Jesus, category 5!? That's just really bad news. I can't imagine how horrid it is going to be for those that *can't* evacuate, or even get to higher ground.
If this falls out as it looks....there's going to be a lot of reckoning, human, political, financial afterwards.
I spent the day at the zoo. It was nice. I should get a membership so I can go wander there on weekends without shelling out $15 a pop. It isn't the nicest of zoos I've been to and they sorely need better maps and signage, but the animals are well cared for and have nice digs. And the property itself is very much set in the local- meandering in and out of MD forest. Nice for just walking in the woods.
I saw lions (heard them roar!) and antelopey critters; rhinos; zebrabutt; warthogbutt;otters ; chimps - found ALL about a big old rumble that happened last week and how they are putting the female whose pheremones likely prompted the males to go try to beat each other up on depro. And their poor basket case chimp who was rescued from a private zoo and she will not go into the open. She follows the walls. However, she is an excellent mother and the other chimps sorta protect her, so they're hoping she'll get knocked up again soon. (docents seem to love to talk to me. Every one I saw stopped to talk to me. ) Oh and lemurs! I want a lemur.
The leopards were being big cat puddles, but I got to be there for "feeding" of the cheetahs. The male and female are in separate areas but right next door since they are TRYING to get the male to figure out how to mate. Allie (the female) is game, but he can't seem to figure it out. They've resorted to bringing in an elderly male cheetah to, um, show him the ropes. And hopefully motivate him through competition. It's funny. Mr. Cheetah was supremely unimpressed by the bloody bone- he rolled over and showed his belly. Allie, otoh, was pacing and leaping as soon as she saw the staffs' green shirts. She lept and snorted and wrestled the evil bone to the ground. It was fun to see her move.
I went in the lorikeet cage and did not get shat on, though they really liked my earring.
And there were polar bears. Only one was out on exhibit, sleeping when I arrived. But when I left, she was studiously trying to drown her ball in the water. For 45 minutes. So that was cool.
I really need to borrow someone's kid next time I go. I try not to be that creepy grownup pointing stuff out to other peoples' kids, but it's hard. I mean, am I going to allow a kid to miss the lion stretching back in the corner because the parents are 8 feet back? No. And then of course, they start asking me questions and....and it's just cool and ... Maybe that's why the docents always talk to me. I'm kinda one of them in temperment. Based on the reception, I don't think anyone thinks I'm a creepy grownup (parents were asking me questions) but still ...I fear.