Hark the herald, flamingos sing!

Zoo Lights at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo was the perfect way to kick off the Christmas season. We met up with family and friends tonight to enjoy the zoo all lit up with Christmas displays and lights. Most of the animals were MIA, but we did visit the ever-stinky flamingos, Sting Ray Bay and the reptile house. The camel was out relaxing with a big red blanket on his back, a la Santa Claus, and we sneaked a peak at the Red wolves. Having a big wolf just 30 feet away from you is a wee bit disconcerting. It’s even creepier in the dark, especially when you’re convinced the wolf can hear the Team Jacob wisecracks circulating as the group passes by (go, Team Edward!)

Zoo Lights runs each weekend through the month of December and was our alternative this year to the over-crowded Christmas Tree Lane. Complete with free hot chocolate and cookies, it was a fun way to support a local attraction and do something Christmasy!

A girl can dream, can't she?

I keep an ongoing list of “things I must do before I die.” The vast majority of items on my list are destinations I’d like to visit someday. High on this list is my dream of spending a sun-drenched holiday on a secluded island in the South Pacific; perhaps a Fijian or Tahitian island, I’m not picky. Staying in an over-water bure would be a must, obviously.

Turquoise water, white sand beaches and tan lines have occupied my day dreams as of late, especially as the sun now quickly disappears in the late afternoon and the temperature starts to drop (and yes, I realize I live in California where the forecast for this week is in the mid-60s, but I’m still cold!).

So as I type this, clad in my warm hoodie and sweat pants with Christmas music playing in the background, I’m holding on to the dream that someday I will be able to cross off that trip to the South Pacific from my wish-list.