Colin Powell A Meerkat Manor Fan

Ret. Gen. Colin Powell is apparently a Meerkat Manor fan. Check out this nugget from theAtlantic.com.
Powell said he was doing his best not to make news; he joked that he put a moratorium on political television in his house from 5pm to 10pm and watched Animal Planet instead. It seems that Colin Powell is a fan of Meerkat Manor.
So, who else is a fan of the 'Manor'. Please leave a name and link to a source. Let's start a list of famous people are fans of Animal Planet's
Meerkat Manor: The Next Generation".. :) Cheers!
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More in the media...
A director at Arizona State University recently won a big book award for his children's book about... meerkats. From ASU:
Conrad J. Storad's book “Meerkats” was the first children’s book to ever garner the Best Book Award from the Arizona Book Publishing Association.
“The judges liked it because it presented facts and interesting information in a fun and entertaining manner for young readers,” he says. “The photography in the book is also quite excellent.”
Storad says he watched many episodes of the popular Discovery Channel program “Meerkat Manor” in conducting background research for the book. The book is just one of more than 100 titles in the Early Bird Nature Book series published by the Lerner Publishing Group in Minneapolis, Minn. Storad has written many titles for that series, including four new ones: “Gila Monsters,” “Javelinas,” “Galapagos Tortoises” and “Piranha.”

Meerkat Manor: The Mark Of Zorro -- Males Gone Wild

It's like spring break in Daytona Beach or Cancuun.. Males rove the wild looking for vulnerable females... even if for the moment. I hate that my blog seems to have taken such a wierd sexual turn lately. But, geez.... so has Meerkat Manor. "As teens head off... to hit on the ladies" Stockard Channing says early on. A quintet of males sets out for adventure with Zorro in the lead. As the episode develops, he displays male domiancne like never before seen in the Manor.

Here's Zap2It's take. Antonio Banderas has nothing on our new Don Juan of Meerkat Manor: The Next Generation. Zorro most definitely makes his mark tonight. I swear, if the family-swapping keeps up the torrid pace it has, I’m gonna need to create one hell of a flow chart. ((MORE HERE))

It's like watching a month's worth of 'The Young and the Restless' in just 22 minutes... with the new cast and setting being meerkats in the Kalahari.. I've never seen so much wrangling and romping around... just for the pure sexual pleasure of it all. I wonder what kind of movie rating 'Meerkat' would receive in the theaters!. "It's gettin' wild up in here".....

Meerkat Manor: Trouble For Sophie

As I sat watching the last episode of Meerkat Manor (The Family Way), I'm left to wonder what really drives animals and mankind to be such sexualy beings... even at the great loss of the love of others. Sophie, defying injury, won the support of Rocket Dog... but couldn't resist the temptation of a rover. In short order, she was exiled from the Whiskers... all because she desired the sexual attention of a horny rover. The rover left her (even before any action) and so did her family. Those who loved her turned against her for her apparent lack of caring for the family. What a shame. I've blogged before about how this meerkat docu-drama mirrors human life so much. Sexual temptation and cheating can destroy so much.

A New Tribute To Rocket Dog

Check out this new tribute to Rocket Dog.

Here's the profile of Rocket Dog from Animal Planet.
Flower's death led to a fierce family feud and the breakup of the once mighty Whiskers.
Anarchy reigned as Rocket Dog and sister Maybelline battled it out for the right to wear their late mother's crown. As the new season begins, Rocket Dog has clawed her way to the top of an unruly Whiskers mob. She's ambitious but inexperienced and is struggling to keep her disorderly gang of 33 relatives under control.
Fortunately for her, dear old pop Zaphod has been hanging around to provide support. However, the one thing Rocket Dog needs even more than support... is a man. As dominant female she must start a family soon. And it seems the louder her biological clock ticks, the lower her standards become.

Reference To Meerkats on Huffington Post

There was an interesting reference to 'Meerkat Manor' in a political column on Huffington Post.
Call it whatever you want: arrogance, a jinx -- but let's be honest with ourselves -- this thing is over. I know, I know. "A lot can happen between now and November." I know that we Democrats are used to scurrying around like we're on Meerkat Manor, with a sky full of Neocon hawks overhead. I know that we've perfected the art of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. But can't you feel it in the smog-kissed air? Feel that this year is different? READ MORE HERE.
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Plus, WJLA (ABC 7 in Washington) gets into the mix with a column about Meerkat Manor. It looks as though there is a display issue with their story. But I'll add the link here in case they get it fixed.

