No Lions? Oh Well, There Were Tigers And Bears.

How many of you remember Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom? When I was a kid I was amazed as Jim went where Marlin feared to tread (Marlin: "While I sit hear drinking this margarita, Jim will try to determine the sex of the rabid Badger."). Well, I relived some of that on Thursday when the Wife and I went to Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo.

The Henry Doorly Zoo is one of the best zoos in the country. It's right up there with the San Diego Zoo in my opinion. We picked a great time to go. The prior weekend, Mutual of Omaha celebrated it's 100th anniversary by opening up the zoo and several other local museums and attractions for free. This meant a rather light crowd on Thursday. The zoo employees also had time to recover from the record 40,000 zoo attendees on Saturday alone.

We walked through the 130 acre zoo starting with the iconic Desert Dome. Under the dome, as we walked through the Kingdom of the Night exhibit, we waded through the herds of North American Wailing Rugrats including the one giving the Fart-Noise-By-Blowing-Into-His-Hands call of the wild. It was delightful.

Our walk took us through the Orangutan Forest, Cat Complex, Bear Canyon (they fed the Polar Bear while we were there), and the Aviary before we stopped for lunch. After lunch came the Elephants, Rhinos, and the ride on the new Skifari ski lift ride over the park.

The skifari was pretty cool and lasted longer than we expected. We were warned about our shoes - apparently one rider lost a shoe over the cheetah pen and they chewed on it all day long. It was fun looking at the animals from above and the faces of people on the ride who probably, by the look of distress on their faces, shouldn't have been on the ride at all. We wondered what the animals must have thought seeing these flying people overhead. One poor ostrich constantly protected her egg from the ski lift chairs. She was probably exhausted by the end of the day.

The skifari was followed by the Giraffe complex, the Zebras, and a really cool Butterfly and Insect pavilion. This was the Wife's favorite. You walked through a simulated jungle full of butterflies and hummingbirds. It was one of my favorite as well.

We ended our four hour tour of the zoo with the Scott Aquarium (full of fish, not Scotts. I was a little disappointed) and the Rain Forest/Jungle. Both of these were well done.

We both enjoyed the visit to the Zoo. Temps were perfect. Crowds were manageable. Animals were cool. I always have mixed feeling with zoos. I like looking at the animals but I can't help thinking they would live happier lives out in the wild. Hopefully, with the planned expansion once the old stadium is torn down, the animals will get more room to roam free. Pictures of the day can be found here.

High School Counselors - Seers Of The Future?

Yesterday afternoon I went through some old dusty boxes of memories. At times I can be a sentimental pack rat. Every few years I pull stuff out and get all misty eyed and reminisce about what was and often what could have been.

In one box of random old things I found a copy of my Informe de Orientación Vocacional (Vocational Guidance Report) from my high school counselor. I usually poo-poo most aptitude tests and other put-you-in-a-box tests but I have to say, with twenty-eight years of hindsight, that the counselor and her tests were spot on. A few excerpts:

Qualitative Results: "Generally high aptitude in all areas although mechanical is only average {That explains why the water hit the bathroom ceiling when I tried to fix the faucet}. Good reasoning ability using language, numbers, and other abstract concepts." {Then why can't I win an argument with the Wife?}

Interests: "Expressed greatest interest in physical sciences. Below average in all other fields." {Yep, that's about right.}

Values: "(Above average) Greatest emphasis placed on the theoretical (Knowledge for its own sake), followed by economical (practicality & usefulness). Average on political (management & executive). Below average in esthetic, social, religious." {Yep. The real world comes second and I hate the management while I sit in my ugly apartment playing video games using God's name in vain. Well, not anymore now that I met the Wife.}

Personality Traits: "Indications of good family relations but some problems in social adjustment (may be too much of a loner) {Sounds like a serial killer, don't it?}, some indications of emotionality (too subjective a response to situations, feelings of anger or unhappiness too easily stimulated) {WHAT!!! Are you crazy!?! That really bums me out.}, may be too much of a social conformer. Probably subject to periods of depression {especially around birthdays}. Indications of leadership ability {Sure, the one thing she got wrong}.

