Encounters at the zoo

Anecdotes from the zoo, over the past several days:

Kid: "Hey zoo man! An animal is loose!"
Me: "They're the peacocks, they're supposed to be loose."
Kid: "Ewwwww!"

Zoo employee: "I've been in the kangaroo pen, they're so afraid of people."

Same zoo employee: "I've actually fed the polar bear. Did you know you can see it through the fence out back." (My stand is situated right next to the polar bear den).

Woman: "Hey, you're a zoo employee. Can you hop that fence and get me that peacock feather?"
Me (eyeing the rhinos nearby): "Ummmmm, sorry. I'm not allowed to go past the fence."

Young girl, with brother, to her dad who'd bought both popcorn, a slushie, and lemonade: "We're expensive."
Dad: "Yeah, you're expensive."

Man, to a friend: "Yeah, Gene Hackman's a funny guy. He did all those Mel Brooks films. I was watching their take on Star Wars a few days ago, that was hilarious."
Friend: "Ha ha, that was funny! That guy's helmet was like three feet long."
(Referring to "Spaceballs," and mistaking Hackman for Gene Wilder)

Kid: "Metro Goldwyn Mayer, that's it." (I swear a kid said this to me out of the blue. Maybe I misheard)

And, of course, the question you will only be asked if you work at a museum or where I do: "Where are the dinosaurs?"

Playing host twice

Last week I spent a wonderful 2+ days with a friend from Lancaster (lives in Wisconsin, but also studied abroad with me). It was the first time I'd invited someone over for an extended stay since...since, well, ever. Minus a sleepover or two, I don't think many of my friends have seen life in the BP household firsthand. This coming weekend another friend from a little farther away will be visiting, so I will have a chance to repeat the process.

Everyone I want to spend time with lives so far away. Life can be cruel sometimes.

Once again on the subject of animals

Is this going to turn into a blog about the zoo? Or about the animal kingdom? Who knows, these types of things just evolve on their own.

Last week I finished a fascinating book that I recommend to all those reading this blog. It's called "Monster of God" by David Quammen, and it deals with humanity's relationship with big, man-eating creatures. There's enough history and travelogue and zoology in there to appeal to a lot of tastes.