A Day At The Zoo ... Taking This Whole Show On The Road

 

The Son told us that a local Rock Radio Station was Hosting a Special at the Wildlife World Zoo, Buy a Ticket and get a 2nd Person's Admission Free, a considerable Savings.   So, he, his Sister, Princess T and I went.  I don't think either of my Adult Kids had been there since I took them as Children.  I'd taken Princess T and her Brother about a Decade ago.   It's a very large Breeding Zoo, so far too much walking for The Man and he's not really a Fan of Zoos anyway.   It had been Years since any of us had been there, so, we really enjoyed ourselves.  But, it was very Hot and in the Nineties, so, after a few Hours we Tapped Out.  I got some good Pixs of some of the Animals for Blog Fodder.   A lot of the Outdoor Animals were Napping in the Shade, so, not where you could get good Pixs of them.  The climate controlled Indoor Exhibits were easier to Photograph them.

I had both Cameras but only used my Cellphone Camera, which has a good Zoom feature for more candid Close-Ups.  Some Animals seemed quite comfortable to Vogue for their Photo Op and were Curious enuf to come in close for it.  *LOL*   The Son and I had to ride herd on The Daughter, with her Schizophrenia, she Imagines a lot of things about Animals that aren't tethered to Reality.   So, for her own Safety, you have to monitor her as you would a Small Child around Wildlife.  Princess T wasn't used to that Reality, of her Mom being in an environment with Wildlife and just how much Supervision it took.  So, it did stress her out that Mom was wanting to Touch everything and we had to keep Supervising the situation.  Especially when The Daughter was Sure that Animals were Talking to her and getting too animated.  *LOL*

I realized my Granddaughter was getting embarrassed, she's protective of her Mom, but realized that a Grown Woman behaving Childishly, draws some unwanted attention.   I'm used to it, she's not, so, I had to keep reminding The Daughter that she had to Calm Down and get a Grip, since, her Daughter was getting Anxious, Worried and Embarrassed.   The Daughter tries really hard to please her Kiddos and have them be Proud of her, so, she'd be Calmer for a little while, then have to be reminded again... no Touching, no getting too close, no reaching over enclosures and such.   She was really having a good time, I know it's probably been over Thirty Years since she was Well enuf to be at a Zoo, so, I am still glad we all went together.

But, her Brother was getting Anxious and Annoyed, he helped me manage her Care while there.  He too is protective of his Sister and realizes her limitations can be pretty evident at times and certain situations in particular.   We made sure she didn't wander off or get too much Psychosis with certain Exhibits.  In a way the Heat made it an Ideal Excuse to call it a day earlier than we might have otherwise.  We'd all had Fun, we also had a Meal at the Zoo's Restaurant, which is a primo BBQ place called "Dillon's".    Of coarse, tho' The Son and I like a really nice quality Restaurant, the Gals are very fussy eaters and Weird about their Food.  So even with an extensive Menu, they fussed about not wanting anything on it.  *Eye Roll, but, you get used to it.*

I managed to talk them into eating Sides.  If all you can get either of them to eat is some Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans, so be it.   And, if you buy The Daughter a Bloody Mary to wash it down with, well, she won't Care if she has actual Food or not.  Plus, a Bloody Mary will often have enuf shit topping it that it's like a Small Appetizer Meal too, No? *LMAO*   I got her Two of them, since, I knew it would take the Edge off her Mental Health Issues if she had a bit of Alcohol to subdue urges and Psychosis.   We work with what we have.  *Winks*   The Son was using typical Dark Humor about her seeing things with her "Real Eyes" and hearing things with her "Real Ears", which is how she describes what she Sees and Hears that are clearly Psychotic.   She does have a sense of Humor about it and is somewhat Aware when she's unraveling some.

