The Chattanooga Aquarium was AWESOME!! Not quite as cool as Canada's, but Tennessee gave it their best. It was on the Tennessee River, built into two different parts: River and Ocean. It also had quite the butterfly pavillion and an IMAX theater showing a few different movies. We chose "Twister" which was totally rad. It was like the movie with Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt but real life. Suh-wheet!
On the ride up to the Ocean Adventure. You started at the top and walked a gentle sloped walkway around and around and bobbing in and out until you reached the bottom.
Betcha 've never seen these wild colored sting-rays!
Not sure what we were looking at but I found some pretty flowers!
Then some orchids...
and some more...
Some exotic parrots that wouldn't stop making out. Not sure if this is part of their preening method or if they were a couple of lesbians.
And again with the orchids.
My favorite part of the day, the touch station!!
In the butterfly pavillion you had to check to make sure you didn't have any 'hitchikers' on the way out. Did you know that the life cycle of the common butterfly is about 10 days? Seems a little dreary...
A pretty little brown and yellow guy having a snack.
A man found a cocoon of a butterfly.
One day a small opening appeared.
He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours
as it struggled to squeeze its body through the tiny hole.
Then it stopped, as if it couldn’t go further.
One day a small opening appeared.
He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours
as it struggled to squeeze its body through the tiny hole.
Then it stopped, as if it couldn’t go further.
So the man decided to help the butterfly.
He took a pair of scissors and
snipped off the remaining bits of cocoon.
The butterfly emerged easily but
it had a swollen body and shriveled wings.
The man continued to watch it,
expecting that any minute the wings would enlarge
and expand enough to support the body,
Neither happened!
He took a pair of scissors and
snipped off the remaining bits of cocoon.
The butterfly emerged easily but
it had a swollen body and shriveled wings.
The man continued to watch it,
expecting that any minute the wings would enlarge
and expand enough to support the body,
Neither happened!
In fact the butterfly spent the rest of its life
crawling around.
It was never able to fly.
What the man in his kindness
and haste did not understand:
crawling around.
It was never able to fly.
What the man in his kindness
and haste did not understand:
The restricting cocoon and the struggle
required by the butterfly to get through the opening
was a way of forcing the fluid from the body
into the wings so that it would be ready
for flight once that was achieved.
required by the butterfly to get through the opening
was a way of forcing the fluid from the body
into the wings so that it would be ready
for flight once that was achieved.
Sometimes struggles are exactly
what we need in our lives.
Going through life with no obstacles would cripple us.
We will not be as strong as we could have been
and we would never fly.
what we need in our lives.
Going through life with no obstacles would cripple us.
We will not be as strong as we could have been
and we would never fly.
We can either see problems as something desirable or something undesired. Most people will find that they would like to have no problems at all in their life and some people see problems as challenges that will propel them to greater heights. It is our own perception that derives the meaning of problems. You can see problems in a good way or bad way, the only thing that matters is how you define them.
Next we found Shawna's favorite, the penguin habitat.
There was one that was creepin' on me but of course, as soon as I try to show him a little
love he freaks! Doesn't he look as if he is violently shaking his head as if to say, "NOOOOOO!!!!"
At least there's always a humongous sea turtle to turn your day around.
This is a horrible picture with a wicked glare, but I like how you can see the shark's teeth and Shawna's evil glare.
How are these sharks not morbidly obese? Swimming with their lunch and whatnot.
Brightly colored fishes to catch my eye. How amazing would it be to snorkel with these guys!
On my bucket list.
Upside-down jellies. Seriously, that's what they're called. They just sit there on the bottom of the tank and wait for the food to drift down. Buncha lazies.
Now comes my addiction... the jellyfish. Any poor soul who has suffered through an entire tour through the aquarium with me knows that this is always my favorite part.
Don't know why, but I love em.
A shot through one of the windows at the bottom. I was trying to catch the shark way at the back. Those guys are NOT photogenic.
Caught one! Kinda.
Had to catch a shot of these guys. They are lazy dudes who pitch plans to local businesses. When they don't get the contract for whatever it is they are selling, they set up camp in the most prominent viewing place they can find and pitch a sign that says, "Shame on _______." They have been at this for over 2 years. Hmmmm... wonder why no one is giving you a job!?
Now we cross over to the River Life. If you can see these are some pretty well disguised sea horses. Look like the cross between a sea horse and a praying mantis.
A little bit more normal looking ones.
The kind classically known.
Part of the sea lion exhibit. She musta been out to lunch.
Just wanted to capture the turtle under water with the birds snoozing on one legs above water.
Thought I needed a rhinoplasty!!!
Now for the pictures from my phone. Oddly enough, sometimes the phone does a better job of capturing these things. I think I need a new camera...
Not quite as clear, but it still got it!
I think I'm in love with all the little plankton or whatever they eat (besides other jellyfish).
Up close.
Look... it's Nemo's dad!
This guy was seriously un-impressed by my photography skills.
Got nuthin' to say here.
These little guys were tiny. About the size of a quarter I believe.
At the IMAX theater watching Twister. It was 3D, oh yeah. Kinda reminds me of being in the south recently.
Just some more boring river fish. I think I like the ocean stuff much better.
Some crazy stick fish.
Ok, all done! Boring pictures done with for now.
