http://meanlouise.com/?p=7926
Showing posts with label mom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mom. Show all posts
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Lost & Found at Wendy's
My good friend Rebecca recalled a story from her childhood of finding "monkey" in a bag at Wendy's. This story dovetailed well (or at least like a Peregrine Falcon soaring talons first into a dove) with a story from my childhood of my family walking out of a Wendy's and leaving an ape in a bag for a moment. Follow the link and enjoy.
http://meanlouise.com/?p=7926
http://meanlouise.com/?p=7926
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Wishful Thinking - the Florida Panther
Originally published on Audubon Guides on September 24th, 2012
Twenty
seven squirrel monkeys lived on an island at the Florida Monkey Sanctuary in
Venice, Florida. They had no interest in swimming to freedom. There was no land
close enough on the other side of the encircling moat that offered a chance to
leap to. They were content on their island oasis.
My
parents ran the sanctuary and we lived on the property when we were kids. One
night while my siblings and I slept, our dogs made an awful racket. My mother
asked my father to find out what was happening. He listened to the screams from
the porch and stepped no further from them. One by one, the dogs returned,
limping and bloodied. In the morning, my father investigated. All 27 monkeys
were dead. He traced cat tracks the size of his hands; one adult and two
kittens and determined that an endangered
Florida Panther (Puma concolor coryii)
swam across the moat with her young and hunted each and every one. Oddly,
she ate none. My father’s theory was that she was teaching her kittens to hunt
and quite effectively at that.
The
Florida Panther is considered one of the most endangered animals on the planet.
Technically they are a subspecies of the Mountain Lion, aka Puma, Cougar,
Painter, Swamp Screamer and Catamount (mascot of my Alma mater – the University
of Vermont – Go Cats Go!). The panthers are the last breeding population of the
cats east of the Mississippi. They once ranged from Alaska, south to Tierra del
Fuego in South America. In the United States they are restricted to the western
states with the exception of 120-160 panthers that roam from the Caloosahatchee
south to the Everglades.
 |
| Florida Panther © Pete Corradino |
Florida
Panthers are slightly smaller than the Mountain Lions out west. Adult males
weigh in at 165 lbs, compared to western cats that top off at 260 lbs. Panthers
measure over seven feet in length from nose to the tip of tail.
There
are many sightings of panthers with descriptions of spotted cats or black cats
that I chalk up to wishful thinking. Typically these are Bobcats (Lynx rufus) or a
trick of the eye. Bobcats are a third of the size and are spotted with a six
inch tailed compare to a three foot tail. The notion of a black panther may
come from the black leopards from the Tarzan movies, the political group, their
appearance at dusk or melanistic bobcats that have been sighted in Florida. The
panther is golden brown with fur similar in color to their food, the White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus).
I was
born and raised here and have yet to see a panther. I’ll keep looking and keep
up my wishful thinking.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Faker - The Black-necked Stilt
I remember lying flat on my back on the soccer field, staring up at an oval formation of heads. Teammates. Coaches. Refs. And my mom who warned me “you better not be faking it.” I was twelve and apparently prone to such behavior, but in this case I wasn’t. In a spectacular attempt to score a goal, I had torn my ACL. I think about my mom when I see certain birds exhibit “distraction displays” and I always think “FAKER!”
Ground nesting birds such as Black-necked Stilts (Himantopus mexicanus) and Killdeer (Charadrius vociferous) have developed a unique method of protecting their chicks. While many birds would rush back to the nest to cover up their young, Stilts and Killdeer leave the nest when disturbed. They use themselves as bait to draw the attention of the predator and lead them away from the nest. The key to success is their flair for drama. With one wing outstretched, the bird will limp along as if injured or sick. The predator thinks they’ve stumbled upon an easy meal and as they follow the feathered thespian, they are unknowingly lured away from lunch in a nest. Some fakers will sit on the ground and pretend to incubate a fake nest as well. Once the parent feels the predator has been sufficiently duped, they drop the act and take off, leaving the bamboozled hunter hungry.
Stilts have distinctly long, red legs with a higher leg/body ratio than any other bird in North America except the Flamingo. Currently they are winding up their nesting season in south Florida South Florida has left the inland mud flats underwater. You can’t lay an egg if you don’t have a place to nest.
Despite knowing the injury ruse, I can’t help but follow spectacular birds with my camera and snapped these two in flight, only later realizing they had led me away from their chicks. The parents soon returned to this chick, who someday might be a good little faker too.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Happy Mother's Day - Thanks for the Regurgitated Fish
I wonder if Ospreys miss their mother after they leave the nest? Momma Osprey is looking after her 3 chicks (below). She's the larger of the birds looking right and the three chicks have white specks on their wings. The parents diligently prepped the nest, laid the eggs, incubated the eggs, fed the chicks and watched them grow - as we have watched on tour for the last few months. The chicks fledged this week and headed off on their own.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Family Vacation: Ahh, Venice
The following is a continuation of Tiffany's flashback tour of Venice, Florida where we grew up. Here are some of her photos from way back when and from now.
Dad, a monkey, Mom (prego with Tiffany), cousin Bill and Aunt Anne at the Venice Depot in 1968.
The Venice Depot in 2009 - now part of the Heritage Trail for bikers and hikers.
Tiffany at our old Groveland Avenue house in Venice. I was an infant - I don't remember those dogs. 
Amazing that there are still some classic old houses that they haven't torn down to make way for cookie cutter homes.
Gunther Gebel-Williams - was considered one of the greatest animal trainers of all time and perfromed for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Circus in the The Greatest Show On Earth®. He was Venice's favorite son and a world class entertainer. Regardless of my opinions of circuses today, as children we found his show entertaining. He was probably the first person I understood to be "famous" and our parents knew him! 