Poor Seacrest...(the Meerkat not the 'American Idol' Host)

I've read that producers of 'Meerkat Manor: The Next Generation' plan to use some popular names for the little loveable creatures of the Kalahari this season. Tonight's focus was on 'Seacrest'. I doubt that the energetic host of 'American Idol' would ever take 30 minutes to watch such a show. But like the Ryan Seacrest of 'Idol'.. Seacrest the Meerkat got himself into a lot of trouble. It was far worse than the minor feuds between Simon and Seacrest. In this drama, Seacrest invaded Commando territory... not once but twice. At first, there were fights, then like Pauls hooking up with a contestant in the early seasons of 'Idol', Seacrest took on the leader of the Commandos... quite literally. Again... not once but twice. Imagine a young buck meerkat horny. If you want to see some meerkat sex... take a look.

From Kalahari Confidential: Sleeping with the enemy has proved successful for Seacrest, but before he heads on his merry way, Nikita wants one more romp for the road. This, of course, has nothing to do with emotions – it’s all business. Another go means another chance for her to get pregnant and bear pups to further ensure her status, because let’s be honest – Nikita’s favorite position? AUTHORITY!

Meantime how sad a post-Flower generation for Rocket Dog. She's having trouble leading. It seems that the trouble with Rocket Dog and the Whiskers may be a mirror image of this season for 'Meerkat Manor'. Either the show has lost some if it's ability to create and track great drama in the desert... or I have a serious case of "anticapointment". I wanted so much for this season to be even better than the last. I have struggled through the first three episodes... almost to the point of not making it "appointment TV". I want the drama and excitement of last season. Now.. it sees kind of ho-hum. SOS - Save Our Show before its too late.

REMEMBER TO GET YOUR MEERKAT RINGTONES BY CHECKING IN THE RIGHT COLUMN

Meerkat Manor: The Next Generation Episode 3 -- Rising Star

HERE'S A LOOK AT FRIDAY'S NEW EPISODE PLAN (Episode 3 from Animal Planet): Rocket Dog is having trouble keeping her clan in line. When the Commandos attack the Whiskers, rookie Seacrest is at the head of the counter-assault. But when Rocket Dog chickens out and calls the fleet back, Seacrest doesn't hear the call — and is left to face the Commandos alone. Twenty-five to one aren't good odds for Seacrest.
Rocket Dog's cowardice costs the Whiskers their burrow, while Maybelline has finally snagged a suitable home for the Aztec clan. Are the burrows turning on the rivalling sisters? Rocket Dog has a secret that could put her back on top.
EPISODE 2: All Manor of Love Zaphod and six of his males have deserted the Whiskers family and gone roving at the Aztec clan. Now Rocket Dog's problem is Maybelline's — dear old dad keeps chasing away the good men. When Zaphod ejects roving male Wilson from the Aztec clan, Wilson doesn't give up on finding a mate... he visits the Whiskers girls. But there's a big problem. While Rocket Dog is vying for Wilson's attention (and his pups), subordinate Sophie gets there first. If Sophie is pregnant, it spells trouble for Rocket Dog.
EPISODE 1: To Have and Have Not Since the tragic death of the manor's reigning monarch, Flower, the meerkats of the Kalahari Desert are in chaos. The Whiskers family divided; once-deserter Maybelline defied Rocket Dog's new leadership role in the Whiskers and started her own group, the Aztecs. With their archenemies, the Commandos, still knocking at the meerkats' burrow, both the Whiskers and the Aztecs find themselves weakened by the split.
Maybelline's control over the Aztecs is dwindling and her futile attempts at leadership have made a lot of her subordinates quit. Rocket Dog isn't faring much better. With a bigger group of meerkats under her command, her dominance is rocky. To ensure their leadership, both meerkats need to get pregnant. Too bad Zaphod, their endearing dad, keeps running off all the eligible males. Will the Next Generation uphold Flower's legacy and reunite the manor?

Would Your Like A Meerkat Of Your Own?

