Hanging out at the Zoo

Last week  Jim and I  joined our daughter, Jessica, son-in-law, Dave, and granddaughter, Lily, on a two hour drive to downtown Chicago.

We had to get an early start. And Lily takes after her mother, who takes after HER MOTHER, who is not a morning person!

First stop - The University of Illinois (UIC) Chicago Hospital for a special blood test that my daughter needed to have done. (future post)

Papa and I waited with Lily outside at a park across the street from the hospital.

Papa helped Lily put on her "crocodiles" (what we call her shoes since she can't pronounce "cr" and calls them her "cocks"!)

This is Lily's beloved George. He goes everywhere with her.

Lily was awestruck with the sounds of the city. The elevated train tracks were half a block away, and trains came by frequently. Lily is used to the sounds of trains since they run through her home town, but they are a combination of freight trains AND Amtrak and they have whistles. These trains did NOT have whistles. That seemed to puzzle her. There was a lot of activity happening; buses and cars driving by; people walking down the sidewalk. Some people joined us where we were sitting and Lily was quick to yell out "HI!" and wave her tiny hand. An ambulance came rushing down the street with the sirens blasting, but Lily felt safe in Papa's arms. She is familiar with sirens because the fire department is not too far from her home. Lily says when she hears a siren that "they are going to help" and that "someone has an owie".

Soon Jessica was done and we headed off to our next stop - Brookfield Zoo.

The day was overcast when we had left home, but by the time we got to the zoo it was sunny. And hot. And humid. Temps got to in the 90's and the humidity was high. Yeah!

I was happy to see some of the animals in open areas with grass.

I don't know why he's so hot; he should be used to this weather!

My FAVORITE animal at the zoo!

Here are the polar bears.

Looking through thick glass

Polar bear half in/half out of water; Lily and Jess in foreground.

I took this next picture while standing outside but there still was a thick piece of glass and/or plexiglass separating us from the polar bear. It was feeding time and there was this big hunk of meat sitting on the log. I was able to get a photo right when the bear grabbed the meat.

This grizzly bear had the right idea in the oppressive heat. His brother just looked on in the background.

Recent addition to the zoo were these injured pelicans who can no longer fly.

We saw the true meaning of Mother Goose! She had 16 babies!

I grew up going to Brookfield Zoo. I took my kids there when they were little. The last time I was there was probably 8 years ago. I was dismayed to see how rundown it seemed. Yet it cost $20.50 for admission that included three additional options - we chose the petting zoo, dolphin show, and the tram.

Some of the exhibits were closed, some were being remodeled, and some we were appalled at what the animals were kept in.

Take the baboons, for instance. I remember there being many, many baboons running up and down the fake rocks. There was a moat running along the bottom.


On this particular day, there were only 3 or 4 baboons. There was no moat.


And this baboon was chewing on plastic water bottles! I was really upset by this!

This one was playing will a long piece of red plastic.

We went into the monkey house and saw more fake rocks and fake trees.Where was the natural habitat? How about some grass? Trees? Leaves?


These gorillas had a very small space to live, again with just fake rocks and trees. It was so sad. This is the baby gorilla. He seemed so bored.

This is the adult male. This isn't a great photo, but he just rolled around on the hard cement. No grass!

The best part of the zoo was the dolphin show. It wasn't air conditioned in the pool area, but it was out of the sun. Here's a sweaty Lily and Papa. I was calling and waving to Lily, trying to get  her to look my way when the man behind began waving and yelling "hi"!. Lily spotted HIM and waved! I turned around and looked at him - he was an older man and smiled sheepishly at me saying, "Hey, I look like a Grandpa!"

Stay tuned for photos from the dolphin show and more!

An Experiment in My Kitchen

Do you eat a lot of vegetables?


The daily recommended amount is 6 to 8 servings!


I don't know about you, but I'm no

I DO know that if a plate full of raw vegetables was set in front of me, I would nibble on them. Of course, they would taste better with a little bit of dill dip!


I try to serve a vegetable with our evening meal. Usually it's something fresh that has been steamed or grilled. Nothing like fresh asparagus that's been sprinkled with kosher salt and a little bit of extra virgin olive oil and then put on the grill for just a few minutes!


