Have you learned anything today?

   I've been reading Gretchen Rubin's 'The Happiness Project', and pondering and planning my own project. One of the aspects of happiness she discusses early on in the book is the idea of growth. For me at the moment, this seems synonymous with learning. So, to help myself, and possibly to amuse or edify some of you, here is a list of things I have learned so far today:

• Indian Runner ducks are RIDICULOUS looking.
• Beatrix Potter's entire body of work was probably inspired by this picture:
• My niece Ellie says 'I can't believe it!' a lot (I don't see her very often).
• She says that, but she believed me immediately and completely when I told her that some monkeys had put her missing lunchbox up the tree in the garden.
• My sister does not tidy her bedroom. Ever.
• When you're as short as I am, the couch is fine for sleeping on. 
• 5 1/2 hours is not enough sleep.
• Some cats play fetch - what's great is when he remembers he's a cat and not a dog JUST before returning the thrown object to you, so he dumps it just out of your reach instead of bringing it back to you. Every time.  
• The newer 'Where's Wally' books are full of visual puns, picture of 'upsetting the apple cart', anyone?
• The patches of hardened skin, usually infested with whale lice and barnacles, on the heads of Right whales are called callosities. Great word!
• The Fin whale's lower jaw has an asymmetrical colour pattern - white on the right side and dark on the left. 
• Angel names are fantastic - Azrael, Hael, Raphael, Achaiah.
• A lady in my book club has the Hebew equivalent of my name, Yafa. 
• There is a species of Japanese snail which can shed part of its foot to escape from predators, in the same way that some lizards do. 

That's all I can think of right now, maybe I'll remember some more (or learn some more) later!