ALOT in April...a little monthly recap

Hello everyone!
WOW! April was insane! The whole month was spent either packing or moving or unpacking pretty much. But I managed to have some fun too! :)

At the beginning of the month, a couple of my co-workers (Sara and MarySue...not sure who else was involved...) plotted with Spencer and threw me a surprise going-away party. I had NO IDEA and was totally surprised when I walked in Sara's door thinking I was having dinner with her and a friend and saw everyone! And I had talked to everyone there at some point during the day and nobody let on. It was a big success on their part and I felt very honored to have such incredible friends and such a wonderful send-off so thanks to everyone that was there, the sweet cards and goodbye gifts, etc. Those are memories I will treasure forever! The party was lots of fun and of course there are pictures!
Tracy, Sara, and me:

Me, Ashleigh, and Randy:

Kathleen, me, and MarySue:

Brian and me:

Me and Kim:

Me and Michelle:

Katie and me:

Me and Heather:

Me and Jay:

Anthony and me:

Me and Spencer:

Fred and me:

As you can imagine I spent the month doing my best to spend time with everyone in Florida and get as many goodbyes in as possible and do everything I had wanted to do before I left! I got to go to The Villages and see my grandparents! We had a yummy lunch and a nice afternoon talking. It was great to be able to see them before I moved because I probably won't get to see them again until my brother's wedding in October. It was nice having family so close. I miss that already.

Spencer and I also managed to squeeze in a Devil Rays baseball game with his roommates and a trip to the Big Cat Rescue...both were lots of fun!

His roommates also had a little cookout and sent us off with a yummy cake and Easter baskets filled with goodies and games for our long road trip ahead!

Speaking of Easter, I had to work, but we had a great time celebrating with the Rhinos that day. They got all kinds of treats: hard boiled eggs, pastel ice blocks, cardboard
easter eggs and easter egg cookies! :)

Happy Easter from Sara and me:

Lucy and her Easter eggs:

Tim and me:

And speaking of Rhinos, I had to say goodbye to them too! :( My last day at Busch Gardens was really bittersweet. I had a great time doing everything "one last time" and saying goodbye to all my animals and co-workers, but of course it was sad to know that it was the last time. I am really lucky to have had the chance to work with such an amazing team of people and such incredible animals! My co-workers even got me a FACE CAKE! I miss you all terribly and working there will always be the best job I ever had! :) THANK YOU ALL!

Kayin, me, and Forrest:

Kisiri and me:

And after all of the goodbyes, it was time for the big move! We picked up the truck and loaded it up (well, I'll be honest, Spencer and his roommate Derek did all the heavy lifting and I just packed the boxes and made them heavy for them!) Spencer hitched up his car to the trailer on the back of the truck, we packed the animals up in their crates, and off we went. Our caravan was pretty amusing. Spencer drove the big truck with the trailer and his car attached and his companion along the way was Tank! Tank only whined for the first day and then he seemed to get used to the riding and enjoyed Spencer's company! I followed behind them in my bug with Noelle in the back. She didn't do as well as Tank. She meow-ed pretty much the entire trip and went to the bathroom everywhere but her litter box...so my car had to be fumigated by the time we got to Las Vegas! Our sleeping arrangements were perhaps my favorite part of the trip. We never knew where we would end up when we were so tired we couldn't drive anymore, so we never planned ahead looking for hotels that would allow pets. Instead, we just stopped whenever we got tired and decided to be done driving for the day...at a truck stop...and folded the back seat of Spencer's car down and cushioned it with sleeping bags and blankets and slept in the trunk/back seat! Keep in mind his car was on a trailer, so we slept on a slant all night...three nights in a row...the two of us and the cat and dog! It was hilarious!!!!! :) And of course, each night was colder than the one before because we were in the mountains. The last night, we slept on the Arizona/New Mexico border and it got down to 28 DEGREES!!!!!!!! Things were frozen when we woke up! Now, you may be thinking about how gross it is that we didn't shower all that time, but on our second day, while driving through Texas, we did stop at Spencer's second cousin's house and they gave us a nice meal and a warm shower so we did have a nice civil break! :) They were wonderful people and we were so thankful to them. We both decided if we didn't get that little refreshing break, we might not have made it all the way. But we did! We arrived in Las Vegas on April 17th and all the boxes were unpacked by April 19th.