He passed away a few years ago and is memorialized below in an appropriately flamboyant statue with a surprisingly defined cod piece. He was inducted into the International Circus Hall of Fame in 1999.
Venice Avenue 1973 - Mom, a monkey, me (with hair) and little sister Tara in the stroller - she kinda looks like another monkey.
Venice Avenue 2009 with my niece and nephew. (was it coincidence that Tiffany took the photo in the exact same spot?)
Tiffany at Munday Park in 1970 - My father helped get this park created and Tiffany had a sense of ownership because of that. We lived a few houses down and when she would come here to play - she'd be miffed if other kids were on "her" playground. A two year old with a sense of entitlement!
Tiffany's daughter Abigail at Munday Park in 2009
Dad, a monkey, Mom (prego with Tiffany), cousin Bill and Aunt Anne at the Venice Depot in 1968.The Venice Depot in 2009 - now part of the Heritage Trail for bikers and hikers.
Tiffany at our old Groveland Avenue house in Venice. I was an infant - I don't remember those dogs. Amazing that there are still some classic old houses that they haven't torn down to make way for cookie cutter homes.Gunther Gebel-Williams - was considered one of the greatest animal trainers of all time and perfromed for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Circus in the The Greatest Show On Earth®. He was Venice's favorite son and a world class entertainer. Regardless of my opinions of circuses today, as children we found his show entertaining. He was probably the first person I understood to be "famous" and our parents knew him! He passed away a few years ago and is memorialized below in an appropriately flamboyant statue with a surprisingly defined cod piece. He was inducted into the International Circus Hall of Fame in 1999.And the last picture is for Jack and Josie who think "monkey diapers" are funny. And really who doesn't? Here's a picture of me in 1971 - in a diaper on Venice Beach. 
Had I known Tiffany had this picture I would have posed for a picture with me in a diaper on Venice Beach in 2009.
Had I known Tiffany had this picture I would have posed for a picture with me in a diaper on Venice Beach in 2009.EDITED (3/4/2009) - Malena suggested I post this picture of me in a diaper from 2007. I am the SMURF on the left. Baby New Year in the middle and Ashley Hayes Traut on the far right.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Kingdom of the Monkey Skulls
Another for my mother (12/27/2005) - Three years gone by but your voice echos through my adventures.
My father once joked that when archaeologists discover this site in the future they'll theorize that an ancient race of tiny people lived and thrived here. In fact, the ground beneath my feet today was the site of my childhood home and the Florida Monkey Sanctuary until 1988. Many monkeys found refuge here. More were born here and some were buried here. When my mother sold the property 20 years ago, many of the monkey cages were torn down. I returned in 1993 to see what had become of the place. An older man had moved in with his even older mother and I was content to know that the land was well taken care of. Flash forward to 12/27/2008 and today's visit. The house has been torn down and burned due to termites. The owner long since gone. The land is now used as a horse ranch. 
The neighbor's yard is less than welcoming. I don't test the dog or my speed. But we have permission to walk our old property. Beautiful old oaks cast their branches out over sandy soil. Margaret, a Clydesdale and my first horse (and the first word I ever spoke - Mah-gwet!) is buried here.
What appears as a ditch is a dried up moat that encircled two islands. Peter's Island (named for my grandfather) was inhabited by squirrel monkeys in the 70's until a Florida Panther swam across and taught her kittens how to hunt. 
The bridge was built by my dad and me when I was 13. The next owner built the handrails, but our bridge to nowhere actually went somewhere. As a kid the island was completely forested and seemed to be a dense impenetrable jungle that I would always try to explore.
Spread across the 10 acres were several corn cribs that functioned as housing for several hundred primates over the course of 20 years. On past explorations I had discovered little remains of the Sanctuary but I forged further into the "creepy" corner of the property and found three round concrete slabs that once were the foundations for the corn cribs. A shallow pool remains. My sister Tiffany called it creepy and I think she was referring to the NW corner. The NE corner was always creepy to me and I would run as fast as I could - from what I don't know.
As I explored further I instantly recognized the distinct aqua blue color of the swimming pool that once belonged to a troop of Weeper Capuchins. 
On rare occasions I would have the good fortune of hosing out the cages. The pool was always the toughest to clean. It was a task normally relegated to my mother or father. I must confess that while hosing the cages, certain monkeys would come down and shake the cage. I don't know if they were tainting me or playing, but I would spray them. They looked peeved but they always returned. I tell myself they were having fun. 
An orange tree grows at the edge of a concrete slab. No doubt the consequence of a discarded seed or two. The monkeys and apes were fed Monkey Chow as well as grapes, apples and oranges that my family prepared for them. (Marshmallows were always a vice of several sugar-loving simians). 
Today the ancient ruins from the 70's are lightly covered by tropical vegetation. Water pipes remain buried beneath leaves and soil. Bones of long past primates rest just beneath the surface. To the casual observer, all of these subtle clues might be dismissed. To me, they are my Machu Pichu. Relics of my childhood that echo a memory of my mother. 
