ALPACAS!!!

Working for VetsHere! has given me an great opportunity to get acquainted with new and interesting species. One of my new friends is the alpaca. I recently spent the morning with several Alpacas owned by one of our best clients in the Santa Ynez Valley. On this particular occasion we were scheduled to trim there hooves and briefly examine the baby alpaca (called a "Cria").

Alpcas are part of the Camelid family. In relative size the largest of the common members of this family is the camel, followed by the llama, follow by the alpaca. All of which are used by humans for various purposes.


Relax people don't eat them. Much like sheep they are sheered annually and their coat, which is called "fiber", is sold to manufacturers to make a variety of clothing items. Like sheep's wool alpaca fiber is warm but, unlike sheep's wool, alpaca fiber is not itchy and is hypoallergenic.

As with any other animal alpacas have their own signature defense mechanisms. These buggers employee three novel approaches to avoiding veterinary care. The first, and perhaps most defining of the camel cousins, is the always entertaining spitting. That's right, when an alpaca feels threatened (or just doesn't like you) it will hurl a gut fluid luggie straight at you. Second an interesting technique referred to as "cushing" which is essentially sitting down. What's that you want to trim my hooves, ha ha, check this out! Third, the good 'ol fashioned kick to nether regions. Not nearly as dangerous as a horse or Bruce lee kick but potent enough to make you real sore. Fortunately for us the alpacas we dealt with last week were not big spitters. Actually, Beyonce, Rihanna, Little Debbie, Baby Reindeer and the rest of the gang were fairly well behaved. The general game plan for these guys is to slowly wander their way pretending to be completely disinterested. After a few seconds of half-hearted whistling a made up tune and staring at the clouds you spring into action. Get them in a quick head-lock and once they know they've been bested a halter can be applied. If Vets Here ever does get picked-up for a TV show you might get to us in action because a film crew was with us to capture the whole day. Alpacas are pretty neat and getting to work with them was good fun.

You're kidding me!!

No I wish I was. Before moving on to part III of NYC, check out this video from todays news on msnbc. Just copy and paste it into your search bar (Dad).
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41466543/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

NYCIII: Odds and Ends

P.S. New York I love you!
Here are just a few extra photos and highlights. Thats right theres more!
Ok this one is for you Dad. Here at Liberty Island in the shadow of the Lady Liberty is the one and only Liberty Bike! (Thats a helluva lot of liberty!). Made from scrap pieces salvaged from the original statue (renovated in the 80's) this bad @$$ chopper has America written all over it. No seriously theres parts of the constitution engraved on it. Nice work west coast choppers.



Signs, signs, every where the signs! New York had the absolute best road signs:

Thats right if you're out on this sidewalk your @$$ better be sitting or crawling or or or laying down


This one is funny because thats like saying dont use the words dude or bro in Santa Barbara. Everyone in NY honks, all the time. Its just like it is in the movies. And who inforces this sign anyway? Does it matter if the moron really deserved to be honked at?


Thats right, in New York you can get a ticket for just thinking about parking in some places.


Stop Here, no dont i've gone cross-eyed!


This was on the subway, very funny. See if you store your stuff in Stockton theres a good chance you wont get it back at all.


No Soup for You!! Home of Seinfelds Soup Nazi


How I met your mother fans will recognize this motivational poster from Barney Stinsons office.This was hanging up at McGees and it reads: Awesomeness, Whenever i feel sad I stop being sad and start being awesome instead, true story.

And finally just some good pictures

NYC! Part II

While in NYC Carolyn and I, true to form, wasted zero time hitting almost all of our desired stops on a whirlwind tour. Here's a run down of what we did:

Ohhh yeah a real-life New York pizza pie. Delicious! Brick oven baked, thin, crispy and oh so good. Funny enough we were so busy hitting the sights and sounds of NY that we really only ate one nice dinner out. Mostly food was an after thought on our way to the next amazing place. We did stop to enjoy a dog from a hot dog cart in Times Square.

Times Square. We see it every year on TV, crowed and being hosted by an ageless Dick Clark or Ryan Seacrest. We got off the under ground subway and follow the steady pulsing flow of people toward the exit. Half way up the stair the electricity of the scene above hits us. We emerged on to the street and witness day light at night. Law actually requires lights and signs of significant size and specifications to front every establishment in the area in and around times square. Walking through Times Square is a wonderful sensory overload. Giant screens show commericals, light up signs, new tickers, hot dog carts, street vendors, Broadway billboards, people, accents, honking. Every 20 feet the light cast on you changes in color and intensity. Better and much more positive energy than anything Ive seen in Vegas by far.
We stopped in at Oddities, the pawn shop that specializes in the weird and morbid collectibles. They have a reality TV show that is part sideshow, part antique roadshow. Items include real mummified head, human skeleton, creepy puppets, antique medical equipment, and taxidermy sloths.


