8/8/03
Been quite a while since the last update.  Sorry about that!  Things are really moving fast here. 

I've found a new place to live!  It's spacious, close to work, modern, and affordable!  It's on the 12th floor of a condo highrise right on the ocean.  Beautiful place almost within sight of where I work.  Jim and I will be splitting the rent there.  It's a two-bedroom two-bathroom 1000sq. ft. condo.  Beautiful building in one of the best parts of town.  It doubles as a hotel, so it looks like a palace inside.  There's a big swimming pool right on the marina, and a great view from the bedrooms.  All utilities are included, and rent is $1200 a month.  600 for each of us.  What a deal!

I'm also doing some part-time work on the side.  I'm an independent computer consultant, and will probably be working part-time as a tech in a computer shop not far from the Seaquarium.  All this I gained  by finding the right place to get a haircut.  It pays to get to know people!

The job is really fast-paced.  I often feel very rushed, but I'm managing to keep up for the most part.  Jim (my roomate and co-worker) seems quicker at picking up some things than I am, but he's very laid-back and not snooty about it at all.  Memorizing scripts is on my priorities list right now, and also identifying animals.  It's really hard to tell sea lions apart!  This one has a little bit more white on her face, this one has two scars in the shape of U's, this one has grey fur mixed with her brown fur, etc etc.  It just takes time and frequent contact with the animals.

The baby sea lion (only 8 weeks old) is nursing again, which is great news.  She stopped for a while and had to be fed with a stomach-tube. Now she's doing it all herself and seems very healthy.  She's only about 2 feet long, and is cute as heck.   She comes right over whenever you lean down to visit.  The older pups (about one year) are very inquisitive and active.  Even when I'm just cleaning their pens they're right up next to me and watching my every move.  It makes even the hardest work worthwhile.

For anyone who's owned or taken care of animals, you know it's a lot of work.  But let me just tell you: be glad that you don't have to feed your animal(s) fresh fish!  I'm dreaming about fish now... herring as far as the eye can see... fish scales invading my computer keyboard and lodging themselves under my fingernails.  It's madness I tell you!  Madness!  But it's all good!  I still am able to put "playing with animals" as one of the things I do for my job.  And since there's been two new hires, soon I'll not be doing as much of the grunt work!  AND, it's possible that if new people are coming, that Jim and/or I will be moved to another animal area.  (And that would be fine with me.  All the other areas have fewer animals to care for and better shows to perform in)   *wink*

In short, things are rocking, and I'm learning to do so as well.  It's tough down here!  But it's been a labor of love so far.  I'm still glad I did it! 

I'll be moving into the new place no later than Sept. 1st, so soon after that there will be pictures on the site for you to peruse.