Class at the Zoo

I helped with a class at the Zoo today.  This was a much better behaved group of 4th graders than I had a couple of weeks ago.  Sure, they were rowdy at times, but they were controllable, and quieted down when instructed to do so, unlike the other class.

 I handled a box turtle and a Tegu.  The picture at left is one I got off the computer and is not anyone at the Zoo, but I wanted a picture with people in it so that you can see the size of this creature.  The one I handled today was a little smaller, but the Tegu is one of the world's largest lizards.  It is from South America and 'tegu' is an Argentine word for 'lizard'.  He was a hand full at times, but stayed fairly still when I took him around for the kids to touch.

I wanted to show this picture because I think one of the most fascinating things about this lizard is the tongue.  He has a very large, long  forked pink tongue that he is constantly sticking out to 'smell around'.  And, this close-up gives you a good look at how colorful he is and how his scaled skin looks like it's beaded.  I haven't researched this, but I would imagine because of his pretty skin he was used for many purses, shoes, and belts. 

I can't believe I've already gotten close to 60 hours volunteer time in since I became an official Docent the first of December.  And this is the slow time of year.  I don't think I'll sign up for much coming up.  I'm already signed up for an outreach this month and one in March.  With the class I'm attending in a couple of weeks on the Dinosaurs that we'll have again this summer and those two outreaches I'll be close to 70 hours by the end of March.

Line Dancing Lessons

Mary Lynn and I noticed in the Highland Community Ministries Newsletter last week that they offer Line Dancing each Monday at St Paul United Methodist Church.  That's located at the corner of Douglas and Bardstown Road.  We thought we'd give it a try.  So, today was our first day.

Mary Lynn had some Line Dancing a couple of years ago, but I've never done any of it, so it was new to me.  The Lane Dancing was from noon to 2 pm.  When Mary Lynn and I walked out of that place today at the end of the session  you'd of thought we just ran a marathon!  2 hours of line dancing is hard work!  It was a lot of fun, and we plan to go back next week.  It's set up so that if you're a beginner, you can learn some of the dances, but if you've been doing this awhile, a lot of time isn't spent on teaching.  You get to do a lot of dancing.  About half the songs the instructor will go over the steps before it starts, but other songs she just plays and the people dance.  You can watch and try to catch on to those, or just sit and watch.  Every week we go we'll pick up more and more of the moves and, after awhile, be able to keep up.   I thought we did pretty good for the first week.  It seems like each dance has 4 separate sets of moves that you repeat over and over.  I get the first couple of sets, but get confused on the last part.  I'm sure it'll get easier.  It's amazing how tired I was after 2 hours!

Golf on a warm but muddy Thursday

It was a good day to play golf.  Warm weather, light breeze, sunshine.  The course was  pretty muddy, but that's to be expected this time of year if it isn't frozen.  The only thing that wasn't nice was the way I played.
I usually put some type of golf picture with my post, but I found this 2nd grade school picture of me and couldn't think of any other reason to post it, so I'll put it with my golf entry. I was the same age Erin is now.
I can't count this round because I didn't play my own ball the whole round.  We played a 'Shamble' on the back nine.  I didn't know we were going to do that and I was a little disappointed.  I played terrible on the front nine and my only consolation was that at least it would raise my handicap.  Then I found out we were playing the back nine a Shamble, so they don't count the round towards our handicap.  I shot a 45 - 40 - 85.  Our foursome came in last in the team competition.  I played bad and was the lowest score in our group!  I think I've said this before, but I just never seem to play well in muddy conditions.  Just not a mudder!

A little more Metal Detecting on a Sunday Afternoon

I metal detected for awhile today at the Zoo.  A lot of these coins I found a couple of weeks ago, but hadn't cleaned up.  I found a total of $1.92, a watch, and one of the pennies was a 'Wheat Penny", 1953.  But, the watch has a 'Genuine Stainless Steel" back!

I've covered the Zoo fields pretty thorough now.  I'm sure I could still find a few coins, but I feel like I'm about done there.  My total since I started metal detecting is now $146.10.  I figure that averages out to about 22 cents an hour!  You have to do this because enjoy it.

I need to find another place to detect.  Anybody with a  house that's been around for 60 or more years I'd love to detect your yard.  Or if you know somebody, ask them for me.  I promise to make very little, or no, mess, and I'll show them everything I find.

A Blast from the Distant Past!

I came across these photos and thought I'd share them.  I found them very interesting. I hope you do, too.

This is a photo of Preston Hwy looking south at the railroad overpass by Audubon Park.  I don't know what the occasion was, but I wonder if anyone in this photo has a copy of this picture?