  

Princess T was asking if her Mom REALLY Needed Two Drinks with the small amount of Food we could get her to eat?   The Son deadpans, "Well, if you don't want her trying to climb into the Tiger Enclosures, and running with the Jackals, yeah, Two Bloody Mary's should do the Trick..."  *Bwahahaha*  He is not Wrong about that.  *LOL*  Princess T was having an upset Stomach from the Anxiety created by Worrying about her Mom around the Animals, but, she was a Trooper.  She really enjoys bonding with her Mom for the first time ever, and they really get along and Love one another so much.  So, it's good they can enjoy some Quality Time doing things, even if it takes form in some unusual Safeguards and Guardrails that have to be in place to pull it off.  *Smiles*

I've said it before, taking this Show on the Road can be quite the Adventure!!!  *LMAOROTF*  But, it's our 'Normal' and so Honestly, I'm so used to it that I just find it to be another Day in Paradise with the Familia, such that they all just are.   We are a Motley Crew with Issues.  *Smiles*   You definitely would never be bored or not have a lot of Laughs hanging out with us tho', you just have to be able to enjoy some really twisted Dark Humor about it all.  *Winks* 

  I'd go over what NOT to Touch, and then sure enuf, The Daughter would be trying to fucking Touch something or reach for it... so, you had to be vigilant and remind her of the Safety Prompts.  I have to do that with The Man a lot too, so, it's become like 2nd Nature with them both.  They shake their Head in Agreement with what they're being reminded NOT to do, then forget it instantly... it is what it just is.   It's not just a matter of Memory Care, it's a matter of dealing with Brains that aren't Wired Right and things just sometimes don't compute.

The Trees here are very Old and the smell of the Eucalyptus Aroma is heavy in the Air, there are some magnificent specimens.   I Love everything about the Zoo, if it wasn't so expensive I'd go often, but, Costs for running and maintaining a Zoo are prohibitive and so is Admission now.   When we lived in Rural Affluent Subdivision Hell, it was only Blocks away from this Far West Valley Breeding Zoo, so, I bought an Annual Pass one Year.  It was a waste of Money for The Man and The G-Kid Force, but I did use my Pass a lot that Year.   I think The Man went once and lasted 10 Minutes before he asked to leave, it was Sensory Overload for him and he never went back, nor wanted to.

  For the Hundred Bucks his Pass had Cost me, thinking it would be good Cardio for him... well, most expensive Ten Minutes I'd ever Paid for.  *Eye Roll, Le Sigh and LOL*   The G-Kid Force like a Zoo, but, with each of their Special Needs, it can often overwhelm too.   The Young Prince is Schizophrenic like his Mom, so, there can be Triggers for 'them'.   And, Princess T, if the Zoo has a lot of people like it did Today, with it being a Special Hosted Event by the Radio Station, the amount of Humans there was causing her some Social Anxieties.  Couple that with her Mom needing a lot of Supervision, well, she was probably relieved when we all unanimously agreed we'd had Enough Fun.  *Bwahahaha*   She, Timmy and Matthew are 'Good' again, so the Gay Boy Posse have now taken her out when we got Home.  *Smiles*

She was not in Pathological Picture Taker Mode, clearly, so, I mostly concentrated on Photographing the Animals, and not the Family.  *LOL*  Now that she's Grown she's realizing how much Work is involved in Caregiving for our Loved Ones in Public who require a fair amount of it when we have an Outing with them.  She's more familiar with how to handle Grandpa when he's High Maintenance or being difficult or unlovely, since she's been doing it longer with me for him, than she is when her Mom is.   If you've ever done any Extreme Caregiving or Parenting, you Understand, it can be rewarding and yet exhaustive, depending on the Environment you drop everyone in.  *LOL*

But, when you Buy the Ticket, you're on for the Whole Ride, Right?  *Winks*   I kept humorously reminding Princess T of this Fact, when she quietly came up to me and said how much she was 'Over The Zoo Experience' as a Family Fun Day.  And... have we had Enough Fun yet Gramma... I think mebbe we need to take my Mom Home now.  *Bwahahaha*   The Deal being, the Zoo is enormous, and by the time we weren't having Fun anymore, well, we were in the Lower Forty of it and a long trek back to the Entrance.   By then, everyone needed to stop and be Watered again at one of the strategically placed Snack Bars... and the typical "Are We There Yets" you expect.  *Bwahahaha*  I think I heard The Daughter mention her Toe hurt about a Gazillion times.  "Mom, my Toe hurts..."  *LOL and Eye Roll*  I'd just say, "There she goes... again...", and tell her to, "Suck it Up and Walk it Off.  Ya'll all are now too Big to Carry."  *LOL*

