The Wilds is one of the largest and most innovative wildlife conservation centers in the world. Located on nearly 10,000 acres in southeast Ohio, it is home to rare and endangered species from around the world living in natural, open-range habitat, as well as home to hundreds of indigenous species. http://www.thewilds.org/
I wanted to like The Wilds more than I did. I was frustrated with their effort to hide their political agenda while on the guided tour. I applaud them for the work they do but was disappointed that they used propaganda (at minimum the dumbing down element) in the tour script. For example, When we were getting ready to pass through the double gated area into (drumroll please) THE WILD we were told the animals were not in a cage - we were in the cage in the form of the bus. Huh? Why then the double gate with a perimeter and another set of fences. Why were natural enemies seperated? OF COURSE this is a set of cages. It is necessary - I agree with it - but WHY are they trying to convince me this isn't a cage?? They could not admit that these animals were domesticated even though there was a three generation group of rhinos born in captivity. Do truly wild animals live in a barn four months of the year? Are truly wild animals fed by a "man in a yellow hat?" Please tell me the truth: this is a zoo. It is however, unique and respects animals. They are doing important and serious work. TELL ME ABOUT THAT! Tell me what the problems are, what the challenges are, etc. Please acknowledge that the animals ARE being used but they are being used with respect and treated with dignity for the purpose of perserving them and strengthening the blood line. Please admit that my concerns are your concerns; what happens to these animals when they are removed from their truly natural habitat and placed in this safe environment? I did speak with a guide about animal behavior studies and they had answers - interesting observations. BUT, these were never spoken about publicly. Any questions that were considered to be challenging were answered with a nonanswer and the guide quickly moved on to another topic. The guides were ALWAYS pleasant but it was obvious they wanted to remain non-controversial. The tour would have been better if more honest and forthright. Their political agenda is an important one. The surface story didn't give people credit for wanting to know the real story.
Friday, August 22, 2008
A Quick Weekend: Marietta
MARIETTA
(Enlarge barge photo if you can.)
Marietta Ohio is a quaint rivertown on the Ohio River and West Virginia. It is easy to find out where to go, what to see, and where to stay, read any brochure or website. However, I must say staying in a riverview room at the Historical Lafayette: A Grand Riverboat Era Hotel is a must. But what made this trip memorable was the people we met.
There was the antique dealer on Front Street. We popped in right about closing time. She informed me that my husband had been in earlier and declared that she had nothing of interest to him. Ouch. I asked about children's books (I'm still looking for a copy of my first ever chapter book titled The Pink Maple House - that's a story of its own). She said she had no books. Dean mentioned to me that it was near closing time and we should leave. She laughed and said she would stay open as long as our wallets were open. I looked around and complimented her on her fine furniture collection. I asked her where she got all the pieces. She said people call her and beg her to buy their old junk because the grown children don't want it. She was still laughing when she said those same children will be back in ten years looking for those pieces but they will be gone.
We crossed the Muskingham River on a short bridge to the Harmar Village. Here we met a shopowner who was even more sassy. A wooden hand-made toy caught my eye. It was a tower with about 50 "arms." The player places marbles at the top and the marbles flow down the tower making a musical sound similiar to a Rain Stick. She instructed me to "put all the marbles on top. If you put on one at a time I will have to smack you!" I told her I would obey because she was scary. The two of us dished it out for quite some time. ...I didn't but the toy. I asked her about DaVinchy's restaurant for dinner and she just scoffed saying it was okay if you liked Stouffers frozen food reheated. She suggested Spagna's up the block. We checked Spagna's out and decided...naw. We would take our chances with DaVinchy's. When we returned to the bridge we walked behind her store so we wouldn't see her again! Even though she was using an oxygen tank I thought she might come out and run us down!!
As we were crossing the bridge I noticed a man looking up at the electrical wires at a flock of pigeons. I said, "Checking out the pigeons huh?" He then told me about a pet pigeon he had nursed back to health. It is white and he comes to the bridge to look for it. "Does the pigeon recognize you?" "I think it does." "What makes you think that?" I used to sing an Italian song to the bird and when I sing from the bridge the bird looks at me and flys around" (the bird could not fly until this man nursed it back to health). I should have asked him to sing the song but I didn't. I actually didn't think about asking him until I wrote this. I did ask him where he learned the song. "It was on an old electric album I have." ???? We said goodnight and left him leaning on the bridge watching for his pigeon.
We entered a shop called The Twisted Sister. As I was making my purchase the shop owner asked if we had dinner plans. We said we were going to walk across the Ohio River to West Virginia on the "big bridge" to DaVinchy's. She told us it was wonderful and the coconut cream pie was to die for. She told us they make all their dishes from scratch. Hum, a lot different from the "oxygen lady." Then she laughed and admitted her bias, the owners were her relatives! BTW - the food was great!
It seems that many of the shopkeepers are the owners. We had a lot of conversations about a wide range of topics. The artists told us their stories and I got involved in a marketing plan at Rossi's pasta. We heard a woman tell her story about a career change from working in a chemical plant office to owning her own bakery/coffee shop. We listened to the local musicians at an Open Mic. Marietta offered a warm and open atmosphere in which to interact with people...what I think traveling (even in your backyard) is all about.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Grandchildren
It is amazing what three grandkids (5,3, & 2 years) can do to a household in a few short days. In many ways it feels like child rearing has begun once again. It is all about keeping children happy and healthy. You put aside your desires and routines to give the gifts of a good memories. The memories are also added to your personal store of 'good stuff.' It is part of this wonderful thing called living a full life. Riley and Preston (the 'babies') hang together while Carter contemplates and writes stories. As with you own children, they are each unique. Currently Carter is the thinker, Riley is the giver, and Preston is the mimic trying to find his niche.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
A Movie Recommend
Brenda (college roommate) and I watched an independent film on DVD: Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School. We are still talking about it. It got some bad reviews but the "User Comment" on this site say it all for me. If you like independents - see this one. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409034/usercomments
Friday, August 1, 2008
Two Summers
After spending two months in New York (the City and Long Island) it feels like I am having another summer; two completely different experiences. The CP video and the painting pictures communicate more than words how these two summers differ. I love them both.
Let The Painting Games Begin
The big question is: Can she get 5 gallons of paint from the bucket to the walls before classes begin? With a little help from Husband Dean: YES she can!!
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