It’s Landon Time!
or A Random Act of Kindness.
Today was our day to get some quality Landon time, so we planned to take him to the Bayou Wildlife Park between Dickinson and Alvin, and then spend the rest of the day together.
We left the rig about 8:30 (OMG), but had few stops first before we picked him up. First up was a Starbuck’s run to get some caffeine in us, since we didn’t make coffee before we left.
Then, after a quick trip through the bank next door, it was across the street to Jack Box’s place for a breakfast sandwich for Jan. Finally our last stop before getting Landon was to the house to get his car seat for the trip.
When we got to the daycare, he was in his Computer Class (he also has Spanish Classes there too) but was ready to leave with us.
I’ve always been impressed by the security at the daycare. First off, you don’t even get buzzed in unless they know you, or expect you. And if you’re not a parent, you can’t pick up a child unless a parent has told them you’re coming, and your name must be in their files ahead of time. Very nice.
Finally getting Landon buckled into his car seat, we headed out. While I was trying to get him situated, he kept looking at me like he was wondering what kind of idiot couldn’t do this.
Hey, there’s a lot of buckles and straps, OK?
It was only about 20 minutes to the park, and we got there just as it opened. (I love it when a plan comes together.)
The last time we were here was in the early 80’s when Landon’s mother, Brandi, was only about 7 – 8 years old. So it’s been a while.
Paying our admission at the gate, and getting our food buckets,
and heading into the park, we were quickly greeted by a welcoming committee. They had figured out that they had the best shot at the food by getting there early.
We had llamas,
SDSD
American Elk,
SDSD
goats,
SDSD
and even this evil-looking Emu. It’s easy to see why scientists think birds evolved from dinosaurs.
And they all just came right up and stuck their heads in the car window.
Landon wasn’t too thrilled about this part. He didn’t cry, but he did keep saying “Close window, close window. Go way, go way.”
Next we crossed over a cattle gate and drove out into a wide-open area just filled with animals. Everything from deer, antelope, llamas, alpacas, elk, ostriches, and emus, to kangaroos, swans, and ducks. Oh, my.
SDSD
Parking at the main building we checked out the Petting Zoo,
SDSD
and the giraffes in their pen right next door.
SDSD
After seeing this sign, I told Jan I was going to search her before we headed home. We have two cats. We don’t need a goat.
SDSD
By now it was time for our tram ride through the rest of the park. They’re completely open so you can get up close and personal with the animals. Sometimes closer than you really want to be, especially for Jan and Landon, as you’ll see a little bit later.
SDSD
As we headed out there were animals every where we looked. And what was really amazing was how many of them Landon could name.
SDSD
This guy would have emptied the whole bucket if Jan had let him.
SDSD
These are ring tailed lemurs. They have two different compounds of them, surrounded by water to keep them in.
SDSD
You don’t realize how big swans are until you see them up close. This guy’s about 4 feet tall. That’s a lot of bird.
SDSD
When the herd of American Bison surrounds the tram, you began to wonder just how sturdy the tram was.
SDSD
And this Watusi Cow didn’t help things any.
SDSD
I thought this Bactrian Camel (two humps) was going to climb into the tram with Jan.
SDSD
He took a liking to Landon’s brightly-colored backpack and decided he wanted it.
SDSD
And came after it.
SDSD
She kept trying to push him away, but a 1500 pound camel doesn’t push very easily.
SDSD
I’m not sure if Jan was trying to protect Landon here, or trying to get Landon to save her.
But luckily he finally gave up as the tram pulled away.
They even have gators. But luckily they don’t come up to the tram to be fed.
SDSD
This is Cleo, their Southern While Rhino. She weighs almost two tons, and is 5 feet high and 9 feet long.
Now that’s a big girl.
SDSD
A Red Kangaroo.
SDSD
Getting back to the barn, Landon picked out a new friend at the gift shop. Jan asked him if he also wanted a T-shirt.
He said, “No shirt. Just Monkey.”
He named him Eek Eek.
I think he now has 3 monkeys named Eek Eek.
I saw this sign of the side of the barn, and it is correct.
Alvin, TX holds the record for the most rain in the continental US in a 24 hour period. Tropical Storm Claudette came in from the Gulf and just hunkered down and stayed.
We were very lucky our house didn’t get flooded, and we’re built pretty high.
And it looks like you can start your own zoo here.
Need a breeding pair of zebras? They’ve got them.
How about a half dozen Scimitar Horned Oryx . . . Oryxes . . .Oryxi? Whatever. You’ve come to the right place.
Or maybe you’ve always wanted a pet Water Buffalo? You can git’em here.
About 12:30 we headed back to the house. We had a great time, and Landon said he did too. Maybe we’ll bring him back next year, so he can enjoy it even more.
On the way home, we stopped at Wendy’s for lunch. For Landon that was Chicken Nuggets and Apple Slices.
While Jan and Landon rested and played, I visited some clients and took care of some problems. And by the time I got back to the house, it was after 4pm, so we all headed out to Barcenas Mexican Restaurant, right outside the subdivision, a place Landon always enjoys.
He really likes their Queso.
As far as the Random Act of Kindness, I kept waiting for the waiter to bring our check after we were finished. Finally, I asked him for it, and he said the guy in the booth behind us had paid our check for us.
Huh?
I remember glancing at him when I sat down, and Jan said when he left she had looked at him and didn’t recognize him.
Maybe he was just messing with us. A couple of times over the years, I’ve paid the toll for the car behind me, just for the hell of it. But I never bought anyone’s dinner.
I did ask our waiter if the guy had also paid our tip. He smiled and said “No.” So I asked him how much our bill was, $35 as it turns out, and I tipped him on it.
Leaving Barcenas, we drove over to the nearby Wal-Mart for some groceries and a few other things, and then it was back to the house.
By the time we got back, Landon had finally zonked out, after a very busy day.
Brandi and Lowell had used this Landon respite to have dinner at Cheesecake Factory, so when they got home little after 7pm, Jan and I headed out. We did make a quick stop at the Monterey’s Little Mexico in Dickinson for a call-ahead order of chips and salsa to go with our meal tomorrow.
Hopefully the day won’t start so early tomorrow.
——————————————————————————————————————–
Thought for the Day:
I’m tired. I got nothing.
SDSD
