We went to a zoo and saw a baby grizzly bear named Sycamore. He was rescued by the zoo and they are building a huge new habitat for him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2C1xUtZ-Tk
We also saw an animal of which there are only 300 more of its kind left in the world, but we can’t remember its name.
We also saw a ton of lemurs and a very big bunny.
After a while, they started to fight. Then we saw an awesome show called tiger splash.
🙂 After that we fed tigers. 🙂
This past weekend was the annual Association for Consumer Research Conference, which I co-chaired with the smart, talented, and creative Stacy Wood. About 1200 attendees seemed to really love what we created, which was very gratifying. Thanks for all the follow-up emails and Facebook posts congratulating us! And thanks to Ivey Business School for helping us with sponsorship of the Opening Reception. Here is one of my favourite pictures from our Awards ceremony, where Stacy and I thank ACR’s Executive Director, Rajiv Vaidaynathan, with a quote from Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax.
You’ve likely read about Out of Africa on the kids’ blogs, but it’s really not a zoo, but more of a habitat. They breed animals, especially endangered ones, and give them a ton of space. They also take in rescues, like the baby grizzly you can read about on Joe’s post. What I liked most is that they do a show with the tigers, but they don’t train them. That is, there is no conditioning or training, and they really just play with them. You may like the video of this I made: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXiiX5QccRw
Yesterday my family and I went to a zoo called Out of Africa in Camp Verde. It is a privately funded zoo, with a tour bus that takes you inside a massive pen with lots of different animals (no meat eatersL).There was a sweet giraffe who ate the celery out of my mouth. It was really cool.
The ostrich named Chili Pepper tried to raid the cookie bucket.
Then we went to the lemur cage that also had a big rabbit in it. The lemurs were scared of the big 16 pound bunny, so they decided to gang beat him. It was so mean yet so cool. The lemurs went berserk; they jumped on the fence and ran through their ewok homes in the trees. It was super fun. After that we went back to the casino (my Dad couldn’t stand the smell). Your trusty just a Sedona-hater (Camp Verde is okay) Jack.
Sodium, Sodium, Sodium, Sodium, Sodium, Sodium, Sodium, Sodium, Sodium, Sodium, Sodium, Sodium, Batman. If you get this, you deserves my Mom’s PhD.
Yesterday, Mom, Jack, and I saw Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day. It was AWESOME! It had strippers, a Peter Pan that is drunk, an alligator, a kangaroo, and a…green baby?
We also went to Pumpkin Splash. It had a bouncy castle, bat cave, what is in the box, throwing bats, golf, bobbing for apples, and pumpkin splash. Where you go in to the pool and get a pumpkin! Let me tell you a secret, no place in the world has more people in one pool ever!
On Saturday, Joe, Mom and I went to the local pool to get pumpkins in a weird way; we swam for them. It was really fun.
We got candy apples (I am eating the leftovers as I write this). You have to take a swim test to go in the deep end (that’s where all the big pumpkins are). The first thing the life guard said to me is “nice stroke, you should join the swim team”. I felt pretty good about myself (I always do).
Also, I am really good at bobbing for apples. They give you candy every time you get an apple so I decided to rip them off. It was really fun. I do not recommend coming here to Sedona though, because there is nothing else to do. Your trusty blogger/ Sedona hater Jack.
We had an awesome trip to the Grand Canyon this week. The first day we hiked as far down into the canyon as we thought Joe could make it back up. As the warning signs on the way down say, “Going down is optional. Going up is mandatory.” It was glorious weather, chilly up top and increasingly warm as we descended. Having to turn back was expected, but Dan and I really did want to get further down. Next time!
See a short video of the trip here: http://youtu.be/O_jaS7Yduko
That evening we stayed at the Canyon and had a “fancy” dinner at El Tovar on the South Rim. The walk back to the hotel room (about a mile) under nothing but starlight was glorious. The boys were star silly. On the second day we just walked around the Rim Trail a little more before heading back.
On the trip home we took a side trip up into the San Francisco Peaks, up to Snowbowl outside of Flagstaff. It was a perfect time to see the brilliant yellow aspen leaves. Against the green of the pines, it was a gorgeous contrast, as you can see.
I had to seriously degrade the quality of the video to be able to upload it with the wifi here, but I hope you still enjoy it.
On Monday and Tuesday my family and I went to the Grand Canyon. It was fun.
We hiked about one fourth of the South Kaibob Trail to Cedar Point.
We stayed at Yavapai Lodge and went to El Tovar for dinner and the bus boy was the best bus boy in the world (he called me sir). Then in the morning, we hiked along the Rim Trail.
Then on the way home, Joe slapped me. He slapped me because I sleep best in the car and Mom could not get me awake to see a crazy road. Then we got home and watched Gotham and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Then I slept more.
At the Grand Canyon we went down South Kaibob trail and when we were on it we saw this.
We also saw a blue bird that would not go away. It is a guide. He would always fly a few metres ahead of us. One night we went to a fancy restaurant that had a very nice man (if you read my brother’s blog). And we stayed at my first motel BUT IT HAD NO WIFI!!!!!!
This week went by in sort of a blur! Lisa left a week ago, and it seems like just yesterday. Lots of work hours in this week, mainly on the ACR conference. But I did get some tennis in, and enjoyed several hours in the sunshine on the deck.
Yesterday was a fun day, as you may have gathered from the kids’ posts. We went to a nearby town for their “Fort Verde Days,” sort of a local celebration of their pioneer history. The fort itself was built around the Civil War times, and the kids got a chance to chat with Union and Confederate history buffs, Buffalo Soldier actors, and see working guns and cannons from that era. We started the day with a Kinsmen Pancake Breakfast. The local parade was a hoot, with a real small town field, including the crowning of “The Colonel’s Daughter” who is chosen for her horsewomanship (if that is a word).
You can see from the kids’ posts that we then went to a casino. Ugh. However, when the heat is on, and everyone is hot and tired, I thought it would be a good idea to try an arcade/bowling alley. Turns out, the kids’ club they have (for parents who want to gamble) was a huge hit with my kids. As I don’t gamble, I got to sit in a nice spot and read a book! Good time for everyone…
I’ve had a few people ask to see this cool house we are in. So this week instead of photos I am uploading a video to Youtube. It’s a 5 minute walk-through of the place. Those of you who are interested in design may like it – they call the house “Frank Lloyd Wright” inspired. I can see that, with lots of glass, wood, and tons of stone walls on the interior of the house. Enjoy it here;
To all my Canadian friends and family: I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
This week I watched the Godfather parts 1 and 2. I also went to Fort Verde and a casino.
The Godfather parts 1 and 2 are amazing movies with lots of plot twist (poor Fredo).
Yesterday, I went to the Fort Verde Days. It was super fun. We met really nice re-enactors that told us about two re-enactments; I will be going to at least one.
Then, at the parade, they gave us two free milkshake coupons to Johnny Rockets. The Johnny Rockets at Camp Verde is at a really cool casino. They have a fun arcade with sweet games and a kids’ club with three Xbox Ones and many other game systems (with two IPad stations). It was a super fun weekend.
Tomorrow, I will be going to the Grand Canyon for two days.
June, Dan, and Joe go travelling 