Fall Log

During a recent trip to Chicago, I visited the Field Museum of Natural History. There were all the exhibits you would expect. Rooms with large glass cases full of shiny gems and rare metals. Halls with dozens of tribal Indian outfits and massive totem poles.
My Favorite was the hundreds of displays of petrified animals posing in front of pictures of their natural habitats. First off, every time I walked by a Lion, or a Jaguar, or a Snow Leopard, or whatever other large wild feline, I couldn't help but say "awww look at the kitty!".
Not a reaction one would expect from a heterosexual male. But hey, I like cats.

I really liked how they showed the common ancestors of rare or endangered animals. For instance, they had the "Wooly Flying Squirrel" located directly next to the cleverly named "Squirrel". I paid fifteen bucks to see dead in a case, what I could see dead on the side of the road. This same thing was repeated with Pigeons, Beavers and other EXOTIC wildlife.

Anyway, after I had met all the wildlife of Africa and Asia, I made my way into the World of Birds exhibit. Not the most interesting room, especially because of the single species of birds that had only a different adjective in front of their name. Spotted, Striped, etc. Instead of examining the hundreds of species of birds on display, I used the exhibit as a Word Search type activity, which I will call a "Bird Search". Basically, I would think of a feathered animal and look around till I located it. Peacock, check, Snowy Owl, check, Turkey, oddly enough...check.

Instead of learning something, I went around like an ass looking for a stuffed, inanimate version of what I've seen many times before.

On my way out of the Bird exhibit, I saw the above shown sign. It confused the hell out of me. I then looked down, and saw what looked like a piece of firewood anchored to the ground. Demonstrating how lazy I really am, I walked away. But over the next minute wondered, what can you find under fall logs??? It ate away at me. I decided to turn around and lift the log and satisfy my curiosity.

By now, I was already back into the main hall of the museum. To gracefully turn around and feel less like an idiot, I did the "pocket-pat". It consists of you giving the illusion that you've lost something by hitting your pant pockets, checking your jacket pockets and looking around on the floor.

I know, you're wondering what was under the fall log. It was a stupid tree lizard. Captivating, I know. The sign is more interesting. It is a challenge to your sanity.