Princess T by then was saying she thought she wanted to Throw Up, felt like she might Faint and had a Headache.  The Son's Autistic lack of a Filter kicked in and he can sometimes take it too far.  Especially with the Gallow's Humor about sarcastically saying what Fun this all was playing out, when we take this Whole Show on The Road.  *LMAO*   He joked, "Mom, what WAS I thinking to suggest doing this as a Family, Right?"  I'd respond dryly that I knew he'd brought his MJ Vape Pen, so just take a Hit, we'd all get thru this.  *LOL, Okay, so it WAS Funny*   Especially when his Sister would then See or Say something Psychotic and then he'd deadpan, "Did you See that with your Real Eyes?  Or... did you Hear that with your Real Ears?"   And she'd yell, "Shut Up Liam!" and burst into raucous maniacal Laughter.  And Princess T would shake her Head, look at me, and say something like, "How DID you manage to Raise them Gramma?!"    Well, my Circus/Zoo, my Monkeys, what can I say?  *Bwhahahaha*

Now she knows why in many ways, Raising she and her Brother, I'd already had a couple Decades of "Practice" at Extreme Parenting with the First Generation of Kiddos in my Care.  *Winks*  The Carrot I kept dangling out there on the long trek back to the Entrance, to keep the Procession Moving in the Right Direction... was to tell The Alcoholics, that we'd stop by a Convenience Store and buy some Mike's Harder Lemonades for them, as a Reward, if we just made it back Alive and without leaving anyone behind.  *Bwahahahaha*   As it turns out, once we made it Out, the Adult Kiddos bought Drinks and Snacks for everyone at the Convenience Store.  So, Princess T was loaded up with Snacks and Beverages for her Outing with her Boy Posse, compliments of her Mom and Uncle, for taking one for the Team and joining us at The Zoo.  *LOL*

She had been hesitant to go, once she knew everyone was going.  She said it only could have been MORE complicated if we'd of tried to bring Grandpa... well... Heaven Forbid.  *Bwahahahaha*   This is the only Group Shot we tried, The Son couldn't get us all in there and hold his Arm out far enuf.  *LOL*  The Daughter had broken her Phone the other day when it fell in the Toilet... *Pause... Eye Roll*   Princess T had told me she'd done that before and I'm like ????????????????, how does one drop one's Phone in the Toilet... I don't understand?  *LMAO*  So, anyway, we've wasted a Bag of Rice with a Phone now sitting in it trying to dry it out... but... might have to see if we can get The Daughter another one.  She qualified for a Free Phone from the State, for the Disabled and Indigent, but I don't know if it has any replacement coverage or not?

I like her to have one so I can check up on her and she can always reach us.   The Military Plan that The Man has only qualifies us for Four Paid Phones at his Discount, so The G-Kid Force got the other Two on that Plan.   The Young Prince and his Sister feel Safer when they have a Lifeline to us and I like for them to have one for the very same reasons I like their Mom to have one.   All are good about constant contact with me via their Phones and keep their Tracking Device on it so we know their location at all times.   The Man too, it helps me have a Locator on him, kinda like having a Chip in your Pet.  *Bwahahaha*  Well, it's helped not to have need of putting out a Silver Alert on him... so... just sayin', it's handy.  *Smiles*

Since the Aquarium and Reptile Exhibits are mostly Housed inside Climate Controlled Buildings, we did spend a lot of our time there.  It was easier to Photograph some of the Wildlife when they're comfortable and easily visible.  On a Hot Day most of them tend to Nap if they're Outside and aren't as Active, so, a great deal of the Animals were not near enough to Photograph and a great many were Chillin' or Napping and having a Siesta.   They have a lot of Animals on the Endangered List and this began as a Breeding Zoo to bring Endangered Species back from the brink of possible Extinction.  A lot have Successfully been bred there since the very early 1970's and re-released into Natural Habitat in the Wild of their Countries of Origin now.   

