I think I call this a win!

see more pwn and owned pictures

"Fog is so calming"

I didn't actually say the title myself, but one of my friends said it last night as we were heading out to a barn dance at Sweet Earth Farms. I had to actually stop and think about the statement, and then I basically felt- I agree.

Yesterday was a day where it was pretty socked in with fog, especially the closer you got to the south end of the island. Which is where I spent some yesterday early afternoon. I picked up my buddy Guinness and we headed south like most run days. I went past where I normally go and went down to the Cattlepoint light house. From there we ran the cliff face; it is starting to get kind of scary with how eroded the cliff is getting to undercut the trail as I am not a light runner at all. I do know that when we probably less than a hundred feet from the light house we could no longer see it because of the fog! It was quite interesting for me too, because it has been a very long time since I have been down to the light house, and it did give me the relaxing, calming feeling to look down to the place where I did my research project while I was a student at the University of Washington Labs here.

I'm not sure how far we actually went before we turned around to head back to my truck in the drizzly fog, but I do know my iPod went through 10 "angst" songs before we were back to the truck. We were both quite satisfied with our little outing so I shared my water out of my Klean Kanteen in a bowl for him and we headed back to town. Sorry, even if I had a functioning camera it would have been completely useless! I did see a few Buffleheads, a few Harlequin ducks, and quite possibly a northern pintail (couldn't ID for sure through the fog).

Back at home I spent some time trying to get the sand out of shoes and pants from the run, and did some online research for a game camera we would like to get for work. Basically this kind of camera is one that hunters use around blinds and forested areas to learn the traffic patterns of their prey. It is a heat sensor/motion sensor camera that come on and can either take photos or video of their "catch". We are looking to hopefully get a couple of these, obviously not for the same purpose, but so we can actually get some unmonitored behavioral data. It would extremely helpful when it comes to "mouse school" for young raptors and owls to ensure they are catching their dinner. It will also give us a way to post a slew of short animal videos for people who are interested in seeing the active animals in rehab on the work website. (This is to replace an idea thrown out there about putting up a live webcam, well that would give you a lot of sleeping animals, especially to people who visit the site at night).

Other than that I surfed the internets, watched a few movies, experiments with making a new "goodie", and then went out for a short while to gather with people.

It appears that we are going to have a good foggy day today, even though on the radio this morning they talked about it burning off by noon, but it is 11 am and I just don't think so at this point. I can tell you that the fog is holding the heat in, this morning was so warm, I nearly want to run around in a tee-shirt at work, but opted not to.

Speaking of work, I guess I should get back to working on protocols before I have to tube feed a Trumpeter Swan.

Hope you have a good day.

Day after Thanksgiving.

Well, this year's Thanksgiving was a bit different than most. I wasn't with any family, which has happened in the past (3 years ago I spent T-day in Hawai'i with my SLP family), but it was good. I started the day by going to work and giving all the animals their "Turkey day" dinners. I did a few of work cleaning chores and then I was ready to go home, it took about an hour and half. I had already baked my pies for the turkey day dinner I was headed too, so I spent some time talking with family on the phone, watched a movie, and then finished a Haunted by Chuck Palahnuik.

At that point I got ready and headed to a friend's house to head over to T-dinner with him, his roommate, and his folks. Again, it was a good time. It was really nice to not have to deal with any of the "family drama" that usually occurs at any of my normal gatherings.

To many of you that I generally get to see around this time of year. I hope you all had a great day and I do miss you.

Today I spent my day running around town with my buddy Guinness & we went for a run at redoubt... it was a great jog! I jogged twice as far as normal and still had some energy to spare (even if my hip did do its painful pop thing 2 minutes in)! Sorry no pics at as I had put new rechargeable batteries in my digital the other day, and they are dead, and my cell phone had one bar so I was charging it while I ran. It was chilly, and very cloudy, and dark so pics wouldn't have been that impressive.

a day much like a summer one!