Our caravan:

Our sleeping arrangements...Spencer's trunk:

Tank, me, and Spencer on the side of the road in Texas:

I started my job and things are going well so far. I still have a lot to learn and a long way to go to get to where I want to be there, but that's ok...it comes with the territory of starting fresh! Spencer's great search for a job continues, but he has lots of leads and I know he will get a job in no time!!! In the meantime, he's been a perfect roommate and very helpful getting me all settled and less homesick! And I'm pretty sure Tank will be devastated when Spencer goes to work...he has adopted Spencer as his best friend! Noelle, on the other hand, will be relieved...because that means Tank will be in the crate while we're gone and she'll have the whole apartment to herself.

So we are all settled here in Las Vegas and ready for visitors anytime! Let us know if you plan to be here so we can meet you on the strip for drinks or a meal...its less than 30 minutes from our apartment! And if you would like our address, just email me and I will send it your way! :)

Thanks to all of you for your love and support through this huge step!

RECORD FOR THE LONGEST BLOG EVER, I know!

Until next time...

Moving on...

In 8 days I will have packed up everything I decided to keep from my past, hop in my car, and head for my future. Sounds dramatic I suppose (as some of you know my melodramatic side...), but really it is. If you know me at all, you know that this is a BIG DEAL. I stress if you know me at all. My life has been what seems like one big mess in the past year or so. I have gone from unhappy and clueless to joyful and sure. I have gone from caring about what EVERYONE thinks of my life decisions to being so content knowing that I made a decision for me that I am confident in no matter what anyone else thinks. In the past six months I have gone from an unhappy housewife to a jumbled, confused person with a divorce pending, to a single woman, to a girlfriend of a man who is the best friend anyone could ever ask for. I could go on and on about all of these stages in my life, but the one that matters most is the one that is now. That stage is "happier than I can ever remember being".

This brings me back to those who know me. For the people who believe that what I am doing is for me and for the best and aren't selfish or stuck on themselves, for the people who know that I have made changes in my life that are for the best and don't think I am still the same old weak person they used to know, for the people who have supported me since the moment I made this decision, I say THANK YOU FOR KNOWING ME! You are the ones who matter to me. At first, I was so fed up with peoples' judgements that I was so ready to leave I didn't care who I was leaving behind, but now leaving is bittersweet. Bitter because I have to leave behind some amazing, caring and supportive friends, but sweet because I am leaving knowing that I have those friends and my time here wasn't a complete waste. Knowing this and knowing that I get to start fresh a new chapter in my life and that I get to do that confidently and with someone I care about in a way that I never knew I had the capacity to care for someone. All of these things make me know that I made the right decision, that I am strong and that I have something to be excited about. And most importantly, for the first time in my life, I am really and truly doing something for me and not once since I made this decision, have I ever cared about peoples' negative opinions or second-guessed my decision. Its the most refreshing feeling ever! All that being said (or rambled about really...),all I have left to say is VIVA LAS VEGAS BABY! :)

R.I.P. Juma

Today we lost one of our Rhinos suddenly. I always knew that dealing with something like this on the job was a possibility and wondered how I would take it. It wasn't easy but I managed not to break down until I was in the privacy of my own home. We don't know what caused Juma's death yet, but we're sure she died peacefully in her sleep because when we found her she just looked like she was snoozing away. It was so hard to see her not get up for treats when we called her name and even harder to move her out of the place she called home for 12 years. She drove us crazy with her "shifting issues" and cracked us up when she would put her big fat lip on the gate and beg for food or attention or lean up against the water trough to rest her booty. I will miss her so much.

My birthday

Today is my birthday. I'm 27. I know that's not old, but to me that's old. I didn't want a birthday party. I kinda just wanted to pretend like it wasn't my birthday at all. Some somebody's changed my mind and I had a "little gathering" in honor of this momentous day last night. I realized that I have the best friends in the world. That's not to say that if you didn't spend the evening with me last night, then you are not my friend, but to those of you that did, thank you. Thank you for taking time out of your lives to hang out with me. The past few months have been a roller coaster and you all have been there for me. Thank you for loving me. So, birthdays are good days for reflecting, but the mushy stuff is over! On with the fun...