Animal Planet helps you find a meetkat exhibit close to you. Check out the link here.
"Adopt a meerkat".. at least symbolically.
And then this.. "buy a meerkat".
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Plus a new tribute to the Whiskers filed on YouTube.

Meerkat Manor Rap - You Gotta Love It!

Special Tributes To Meerkats of 'Meerkat Manor'

A tribute to Flower, Queen of the Kalahari...

The funeral for Flower...

A tribute to Zaphod the fighter...

A tribute to Youssarian...

A tribute to Kinkajou...

A tribute to Mozart...

A tribute to Shakespeare...

Meerkat Manor Season 3 on DVD; Two New Tributes To Flower

Meerkat Manor Season 3 DVD goes on sale tomorrow (June 17).
From TV.com Animal Planet's series Meerkat Manor follows the Whiskers, a family of meerkats, that struggles to survive in Africa's Kalahari Desert. The series was filmed over the course of a 10-year period for a Cambridge University study.
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Plus, check out these two new new tributes to Flower post on YouTube.

Why Was Bill Nighy Narrating The American Version? Episode 2 On Demand

OK... my mistake for missing the Friday 'Meerkat Manor: The Next Generation" (I was stuck on a plane while traveling). So, I decided to watch episode 2 of 'Meerkat Manor: The Next Generation' on... On Demand on my cable system. The first thing I was surprised about happened to be... yet another narrator. Stockard Channing replaced Sean Astin for this season. She narrated the debut episode last week. But in episode 2, Bill Nighy narrates the episode, at least in the On Demand version.

The Los Angeles Times has a bit of information about Nighy, but no real details about why he was narrating the American version On Demand of this particular episode.
The show is seen in 160 countries and has a separate narrator (Bill Nighy) and different character names in a British version. In the American version this year, characters, who are named by the researchers, have been named after celebrities and even TV hosts and reality show judges, such as Seacrest and Simon.
I posted the question on Kalahari Confidential to see if ther was an explanation. It could simply have been a one time thing... but still, very odd as the series gets a lot of mass media attention.

Stockard Channing on "The Late Late Show"

Stockard Channing admits that she got all brolen up with the death of Flower... just like many fans of the show. Channing appeared on "The Late Late Show"on CBS. this week She's not that much of a fan though yet... when she couldn't answer whether a meerkat is a rodent or a cat.

Friday's Episode: "All Manor"

Zap2It recaps Friday's episode.
Where have all the cowboys of the Kalahari gone? Rocket Dog and Maybelline have yet to find suitable mates, and as the opportunities dwindle, the ladies go all Sex and the City in trying to net the perfect male..... It continues here.

RATINGS For The First Meerkat Manor This Season; Plus Meerkats And The Emmys

According to the Washington Post... "Meerkat Manor." Fewer than half a million people caught the fourth- season premiere of Animal Planet's docudrama. For comparison's sake: Season 3's opener premiered to a crowd of nearly 800,000; Season 2 unveiled to an audience of 821,000; and more than 1 million viewers caught the very first episode of the series.
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Plus this from the LA Times about Meerkat Manor and an Emmy...
In today's L.A. Times issue of The Envelope, which chronicles the awards season, Tom O' Neil writes that the animal lovers' favorite soap opera-tinged reality show "Meerkat Manor" may take home its first Emmy nomination for nonfiction series:
"Despite media and viewer mega-hype, "Meerkat Manor" hasn't been nominated in this category yet, but it got a hefty push at the tail end of Emmy eligibility and the start of the voting period as Animal Planet ballyhooed a special heart-tugging movie version focusing on the animals' matriarch -- the formidable Flower, otherwise known as the "Kalahari Desert Rose."
"Meerkat Manor" has serious competition though. O' Neil's short list of favorites:
"American Masters""Biography""Deadliest Catch""Iconoclasts""The Jewish Americans""Meerkat Manor""This American Life"

ABC NEWS Nightline Profiles Meerkat Manor: The Next Generation

ABC NEWS Nightline profile 'Meerkat Manor: The Next Generation'. This is their story promoted on ABCNews.com. The story is fully owned by ABC (I'm posting it as a promotion for a show I love to watch!!!)
UPDATE: See the 'Nightline' piece here.

