Tag Archives: National Zoo

Day 14: 31 Days of Pandas

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.

31 days

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….

31 days

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

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…

pandas

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.

pandas

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

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!

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

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?

feel

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

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!

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.

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

Nooooo! Not the PINK crayon!

Nooooo! Not the PINK crayon!

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

What is Pinky reading?

What is Pinky reading?

panda

Now, more than ever….

Happy 100th day Birthday! More frosting!

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...

Have yourself a Pandy little Christmas…

Be the Bear,
Bob T Panda

Have a Fabulous Furry Friday

 

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

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…)

24) Dis. Will. Not. Stand!

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…

Bao bao changes panda cub gender

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

panda cubs on rocking horses

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

Pandas are standing by to take your calls!

Pandas are standing by to take your calls!

I love a good art forgery, don't you?

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.

This will not stand!

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

And who is this mysterious ally of whom they speak?

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!

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

Note the serious black cover!

Note the serious black cover!

Be the Bear
Bob T Panda

And don’t forget to vote!!!!!

You Know What You Have to Do

We are down to the last week before the election and this is a hard week for more than one reason. But there is also great rejoicing in the land, because we now know that Twinkies 2.0 are both little girls! While they won’t get their real names until December 12th when they are 100 days old, their Panda Chronicles names have been bestowed by their particular friend and supporter, Stacy Watts, who dubbed them “Six and Seven” Excellent names, if I do say so! You know what they say about the younger children in any big family: Their names kind of get lost in the shuffle.

Meanwhile, we are all at sixes and sevens over the Meihem’s departure tomorrow. 

It is a bitter pill to swallow, that we can’t can’t keep them all. But never fear, On the pages of The Panda Chronicles, they will all stay right here where they belong, and that goes for Mr. Wu and Pinky too. After all, this is fiction right? Unfortunately, this election is not, even if it seems like it most of the time.

So let’s get to today’s episode….

Do NOT mess with Pinky and the Meihems!

Do NOT mess with Pinky and the Meihems! They are fearless!

Be the Bear
Bob T Panda

And be sure to tune in on Friday when we give a farewell salute to the Meihems! Oh yeah…and don’t forget to VOTE!!!!

A Halloween Carol part 2

OOO! Here we are all again, ready for the exciting conclusion of the seasonal classic (I told you it was going to be, didn’t I?) A Halloween Carol part the second! Huzzah! Join Pinky, Bubba, Wu and the Meihems as they teach (well, try to, anyway) Pinky that it’s not all about her!

Pinky: Now that’s just crazy talk!

halloween

One of Pinky’s misdeeds has come back to haunt her… can her campaign survive this?

Hmmm... Pinky still does not seem impressed. Perhaps the ghost of Halloween present will have more influence over her.

Hmmm… Pinky still does not seem impressed. Perhaps the ghost of Halloween present will have more influence over her.

Uh oh, the ghost of halloween present just caught up with Pinky...

Uh oh, the ghost of halloween present just caught up with Pinky…

Was that list in small type, single spaced?

Was that list in small type, single spaced?

The Spirit of Halloweens yet to come is not a spirit to be messed with, right?

The Spirit of Halloweens yet to come is not a spirit to be messed with, right? Actually, this prediction turned out to be very accurate.

Surely you didn't think she would totally reform, did you?

Surely you didn’t think she would totally reform, did you?

I must admit to some actual laughing out loud as I re-read this series. I don’t think I’ve looked at it since last year. I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did! and share your Halloween candy with your little brother or sister, okay? Have a Fabulous Furry Friday!

And if YOU don’t want the ghosts of Halloween to disturb your sleep, a sure fire way to keep the ghosts at bay is to have a pile of all the Panda Chronicles Books on your bedside table! You can get them HERE!

Be the Bear,
Bob T Panda

Resistance is Futile

One of my favorite lines in The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is when some robot or other is running around yelling Resistance is Futile and Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect are doing everything they can to resist, to no avail. It’s kind of like that when Mommee Mei turns her laser sharp gaze on Bubba, in order to make him spill the beans. The Vogons have nothing on Mommee when it comes to wielding power.

Did you really think Bubba would be able to resist telling all he knows?

Resistance is futile

All Mei Xiang has to do it look stern and…

Be sure to tune in this Friday for part 2 of A Halloween Carol!

Be the Bear,
Bob T Panda

A Halloween Carol Part 1

Last year, when Bubba was but a tiny tyke, I did a parody of the Dicken’s classic A Christmas Carol, starring Pinky, in the hopes that it would make her a kinder older sister. Did it work? You be the judge.  Maybe this will become a Halloween classic!

And now, Fabulous Furry Friday presents: A Halloween Carol, Part 1

Bubba's first feature role!

Bubba’s first feature role!

you...is...not...da...yawn...boss of...pinky...

you…is…not…da…yawn…boss of…pinky…

Mr Wu makes a very cute ghost, don't you think?

Mr Wu makes a very cute ghost, don’t you think?

Hey! who said Wu could poof things?

Hey! who said Wu could poof things?

He's small for now, but Bubba Bei Bei is shaping up to be a whole lot of panda!

In case you were getting scared during our feature presentation!

Well, that’s all for now! Be sure to tune in next Friday for the continuation of A Halloween Carol! (Not to mention Wednesday and Friday when we continue with the latest from Pinky and election 2016!)

And if you are starting to think about what to get Aunt Mildred (or anyone else for that matter) for whatever holiday you might happen to celebrate, may we suggest books from The Panda Chronicles series? Or, if you are more the coffee cup, t-shirt, canvas tote bag kind of gift giver, we have a lovely selection of gifts with all of your favorite Panda Chronicles gang on them, (more Bubba products are coming next month) over at our Pandyland Cafe Press store!

Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda