Life thus far

Okay my blogger folk.. I have to direct you to another place where my blog is posted as I have used a photo storage site that makes the photos way to big for blogger, and I don't feel like going and changing all the stuff. So check out my blog on either one of these sites:

myspace 'life thus far'

or

yahoo 'life thus far

The first few days

Well here I am, living another island life. Don’t get uber jealous b/c this is a cold weather island. That is I am back up on San Juan Island. Not in another college program or an internship this time with a real actual paying job.

I am employed in a wildlife rehabilitation non-profit called Wolf Hollow. It has been a fun first few days getting orientated. Day one consisted of learning the layout and the current animal population. And we even had a few animal intakes, 3 to be exact. One was a Fox Sparrow that another staff member brought in b/c it was beside the road flopping around and couldn’t really fly except in circles. By the time he/she got here the sparrow was alert and flying around just fine so the staff manager took him home for release. The other 2 were Snow Geese from “mainland”. These guys had been attacked by a bald eagle and had done some damage, but didn’t stick around to make them dinner. Unfortunately we had to euthanize one, b/c it had been bitten right through the wing tendon meaning it would never be able to fly again and quality of life was just not well. The other one had a huge laceration down its left wing and a puncture behind its right wing. The avian vet that lives across the street came over and took a look and agreed it will be okay, so we spent a few hours stitching up his wounds and got him set up in a cage.

Today was a bit more uneventful, except the rain. The day was spent feeding and cleaning. We moved a Barred owl into the Heron flight cage and placed some live mice in a tub to see if he was able to catch pray on his own. He was doing well other than that so we will see if he is ready for release soon. I got to go out and feed the Cooper’s hawks that are doing quite well. And I also helped change, clean, and feed the feeder mice we have.

The only downsides right now… I live on site and it is in a “hollow” imagine that by the name, so my cell service is non-existent. Plus the internet in the housing was sending all the rest of the tubes into a frenzy, so I have to use the office for all my computer stuff at night. I miss having internet at my ready disposal to do with however I want it. It is also dreadfully quiet here and kinda sucks to be out here by myself. I feel the need to run into town every night just for human interaction, but end up ditching that idea b/c I don’t want to drive the few miles to town, like 4, and spend money. I already feel like I was getting some strange looks the other day in the grocery store b/c they don’t know who I am and they wonder who this new girl is in their community that is obviously buying more food than just someone who is here for the weekend in their sleepy little town.

Tomorrow will be another learning day of just some small stuff that we need to take care of logistically, and then Wednesday we will be taking one of the Cooper’s hawks in to the vet to have pins removed from his wing, I couldn’t tell you what bones they are in b/c it was an injury that predates me being here.

Not much else to add, I will have to take some pictures and post some pics from my last days at home, plus piano bar stuff when I get the chance. Until then… rock out with your socks out.

dueling worlds

I just wanted to make a quick post from the excitement that was GNO, for those not in the know, Girl's Night Out. It was very fun and I had a blast. This video is a complimentary piece to a video you will find at my friend Richelle's blog Only difference is angles, and timing of the yummy boyz singing Mad World-Tears for Fears at the piano bar. Okay so the yummy boy wasn't actually on the baby grand at that time. But you do whatcha do.



I had as already stated an excellent time. The only downside, the massive tequila headache I got when I tried to go to sleep, but I had an equally strong rival of the headache mass quantities of Advil :)

I will post more when I am not as uber busy with packing for my move tomorrow, hell I shouldn't even be taking this time out. I hope you all are having as great day as I did last night and today isn't being to shabby either :D

It feels like a divorce

I know what you’re thinking… What are you talking about Icy; you are in no way in ANY kind of a relationship! Well, that may be where I debate with you just a bit. I am sure I am going to get some ewww gross’s out of what I am going to say, but you who do, are just perverts. I am talking about the family relationship I have with my brother. In just one week I am going to be packing up a good portion of my belongings, and moving AGAIN.