We also made a pilgrimage to McGee's Pub, the bar that McClarens from our favorite show How I Met Your Mother is based on. Though not exactly as it is pictured on TV it was a thrill to look around and see the inspiration. Same booths, painting and front face. Also an awesome burger!



We took in not one but two Broadway Shows! Spiderman the musical was amazing. The music was catchy and the set design was crazy creative. Spiderman and The Green Goblin engaged in aerial battles over the audience in an impressive wire display. Spiderman landed in the aisles bounced of the walls and balcony! Its one of the most expensive Broadway shows ever produced but it was apparent that its creators were going for something special. And NO, no actors were injured during the show! We also checked out Mary Poppins! Great special effects and classic songs made it a treat. We scored buy one get one tickets that made it a sweat deal!


I did some exploring by myself on Saturday while Carolyn was at her conference and visited Wall Street,Grand Central Station, Ground Zero, the sight where Mr. Washington was sworn in as presidente numero uno.

Second only to the Empire State was the Statue of Liberty. Again as we took the ferry across the Hudson to the Statue I found myself mysteriously emotional. It only got worse as we began to walk around. Its smaller that you think in person but (cheese alert) its meaning is larger that you realize before being there.





Imagine fleeing your country leaving friends, family and home behind for what freedom promised. Imagine being on a cold crowed boat for weeks or months and finally seeing the universal beacon of freedom and knowing you made it. Imagine the terror, the excitement, the relief at seeing Miss Liberty and entering a new world. Having that symbol officially greet you and bestow upon you opportunity that everyone before you never had. Wow right!
How about a carriage ride through a snowy central park on a chilly winter night. Our driver was a South American Immigrant who showed us all the sights where movies were filmed. He pointed to a building: "Jew see dat billing, dats wur day film-ed de Ghost Bussers", he grinned and turned to us, "who is jew calling, ghost bussers!"


We also found the original soup Nazi kitchen. Visited a four story haunted house themed bar and restaurant. Toured the American Museum of Natural History. We also visited Rockefeller Plaza where NBC films all its shows. Waved at the Today show. Got some great NY bagels. I met R.L. Stine, the author of the Goosebumps books that were my favorite growing up. Witnessed a 10 year old street performer effortlessly play Beethoven bringing a bustling subway station to a near stand still. I walked, and I walked, and I walked. I think that's the best way to really experience places; at times just wander aimlessly.







This trip was a trip of a lifetime. We took in so much. In the city that never sleeps we didn't really much either. Just the way we like it. Though living in the relentless pace and constant stimulation of the city would be a lot to handle for me I would say of all the cities I've been too, I like New York the best. It is romantic, strangely beautiful, ridiculous, iconic, dirty, electric and loud. It is undoubtedly the greatest city in the world.

NYC!! Part I

As I looked out over the snow-capped high-rises and sleek sky-scrappers of New York City that seemed to stretch out infinitely I found myself unexpectedly moved. For a brief moment I felt a welling up in my throat. Standing atop the Empire state building was something I knew I wanted to do. After all,who wouldn't enjoy a 360 degree view of one the greatest cities in human history from 86 floors up. It should be on the top of a long list of things to do in NYC but what I didn't realize was the being there in that moment was something to do on a short list of life-time experiences. I thought of all the people I knew that had never seen this incredible sight, and those who never will. Those who know me know I'm not the biggest urban guy and tend to seek beauty in nature rather than human construction. Choosing a hike over a museum any time. But this was different. For me this view was no less impressive than the impossible rock formations of Arches National Park or the vast wilderness of Yosemite. To attempt to wrap your head around what you see before you: How can so many people live in this space and still function day to day? I can't imagine the amount of blood, sweat, and tears that went into each of the literally countless buildings jutting up to the sky before me. Each one unique in its structure, style, color, and era of birth. I could not tear my eyes away. In fact after nearly twenty minutes of staring in awe I had to move inside the observatory because I hadn't realized by nose was turning purple due to the cold. Soon has I warmed up Carolyn and I were back outside for more. Friends and family I beg you come here and see this, it will move you. I still don't fully understand my emotion in the moment but I think it comes from both an overwhelming sense of privilege and joy to have been fortunate to be here and see this with Carolyn. I was sad for those people of the world who either never make it here or have no desire to. You really ought to see it. The pictures don't do it justice but are none the less impressive.







Check-in soon for part II of our trip to NYC and for pete's sake leave me a comment, I like them