Tag Archives: National Zoo

Death and Taxes

Accountability is always the question, isn’t it? Especially when it comes to paying taxes and Bubba is right to distrust the tax collector. Should Pinky required to hand over her tax returns? Certainly there are one or two other people around DC who might need to do that.

Meanwhile, I have been so heartened both by the contributions that are being made in honor of The Panda Chronicles (“And Mehitabel! Don’t forget Mehitabel!” said…um…Mehitabel.) and also by the nice notes people have sent me. It means A WHOLE LOT to me that these ‘toons mean a lot to you. I am honored that you spend part of your busy days reading what I do. Those comments really brightened my day, and that is no small thing in these perilous times. You can read about my project here.

Meanwhile, Pinky is up to her old tricks…

Uh oh…it’s the Pinky Revenue Service!

I’m trying not to think about the real Bao Bao leaving DC for China later this month. They haven’t announced the date, and I don’t think they will. She has one last party on February 11th, and sometime after that, a luxury limo will pull up to the panda house, she’ll gather her trunks and suitcases, kiss her mom and dad goodbye, poke her little brother, and head for the airport. But her alter ego is not going anywhere. I hope that will make the sadness of her departure be somewhat less. I know her real life friends Charlene, Maria, and Karen will visit her often.

Panda On and Keep Marching!
Bob T Panda

Join the Panda March this Saturday!

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If you want to be where the action is the day after THE DAY AFTER, be sure to join one of the Women’s Marches that will taking place around the country. And yes, I put the phrase The Day After in scary SHOUTYCAPS/ all bold typing in reference to one of those post apocalyptic movies about the end of the world. The pandas are planning to march and I hope you will too. We are having a local march in Langley and I plan to attend. Maybe we’ll all go out for coffee and cuppycakes after. It’s shaping up to be that kind of week.

Join the #WePreferPinky Movement today!

Whats a protest without pandas?

Panda On!
Bob T Panda

I’d like to thank writer Deborah Underwood for coming up with the term “SHOUTYCAPS” to describe the feeling you get when someone writes in all capital letters. That’s why they pay her the big bucks. (Actually, hardly any writers for children make big bucks, so if you are looking for some really fun books for kids in your life, do check out her books at your local bookstore or on her website! She and her cat will thank you!)

Day 25: 31 Days of Pandas

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Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas! And Happy Hanukkah! And Festivus! don’t forget Festivus! 31 Days of Pandas does NOT take a day off! no, no no! Ho ho ho! Well, that’s life in the fast lane, right? I’m sure someone will throw me a crust of pumpkin pie or something. There was something on my windshield the other day….it might have been stuffing. I don’t know. Whatever.

But enough whining around the Hanukkah bush because there is not a BMW in the driveway with a bow on it! let’s have a ‘toon!

Who didn’t have a sibling like Pinky?

And in the interests of cross cultural representation….

Today, you are a bear.

…if I were a panda, yadda dah dah da- da- da- AAARGH! I can’t stop!!!!!

Have a happy day, no matter what, if any, holiday you celebrate…and pass some pie this way, and maybe some of those little frosted cookies…

Panda On,
Bob T Panda

Day 18: 31 Days of Pandas

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Mini Bob is kind of a culturally inclined bear, and so he never visits London without taking in a concert or two. Today’s photographic offering finds Mini Bob in the moments before a Vivaldi concert starts, at the world renowned St. Martin in the Fields. (as opposed to St. Martian in the Fields, more commonly referred to as War of the Worlds, by H.G. Wells.) 31 Days of Pandas knows what is what!

And Mini Bob knows what is what; what, what?

The Hills are alive with the sound of Pandas….

And now, we return to the Story of Bubba, a small bear and his tummy…

Pinky does love her little brother! Or…maybe is she trying to pull a fast one on Santa?

You better watch out! You better not eat all the cuppycakes.
Pandy Claws is coming to town.

That’s right!

