<p>Sometimes an animal journeys with me with whom I have less history, today was one of those days. The reason in this particular case stems from a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personally_identifiable_information">PII</a> incident which I can’t divulge. Nonetheless, we still ventured out.</p>

<p>I look to my left at a fellow cyclist stretching along the railing as I pull the sheep from my bag and secure them for the shot.</p>

<p>The animals arrive pre-packaged now, nestled in their stuff sack, so I wasn’t exactly sure who made the trip this morning.</p>

<p>“There’s the polar bear. The polar bear is on the big boat. The polar bear is eating.”</p>

<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curse_of_the_Billy_Goat">Billy the Goat</a>, fittingly (<em>let’s see: the Badgers lost <strong>twice</strong> in a row with leads in the fourth quarter and the Cubs and White Sox got bounced from the playoffs (go Red Sox!)</em>), traveled today on the big boat.</p>

<p>I was pretty excited today when my daughter presented both ZoZo and Amélie for a trip on the big boat. I’m pretty fond of the letter Z and zebras, less so the animal and more so the football official, my dad having officiated football throughout most of my childhood and the memories I have thereof. I knew just where I was going.</p>

<p>My daughter took no chances on forgetting this morning, booking down the hallway before I even opened the door to the garage. So while <a href="/2008/09/24/animals-boats-ideas/">Gus & Balsmic</a>, <a href="/2008/09/25/one-more-animal/">Bernard</a>, <a href="/2008/09/26/baby-ralphs-turn/">Baby Ralph</a>, <a href="/2008/09/29/espresso-mountains-skyline-monkey/">Curious George</a> and <a href="/2008/09/30/bikes-pigs-pierre/">Pierre</a> stayed at home I was joined by Miriam, my wife’s…

<p>Of all my daughter’s animals, I’m most fond of Pierre. He’s quiet, cute and small enough to fit in my backpack, important because I opted to ride my road bike today on what might be one of the last warm, dry days of the year. Because I had limited space, this was the first time I interfered with my daughter’s wishes, choosing not to take Gus – maybe tomorrow buddy.</p>

<p>No animals were harmed in the making of this Art – but it was close.</p>

<p>Today Baby Ralph traveled on the big boat to be photographed from our office’s rooftop deck.</p>