The difference this time? Well, this time it is more permanent. Not that I don’t enjoy living with my brother b/c I do. I am going to miss this house incredibly and all of our shared items. That is where the divorce part fits in. To begin with, I will be moving to housing that my new employer is able to offer me for a few months, that is I have to be out before the interns start to roll in. So that means that I can’t just take everything with me right away and have the whole process be done with. It will feel like all my other excursions lately where I take my clothes and my entertain stuff to keep myself occupied, funny b/c I am moving back to a place that I have already lived. I am not moving incredibly far away from my Seattle surroundings, so I can always come back and pick up more stuff and do a gradual move, just needing to make one big trip for my, dismal amount of furniture. :(

I have been trying to minimize the time I would need to request off of work to move, so I have been sorting stuff and throwing out clutter, one think I like about moving, reducing my “stuff”. But it was sad today when I was working in the kitchen, b/c so much of the kitchen tools have been acquired after we moved here. I know mostly the stuff I brought with and definitely what was his. I am having a hard time with dividing out what stuff has accumulated. I am being as fair as possible and actually giving him some of my most prized kitchen ware. I.e... my glass cake pan. Everything basically went one for you, one for me. I now have the cabinets and cupboards divided with my wares in certain areas. Funny thing is after I collect my stuff, I don’t see my brother going and spreading his stuff out more to fill up the half that will now be empty. Lol

Another area that may be difficult to go through will be the media collection. We have a huge movie library. I know a few titles that I own outright. But again, I did all the purchasing of the movies, but was reimbursed for a good part of the purchase. I think we may bicker over a few titles. We may have to look at it as “long term” borrowing and I can bring them back when I make visits back home.

Last but not least, the cats…. Sigh this is a tough one for me. I will have to leave my Onyx at home while I am staying in company housing. And it will be they first time I have been away from her since the day she was dropped off WRR. But, I WILL find cat friendly housing. Fallobur on the other hand, well he is as much my cat as Onyx is, but he has a much stronger bond with my brother, and I can’t leave my brother without any company. I didn’t think I would get so emotional about him, b/c he has stayed with my brother before when I went on my many adventures. But, right now I feel like crying. It could be the combination of the unknown. This will be the first time I am “on my own” I have always had roomies, so this will be strange. I look forward to this adventure, but at the same time I feel like a chapter is coming to an end. It was long chapter, but it was a very good chapter over all. The sad part, it ends with something that feels like a divorce.

Get off your high horse

Alright so I just decided that I was going to post this after seeing a commercial for something I think is a great thing, but there has been A LOT of controversy surrounding it, that being the vaccine Gardasil, for the human pap. virus (type 6, 11, 16, 18). Now, I don't want anyone to get me wrong, I strongly support this vaccine and the use of it. Hell, my niece is being vaccinated along with all the hepatitis vaccines this year.

The controversy comes in that many counties and some states are making it a mandatory vaccine for school. Of course this has people up in arms, especially in Texas (imagine that). They fear that having their daughter vaccinated will increase the sex promiscuity of their child. I heard one news item today on this about how it will "make my daughter have premarital sex". Of course I just had to laugh my ass off at that. 1st... no vaccine makes someone have sex, 2nd... it has to do with family values and child rearing on how your child views sex and the use of it, 3rd.... why wouldn't you want to protect against something you can. I don't hear much bitching about hepatitis vaccines (there may have at one time), and guess what, that is something that is mandatory just about everywhere now and is a STD as well. Are you going to tell me that this too will make your daughter spread her legs more? Well guess what, if she does then she is just a down right slut and should at least be getting paid for all the action, the money may come in handy for the abortion (I only say this b/c obviously you didn't care to discuss the importance of sex with her so she probably doesn't value the life it made) or HIV med cocktail that she will need or any other VD treatment.