My father once joked that when archaeologists discover this site in the future they'll theorize that an ancient race of tiny people lived and thrived here. In fact, the ground beneath my feet today was the site of my childhood home and the Florida Monkey Sanctuary until 1988. Many monkeys found refuge here. More were born here and some were buried here. When my mother sold the property 20 years ago, many of the monkey cages were torn down. I returned in 1993 to see what had become of the place. An older man had moved in with his even older mother and I was content to know that the land was well taken care of. Flash forward to 12/27/2008 and today's visit. The house has been torn down and burned due to termites. The owner long since gone. The land is now used as a horse ranch. The neighbor's yard is less than welcoming. I don't test the dog or my speed. But we have permission to walk our old property. Beautiful old oaks cast their branches out over sandy soil. Margaret, a Clydesdale and my first horse (and the first word I ever spoke - Mah-gwet!) is buried here.What appears as a ditch is a dried up moat that encircled two islands. Peter's Island (named for my grandfather) was inhabited by squirrel monkeys in the 70's until a Florida Panther swam across and taught her kittens how to hunt. The bridge was built by my dad and me when I was 13. The next owner built the handrails, but our bridge to nowhere actually went somewhere. As a kid the island was completely forested and seemed to be a dense impenetrable jungle that I would always try to explore.Spread across the 10 acres were several corn cribs that functioned as housing for several hundred primates over the course of 20 years. On past explorations I had discovered little remains of the Sanctuary but I forged further into the "creepy" corner of the property and found three round concrete slabs that once were the foundations for the corn cribs. A shallow pool remains. My sister Tiffany called it creepy and I think she was referring to the NW corner. The NE corner was always creepy to me and I would run as fast as I could - from what I don't know.As I explored further I instantly recognized the distinct aqua blue color of the swimming pool that once belonged to a troop of Weeper Capuchins. On rare occasions I would have the good fortune of hosing out the cages. The pool was always the toughest to clean. It was a task normally relegated to my mother or father. I must confess that while hosing the cages, certain monkeys would come down and shake the cage. I don't know if they were tainting me or playing, but I would spray them. They looked peeved but they always returned. I tell myself they were having fun. An orange tree grows at the edge of a concrete slab. No doubt the consequence of a discarded seed or two. The monkeys and apes were fed Monkey Chow as well as grapes, apples and oranges that my family prepared for them. (Marshmallows were always a vice of several sugar-loving simians). Today the ancient ruins from the 70's are lightly covered by tropical vegetation. Water pipes remain buried beneath leaves and soil. Bones of long past primates rest just beneath the surface. To the casual observer, all of these subtle clues might be dismissed. To me, they are my Machu Pichu. Relics of my childhood that echo a memory of my mother.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Balloons for Grandma
Lie to your kids. It amuses me.
I was hiking in the Everglades two weeks ago and spotted a shiny object floating between two Cypress trees deep in the far reaches of the swamp. It was a Mylar balloon and the metallic exterior shimmered and reflected the rare sunbeam that broke through the dense forest canopy. It reminded me that no place is far enough away from the hand of humanity.
This is what happens to some of the balloons that get away from kids.
My niece lost a balloon a few months ago and my sister told her not to cry - the balloon was floating away and grandma would get it. Presumably my sister thinks our mother lives in space since passing on 2 years ago. The situation repeated itself a few months later and Tara reminded Peyton once again that the balloon was headed up to Grandma. When Peyton lost another balloon recently Tara once again calmed the greasy-fingered kid and told her not to worry - and you know the rest. The apparently agitated three year old had had enough of this explanation and demanded to know what Grandma was doing with all of her balloons. I can only hope she's having a rockin' party.
I think parents feel the need to make up the balloon story for a few reasons. The first being that many balloons float back to earth where lucky little kids get to frolic with your kid's lost balloon. Explain that to a kid.
I was hiking in the Everglades two weeks ago and spotted a shiny object floating between two Cypress trees deep in the far reaches of the swamp. It was a Mylar balloon and the metallic exterior shimmered and reflected the rare sunbeam that broke through the dense forest canopy. It reminded me that no place is far enough away from the hand of humanity.
This is what happens to some of the balloons that get away from kids.
My niece lost a balloon a few months ago and my sister told her not to cry - the balloon was floating away and grandma would get it. Presumably my sister thinks our mother lives in space since passing on 2 years ago. The situation repeated itself a few months later and Tara reminded Peyton once again that the balloon was headed up to Grandma. When Peyton lost another balloon recently Tara once again calmed the greasy-fingered kid and told her not to worry - and you know the rest. The apparently agitated three year old had had enough of this explanation and demanded to know what Grandma was doing with all of her balloons. I can only hope she's having a rockin' party.
I think parents feel the need to make up the balloon story for a few reasons. The first being that many balloons float back to earth where lucky little kids get to frolic with your kid's lost balloon. Explain that to a kid. Another is that many balloons return to earth as litter - disrupting a wilderness slog through the swamp or falling into an ocean where a confused turtle will attempt to eat it - thinking it's a jellyfish. Telling your kid that Crush choked on their balloon is generally upsetting.
And finally - the idea that an 8-armed alien holding a bouquet of your kid's balloon on the moon is simply creepy and would freak them out.
So instead - lie to them - it works for so many other things. And hey Peyton - you keep making that face and you'll turn into a monkey.
Happy 66th Birthday Mom - wherever you are.
Happy 66th Birthday Mom - wherever you are. Sunday, September 14, 2008
Spending Time Behind Bars
One of my goals in life was to see monkeys in the wild. Growing up at the Florida Monkey Sanctuary in the 70's, I was surround by primates - squirrel monkeys, spider monkeys, capuchins, baboons, siamangs and many more. Many had been taken from the wild and sold in the U.S. as pets, finding their way to the sanctuary through various means.
Some had been born in the U.S. or on the sanctuary and although their lives may have been better for coming to the sanctuary, they were never truly free. To see monkeys in the wild is to experience one of the most beautiful things in nature (which I have several times in Ecuador - I recommend it). To see monkeys in captivity is often heart breaking.
