything to that.

Nihi,

Yes, he's definitely the cutest. Do you have a Dalmation, too? Or a penguin?

Law Fairy,

Well, stop looking then. We don't want any casualties on the job, now do we?

ShadowFalcon said...

AWWWWWW soo cute!

urban-urchin said...

what is it about panda's and koalas that make them so damn cute?

I'll purchase a stuffed one as I am actually enjoying not having a pet for a change... (yes I know- Bah! Humbug!)

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Shadow,

I run a good zoo.

Urchin,

It's nice not to have to clean up after them, nor do they eat much. I think you may be onto something.

Swampwitch said...

This reminds me of my girls favorite book we read E-V-E-R-Y night. "Panda Cake." I'm now searching for another copy so they can both have the book for a keepsake. Loved your previous post, A Hummer by another name...

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Swampwitch,

I don't know that book but will check it out. A few years ago, I got my grown daughter a copy of her favorite book at age 2, and another copy for me so I could reminisce about every delightful second we spent reading it together.

So nice to see you again!

Lee said...

Oh Lord...I looked at them again. I'm all melty.

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Lee,

Uh oh. Another soft pink little puddle on the floor. Somebody get the mop.

Why don't you do a watercolor while you're thinking of pandas and see what happens? (I'm not trying to be an art director. Your work is amazing, and everybody should see it.)

That's Studio Twenty-Three, folks. You're in for a treat.

Avid Diva said...

That is the cutest picture I have ever seen. Ever.

Avid Diva said...

Well, after my Nico pictures, of course. :D

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Odderie,

Your Nico is sooo beautiful. For somebody who isn't a panda, of course.

Thanks for coming by.

Parlancheq said...

There are some pandas at the National Zoo in DC. If you went to work there you wouldn't even need to learn Chinese. :)

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Parlancheq,

Oh, good. Much easier to learn Panda-as-a-second-language that way.