16 February 2010

Bears and Elephants and Water Buffalo Oh My!


I've started and stopped this post several times over the past couple of days. I'm determined to finish it!

As I mentioned in my last post, Sunday was my father's 80th birthday. Normally to celebrate a birthday my parents, sister, and I go out to dinner. It's never anything fancy, just a time to be together. Since this was a milestone birthday I thought we should do something. Cost usually factors into the decision because my parents insist on paying their share. As luck would have it, Sunday was 'Corporate Partners' day at the LA County Museum of Natural History. My dad thought it would be a nice outing so we four went. (Some time I'll have to post about my estranged brother.)

I had last been at this museum in the 1980's to see the "Mary Rose" exhibit. My friend Lisa and I, both being anglophile/Tudor fanatics, had to see the artifacts brought up from the sea. Sorry that's a whole other talk show.

Being the doofus I am, I didn't take my camera on our outing. For some silly reason I thought picture-taking would not be allowed. But evidently I was wrong. So I took these with my cell phone. That's why they're so bad.
When I was about 3 or 4, we visited this same museum. I remember the hall of animals where the elephants were at the very end. Because they are not behind glass I thought they were real. Okay, they're real, I mean "alive." And I was scared. It's still one of my favorite dioramas, though. There was a cool California History exhibit on the lower level. The insect zoo was a disappointment; I'm not sure if it's because it wasn't as well rounded as I anticipated or if it was all the little kids running around.

All in all it was a fun day. I enjoy museums and wish I took the time to go to more. It's been 20 years or so since I was at the Norton Simon (familiar to those who watch the Rose Parade on New Year's Day) and about 11 years since I was at the new Getty Museum.

Sorry the formatting got screwed up here; I need to learn to edit HTML. I just wanted to give a brief overview of my Valentine's Day.

Incidentally, I didn't receive one card or flower. Maybe next year?

BEHR HUGS!!

3 comments:

Unknown said...

When I was young, there was an installation at the Franklin Institute [I think] in Philly that was a giant walk-thru heart, and as you were going through it, you could hear the beating. It was fascinating and very scary to me!

No cards or flowers for me, either. Just Behr hugz!

Larry Ohio said...

St. Valentine's Day... let's see now...
I gave Greg and card, got none in return
I gave Greg a box of chocolates, received none.
I made Greg a special breakfast (eggs benedict), he made me nothing.
I baked Greg a cherry pie, and he went out and bought some whipped cream in a can.
Hmmmph!!

Mark in DE said...

I prefer to have the Valentines spirit throughout the year, rather than just one Valentines day. Glad you had a nice time with your family on your dad's birthday.