In 1988, many of the monkeys at our sanctuary were sent to other zoos and sanctuaries. I never imagined that 20 years later I would have the chance to see some of them again. But a friend of the sanctuary contacted me a few months ago and told me a few monkeys were changing hands and would be introduced to two sanctuaries in north Florida.
On our trip to Tennessee I thought it would be a good opportunity to visit. The sanctuary was not far from our route. The monkeys in question were Maddie (named after the Cybil Shepard character on Moonlighting) and Gertie (named for the Drew Barrymore character in E.T.). Gertie was born on the sanctuary in 1982. Her mother died at birth and my parents had to take care of her. She lived in the house for the first year or so. Lived in a crib. Wore a diaper. Watched cartoons with us. We essentially grew up with her.
I called the sanctuary when we were close and was informed she had been moved to a new facility which was only 15 minutes from where we were. It turns out her new home is a zoo - which concerned me and when we arrived the sign stated they were closed for a private function. So we became part of the private function and no one was the wiser. We were able to slip into the zoo and found our way to the spider monkey cages. No Gertie. We continued on to the back of the small zoo and found two black spider monkeys.
Surely they would not recognize me after 20 years right? Maddie was younger than Gertie and was not raised in the house. I would never expect her to recognize me. She didn't get carried around to baseball games and out to restaurants. She didn't go to New York in the summer time with the family like Gert. Add the fact that Maddie now has testicles - I'm sure that this monkey had no idea who I was. Somewhere along the way, monkeys got switched. 
I called to Gertie and she came right over. Maybe she wants attention? Maybe this is part of her show?
MaLe called to Gertie. Nothing. She continued to stare at me and chatter. Gertie - not MaLe. I would love to think that she recognized me.
The zoo keeper found it interesting and suggested the two spiders are usually shy. I'm not sure I wanted Gert to recognize me because I would have to leave her. As well intentioned as some of the zoos may be, its certainly not an idyllic life for these animals. We left and made arrangements to call the zoo director to see what I could do to help make a better life for the two spiders. Apparently Gert gets quite upset when she is separated from her new Maddie.
I'm not sure what I can do, but I will do my best to help her. It's good to know that they don't breed animals at this zoo. It's also illegal to import monkeys into the United States.
It breaks my heart to see animals in these conditions. It hurts having to leave Gert behind bars.
Some had been born in the U.S. or on the sanctuary and although their lives may have been better for coming to the sanctuary, they were never truly free. To see monkeys in the wild is to experience one of the most beautiful things in nature (which I have several times in Ecuador - I recommend it). To see monkeys in captivity is often heart breaking.
In 1988, many of the monkeys at our sanctuary were sent to other zoos and sanctuaries. I never imagined that 20 years later I would have the chance to see some of them again. But a friend of the sanctuary contacted me a few months ago and told me a few monkeys were changing hands and would be introduced to two sanctuaries in north Florida.
On our trip to Tennessee I thought it would be a good opportunity to visit. The sanctuary was not far from our route. The monkeys in question were Maddie (named after the Cybil Shepard character on Moonlighting) and Gertie (named for the Drew Barrymore character in E.T.). Gertie was born on the sanctuary in 1982. Her mother died at birth and my parents had to take care of her. She lived in the house for the first year or so. Lived in a crib. Wore a diaper. Watched cartoons with us. We essentially grew up with her.
I called the sanctuary when we were close and was informed she had been moved to a new facility which was only 15 minutes from where we were. It turns out her new home is a zoo - which concerned me and when we arrived the sign stated they were closed for a private function. So we became part of the private function and no one was the wiser. We were able to slip into the zoo and found our way to the spider monkey cages. No Gertie. We continued on to the back of the small zoo and found two black spider monkeys.
Surely they would not recognize me after 20 years right? Maddie was younger than Gertie and was not raised in the house. I would never expect her to recognize me. She didn't get carried around to baseball games and out to restaurants. She didn't go to New York in the summer time with the family like Gert. Add the fact that Maddie now has testicles - I'm sure that this monkey had no idea who I was. Somewhere along the way, monkeys got switched. I called to Gertie and she came right over. Maybe she wants attention? Maybe this is part of her show?MaLe called to Gertie. Nothing. She continued to stare at me and chatter. Gertie - not MaLe. I would love to think that she recognized me.
The zoo keeper found it interesting and suggested the two spiders are usually shy. I'm not sure I wanted Gert to recognize me because I would have to leave her. As well intentioned as some of the zoos may be, its certainly not an idyllic life for these animals. We left and made arrangements to call the zoo director to see what I could do to help make a better life for the two spiders. Apparently Gert gets quite upset when she is separated from her new Maddie.I'm not sure what I can do, but I will do my best to help her. It's good to know that they don't breed animals at this zoo. It's also illegal to import monkeys into the United States.
It breaks my heart to see animals in these conditions. It hurts having to leave Gert behind bars.
Click to hear Gertie chatter at me
Friday, February 22, 2008
Backup
My Computer crashed. (Did I capitalize computer or did it? That concerns me) I'm now in the process of doing what I do every time I panic and worry about losing everything stored in this mysterious little box - I backup.
I'm basically copying files to an 80 GB backup hardrive and I'm currently watching it scan through 37 years of photos. It's freaking me out. The files are flying by and the computer is counting down. "214 minutes remaining". A file from a trip out to Montana just zipped by. That was almost 7 years ago? The Grand Canyon from 2002. The computer shuffles through several dozen files from the Vermont Butterfly Survey in Manchester with Kent in 2003 and the numbered files topple like dominoes. Here comes 2004 and the 2 trips to see Ma-Le in Ecuador. 1200 photos and they rocket past so fast. 2005 - new pictures of baby Peyton, my sister Mandy's wedding, Ash & Kate's wedding, Christmas with the family at Disney and the last picture of my mother - the moment is gone. "42 minutes remaining". The blur and pain of 2006 tears by with digitized moments that seem too quickly forgotten. I did that? Lost in a fog of coping. "19 minutes remaining". I'm watching the last of the photos and my mind hears the sound of driving on the rumble strip that separates the highway from the side of the road. DSCN3384, DSCN3385, DSCN3386 - no time to change the file name. The moment is here and gone. "2 minutes remaining". Does my computer know something I don't?