FROM ABC: Mournful songs like "Amazing Grace" and "Arms of the Angels" accompany literally dozens of YouTube videos made in honor of Flower, the famous meerkat matriarch. They were created by diehard fans of "Meerkat Manor," the TV show that made little Flower a star.
If you're familiar with the story, you know by now that Flower is dead. But if you don't know the plot, the show or the species at this point you are probably wondering, what's a meerkat?
Standing 12 inches tall and weighing less than 2 pounds, a meerkat looks a bit like a squirrel or a gopher. But they are not rodents. Meerkats belong to the mongoose family, which makes them closer to cats than rats. Native to South Africa, they dwell in burrows and typically live within family groups called mobs.
To find out why a TV show about these furry creatures is proving so addictive, "Nightline" ventured to the Fellow Earthlings Wildlife Center in Morongo Valley, Calif., to meet some meerkats up close and personal.
Pam Bennett-Wallberg, who runs the center, introduced us to two feisty meerkats, Rafikki and Kendi, and we fed the animals their favorite snack: chilled meal worms. Despite a few ferocious growls and barks, they were very cute.
Bennett-Wallberg has worked with meerkats for 22 years, but she credits their new star status to "Meerkat Manor." For her, it's no surprise they make for such good television. "They're just so cute," she said. "They're watchable. I mean, they have such big personalities."
Rivalries and Ambitions
Originally seen in Britain, "Meerkat Manor" is now in its fourth season and remains Animal Planet's biggest hit ever. The weekly episodes chronicle the running story of an extended meerkat community in a spot of desert in southern Africa called the Kalahari.
Members of the Whiskers family, led initially by the ill-fated Flower, work through their rivalries, their ambitions and their personality flaws. They compete for rank and the attraction of the opposite sex. They mate, they care for their young and they get in fights with their neighbors.
When a show like this is about humans, we call it a soap opera. Mick Kaczorowski, the show's U.S. executive producer, says that's precisely the idea behind "Meerkat Manor," which is scripted more like a soap opera than a traditional animal documentary. The executives weren't always convinced, however, that the show would bring in ratings.
"We didn't know that we would get enough interesting behavior out of an animal, that the stories would be complex enough, that anybody would be interested," Kaczorowski said. "But I think stylistically the approach we took, keeping it only to a half hour, giving the meerkats names that people could relate to, and the way that the stories unfolded, people got drawn to it like they do a soap opera."

LIVE BLOG -- Meerkat Manor: The Next Generation Debuts

As the fourth season opens, the theme is 'To Have and To Have Not' ((UPDATE: See other blogger reaction below.))
The show opens with Stockard Channing narrating the death of Flower, Maybelline's new Aztec and Rocket Dog now in charge of Flower's old group... plus the Commando foes are still a factor.

