Needless to say, once I retrieved my tire and found a place to grab a bite of lunch, the sun came out and thumbed it's nose at me. It was then too late to get home, change clothes and load the boats onto the car. I'd decided I had to be a "good girl" and got busy on the tractor. UNBELIEVABLY, I put the wheel back on without incident, checked the oil, and the gas - looked at the spark plug (the machine wouldn't start last fall, after it sat silent most of the drought-beseiged summer), thought the spark plug looked too new to be a problem, and plugged in the key... IT STARTED RIGHT UP!!!
I hadn't had time to clean up the dog poop, or gather all the sticks and twigs and BRANCHES my four beloved oak trees had dropped, Heck, I didn't even have a full tank of gasoline. But if you knew what I've been through with that antique lawn tractor, sold at Montgomery Wards circa 1972, you would have applauded my decision to cut "because the damned thing is running!" The dogs know the drill - Princess is on her long leash and knows she has to stay to one side as I make my rounds. Brutus was told to stay by Princess or he'd be put on a leash, as well. He takes that command seriously, because it has happened, and being a Lab, being tied up is just cruel. I cut most of the lawn, leaving the front for later, after I get the remains of the fallen tree out of the way.
Once I put the lawn tractor back in its spot, I decided to try to get my birthday present out and see how it works: my new kayak rack. Well, let me tell you, whoever wrote the directions for THAT contraption needs to get another job. Side note: I AM mechanically inclined AND I read directions. The racks needed an extra mount because of the kind of roof rack on my car, that and the "adapter" that was included in two forms, had me completely stymied. The instructions were ridiculous: Take the bases of the "J" pieces and revolve the top part to line up the large holes facing the back of the vehicle. Huh? Yes, and I was LOOKING at these things! Didn't make any more sense that way!! I finally threw everything back in the box and headed to the shop they came from. Three people there couldn't figure them out, and I left the rack there for them to enjoy. "Call me when you figure it out."
Saturday, I was up fairly early and was able to get a slight bit of housework done before I left for the zoo. The Animal Enrichment Committee (of which I am co-chair), had worked for the past two weekends making paper-mache' Easter eggs and painting them. They were given to the zookeepers to fill with treats, and I'd been given a schedule of when they were going to distribute them and to whom. I'd forgotten that it was also Egg Day for human children and it took me nearly 40 minutes just to get into the parking lot. I'm out of practice! Then there's Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Father's Day, Zoo Ball, Operation Freedom Day, Milwaukee Ala Carte, Labor Day, Harvest Weekend......just a few of those times that getting to the Zoo at 8:00 a.m. is preferrable. Fortunately, I'd planned to get there early to get some business taken care of, but I just about had to sprint straight to the Feline Building (we call it the Cat House) to catch the Leopard and Tigers receiving their "eggs". They really put on a show, and the kids got a kick out of the story I told them about the eggs.
The elephants acted as though they'd been expecting the treats, then they ate the eggs. Next I hiked over to the wolves. The keepers work in pairs with the wolves and can enter the exhibit without taking the animals out. The Alpha wolf followed the keeper with the eggs and, of course, grabbed the first egg. The others followed and each were able to secure an egg for themselves. I'd learned from the zookeepers that because of the wolves' pack order and the strict adherence to wolf protocol, the keepers always give the wolves one or two extra treats to ensure that they all get a treat. They were fun to watch as they explored, and played "keepaway". I even got some photographs of the Alpha wolf pooping on his egg once the treats were all extracted.
The last on the list were the Alaskan Brown Bears. THEY were taken off exhibit while the keepers wedged the big eggs into the crook of the tree in their enclosure. As soon as the keepers went in, the bears trotted out. Instantly, they caught the scent of something new in the area. Boris missed it at first, but when Aaurora came out, she went straight to the tree. She tugged the egg down, and it broke, spilling some of the treats for Boris to pick up. While Aurora was still busy with her egg, Boris began a search of his own. He had to climb the tree to get it, but he pulled the egg down. By this time, Aurora was finished with hers, so she wanted to help Boris with his. He climbed as high as he could get on the rocks, and sat down with his goodies. He had dropped some, so Aurora didn't follow him. As I watched, he slowly finished every last bit of yummy, then he ate the egg, as well.
Depite the fact that I then went home, grabbed the dogs and went to Mom's for the night and we were together for Easter Sunday Morning, the Zoo is definitely the place to celebrate the holiday.....even if you have kids!
Currently reading: The DaVinci Code -- finally went paperback - I'm exceptionally frugal (i.e. cheap). Just started it..already riveting. Also: Quit Your Job and Move to Key West; and Wayne Dyer's books on CD, Being in Balance and Spirituality (can you say MULTI-tasking)
Music: Always Country, and looking forward to picking up Toby Keith's new CD: White Trash With Money - I'm intrigued with the words of one song: "I'm taking your leaving with a grain of salt...and tequila and lime". I love the play with words that so many country songs have. Always a "why didn't I write that?"
More to come:TV Commercials, new glasses, kayaking
