Today\’s letter in the A to Z Blog Challenge is \”C,\” for Chicago, and crayons, and calisthenics.  Catherine, cranberries, chocolate, cocoa, and coffee. Coffee, and coffee, and coffee, and …

Ahem, where was I?

Camels!

As you walk down the path from the North Gate of the Brookfield Zoo, and come around to the right between the butterfly tent and one of the beer sheds, you come to the world-famous Bactrian Camels.  They have two humps.  A one-humped camel is called a dromedary.

And now, for something completely different:  a short limerick, by Ogden Nash:

A one \”L\” lama is a priest.

A two \”L\” llama is a beast.

But I would bet my pink pajama

There\’s no such thing as a three \”L\” lllama.

My favorite part about that poem is the footnote from Mr. Nash:  \”I received the following response from a reader:  \’a three \”L\” lllama is a conflagration.\’  To which I say, \’Pooh.\’\”

I adore Mr. Nash.

(If that doesn\’t make sense, say \”three \’L\’ lllama\” out loud and think New York City.)

Anyway, back to our regularly scheduled program:

There are two camels in the enclosure, and I read that they are both female.

The best part?

One is named Ray-Ray.

Rachel Wilder, my beloved coauthor, has a nickname.  Wray Wray.

Wait, what?

Wray Wray.  You know, like the camel.

Um…

Of course it\’s a good idea!  She has a mascot now!

I\’m not so sure this is a good idea…

I just won\’t tell her then.

It\’s your funeral.

Why am I carrying on an imaginary conversation with a camel??

Stay tuned tomorrow for Dogs – of the African Wild Variety.

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Thank you for joining me for the A-Z Blog Challenge.  If you’re blogging in the challenge, please leave me a link so I can come visit you too.  If you have a moment, please check out these other fine blogs:

My theme on my Knoontime Knitting craft blog is Letterforms In Nature.  I’ll be exploring my daily round, looking for shapes in the natural world and build environment.

The theme at Noon & Wilder is The A To Z of Chicago.  Since I live here in the city and we have our Chicagoland Shifters based here, I figured I’d share a window into the city, Noon & Wilder style.

The Nice Girls Writing Naughty have a new home, and we’re blogging in the challenge again this year.  Throughout the month you’ll be hearing from each of the Nice Girls, and during the RT Booklovers Convention from April 12th to the 17th, you’ll be getting live convention reports.  Join the conversation!

The Writer Zen Garden’s brand new website is up and running, and we’re bringing you posts from me, Noony; my partner in crime, Rachel Wilder (the Wilder half of Noon & Wilder); the talented Darla M. Sands – a blogger in her own right, see below; as well as Grace Kahlo, Evey Brown, and author Tina Holland.  Check it out!

My friends who are participating in the challenge (and if you’re not on this list, tell me and I’ll add you!):

• Darla M. Sands, Awakening Dreams and Conquering Nightmares with a Pen
• Kari Trenten, The Cauldron of Eternal Inspiration

Write on, and Happy Blogging!