{"id":1844,"date":"2007-04-02T13:11:00","date_gmt":"2007-04-02T20:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.coldspaghetti.org\/blog\/2007\/04\/02\/went-on-down-to-the-audubon-zoo-you-know-the-rest\/"},"modified":"2007-04-02T13:11:00","modified_gmt":"2007-04-02T20:11:00","slug":"went-on-down-to-the-audubon-zoo-you-know-the-rest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.coldspaghetti.org\/blog\/2007\/04\/02\/went-on-down-to-the-audubon-zoo-you-know-the-rest\/","title":{"rendered":"Went on down to the Audubon Zoo&#8230; (you know the rest!)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>At the &#8220;Food Chain Cafe&#8221; Will pets an endangered snake native to Louisiana.  (He was a little freaked out.)<br \/><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp2.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFk-pr9JuI\/AAAAAAAABV8\/ZGGfEtrhtxI\/s1600-h\/IMG_2741.JPG\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp2.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFk-pr9JuI\/AAAAAAAABV8\/ZGGfEtrhtxI\/s400\/IMG_2741.JPG\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048927684763920098\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>He also pet Pillow, a domesticated chicken&#8230; sort of like the Zoo&#8217;s dog.  (He was still freaked out.)  I&#8217;m holding Kate with a firm grip as I took these&#8230; she wanted to check out that chicken something <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">awful<\/span>.  (I wasn&#8217;t worried about her.  I was afraid for Pillow.)<br \/><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp3.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFk-5r9JvI\/AAAAAAAABWE\/MTCyTnRkmK0\/s1600-h\/IMG_2746.JPG\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp3.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFk-5r9JvI\/AAAAAAAABWE\/MTCyTnRkmK0\/s400\/IMG_2746.JPG\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048927689058887410\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>The kids hit the playground for a few minutes.  Kate surprised us by going right to the slides and proceeding to WALK UP THEM.  Not crawl up, but WALK.  As in on her feet, up the slides.<br \/><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp0.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFk_Jr9JwI\/AAAAAAAABWM\/ccxAz63L8Wo\/s1600-h\/IMG_2750.JPG\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp0.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFk_Jr9JwI\/AAAAAAAABWM\/ccxAz63L8Wo\/s400\/IMG_2750.JPG\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048927693353854722\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>Then Will and Paul rode the Zoo carousel, a beautiful work of art in itself.  Will sweetly smiled for a picture right before it began to spin.<br \/><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp1.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFk_Zr9JxI\/AAAAAAAABWU\/5B0HfF4SrI4\/s1600-h\/IMG_2766.JPG\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp1.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFk_Zr9JxI\/AAAAAAAABWU\/5B0HfF4SrI4\/s400\/IMG_2766.JPG\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048927697648822034\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>Kate took the breeze while she watched her brother from the gate.<br \/><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp2.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFk_pr9JyI\/AAAAAAAABWc\/Jj0Q5Ya37Ig\/s1600-h\/IMG_2773.JPG\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp2.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFk_pr9JyI\/AAAAAAAABWc\/Jj0Q5Ya37Ig\/s400\/IMG_2773.JPG\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048927701943789346\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>With each spin, Will gave Kate and me a performance of funny faces.  After the first three times, I wasn&#8217;t too keen on it.<br \/><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp1.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFksZr9JpI\/AAAAAAAABVU\/oBffOkgNjIQ\/s1600-h\/IMG_2779.JPG\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp1.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFksZr9JpI\/AAAAAAAABVU\/oBffOkgNjIQ\/s400\/IMG_2779.JPG\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048927371231307410\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>But Kate LOVED it.<br \/><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp3.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFks5r9JqI\/AAAAAAAABVc\/guFdvBCI_Cc\/s1600-h\/IMG_2782.JPG\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp3.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFks5r9JqI\/AAAAAAAABVc\/guFdvBCI_Cc\/s400\/IMG_2782.JPG\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048927379821242018\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>And Will LOVED that she LOVED it.  (This is him blowing her a kiss and waving.)<br \/><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp3.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFks5r9JrI\/AAAAAAAABVk\/mMsAw6IasUM\/s1600-h\/IMG_2784.JPG\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp3.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFks5r9JrI\/AAAAAAAABVk\/mMsAw6IasUM\/s400\/IMG_2784.JPG\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048927379821242034\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>And then turning to give me another funny face.