*Spencer*Derek*Traci*Michael*Sara*Kristin*Chris*
*Michelle*Michelle*Derek*Tracy*Kari*Jay*Katie*
*Jay*Ashleigh*Randy*Shiloh*Ray*Amber*Kristal*
*Heather*Brent*

You are awesome! Thanks for sharing my birthday with me! You guys mean the world to me!!!!!

Now for the pictures!
The host with the most:


Most of my rhino crew and two of my elephant cousins (Kristal, Derek, Tracy, Sara, me, and Kari):


Traci, me, and Derek:


Katie and me:


Jay's grocery list for me...if only you could actually see what he wrote:


Ashleigh, me, and Randy:


Spencer, me, and Michael, I love these boys!


Me and Michelle my belle:


Brent and Heather...awww:


Shiloh, me and Amber:

The end!

Thank you again to everyone who celebrated with me. I am so lucky to have the greatest friends in the world!!!!!

Starting over...

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."

I always hated this song ("Closing Time" by Semisonic). But when I tried to be inspired by quotes about starting over, this is the only one that ran through my head and the ones I googled were stupid. I suppose its very true though...blatantly obviously very true. Of course every new beginning comes from something that has ended. So here I sit, waiting for my new beginning from something that has ended. I suppose if it has already ended then something else has already begun. But first I have to find myself everyone tells me. I need to know who I am. I need to know that I am an independent person. I need to know that I am a strong woman. I need to know that I can survive. I need to know what I want in this life and to figure out how to get it. I need to find happiness. This is what everyone tells me anyway. I can't imagine they are completely wrong. These are definitely things I want to know about myself. So how do I "find myself"? How do I learn these things about myself? Is it by being all alone and just sitting inside my head and thinking? I would go insane. Is it by spending time in conversation with people who love and care about me and my well being? They would drive me insane. So? What to do? I find myself pondering myself and my life at the most random moments: watching a sunrise over a shit filled rhino paddock, walking down Canal Street in New York City where all kinds of people are trying to sell me "italian handbags", "very nice sunglasses", and knock off jewelry, searching for random people on myspace, and driving home from work and missing my turn because I temporarily forgot where I lived. I don't mean to ponder these things during these times, but they pop into my head and I can't shake it. So I guess that means I am supposed to be thinking about them. Maybe this is it...this is how I find myself...by letting my mind wander wherever my thoughts may take me. So I started a blog...so that I can write all of these thoughts down. I suppose if someone else is reading it, that means I decided to share these thoughts with others. And if not, then this is just a sort of therapy for me, myself, and I.

I am scared to death to start over.
and
I am totally excited to start over.

So I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens. I have my whole life ahead and that is encouraging. I am surrounded by wonderful amazing and supportive family and friends and that is priceless to me. What is meant to be will be and I can't wait to find out what it is.

Best Damn Survey Ever!

Myspace, to me, is all about the surveys you take to share with your friends and Kari Saunders and I ROCK the surveys! We made this one up together and I didn't want to lose it in the shuffle so I'm posting it here to savor it for always! :)

You're stuck in a room for an hour with a chalkboard, what would you draw?
First I would draw some girly stuff like flowers and rainbows, then I would get bored and draw stick people or maybe dirty pictures....then I would just go crazy and draw a polar bear in a snowstorm. Ha ha...I'm funny.

Which is worse--an innocent person imprisoned or a guilty one set free?
A guilty one set free!! BASTARDS!

What song can you most relate to (give lyrics)?
Roll With The Changes (REO Speedwagon)~"So if you're tired of the
Same old story, Turn some pages..."

Do you think sporks are the greatest invention? (You know--the half spoon, half fork)??
They are worthless. Worthless things suck.

Who is more bad ass -- AC Slater or Uncle Jesse?
They both had mullets...but come one, Uncle Jesse had a band...hello...bands are bad ass!

Would you rather eat at the Peach Pit or the Max?
Peach Pit...cuz I be makin' out with Dylan McKay! ;)

Do you honestly believe trees are green?
Well they might be blue, but I just think everything that is blue looks green...who knows?

Would you ever sacrifice everything for a friend?
Yes...I would do anything for my friends.