I saw this vegetable in the grocery store the other day:

And, no, it's not moldy cauliflower! Actually it was advertised as "broccoliflower". Things that make you go "Mmmm".... The grocer was busy stocking these green bundles so I asked him, "Have you tasted these?"


"No, not personally. But they are supposed to taste like broccoli but have the consistency of cauliflower," he replied.


Well, heck, I was game. Plus, it was cheaper than the regular broccoli by over $1.


Here it is in all it's green glory outside of the package.

I cut it up and steamed it.


Served it alongside my fish and wild rice.

And guess what?


It tasted like cauliflower!


(I never thought to compare the price of WHITE cauliflower at the time!)


So there you have it.


Another story from Pat's Kitchen.

I think you're going to like this!

Best video I've seen in a LONG time!

Enjoy!

Signs - A Ghostly Meal?

 

This week's sign was found over a restaurant in Madrid, New Mexico. Sounds enticing, doesn't it?

Click here to join Lesly for more signs!

Hope on and join all the fun!

Feeling hot, Hot, HOT!

It was another scorcher here today in the Midwest. Reached a high of 91 degrees with high humidity. The kind of day that makes it seem like you never put on any deodorant  and your underwear sticks to your butt. YOU know what I'm talking about.

The kind of day that our air conditioner can't possibly keep up, even though we're only living in 400 square feet of space. What can I say? I'm a hot MOMMA!

So Jim and I decided to go to an afternoon show. Usually we take turns between seeing "Chick" flicks and "Dick" flicks.

But this time I made a bold move. I saw a movie on my own. I wanted to see "Bridesmaids" and Jim wanted to see "Pirates of the Caribbean". Although I love Johnny Depp, I didn't care to see another one of those pirate movies. So I suggested we go our separate ways in the theater. Both movies conveniently started at the same time.

I think I've gone to the show by myself once before. It was fine. I would NEVER go to a scary movie by myself. Who would hold my hand?

I was looking forward to munching my own popcorn at my own pace. I like to savor each piece of popcorn. Jim tends to gobble, gobble, gobble. That means I have to eat at the same pace so I can get my fair share. I know, sad, right?

Anyway, there was a long line and the movie was about to start. Jim said, "I don't need any popcorn. We just ate lunch. I'm going to my movie."

Well, geez, he NEVER says that when we see a movie TOGETHER.

I said, "Fine! I guess I don't need popcorn, either!" So we walked to our respective movies, which happened to be showing right across the hall from each other.

I stumbled into the darkened theater; the commercials were already starting. I tried to judge what was the center seat and plunked myself down. (You KNOW I have this thing about sitting in the exact CENTER of the row!) I tried not to panic figuring if it was, indeed, the center seat, and waited till the screen got brighter to actually count the seats. (I know, I'm weird.) I was exactly in the center. Gosh I'm getting good at this.

There was a total of four people in the audience, including me.

All of a sudden the screen went totally dark, but we could hear the sound. The previews had started.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I love watching the previews. I want to know about the upcoming movies and if there are any that I really must see. Just when I was about to get up to complain to management about the problem, someone else stood up and said, "I'll go tell someone."

By the time the problem was fixed, we missed two full previews. Of course the "film" or whatever wasn't rewound  because time is of the essence, right?

Finally the movie started. It was pretty funny from the beginning. Kristin Wiig is a very talented actress and comedian. You may know her from Saturday Night Live.

image from Google

She co-wrote and starred in the movie. She has great comedic talent and reminds me of a young Meg Ryan.

But I have to say, the real scene stealer goes to Melissa McCarthy.

She is downright HILARIOUS in this movie! I don't know if you watch her on "Mike and Molly",

but she is so sweet and attractive looking on the show.

In this movie she doesn't wear any make-up, her hair is pulled back in a severe pony-tail, and she always has on pants with a shirt tucked in. The one thing that is the same is that she has a heart of gold in both the movie and the TV series.

I'd give this movie 3 out of 4 stars. It's funny. There is some slapstick humor in it, and it can be raw at times, so beware. It is rated "R".

We came home and although it felt cooler in our trailer, our thermostat read 86 degrees! Looks like we should have seen a double-header!

Funny Gas Station Names

One thing that I notice in our travels are the funny names for gas stations.

