At the zoo with Meggie Poo!

I have been so incredibly blessed to celebrate another year of living.  I was able to visit Columbus Zoo with my sister for free (481), get free double scoop ice cream (at a place that makes its own chocolate...I will be returning to try more flavors) (482), having amazingly yummy and healthy meals (as always) (483), and to shop at a warehouse for designer fashions from the area (484).  Yeah, it was a good few days.  It was weird to take off the day in the middle of the week, but it made for a really nice workweek (485).  As things slow down at work, the social life takes a front seat for the next month and I couldn't be happier.

As I was walking around the zoo, I was just mesmerized with the animals.  They are all so...different.  I mean strikingly different (486).  The snakes have these muscles that enable them to move without legs.  The birds were sooooo many different colors, with different calls and personalities.  Some were shy and others were so curious, we were told to be careful or they would pick up anything we dropped.  The stingrays...we actually touched them.  These amazing creatures were so smooth, yet so stiff.  Their muscles, their structure, even just their aerodynamic bodies...I just stared at and watched these creatures forever.  The polar bears...they are so big, so strong, and yet their bodies are shaped like triangles to help them be more aerodynamic in the water.  Their fur is hollow to help them keep out the cold.

There were animals who blended in with their environment, the beavers who had these genius tails to make their beds in the river, and the animals that were practically unrecognizable, they were so uncommon.  The eagles...oh the eagles.  I have never seen nests that big and I am told that they can get up to twelve feet deep.  I can't imagine falling in a bird's nest and not being able to get out.  I am even more amazed that there are so many animals that haven't even been discovered yet...hundreds of thousands even.  I just can't fathom coming up with all these different creatures that swim, walk, crawl, and fly that all have this food chain that they have developed, taking turns eating each other plants, and other various objects, and having them each serving a purpose.  I am exhausted just thinking about it.  To think I put God in a little box...

                                           

As if the zoo wasn't enough, we came home from getting ice cream to see the entire sky lit up with heat lightening.  It was just amazing to see these rods of heat light up the sky for just a second, revealing the clouds behind them and illuminating the nighttime sky.  It's like God was saying, "Oh you think that's all I got?  Well, here's more."  (The pictures did not turn out well...I guess this was a moment not to be captured on film.)

We toured Ohio State's campus.  I never attended a large university and could see how people could be lost in the mix.  However, I was floored about how this was really functioning as a little city.  

I just smile at my brother-in-law's obsession with sports.  The Hawks won in triple overtime on my birthday and he was stoked about the game.  My sister has even embraced hockey (sort of).

My finger is healed (healing).  Most of my hand is still bruised and sore, but it is functional.  Some people talked about a lawsuit against this guy.  Honestly, it was my fault and I wouldn't do it.  The thought hadn't even crossed my mind.  I am thankful that I could still run (487) and now I can go back to riding (488).  

The omnious clouds rolled in, but I ran on.

Now to integrate in swimming (oh yeah...triathlons are three sports, not two).

All in all, I am super duper thankful for my week.  So here is an edited version of my list (so I can get to riding):

489.  Taking a little time off from riding so that I don't get injured

490.  That I really didn't need much pain medication

491.  That I could come of the incident with a good attitude and a sense of humor.

492.  That my sister did my hair when my hand was too bruised for a ponytail.

493.  That my roommate did the dishes (this was my request for my birthday present)

494.  Getting to spend a few days with my sissy

495.  That my sister is a teacher with minimal summer work (she had time off for me to come visit)

496.  That my sister has a desire to remain healthy and encourages me to do so

497.  That I had an outpouring of texts, Facebook posts, and phone calls from dearly beloved people who remembered my birthday

498.  That there are conservation efforts underway to prevent extinction from some species

499.  That my decision on whether or not to take my bike to Ohio was made for me

500.  That my sister tolerated my sleepiness and narcolepsy well

This is what happens when she leaves me alone with all these discounted protein bars.  Spoken at the checkout, "Wow...these bars are for a really good price.  They are only $64."

501.  That future plans were made more clear for me, albeit even if it was a little frustrating.  Doors open and close for a reason.

502.  Shopping at a discounted fashion warehouse=getting some badly needed new pants for $12.

503.  Having people tell me that I looked refreshed coming back to work.

504.  Feeling like I am not missing summer by capturing these moments.

505.  Being inspired to organize looking at my sister and brother-in-law's immaculate apt.

506.  Realizing that I am not jealous of people because I am working to be satisfied with my own life.