Professional Advice: "Aptitudes, interests, and values indicate scientific career, probably more in research where there is more variety in the projects and problems under study. Also [Homer-Dog] would probably work better on a research team where his working with people who share his interests & abilities but would also be working alone at some time. Computer engineering would be a good choice." {Well that explains why I didn't like my old job. I was in the wrong line of work. I worked on a total of three projects in my 21 years of work and there was very little science or research involved. I wish I'd read this report a little more carefully before interviewing.

As I read this report I'm still amazed how close she got it. She had one good crystal ball.

The Gritty Underbelly Of Omaha

Tuesday, my Mom, the Wife, and I took the last of the four River City Tours of Omaha put on by the Durham museum. This tour was titled "the Gritty City" and covered the seedier side of Omaha history.

The bus tour took us around the downtown area, an area I have walked many times, while the guide told us about the saloons, brothels, and mobsters that livened up the history of this once frontier city. Things look differently once you learn the story behind the old buildings. Apparently a lot of the hotels, saloons, and gambling joints had tunnels connecting them to nearby brothels. Now a tunnel tour ... that's something I would like to see. Unfortunately, I doubt any of the tunnels still exist today.

The tour was pretty good but is was shorter than the other tours by almost forty-five minutes. If I were them, I would merge the Trans-Mississippi parts of the tour we took the "J" on with the Gritty City Tour. I would then flesh out the North Omaha/Jazz tour with more north Omaha history and African-American history. When they had talked about the African-Americans in Omaha, about 10 minutes of the two hour tour, not one peep about Malcolm X being born here and forced out of town with his family. If you believed the tour the African-American experience in Omaha was a little descrimination and a lot of good Jazz. Of course, if I ruled the world, everything would be perfect.

Book: Colin Thubron's "Shadow of the Silk Road"

Our last vacation out of the country, Peru, waked the traveler in me. Unfortunately in the three years since that vacation we have been international-vacation-less. As a way to feed my need I have started reading my issues of National Geographic practically cover to cover. I have also added travelogues to my non-fiction repertoire. My latest adventure, even if it was only in my mind's eye, was Colin Thubron's "Shadow of the Silk Road".

"Shadow of the Silk Road" recounts Thubron's travels of the historic Silk Road. Specifically he traveled from Xian, China west through Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Iran, ending in Antioch, Turkey. He began his journey in 2003, a year when we'd planned to tour China but were deterred by SARs. His journey was interrupted by repeated SARs checkpoints including one two week quarantine in western China.

Thubron traveled like the locals. Buses, trains, hitchhiking with passing trucks, even riding with the mail delivery land rover in one particularly remote area of China. Along the way he visits tombs, temples, mosques, and other sites off the beaten path including some that even the locals aren't familiar with. He survives with English, a little Mandarin Chinese, and Russian through most of his travels.

I liked his style. He is a very descriptive writer. I often wished he'd had a camera with him (he didn't) so that he could have shared some of the wonderful locations he traveled through. The first third of the book, the part through western China, I found most interesting. His travels took him through the land of the Uyghurs whose struggle with the Han Chinese has been in the news recently. His travels in China had an airy, bright feel to them despite the poverty of the area.

Once Thubron leaves China, his writing loses it's luster until, to me, it feels almost alien and dark in the Muslim areas of Afghanistan and Iran. I'm not sure it was the culture or my perception of the culture that darkened the narrative.

Thubron is an intrepid traveler. He made it through areas I would never dream to even approach and I was amazed when he stared down several officials looking for a bribe. It seems refusing to give a hand out results in them letting you go on your way. In one case he accidentally hands some money over with his papers. When the police officer pockets the money, Thubron demanded his money be return and it was. I wonder if that would work for me? I bet I would end up in some dark and dank prison somewhere.