Okay so maybe I should step down from my soap box, but seriously. I wish I wasn't an outlier right now, but you see I am "past the age" in which they generally administer. Granted if I begged my doc, when I get one, I am sure I could convince her/him that I would like to have it. And something else that came about after my high school daze was the Hepatitis vaccine. So oh no, I am living on the edge by having either. Hell I would rather be on the other side of the fence on this one... and being vaccined up. After all, HPV can penetrate any physical barrier used.

Here are some links about the controversy that it is, read at your own leisure. You can paraphrase yourself; I won't do that work for you:

Texas orders
one less

St. Val en Tine

Dear Advertising Agencies,

I know I may be placing the blame in the wrong place, but why do you feel it necessary to take on the “valentine” ads which you are asked to creatively do? Just say no, the only except would be for Hallmark, since after all Valentine’s Day is a Hallmark holiday. So, please, quit trying to make it a national holiday. I have a few reasons for you.

First, it makes people who are single feel even more single, with either thoughts of offing themselves, consuming an entire carton of ice cream, yeah just another way to stay single is add that lactose fat to your ass, or the less harmful moping around feeling sorry for themselves. But then you have the other end of the spectrum of the happy couples who now feel obligated that they have to celebrate their love on this particular day, and if they don’t... God forbid, it ends in a horrible night of crying, doors being slammed and locked, and said “unloving” partner spending the night on the couch or dog house.

No I know that you are thinking, boy this girl is bitter, bitter single, but that isn’t it at all. I was having a discussion with a married friend. And she pointed out the militant necessity of “proof of love” on that day in particular. The appreciative of your significant other should happen every day, and surprise gifts of the heart. It got me thinking… You really get screwed over in a couple setting. Of course you “have” to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Plus you have anniversaries, and depending on how psycho your loved one is, they may want to celebrate many different anniversaries that you share. Ugh!! That is enough to make me sick.

So please, next time Rembrandt teeth whiter asks you to do a kissing commercial for them for Valentine’s Day, or Zales or any number of the who knows how many different diamond company ask you, please for the sake of all people, single or taken, unless you plan on sending me a diamond every time the commercial airs. Just say no. Save us the brunt of a Hallmark holiday.

Cordially yours,

Icy

Everchanging

So, It has been a struggle the past few years for finding a job in my field, animal caretaker, without having numbers of years of experience (funny b/c most want paid experience with accredited facilities.. how do you get that if they don't hire new entries??) . I have been working hard at a few internships to start my "experience" necessary. And it seems like it has paid off. I have a job offer!! I do have a lot to learn in this job, as they have much more responsibilities than my last internship, really if I would have stayed there as an employee I wouldn't have had much more to learn. But here, I will have to learn eagle, hawk, and owl handling and care. Habor seal rearing. And they.. I mean we.. do all the blood draw, work-up, x-rays, and fecal work. So I will learn a ton on the med side of animal care.

Of course this means I am on the move again, and this time. It is going to be super stange. I won't be to far from "home" but I will be moving on my own. The first time in my life. I don't qualify any college moves I made, like when I went to San Juan Island before, or my 2 internships. B/c those involved moving with people involved in the programs... etc, etc... I am both excited and nervous about that.. I have an okay amount of furniture if I end up in an unfurnished apartment, but not a whole lot. I also lack entertainment items... ummm yeah, I still don't own a tv, but I am sure my bro will let me have one of the several that are in the house.

I will have to part with my kitten for awhile, while I live in the housing they provide, but will be getting her back and will require my housing situation allow cats, but until then at least I know she will have happy here with my other cat that my brother will keep.

So soon I will be packing my truck back up with some of my belongings, heading north, getting on the ferry and off to the island of San Juan. I am excited, b/c I love it there. It may be a small sleepy island, but still right now it gives me the focus on my career. There are some good things there, herb's, China Pearl, Paradise Lanes, and of course loads of outdoor adventure stuff. I am so excited and ready to go diving up there.

Like I said life is an everchanging process, and once again mine has taken another turn. Finally one for the better.