Abby is just beginning to “toddle,” carefully moving around the room from place to place. While slightly behind, Grace has been making good progress and I expect her to be following Abby around soon.

[See the video] (it will probably take a minute to load…)

For the second day in a row, the Indiana State Fair Train has collided with a vehicle. Luckily, no one has been injured in either case and police are cautioning people to be more careful at crossings. This inattention is exacerbated by the fact that the train (which is a rolling history museum) only operates one month out of the year, so people become accustomed to those tracks going unused.

The accident yesterday happened when a man driving a pickup was taking a short cut through an alley. He described the accident like this:

“I glanced both ways and then turned my attention back to avoiding the potholes, because some of them are pretty big there. And, of course, the front of the train is painted black, so I just didn’t see it.”

Hmmm… perhaps I’m being overly critical, but does this sound like a quote for someone saying, “I screwed up” or “Look what they did to me”?

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?

“Hold still,” I said to Jack, “you have an eyelash on your cheek.”

“Can I make a wish?” he asked.

“Sure you can,” I replied, holding the eyelash before him.

He thought for a second and then said, “I wish I could eat some ketchup,” and blew the eyelash off my fingertip.

I think it’s interesting when things happen that we struggle to explain. Regardless of your world views, religious views, or political views, this is one of those stories that defies explanation.

Heavy rains had washed a family of hippos down the river and into the ocean off the coast of Africa. Residents tried in vain to get the hippos to move back up the estuary. When the Tsunami hit, only one hippo survived: a one-year-old, stranded on the reef, who later became known as Owen.

After his rescue from the sea, Owen was taken to Lafarge Eco Systems. When he was released in Haller Park, Owen immediately ran to the safety of a 130-year-old giant tortoise named Mzee. Mzee quickly came to terms with his new friend and even returned signs of affection. And they remain close, despite the fact that Owen is rapidly growing into a thousand-pound adult hippo.

A one-year-old mammal taking comfort with a 130-year-old reptile, and both of them respond in kind. Amazing.

For the complete story, and to see more amazing photographs, download the Owen & Mzee Story.

For additional information, see the LaFarge Eco Systems blog.