There is no timeline of the trip in the book. This may be because the trip was done in two pieces a year apart (Afghanistan was too dangerous to travel through in 2003). Despite the interruption, the narrative is written like one contiguous trip, something that bothered me. I'm sure I am being picky, he is very up front about the interruption, but is feels like he cheated. Of course, in travelling, there really aren't any rules so it's not fare of me to say that he is cheating.

I enjoyed traveling with the author. I wish I were as adventuresome as he was appears to be. An interesting read and recommended.

Another Year Bites ... The Dust

I think it's been decades since I've been happy on my birthday. I usually grin and bear it as best I can, put on a happy face for friends and family, or do my best to just pretend it's just another day, but today just sucked in my head. The sad thing is all the gloom and doom that I'm feeling is all self-inflicted. I can't blame anyone but myself. When I worked, I was often on travel on my birthday and the work kept me distracted. The few times I had one at work I usually just sat in my cube and moped all day. I get in these 'get out of my way, leave me alone' moods that doesn't do me any good.

The one bright spot are the cards, e-mails, Facebook posts, and comments wishing me well. Thank you everyone for that.

And a big thank you to the Wife. I know I'm not easy to be around when I get in this mood which is why I've been avoiding you most of the day.

The "J" Cometh: Day 5 And 6

The "J"'s trip has been full of history. Omaha reaks of history. The last full day here was no different.

Day 5 (Saturday) we went on a north Omaha tour. The bus tour took us through north Omaha and Florence. The tour started with the location of the 1898 Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition. The exposition sounds incredible with gleaming white building surrounding a lagoon with gondolas. It was very elaborate and profitable for the area during an economic downturn. Now only the slightest hint remains amongst the rundown homes of one of the poorest areas of the city. The tour ended on the Street of Dreams and a brief history of the vibrant Jazz scene along 24th street.

After the tour we perused the farmers market, walked through the Durham museum, and had lunch at the Upstream. We drove past the mural, to the pedestrian bridge. We watched a bride in full regalia getting her picture taken on the bridge amongst all the Ragbrai riders (Ragbrai started today). We watched a group of party boats tied together, music blaring, filled with drunk, booby baring, party animals, floating down the Missouri under the bridge. It was a perfect July day. "J" brought to good weather with her.

We drove past the Wife's schools before heading home. Later the "J" went to have dinner with Omaha friends while the Wife and I had a quiet evening.

Day 6, today, we went to mass at the cathedral. The Archbishop is retiring this week and his replacement will be Archbishop George Lucas (may the force be with you). We ended "J"'s stay with lunch at Louis M's Burger Lust. The "J" insisted on paying us back for all our hospitality by paying for our lunch ... and getting us four tickets to the Green Day concert at the Qwest Center ... and getting us four tickets for the after party. She is so totally awesomely cool. I'm sure my face was one of disbelief. Thank you "J"!!!

You've been gone for three hours and we already miss you. So does Homer.

The "J" Cometh: Day 3 And 4

I've been a little slow at posting about the "J"'s visit. Too busy I guess. Now that she's gone I have time to catch up.

Day 3 was a day for the "J" to visit other Omaha friends. She has so many friends here she should just move here. She'd wanted to experience a good thunderstorm while here and nature obliged with a short but quite thundery-lighteningy storm in the morning before she went visiting. The Wife and I spent the day buying and planting plants for our new garden. It will look great once the coral bells, purple parasols, peonies, two colors of cone flowers, and other perennials we bought get established.

Day 4 was filled with an obligatory "J" activity - we went on a roadtrip. This roadtrip took us to the small town of Red Cloud, NE, population 1,000+, childhood home of author Willa Cather. The Wife, before we met, used to take her students on a Saturday field trip to Red Cloud. One of the things she described that peaked my interest was an old Russian schoolhouse northwest of town. The schoolhouse was in some farmer's field reachable by unmaintained dirt roads. I thought it might be a great photographic opportunity.

