Animal Lovin'

In my quest to experience all the sites and sounds of my new home, I made a trip this weekend to the Looseville Zoo. Peppa Roni Jenkins was kind enough to loan me her hunky houseboy Kevin to be my official tour guide on this sassy safari since he has prior experience as a docent.

If you're wondering what the frick a docent is, you're not alone. Turns out that it's just a fancy word for a volunteer teacher. As Kevin explained, docents assist the Looseville Zoo Education Department in teaching classes to school groups, sharing information with Zoo visitors and helping “to better the bond between people and the planet.” Lord knows, that Kevin is all about "bonding". Apparently, docents also get to put the smackdown on hyperactive children that torture the animals by banging on their glass cages. Sounds so fulfilling!

One of my favorite animals at the zoo was the East African Crowned Crane. This crazy bird had some serious Jenkins flair. Why, just look at that roller disco hair she's sporting.

The other patrons seemed very impressed by the showoff of the animal kingdom, the peacock. I'm not sure what the big deal is; we have one of these screeching primadonnas running about the Highlands, my neighborhood in Looseville. They make a worse racket than Pinkie getting turned away from the buffet at Shoney's.

The Lorikeet exhibit was a total blast as well. For just $1, you were able to purchase a tiny shot glass filled with nectar and then enter their habitat to lure these colorful creatures in for a little cocktail. I'm not sure what the Lorikeets were so excited about; I had about five shots and never got so much as a buzz. Here's a picture of Kevin with his new feathered friend right before she showed her gratitude by pooping right down his back. Oh, the thrill of the wild!

Some people have phobias about snakes and spiders. For me, the scariest exhibit at the zoo had to be the dreaded staropotamus. This dangerous creature is known for its enormous mouth and drastic weight fluctuations. This is one predator that I'm happy to say was recently placed on the endangered species list. Just look at those fangs!

Everyone who knows me well realizes that I am a great animal lover: frogs, rabbits, ducks, bison. They all make fabulous menu items. So, you know that I'll be back to the zoo time and time again to research new recipe ideas and to get in touch with my inner beast.

Smooches,
Daph