Oh, not weather wise... it was chilly and rainy today, but more like in the only chance I got to sit down at work today was for lunch, which I still worked on paperwork, read over resumes for our posted position, and answered phone calls, as well as, the end of the day when I was again working on paperwork.

Why so busy you may be wondering. Well, it was just Shona and I today and we had a list a mile long of projects that her and I needed to get done. So after a quick round of feeds this morning it was time to do blood draws. With the intake of the Trumpeter Swan we generally run blood labs and we are looking for possible lead poisoning as well as just a general blood chemistry scan. We don't necessarily think that the swan has lead toxicity, but it is something we like to make sure of, we also do the same thing with eagles. We also drew blood on the last 2 of the seals, so we can get them out of the center before I had home to South Dakota in December. This took all morning to finish getting the samples ready, and before I knew it it was noon before I was heading back to the center after dropping off the samples with UPS and the USPS.

After checking on the animals, getting laundry, and dishes done. I finally sat down for lunch and worked on paperwork from the morning feeds, and blood draws, plus filling out the release paperwork from the flying squirrel and pygmy owl from yesterday evening. I then proceeded to work on the afternoon checklist, sorting fish, cleaning carriers, folding 6 loads of laundry.

I worked on a few more of the projects like calling Dr. Gaydos about seal health checks, prepping the trailer to be moved to the fawn enclosure, getting the coon gloves & covers ready for tonight's release. Once again it was feed time, so I we feed most the animals, and before it got too dark her and I moved the trailer to set up at the fawn yard release door, so they have a few days to get use to it before we load them up next week for release. We came back into the office, we then tubed the swan as her bloods showed dehydration, and she isn't eating a large amount (better safe than sorry). Then off to the raccoon cage to catch the last 4 raccoons for release, boy these guys were smart and kept circling the tree. As I was trying to use a net and the branches sticking out from the tree kept hanging me up, they were able to scurry back around out of my reach to encourage them to come down the fencing. Eventually we got them all and loaded in the truck for Shona to take tonight on her way home. I once again got to sit down for a few minutes to complete evening feed paperwork and release paperwork, before I headed out the door.

It wasn't quite as long as work day that happens in the the summer, but it still was a basic sun up to sun down kind of day. It also just felt that busy b/c of the fact that it was Shona and I for the big stuff and just me for the normal stuff.

Hope you all had a good day, and if I don't get a chance to blog, may your "most drunken night of the year" be a great day (Wednesday before Thanksgiving), as well as your Turkey day.

shear size

Okay so Heather had 'puter issues last night and wasn't able to blog out the swan. I just talked to her on her lunch break and she was able to send me some pictures to help you understand the shear size of the "beast". You may be seeing these images twice as she may use them in her own blog.

This is Shona starting the wing exam.

Us examining the head.

See those be big feet.

Rehydrating the juvi Trumpeter Swan.

Alright... off to finish the rest of today's tasks so I can get my butt out of here soon and hopefully go for a nice jog/walk with Guinness!

getting around to it

So, I was able to come up with some batteries that were charged (took me trying 5 sets of batteries) to take a few photos of our "little" new addition. I really wish that there is someway for me to have something in the photos to convey just how big s/he is. I can basically tell you that the plug in's behind her on the wall are roughly 3 feet off the ground.

This is the look at those feet photo!!

We have finally (something we have been trying to do for more than a week, but due to weather and lack of flights got it to happen) got the last Pygmy Owl out for release, as well as sent the flying squirrel back for release today with a volunteer who was heading to mainland early this afternoon! Very exciting to see those two little critters go, but kinda sad too since they were both so darn precious. But that is what I am here for, fix 'em and send 'em on their way.

Sun is shining bright here at the hollow, and even though it has felt a bit brisk all morning. It is definately a lovely day. Hopefully I can get to enjoy a few minutes of sunshine after the work day is done!

Yet another first for me

Well, today was a day that I think was inevitably going to happen. Especially since Shona and I had been discussing it, as well as, a friend of mine asking me if I had ever taken care of "them". What am I being so cryptic about.... we got a juvenile trumpeter swan tonight. I have been saying that I am very fearful of getting one in, and I was quite astonished about just how big they are. I was really preparing myself, but s/he is huge, like a large small child. Some stats on the swan, the weight is about 9 kg (20 lbs), the feet are larger than my hands. The neck is between 2 1/2 to 3 feet long, and the wing span over 7 feet! The coloration is mainly grey with some white feathers on the wings. Bill is black at the base and at the end, but pink in the middle. They have really beady looking eyes, but was quite calm when we had him/her pinned to the floor by sitting over top him/her and could snake the head out from under the towel!! I was very fearful of getting swan "hickey" b/c I can only image the pain that that would cause, I know goose hickeys all to well! But Shona told me that they are much like geese, and are more likely to use their wings to "beat" down a possible of threat and possible break a bone (I would more assume their bones and not our bones :D).

I am really hoping that s/he will eat over tomorrow so we don't have to tube a slurry mix. And I hope I will be able to get some pictures. I was more concerned with getting him/her checked in, rehydrated, and set up. Heather also came in and took some photos which I am sure she will have posted later on her site.

accomplished

Yesterday was a day that I accomplished absolutely nothing. I know we need these kind of days sometimes, I really think it was a good thing for me, because even though I didn't accomplish any of my goals I had set out for the day, at least I didn't accomplish them by sitting at home on my couch watching tv by myself. Instead I spent the day hanging out with friends, running around town for a bit at different times throughout the day, watching movies, and just over all hanging out.

As for today, I really made up for the lack of whatever yesterday! I cleaned my apartment, washed my futon cover, and blankets, got groceries, picked up a special order book from Griffin Bay Bookstore, watched a movie, and even made it to the West Side for sunset with a friend. My initial intent was to pick up my buddy Guinness and go for a jog/walk at Redoubt as our normal routine, but he was not himself and had a hard time with his run this morning according to his owner. So I decided not to put any more stress on his body b/c of it, granted I could have used the jog/walk anyway. I decided a nice drive and a sunset would be okay. It is amazing how the temperature can change drastically with the dropping sun and also with wind right up the cliffs off the water. It felt 10 degrees cooler on the bluff than it did by my car, just 20 feet up the way. I am sure glad that I keep a hat and a pair of wool fingertipless gloves in my car. It meant that I was able to take some photos, but stay warm. I also had my binos out and got to see a red-breasted merganser, and two pacific loons hangout in the water. Of course there were numerous gulls and I had to do the "bauclk bauclk" chat back to them.

Anyway I will let you see some of the camera phone pics I took, as well that is what I have to work with right now.

My buddy Guinness on a walk on Jackson's Beach awhile ago

Sun over Vancouver Island.

It's a long way down, and out if you want to miss the rocks below!

Little Mushroom, don't ask me what kind. I only know the ones in the stores are safe to eat.

Last image of the night.

Anyway it is now time for me to get ready to head out to dinner. I am meeting a friend, Heather, in town for a good dinner. Her and I don't get to hang out much, but we are trying to more.

The waterfowl

Just an FYI for you peeps in the San Juan area... The Trumpeter swans are back!!! Keep your eyes peeled for them. Today I saw 8 adults and 4 juveniles on Blazing Tree pond.

Other than that today was a gorgeous day.. One of those days I wanted to blow off work and go out and play! I thought about it during feeds, but truly realized it when I went to Limestone point to pick up a dead river otter (a research interest to Dr. Joe Gaydos).

So I spent the morning doing some outside stuff, like pressure washing the wet pen. But this afternoon held another task for me. See, a few weeks ago we got a "soiled" Dusky Canada Goose from Lopez that had some wounds that needed to heal. Now that they have, we needed to give her a bath. Shona and I got to give little miss a bath this afternoon. I learned a few things: first the recommended temperature for washing a bird is 107 degrees F, that is was too warm for a her. She got warm quite quickly. Second, gooses don't really mind getting bathed during the bath. And third, she was pissed with us after we were done. We were spraying her off and bam, she decided to give me a "goose hickey" on my arm; she then got me again later when I was checking to see if she is drying properly.

Here are a few picks of her in the bath. We didn't have someone to take pics as we went, so mid-bath Shona grabbed the camera and took a few photos. P.S. she is quite a small goose, so yeah.

Rubba-dub-bud a goose in the tub.

Don't I look just just soo attractive!!

new arrival!

After more than 24 hours of trying to get a critter over to the center, she finally got here!


wouldn't sit still until she was up on the carrier.


big old eyes


she has a lot of extra skin from front leg to back leg.






cutest, face... EVER!!


Isn't she just so cute. This is a Northern Flying Squirrel that came to us from Burlington. It was in a wheel well of a car with a cat sitting below it. She doesn't have any injuries that we can find, but we will have her on antibiotics for a few days to ensure that if the cat got her she will be okay.


Some facts, she is just over a hundred grams. Has huge dark eyes, but that is what you get when you are nocturnal, and about the size of my hand. When I was examining her all she wanted to do was climb to the highest place, which seemed to be my shoulder or my head and look for somewhere to jump to.


Other than that... we still have 2 seals, 4 raccoons, 5 fawns. Plus a Canada goose, a Barred owl, saw-whet owl, pygmy owl, and a rock pigeon.

Hope you all find some cuteness in these photos, and some beauty in your day.

Days off

Lately I have been feeling a bit (quite a bit actually) run down. It hasn't seemed to get any better with rest and just plain laziness. Some of you know that me getting a normal amount of sleep is quite unusual as it is. I am starting to feel like rechargeable batteries that are at the end of their hold capacity (as in they drain way tooooo easily). This means I have to find something to pep up my energy.

Yesterday, (actually I decided this on Thursday night after work, but Guinness wasn't home, b/c Jason had him out on a run) I took Guinness to American camp for a run around the loop at Redoubt. I have been struggling with muscle pulls in my hips since Halloween dancing. I was thinking that I needed to just get myself moving some more and maybe that would take care of all the issues. Yeah about 50 yrds into my jog with Guinness I felt/heard a horrid pop. Some muscle over top my iliac crest, my guess would be the Tensor faciae latae has pulled. It made the rest of the walk (roughly a mile) excruciating. Plus, we all walked to town last night for dinner and drinks and then walked partway home before a friend drove me to get my truck. And lets not even discuss the pain it was to even turn over in bed!

Today, if I was moving it felt better, there is still pain, especially when I am getting up and down from a seated position. But, felt much like it did before yesterday's incident. So, what did I decided to do, take Guinness for another jog. I know I am a glutton for punishment huh? Well, there wasn't any major damage done (at least not that I felt). I did get shin splints today, but I know most of my muscles were tight from yesterdays jog/walk (oh yeah, I did do more jogging after the pop yesterday too-- I know that was stupid).

I did take some photos on my cell phone, b/c well my batteries are dead in my digital and they really don't hold a charge anymore, and I was going to use my 35mm b/c it was gorgeous but found out I was out of film. Here are some of the images from yesterday and today.


These two images are 2 coves west of Granny's Cove, I loved how the Nereocystis luetkeana is piled.

Mt. Baker over the Lopez

In all of these the sun is playing the clouds over the Olympic mountains, roughly 45-30 minutes before sunset.

I wish this was more visible, but even if you click on the photo to enlarge it, it isn't (darn me for not having an adequate camera). but the little dot right about the pile of logs on the point, I know you see it, you think it is dust on your computer screen. Well it is actually a bald eagle, one of the residents of the South Beach prairie.

As for right now, I think I will close this blog off and as I have brought in my mat and plan on doing some yoga stretching to help ease the muscle tension.

somethings rotten in the state of Denmark

Update from yesterday: I mentioned that we got a barred owl in Monday afternoon. Yesterday we got a chance to do an exam and it appears that something (the probable car strike) did some ocular damage that we will have to wait for signs of improvement at this point. I did fail to mention the smell that is emanating from the owl though. It isn't a decaying smell or the smell of bacteria from the owl. No, this owl at some point has been sprayed by a skunk! I don't know if that meant that he tried to make a skunk dinner or if they happened to be going for the same meal. Today, as I was force feeding it and had to clean up the blood dribbles, I took a whiff of the wipe and boy did it stink. The smell isn't too strong, it is just very noticeable when you go to hold the owl or are trying to take the owl out of the crate. Initially I couldn't peg if it was a skunk or just a musky fox smell, but we have come to the conclusion that it was a skunk.

Other news at the Hollow, we have started our interview process for hiring a new rehabber with the hopes of having someone start around the first of the year. We will see, we will see how it all goes.

falling apart

Well, me trying to blog everyday has fallen apart over the past few days. Partially b/c I had days off from work, and also, well the slowness of the season doesn't give me very interesting stories to tell.

The most exciting thing about work over the past few days: we released a gull that had a broken clavicle and watching it fly away, I was fearful that he could only fly in counter-clockwise circles he banked to the right and reversed directions! We also had a chicken running around on property that I captured. To be more precise it was a Rhode Island Red chicken, probably around a year old and going through her first molt. It sounds like the chicken has been running around "the neighborhood" for almost 2 weeks, which would explain why she was pretty thin.

We got in a barred owl yesterday, we will have to see what happens b/c it was apparently hit by a car and don't know if there is any long term damage. A squirrel that had been rolled by a car, and unfortunately had a shattered right shoulder and jaw, so yeah. Also yesterday, when I was taking out our compost I found a frog hopping in the path. Something didn't look quite right with him, so I picked him up and took him inside. Basically, the right leg was busted in multiple locations, intestines where hanging out and punctured, and the sternal cage was broken and sticking out! Yuck, poor guy I did what was the most humane thing to do, the sad part is, it took an hour to gas him out. Today we looked it up and found it to be a red-legged frog. Something that we didn't know we had hanging out in our pond, very exciting!

This afternoon we, staff, spent working on testing the magnets and how to setup the netting for our eagle flight cage. We basically found out all the things we can't do, now we just need to figure out the things that will work for us!

Not much else is going on, besides it getting dark at 4:30 pm. This means that I spend almost all hours with light at work. The wind has been blowing something fierce (gale winds) today, and rain is a falling. We are really hoping for some better weather very soon, so we can ship some more animals out for release. Like: rabbits, a pygmy owl, raccoons, and fawns (which will be after the 16th when modern firearm hunting season ends).

Looking for answers.

Okay I guess I can post the answers to the guess who, even though a few have found out by first hand seeing it in person. Yeah, I had a few people really think I had a hickey, you think they would know me by now, that it wouldn't be such a thing (for multiple reasons).

First off the latest arrival that spent the night at my house was another Pygmy owl. Both of the ones at the center are doing quite well.

And the marks on my neck were made by a Red-tailed hawk. Neither one of us are to blame to the fault of the incident. I was taking precautions to avoid it, and well she just wanted her food. Because of the photo period we are in on the island, BoP's are going through their "I need to bulk up for winter phase". They don't understand being in a cage that she won't struggle to find enough food for the next few months. So, she jumped up on her perch across from the door and I peeked in at her before I went to throw the piece of venison to the far end of her cage. Once I saw her up there; I re latched her door and walked to the far end of her cage to entice her down and avoid high injury, I could always shoe her back with my big work boots. Well, bam she was back up on the perch when I again peeked. So, I pushed the door shut to think about how I was going to handle this. I was just about ready to put the venison back into the tray I brought it out in, and go feed the fawns and would come back and maybe then she would have gotten the idea that I wouldn't feed her if she was going to be in "attack mode". Well I didn't get that option b/c she hit the door I was just holding shut, pushed it open, got her right talon out, and bomb made contact with my neck. Soon she hit the ground and jumped back, almost like she knew "oops.. I wasn't suppose to do that." and I was able to quickly throw the meat into the opposite end of the cage. Which she actually just kind of stood there, like wait you aren't going to make me come to the glove now? I really wish I knew what she was thinking, and if they can recognize one person from another, b/c I am not the one who gloves her, ever!

