Okay, we're the first to admit that sometimes we don't get the whole Farmville thing.  I mean, yeah, it's a cute game, but something that obsession-inducing should at least feature hobbits, Nazis or vampires, don't you think?  But the masses of Facebook fans have spoken--Farmville is a BIG DEAL.  And since we're publishing a book whose stories (at least some of the time) take place on a farm, Farmville is a natural ally, sort of like pigs and chickens (you'll have to read the book to get that one). 

So we're proud to announce the first-ever "The Pet Who Loves Me" photo contest!  Go to the Facebook fan page for "The Chimp Who Loved Me" and upload your favorite photo of your pet.  Once a day, we'll pick the best photo and send the winner a $10 gift card for Farmville.  How cool is that?  The contest ends Sept. 12, so get on it.  

I am going to be honest and say that a little of the thrill of the ten little piggies is started to wear off. Here's the thing: both Maria (mummy pig) and I are constantly trying to keep track of the little buggers. From a large animal predator standpoint, we have to keep a close eye out for Brer Fox who would love to supplement his organic diet with some fresh pork chops. Then there are the eagles that constantly hover overhead, can carry away little Rose or her siblings in just a few seconds. I don't know if Maria can count, and as sort of a surrogate granny I find myself constantly trying to keep track.

It hasn't helped that they have learned how to do the Great Pig Escape. You would swear that the pigpen is as tight as a nail in a coffin, but somehow they squeeze and wiggle their way to freedom and the farm becomes their playground. The damned things are so quick that I am never sure if I have counted the same one twice. Ahhh! Very frustrating. But it has taught me that pigs have an amzing vocabulary. Maria has certain grunty noises for feeding, watering, playtime, reprimands and is an outstanding mother in her ability to referee piglet squabbles.

We've started to name the pigs. So far we have Mountbatten, Rose and Peggy Sue. Before too long, we're going to have a live "Pig Cam" in their pen and we'll hold a "Name That Pig" contest so readers can help us name the other seven. Until then, I have to chase some swine.

Runt Club

Runt Club

Every litter of pigs has its runts, who are always the fastest and cutest of the bunch. Here are Maria's runts in action!

Every litter of pigs has its runts, who are always the fastest and cutest of the bunch.  Here are Maria's runts in action!

Piggy Yard Work

Piggy Yard Work

The pigs digging up my lawn!

Pigs, regardless of age, are incredible rooters and can furrow a piece of ground in no time looking for all manner of yummies.  Maria's offspring waste no time in helping Annie aerate her front yard.

We were saddened this week to learn of the sudden death of author Jim Cole, who passed in his sleep on July 25 at the age of 60.  Jim was a grizzly bear expert and self-taught naturalist who had become a great friend to both of us: first to Tim, who co-authored his book, Blindsided, which came out in June of 2010, and then to Annie, who had him as a guest on All Paws Pet Talk, where he shared the incredible story of surviving his second grizzly bear mauling in 2007.  

Jim was a passionate, funny baseball fanatic who gave up a thriving real estate career nearly 20 years ago to move to Montana and spend the rest of his life living near the wilderness.  He amazed everyone, including us, with his fearlessness and calm around grizzly bears, which were his greatest source of fascination and his life's work.  Hiking more than 2500 miles in a typical year within Yellowstone, Glacier National Park and Alaska, Jim would return with incredible photos and observations of the largest carnivores in North America.  Even after his near-fatal mauling, his love for these creatures did not wane a bit.  Hence the subtitle of his book: "Surviving a Grizzly Attack and Still Loving the Great Bear."

So it was shocking and painful to hear of his abrupt end.  Jim had cardiac arrhythmia that required a simple surgical procedure a few years ago, and one can only assume that for a man as fit as he was, sudden cardiac arrest my have been the cause of death.  But that doesn't matter in the end.  What does matter is that a good, kind, passionate and dedicated man walked among us and now walks no more.  But sad as we are, we don't mourn Jim Cole.  He did something few people ever do: he lived exactly the life that he dreamed about.  We should all be so lucky.

Vaya con dios, Jim.  If you'd like to find out more about Jim's book, Blindsided, go to his website. 

Jim Cole on the Today Show 6-8-10

Jim Cole on the Today Show 6-8-10

Our good friend Jim Cole, author of "Blindsided," passed away at the age of 60. Tim co-wrote his book and this was him appearing with Matt Lauer on the day the book came out. He was a wonderful man and will be missed.

From the WTF file comes a story from Scotland, where a brewery is selling a blonde ale packaged in—we are not making this up—a bottle that's been stuffed in the open-mouthed, stuffed carcass of a dead animal, like a squirrel.  Now, Lord knows we've both been known to tip back our fair share of malted yeast beverage, fermented grape juice and other tipples, but huh?  This buries the needle on the What The Hell Were You Thinking O-Meter. 

It gets stranger, if that's possible.  The beer is called The End of History, it's 55 percent alcohol (that's 110 proof; for perspective, Maker's Mark is 80 proof) and it costs $770 PER BOTTLE!  Let us get this straight: you want us to pay the cost of a coach ticket to Nassau for a beer served in the skin of an eviscerated marmot, one bottle of which will likely leave us passed out in a pool of our own vomit?  Capitalism has officially gone insane...but it's a hell of a PR ploy.  Read about the brewery here, if you dare.