Vacation Week II
by Steve West on August 12, 2008

Took the girls to a petting zoo where they could not only look at the animals but interact as well. Saw some things of interest to me; an albino peacock (well, I don't know if it was albino but it was all white); petted a llama (their hair is kinda rough); the world's fattest rabbit (big as a poodle!); pigs, cows, horses, donkeys, turkeys & chickens & roosters (oh, my); a beautiful garden of vegetables and flowers; and lots of ducks and geese.
More carousel rides, a pony ride, a hay ride, and a train ride (no wonder Americans are fat). Let them burn off a few calories on a nice playground - skipped the miniature golf. Not bad for $20.00. Tomorrow, the National Museum of American History on the mall. They have a nice new display of popular culture which includes an original 1955 Kermit the Frog that oddly reminds me of the human display in Planet of the Apes. Taking the Metro subway drops you off practically at the door and at the subway entrance is another huge carousel. The museum's free and the subway + carousel will probably only set me back $30.00. Trying to make the most of my salary during this vacation!
Edit: The National Museum of American History is closed for a $46 million renovation and won't re-open until November. Plan B: Port Discovery in Baltimore and maybe Dad can sneak over to the Babe Ruth Museum.
Three Replies to Vacation Week II
Jackie Mason | August 17, 2008
[hidden by author request]
Steve West | August 17, 2008
Dinosaur bones or Babe Ruth bones? Decisions, decisions.
Web Junkie
Steve West scours the Web searching for interest or absurdity and then shakes his head ruefully when he finds it. Read more »

Halloween Short Clips
Mark Gervais created this film for Halloween to be broadcast on a home's window. If I saw this in my neighborhood, it would really creep me out and I would give the house a wide berth. Then I'd come back later and watch it a dozen times. Go »
One From Column A & Two From Column B
Serve yourself. Remember those "Fold-ins" from Mad Magazine? Here they are. Go »
Just As I Suspected...
A panel of experts (a group of listeners to Britain's BBC 6) have determined the worst duet in history. Obviously this group has no credentials or necessarily any credibility and history is such a long time. But that's a pretty good vote if schmaltz makes a song bad. Go »
Homecoming
Brenda and I went to closing for our new house today. Everything went smoothly and an hour and a half later I left with the keys in my pocket. We're moving this weekend so I'll be a little scarce here. Go »
Ice Cream That Would Make Homer Simpson Retch
In all honesty, I felt physically ill after about 1/3 of the way through this list. I could actually taste some of this nauseating stuff and it made my stomach churn. I don't even want to know what raw horseflesh flavor is like. Go »
Amy Austin | August 13, 2008
Call it what it really is, Steve... a "stay-cation"!
(Still... really jealous -- of both the activities and the family fun time. Washington DC is a great place for a staycation! ;-))