This is where President George W. – the first one, who lived over two hundred years ago – threw a post-Revolutionary War victory bash for himself and his officers.

To my left is trusty cameraman Art Benger; to my right, Joseph “Mr. Microphone” Jackson.

Art, Joseph and I have shared many misadventures over the years. One time we were doing a segment with Caroll Spinney, the Sesame Street puppeteer who operates and voices Big Bird (and Oscar the Grouch).

Since we didn’t have access to the Sesame Street set, I thought it would be fun to conduct the interview at the Bronx Zoo’s appropriately named Big Bird exhibit, an outdoor space where ostriches roam free.

An amorous female ostrich was attracted to Art’s after-shave, and with one quick snap of its beak, camethisclose to pecking out his eye. It did succeed in ripping the glasses from his face and raising a red welt on his forehead. Pro that he is, Art’s camera never stopped rolling -- although his eyeball nearly went rolling all the way to the lion cages.

Thank goodness no human Big Birds were harmed in the making of the piece. When a curious, snapping ostrich came towards us, I jokingly crouched behind Mr. Spinney, pushing him out in front. “Don’t use me as a shield!” he shouted in exasperation. “They’ll listen to you; you’re one of them!” I pleaded.