You know you live somewhere cold when....

...you think 55 degrees is warm and spring-like. Shoot, 55 degrees is winter in San Francisco. But when you're desperate, you'll take what you can get.

This Saturday Mattias got my lazy, homesick booty off the couch and out to the Smithsonian National Zoo.

The zoo is set right in the middle of Rock Creek Park and had all the typical zoo celebrities like tigers and lions.

A funny group of flamingos


One of our faves was the orang utans, who can roam between 2 buildings via ropes. They can't escape because they are 35 feet above the ground, and because the towers that hold up the ropes are electrified. To get back at us humans for our wicked ways, the orang utans pause above the pedestrian paths and try to pee on our faces as we gaze up. Can't say we don't deserve it...


But Mattias overall fave was the Capybara, the world's largest rodent. Ever since we went to Belize and ate gibnut, the Royal Rat, he has been obsessed with large, cute rodents. I would want one as a pet but can you imagine that thing gnawing my Pottery Barn furniture?

Then we headed down to the Mall to meet friends Matt and Andrea at the Hirshhorn Museum. Here's some good pics of the Smithsonian castle and the National Archives buildings.


The Hirsshorn Museum is mostly modern art, and it had a creepy body themed exhibit in the basement. You can't tell from the pic but this naked guy is about 7 feet tall.


Then there was this leg sticking out from the wall. Is this art?


Since Saturday I have been battleing a pretty aweful case of mastitis. For all of you non-veterinarians out there, mastitis in inflammation or infection of the mammary gland (the right one to be exact.) I am in lots of pain and have a fever on and off, but the show must go on and the Linus must eat.

Keep warm out there friends and loved ones :)