Zoo Story
So on Friday morning (as kind of a pre-Father's-Day thingie), Emma and I went to the zoo with Klund and his brood, Scooter and his daughter, and Scooter's wife Jen, who was presumably along to make sure the whole pre-Father's-Day thing didn't end up as a drunken poker game. (She did a very effective job.)Here you can see most of the gang, waiting for the dolphin show to start. Notice that Kevin has rather pronounced circles under his eyes. This is either the result of (a) bad lighting, (b) Kevin's longstanding crack addiction, or (c) being stay-at-home dad to four young children. You be the judge:
Emma and Koleman wait patiently -- and then it's time for Semo and Chinook to strut their stuff.
After the show, we went below to Discovery Bay. There Koleman attempted to touch a pufferfish. Never touch a pufferfish, Koleman. (Fortunately, there was an invisible force field in the way.)
Then we headed out for the Tropics Trail. Scooter, Jen and Eryn are in the background, Kevin and Koleman (and the top of Emma's head) in the foreground, and two Very Mysterious People have somehow become the center of attention.
On the Tropics Trail: at the Minnesota Zoo, extinct animals are a major attraction. I don't quite understand it myself.
Lemurs! They're delicious!
Komodo Dragons! They'd eat lemurs if they could!
This is a photograph of a tree kangaroo. It's a terrible photo, probably because -- let's be honest -- there's no such thing as a tree kangaroo. This is yet another bit of fun the Aussies are having at our expense. "We already sent 'em Paul Hogan; what else can we do?" "Oh, I know! 'Tree kangaroos!'" "Snort!"
A tapir -- named for the way it gets narrower toward its nose.
Emma and Koleman see who can hold his/her breath the longest in the tropical fish pond. (Emma has brought along a balloon full of air; she's clearly cheating, but Koleman, gentleman that he is, didn't call her on it.)
Another Komodo Dragon! This is what happens to them if you seal them in an airtight exhibit. If you're ever in danger of being eaten by a Komodo Dragon (for example, if you're visiting the Lesser Sunda Islands, inexplicably dressed as a lemur), remember this little trick.
On our way to the Minnesota Trail, where we get to see living things that we normally only see as road kill.
Okay, I lied about the "living things" part.
Here's a fox. There was probably a sign advising me in no uncertain terms not to use a flash, but the room was so dark I couldn't see it. They really should illuminate those things better.
The gang stops to ponder what happened to Eli. Did anyone see him after the Komodo Dragon? Wasn't he wearing that lemur mask from the gift shop?
Beaver Kits: build your own beaver! Insert your own joke!
The State Bird of Iowa (or so I hear).
posted by MeanMrMustard @ 3:35 PM
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