We're back, as promised. The weather here in Dallas is nearly perfect currently. The temperatures are in the high sixties or low seventies (we've had a few 80-degree days, too) and for the most part it's sunny; however, as I type this the clouds are very pregnant with rain.
We spent a wonderful day at the Dallas Zoo a couple of weekends back. It was a surprising treat. My zoo experiences are limited. I think the only other zoo I've ever visited is Lansing's tiny Potter Park. I may be wrong about this, but I think Dallas is more involved in conservation and species preservation. In any event, I had a great day. I was able to see gorillas for the first time in my life, and I won't soon forget how special those animals are. I was most encouraged by the fact that one of the four gorillas they have in Dallas was actually born in a zoo--a good sign, considering how threatened they are in the wild. Mihir and I were also quite taken with the warthog. Somehow, he reminded us of our dog, Alfie--probably in the sense that sometimes attitude triumphs over intelligence. But there's hope for Alfie. He's set to start obedience school this week. As for zoo photographs, I'm afraid there aren't many. It's frustratingly difficult to get good pictures at the zoo, as the only option is to take pictures through wire fences or glass of some sort--or from a great distance. But here's a picture of the warthog.
Visiting that zoo also made me incredibly ecologically conscious. Mihir and I have recently started recycling, but since the zoo visit I've become quite the zealot. We don't have curbside pickup at our apartment, so we have to make frequent trips to the recycling center. It saddens me to realize how much plastic we use, just as a two-person family. Recycling is only half of the battle. The mere production of these bottles requires a trememdous amount of energy. I've committed to reducing the amount of plastic I purchase. The easiest items to eliminate were bottled water and sodas. That alone is a sizable personal contribution for me. It's a start.
Visiting that zoo also made me incredibly ecologically conscious. Mihir and I have recently started recycling, but since the zoo visit I've become quite the zealot. We don't have curbside pickup at our apartment, so we have to make frequent trips to the recycling center. It saddens me to realize how much plastic we use, just as a two-person family. Recycling is only half of the battle. The mere production of these bottles requires a trememdous amount of energy. I've committed to reducing the amount of plastic I purchase. The easiest items to eliminate were bottled water and sodas. That alone is a sizable personal contribution for me. It's a start. 
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