When I was a kid days seemed endless - now they go by too quickly. I've been back in Florida for a year now. It's been a great year for the most part but I can't help feeling like I'm driving downhill in a fog sometimes. Gotta keep going forward. Have to enjoy every bit of every day that I can. I never know when the ground is going to drop out under me. I can look back - I just can't backup. "finished"
I'm basically copying files to an 80 GB backup hardrive and I'm currently watching it scan through 37 years of photos. It's freaking me out. The files are flying by and the computer is counting down. "214 minutes remaining". A file from a trip out to Montana just zipped by. That was almost 7 years ago? The Grand Canyon from 2002. The computer shuffles through several dozen files from the Vermont Butterfly Survey in Manchester with Kent in 2003 and the numbered files topple like dominoes. Here comes 2004 and the 2 trips to see Ma-Le in Ecuador. 1200 photos and they rocket past so fast. 2005 - new pictures of baby Peyton, my sister Mandy's wedding, Ash & Kate's wedding, Christmas with the family at Disney and the last picture of my mother - the moment is gone. "42 minutes remaining". The blur and pain of 2006 tears by with digitized moments that seem too quickly forgotten. I did that? Lost in a fog of coping. "19 minutes remaining". I'm watching the last of the photos and my mind hears the sound of driving on the rumble strip that separates the highway from the side of the road. DSCN3384, DSCN3385, DSCN3386 - no time to change the file name. The moment is here and gone. "2 minutes remaining". Does my computer know something I don't?
When I was a kid days seemed endless - now they go by too quickly. I've been back in Florida for a year now. It's been a great year for the most part but I can't help feeling like I'm driving downhill in a fog sometimes. Gotta keep going forward. Have to enjoy every bit of every day that I can. I never know when the ground is going to drop out under me. I can look back - I just can't backup. "finished"
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Cat Fancy
Ever wonder who reads the blog? Apparently the biggest demographic is house cats, but I can't say they actually read the blogs so much as scan the pictures and bat at the screen when the videos play (pictured below- Zatcat from Plymouth, MA). This is true for their human counterparts, including one reader in Rowley, Ma and another in Tuscon, AZ who say they "skim" but they get the gist of the blog. And that's what I'm going for. I simply want people to get a general idea of what I'm talking about.
Apathy runs rampant even here in the Jungle apartment where I can't even get my own cat to read the blog, until as General Tso (pictured below) says - I include more "cat related content".
So without further ado, to appease my feline and because I'm too lazy to actually write something this evening - here is an email exchange between my mother (who was working at Coolidge State Park) and myself from 2005 wherein she requests information regarding Mountain Lions (and for the sake of an Everglades tie-in - Florida Panthers) and I respond with utmost seriousness.
Mom's questions in Black - My answers in ORANGE with 2007 responses in BLUE.
From: "Pete Corradino"
To: "'Janey'"
Subject: Answers
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005
are the males bigger than the females?
Yes – Males average 150 lbs, females 90
Florida Panthers are smaller
are they related to domestic cats?
Yes, they are both in the Felidae family
do they eat dead stuff ?
Yes, they often kill their prey, cache it and return for it over the course of a few nights
do they breed in captivity?
Yes
do they eat monkeys?
They range all the way to the southern tip of South America and can be found in the same habitat as many species of monkeys, so most definitely.
Species name is Puma concolor and known as Puma in South America
where can you buy one
Ebay
why do they pace in captivity
Stress
why do you pace in captivity
Stress
and sometimes if i need to pee
can they interbreed with other cats, i.e. a nice big fluffy lion?
There genetic makeup has diverged to the point where that combination would not produce viable offspring. (I have to check if that is 100% correct)
That is true but Lions and Tigers can reproduce - but their offspring can not.
do they mate for life?
No – they are solitary and only find one mate for a very short breeding cycle
how many are there in the US?
Very tough to find this answer!
There are about 80-100 in Florida and several thousand west of the Mississippi with more and more moving into the eastern United States
are they found outside the united states?
Weren’t you listening? I just said they are found all the way down to South America. Also found in Canada
where is the largest population of mountain lions found?
West of the Rockies – highest density might be a good way to ask that question….Don’t know the answer to that though.
I knew at one point. It was in my VINS slide show that I can't find. This is turining out to be more work than I wanted.
can I have the answers to these questions when you get them?
Yes
how big do they get .. how tall, how much do they weigh?
males can be up to 265 pounds, males can be 8 feet in length (including a 3 foot tail!)
oddly enough I said above that males weigh up to 150 lbs - so obviously I make stuff up?
how far can they jump?
they can jump up 15 feet and leap 30 feet
do they eat people?
10 people have been killed by mountain lions in the last 15 years. They rarely get the chance to eat them although they have inferred that we taste like chicken. They have been known to bite campers in the privates.
In 2004 - a teenage camper at Coolidge State Park came up to my mother at the Ranger Station and announced that a coyote had just bit him in the privates (he used another word that I have changed so as not to offend young readers.) Anyway - that explains the running joke in our family about animals biting people's privates.
what do they eat?
Ungulates (Moose, Deer, Elk), Turkey, Dogs, Cats and a variety of other small animals
are they found in all 50 states?
