Oh Billytea! We had a sign (ok, it was the back of a flyer, but...) all ready for Iris to hold at the Cape May Zoo that said 'thx for the tip Billytea & Miss Havisham!' But then she fell asleep on the road to the zoo (we were going on the way home) and we took the opportunity to drive in peace. As we were rounding the 76 curve past the boathouses in Philly? She wakes up and the first thing she says is "Zoo! We need to go to the zoo!"

Aww. So disappointing. I'm assuming here that you didn't immediately turn around and go back, or take her to Philly Zoo, which has giant otters and the record for longest-lived echidna in captivity (48 years). IIRC, it's the oldest zoo in the US.

or take her to Philly Zoo, which has giant otters and the record for longest-lived echidna in captivity (48 years). IIRC, it's the oldest zoo in the US.

We love the Philly Zoo. [link] haz membership. The giant otters are really amazing. I need to find the echidna again. Man, I wish the R8 train still stopped there.

I need to find the echidna again.

Indeed. It's in the nocturnal animals exhibit, IIRC, which can make its appearances a little haphazard. (Obviously, this is a different echidna from the deceased record-holder.)

The Philadelphia Zoo is my very favorite! It's awesome.

Fay's "twilight bark" reference made me snort cereal-milk. And jihad!Dalmation is cracking me up.

See, obviously, the solution is for Teppy to come to Vermont for 10 days. (Tom and I were just talking about hoping you were coming up again someday soon)

See, obviously, the solution is for Teppy to come to Vermont for 10 days. (Tom and I were just talking about hoping you were coming up again someday soon)

I like the way Nora thinks!

And the notion of Jihad!Dalmatian is hifuckinglarious.

jihad!Dalmation is cracking me up.

It's even funnier when you know how totally dumb she is the rest of the time. It's like whatever meagre intelligence she possesses has been focused and channeled into a blood oath against Guest Dog.

And Guest Dog is part mastiff (or, as I suspect, pit bull). Which means that the dalmatian is going to get severely hurt if she doesn't stop the thuggery.

(Tom and I were just talking about hoping you were coming up again someday soon)

The Boy and I are going to try for late September/early October, b/c he's never been to Vermont, so I figure his first time should be during Leaf Season.

The Boy and I are going to try for late September/early October, b/c he's never been to Vermont, so I figure his first time should be during Leaf Season.

Oh, TOTALLY. Good choice.

The Philadelphia Zoo is my very favorite! It's awesome.

San Diego's Faunapalooza tops my list. But Philly is well worth the trip, as is Cincinnati's. And Melbourne Zoo, I might add. I must also give props to America Zoo in Hershey, simply because for me it was way convenient to be able to visit a North American-specific zoological garden, and the zoo on Phillip Island, which has the most reliable echidna exhibit I know of. (Bonus Phillip Island treat: the Penguin Parade!)