The GGA Project -- Day #122 "Best-Fed Goats in Town"

Just today I heard an interview on the radio with a man who wrote a book all about the state of animal welfare.  I can't say too much about it since I only heard about 10 minutes of the interiew, but the book is The Bond by Wayne Pacelle.  I didn't catch all of the author's credentials, but he was clearly a man who'd devoted his life to caring for and defending animals (I got the impression he's one of the people who'd spearheaded the great pet rescue following Hurricane Katrina).  And one of the things I did hear him say is that while he is mostly in support of the existence of accredited zoos, he takes real issue with what he called "roadside menageries."


Whoops.


Today's New Activity: Eye to Eye at the Petting Zoo


After three attempts, my Ma and I managed to take Monkey to Kennedy Park when Triple Pines, their little roadside menagerie, was open.  I guess San Lorenzo School District is on spring break, so there were tons of kids around and all the attractions, including the carousel and the train, were open for business.


I'm pretty sure I've never even been to a petting zoo--none that I can remember anyway--and I've definitely never taken the baby to one (I know he looks big to be referred to as a baby, but I finally understand why mothers say, "he'll always be my baby."  I get it now).  We we first entered the little barn-like structure, we were greeted with a gang of bunnies and a few doves.

This part was a little bit sad.  Each bunny was in its own cage, not hanging out with any other bunny.  I saw one of them out of his cage for about 3 minutes so kids could pet it, but he went immediately back in right after.  And the girl who was holding him seemed just like all the other young teenagers working there...I don't believe she was any kind of animal expert, but anyway the bunnies were cute.  They just looked a little lonely.


Then we moved on to check out the sheep

Oof.  So cute!  These guys were totally friendly, coming right up to the mesh gate to greet Monkey.  I'm not sure if they let the sheep out to be pet, but I have seen them running around in the open areas when the petting zoo wasn't open to the public (the outside fence lets you watch the critters even if you can't go in and say hi).


The pièce de résistance, however, was being let into the open area with all the goats.  I know we were at a petting zoo and all, but I was a little surprised to see that they actually let you into the space to just walk around among the animals.  It just seems like anything that fun or freewheeling is illegal now.  What a shock that we didn't even have to sign a waiver or put on some kind of protective vest.  We bought a little cone filled with a snack they love, too, just to ensure the goats came around.  Here's monkey quite literally surrounded while I sprinkled the treats from above.

He was a wee bit apprehensive at first, but pretty soon he was mixing it up and casually petting any goat that ambled by, as if hanging out with goats was just a normal part of his every day activities.

I was so proud of his bravery and ability to just go with the flow.  I think every mom worries that she'll have one of those kids who just freaks out at every new thing and needs to be coaxed and begged out of his or her familiar routine.  Certain things may affect him that way, but I was so thrilled with how he took to the animals and mingled among them.


After we'd had our fill of quality time with the goats, we wandered over to where some beautifully oddball chickens and pheasants were housed.

How fun to get to see these creatures in a park just down the street from our house!  There was a crowing rooster somewhere out of sight, adding an extra dose of sensory experience to the whole thing.


I have to say I agree with the author I mentioned in resisting support of fly-by-night, animals-as-entertainment operations.  Since this is in a state-funded park I imagine it would have to be accredited in some way.  Still, it's worth looking into.  If I know the teenagers who seem to run the joint are required to treat and house the animals humanely and in accordance with some kind of agreed-upon best practice, I'll happily take Monkey here for years to come, as he obviously enjoyed it.


What better way to finish off this visit than with a relaxing sight-seeing once-around on the train?

The GGA Project -- Day #108 "Big, Dangling Carrots"

The Mamas out there can attest that sometimes we really have to psych ourselves up for a trip to the park.  At least I *hope* I'm not the only mom out there who feels this way.  The thing is that when the kids are my son's age, the park is more work/stress than it is fun because everything still seems like a big falling danger and there isn't a single thing the tot can play on or with that doesn't require major parental assistance.  Still, I know the park is good for Monkey and that he enjoys himself whenever we go.  And I have super Mom Guilt over the constant question of whether or not I take him to the park enough, just because worrying about whether I feed him well enough, whether his development is on track, whether I've got the right discipline approach, whether I can support him financially well enough, etc, etc, isn't enough to make me feel guilty.  I needed--like all of us mamas do--just one more thing to fret over.


So.  Today we planned to spend shopping with my own Mama, starting right after her morning dentist appointment.  We dropped her off and went across the street to Target, where the Easter Bunny and I met and did some collaboration.  After that, I wanted nothing more than to just relax and have some coffee until my Mom's appointment was over.  But it just so happened I'd spotted a giant park right across the street from Target that I'd somehow never noticed before (I can kind of get tunnel vision when it comes to Target (real Happiest Place on Earth)).  And guilt about the fact that poor Monkey would be shopping all day was enough to get me out of lazy mode and off for


Today's New Activity: Super Fun New Park, Super Disappointed Monkey


When we got to the park, the first thing I noticed was the sound of a rooster crowing, though I didn't see any livestock around.  Then we saw a train track, though we didn't see any train.

The toys were a good distance from where we parked the car, and somehow during the whole approach I'd also missed an entire carousel, which I didn't take notice of until I heard the music start to play, kids running toward it from all corners of the playground.  It was then that I also saw a ticket kiosk and, in the distance, all the makings of a petting zoo.  How had I seen/heard nothing of this awesome park until today?!


For a while, Monkey was content to play on a tire swing (which I actually never see in parks anymore and had completely forgotten even existed until today)

After a little while he sort of plugged into the carousel noise and decided to go investigate.  This was one of the saddest scenes I've ever been witness to involving my son:

Such longing!  Such wistfulness!  Unfortunately, since all this potential fun was a total surprise to me, I'd left my wallet in the car, so we couldn't buy tickets for the ride.  At one point (since the entrance was out of sight), he actually attempted to just bust right in

More Mama Guilt!!  And it's not like I spoil him and give him whatever he wants, but this would have been a nice, rare treat :(  I could have just gone back to the car for money, but I knew my Mom wouldn't be long at that point, so I resolved to come back another time soon and make a whole day of it.  There was a ton of wide open, grassy space to let the kids run around, too.


Monkey was a little reluctant to go, but I let him carry the Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino he was nursing, so he came along with me, eventually, and at his own pace.

And we even got to see the train on a practice run on our way back to the car.  I have a feeling this spot will become a favorite in no time!




And in just a bit of random news...I found out I won't be able to transfer closer to home rather than be transfered to the further away location my bank is sending me to, so that means I'm more resolved than ever to get a new job.  The resolution, in fact, is to apply for a least one job every day (sounds easy, but since I'm only applying to jobs I really really want, it takes a bit more effort than I'm accustomed to).


Also, a quick follow up to my "Never Hurts to Ask" post: I didn't hear anything about a sponsorship, but in true never-hurts-to-ask mentality, today I asked a clerk at DSW to honor a six-weeks expired, $10 off coupon I had and his manager went for it!  Hey, it never hurts.  And I wouldn't have even asked before, but that was an easy way to save ten bucks.


So also in the spirit of how it never hurts to ask, I've decided today that I will ask Mark Zuckerberg for a meeting.  Somehow.  I have ideas, man!  Well, I have idea anyway.  And I want to share it.  And he does live/work 30 minutes away from here.  I mean really, why not?


:)