What happens is not as important as how you react to what happens.

Ladies and gents, please remain seated during the expedition. Please do not feed the animals while the bus is moving. I’m the Sojourner, and I’ll be your guide for this expedition…



We couldn’t have asked for a better day for a trip to the zoo, if we’d placed a custom order. The sun did not come out all day so it stayed cool. And because it was cool, all the animals were out and more active than usual in the afternoon. The kids are ready to go!



Lots of the animals at Hollywild Animal Park are TV and movie stars. The proprietors of the park are David Meeks (an experienced wild animal handler and trainer ) and his wife Lucia. The animals who have attained star status have plaques posted in their areas with their names and a list of their starring roles in TV commercials and programs, and movies. You will no doubt recognize many of the animals you’ll see here, whether you KNOW you’ve seen them or not!

While grabbing some shots of the elephant, a guinea hen sat atop her nest on the wall adjoining the elephant’s home and gave us what for while guarding her precious nest.





This handsome Leopard Appaloosa stallion starred in the Pippy Longstocking movie. My Appie mare would no doubt love to spend an afternoon with this hot fellow!



Can you believe I could POSSIBLY be so fortunate as to have a male peacock put on a display for me?! This guy was awesome!!!!!



This fellow looked none too pleased with his visitors today, but I was compelled to get a shot of him because he was so colorful.



Here’s a pair of Emus strolling along having a leisurely Sunday afternoon chat. In that blogging diddly-widdly thingee that’s been going around, Mistergoulie determined me to be an Emu. These things are downright UGLY – therefore I’m still trying to assess whether it would be appropriate to allow my feelings to be hurt or not. Since Mistergoulie is such a deep individual, I’m thinking there must SURELY be some redeeming factor in that comparison…



The Grizzly thought it a great day for splashing about in his private pool. He seemed to care not that he had an audience – he was totally caught up in his own pleasures.



Meet the Carolina Panther. The football team paid for his abode and extravagant décor, which hopefully I may be able to show at some later date. For now, be impressed with his regal majesty. Obviously, he was not impressed with ours.



This is what you call being TONGUED!





We grow rats BIG around these parts…



This poor Zebra seems to have gotten confused. He was told to hang with the other striped animals…evidently, he misunderstood STRIPED for SPOTTED…



Just ‘chillin’ on a lazy Sunday afternoon…





I’d hate to have to GROOM this sucker!



This expedition was graciously made possible by these fine folks, our own Mindsay Platypus (Tiffany) and her outstanding husband, Jerry. And of course, my awesome little Sony camera! Here's the happy gang (Kendall and Kiki in tow)...photographer tucked safely away behind the camera!



I hope you all enjoyed the safari ride. Please leave a substantial tip for the guide, or the next time I drive your safari bus, I'll throw you to the Emus...