Here is a picture of the culprit.


So that is the story of the neck marks. Since then, I work in the horrid pouring rain we had on Thursday, making for a miserable day. Yesterday, I didn't do much besides hang out at a friend's house all day. Today, I have been a bit productive. I was able to get my recycling to the dump, make chili, which will simmer all afternoon before it will be ready, and also got my apartment picked up and feel very relieved to have a clean house again.

Guess Who??

Okay so today we are going to play a game, Guess who. There are 2 different spots where you can guess who.

First off, Guess who is spending this evening in my bathroom?!? The novelty of is wearing off on how rare it is that we are seeing them at the center.. b/c well this makes number 3 at center in the past month. I just picked him/her up at the airport tonight on my way into town after work. Instead of going all the way back out to WH I just brought home a carrier and food for this girl/guy.

Scale perspective.. that is a med. mouse s/he is sitting on.

Carrier on my bathroom floor.

Okay and now it is time for Guess Who #2. Guess who did this damage to me. I will first tell you that no it is not from a human. Gross. get your mind out of the gutter people! Second, guess that I anticipate hearing is my cat, b/c well she can be a little spitfire at times and I still have a bite healing on my hand from well over a week ago. This is from a non-domestic critter. Take a stab at it I'll let you know if you are correct or give you a hint.

There is a scratch right in front of my ear, 2 on the neck with an abrasion between.

Different lighting.. to help you see.. hmm.... let me tell you it hurt!

animal updates

Wow I completely forgot to throw out there the fun new animal intakes we have had.

Over the weekend one of our volunteers took in a Dusky Canada Goose. She is quite small and is covered in some kind of oily/greasy film. She also has some muscular damage to her left wing, as well as, a nasty bite wound on her neck. We will see how she does as her wounds are contaminated & infected.

We also got, for the the third time this fall season got a Pygmy Owl! I am absolutely amazed. This little girl/guy spent the weekend at Care Vet and got fed pinkie mice and mealworms. We tried to do a release on mainland before having to send her/him over. But alas, no good flight. So today we got the Pygmy Owl. Very BAR (Bright, Alert, Responsive)- but a tad underweight. I took a whole adult mouse and went to put it in the crate with the owl and s/he snatched it out of my hand. Wow.. must be hungry. Anyway, later in the day the head and all the inners of the mouse were gone, so I have another one. And the same thing happened, right out of my hand the mouse went. I hope that we have a success story with this little one, as the previous 2 did not fair well. I think when we move her/him outside we will use Willow's old mew (Willow was an Education Saw-whet out that was at the center a few years ago who had passed away) to avoid putting the owl too close to the eagle flight construction.

Other good news, the Saw-whet decided a month after being at the center that s/he would accept being hand fed and even take pieces off the perch. Only a small improvement, but actually a huge step for him/her.

my lips are sealed....

So, getting me to talk shop on politics is actually quite a feat. I just gonna say I am glad it is over.... and yes, there is a smile on my face.

It's official....

... My pager has died. So, I don't get to look like a pimp for awhile b/c I won't be sporting both my cell phone and a pager. The big unfortunate part is that this means I have to direct my on-call possibilities to my personal cell phone, and that is just kind of a bummer. It also makes me wonder how long it has been broken without my knowledge. The only reason I know is b/c of numerous calls last night and a few of them from people who know how the pager system works. I feel really bad for all the critters that have gone without help.

