Slacker.

There comes a time in every blogger's life where one of your readers says to your face and at your person, "Hey, when's the next post? Slacker!"

My moment was in Miami, just after a Social D concert in the most gorgeous decay of an Art Deco theater, just after asking a bountiful, beautiful hug of a friend, "So, really, WHY does Mike Ness hate Orlando so much?" And she says, "Who knows?! He'll go to Orlando tomorrow night and rag Miami! So when the h#!! is your next butterfly blog??"

After my lame "uh, er, I dunno, there's nuthin' goin' on...," there is, finally, after nearly two months of eggs, cats, and a lengthy pupation, something goin' on. My slacker of a pupating polydamas gold-rimmed tail-less swallowtail butterfly made an appearance today.

.

I found her empty chrysalis...

...and her-herself basking in afternoon sun on a wall of the cat house - Flora? Fauna? Who knows?!

But she was plump, pretty, and fully ready to get the h#!! out of the cat house. She posed for a few pics, then tolerated a few pokes of her wings - she wouldn't open up, but adjusted for a scenic side pose.



Within moments, she took off past my lens and rounded the porch a few times. Then high in the sky, landing in the neighbor's queen palm.

As dry as it's been weather-wise, there's plenty a'bloom in the garden, so maybe she'll make her way back for a few sips of nectar.

In the meantime, Flora, er, Fauna, stays cozy in her chrysalis hanging from the stick that is part of the cat house decor.


C'mon slacker, emerge already!