I Sat on an Alligator Today

Got your attention didn't I? Well ok it wasn't today it was actually yesterday but I didn't have time to post this story yesterday and the title of "I sat on an alligator yesterday" just doesn't have the same impact.

I did indeed sit on an Alligator. A freak snow storm was hitting my lil zoo yesterday which had the staff scrambling to winterize certain areas of the zoo that we had been putting off because we thought we had more time. It's difficult to accomplish all these things when staff members are taking time off for one reason or another, myself included. With so few of us on staff being one or two people short really hampers endeavors like these.

So as part of our Winter Scramble we had to wrangle our 2 American Alligators out from their outdoor pond and move them inside for the winter, lest they freeze to death.

It was an experience to remember. Mad props to the 3 Keepers who put on the waders and poked around the pond to find them. 2 of the pairs of waders had holes in them so leaks abounded. As the gators were found and dragged onto land someone had to jump on them Steve Irwin style and help hold the mouth closed while another Keeper taped their mouth shut (Go me!). Once we had our gator secured I had to sit on her to keep control of her while we found her male counterpart.

So there I am in a lovely yellow raincoat sitting on an Alligator and sadly no one had a camera. Truly a hilarious photo op that was missed. Sorry

Arrest Me

So almost 3 weeks ago I received a Jury Duty summons from good ole DuPage County, IL which at the time made me chuckle since I've moved far far away from there. No way was I gonna make that summons. So like a good person I sent back my request for excusal since well....I moved to NY state and wasn't likely to drive/fly all the way back for some stupid trial.

Well today I get a lil notice from them saying that my request for excusal was denied because, "your request does not set forth sufficient grounds for excusal" Seriously?! Moving to another state doesn't provide sufficient grounds for excusal? Then what the eff does?

So I was supposed to have been in DuPage County this past TH for Jury Selection. Oops. Not sure what happens now that I've failed to show up. Are they gonna issue a warrant for my arrest? I'd actually get a kick out of it if they came all the way out here and arrested me for contempt or whatever I'm guilty of now for now showing up.

As if today wasn't a crappy day already, now I have to wonder what the eff is gonna come of this? *feh* Honestly I don't care. Couldn't pay me to care about that crap. Just kinda caps off my craptastic day. I say bring it on, COME AND GET ME IL! I'll be waiting.

The Power of Words

So if you've been following this blog you'll know that I've been sort down on myself lately. Well on that front things are looking up in a way. Every week I've been getting a lil ego boost courtesy of my part time job.

At the bowling alley where I work there's this sweet old man. He's been bowling for almost 50 years. Amazing I know. He's friends with my boss so he comes up to say "hi" every week and he chides my boss for always having "young pretty women working with him" He especially likes red heads, and while I'm not a true red head I do sport a nifty shade of red that he just loves, (and so do I) so every time he comes and chats with us at the desk he looks at me and pats his heart saying I make his heart beat faster. He also calls me "Red" which seems to be popular nickname out here in CNY. It's the silliest thing but it really makes me feel good inside. I can't help but smile when he comes in each week. So I find myself actually looking forward Tues nights when I'll see my bowling alley buddy and if nothing else feel good about myself for a night. It's amazing what a few kind words can do.

Twist of Fate?

So I meant to post this before my trip, but alas I crammed my schedule too full with activities and such that it just didn't happen. No matter the effect shall be the same.

I recently went to my first show here in the great state of NY. While it wasn't a Broadway show (it'll happen just not right now) it was my first NY musical. So what show takes the honorific of being my first? If you can believe it, it was "CHICAGO" I know very fitting that the first show I see in NY is of and about the place I came from. Not only that but I saw it on the eve of my trip back to Chicago to visit family. The planets were aligned or something cuz it all fell together. Mercury is in retrograde this month so...

It was a good show. I'd recommend it. Even though I saw it alone I know my girl Asha was with me in spirit. For those who don't know Asha and I always went to see shows together in Chi-town so it was sad to not have her by my side, but she'd never forgive me if I missed out on a great show just cuz she couldn't be with me, and I didn't want to miss it either.

My 15 Minutes

Today was an interesting day at work. I was informed early this morning that a local TV news crew was shooting "dirty job" segments and would be at the zoo within the hour to shoot a segment. Not only that but my section of the zoo is where they'd be filming so it was my job to show them the ropes and get them dirty. So I was interviewed and filmed for almost 2 hours today explaining a little bit about what I do as a keeper and such. The 2 reporters were good sports cuz I didn't hold back. Every disgusting thing I could think of to do we did. For sure they left dirtier than when they arrived. There were even a few good gross outs by the female reporter which I'm sure the camera guy just ate up.