As for the rest of my day, filled with butchering a deer, picking up a goose from the ferry, and feeding everybody in the rain once again. Which isn't too fun when I am not feeling all that well. I had a swollen, sore throat come out of no where last night.

back to the rain

Well, today was just a taste of what winter is like for us. I really wish I had a picture of what I was looking at at work. It was raining, and I mean it was coming down quite well. Luckily I got most of the A.M. feed before the downpour started, but I wasn't completely unscathed. From what I hear it didn't rain to much in town, so it sounds like it moved West to East straight across the island. It was one of those rains that would pour and then let up to a drizzle, but no matter what it was a very cold rain. The air temperature didn't feel bad, but once I was soaked I just wanted to curl up for the day. Ha that didn't get to happen.

It was also seemed today, that small things wanted to go wrong. I got to clean out the septic tank filter... eww all by itself and it was mice cleaning day for my breeding mice colony and this all took place before 10am. I also had a monthly report to write, which involves adding stats into the database, and seal release records to complete from Saturdays release, which also requires adding information into 2 excel files. Which, with a rainy day one would think doing computer work would feel better than being outside. To some extent it is, but if it is work on the office computer than it is cold up in the upstairs, plus the rain pounds on the metal roof. I would much rather be downstairs in our "kitchen" working on my laptop to get work done; work which I didn't get to work on today b/c of the other computer work. Hopefully tomorrow I can continue to work on feeding protocols for the main animals that we bring into the center.

After work I of course came home and took a hot, hot shower. Nothing feels better this time of year that to wash the chills away and also climb into a pair of fleece pants, a tee shirt with a fleece sweatshirt and curl up on the couch under a fleece blanket. Aww the only down side is wet hair that cools off fast. But I can suffer with that.

PS this dark really early sucks. It makes me want to bolt from work really early so I can enjoy some daylight time. But also I felt ready for bed a few hours ago. :(

Happy All Saints Day.

Well, I am spending the day recouping after last nights fun (well not entirely- I had to put in a few hours at work b/c we released 2 seals this afternoon).

Last night was fabulous, but I didn't expect anything different. Halloween is my second favorite holiday, losing out to New Years Eve. Needless to say, I was like a child on Christmas morning. I paced my apartment yesterday just waiting until I deemed it was time to put on the costume. Luckily, my friend called and asked me to come hang out at their house early b/c he had to rifle through Halloween supplies to find some makeup and items to put together a last minute costume. So I sprang into action, kicked my cat Onyx off my costume. And headed up the road to their house.

Onyx thinking my outfit was her outfit

It was fun to see the kids in their costumes, but for me is it the excitement of getting to be someone else for the day. I means I generally get into a little more mischief than normal ;O. But all in all, I keep my wits about me and my conscious still nags at me.

Here are some photos of last nights excitement.

Lyle was afraid to show a little leg...

Jessi on the other hand was quite comfortable with it

your bartender for the evening will also be your bounty hunter

KT and I, me being Penelope Pitstop

Heather gets festive with a flying monkey shirt, for her this is Halloween dress up

Cess rocking with Lords of Tiamat

Dick sports a nose like no other

Jessi caught off guard.

Eli, Will, and the back of Ann's head

One fine ass couple

Maddon and Megan

Jason, seriously... all I can think of is the family guy episode where they want Gumble to Gumble back on the air and they put pepperonis on Chris as some sort of Make a Wish Scheme

Tony, biker bob, and Sheila

Ann & Kati... sigh I miss the girls

Today, we said goodbye to 2 more seals. All we have left is 2 more to go (it may be awhile since one of them is pretty small). The tagging process went very smoothly. And the release did as well. We had been discussing what we thought Shrike and Eskimo would do once we went to release them. I pegged it! Shrike peaked out of her carrier, saw the water and humptity humped right into it. Snorting and flipper slapping the whole time. Eskimo on the other hand too a few minutes to come out, and then he didn't really want to venture into the open water too much.

Shrike is already out in the water, you can vaguely see a head, while Eskimo peeks out

Shrike plays in the kelp bed.