Happy Birthday + Merry Christmas to Me!

   The board that I ordered just arrived, and though these low-light pictures clearly don't do it justice, I am SO. FREAKING. EXCITED. It's even nicer than I remembered! I can't wait to not ride it!!!

Grocery store find

Please tell me they're not selling elephant meat! JUMBO, NOOO!!!

KC Zoo: the best of the rest

   One of the largest zoos in the US, the KC Zoo spans over 200 acres and is home to over 1000 animals. Today turned out to be a great day to visit, because many of them were outside enjoying the 75 degree, overcast weather. There was a lot to see! There were at least seven African elephants milling about:

The sea lion was sunning himself:

The lorikeets were scavenging for berries:

The porcupine was catching a nap:

The gibbon was enjoying a bird's-eye view:

Allyson's friend the crested screamer tried to eat her hand again:

The meerkats were on watch:

The duiker nosed our hands:

The ducks enjoyed a swim:

The lion watched her own version of "Food Network" (Allyson's quote):

While the other girls hung out:

The bat-eared fox were a big adorable pile:

The baby hippo is all grown up:

And here are some otters, from the other side:

   For more zoo photos, check out my earlier posts: St. Louis zoo, KC zoo Pints for Penguins, my previous trip to the KC zoo, & to the Tampa zoo.

Here comes the circus

My friend Andre's blog post about circus elephants just got picked up on the PETA site! Before you attend another circus that incorporates animals, please read it. Makes you think!

Clever

Kelley sent this in an email today. So funny! Wish I knew the illustrator.
Also, check out this adorable gray fox! They're about the size of a housecat.

KC Zoo: 2008

   Today was a delightful day at the zoo. And I nominate this cheerful sheep as the official greeter:

The fallow deer were also friendly: for the low price of some food pellets:

Speaking of domesticated animals, what the?! Are those shiba inu?

They're not, but they look like close cousins!

The lorikeet were bright & friendly:

And had their fill of sugar water, and also my shirt collar:

The meerkats must have been hungry too, because that is some good begging:

The male lion was lounging:

And the females were no less lazy:

Missing something?

   While I was at the glass & this gorilla was way in the back of the enclosure, he suddenly decided to charge right at me. Point taken: gorilla are freakin' FAST!

Ring-tailed lemurs, aka Sun Worshippers:

That tail makes me wish I had a lemur:

And this photo makes me wish I was a red panda:

   And this one makes me wish I was a kid again. Though, as a kid, I would have spent too much time choosing which animal I would ride...