The first place sounds like someplace "Larry the Cable Guy" would visit!

photo courtesy of google

It's called the "Git 'N Split".

You can also browse in Doctor John's lingerie and novelty store while getting gas. Kind of like one-stop shopping!

What man thinks, "Mmm, I'll fill up the tank and pick up a sexy nightie for the little woman?"

Then there is the ever popular "Kum & Go". Seriously?

Here's the "Pump and Pantry", an affiliate of Sinclair.

This is the "Loaf 'n Jug".  Oh yeah, they DO have gas there, too, by the way!

photo courtesy of www.loafnjug.com

The following are gas stations that I have not personally visited, but are worth mentioning.

This is the ONLY gas station designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The gas station is located in Cloquet, MN.

photo courtesy of roadtripamerica.com

Here are a couple of short videos about the gas station. They are worth watching!




This second video shows that it is 3 minutes long, but it actually goes black after about 1.46 minutes.





How about this shell-shaped gas station? 

photo courtesy of  Wikipedia

According to Wikipedia, "This single story Shell station, in the shape of a giant scallop shell, was built in 1930 at Sprague and Peachtree Streets in Winston-Salem. The owners of the oil company decided to attract customers through a series of shell-shaped service stations. They built at least eight in the Winston-Salem area, but the station at Sprague and Peachtree is the only one remaining."


And finally, how cute is this Teapot Gas Station? It is located in Zilla, WA. It is no longer in use. 

According to Wikipedia, "The Teapot Dome Service Station was built in 1922 on what later became U.S. Route 12. The station was intended to be a reminder of the Teapot Dome Scandal that rocked the presidency of Warren G. Harding and sent Interior Secretary Albert Fall to prison for his role in leasing government oil reserves in, among other places, Teapot Dome, Wyoming. The unique service station continued operation as a full service gas station for some years. When Interstate 82 was constructed near Zillah, the station was relocated less than a mile down the Yakima Valley Highway. It is no longer in operation. In 2007, the town of Zillah purchased the station, and is attempting to raise money to keep it operational."

How about you? Do you have any funny/interesting gas stations near you?

World's Largest Truck Stop

Driving through Iowa on our way to Illinois, we just HAD to stop at the World's Largest Truck Stop in Walcott, Iowa.

photo courtesy of Eric B.

As soon as I walked inside, I saw this pick-up truck right smack dab in the middle of the floor!

To the left was a food court and a large sit down area to eat.

The bathrooms were off to the right. I don't know about the men's bathroom (I didn't ask Jim!), but the women's was quite interesting! Of course it kept with the whole "trucking" theme, with the stalls made out of diamond plated sheets.

It actually seemed kind of "manly" in there, you know? The hand dryer was REALLY powerful. Look at the way my skin was blowing around on my hand!

Okay, we're done with business there! Exiting the bathroom we come upon a gift shop.

There are many, many different items to browse through. One item that caught my eye. Hmmmmm....is this why I don't golf?

Continuing through this shop, we come to a stairway leading down to a huge showroom.

This was a Trucker's Paradise. Heck, you didn't even have to be a trucker to enjoy this place. But more than likely you had to be a man. Look way in the background of that picture above. Why, yes, yes indeed, that is a SEMI parked in the store.

Here's a better look: (That's JIM behind the wheel!)

Here's the long, long, long trailer!

Behind the wheel:

The back seat (bunk beds) of the truck. This is what I need for OUR truck!

This wasn't the only truck in the store. Nosiree Bob! There was this nice blue one, which puts our Big Blue to shame, I'm afraid!

AND this spiffy looking yellow one!

After I was awed by the semis, I just started having fun taking photos. Take a gander and see what I mean:

Word of advice: You never want to be THISCLOSE to the grillwork of a moving truck.

Doesn't this look like it belongs on a James Bond car instead of a semi truck?

Smile pretty for the camera!

I was amazed to see this sign in the store:

Those are a LOT of amenities for the truckers!

I hope you enjoyed your tour of the

A Sign of the TImes?

I found a fun new meme to jump in on called, "Signs, Signs" sponsored by Lesley.

I saw this funny sign at a Walgreens, although I don't THINK it was meant to be funny!

That flu shot might be a bargain for a buck, but I'll take mine without bleach, thank you very much!

Click here to see more signs.