Over the past couple years, I've done a major about-face regarding a major institution.

In my adult life, I visited the Milwaukee County Zoo exactly once that I can recall. Until I had a kid.

Each of the past two years, I've probably been there on a dozen occasions. Sometimes for an all-day visit, sometimes just for an hour or two.

I went from being someone with only a vague idea of the layout of the place to someone who could quickly point out Lake Fuggiasco on a map (you zoo train enthusiasts know it, too!). I remain uncertain as to why or from whom this "lake" -- more of a large puddle after a rain storm -- is fleeing (fuggiasco means fleeing or fugitive/runaway in Italian). I bet a real zoo expert knows.

My toddler has enough experience that the zoo could likely hire him as a tour guide.

So, you'll be unsurprised, maybe, to know that as soon as I felt the warm weather creeping in on Thursday, I started plotting our first visit of 2009.

The zoo pass including parking is perhaps the most well-worn gift I've ever received.