||Day Seventy-Three||
This morning started out bright and early, and by early I mean 9:00 am. But Mandy had already been up for 2 hours, so I had to, as my mom would say, "shake a leg". We had breakfast, got ready, hung around for a bit, and then went to lunch at one of our favorite place: Hot Box Pizza. Hot Box is a chain restaurant, but they are only found in Indiana. So it only made sense that we get in one last Hot Box run before she moves to Tennessee. We originally agreed upon splitting a small spicy pepperoni and sausage pizza, with breadsticks, but when I got up to order I completely blanked and said we wanted a large. But that worked in my favor, I suppose, because now I have lunch for two more days!
We both ate way too much, but couldn't even regret it; it's too good. Afterwards we made a quick Target run, stopped by my house to drop off the pizza and Target bags, then headed out to the Indianapolis Zoo. I practically live there, but I'm not at all ashamed. I love it there, and I'm trying to make the most of my membership pass.
My friend, Mandy, in her natural habitat -- looking at the seals. Why, you may ask? Because sometimes when she laughs it sounds like a seal's bark. Thus, she is one with the seals.
Penguins diving like dolphins.
By this point it was absolutely pouring down rain, but we were determined to see the tiger (which is one of Mandy's favorite animals) and get pictures/videos. Since it was raining, we had no problem getting close to the glass, and the tiger ended up walking right up to us twice. We were thrilled. Soaking wet and a little cold, but thrilled.
A little "family" of lemurs all huddling together in the rain. Probably in my top 10 of the cutest things I've ever seen in my life.
Nicky was the star of the orangutan exhibit today. While a few others sat in the hay piles in the corner, Nicky sat on a platform in front of the giant windows and looked mischievous.
She actually kept vomiting up her food and then proceeded to eat it all again to vomit later. She did this, according to the crowd of kids around her, at least seven times. As far as I know, it's not a sign of the animal being sick, considering how pleased she looked with herself every time, and is likely no different than how dogs eat their own vomit. Animals are awesome.
White handed gibbons -- one of my favorite exhibits at the zoo.
For the first time, in all the times I've been at this zoo, I got to see the bears being fed. This is also probably the most active I've ever seen the bears. They must have enjoyed the rain too.
Despite the rain, and the absolutely packed parking lot, this was one of my best zoo trips yet. We didn't even mind the rain, really; we embraced it and took advantage of the fact that everyone else was under shelter while we walked around. As I mentioned in my previous post, this was likely the last time I'll get to see my friend, Mandy, for a while; not until her birthday in November. She moves to Tennessee in just a few days, I'm going back to work in a couple of weeks, and school starts in less than a month. July has flown by incredibly fast.
But I'm feeling good about this upcoming year. I think I say that every year, but for now, 2014 seems to be my year and I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts.
But I'm feeling good about this upcoming year. I think I say that every year, but for now, 2014 seems to be my year and I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts.
♥K
