Our Trip to the Zoo with the Animals Not In Cages...

Hey everybody!!! Guess who!

Long time no see...I know,  I know, well here let me make up for it *sucks in a huge breath and...* HappyThankgivingMerryChristmasHappyNewYearHappyMLKdayHappyValentinesDayHappyStPatricksDayandHappyEaster... *huge exhale* Ok, got that out the way so...we good? Well hell, so what if we are not I just said happy everything I've had stuff going on and so have you (lol). Surely you can understand that?! AAATTTTTTTTTT any rate, I have thought about you guys...well things I should share with you but based on my laziness/lack of a decent laptop I just haven't. Before you ask no still no decent laptop just making due with the ol netbook :)

This past weekend was Free Day at the zoo here in Kansas City.  Sounds awesome right?! ENNNHHHHHHH WRONG!!
The trip yesterday to the Zoo with my daughter was hooooooooorrible.   The zoo was already packed which was to be expected because honestly whenever something is free people tend to flock. 







 You go expecting to see cute and cuddly stuff like this:

But we ended up seeing this, seriously:

Now the crowd was one thing, inching along and everyone wants to try and see the various animals and exhibits but to be honest that wasn't it.  *SIGH*  How can I say this, the whole experience took me through three emotions. 

Visual of the three stages I went through...

• Humor
• Sadness
• Frustration/Anger

Let me just tell you about some of what we experienced. From the time we go through the front entrance gates to the time we sat down for a snack and went to several exhibits etc. One group was prevalent black folks hangs head low oh dear sweet baby Jesus clenches fist like an old lady in church, MY PEOPLE MY PEOPLE!! we wonder why we have a such a bad name…of course not everyone was acting up but I am not exaggerating when I say about 70% were cutting up.  I mean it was everything from parents cussing out their kids, to encouraging them to climb on stuff that had no business (exhibits), chasing some of the free roaming animals. In one instance, a little boy was chasing a free roaming goose to hit it. The mother was laughing and videotaping. 
The thing is if that goose would have come after the little boy she would have been wanting to sue the zoo. 

We were riding the tram back up the entrance and a group of teenagers were walking along the path well one of them (had to be anywhere from 16-18 yrs old) decided he was going to run alongside the tram and jump on while rapping Lil Wayne. So here this lil fool is right at our row standing hold on the tram. Mini me was like o_O seriously?! So on our row was another black mother and her two twins about the same age as mini me.  She shook her head and said so ignorant! SO then the zoo officials walking on the path saw this fool hanging off and yell get on or get off you shouldn't be no there! So he decided he was going to try and crawl in on our row. I said with a serious ASS face! Oh not today you not! You will not be coming in on this row. So he said well they told me to get on or get off…I said oh well try to get on and I will push you off and the other lady said and I will help her.  So he maneuvers up a couple row and jumps in with some preteens.  Of course you know I would include an illustration :)

This is the Tram

The dude was there shown in blue and we were sitting oh about here (where the finger is pointing)

Next thing we knew he ran up and jumped on

Notice in this reenactment my face...yup this is about right

Now, by the time we go to the tram station, he gets off and was twirling his twists (hair) while … (get this no lie) sucking his thumb and grabbing his saggy pants. Now he's looking silly because his friends were way back.  This was only some of the disappointment we witnessed on our free trip to the zoo!  There were people in club attire, one lady had on a see through top boobs hanging all out, see through pants with thongs.  THERE ARE CHILDREN HERE GEEZ LOUISE!!!!! There were also a couple fights because someone cut in line! Really PEOPLE…really?!  Think I am exaggerating of course I have included a clip. It was an overall loss yesterday, however, of course it was a good teaching tool I used with my daughter. Then people get mad when they are treated liked clowns and heathens...well stop acting like it then! 

http://news.yahoo.com/video/police-break-fights-kansas-city-231819276.html

Ok well, gotta run!! TTYL I'll be back this week there is this awesome game and book I was exposed to recently that was pure comedy and fun!

Laters!!

Out of the normal but part of me!

I know this post may be out of the norm but I guess I tend to do that from time to time.  I have really been thinking today about my favorite weatherman here in Kansas City, Don Harman...he passed away yesterday and although the station isn't releasing reasons due to the family privacy it has been speculated that it was suicide.

Don Harman, the best and most hilarious meteorologist ever!

I read Facebook comments, Google + posts, tweets and listened to folks around the office say the usual "he was so happy and funny, I just can't believe he'd do that."  Although, I sure hope Don didn't commit suicide I also realize it's sad and possible.  I  have wondered all day if he did commit suicide, did he suffer from depression that perhaps no one knew about it?  Often those who don't or have never suffer from depression don't understand the condition and the feelings a person has associated with it.

I guess the reason why this hit home for me is I was diagnosed with depression last year.  People joke and laugh at the depression commercials but quite honestly they are accurate.  There have been several times (lasting weeks, months)  that I have felt empty inside, total loneliness, hopelessness, unloved etc and from my outside appearance i'm fine.  I even have jokes to throw out as to divert the attention off of my feelings so no one will know how inferior I feel etc. It's effected a lot of my relationships, negatively.

Depression is no joke! It doesn't mean a person is weak or anything like we tend to feel. It's taken me a while to realize that!

However, like any other disease or disorder you have to fight, sadly some folks don't have the fight in them and the depression wins and they end up taking their own lives, turns to drugs etc, or just living a miserable life. It is very tiring to deal with, I can attest to that.  In most cases you feel like you are running a mental and emotional marathon all day while on a roller coaster.  If that makes any sense.






I send my condolences and prayers  to the Harman Family and especially his daughter who won't really get to know how hilarious and talented her dad was in person and how many people he touched.  I have got a laugh from him everyday! I remember the news anchors would be reporting on a serious story and he would just randomly walk across the back drop in something random like a pirate hat like they weren't on air, then look surprised when they called him out lol! Or when the morning anchors had a rally insisting viewer write in so Don would get rid of his old beat up1979 Buick and he refused then thank goodness he finally let them destroy his car for charity and he was forced to get a new one and they had a party on air! Also, when he broke into normal broadcasting during a snow storm to update and he started off by saying "SLOW THE HELL DOWN that's why traffic is bad its snowing for crying out loud!" LOL, He will be deeply missed by our community!!

Now, if you think you are suffering from depression or are having anxiety issues, I urge you to talk to someone you can start with your doctor. Get a plan in place to battle it.  We can't let depression win and steal our happiness!! We must be victorious...to those who feel there is no end in sight... I say be encouraged! You are not alone even when you feel you are God is always, always with you! There are also several support groups etc. Please seek help and pray!!

Here are some links to information regarding depression and even tests to take online to see if you may be suffering from depression or on the road to it as well as suicide chat and hotline.

http://helpguide.org/mental/depression_signs_types_diagnosis_treatment.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression/DS00175
http://www.depression-screening.org/depression_screen.cfm
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Blog ya later