It was a neat experience but honestly I'd have preferred a lil more notice than I got. Blame for that falls on the Director of the Zoo who supposedly set this thing up or at least coordinated it. Just would have been nice not to be blind-sided by it this morning is all. A days notice is all I would have needed. Oh well I think I did ok anyway. True to form though I was wearing my most wrecked uniform. After all I was going to play with lots of Bleach that day so why ruin more than one set of clothes. Not very flattering though the pants I had on were way too big so I look fatter than I should and my shirt had bleach spots all over it, I hadn't done anything with my hair so it looked a lil eh...... Ah well I guess I really looked the part for having a "dirty job"

So the segment should air out here in early Nov. I'm definitely gonna set the VCR on this one. As embarrassing as it'll be I'll still be on TV. If I can link it to this blog I might but not sure what kind of access I'll have to the footage. At any rate it was a day to remember.

Poop 2.5

So back in August I had blogged about all the different kinds of poop I step in on a daily basis. Very enlightening information I'm sure, and thanks to a suggestion from my good friend C-chan I've revisited Poop. Below are pix of the animals I take care of and their respective poops.

Some of you may have also seen the original posting of Poop 2, but I've made some changes mainly cuz I didn't like not showing all 13 animals, but also because I didn't like the format I first used. It interrupted the flow of my posting to follow (still figuring out how and when to use gadgets and when to futz with posting options. It's a work in progress.)

I know before I said there were 12 Apostles of Poop, but I was wrong. There are actually 13. The names of each animal are listed below their pix, so for those of you who are not animal people you can know who you're looking at. :)

So thanks C-chan for giving me the idea. For not being a Zoo person you sure can think like one! One of many reasons that we're friends. To all: Enjoy!

Parma Wallaby

Jacob Sheep

California Sea Lion

Flemish Giant Rabbit

Collared Peccary

Peacock

Llama

Muntjac

Goats

Emu

Duck

Domestic Donkey

Bactrian Camel

Lifeline

So aside from posting pix of poop I've not had much to say as of late. Not that things haven't happened worth blogging about, but I've lacked the time and ok motivation at times to sit down and spill out a few thoughts that are swimming around in my head.

Currently it's about 40 degrees and mostly clear. You can see the stars if you care to look up. A typical autumn night here in Central NY. One I might enjoy more if the seas of my head weren't so stormy. *yes apparently I'm doing a nautical theme*

I am currently adrift upon the Seas of Self Doubt. I have been for the better part of a week now. There's any number or reasons why I've been lost at sea, pick your favorite. It could be the changing of seasons and the decrease of sunlight that has put me into such a dark mood. Perhaps it has something to do with a recent Birthday that has left me moody and brooding. Maybe it has something to do with the alignment of the planets. Mercury might be in retrograde and that's why I'm bummin'. Whatever the reason I am low on moral.

What I'm buggin about has to do with work. I still enjoy what I do and I have no regrets about the decision to pick up and move half way across the country, but when stacked up against my coworkers I've begun to wonder if I even come close to ranking with them.

It doesn't help that most of them are 5+ years my junior, in fact that's part of the problem. The keepers that are my age have been working as keepers for almost 10 years so I feel like I'm not as qualified since I've not had the experiences they have. Those younger than I am will always have more experience than me since they got started before I did. Most of them have been to exotic places and done amazing things. Whereas I've done 1 internship, and was a seasonal keeper for almost a full season. I don't have the experiences they have so I feel unworthy. Sure I have a Masters degree but so freakin' what. It's not like it's being utilized at my current position. I'm upset at my life for not having the opportunities that others had. Yes I'm jealous of my coworkers, I freely admit that. Doesn't change the fact that I see myself as the weakest link and wonder if the Zoo would be better off w/o me.

I can't help the fact that the path I'm walking down did not lead to where I wanted it to when I wanted it to. At least I got here right?! Some never do. Hell I almost gave up on the whole Zoo thing and settled down with a Lab Tech job. The money would have been better but it wouldn't have made me as happy. The Fates had a reason for this but right now I can't see it. I'm too caught up with how I rate compared to my fellow keepers to appreciate my own struggle.

Other work related issues have done little to douse this fire in my brain. Sadly some have fueled the fires of self loathing. Those issues are more personal and I don't feel it appropriate to post them. Let's suffice it to say coworker conflict plays it's part in this tale.

All this adds up to me doubting myself with almost everything I do. I've always sought out attention, but now I seek validation that I deserve to be on staff with those I work with. My poor Ego has taken some serious beatings lately and the poor thing was small to begin with cuz I've never been real self confident. My Ego needs to be stroked a bit if I'm to turn a corner with this funk. Someone needs to throw me a lifeline or tow me to shore, for the Seas of Depression loom.