• Rocket Dog and Maybelline -- two sisters, both inexperienced leaders of their groups. Success or failure may be as simple as fate.
• The visuals are always breathtaking. They certainly are this season. Amazing.
• Rocket Dog remains in charge of the largest group.
• Something new... Zaphod now sports his own radio collar. He is a loyal supporter of his oldest daught Rocket Dog... He remains without a mate.
• Meantime, Maybelline's group dwindled during the winter. Some of her former members quit... and returned to Rocket Dog's group. Maybelline must now find a better burrow. There is trouble ahead though.
• COMMERCIAL BREAK -- QUICK THOUGHTS -- Channing is much better at narrating than I expected and saw in preview clips. The writing is as crisp as ever... and the visuals in the Kalahari are even more stunning than ever. A show that outlined the production of the recent movie talked about how the crew must gain the trust of the Meerkats to get those great shots.
• A snake awaits Maybelline's group as they venture out. The group no doubt recalls the death of Flower from a snake bit. The group tries to convince it go away. More danger arrives from overhead. The Aztecs retreat. Maybelline is off to a bad start.
• Meantime, Rocket Dog's group faces feasting trouble of their own. There are few scorpions... only ants. No one is picky though. Fights start because of the lack of food. Half of the family splits off once again. But Rocket Dog manages to regain control.
• Mitch spots an intruder... a mystery rover looking for the ladies. Rocket Dog returns the looks... knowing she needs a rover for new pups this year. But, Zaphod steps in and refuses to let his daughter hook up in the Kalahari with a roving male. He just won't allow his daughter to tramp it up in the Kalahari. Masterful rovers find a way still for another chance. Zaphod rallies the males in the group to chaase away poor Rocket Dog's only hope of dating right now.
• But the drive to move the rover away, leaves Zaphod separated from the family Rocket Dog's rover is gone... so is her brothers and her father.
• COMMERCIAL BREAK - QUICK THOUGHTS What's a girl to do? Yes, the Whisker's leader is horny and she needs to mate this season. How many dads step in to ruin the day... or protect the tribe? Time will tell in the series. There are so many aspects of this show that mirror human life. Learn more about the Meerkats from Animal Planet.com
• The third segment returns with Rocket Dog still alone. Her dad and brothers are still separated. Rocket Dog is torn. Her group must search for food. There is a science lesson here in the search for food.
• Rocket Dog has lost seven males already... Now there is a fight for food and she as the dominant female is losing.
• Meantime, Maybelline is burrow hunting for her new Aztec clan. She finds a great home... a home that is usually occupied by an ardvark. So, they must move on. Night is falling but they have no where to sleep.
• Back to the Whiskers, a long hard day ends. They are headed home to the burrow. But trouble looms with a new challenge in the bushes.
• COMMERCIAL BREAK -- QUICK THOUGHTS The plot is woven tightly in this episode with the growth of the two sisters into authority with their new tribes.
• The trouble appears to be no trouble at all. The trouble in the bushes turns out to be the rover who was chased away. He's back... still looking for the lady of the hosue, so Rocket Dog thought. The trouble is that the rover brought his family... the Commandos.
• Instead of love, Rocket Dog now faces an invasion. There's no Zaphod and few males to help her. A battle is almost out of the question. But... the drama begins. The battle in the Kalahari sparked fast heartbeats. Rocket Dog starts the counter attack... but then retreats. She can't afford to lose. Her group is now in flight... driven from their land by the Commandos. So much for the loving rover who wanted a few minutes with Rocket Dog.
• Back to Maybelline, the search for a home continues. Channing does a great delivery in narrating the home search here. A yellow mongoose calls this his home though. Murray challenges the mongoose. It's easy prey... and chased away.
• As great storytelling goes.. the theme becomes clear.
• Maybelline and her Aztec tribe ended the day with success -- a new home, after a very rough start.
• Rocket Dog and her Whiskers are now homeless. She lost a home and seven meerkats in just a matter of hours.

I mentioned in a previous post that this show is so well crafted that there is great love, drama, family, power, struggle, sex and battles. It’s worth your time… even if on TiVo or DVR. Do check out the video of "Behind the Burrow' at AnimalPlanet.com as well. It gives you great insight into the bit of land in the Kalahari that has sparked so much interest around the world. Even without Flower, there is still great drama in 'Meerkat Manor: The Next Generation'. The next new show airs next Friday night. Until then, show some love for Meerkat Manor. Add your comments about the debut of the new show below. And, get your Meerkat ringtones by clickng in the right column.

SATURDAY MORNING UPDATE: Here are some other blogger reactions to the debut.
FROM CHRIS CARLISLE: Have to say, I wasn’t impressed with the start of season 4. This was a pretty typical do-nothing episode with very little action. As for the narration, let’s just say I am so far unimpressed. The voice I can get used to (bring back Samwise!), but the cheesy-overly dramatic intonations I could do without. It seems that Animal Planet has dialed up the anthropomorphism this season.
FROM ZAP2IT: With nightfall coming fast, Maybelline finds yet another seemingly vacant burrow. Aside from the smell and a quick visit from Ty Pennington, it seems perfect for the Aztecs. It appears that once again, she’s managed to find another not-so-vacant home as a mongoose returns to find some unwelcome guests.

As I leave you this week, I;ll post the tribute to Rocket Dog again. As you may have read, there is trouble for Rocket Dog. A real life accident claimed her life on April 28th of this year. It was not mentioned in the show as production for the year had already completed. Her tribute will come next season.

'Meerkat Manor: The Next Generation' Debuts Tonight From The Kalahari

The night for ‘Meerkat’ fans has arrived. “Meerkat Manor: The Next Generation” debuts tonight (Friday) at 9pm (EST) on Animal Planet. The debut of the new show comes after a lot of news for the ‘Meerkats. If you've never watched this docu-soap opera, consider these themes as your driving force to watch, TiVo or DVR it Friday: family, power, struggle, drama, love, sex, betrayal, danger, fear, politics, mother nature's fury and an extraordinary production concept. So... what else can I say to help convince you to watch?

