Brenda

University of Minnesota Alum, MN Wild fan, book lover, scientist, Democrat.

[National Zoo @NationalZoo]

🐼💨 Zoom into National Panda Day with Bao Li! Our 3-year-old giant panda's prowess for sliding, tumbling and somersaulting scores a perfect 🔟 across the board. 📹 Tune in to the Giant Panda Cam, sponsored by @Boeing, to see what adorable acrobatics he's up to today: https://t.co/bJBrQNJluI. #DCPandas
. . .
Video description: Giant panda Bao Li runs and rolls through his yard, climbs trees, slides down branches and chases treat-dispensing toys.

[Como Zoo @ComoZoo]

🦧🎉 Markisa, our beautiful Sumatran orangutan, turns 38 today! A perfect mother & an incredible ambassador for her species, she inspires us daily. Join us in celebrating this amazing lady by dropping a 🦧 in the replies! #HappyBirthdayMarkisa #ComoZoo #SumatranOrangutan

[Como Zoo @ComoZoo]

🎉🦁 Happy 9th Birthday to Mumford, our big, strong, and incredibly handsome lion! Since joining us in 2019 from the @PuebloZoo, he's become a visitor favorite with his majestic roar echoing across Como. Stop by and celebrate with him today! 🦁💛 #HappyBirthdayMumford #ComoZoo

[Brenda @dieth001]

@nbcwashington @DodgerAmes We’ll have to look for the M&M’s on Tuesday!!

[Como Zoo @ComoZoo]

Santa didn’t stand a chance! 🎁 🐻‍❄️

📷: Zookeeper Allison

[Como Zoo @ComoZoo]

Neil, Nan, and Kulu enjoying some pre-holiday festivities!

📷: Zookeepers Kelley and Elisabet

[Como Zoo @ComoZoo]

Could he be any more handsome?! #Caturday

📷: Zookeeper Jill

[Como Zoo @ComoZoo]

Mid-week slump? Marisa the tiger cub is here to make you smile! 🐯✨While the cubs are behind the scenes, warm up in our Tropical Encounters exhibit 10-4 daily. 🌿 #ComoZoo #MyMMC

[Como Zoo @ComoZoo]

North America’s oldest male polar bear, Neil, turned 29 on Dec. 9, while Nan celebrated her 30th, tying as one of the oldest females! Their party included cupcakes, decorated barrels, and fun. 5yo Kulu kept the party going, playing with the barrels! 🎉
https://t.co/3e6VLC9UYf

[Brenda @dieth001]

@mypandatours *Bluesky.

[Brenda @dieth001]

@mypandatours Would you please consider creating a Bkuesky account? Those of us abandoning this awful platform would like to know about your tours. Thank you.

[Roger Federer @rogerfederer]

Vamos, @RafaelNadal!

As you get ready to graduate from tennis, I’ve got a few things to share before I maybe get emotional.

Let’s start with the obvious: you beat me—a lot. More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in ways no one else could. On clay, it felt like I was stepping into your backyard, and you made me work harder than I ever thought I could just to hold my ground. You made me reimagine my game—even going so far as to change the size of my racquet head, hoping for any edge.

I’m not a very superstitious person, but you took it to the next level. Your whole process. All those rituals. Assembling your water bottles like toy soldiers in formation, fixing your hair, adjusting your underwear... All of it with the highest intensity. Secretly, I kind of loved the whole thing. Because it was so unique—it was so you.

And you know what, Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more. 

OK, maybe not at first. After the 2004 Australian Open, I achieved the #1 ranking for the first time. I thought I was on top of the world. And I was—until two months later, when you walked on the court in Miami in your red sleeveless shirt, showing off those biceps, and you beat me convincingly. All that buzz I’d been hearing about you—about this amazing young player from Mallorca, a generational talent, probably going to win a major someday—it wasn’t just hype.

We were both at the start of our journey and it’s one we ended up taking together. Twenty years later, Rafa, I have to say: What an incredible run you’ve had. Including 14 French Opens—historic! You made Spain proud... you made the whole tennis world proud.

I keep thinking about the memories we’ve shared. Promoting the sport together. Playing that match on half-grass, half-clay. Breaking the all-time attendance record by playing in front of more than 50,000 fans in Cape Town, South Africa. Always cracking each other up. Wearing each other out on the court and then, sometimes, almost literally having to hold each other up during trophy ceremonies.

I’m still grateful you invited me to Mallorca to help launch the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2016. Actually, I kind of invited myself. I knew you were too polite to insist on me being there, but I didn’t want to miss it. You have always been a role model for kids around the world, and Mirka and I are so glad that our children have all trained at your academies. They had a blast and learned so much—like thousands of other young players. Although I always worried my kids would come home playing tennis as lefties.

And then there was London—the Laver Cup in 2022. My final match. It meant everything to me that you were there by my side—not as my rival but as my doubles partner. Sharing the court with you that night, and sharing those tears, will forever be one of the most special moments of my career.

Rafa, I know you’re focused on the last stretch of your epic career. We will talk when it’s done. For now, I just want to congratulate your family and team, who all played a massive role in your success. And I want you to know that your old friend is always cheering for you, and will be cheering just as loud for everything you do next.

Rafa that!

Best always, your fan, 

Roger

[Brenda @dieth001]

Zahra and Beebs @DodgerAmes 📸 @sukiyaki_beef
A fun day with friends at the zoo!

[Como Zoo @ComoZoo]

🥒 Happy (belated) National Pickle Day!
Yesterday, Kulu the polar bear celebrated with a giant pickle! Watch him play, splash, and tumble with his new enrichment toy in this video that’s sure to dill-light your day! #PolarBearPlay #PickleDay #ComoZoo
📷: Zookeeper Kelley

[Brenda @dieth001]

@DodgerAmes @CharmCityPanda @PookieDigi4Ever @AbigailGerhardt @Linty64 @DCnativepanda @LoveofPandas1 @NormaValentini @GoofballAnimals @Sdaniels11979 @MichaeFleetwood @aleftie @kathybowler This is terrific! The size difference between Baraka and Zahra is really something. Can’t wait to see them.

[Liz Cheney @Liz_Cheney]

For her.
For all our daughters and sons.
For America. 🇺🇸

[Letters from Leo @Catholic4Harris]

Retweet if you’re a Catholic supporting @KamalaHarris to be the 47th president of the United States.

[Como Zoo @ComoZoo]

🎉 Happy 39th Birthday to Schroeder, our gentle giant silverback! 🎂 Don’t let his “grumpy” look fool you—that’s just his relaxed face! Here’s to a day full of treats for Como’s calmest, biggest gorilla. 🖤 #HappyBirthdaySchroeder #ComoZoo #GentleGiant 🦍

[Minnesota DFL @MinnesotaDFL]

Today marks 22 years since we lost Senator Paul Wellstone, his wife Sheila, their daughter Marcia, and dedicated members of his campaign team in a tragic crash. Decades later, his timeless motto that "We all do better when we all do better" is still our party's North Star.

[Amy Klobuchar @amyklobuchar]

Twenty-two years ago, we lost some dear friends - Paul & Sheila Wellstone, their daughter Marcia, and extraordinary staffers Mary, Tom, and Will. Today serves as a reminder of the legacy he left behind, "We all do better when we all do better."