Panda On
Bob T Panda

Day 14: 31 Days of Pandas

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Here we are, almost halfway through 31 Days of Pandas! I have been saving this picture for a while, because I wanted to share it on a day when we all need a little lift, and I think the time is now.

One of the most favorite things about my recent trip to London, maybe destined to be my favorite experience in my entire life, was getting to see original sketches, up close and personal in the Victoria and Albert Museum study room. I first found out that a person could actually call up the museum and make an appointment, and tell them, “I would like to see this…” and they would say yes, and then you would do it – from reading this blog post.

Since I have loved Winnie the Pooh from the time we first met, and that the original drawings by Earnest H. Shepard made me want to be an artist, the idea that I could hold one of his drawings in my hands was something I never thought was possible.

Of course, Mini Bob went along on my visit to the study room, and wanted his picture taken.

Mini Bob, hanging out with Pooh Bear and thinking about a snack

Can you believe they let Mini Bob get this close to an original pencil sketch?

But now, without further folderol, here is today’s ‘toon, where we see the aftermath of Bubba’s overindulgence in cuppycakes, not to mention what a good mom Mei Xiang is….

Oh come on…hasn’t that ever happened to you? One minute there are two dozen cuppycakes just sitting there, and the next minute they’re gone?

Panda On
Bob T. Panda

By the way, several people were asking for a poster of Yoga for Pandas. I designed one, but when I went to Cafe Press, where I sell products with my pandas on them, I found that they did not have a good size of posters. But having designed the graphic, I though I would put it on a few other items, while I search around for another way to make posters available. Here’s one of them, and you can see the others here. I’m still working on some Bubba things. sorry not to have them in time for Christmas, but there you have it.

Day 11: 31 Days of Pandas

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Not that this means anything, but in 2 days, we will have a palindromic number designation: 13:31. I know, I know. Who cares, right? All we really care about is whether there is a new cartoon to read and is Bubba in it and did the Russians hack into the data base at The Institute for Contemporary Panda Satire? And not that this number is significant in any way, but last Wednesday’s cartoon was the 100th new ‘toon of the year, and is it not some kind of cosmic coincidence that tomorrow is the Cublanta Twins’ (version 2.0) 100th day birthday! Can’t wait to hear what their official names will be be. Of course here, they shall forever be known as Six and Seven, thanks to the quick thinking of Atlanta panda fan, Stacy Watts. Naming rights on the Panda Chronicles Pantheon of Pandas will get you…um…I’m sure it will get you something. I just don’t know what.

But First, today’s travels with Mini Bob…

Mini Bob plays the Palace

Well, not THE Palace, but a smallish (at least in terms of palaces, in general) palace at Kew Gardens. Note that we had something resembling sun that day.

And now, on with today’s ‘toon, where we rejoin our story of Pinky’s disappointment, with a little bit of Bubba’s real life tummy ache thrown in for good measure.

Ruh Roh…I’m gonna hurl!

Poor Bubba! While in real life, Bei Bei had a lemon sized lump of bamboo stuck in his intestine, I thought it was more in keeping with the spirit of this ‘toon if Bubba ate a few too many cuppycakes. And who doesn’t hate listening to someone else toss their…um…cuppycakes?

Meanwhile, Christmas (which according the certain Republican lawmakers is now allowed to be named again, and Starbucks will be punished if their Holiday cups aren’t Christmas-y enough) is closing in and besides donating to your favorite charity, I hope you will also decide that your nearest and dearest could really use a good laugh this year. And what better laugh-i-gator is there, besides the whole Panda Chronicles book series? Huh?

Panda On
Bob T Panda

Meihems to the Rescue

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When you need pandas, you can’t do better than a little bit of Meihem to fix what needs fixing. Needless to say, Pinky is going to need some extra persuasive coaching to be convinced to come out from under the covers. But meanwhile, back at the zoo, there was some real life drama happening. Bubba’s real life counterpart, Bei Bei had to go in for emergency surgery, due to a “lemon size lump of bamboo” plugging up his guts. He is back home and resting quietly (I believe Pinky is reading him her rough draft of her autobiography, in order to lull him to sleep) and I’m sure I will have a ‘toon or two relating to the ordeal, but first, this!

