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

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! ;-))

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 »

I'll Have the Seven Deadly Sins Combo

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It's Not Just Rhetoric

A personal pet peeve of mine is the use of the phrase, "That's just rhetoric." As if the speech being referred to is meaningless and/or uninspiring. The word rhetoric is to be used to define speech designed to persuade. Go »

We Were That Close

Brenda and I looked at a house a few days ago and were very charmed by it. It was a ranch style home with four bedrooms, a large fenced yard and was selling at a reasonable price. Brenda was a little unsure of the size of the bedrooms but agreed to go back and specifically measure them with a tape measure and if they met her minimum standards, she would agree to make an offer for the house. Go »

What The Hell Is An Egg Roll Anyway?

Outside of a chinese restaurant I had never encountered an Easter egg roll before. We managed to become the recipients of four tickets to this year's White House Easter Egg Roll. We were not there to witness the President's participation as we were in the last of three groups and he presented himself to the first. Go »

I'll Have The Misogyny Au Gratin, Please

We were having dinner with my nephew the other night and the conversation steered toward his numerous relationships. He replied with that standard chauvinistic response, "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?" My wife looked at him directly and retorted, "Yeah, why buy the whole pig for just a little sausage?" Go »

Worst. Playground Toys. Ever.

"Mommy! Mommy! Can I crawl up the elephant's butt? Go »