Seriously, I want a hippopotamus for Christmas! Why, Joyce even bought me a shirt with that same message. (See above!)

A Hippopotamus For Christmas?

Do I really want a Hippo for Christmas? If you are asking if I want to have to feed, house, bathe and care for a real semiaquatic mammal which can weigh around 3,000 lbs., the answer is “No!” Besides, they are one of the most dangerous animals in the world because they are both aggressive and unpredictable. Still, Hippos are fascinating creatures, and they are interesting to watch.

The Reason Why

Apparently, I like Hippos even more than my conscious mind acknowledges. There’s a reason Joyce bought me the t-shirt you see in the picture above. Many times, in the middle of July, I’ll be going around the house either humming or singing the Christmas song, “I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas.” Neither Joyce nor I understand why my brain goes there for no reason, but it does! Thus, the t-shirt.

Computing Alternatives

I’m pretty sure you are wondering what my obsession with a Hippo has to do with computing. Am I right? Well, I thought you’d never ask! (By the way, in truth, my favorite is the Elephant not the Hippo. But I don’t know any Christmas songs related to the Elephant!)

Since I can’t have a Hippopotamus for Christmas, there are alternatives which I (and you) can find via the Internet. Here are a few ideas:

• Use the Internet to find nearby zoos which are open to the public. (Many zoos have been closed due to the Pandemic.)
• Use Search to find zoo webcams. There are lots of them available. Here’s a link to some of them on YouTube.
• Become a Virtual Zoo member. Yes, they really exist. Here’s a link to the Bronx Zoo Virtual Membership.
• Use Search to learn more about Hippos like this search result. (Of course, you can search for other mammals/animals, too.)

Finally…

If you’ve managed to read this far, you might as well listen to I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas: