Unfortunately we were unable to go to the zoo today. It was free for kids so every child in Allegheny County was present. They stopped letting people in. However, we went somewhere just as fun...THE BUFFALO PRESERVE.

In South Park there is a giant field that is fenced off and filled with nothing but buffalo. It's been there forever, but I was a new visitor. It was pretty darn awesome, let me tell you. The buffalo were congregated at the top of the hill so we had some hiking to do. It was well worth it though (although I'm not one to talk as Donnie carried me most of the way so my new shoes wouldn't get dirty). It was fun to watch them meander around aimlessly.

For dinner we went to a rather fun restaurant in the Southside called The Library. The weather was gorgeous so we ate on the second floor patio. The menu came inside of a huge book and all of the dishes were named after famous stories. We had The Wings of Icarus (buffalo bleu flavored), The Billy Goats Gruff Stuffed Peppers (to die for), and 2 Animal Farm Sandwiches. It was so adorable, I could hardly handle it. I love when restaurants do things out of the box.

At precisely 8:12 we stopped to have a look at the Space Station that was visible at that time and that time only. It was pretty impressive, Donnie was thrilled. All in all, it was a marvelous FIRST DAY OF SPRING.

Lions and Tigers and Bears, OH MY!

When I was a kid my parents LOVED taking my little sister and I to zoos. I am fairly certain that I've been to every one within a 4 hour radius of my home. And let me tell you, that's a lots of zoos. We've seen the really good ones AND the really bad ones, and all of those inbetween.

Today I am keeping the zoo spirit alive and heading to the Pittsburgh Zoo in about ten minutes. I haven't been to a zoo in quite some time and I keep getting more and more excited. Zoos are one of those things that you never outgrow. Regardless of your age there is something magical about seeing a mother tiger play with her cub or a flock of hundreds of flamingos. That never gets old, ever.

The sun is shining unusually brightly for a March afternoon so we are taking full advantage of it. Animals here we come!!!!!!!!

An Old Friend

Meet Abner, one of my closest friends. Yes, I realize that he is a stuffed pig, but that's not what matters...

Abner came into my life in the 5th grade. My friends and I were in Coulumbus after a big basketball tournament and we persauded our parents to take us into Build-A-Bear. I was no stranger to Build-A-Bear so I knew the ropes. I already had a rabbit, Caroline, a bear, Peanut, a lamb, Mac Daddy, and a koala bear, Mr. Snicklefritz. I saw a pig sitting there and I knew I had to stuff it and make it my own. And so Abner was born!

Over the years the other stuffed friends fell by the wayside, but I have never spent a night without Abner. He's been to 23 states and 5 countries. I must admit that I'm attached to him. It seems childish and somewhat pathetic, but I can't help it. Abner is one of those things that's remained stable in my life for years. I know that even if my day is absolute insanity, he'll be there waiting when I get home.

The two of us have been together for years: gradutions, deaths, vacations, new schools, new boyfriends. Almost everything in my life has changed since I got him, but he reminds me that that's okay.