This Place Is A Zoo

I spent an evening out with my good friend Chris last night. We decided to go to the National Zoo for their Zoo Lights event. Basically, it's like those drive through light displays that they have at Bull Run and Merriweather, but you walk through instead. It was quite fun. . . but also, quite miserable.

Unfortunately, it was cold and rainy the whole time. And it seemed that the closer we got to the zoo, the harder it came down. We took the Metro to the zoo and saw this lovely display at the Connecticut Avenue entrance.

Now, I don't know how many of you readers have visited the zoo using the Metro, but the subway stop is about a quarter of a mile down hill from the zoo. Not a big deal. . . unless it's raining. . . and your clothes are soaked.

Once at the zoo, they did keep some of the animal houses open ,so you did have an opportunity to warm up a little. Most of the animals were asleep. Here's a shot I tried to take of a meerkat. The pic is blurry because I tried to take it on my digital camera without the flash, so as not to scare the animal.


Back outside for another light display.

I think they may have had some event earlier in the evening, because we came across this ice sculpture under a tent full of tables and chairs. BTW, the cow is not part of the sculpture.

Now here's the really fun part. Evidently, we got there pretty close to closing. Each time we went into a different animal house, an attendant would let us know that the house would be closing soon. Not a problem, we could still look at the lights outside. Well, we left the last house, walked to the end of the zoo, and then turned back to leave. We were the last ones to leave the park. How do I know this? Well, halfway through our uphill walk back to the exit, they turned out the lights on us. Not just the light displays, but the park lights in the section that we were walking through. Can I tell you that it's a little creepy walking through the zoo at night with no lights on and no one else around.

Well, after we finally made it uphill (the zoo is all hill) to the exit, we were soaked and out of breath. . . OK I was out of breath, Chris is a dancer and much more fit than me.

Despite the weather, a good time was had by all. Oh, and I'll have to let Chris tell you about the reaction he got when he asked if they were selling umbrellas.

Merry Christmas Darling

I'd like to wish all of you Haven Dwella's a very merry Christmas!

And now, let me leave you with the video for one of my favorite Christmas Songs.


Music video codes - Carpenters music video

That song always makes me think of my Carla.

Antonio Be Shoppin'

I hate shopping. I especially hate shopping around Christmas time.

Today I went to Potomac Mills to finish up some Christmas shopping. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of Christmas shopping without having an idea of what I wanted to get. So, I ended up walking the whole mall and only finding two things. I finally had to leave because the mall started to get more and more crowded. Note to self. . . next time, have a list.

Hey, by the way, they had the coolest thing at the mall. They had this Christmas train that kids could ride on, and it actually travelled through two sections of the mall. I was walking, when all of a sudden I heard a train whistle behind me. I turned around, and there was a train coming at me. Cool!

Ooh, and for those of you who are familiar with the Don and Mike show on WJFK, I was right behind Don Geronimo at the drive-thru of the McDonalds at the mall.

One last thing, as I was passing one of those kiosks in the middle of the mall, one of the merchants tried to get me to buy a hand bag. "Wouldn't you like to buy a lovely bag for your wife or girlfriend?", he said. Ugh! Who is he to assume I have a wife or girlfriend? What if I had a husband or boyfriend? . . Not that I have a boyfriend. . . Not that I have a husband. . . Not that there's anything wrong with that. . . Oh never mind.

Stop, Ladies, Pray. . . A MAN!

I, as a guy, hate going into women's stores. Want to know why? Well, I'll tell you. Every time I go into one of "those" stores (to buy gift cards for family members or friends), I feel so self conscience, and for good reason.

Every time I walk in, I hear the sound of necks whipping around as everyone in the store turns around to look at me. Then when I get to the counter, it seems like the cashiers take forever.

The other day, I went to a store to buy a gift card for my mom. As usual, everyone in the store turned to look at me. When I got in line, there was a woman in line who kept staring at me with this look of distrust on her face. Then when I got up to the counter to buy the card, it took five minutes (not an exaggeration) just to activate it.

A few times over the years, I've gone to Victoria's Secret to buy gift certificates. It was always the same thing. Every time I'd ask for a gift certificate, it would take forever. And, they always seemed to be out of them and would have to go to the back to get more.

You know what I think? I think those stores do that on purpose because they see how uncomfortable I am. I think they go to the back and yuck it up with each other.

The Meat Counter

I was grocery shopping at the Shopper's Food Warehouse last night, when I heard the most interesting conversation coming from the three female employees behind the deli counter. Something about one of them checking her man's shoe size before marrying him. I wonder what that was about. . .

A Little Chick-A-Bowow For Dessert

Are you familiar with the Brenda Lee version of "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree"? Have you ever really listened to that song. If not, I'd like you to click on the link and listen to the line "Later we'll have some pumpkin pie". I'd like you to notice how the word "pumpkin" sounds a little inappropriate. I'm just sayin' . . .

Here Comes Santa Clause

I was having an email conversation with my ol' friend Missy the other day. She was talking about her son and how good he's been, and how Santa was bringing him everything he wanted. The conversation brought back a lot of memories of Christmas as a kid.

The one thing I remember most was the anticipation on Christmas Eve. I remember how I just didn't want to go to bed. And when I did, after my mom would make me, I would try my best to stay awake.

Now here's something funny. There was one year that I could have sworn that I heard Santa on the roof. Why is that funny? Well, because I lived on the second floor of a three story garden apartment building.

BTW, check out the birthday card Sabra sent me.

A Christmas Present For My Readers

Click here and enjoy!

You gotta love it.

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

On this holiday season, make sure you turn up your speakers and enjoy the "Sounds Of The Seasons" while you're reading BruDog Haven.

Ladies, Look Out

There was a study done at McMaster University in Ontario that proved something that I've known for years. Men who have deeper voices are more attractive to women. Don't believe me? Click here and read it for yourself.

They did this test on an isolated tribe in Tanzania and found that the men with deeper voices had more children than the men with higher voices.

Hey Lori! Remember how you used to lay your head on my chest while I hummed behind the Pontipee house during "Seven Brides..." Hey Trish! Remember how you would always comment in "Joseph..." about that bass line I sang on "...we should be blamed". Now I know the reason. You all wanted me. heh heh heh.

Let's Shed A Tear For Number 21

It's hard for me to get as emotional as others over the Sean Taylor situation. I'm just a football fan who watched him play on TV. I didn't know Taylor personally. I'd never met him and probably wouldn't have. I'd never been to a game he played in. That being said, I totally understand why a situation like this gets so many people so emotional.

I was watching the Redskins game yesterday. Much like the rest of the NFL games this week, there was a moment of silence before the game to remember the recently diseased Taylor. Of course, this game was a little different because this was the team he actually played for. Well, I found myself getting a little teary eyed during the tribute because it touched me so much to see his teammates/friends/brothers so affected by his lost. It's hard watching a group of two to three hundred pound men in pads crying.