Why are there religions?
To give people something to disagree about.

How do you feel about politics?
I think you shouldn't talk about shit you don't understand...

Do you think most people are disrespectful?
yes, but that makes the respectful ones that much easier to find.

Why can't pigs fly?
Because they don't have wings. And they're fat. Duh.

How tempting are buttons?
depends on what kind of buttons we're talking about here....

Do you walk up the escalator or go for a ride?
I am not lazy, therefore I walk. Unless some lazy ass is in front of me blocking my way.

If the US had to sacrifice a state, which one would you vote for and why?
Idaho. Has anyone ever REALLY been to Idaho?

What do you think about California?
I think its big and long.

Why is the sky blue?
Its not...its green. Trees are blue.

Why is the Earth round?
Because its more fun that way. (And it turns me on.)

Do you think fish are cute?
Yes! Sweet lips especially...awww...

How do you feel about bald people?
I never met a bald man I didn't like....wait....yeah, that's it.

If Aerosmith and the Rolling Stones got into a fight, who would win? Aerosmith all the way....because they're hotter.

Did you read Fear Street books?
Nope.

Name a movie villain that scared you as a kid?
That stupid clown from IT. I HATE CLOWNS!

Do we all go a little mad sometimes?
Muhahahahaha...sometimes?!

Would you rather have an incurable disease that was not deadly, but painful, or would you rather have a painless disease where you only had so long left to live?
I'm a wimp and I like to plan things, so I'll take painless with the knowledge that I only had a certain amount of time to live...

What song do you wish you had written? Why?
Baba O'Riley by The Who...just because its AWESOME! ;)

What is the most obscene thing you and your friends have ever done/yelled while in a car?
Steak N Shake drive thru with Tiff, Jenny, and Kari in Kari's mom's car with their last name on the plates...in the backseat flashing the people behind us....awesome. Then Kari floored it and someobody got hurt and bled!

If you were murdered and they found the person who did it, would you want them to be executed?
Heck yes....or maybe my loved ones could torture them first....muahhahahahaha....

Who is your favorite cereal box character?
Snap of Snap, Crackel and Pop...because he's the first one that gets to jump in the bowl of Rice Krispies!

What was/is the name of your favorite stuffed animal?
I think it was Cuddles the Koala or blankie.

Best Adam Sandler movie?
Billy Madison hands down.

If your house is on fire and you can only grab ONE photograph, which photograph would it be and why?
Me, jeff, jason, and lauren with Grandpa.

What is the weirdest thing you have ever done in Milwaukee?
Listened to Brian Wilson open for Paul Simon...gah! Made my soul bleed.

Would you jump on a couch for Tom Cruise?
Hell no...but I would for someone else. Actually, I don't care if he's cookoo for cocoa puffs, I'd probably jump on a couch for Tom Cruise too....

If you were stranded on a deserted island and you would be there for the rest of your life with a cd player and an endless amount of batteries, what three cd's would you bring to listen to over and over again. They can't be mix cd's you made:
1.) Fleetwood Mac~Rumours
2.) Journey~Greatest Hits Live
3.) The Beatles~Rubber Soul

Are Trix soley for kids?
They're sure as hell not for that damn rabbit!

Which Disney character would you like to punch?
Donald Duck

Name 3 of the 23 unique flavors that you can taste in Dr. Pepper.
ummmm...prunes, rum, and pepper??? I don't know. Its good whatever it is.

Who is the best Saturday Night Live actor ever?
Adam Sandler of course!

If you could be reincarnated to be any animal, which animal would you be and why?
A bonobo....muhahahahaha...some of you will get it...

Admit a movie that you might get your ass kicked for saying that you love.
On The Line ~but I don't care...I love me some NSYNC!

Which celebrity would make the best vice president to Pedro?
David Hasselhoff

Alex Trebek or Bob Barker?
Bob Barker...."The price is wrong BITCH!"
"SUCK IT TREBEK!"

Who would win in a fight? Kevin Federline with brass knuckles or David Hasselhoff with numchucks?
Nobody can beat numchucks...and nobody can beat my man Dave...THE HOFF ALL THE WAY!!! What a stud! Don't hassle the HOFF!