They were at one time but now they breed in 10 states and are sporadic in others.
how long do they live?
They average about 18-20 years but can live 25-30 years in captivity
do they make good pets? ... hahahaha
They have been known to bite people in the privates
how many cubs in a litter?
average of 3
where do they sleep at night?
in a cave, tree cavity, earthen den, in a tree
how long do the cubs stay with the mom?
they stay with mom for an average of 15 months but up to 2 years.
are they nice or do they bite (from abigail)?
They have been known to bite people in the privates. They all have different personalities, they can be shy, they can be aggressive, they can be lazy
do both parents raise the young
The dads are useless and would sit on the couch and watch football if they could. They would root for the Panthers.
This is true.
what is a bunch of mountain lions called .. bevy, pride or are they solitary?
They are solitary
But a group of Polar Bears is an Aurora and a group of Weasels is a Sneak.
are they nocturnal?
They tend to be nocturnal, but will be diurnal when the prey species is
do they have friends?
George Bush would consider them terrorists, but there are many organizations that support their reintroduction and conservation
can you hunt them (you can in montana)
In several states yes, but they are a Federally listed Endangered Species
can you eat them (you can in montana .. they taste like chinese food ... hahahah)
Wow
My mother actually ate bear and mountain lion when she lived in Montana.
I'll think of more.
You do that.
Apathy runs rampant even here in the Jungle apartment where I can't even get my own cat to read the blog, until as General Tso (pictured below) says - I include more "cat related content".
So without further ado, to appease my feline and because I'm too lazy to actually write something this evening - here is an email exchange between my mother (who was working at Coolidge State Park) and myself from 2005 wherein she requests information regarding Mountain Lions (and for the sake of an Everglades tie-in - Florida Panthers) and I respond with utmost seriousness.Mom's questions in Black - My answers in ORANGE with 2007 responses in BLUE.
From: "Pete Corradino"
To: "'Janey'"
Subject: Answers
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005
are the males bigger than the females?
Yes – Males average 150 lbs, females 90
Florida Panthers are smaller
are they related to domestic cats?
Yes, they are both in the Felidae family
do they eat dead stuff ?
Yes, they often kill their prey, cache it and return for it over the course of a few nights
do they breed in captivity?
Yes
do they eat monkeys?
They range all the way to the southern tip of South America and can be found in the same habitat as many species of monkeys, so most definitely.
Species name is Puma concolor and known as Puma in South America
where can you buy one
Ebay
why do they pace in captivity
Stress
why do you pace in captivity
Stress
and sometimes if i need to pee
can they interbreed with other cats, i.e. a nice big fluffy lion?
There genetic makeup has diverged to the point where that combination would not produce viable offspring. (I have to check if that is 100% correct)
That is true but Lions and Tigers can reproduce - but their offspring can not.
do they mate for life?
No – they are solitary and only find one mate for a very short breeding cycle
how many are there in the US?
Very tough to find this answer!
There are about 80-100 in Florida and several thousand west of the Mississippi with more and more moving into the eastern United States
are they found outside the united states?
Weren’t you listening? I just said they are found all the way down to South America. Also found in Canada
where is the largest population of mountain lions found?
West of the Rockies – highest density might be a good way to ask that question….Don’t know the answer to that though.
I knew at one point. It was in my VINS slide show that I can't find. This is turining out to be more work than I wanted.
can I have the answers to these questions when you get them?
Yes
how big do they get .. how tall, how much do they weigh?
males can be up to 265 pounds, males can be 8 feet in length (including a 3 foot tail!)
oddly enough I said above that males weigh up to 150 lbs - so obviously I make stuff up?
how far can they jump?
they can jump up 15 feet and leap 30 feet
do they eat people?
10 people have been killed by mountain lions in the last 15 years. They rarely get the chance to eat them although they have inferred that we taste like chicken. They have been known to bite campers in the privates.
In 2004 - a teenage camper at Coolidge State Park came up to my mother at the Ranger Station and announced that a coyote had just bit him in the privates (he used another word that I have changed so as not to offend young readers.) Anyway - that explains the running joke in our family about animals biting people's privates.
what do they eat?
Ungulates (Moose, Deer, Elk), Turkey, Dogs, Cats and a variety of other small animals
are they found in all 50 states?
They were at one time but now they breed in 10 states and are sporadic in others.
how long do they live?
They average about 18-20 years but can live 25-30 years in captivity
do they make good pets? ... hahahaha
They have been known to bite people in the privates
how many cubs in a litter?
average of 3
where do they sleep at night?
in a cave, tree cavity, earthen den, in a tree
how long do the cubs stay with the mom?
they stay with mom for an average of 15 months but up to 2 years.
are they nice or do they bite (from abigail)?
They have been known to bite people in the privates. They all have different personalities, they can be shy, they can be aggressive, they can be lazy
do both parents raise the young
The dads are useless and would sit on the couch and watch football if they could. They would root for the Panthers.
This is true.
what is a bunch of mountain lions called .. bevy, pride or are they solitary?
They are solitary
But a group of Polar Bears is an Aurora and a group of Weasels is a Sneak.
are they nocturnal?
They tend to be nocturnal, but will be diurnal when the prey species is
do they have friends?
George Bush would consider them terrorists, but there are many organizations that support their reintroduction and conservation
can you hunt them (you can in montana)
In several states yes, but they are a Federally listed Endangered Species
can you eat them (you can in montana .. they taste like chinese food ... hahahah)
Wow
My mother actually ate bear and mountain lion when she lived in Montana.
I'll think of more.
You do that.
It should be noted that my Mother - the English major from the University of Vermont asked every question in this email without capitalizing. So it's not my error! I guess that is acceptable in emails.
Special thanks to Tiffany Berish for supplying the archived email and Amanda Harden for suplying the photo of her cat reading the blog. If your cat/other pet reads the blog, send a photo and I will post.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Material Boy
I don't want things. I like having as little as possible - just the things I need but I have been programmed to "want presents" on my birthday, Christmas and for some reason Easter. I blame in no particular order my mother, Santa and Jesus.
So I had to fight the urge to want and expect gifts on my birthday like I always seem to do, although I am truly content at my age to simply have people acknowledge that I happened to be born on this day of all of the 365 days (or 366 as it were).
In fact I'm even content to get phone calls that I will not be receiving a gift. On my birthday I got a call asking to speak to Ma-Le - so I explained she wasn't "here" (which was very much the truth since I was in the Everglades). They asked that she call in the next 5 minutes since they did not have the "Teddy Bear and Flowers" she ordered. I told them she was in Ecuador and the voice on the other end said "Oh - then I am canceling this order". and he hung up. A Teddy Bear and flowers were waiting at the door when I returned home. I assume they didn't have the giant candy filled grizzly Teddy Bear holding a batch of bear grass that I've always wanted.
Later that night I went to dinner with my boss, his wife, their daughter Alicia and her friends (none of whom I advertised my birthday to). When I got to the restaurant, there was a pile of presents on the table and they all cheered as I entered. Alicia yelled guess who's birthday it is (and just before I could say mine) she said "it's my birthday" and everyone cheered. And then she said "guess who else's birthday it is?" (and just before I could say mine she said "It's Travis's birthday!" and everyone cheered including some random guy named Travis who was also celebrating his birthday. So I said "Guess who else's birthday it is? Mine!" and the cheering stopped and they all looked at me like I had ruined their fun with my ridiculous proclamation. She said "let me see your ID" and I gave it too her and she screamed and everyone cheered and we all had a drink of something that tasted like liquid cupcakes. Three birthdays - What are the chances?
So the presents were not for me and I'm fine with that - honestly because I had the good fortune of having many birthday wishes - so thanks!
Time to go open a package I just got. I hope it's that 48" rotating cupcake display with chocolate fountain I always wanted.
Without apologies - next post - back to the Everglades
UPDATE - I opened the package - My little sister sent this in the mail with 18 cupcakes (in their containers but yes actual cupcakes. It looked like a rabid possum had gotten into the dumpster at the penny candy store. It's the thought that counts.
So I had to fight the urge to want and expect gifts on my birthday like I always seem to do, although I am truly content at my age to simply have people acknowledge that I happened to be born on this day of all of the 365 days (or 366 as it were).
In fact I'm even content to get phone calls that I will not be receiving a gift. On my birthday I got a call asking to speak to Ma-Le - so I explained she wasn't "here" (which was very much the truth since I was in the Everglades). They asked that she call in the next 5 minutes since they did not have the "Teddy Bear and Flowers" she ordered. I told them she was in Ecuador and the voice on the other end said "Oh - then I am canceling this order". and he hung up. A Teddy Bear and flowers were waiting at the door when I returned home. I assume they didn't have the giant candy filled grizzly Teddy Bear holding a batch of bear grass that I've always wanted.
Later that night I went to dinner with my boss, his wife, their daughter Alicia and her friends (none of whom I advertised my birthday to). When I got to the restaurant, there was a pile of presents on the table and they all cheered as I entered. Alicia yelled guess who's birthday it is (and just before I could say mine) she said "it's my birthday" and everyone cheered. And then she said "guess who else's birthday it is?" (and just before I could say mine she said "It's Travis's birthday!" and everyone cheered including some random guy named Travis who was also celebrating his birthday. So I said "Guess who else's birthday it is? Mine!" and the cheering stopped and they all looked at me like I had ruined their fun with my ridiculous proclamation. She said "let me see your ID" and I gave it too her and she screamed and everyone cheered and we all had a drink of something that tasted like liquid cupcakes. Three birthdays - What are the chances?
So the presents were not for me and I'm fine with that - honestly because I had the good fortune of having many birthday wishes - so thanks!
Time to go open a package I just got. I hope it's that 48" rotating cupcake display with chocolate fountain I always wanted.
Without apologies - next post - back to the Everglades
UPDATE - I opened the package - My little sister sent this in the mail with 18 cupcakes (in their containers but yes actual cupcakes. It looked like a rabid possum had gotten into the dumpster at the penny candy store. It's the thought that counts.
Friday, September 14, 2007
New England Rewind
How often do things go according to plan? And when they do are they worth reading about? Depends on what you planned, but my trip to Massachusetts and Vermont to visit friends and family was fantastic. I'm sorry I missed out seeing a few of you - but I have the perfect destination for any of the New Englanders once winter comes. Come on down to Florida!
Since a previous post had the baby making a "fiend" face - I felt I needed to put a nicer one. 2 1/2 year olds are fun and learn many bad things from uncles.
This is not one of them. This makes me tense but the baby likes doing the Shake-n-Bake on the beach in Mass!
One of my obsessions during the vacation was to find a geocache each day. These are "treasures" hidden around the globe. You can find out where there are on http://www.geocaching.com/ and then use a GPS to find them. Here Brian and I search the rolling hills near Newburyport (with success).
Since she could walk, Peyton has marveled at the Turkeys that live outside her window. They roost in the pines nearby and when they feed in the lawn, she'll go from window to window to see what they are doing.
And sometimes she plays "Babyzilla".
Back out at Rockport, we check out the lighthouse and the old quarry 1/4 miles from the ocean. We're as high up as it looks.