SPOILER ALERT: One of their own died in April 28… while crossing the road in the Kalahari. Rocket Dog was the victim. It will not be mentioned in this season of the show because production had already completed. We will see the drama next season.

• Sean Astin is being replaced by Stockard Channing as narrator.
  WHY WAS ASTIN LET GO? From the Rocky Mountain Nerws: "We just decided that since we were starting fresh, with a new generation, that we would look at everything. Sean was great, but he was part of the Flower era. We thought, we've got the next generation, let's look for someone new to tell the story. We thought it would be interesting to hear it from a female's perspective. The way she tells the story is very different. The stories that unfold are a lot funnier this year, and only in a way that a female could tell it. You've got three females battling it out in the Kalahari, with a lot of other females. It makes a point of why the next generation is different." If you missed it, Whoopi Goldberg narrated the movie. Astin remains the best of the three in my humble Meerkat Manor-loving opinion.
• The new series debuts after a great movie last week that celebrated the life of Flower, the once great leader of the Whisker
• Flower died in the ls.ast series after a snake bite. It was a very sad time for fans of the series.
• Watch for a LIVE BLOG of the show's debut Friday night. Come back here while you watch,

There is quite a bit of media coverage today about the Meerkat premiere. Check out the coverage. Washington Post: Death Knocks (Again) At 'Meerkat Manor'...Sun-Sentinel.com: Gen X Meerkats...Los Angeles Times: Meerkat Stars Enter The Next Generation of Drama...Los Angeles Times: Meerkat Preview...Reality TV: Meerkat Preview

REMEMBER TO GET YOUR MEERKAT RING TONES BY CLICKING ON THE COLUMN TO THE RIGHT

"Meerkat Manor" Star Killed In Car Accident – BREAKING MEERKAT NEWS THIS WEEK

Wow… this is a shocker that was rumored and discussed in the blogosphere… but now confirmed. Animal Planet has confirmed (and it was reported in the LA Times and other papers) that a star of ‘Meerkat Manor: The Next Generation’ has been killed in a car accident. Animal Planet is not releasing the name of the meerkat killed. But, bloggers have... and a Youtube user has prepared a great tribute to.... Rocket Dog.
RD was amazing. She will be missed. Apparently RD was crossing a road in April 28 and struck and killed. Production has already completed for the season… so the death will not be mentioned in this iteration of the series which debuts tomorrow night. Animal Plant confirms they will acknowledge the death in the next season. They know which meerkat died because each is uniquely tagged. Other bloggers have blamed the death on a researcher in the ongoing Kalahari project. But the driver is unknown. "In the Kalahari, trucks just keep going. So we don't know whose truck it was," spokesperson for Animal Plant said.

If you watch the show, crossing the road is a major event for the 6-inch meerkats. Crossing the road in the Kalahari signifies a major life change in the world of the meerkats. They instinctively know it is a dangerous venture. You can find this highlighted in the recent movie that celebrated the life of the meerkats great leader Flower. She was killed during the last series by a snake’s attack.

Look for live blogging tomorrow night as the show airs… AND DON’T FORGET YOU GET YOUR MEERKAT RINGTONES BY CLICKING IN THE RIGHT COLUMN.

Meerkat Manor: The Next Generation -- WATCH AN EXCLUSIVE TWO MINUTE CLIP OF THE FIRST EPISODE

Here is the broadcast schedule for Meerkat Manner: The Next Generation in June.
Jun 06,
9:00 pm
To Have and To Have Not
Maybelline's control over the Aztecs is dwindling and her futile
Watch a two minute clips of that first episode here.

Jun 06,
9:30 pm
To Have and To Have Not
Maybelline's control over the Aztecs is dwindling and her futile
Jun 07,
1:00 am
To Have and To Have Not
Maybelline's control over the Aztecs is dwindling and her futile
Jun 07,
1:30 am
To Have and To Have Not
Maybelline's control over the Aztecs is dwindling and her futile
Jun 07,
5:00 am
To Have and To Have Not
Maybelline's control over the Aztecs is dwindling and her futile

REMEMBER TO GET YOU MEERKAT RING TONES BY CLICKING IN THE RIGHT COLUMN