When you need help, best call for MEIHEM!

Care for a little Meihem?

And don’t forget to get ready for this years 31 Days of Pandas! We have a special treat, The Travels of Mini-Bob! Get ready to join Mini-Bob as he visits Merry Olde England, and some historic sights (and Pooh Bear!!!!!)

Panda On!
Bob T Panda

We All Feel Like This

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Alas, poor Pinky. She so thought she was going to win. She had the perfect color of pink picked out to re-paint the White House, so it could be the Pink-y House. I don’t know WHAT she is going to do with all those hundreds of gallons of paint that is stored in the elephant house. We all feel for Pinky.

But what has Pinky been doing since the election?

Not even CUPPYCAKES????

CALL IN THE RESERVES!!!!

Panda On!
Bob T Panda

Coming soon! 31 Days of Pandas! Where in the world is Mini Bob?

Panda On, Panda On

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Yes, I am panda-ing on, even in the face of my unease over what is to come after this devastating outcome to the election of 2016. Panda on, Panda on! We must panda on. We have lost so many bright stars from the sky: Gene Wilder, Leonard Cohen, Alan Rickman (sob), Prince, David Bowie, Bob Elliott, Harper Lee, Gwen Ifill, Muhammad Ali, Elie Wiesel (what must he be thinking right now?) and so many more. Some of my panda friends on Facebook have lost those nearest and dearest to their hearts.

Must we go on? In the words of Gene Wilder in his role in Blazing Saddles, “We must, we must.”

Panda On!!!!!

Feed me, Mama!

And how did Pinky manage to hack into my computer again?

Those darn emails…

Really, Pinky….It’s not nice to tease your little brother.

Nooooo! Not the PINK crayon!

Yes, there IS a Panda Chronicles Coloring Book! Get it HERE!

What is Pinky reading?

Now, more than ever….

Happy 100th day Birthday! More frosting!

And if you are looking for the perfect holiday accompaniment to your breakfast table…

Have yourself a Pandy little Christmas…

Be the Bear,
Bob T Panda

Have a Fabulous Furry Friday

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

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Actually, no, NO! Parting is not sweet anything. I will not be philosophical about this. I don’t want them to go, but gone they are. Mei Lun and Mei Huan have gone on their journey to China today, as per the agreement that foreign zoos make with China. Cubs born away from China still belong to China. The fact that the Meihems went back a year earlier than expected makes the pill more bitter. Twinkies 2.0 are more than a year away from needing the Meihem’s rooms, so I don’t know why we had to give them up so soon. Parting, in this case is NOT sweet sorrow. It’s just plain sorrow.

Hmmph.

But in the world of Panda Satire, Bert and Ernie (the Meihem’s fictional counterparts) don’t have to go anywhere! They can stay right here, with Wu, Bubba, and Pinky! Huzzah! I mean, this is all fiction right?

So join me now, in my tribute to the Meihems (with a little help from their friends…)

Who can forget when the news of Twinkiegate first broke…

Atlanta twin panda cubs Mei Lun and Mei Huan and older prother Po

…or when we thought that they (and Po) were boys…

…or how they…um…turned into girls in the first place…

Huzzah! It’s The year of Pandas on Horsies!

Pandas are standing by to take your calls!

Sometimes, Pinky and the Meihems even got along….

Oh dear, the Mei-hem twinkies have made Pinky mad. Uh oh.

…for a little while, at least.

The friendship between Pinky and the Meihems has never been destined to run smoothly.

And who is this mysterious ally of whom they speak?

There are far to many stories of the Meihems (and Pinky! Don’t forget!) than I have room to share here. So if you don’t already have copies of Books 5 and 6 of the Panda Chronicles, now is a good a time as any to rectify that situation!

It’s Pink, but still kinda, um…dangerous!

Note the serious black cover!

Be the Bear
Bob T Panda

And don’t forget to vote!!!!!