Jun
18
If you’re here for the Faith and Politics Forum, come back tomorrow–same time, same place. I’m going to pose some of the provocative questions that have been raised the past couple days. If you have a question you’d like to ask the class, I’d be happy to add it to the mix. Fire away!
If you’re here because you love zoos (or at least put up with my current obsession with them), here we go!
First up–New Zoo Plans. So, we have 15 zoos left. The original plan was a 7-Zoo Great Lakes tour, 4-Zoo Central U.S. tour, 4-Zoo West Coast tour, 1 Sea World, and a party at Zoo #52, the Columbus Zoo, on August 1.
A month or so ago Gabe and I decided we wanted to do 52 True Zoos and count the Sea Worlds as bonuses (they”re technically aquariums), so… 52 Zoos + 3 Sea Worlds in 52 Weeks. Such a nice ring to it, eh? (the book won’t actually be called that) So, we had to add 3 zoos to our list, and we picked some smaller, not-so-great zoos close to home.
ANYWAY, as we were driving home from Maryland Sunday, I started thinking… Plane tickets cost an awful lot of money… Wouldn’t it be cool to say that we drove to all 52 zoos? There’s a big empty space on our Zoo Map between Kansas and California… Wouldn’t it be cool to go to some zoos in Colorado and Arizona? It’s already 14 hours to Wichita… What’s 20 more hours to San Diego? There are some pretty cool zoos on the way…
So, we have a New Zoo Plan. Next week, we’ll do 3 zoos in MI and IL. Then sometime between July 8 and 24, we’ll do an 11-zoo tour from St. Louis to San Diego. I don’t know the order. I don’t know who all we’re staying with. But here are the cities we’ll be hitting. St. Louis, Kansas City, Omaha, Wichita, Denver, Phoenix, Colorado Springs, Salt Lake City, San Diego (2), Los Angeles. WHEW.
And we have no stinking idea how in the world we’re going to do it. Because we’re not. GOD IS. He has flabbergasted us from day one with this crazy Zoo Thing, and the ONLY time something didn’t work out was when we’d hoped to fly to CA in February. And now we know He had something cooler in mind. Like the most awesome giraffe exhibit in the entire country!!
Now, wasn’t the title of this post The Buffalo Zoo? Without further ado…
I get warm fuzzies every time we get our picture taken in front of a zoo sign.
This is Jennifer, the PR Director at the zoo, who grew up about a mile from where we live in C-bus! Such a small world. Jennifer is the girls’ new best friend. She gave them the coolest stuffed zoo animals. Thanks for all your help, Jennifer!
Okay, so how cute is he?? (and I don’t know what kind of monkey he is–Zoo Guy Jon?)
And how scary is he?? (pretty sure this is a Saki monkey)
Pitter-pat, pitter-pat goes my heart.
Gabe watched these guys forever. Tigers are his fave, and these were some of the most active we’ve seen.
Elephants are far too cool to have evolved from an amoeba. Take it from a girl who’s been to 37 zoos this past year. Someone designed all these animals.
I love this shot.
Not sure how old this little guy is, but he’s a cutie.
Pretty little Mama.
Good book?
And that’s it. The Buffalo Zoo. I enjoyed being your Tour Guide!
Happy Thursday, friends! Come ready to answer some questions tomorrow!
Wow, what great plans! You’re right, while the Sea Worlds are “zoological institutions”, they are not zoos! I’m so glad you’ll be doing those zoos in the middle of the West, especially Denver. You already know what you’ll like in Colorado Springs (their giraffe habitat is the best on the planet!), but your girls will also like the cute squirrel monkeys in Phoenix’s Monkey Village. (Go to that zoo VERY early — they open early, as it will likely be very hot there.) Also so cool that you’ll be driving to all of these zoos. Then again, you’re doing all the work! By the way, what did you think of Buffalo’s new rainforest building? I’ve heard it’s great.
These are great photos. That looks like a great place to visit.
I’m so jealous that you got to see & feed the giraffes!!! They weren’t even out the day we took Zachary (Buffalo is our closest zoo)!
Jon–I knew that was a saki monkey, because I saw one on your site not too long ago.
Baby howler monkey! Found out he is a boy, so as he grows up, his fur will turn black. And BTW way to go on the saki monkey identification!
YAY YAY YAY!!! So excited about your new zoo plans! That’s a long time in the car- but will be so fun! Maybe you could hit up some yard sales and thrift shops for the cheap car entertainment
Loved the Buffalo Zoo pics – God’s creatures are so beautiful.
Aw, man! I’ll be out of town for the faith and politics posts. Maybe for the best.
The girls and I LOVED these pictures. Dacey is enthralled with the polar bear. “Is that a baby polar bear? Is he nice? Would he bite me? Can I see him?”
Tigers are my favorite, too, and that is a beautiful shot. Actually, they are all beautiful! Nice work, Gabe.
Hey! Wow, you will be one busy lady! And once again, I wish Parker and I could just stow away in your luggage and go with you!
How was the Buffalo Zoo? We are going up in Sept. to see Drew’s parents and I want to take parker. I know it’s small, but is it worth it? (Well to you with the giraffe’s I am sure it was).
Praying for will connect the rest of the dots for you!
Wow! You all are ambitious. God rocks.
I can’t wait to find out how God takes care of everything until Zoo 52. Thanks for sharing!
Sure you’re not getting tired of zoos? Wanna meet at a Metro Park instead?
I have never in my entire life seen a creature like that Saki guy. Scary, scary moustache.
I so wish you were coming to Minnesota. I would love to take you to the African Safari at the Minnesota Zoo. I have a feeling you would like it! You get to feed giraffes and stuff but I’m not sure you like that sort of thing
Just looking at these pics does my heart good. Sigh…