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 »

Kinderfest

Brenda and I were going to take the girls sailing but there was rain in the forecast so we decided to put it off for a week. Rainy combined with slightly chilly (60 degrees) doesn't make for a good time outside of Wasilla. So we decided to go to Kinderfest at a local regional park. Go »

My Child Bride

I've mentioned my wife, Brenda in numerous posts. Thought it was about time to introduce (at least her picture) her to my on-line friends. This is also the only picture to which she consented. Go »

Spain in a Week

We're back in the USA after a week in Spain with layovers in Paris and Amsterdam. Barcelona and Madrid were incredible. We saw more things than my brain could catalogue and looking at the pictures we took I find myself repeating, "Where in hell were we when I shot this?" Go »

(Insert Movie Title)...in 30 seconds Re-Enacted By Bunnies

Not a new site at all but one I hope everyone will enjoy if you haven't already. If you've seen it before, hope you'll find something new. Very clever re-enactments if only for the editorial difficulty in condensing a film down to 30 seconds. Go »

Givin' It Up To The Man

There seems to be several different meanings to that phrase, these days especially. Meaning 1) A teenage girl in Germany sold her virginity online to an Italian businessman for $18000. She had hoped to raise $100K for schooling, I think. Go »

Greasy Pole (Not Ron Jeremy)

Apparently, there is an annual contest in which men in drag attempt to walk the length of a greasy pole suspended over a body of water. It appears to be about 40 feet in length and about 20 feet over the water. The object being to reach the flag at the end of the pole. Go »