What I learned at the Zoo by Kelly

On Saturday, me and Riley went to the zoo. It was cool. First there was a princess and pirate party. Riley dressed like a princess. I dressed like a mommy. We saw lots of animals. When the zoo closed, we got to stay. We took a walk around the zoo in the dark. It was cool. We learned a lot of stuff about animals. Then the zoo people brought in some animals. We saw a porcupine, a cockatoo, and a boa constrictor. We got to pet the snake! Riley thought it was cool. Then we slept in the jellyfish exhibit. Then we woke up. Then we ate pancakes. Then we got to go in a building and see where the jaguars and snow leopards sleep. Lastly, we fed the penguins. It was cool.

Here are some things I learned at the zoo:

1. Alpacas are smaller and weaker than llamas.

2. The new zoo train looks cooler than the old one but the ride is still just as short.

3. The bigs cats have to be locked in buildings at night.

4. Air mattresses are allowed at Snooze at the Zoo.

5. A backpacker's sleeping pad that is only 4ft. long is not as comfortable as an air mattress.

6. By 4:00 a.m. a backpacker's sleeping pad feels like you're sleeping on an inflatable stick of gum.

7. Riley is not a night owl.

8. Jellyfish tanks make cool night lights.
9. When a condor is scared, it throws up.

10. On a hot day, a condor can cool its feet by pooping on them.

11. Condors are as gross as they are ugly.

12. Even a small boa constrictor can hold on tight enough to turn a zoo keepers thumb blue.
13. There are about 20 different species of penguins.

14. Only 6 species of penguins live in Antarctica.

15. Riley likes feeding penguins "real live dead fish."
16. Zoo employees think it's funny when they ask a little princess if she wants a butterfly painted on her face and she asks for a snake instead.

17. The big cats are better trained than most dogs.

18. The big cats get cow femurs for treats.

19. The big cats are just like small cats except they can rip your face off.
20. Jellyfish tanks are really really really loud.

21. You don't actually snooze much at Snooze at the Zoo.

22. If you want to feel like you are at snooze portion on Snooze at the Zoo, put your sleeping bag on your garage floor and turn on two or three industrial fans and the vacuum cleaner. Now try to sleep.

23. Spending the night at the zoo is really cool, even if you don't really sleep much.

(OK, now I'm done channeling my inner 4th grader.)