On Sunday we went to the Fort Worth Zoo. We had a good time, but it's hard to reflect on the actual quality of the zoo for the following reasons:
- It was unspeakably hot and humid.
- I've been to Disney's Animal Kingdom.
The Wikipedia article cites several mainstream publications that call it one of the "top" zoos in the country. To this I say the following:
- The world is a very big place.
- I've been to Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Did I mention that we had a good time? We did. (True, all it takes is a petting zoo to make me happy.) If you're not sure whether you want to go to the Fort Worth Zoo, I invite you to ask yourself the following questions:
- Did you visit the Fort Worth Zoo back in the old days of excess concrete? Would seeing a somewhat more "animal-centered" habitat system bring closure to those old wounds? Even if said system is haphazardly executed?
- Have you been to Disney's Animal Kingdom?
To the FWZ's credit, it is much better than the San Antonio Zoo (spit), the "Texas" Zoo in Victoria (which I only dislike for non-animal-related reasons, but let's not crack open that withered old chestnut), and the Las Vegas Zoo (aka the Southern Nevada Zoo), which wins as Nastiest Zoo Still Operating and might explain why some people have a low bar of expectations when it comes as zoos.
Here's a picture from my one trip to the Las Vegas Zoo, two-and-a-half years ago.
But, again, we had fun at the Fort Worth Zoo. Bring $5 for parking and a very reasonable $10.50 each for admission, and remember to ask for a map at the gate if you're into that, and you'll probably have fun, too.
The most impressive habitats are perhaps those in the outside part of "World of Primates." No wonder this is where journalists lauding the FWZ tend to focus their ooo's and ahhh's.
Unfortunately, I hate gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, baboons - you name it. Even at (sound holy gong) Animal Kingdom, I will run right past them, completely disinterested. I don't know why. I think they're too human-like? And they always seem to be in on some joke I don't get.
Mike is the same way. What were the odds of finding the other person on the planet who hates primate exhibits, doesn't want children, loves dwarf hamsters, will drive to three grocery stores at 1 a.m. looking for IBC Black Cherry soda made with sugar - THANKS FOR THE NEW ADDICTION, DAD! - and would rather play World of Warcraft than go drinking or rock climbing?
So, I guess you could say that the Fort Worth Zoo's "World of Primates" just brought us even closer together. Roxor.
The rest of my Zoo photos are not very exciting. We took this trip about one week before our new telephoto zoom lens finally, after waiting two months, arrived from Amazon, so - bummer.
(But on the plus side, we bought it at $15 less than the price in that link, plus, we only had to pay $95 thanks to the awesome reward system of the Amazon Visa card. *SMOOCH*)
(Oh, and so far, the lens is delightfully light and producing crisp photos even when fully extended and handheld. However, all I've taken photos of so far are the signs in the strip mall windows across the street. It's a shame about the $4.16/gal petch, or I think a day trip to the San Diego Zoo would be happening.)
("Petch" is Mike and his friend Jamie's affectionate term for "petrol." Try saying it - it's catchy... or even, petchy!)
What was I saying? Oh yeah - there are some more Zoo photos in my Flickr stream, but for this post I'm just going to share the highlight of the trip. The SUPREMELY fun part. The reason to visit the Fort Worth Zoo. (Although the other three people in our group might disagree, as they declined to try it.)
(I did get Mike to pose with the "prop," though.)
Yes, it's a seed stick! For feeding birds! Birds like this:
If you are Australian, you have to be like Mike now and say, "I can't believe they've made a zoo exhibit out of budgies." I guess this is like putting on a grackle exhibit would be to us.
(And I'd be totally cool with a grackle exhibit, if they'd look this happy when you whipped out the seed stick.)
(See the blue part of his beak? This is how we know it's a boy birdie.)
The child next to me also had a new friend:
Other birds watched, confident that their time in the meet-and-greet would come.
He sure was a keen little fellow:
So, this was really fun, and big kudos to the Fort Worth Zoo for enabling my constant need to interact personally with small, attractive creatures.
After the Zoo, we went home and Mike hurled himself into an immediate lie-down. I was wandering the house, decompressing, when Dad said, "Why don't we visit your (other) grandmother?" (She lives just down the road.) I said, "It's too hot and I just hurt my back somehow in the walk from the car to the front door." (That was weird. Thankfully t was better by the next evening.)
And who knows what Dad said, other than "let Mike sleep" (people who marry-in get all of the breaks), but it must have been full of special Dad powers because a few minutes later we were on our way.
I wanted to see my grandmother, but not with my stretch jeans sticking to my calves (I have the calves of a parodied Eastern European oxen-puller) and me about to flop over for want of a nap. In Siberia.
This is my aunt and uncle's cat, Capone. He's staying with Nonna until they get a new place. Wanna hear something weird? My aunt and uncle have this black-and-white cat, an all-black cat (Salem), and a blondish tabby (Sunshine). My parents also have a black-and-white cat (Spot), and all-black cat (currently called Sissy or Flopsy), and a blondish tabby (Bubba). That's slumber party-quality spooky, that is.
My grandmother's dog Penny (above) is always happy. Wag wag wiggle sniff lick lick lick.
Nonna's other dog, Max, is usually a bothered mess of barking. But! For the first time, he was not only sedate, but he let me pet his head at length. What? Is this even the same dog?
Nonna said he'd had his gallbladder removed. I can certainly understand how a lack of gallbladder attacks could change his whole outlook on life.
I don't know why my grandmother looks so cross here. Normally she's all smiles and jokes. I think she was talking about some tradesman being a dork. I think I get my customer service expectations and reactions from her side of the family.
Then we went home and I got my nap, now doubly needed because we did all of the visiting at my grandmother's on the back porch. Which is outside. I know.
Later that evening, Mike and my parents went out to Braum's for chocolate malts and hamburgers. I said I'd rather lie in bed hungry and quietly dying. I would, and I did. Zonk.
(As usual, Bubba was not impressed.)
Comments