Big sads and happiness for Erin. She is probably on her way to Chicago for her flight tomorrow to Japan. I know I speak for everyone when I say that we will miss you, and we are happy for you.
This was a FULL day. Despite a couple of rather harsh set backs and a couple of minor ones, I was very happy all day. In-fact, I think of it as a fantastic day, and when you hear all about it you will either think so too, or wonder what is wrong with Ryan.
The morning started off off with Tim and Erin introducing me to Invader Zim - rather good cartoon with some very entertaining moments. After a great breakfast (thanks Tim!), Erin and I tried to convince Tim that he was sick and had to call off work and come with us – no dice. :(
Anyway, Erin and I took off for Battle Creek. Somehow I was not paying attention as well as I should have and I missed the signs posting a reducing of speed to 45 MPH. I was going 70. And wouldn’t you know it, we also crossed into a construction zone. There was not less lanes or workers present by this point, but yes, there was a cop.
I noticed the patrol car in the median too late. I, of course, reduced speed and merged into the left lane. At this point there were still two lanes open, but the lanes were shifted to use the shoulder. At this point I started wondering if I wouldn’t get pulled over, because of a lack of room. Or at least I had hoped. A little farther down was an exit then entrance. At the very end of the on ramp I was pulled over.
“I’m sorry officer; I hadn’t noticed the reduction in speed.” I apparently play a convincing I’m-a-good-citizen,-honest routine well. I did receive a “performance reward.” However, it was just for five over, and not in a construction zone. I’m sure that’s a little over a hundred dollars. No where near as bad as 25 over in zone, meaning double the fine.
That was the first harsh set back, next I had the second – a flat tire.
I am convinced that my pulling so far past where normal traffic flows led me into a debris filled area where my tire got punctured. And, because the shoulder was being used as a lane I didn’t have as good of an opportunity to notice the flat considering the droop and condition of it. When I did get off the highway I went, “Oh, that wasn’t the road, it was my tire.”
First time for everything…. I had not had an opportunity to change a flat before - so yay for new experiences! Special thanks to Erin for reading through the process for me and lending a hand whenever she could. For those who do not know me that well I can attest that I do not enjoy automotive work, but I must pat myself on the back for doing ok in an uncomfortable situation.
As we finished changing the tire, I received a call with short-term, half-time job opportunity from the guy in charge of finances at the charter school I had finished up working for four days before! Three days latter, I met with the guy, got the job – researching non-profit organizational models for the Greater Lansing Catholic Schools Foundation, and settled on $20 an hour. I was happy!
Nearly simultaneously, more good news was received. Erin is going to Japan!
Future plot point note: the first place I had available to pull off to to change my tire was a Target. After the tire changing, Erin and I stopped in to wash our hands and buy new batteries for Erin’s digital camera.
OK, with the donut replacement tire in place we made it to Binder Park Zoo. This zoo is soooo much better then John Ball’s. Binder Park Zoo can be divided into three sections: the core zoo, the African Safari, and the wetlands boardwalk. All of these sections are great. We ultimately took three times as many pictures at Binder Park Zoo then we did at John Ball. As we started touring the core zoo we noticed a problem though. The batteries that we bought at Target were duds. We had to get back to the gift shop and buy new ones – a minor set-back on a beautiful day. :) The African Safari experience was particularly wonderful with a Giraffe feeding stand! After touring the African Safari we very much enjoyed the peace and beauty of the wetlands nature trail.
Thanks to our great breakfast from about 9AM, we were not even hungry again until we exited the zoo upon its closing at 5PM. Because I had the donut on my car I didn’t want to push it by taking the highway, so instead we decided to take state highways back to Grand Rapids. We thought for sure that we could find somewhere along the way to eat… no such luck. We drove all through Battle Creek and didn’t find anywhere to eat. It wasn’t until we got to Hastings that we found somewhere.
…
Erin and I went to John Ball Park Zoo in beautiful Grand Rapids. The zoo had a fairly diverse selection of animal life, considering its modest size. By far, the greatest experience was petting the stingrays. Overall Erin and I enjoyed the experience, but the zoo really was not all that fantastic. I remembered from my childhood that Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek was much better. We resolved to spend the next day there.
I put into action my “waste-time-goofing-off” plan via the internet. Later that night I IM’ed Wonko, but Erin was on the other end. We had a nice, good chat. Ultimately we both figured out that neither one of us had anything to do during the day Monday and Tuesday because all of our friends, Wonko included, had to work. Erin wanted to go to the zoo, and I thought it sounded like a fun idea too….