After the cruise, Kiefer and I wandered around Port of Tampa. You know what’s at the Port of Tampa?
Do you know what you can do at the Florida Aquarium?
PET A PENGUIN!
So that’s exactly what we did. I, Thoughtsie, touched a penguin. I also learned a lot about penguins, such as…
- Penguins have more feathers than any other bird.
- Penguins poop. A lot. Like every 10 minutes. (This almost made me change my mind about petting one.) And their poop can shoot up to 4 feet. No one is safe. No one.
Except for me. I was safe. I did not get pooped on.
Kiefer, on the other hand, was not so lucky.
Just kidding. Kiefer didn’t get pooped on either.
- Penguins are extremely affectionate. They prefer to eat their fish from the biologist’s hand.
- You know how cats purr when they’re happy? Penguins shudder. It looks like they’re having a seizure.
- Penguins sleep a lot. Sometimes they just fall over because they’re asleep.
We got to see about 10 or so penguins, but here’s the one we got to pet. He looks familiar, doesn’t he?
PETEY!
I’m sure it’s Pete. Don’t you see the resemblance?
- Pete the Penguin is ALIVE!
What do you think? Is it Pete or am I in denial?
Thoughts Appear 
April 21st, 2011 at 8:48 am
OMG! You guys left from Tampa? And you didn’t stop by and say hi. I drove right by you on my way to work. We were going to go the bouncey house place. I work around the corner from there. Glad you got to see the penguins. We like the aquarium. Bruce goes to camp there during spring and christmas break.
April 21st, 2011 at 7:26 pm
I thought about letting you know I was down there, but I spent the off time visiting my godson. Next time!
April 21st, 2011 at 9:34 am
Sounds like you guys had a great trip. If you’re ever back down that way, the Tampa (or St. Pete) zoo lets you ride a camel.
April 21st, 2011 at 3:23 pm
As a strange aside, I rode a camel when I lived in the Middle East. Someone took a picture of the camel’s butt and my butt. Neither is attractive in the photo. Sigh.
Glad you had fun on the penguin expedition. Next stop: Antarctica?
April 22nd, 2011 at 6:44 am
There’s petting zoo up here that lets you ride camels, but I haven’t done it yet.
IM, I’m sure your butt was more attractive than the camel’s butt.
April 21st, 2011 at 10:44 am
Penguins are cool. I’m surprised they have them in Tampa where it’s hot, not cool. Still, I think that is Petey and I would have petted one too.
April 22nd, 2011 at 6:45 am
Another vote that it’s Petey!
April 21st, 2011 at 12:02 pm
PEEEEEEEETEEEEEEE!
Ahem. I’m okay, I promise. It’s Pete, I don’t care what anyone else tells you.
Sounds like a great place to visit. I had no idea that they poop that much. Holy crap, it’s like they never leave the newborn stage. Was there at least some sort of notice so you could take cover?
April 21st, 2011 at 7:24 pm
I knew that you would recognize Pete.
Wait…newborns poo that much? Ewww….
I didn’t notice any warning signs that poop was coming.
April 21st, 2011 at 12:09 pm
That is the coolest thing EVER! I am completely jealous! I want to pet a penguin!
Thank god Pete has been found! I haven’t slept in months!!!!
April 21st, 2011 at 7:25 pm
I haven’t slept either! We should have been corresponding to keep each other company.
April 21st, 2011 at 2:33 pm
We once had a guest speaker from the zoo who brought a penguin to our class. The whole time she spoke, she was cleaning up the penguin’s poop. It was neverending!
April 22nd, 2011 at 6:47 am
Ewww! Yeah, the biologist said she spend about half of her work day every day just cleaning up.
April 21st, 2011 at 2:57 pm
They have joy seizures! How cute. And, um, yeah. That is sooo totally Pete. Absolutely him. Yep.
April 21st, 2011 at 7:26 pm
Thanks for the Pete confirmation!
April 21st, 2011 at 3:51 pm
“No one is safe. No one.”
Another funny tale. Loving the updates. Also, this one was search bomb worthy, so you better prep for an incoming. But don’t worry, it’s not as messy as penguin poop.
April 21st, 2011 at 7:23 pm
OMG! “thoughts appear touched a penguin…and liked it”—I’m cracking up so bad! I don’t love Pete like that!
April 21st, 2011 at 9:30 pm
STOP DOING THINGS I’M JEALOUS OF!!!
April 22nd, 2011 at 8:03 am
Sorry. =( I’m almost done. If it makes you feel any better, life is been pretty dull since I got back.
April 21st, 2011 at 11:58 pm
They shudder? Hahaha…that’s weird! Glad you didn’t get pooped on, of course. 🙂
April 25th, 2011 at 7:25 am
Me, too!
April 22nd, 2011 at 6:42 am
ALL penguins are Pete, it’s the circle of life, yo. And they SHOOT their POOP? What the hell, Nature?
April 25th, 2011 at 7:25 am
My thoughts exactly. Poo should not have that kind of distance.
April 22nd, 2011 at 2:02 pm
Hey, wait. Isn’t a penguin, like, a bird??? What’s happening to you? 😉
April 25th, 2011 at 7:24 am
Penguins are an exception. Although one nipped at Kiefer…just like Murphy did. I think animals just don’t like him.
April 22nd, 2011 at 9:08 pm
Man if penguins can shoot poop up to 4 feet imagine all the other cool stuff they can shoot and how far!.
Ok I am shaking the 14 yo boy mind set out of me right now!!
April 25th, 2011 at 7:24 am
Hilarious! We all need a teenage boy mindset every once in awhile.
April 26th, 2011 at 9:41 pm
Pete or not, it’s awesome. I learned so much about penguins today! Thanks Thoughtsie!
April 28th, 2011 at 6:42 am
Any time!