In this concrete jungle known as Phoenix many of you may wonder what we do for relaxation. Allow me to share. On those rare days when the temperature gauge actually rests on that teeny line separating our “hot” versus “hell” months, many of us venture outside. Where better to go than the zoo?
I recently managed to cajole one of my friends into going along, but sadly we forgot it was Valentine’s Day. We crested the last small hill that had kept the zoo hidden, and came face to face with its overflowing parking lot. I briefly contemplated returning another day, but we were already there and I was eager to see the animals. In locating a parking spot we were lucky enough to witness an “almost” altercation between two muscle bound hunks. One was saving an empty space with his vehicle; the other was irate he could not have it. Temperatures have not even reached triple digits yet and already tempers are flaring.
Once inside I grabbed a map even though I didn’t really need it. I know the zoo like the back of my hand. I hurried off to visit one of my favorite exhibits, the Black Tailed Prairie Dogs. They are nothing if not predictable. As usual they were eating although I was unsure if this was breakfast, snack, elevensies or just plain lunch. I am fairly certain they are somehow related to hobbits. They are small, have hairy feet, are plump in the middle, and they love to eat.
“Recycling” took on new meaning at the Golden Eagle/Common Raven exhibit. An empty toilet paper roll was being carried around by a massive raven because the center was now filled with food. In case you were not aware, felines are not the only animals that “cat-nap.” The coyotes and Mexican wolves were also doing a great job of this.
For the record “out-of-sight, out-of-mind” does not hold true at the zoo. The emptier the enclosure, the more determined people are to find its inhabitant. Consequently various sticks, stones, and even a few cacti became the elusive “animal.” I could have spent hours with the squirrel monkeys but apparently so could everyone else. I never really heard people go completely gaga before until about forty of them all noticed (at the same time) a squirrel monkey scratching its tail.
The Hamadryas Baboon sitting alone on her log reminded me of a wizened old man. Truthfully, I think she was just irate because the male was hogging the rest of their enclosure. The otters were out cavorting with reckless abandon; able to hold everyone’s attention until the onlookers realized they could go ride a camel. Definitely healthier than smoking one!
Also, in watching those around me, I did notice that the collars on polo shirts are once again standing up. People! Please! There is a reason this trend ended!
Finally, many of you may be familiar with “mini-me” from the second and third “Austin Powers” movies? Well, I saw the three foot, five inch “mini” version of Lou Ferrigno’s “The Hulk” today. What can I say? It was the hair! Whenever I saw him, I idly wondered if he would become enraged, turn green, start growling, and lose his clothes.
All in all it was a great day at the zoo!
In sports, January 29th was a sad day for the Arizona Cardinal’s organization and Cardinal fans since Kurt Warner announced his retirement. Warner comes across as a man who sticks to his decisions so I doubt that we here in Arizona will have to suffer through any “is he retiring, is he not” drama. A possible downside might be that Warner’s solid decision may not land him any Superbowl commercials like Hyundai’s comical vision of “Brett Favre Ten Years Later.” The upside is that Warner will definitely be remembered for his playing skills and not how many times he wavered back and forth about retiring. Let’s hope that Matt Leinart is capable of filling the rather sizeable shoes Warner leaves behind.
Lastly, I would like to take a moment to pay tribute to Gilbert police officer, Lt. Shuhandler, who died in the line of duty on the night of January 28th. The tragic event started as a routine traffic stop, but did not end until over an hour later; more than fifty miles from where it all began. I would ask that we remember these uniformed men and women place themselves in harms way every day in order to offer us protection and uphold the laws of our country. Maybe next time we see one of them we can take the time to treat them with thankfulness and let them know they matter!