We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo

Another perfect day in Southeast Louisiana. Sunny skies, cool breezes, high 60's. Today, because I'm unemployed, I helped chaperone the little people at Younger Son's "school" on a field trip to the Audobon Zoo.

We left the school at 9:30 a.m. and rode on a school bus down Broadway in New Orleans. Even that was a joy - lovely older houses, beautifully kept, with a grassy median, adjoining the campuses of Tulane and Loyola of New Orleans. We arrived at the zoo quickly and efficiently, which is good when traveling with 30 three and four year-olds children The zoo is a gem. Beautiful landscaping, interesting animals, and plenty of places for the kids to just play when they are tired of looking at things. They really liked Monkey Hill, which is just a thing to climb...but it has a net bridge and a net slide at the end. I didn't know that. Ahem. I hope nobody photographed me.

My favorite animals were the pair of juvenile Amur leopards, just 10 months old. A zoo employee was in the gap between the people fence and the animal fence, and they were very lively. Talk about fangs! They stalked this guy, batting at the cage and roaring at him. Most of the zoo animals I've observed are pretty lethargic, and when they actually do anything it's entertaining. These cats weren't just doing something, though...they were asserting themselves. "We are Fierce Creatures, and you are close to our space, though on the other side of the fence. Mistake us not: were it not for these very strong wire bars, you would be Dinner!"

After the zoo, we went down to Riverview Drive, which is a park-like setting on the Mississippi River levee. There were lots of people tanning there. The natives thought it was too cold, but as a Yankee, I understood the impulse. After lunch, the kids played on a playground for a bit, then we went back to school.