New baby is thinking "Please don't blog this". Poking the baby does not make him crawl. It's been 10 days since he was born. Do something exciting!
Jacob, Abigail, Tiff and I went geocaching to find Abigail's birthday cache. The fun is going to places you might not ever know about otherwise.
In the hills of Grafton, VT is the Starry Mountain Alpaca Farm run by friends John and Kim. It's the most ideal spot I can think of. They grow their own food, raise the Alpacas for wool, live off the grid using solar and they have DSL! The animals are beautiful if not territorial as I found out while feeding one of them. She made a cute little squeaking sound which I thought was a happy noise until she sneezed/spit the food back in my face and all over my shirt. I was lucky, as it was recently swallowed and had not been dredged up from the rumen where it would have come out hot and gooey - which is how I like Krispy Kreme Donuts - not Alpaca spit.
I love this picture. It's even better in person.
Bill, me, John, Kim and Sandy the barkless dog (thanks to a deterring citronella spray)
Had a nice 2 day visit with Bill who darted around Vermont with me. We even went antiquing (for Smurfs - kids lov 'em...) Bill and I visited my old stomping grounds. The view is from the edge of Lowell Lake in Londonderry where I was the Park Ranger for 6 years.
There's a beautiful log cabin at the state park with requisite Moose head. I do miss the place.
The gang gathered at the Inn at Long Trail in Sherburne where everyone seemed to have a Guinness - but I a Margarita. From left to right (Benjamin, Amy, Annie, Lisa P, Mrs. S from the witness protection program, Debbie, Steve, Sharon and Survivalman Mike. Bill and Pete in the front.
I don't know what i did wrong, but click on the picture and it looks like I am getting a serious scolding from Lisa.
I always said "Home is where the mom is" and these days I sometimes feel a little homeless. But here in Plymouth, VT, where mom worked for 6 years is where she is in spirit to me and I can't help but associate her with this quintessential Vermont scene. Mountains, rolling hills, pasture and gigantic Swiss Rolls.
Back in Mass to visit Lil Sister in Plymouth, Ma where husband Josh and Estelle are searching for frogs.
Found one.
And Stelly and I rounded out the week with another cache on the 9th straight day. Fun little spot and cool little walking bridge!
Since a previous post had the baby making a "fiend" face - I felt I needed to put a nicer one. 2 1/2 year olds are fun and learn many bad things from uncles.
This is not one of them. This makes me tense but the baby likes doing the Shake-n-Bake on the beach in Mass!
One of my obsessions during the vacation was to find a geocache each day. These are "treasures" hidden around the globe. You can find out where there are on http://www.geocaching.com/ and then use a GPS to find them. Here Brian and I search the rolling hills near Newburyport (with success).
Since she could walk, Peyton has marveled at the Turkeys that live outside her window. They roost in the pines nearby and when they feed in the lawn, she'll go from window to window to see what they are doing.
And sometimes she plays "Babyzilla".
Back out at Rockport, we check out the lighthouse and the old quarry 1/4 miles from the ocean. We're as high up as it looks.
New baby is thinking "Please don't blog this". Poking the baby does not make him crawl. It's been 10 days since he was born. Do something exciting!
Jacob, Abigail, Tiff and I went geocaching to find Abigail's birthday cache. The fun is going to places you might not ever know about otherwise. I rented the Ford "Funion" in Mass to get me to Vt. I dunno what it is really but the kids got a kick out of me driving around in a pumpkinmobile. It was so energy inefficient that even the picture drains the amount of space I have on this blog for photos.
In the hills of Grafton, VT is the Starry Mountain Alpaca Farm run by friends John and Kim. It's the most ideal spot I can think of. They grow their own food, raise the Alpacas for wool, live off the grid using solar and they have DSL! The animals are beautiful if not territorial as I found out while feeding one of them. She made a cute little squeaking sound which I thought was a happy noise until she sneezed/spit the food back in my face and all over my shirt. I was lucky, as it was recently swallowed and had not been dredged up from the rumen where it would have come out hot and gooey - which is how I like Krispy Kreme Donuts - not Alpaca spit.
I love this picture. It's even better in person.
Bill, me, John, Kim and Sandy the barkless dog (thanks to a deterring citronella spray)
Had a nice 2 day visit with Bill who darted around Vermont with me. We even went antiquing (for Smurfs - kids lov 'em...) Bill and I visited my old stomping grounds. The view is from the edge of Lowell Lake in Londonderry where I was the Park Ranger for 6 years.
There's a beautiful log cabin at the state park with requisite Moose head. I do miss the place.
The gang gathered at the Inn at Long Trail in Sherburne where everyone seemed to have a Guinness - but I a Margarita. From left to right (Benjamin, Amy, Annie, Lisa P, Mrs. S from the witness protection program, Debbie, Steve, Sharon and Survivalman Mike. Bill and Pete in the front.
I don't know what i did wrong, but click on the picture and it looks like I am getting a serious scolding from Lisa.
I always said "Home is where the mom is" and these days I sometimes feel a little homeless. But here in Plymouth, VT, where mom worked for 6 years is where she is in spirit to me and I can't help but associate her with this quintessential Vermont scene. Mountains, rolling hills, pasture and gigantic Swiss Rolls.
Back in Mass to visit Lil Sister in Plymouth, Ma where husband Josh and Estelle are searching for frogs.
Found one.
And Stelly and I rounded out the week with another cache on the 9th straight day. Fun little spot and cool little walking bridge!And just to come full circle - My final evening at Brian and Tara's before heading home where I was treated to the Boot Scootin Boogy.
Can't wait to come back. Can't wait for you to come down.
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