dual personalities

Tag: St. Louis Zoo

October 5, 2015

O friends, in gladness let us sing, supernal anthems echoing*

by chuckofish

[FYI supernal means a) being or coming from on high b) heavenly, ethereal.]

I went to church twice on Sunday so I am feeling the supernal vibe. I read at Evensong, but I had to go to a meeting after the 10 a.m. service, so that is why I also attended that service. I am “mentoring” one of our confirmands, so I was getting the lowdown on expectations for the coming year. My assignment is a girl I have known since she was a tiny tot and not someone who is too cool for me. No piercings or dyed black hair either. All should will be well.

The boy came over after church and knocked down an old fence for us.

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The OM and I would have wrestled with this for who knows how long, so once again, how grateful we are to have his manly help.

It took him all of 10 minutes, so we went out to lunch at Steak ‘N Shake.

On Friday night the OM and I went to a work-sponsored party at the zoo. I got to see the new polar bear in his swanky new environment.

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He growled at me through the glass. He was up-close and personal, right? I wanted to see him swimming, but he did not oblige.

We also saw some penguins

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and we rode on the empty train.

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We ate a hotdog and went home. It was an evening well spent.

I am reading the new mystery by Robert Galbraith (a.k.a. J.K. Rowling)–The Silkworm, which I am enjoying very much.  I am not a big mystery fan, but the characters in her series are real (not cardboard) and I like her P.D., Cormoran Strike.

I watched Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), which I did not particularly like, and Send Me No Flowers (1964) with Rock Hudson (“Is it a sharp pain, is it a dull pain, or does it grip like a vice?”), which I liked very much.

Also, this is pretty darn great:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TOFdWGToKQ

How was your weekend?

*Lasst uns erfreuen, #618

7 Comments
August 30, 2013

Toot! Toot!

by chuckofish

Yesterday was the 50th anniversary of the Zooline Railroad at our famous flyover zoo.

Director Marlin Perkins looks at the plans in 1963.

Director Marlin Perkins looks at the plans in 1963.

A golden spike is driven into the ground on August 29, 1963.

A golden spike is driven into the ground on August 29, 1963.

Our Zoo is one of the biggest (and the best) zoos in the country and our summers are famously hot and humid. The Zoo train offers a comfortable way to get around the 90-acre Zoo campus. For your $5 these days (the cost was 30 cents in 1963) you get a 20-minute narrated tour weaving through tunnels and past favorite animal exhibits on a 1½-mile round trip. The Zooline Railroad has transported more than 35 million visitors since 1963 and it is still one of the most popular attractions there. (The railroad operates year-round, weather permitting.)

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My mother loved the Zoo train. It was one of the few things she was gladly willing to pay for back in the day. We loved it too. After she died, I always insisted on riding the train with my own children, and I still feel close to my mother as I ride around the familiar route.

Our favorite engine for obvious reasons.

Our favorite engine for obvious reasons.

I wish I had a picture of my mother on the Zoo train, but, alas, I do not. Instead, here’s a picture of Captain Kangaroo visiting the Zoo! Perhaps this was on the opening day–I’m not sure. (All pictures are from the Zoo website.)

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Have a nice weekend!

4 Comments
May 1, 2013

Hello, Peanut

by chuckofish

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We have a new baby elephant at our flyover zoo. Born on Friday, April 26, 2013 at 10:57 p.m., she is the daughter of Ellie, a 42-year-old Asian elephant, and Raja, our resident Elephas maximus stud. The baby weighed 251 pounds and stands 38 inches tall.

Now, of course, there is a contest to name her. You can vote here.

The names are not too exciting. I prefer Peanut.

5 Comments