New York City

New York City has sooo many people. Actually, about 1 in every 38 Americans live in the city. The city was originally named New Amsterdam by the Dutch settlers who came in the 1620s. There are lots of places to visit, including the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (where European immigrants entered the US). I tried ice skating at Rockefeller Center and saw a play in the theater district on Broadway. I even went to Wall Street where the big financial companies and the New York Stock Exchange is located! I rode in a subway deep underground, and visited each of the five boroughs – Queens, Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island and Manhattan. New Yorkers are fond of talking and love to tell stories. They talk loudly, quickly and interrupt each other. It was all very exciting, but now I am ready for a cat nap! Purrs, Gulliver

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Mooooose!

One mouse, two mice; one moose, two ….moose! Neither mooses nor meese are correct; moose is a Native American word which has no plural. Moose means “twig eater”, which describes what they eat – plants, leaves, pine cones, buds and bark from trees. They are big animals – 5 to 6 ½ feet from ground to shoulder, (not including head and antlers). Their antlers can grow up to 6 feet wide and weigh 50-60 pounds. Moose like the cold weather, and have wide hooves which act like snowshoes in the wintertime. Moose are strong swimmers and can swim up to 2 hours without a break, or 6 mph and as far as 12.4 miles. A moose’s front legs are longer than its back legs. This helps the moose more easily jump over things lying in its path. Purrs, Gulliver

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Elk

How much do you weigh? Male elk grow a new set of antlers every year, starting in the spring. The antlers can grow up to 1 inch a day, and weigh 40 pounds before they fall off. I get a headache just thinking of all that weight on the head! Most of us use our mouths to talk. An elk will bark warnings and bugle, a cry which is loud and carries for miles. Yet when talking to friends close by, elk use their legs. The bones in their ankles make popping noises so they know when another elk comes near. Elk represented strength, courage, and wisdom to Native Americans.

Purrs, Gulliver

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On the Enchanted Hill

There is an expression “a man’s home is his castle”. Here is one man’s “castle” not too far from where I live in Salinas. Hearst’s Castle was designed and built by California’s first female architect, Julia Morgan. Mr. Hearst named the estate “La Cuesta Encantada” (“The Enchanted Hill”), but usually called it “the ranch”. Hearst Castle was never completed because Mr. Hearst kept changing the plans and adding rooms, but in 1947 it had 56 bedrooms, 61 bathrooms, 19 sitting rooms, 127 acres of gardens, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, a movie theater, an airfield, and the world’s largest private zoo. After Mr. Hearst died, the family donated the house to the State of California so many people could see the beautiful antiques and buildings.

Purrs, Gulliver

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English is hard for cats

I went sailing recently, and learned some new words – sailor’s language they called it. This little cat thinks English is a crazy language. Did you know that there is no egg in eggplant, no ham in hamburger, and neither apple or pine in pineapple? Why do humans have noses that run and feet that smell? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? One goose, two geese, so one moose, two meese? English muffins weren’t created in England, and French fries are not French. I think I will stick to a simple Meow! Purrs, Gulliver

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Take a look at this article to see where English lacks word for certain ideas or emotions.

Emotions that have no translation into English

Modern day Dinosaur

Did you know that birds descended from dinosaurs? The first bird-type dinosaur was called “Archaeopteryx,” which means “ancient wing” Birds share many similarities with dinosaurs, including feathers, scales and laying eggs. Scientists study each creature to compare skin, bones, hearts and lungs and other body pieces to connect the two. Some birds do not fly or have very limited ability to fly. Think of turkeys and ostriches. Others, like penguins and puffins can swim better than fly or walk. Next time you see a bird, tell everyone they are looking at a modern day dinosaur!

Purrs, Gulliver

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Horseless Carriages

Way, way back, when my great grandfather’s father was a kitten at the turn of the last century (1901) automobiles (horseless carriages) were still a new form of transportation. They put the kitten in a basket for a short trip across town to see family, and then drove at the top speed of the car – 6 miles per hour! He was car sick, and hated the horn blowing which was used at every curve and intersection to warn people they were coming. No one had training on how to drive, or a license. The first state to require license plates on cars was New York, and the car owner’s made their own plates which were the two or three initials of the owners names.

Purrs, Gulliver

Tunisia and magic carpets

My very first magic carpet was woven in Tunisia. I found it in a souq – an open air market which sells everything from jewelry to ceramic dishes to rugs. The rug was woven of wool, and I could use it as a blanket on chilly nights when I camped outside.

The first people to live in this area were stone age cave dwellers called Troglodytes. I can see why humans like to come to Tunisia – there are many miles of sandy beaches along the Mediterranian coastline, though in the south part of the country there is desert, and it is hot!

Purrs, Gulliver