Alex Entertains the Koi

Music class would have proven to be too much stress for Mommy. She decided that it was Adventure Day instead. And Adventure Day would involve locating the Enid Haupt Glass Garden at the Rusk Institute on 34th Street. Alex wanted to know why we were in a hospital. (Because Mommy missed the signs at the entrance way, that's why.) Shortly, with the help of a staff member, we located the garden. Alex was thrilled to see it. I'd told him all about an Indoor Garden that we could visit and here it was.

The first thing you see is a turtle and koi pond. Alex loved seeing the water creatures and spent most of his time leaning over the edge to see them.

"Hello fishies! Let me tell you a story." And he preceded to tell them a story about a shark. I didn't hear all of it, so when I asked for details later, he told me that the story wasn't for me. It was for the fish and turtles. Especially for the fish that "looks like mashed potatoes". (A mostly white koi marbled with orange and black.) Oh, OK.

Storytime for the Residents of the Turtle Pond

A "mashed potato" fish

And another one that "looks like mashed potatoes"

Alex made a friend there, who was anxious to show him around and Alex was anxious to show him the "black fish" that was in the pond. 

And there was a back room in which the gardens extended and was home to numerous caged parrots, bunnies and even a resident cat.  One bird, an 8-year-old umbrella cockatoo named Chloe, would squawk loudly for attention.   Alex just loved her, especially because she looked like Nigel from Rio.

Later, we spent some time at the Children's Playgarden where he rode around in a CozyCoupe designed like a police car. He pretended he was a policeman, twice asking me if I needed help. (I had to be asked twice to clue in that the correct answer was "Yes.")

Playing in the sand pit of the Playgarden

It was cold out. I promised him that we'd be back when it was warmer. I had also looked forward to a calming East River Ferry Ride for only 8 dollars round trip. That wound up keeping us out later than I had planned. I've since learned that if I want Alex to be in a better mood during the day that he has to go to bed by 7:30. The reason we didn't go to Music Mind Games today was because he was in such a horrible mood when I picked him up from the Children's Learning Center.
But I like boats...and indoor gardens...and watching Alex play.

OK, next time. We'll get an earlier train next time.