This old Steiden Store was at the corner of Bardstown Road at Douglas Loop.  The building is now the site of Heine Bros Coffee Shop.  The Steiden Stores were bought out by A & P around 1960.

Looking South on Bardstown Road at Bonnycastle.  This looks to be late 1930's.  If you go there and stand in the same spot, you'll see the same buildings, just different names on the storefronts. And, no streetcar tracks.  You'll notice behind the Walgreens sign is a 'Piggly-Wiggly' Market!

This is a view of Dixie Hwy looking North at the point of the 7th St intersection.  Southland Terrace Shopping Center would be just to the right in about 20 more years.  The truck is parked in front of St. Helens Church.  Maybe around early 1930's.  Notice Dixie Hwy is two lanes and not striped.  I know Dixie Hwy was only two lanes when I was growing up and crossed it every day going to and from St. Matthias School.

And, last but not least, the White Castle at 1st and Market Streets.  The White Castle is still there, but now boasts to be the largest White Castle in the World!  Evidently, they rebuilt.

Oops! This is a late entry.  I forgot about it until I was looking through my pictures.  This is Plehns Bakery in St Matthews, looking south on Shelbyville Road.  The bakery is still there.  This photo looks to be in the late 1920's.

Another round of Golf in January

It was cold and muddy today.  A lot of the fairways looked a lot like the picture at left, only we weren't wearing shorts.  It was pretty nippy the front nine, but finally warmed up enough to be comfortable on the back nine.  We played another "Shamble" today, where we take the best drive and play our own ball from there.

I shot a 39 - 41 = 80.  I really don't know how our team did, but we all played pretty bad.  But, sometimes when the team plays bad everybody else in the other groups are playing bad.  So, you never know.  I didn't stay around long enough to find out who won today.  I don't mind sticking around a little while, but the last group was 5 holes behind us.
I started hitting the ball better the last 4 or 5 holes.  I was making much better contact.  It's always nice to be able to get in a round of golf this time of year.  It doesn't look like this Thursday will be a golf day.  Heavy rain is forecast. 

Visit to the Zoo

I haven't been to the Zoo for a couple of weeks, so I thought I'd go over and get a little Docent time in.  I'm scheduled to help in classes next week on Monday and Wednesday mornings, but I received an email that they were short people this Saturday for the Girl Scout program.  So I thought I'd go over and do an interpretation, check to see if they still needed help tomorrow, and check the board to see if there was anything new to sign up for.  They had all the help they needed for tomorrow, but I signed up for 2 Outreach programs, 1 in Feb and 1 in March.  One is a Cub Scout Troop and the other a Kindergarten Class.

While I was at the Zoo I thought I might as well get a little interpretation time.  That's where we go out to an exhibit with a bio-fact and talk to people who happen to come through about the animals on exhibit and maybe share a few interesting facts.  Well, the reason I don't like going over during the week in Winter is because there are very few people visiting the Zoo.  I spent almost an hour at the Komodo Dragon/Cuban Crocodile exhibit and had one person come through.  She was very nice and I tried not to push myself on her, or any information.  I realize how pushy some people can be and I tried not to be one of those people.  I think I did fine, and we had a polite conversation and she seemed to be pleased with the couple of facts I talked to her about.  Then she was on her way.

While at the exhibit, the Komodo Dragon never moved a muscle, and neither did the Cuban Crocodiles.  The Komodo Dragon can eat 60 percent of his body weight in one feeding, then sleeps it off.  So he may have eaten not long ago, but then again, he sleeps a lot anyway.
The 2 Cuban Crocodiles were over by the little gate that leads to their feeding area.  It must have been close to their feeding time, and they didn't move from there.
I'll tell you a little about the Cuban Crocodile.  It was once found on most of the Caribbean islands but is now only found in the wild in 2 small swampy areas of Cuba.  It is a highly endangered species.  The SSP (Species Survival Plan) headquarters for coordinated breeding of the Cuban Crocodile is located at the Louisville Zoo.  This program coordinates breeding worldwide, preventing inbreeding to ensure healthy offspring. And, you want to know a quick and easy way to tell the difference between an alligator and a crocodile?  Look at the picture.  See the lower tooth near the end of the snout sticking up outside the jaw? That is a crocodile.  Alligators won't have that.

So, not much going on at the Zoo today.  Weekdays in the Winter, the crowds just aren't there.  I really don't like to go very long without checking in because you have to keep a constant check on the boards to see if there is anything new going on that needs volunteers.  And, if I go, I'd like to get credit for a little time.  We have a book to record our time.  I have my required hours in already, so I don't have to worry about that.  Our year ends April 30th.  Each year we are required to get in 48 hours, 36 of those educational, to

stay qualified.