You have one hour to live starting now...what is one thing you MUST do?
mmmhmmm~wait only one hour?! bummmer...maybe a shower. :)

How I Do My Job...A Day In The Life

This blog is dedicated to my Rhino family: Momma, D, Trace and Saralicious...oh yeah and Turd Ferguson too...

Some inquiring minds want to know....some don't...so here you go....

First I get the truck keys and a radio. Then I go to the kitchen to get treats and bananas. (Sometimes the rhinos need an extra banana for my breakfast so I get that too...) Then I go to the Station and shift the boys (Forrest and Kayin) down. Then I put the tools in the back of the truck and pull the truck onto the habitat. Then I clean. I like to sweep the pad. I hate the poop hole...it hurts my back. I like to rake. I do NOT like to clean the water trough. I put the hay and grain out and then I lock up and shift the boys back to their breakfast. Then we pull the truck around to Chai's side and shift him in the barn (hopefully it isn't a barn day because I HATE cleaning the barn!). Then we pull the truck in there and drive around to all of the poop piles which are incredibly annoying. Then we clean them up along with the hay and I rake WAY TOO MUCH just to annoy everyone and because I am anal. If Tracy tries to clean the water trough I get annoyed because it takes FOREVER. But I love when she rakes anally with me! If Kristin drives the truck away before I'm done raking I yell at her. If Derek throws the poop on his pitchfork over his shouder instead of in the truck, it makes me want throw him in the mud hole. If Sara hoses something, I might scream. And god forbid we see any damn spiders!!!!! Ok, onward. Feed the whiny rhino and then we're out of here. To compost with the poop!!!! Moving right along to Rhino Rally. Pull in the electric gate that squeaks way too loud and needs oil. DON'T FORGET TO WASH THE STUPID TIRES!!!! Then get out and give someone hay through the cables and load the truck OR pick a stall and start opening the gates...your choice. Shift the rhino (Tim or Jethro) in. Get the tools. Drive the truck on hab. Maybe help 412 herd the three impala in. Clean. Feed. Drive out. Pull around. Shift the OTHER rhino back out. Clean the messy stalls. Make sure all of the gates are locked. Drive around and clean the tires. Go to compost and dump the truck. Go to Wild Whites (Tambo, Kisiri, Malaika, Mlelani and Sidd or Dakini or Dakarai or whatever the HELL her name is!!). Maybe bleed them first, maybe not. Depends on what day it is and who's there. Watch me, I will get blood EVERYTIME though! GET THE WHEELBARROW or momma might get mad ;-), call 499 and tell them those rhinos are going out on the North Veldt and then shift them out! Then we drive to Black Rhinos. Shift the girls into their respective barns. Get the tools on the truck. Drive the truck on hab (without scratching the side of the damn truck on the fence like I did!) and clean. Sara will hose the pad or Tracy or Sara will scrub the water hole. Tracy will ALWAYS fill the mud hole...she rocks that. After we clean the hay we clean the poop, then some more poop, then some more hay, then the barn(s). Then we put the rhinos where they go and then we leave. Guess where we go? THE DUMP AGAIN! After that it damn well better be close to lunch time because we are ALL STARVING BY NOW. If it isn't lunch time, we might go do a hay run. After lunch its all up in the air. Do what needs to be done. (Tours, browse cutting, fix broken stuff, mow or weed eat, fill mud holes, weigh or bleed rhinos, seps, RELATE SESSIONS, enrichment, etc.) Sometimes all that needs to be done is a little team bonding over some homemade TOO SWEET but delicious Gatorade in the Station Office. This is very important.

Some important things to know about how I do my job though...if I complain about something like being hot or having to clean a barn, it doesn't mean I am having a bad day or that I like my job any less. It just means, I need to say it out loud so you know and then I am done and happy to go and do said thing I am not bouncing off of the walls about. I don't need to be reminded that it could be worse. I am well aware of the fact that I have one of the most amazing jobs in the world thank you very much. Also, if there is not music on in the background of WHATEVER I am doing, preferably MY music, but any music will usually do just fine, then I WILL be crabby and it WILL NOT be "a good day" Oh yes, and 3:00PM will come at the same time no matter what. Thank you. That is all.

P.S. We are a family and we stab each other in the front NOT THE BACK! :-)