Masai Giraffe at the San Diego Zoo

Happy anniversary to……….me!

San Diego Zoo logo

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Today is the 19th anniversary of Jim and me meeting. I was working in Detroit as a consultant in the wireless telecommunications industry. My client flew me home to San Diego every other week, and Memorial Day weekend in 1994 was my second trip home that May. I took two days of PTO (paid time off) so I could come home Wednesday night and go to the Men’s Coming Out Support Group at the Gay & Lesbian Center of San Diego, which is where Jim and I met. Imagine what might not have happened if I had not used those two days of PTO!

Jim and I are going to Pasadena today, mainly to visit the Norton Simon Museum but I’m sure we’ll also get to the Rose Bowl, Pasadena City Hall, and the Pasadena Railroad Station. I was last at the Rose Bowl in 1978. That’s when I found out that it had 77 rows of seats, a great number since I was Class of ’77 at Texas A&M University (Aggies will understand that).

My neighbors across the street are going to keep an eye on our place while we’re gone, as well as come in a couple of times to check on Zoey the Cool Cat. Sure, Zoey the Cool Cat will miss us, but she’ll get over it as soon as I get back and give her food and tummy rubs, and let her sleep on me.

I won’t be able to make it to the San Diego Zoo today, so I’ll let y’all go for me. Have fun!

Red Kangaroo (Macropus rufus)
The largest of all the kangaroos
and the largest mammal native to Australia.

Red Kangaroo at the San Diego Zoo

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Masai Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi)
The tallest land mammal

Masai Giraffe at the San Diego Zoo

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Sleeping mama Jaguar (Panthera onca)
The largest feline in the Western hemisphere.
This one has two cubs that are each a year old.

Jaguar at the San Diego Zoo

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Meerkat (Suricata suricatta)
How come all these animals are sleeping?
Must be nice to sleep all day.

Meerkat at the San Diego Zoo

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus)
The largest North American land bird.

California Condor at the San Diego Zoo

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Dromedary Camel (Camelus dromedarius)
Camel poop makes great fertilizer and fuel!
(Again with the sleeping animals!)

Dromedary Camel at the San Diego Zoo

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Mexican Fireleg Tarantula (Brachypelma boehmei)
Gets to six inches in size and
flicks barbed bristles (called urticating hairs) when irritated.

Mexican Fireleg Tarantula

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Sleeping(!) Guanaco (Lama guanicoe)
Guanaco spit when threatened.

Guanaco at the San Diego Zoo

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)
Mama and two little ones.
The largest rodent in the world.

Capybara at the San Diego Zoo

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Eating Jaguar
This is one of the cubs from mommy above.

Jaguar at the San Diego Zoo

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Female African Lion (Panthera leo)
Sleeping. Duh.
Second-largest living cat; tigers are bigger.

Female African Lion at the San Diego Zoo

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)
Nickname is “skunk wolf” because its mane has a distinctive odor.

Maned Wolf at the San Diego Zoo

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)
Sleeping, of course.
The polar bear was the mascot of the 1988 Olympics in Calgary, Canada.

Polar Bear at the San Diego Zoo

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

The End

Polar Bear at the San Diego Zoo

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

I’m Zoey the Cool Cat,
and I approve this post.Zoey the Cool Cat

Looking for real estate services in San Diego County?
I can highly recommend
James Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award, DRE #01458572

If you’re looking for a home inspector,
I recommend Russel Ray — that’s me!Real Estate Solutions

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

54 thoughts on “Happy anniversary to……….me!

      1. Bashar A.

        I hear you… thats why I go there about every 2-3months, usually thats when I forget how bad the traffic is and I go there. On the way back I always tell myself this is the last time. This has been going on for ~ 5 years now 🙂

        Like

        Reply
        1. Russel Ray Photos Post author

          This might have been my last visit by car. I had no idea until National Train Day on May 11 just how extensive the L.A. Metro is. It goes everywhere that I go except for Santa Monica and UCLA, but they are building to those two places. I think I saw where they will be going to Santa Monica by 2016.

          Like

          Reply
  1. kelihasablog

    Congratulations on your anniversary 😀 …. Great pictures also, so close and so clear. I love that! Now I know that my dog slays down/sleeps like a Polar bear…LOL…. Have a great weekend! 😀

    Like

    Reply
  2. Pingback: They’re everywhere! They’re everywhere! | Russel Ray Photos

Let your words flow

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.