<br \/><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp1.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFktZr9JtI\/AAAAAAAABV0\/mG3S6gD_tq8\/s1600-h\/IMG_2789.JPG\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp1.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFktZr9JtI\/AAAAAAAABV0\/mG3S6gD_tq8\/s400\/IMG_2789.JPG\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048927388411176658\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>He gave Kate big hugs afterwards.<br \/><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp3.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFkZ5r9JkI\/AAAAAAAABUs\/OiF37XrF7ss\/s1600-h\/IMG_2811.JPG\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp3.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFkZ5r9JkI\/AAAAAAAABUs\/OiF37XrF7ss\/s400\/IMG_2811.JPG\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048927053403727426\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>Then off to the elephant show.  Kate and I missed it (we were shopping for easter basket goodies), but I&#8217;m told that WILL took this photo of Panya (or maybe this one is Jean?)<br \/><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp0.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFkaJr9JlI\/AAAAAAAABU0\/Y7nfD51vqvk\/s1600-h\/IMG_2844.JPG\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp0.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFkaJr9JlI\/AAAAAAAABU0\/Y7nfD51vqvk\/s400\/IMG_2844.JPG\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048927057698694738\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>Kate and I enjoyed the duck statues on our way back to the elephants.<br \/><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp1.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFkaZr9JmI\/AAAAAAAABU8\/FyyKpLkuZJc\/s1600-h\/IMG_2859.JPG\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp1.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFkaZr9JmI\/AAAAAAAABU8\/FyyKpLkuZJc\/s400\/IMG_2859.JPG\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048927061993662050\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>Then we went home for naptime and some work.  A few hours later, we went back to the Zoo.  (A perk of living 8 blocks away and having a membership.)<br \/><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp2.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFkapr9JnI\/AAAAAAAABVE\/_0Mt3vwKchs\/s1600-h\/IMG_2883.JPG\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp2.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFkapr9JnI\/AAAAAAAABVE\/_0Mt3vwKchs\/s400\/IMG_2883.JPG\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048927066288629362\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>We went back and bee-lined to the Louisiana Swamp Exhibit, where the staff was feeding the alligators for the first time this season.  Apparently, they only eat when the temperature suits them&#8230; and before yesterday, it had been 5 months since their last feeding.  We thought it&#8217;d be a pretty spectacular display.<br \/><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp3.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFka5r9JoI\/AAAAAAAABVM\/v7nHVf28d0k\/s1600-h\/IMG_2886.JPG\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp3.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFka5r9JoI\/AAAAAAAABVM\/v7nHVf28d0k\/s400\/IMG_2886.JPG\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048927070583596674\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>The bears reminded us of the reality.  This is the Louisiana Swamp.  Nothin&#8217; moves fast here.<br \/><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp1.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFkGZr9JfI\/AAAAAAAABUE\/1Ipo-Pa4odg\/s1600-h\/IMG_2894.JPG\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp1.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFkGZr9JfI\/AAAAAAAABUE\/1Ipo-Pa4odg\/s400\/IMG_2894.JPG\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048926718396278258\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>We messed up the time and only caught the very end of the feeding.  Which was much more subdue than we had thought.  The &#8216;gators hopped up, grabbed some meat, and disappeared slowly under the murk.<br \/><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp2.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFkGpr9JgI\/AAAAAAAABUM\/pOJJdnmbXIQ\/s1600-h\/IMG_2904.JPG\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp2.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFkGpr9JgI\/AAAAAAAABUM\/pOJJdnmbXIQ\/s400\/IMG_2904.JPG\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048926722691245570\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>One floated around slowly, keeping an eye FIRMLY on Will.  Will told us he wasn&#8217;t &#8220;gonna put (his) hand down there or the alligator will SNAP!! it up!&#8221;  We told him he was a smart thinkin&#8217; little man.<br \/><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp3.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFkG5r9JhI\/AAAAAAAABUU\/iQfoTRWZXHI\/s1600-h\/IMG_2914.JPG\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp3.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFkG5r9JhI\/AAAAAAAABUU\/iQfoTRWZXHI\/s400\/IMG_2914.JPG\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048926726986212882\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>More bear R&#038;R.<br \/><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp0.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFkHJr9JiI\/AAAAAAAABUc\/uEbNo7FlSwA\/s1600-h\/IMG_2917.JPG\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp0.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFkHJr9JiI\/AAAAAAAABUc\/uEbNo7FlSwA\/s400\/IMG_2917.JPG\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048926731281180194\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>From the Swamp, we passed into Africa and checked out the giraffes and wild birds.  When Will was 1, he fed one of the giraffes.  The giraffe&#8217;s mouth covered Will&#8217;s entire hand as it gently took the food from his hand.  This time, though, we just watched the birds close up and the giraffes from afar.<br \/><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp1.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFkHZr9JjI\/AAAAAAAABUk\/76VsVKwo_zk\/s1600-h\/IMG_2930.JPG\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp1.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFkHZr9JjI\/AAAAAAAABUk\/76VsVKwo_zk\/s400\/IMG_2930.JPG\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048926735576147506\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>Kate thought the birds were HI-LARIOUS.<br \/><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp3.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFjz5r9JaI\/AAAAAAAABTc\/aWAG3MtnvOU\/s1600-h\/IMG_2939.JPG\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp3.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFjz5r9JaI\/AAAAAAAABTc\/aWAG3MtnvOU\/s400\/IMG_2939.JPG\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048926400568698274\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>Will carried on a conversation with them: &#8220;<span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Heeeeeere little birdy!<\/span>&#8220;<br \/><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp0.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFj0Jr9JbI\/AAAAAAAABTk\/B89MYu9iyP8\/s1600-h\/IMG_2948.JPG\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp0.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFj0Jr9JbI\/AAAAAAAABTk\/B89MYu9iyP8\/s400\/IMG_2948.JPG\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048926404863665586\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>The kids discussing the birds.<br \/><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp1.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFj0Zr9JcI\/AAAAAAAABTs\/odckCWKmGGs\/s1600-h\/IMG_2956.JPG\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp1.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFj0Zr9JcI\/AAAAAAAABTs\/odckCWKmGGs\/s400\/IMG_2956.JPG\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048926409158632898\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>From there, Will stopped off for a quick run up Monkey Hill.  Kate admired the statue while we waited.<br \/><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp2.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFj0pr9JdI\/AAAAAAAABT0\/P5v6Ds_JCiI\/s1600-h\/IMG_2957.JPG\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp2.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFj0pr9JdI\/AAAAAAAABT0\/P5v6Ds_JCiI\/s400\/IMG_2957.JPG\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048926413453600210\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>Everyone at the statue.  Resemble anyone they know?<br \/><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp3.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFj05r9JeI\/AAAAAAAABT8\/UuDLSP0qJhU\/s1600-h\/IMG_2962.JPG\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp3.blogger.com\/_NeoZjZL4Y_c\/RhFj05r9JeI\/AAAAAAAABT8\/UuDLSP0qJhU\/s400\/IMG_2962.JPG\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048926417748567522\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>A typical New Orleans afternoon!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At the &#8220;Food Chain Cafe&#8221; Will pets an endangered snake native to Louisiana. (He was a little freaked out.)He also pet Pillow, a domesticated chicken&#8230; sort of like the Zoo&#8217;s dog. (He was still freaked out.) I&#8217;m holding Kate with a firm grip as I took these&#8230; she wanted to check out that chicken something [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.coldspaghetti.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1844"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.coldspaghetti.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.coldspaghetti.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.coldspaghetti.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.coldspaghetti.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1844"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.coldspaghetti.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1844\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.coldspaghetti.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1844"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.coldspaghetti.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1844"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.coldspaghetti.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1844"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}