After a three hour drive we arrived at the restored opera house that is now the headquarters of the Willa Cather Foundation. We paid for our guided city tour and we asked about the location of the Russian schoolhouse. To our dismay and my disappointment the schoolhouse had been struck by lightening a few years back and had burned to the ground. Poop. I had to settle for a picture the Wife took back in 1997. The Wife and I have searched online for information about this school and there is absolutely nothing. What a loss for history.

The guided town tour took us past historic buildings and we went into the childhood home of Willa Cather, a couple of churches she attended, and the train station. Willa Cather wrote three books about the immigrant struggle on the prairie and all the characters were modeled on Red Cloud residents.

We ate lunch at a local cafe that ended with me spilling my drink on myself. The waitress commented that I was not as bad as three unsupervised five year olds eating spaghetti. I was glad to hear that. After lunch we drove five miles south to the Willa Cather Memorial Prairie. The prairie is 608 acres of virgin prairie never touched by the plow. The land, purchased by the Willa Cather Foundation and the Nature Conservancy, is being returned to it's pre-1900 conditions before farming and over grazing. Standing out there you could feel what it was like to be a new immigrant, looking out over the land, wondering how you would turn this land into your future. Many didn't. Some pictures of the town and buildings are here.

Day 5 will be more history. Can anyone ever have too much history?

The "J" Cometh: Day 2

Day 2 was a slow start followed by a trip to downtown Omaha. We first met one of the "J"s Omaha friends at M's Pub for lunch. We'd never eaten here before and the food was mighty tasty.

After lunch we wandered around the old market before heading to Heartland of America park to see the fountain. Unfortunately the fountain wasn't fountaining.

We dropped the "J" off at her friends work place (She will have dinner with them tonight) and the Wife and I returned home for a leisurely evening of television.

Day 3 the "J" will spend with another Omaha friend so the Wife and I will be going plant hunting so we can fill in the holes in our new backyard garden.

The "J" Cometh: Day 0 And 1

One of our bestest friends in the whole wide world, the "J", arrived Monday for a week long visit. Monday, Day 0, was occupied with catching up and boy, can the Wife and the "J" catch up. Of course I held my own at times.

Day 1, Tuesday, we left the state and went over the river to Iowa. After a lunch at the Duncan Diner, we visited the weirdly fascinating Squirrel Cage Jail (Our third time this year). The "J" was fascinated by it and enjoyed being locked up in solitary.

Next we went to the General Dodge House. Gen. Dodge, one of the youngest civil war generals, was instrumental in completing the intercontinental railroad and consulted on railroad projects in France, Mexico, Cuba, and Russia (The Trans-Siberian Railway). The place is pretty impressive and reeks of wealth.

The last stop of the day was the "Black Angel". The angel, carved by Daniel Chester French, the same guy who carved the statue of Abraham Lincoln for the Lincoln Memorial, was based on a dream that Gen. Dodge's wife, Ruth Anne had. Supernatural events have been attributed to the statue. While it took us a while to find it, nothing supernatural happened to us.

Tomorrow, downtown Omaha and the Old market.

One More Thing Checked Off The List

We've been to the roller derby three times. The first time everything was new (Roller Derby: √ ). The second time we had friends with us and we saw one of the candidates for Mayor of Omaha. Since I really never have seen a political candidate, even a losing one, live in person, it was another first for me (Mayoral Candidate: √ ). Our third roller derby outing also had a first.

First of all, the Omaha Roller Girls (O.R.G.) were winning, something we'd never experienced. They really whipped the No Coast Derby Girls from Lincoln. (100-something to 61). But that win was not my only first that night. Near the end of the bout, before the start of a jam, the head ref, Ellen DeGenerate, approached the O.R.G.'s jammer, Ima Firestarter (#5'3"), got down on one knee, and proposed there on the spot. I couldn't see from vantage point but I think a ring was exchanged. My first Public Lesbian Marriage Proposal. I'm guessing there will be a trip to Iowa in their future.

√ So, what's next on the list?