Becky's Day At The Zoo
You know how different friends enhance different parts of your personality? For example, I think everybody has a friend that brings out their crazy side, another who brings out their quiet side, a friend who brings out their gossipy side, and yet another friend who brings out their giggly side.
This is Becky.
She brings out my happy side. She's a crazy ball of energy who goes through life seeing things to be happy about. In other words, she's a very good friend to have when things are a bit crappy because she will slap that crappy right out of you and shove all kinds of good stuff in your face.
So when she suggested a trip to the zoo without kids, I said, "I'M COMING!"
And here's the thing--I had no idea that the Pittsburgh Zoo in January is a REALLY, REALLY good idea. We went on a rainy weekday. Most of the animals were out, but the people weren't. SCORE.
I am not exaggerating even a little bit when I say there were *maybe* ten people at the zoo. Considering I was part of a group of four, that means we ran into maybe SIX people total. In the entire zoo. It was GLORIOUS.
I got to take as many photographs of the animals as I wanted without anyone yelling, "Momma! Momma! Momma!" or glaring at me or standing in my way or ANYTHING. I even managed to stand two inches from that tiger and take a photo of it as it watched some zoo workers through a window. Usually if I try to stand by that window, it's with a little fear because there are normally so many kids crawling around there that I'm afraid of an uprising from the sippy cup sect.
We got to watch that gorgeous girl pace around.
We looked on as the elephants got baths.
(An aside: we heard the zookeeper say, "Lift your ear" and watched as the ELEPHANT DID IT. Why is it that elephants are better at listening than kids?)
We even had the penguin room all to ourselves. NEENER NEENER.
Which is all to say, get yourself a Becky and go to the zoo for a day.
It's a guaranteed good time.
Promise.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Reader Comments (20)
Yes. This is a secret I know. We went once on a snowy day, I remember that as being incredible. Other good days are like Easter and Christmas Eve. I am jealous of your elephant bath--I'd watch the elephants STAND and do nothing for a good hour or two.
AMAZING photos. What lens was this?
@Caroline--My Tamron f/2.8 28-75mm. It's pretty much the only lens I've been using for a while now, in part because I seem to have misplaced my crappy 75-300mm. Which, THE HELL? HOW DID I MISPLACE A LENS?
We love the zoo in the winter (and were totally spoiled by always being close to one). I'm jealous of your adventure without kids - I never even take my camera anymore because of the juggling and keeping them from falling into the lion exhibit or something.
Great pictures - what the heck is the second to last one? (You're going to tell me & I'll be all "Duh!")
@Jayna--A stingray.
I can see how she would make you happy just from that great smile on her face in that first picture. Looks like an awesome trip to the zoo! :)
That's one of the rays, right?
So jealous of your "lonely" day at the zoo. I'll be spending the afternoon at the Carnegie tomorrow with my girls...and my parents...and my husband. Not quite the same thing. :-/
I absolutely love the zoo in what others would consider bad weather! I avoid the zoo for the most part in the summer- too crowded! We went on Monday and it was chilly with some snow on the ground and so not crowded! We were watching the elephants for awhile and it was amazing how well they listen. The trainer brought out a pan of food and essentially had the elephant sit and stay and then come until she was ready too feed it. My kids were mesmerized. You probably should not have revealed this secret... :)
100% agree. When my kids were little and we always had memberships, my girlfriend and I would bundle them up all winter long and make them walk up and down the hills. No crowds, and guaranteed nap time when we got home. Good all-around day.
hey, that's me! squeeee!
i was thrilled when you incredible ladies agreed to play for a day with me in the middle of the week. usually i wind up going alone simply because the zoo in the winter is too incredible to pass up, but most folks don't believe me. my batteries needed recharging in the worst way and feeling like a movie star with our own private zoo experience was just what i needed. thanks again to you, mindy and jen for indulging me. and for posting me with a meerkat instead of the photos of me crawling around in the stingray exhibit. heh. and big xoxo.
aside: i just told a coworker to go to burghbaby dot com so she would see me and also the big kitties, but she hollered WOOOOOOOOOOO at the soup recipe post below. it was printed immediately. just thought you might like to know that.
:)
aside #2: someone's imaginary band name needs to be "uprising from the sippy cup sect" or "get yourself a becky"
SHHHHH! Stop telling people about how awesome the zoo is in winter. Then they'll start going too.
@Linda - I feel the same way!
I love going to the zoo in the winter by myself. I thought it was my little secret too... ;-) I usually go alone because everyone else says I'm crazy to go when it's cold out. Yet - I love walking at my own pace, spending as much time at the animal exhibits as I want, and spending even MORE time waiting around for the *perfect* picture. The animals are totally more active in the winter time as well.
When I do end up going on a nice day, I have to get there immediately when it opens, otherwise I won't bother going at all. It pays to get there first to get ahead of all of the strollers/kids. That way you can stand close to the glass and enjoy it - without worrying about getting in the kiddos way. :-)
I also know the joy of spending a day with Becky, and I wish very much that we lived closer together. she makes my heart happy. The closest zoo to me is a 2 hour drive to Sacramento, and it's pretty small but I bet it would be a good one to do in winter too.
This happened to us during the summer (I know!). We went in the middle of severe thunderstorms. And I mean literally "in the middle" - storming like crazy as we pulled into the parking lot, stormed like heck after we left but while we were there? Perfect! Same thing - we saw 10-15 people the whole time. I'm not as good of a photographer (but I AM a picture taker). Here's my post: http://www.longdazeshortyears.blogspot.com/2011/09/stormy-zoo-days.html
I love going to the zoo when it's cold and overcast, I especially like the big cats and they're more likely to be up and about. I think a non-kid-toting trip to the zoo may be in order for me.
And that is why Auntie Kim is queen of bday gifts to her very spoiled nieces: they get zoo memberships instead of presents. Rainy Sunday mornings in the winter when evvvvveryone else is at church or the movies = all kinds of awesome.
(P.S. - it's obviously because their ears are so much bigger. Duh. Although the term 'pick your battles' probably means more in the zookeeper/elephant relationship. Heh.)
I pink puffy heart Becky.
Everyone should know Becky. She is, quite simply, the very best person I know.
Why ARE elephants better listeners than kids? I don't know, maybe because their EARS are bigger?!!
In February 2009 when Jut and I were both unemployed, we went to the zoo a bunch of times! It was so nice to not fight any crowds, and just enjoy it! I'm glad you got to go by yourself for a change!
Looks ike you had ball!