They also House a lot of Rescue Animals, both Oceanic with Injuries that would make them vulnerable in the Wild... and Monkeys Rescued from Countries that would eat them or Sell them in Illegal Trade otherwise.  They have about 36 Rescue Monkeys of Endangered Species of Africa and Asia, that would have met with a questionable Fate had they not been Saved by this Program.   The Black Market for Exotic Pets and also for Poached Animals is a big problem Globally and is wrecking a lot of the Populations of certain Species.   Along with loss of Natural Habitat and Environmental Issues like Climate Change, a lot of Species may not exist outside of Zoos in the Future.  If we want to Preserve, for Future Generations, these precious Animal Species, we have to Support the Organizations that do the good work to Protect them in the Wild and Breed them in Captivity to ensure their Existence.

 

The Zoo was making a lot of new Enclosures that were really more Natural and Aesthetically Beautiful for Housing many of the Animals.   Several of the Enclosures had Waterfalls and Rock Formations, Ponds and lovely Landscaping for the Enclosures Residents.   Many of the Animals have Babies, in fact, since it is a Breeding Zoo, they take Pride in how many of the Animals reproduce there and seem Happy enuf to behave Naturally and propagate.  They do have a Nursery for the Babies whose Parents can't or won't Raise them too.   Some Animals will reject their Offspring and this Zoo has a Program to Hand-Raise any of those Offspring whose Parents are incapable of Raising them, for whatever reasons.  In the Nursery this day they had a couple of Leopard Cubs, a Male and a Female... and Seven Baby Jackals, Five Males, Two Females. "So, this is where WE would have ended up?", deadpanned Princess T and we all Laughed and Laughed inappropriately.  *LOL*

Many Babies were successfully being Raised by their Parents and are always a big Attraction.   The Baby Monkeys of all kinds are particularly precious and Fun to watch.  In fact, we enjoy the Monkey Exhibits the most of all the Mammal Exhibits, they really put on performances for the Humans visiting them and are probably the most Socialized of the Wild Animals.   Sometimes we feel like THEIR Attraction.  *LOL*  Hey, come look at these Humans and get a load of this Group of 'em... *Bwahahahaha*    The tinier Monkeys seem to enjoy being Photographed and eagerly came up for their Photo Ops and cooperated for some good Blog Fodder Photography.   As did the One Zebra, who struck a Pose and Smiled... Photo in the earlier part of the Post.  *LOL*

The Zoo also has many Rescue Albino Animals that wouldn't Survive or Thrive in the Wild with their Genetic Mutations.  Since I helped The Young Prince Raise and Care for some of his Reptiles when in his Reptile Phase, I enjoy the Reptile Exhibits too.  I appreciate the level of Care it requires to have them and I do sometimes miss Alduin, the Bearded Dragon.  He found a good Home, when he got too big to be trekking around with The Young Prince.  Once your Lizard gets to be the size of a Small Dog, a lot of places won't Rent to you.  *LOL*  I must say I was impressed that Bearded Dragons in many ways are similar to Dogs in how they Bond to their Human Owner/Caregiver.   They are known to show signs of Affection towards their Owner and recognize you, much like a Dog would, which, I didn't expect.  Alduin really liked me and was bonded to me and The Young Prince.  By the time he was over Two Foot long tho', he was Sweet of temperament, but somewhat intimidating as a Pet. 

And, since he was a Male, by the time they reach Maturity, they can become ornery and potentially could harm you if they get aggressive.  I felt like it would take someone not intimidated to finish Raising him and our Grandson agreed.   So, willingly gave him up to a Friend who Raised Beardies and had the means to make the better Home for him.   He sometimes keeps in touch with that Friend.  The average lifespan is 8-10 Years, but with the right Care they can live to be 20.   So, they are a significant commitment for their Owners.   I miss him, but don't miss the level of Care that a Reptile requires, even tho' Beardies are an entry level Reptile to own.   Some Animals are best left to the Wild... or the Zoos... where Trained Pros can ensure their appropriate level of Care and Handling, especially the Exotics.

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Blessings, Love and Light from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian