Category Archives: Me Me Me!

This is all about me. Posts in these categories are personal reflections, updates, narcissistic ramblings, and whatever else I choose to be self-centered about. So there!

On my way to working for da’ man…

Posted in Career, Me Me Me! by

Today I submitted my first application for a real job, since finishing my degree in December. I applied for a Fishery Biologist position with the Department of Energy up in Portland, Oregon. I have mixed feelings about this – first, it would be a good job with stability and a nice pay check. I’d be doing something to possibly help endangered salmon. I’d be very close to my brother Paul and his wife Anne. Rent is about half of what I’d pay living in San Diego. I could say goodbye to much of my debt. I have a couple of friends in the area that I met during grad school, all good things. But I wonder – will I like working for the government? Will it allow me to express the creative side of myself, or will I feel like I’ve sold out, turned my back on my desire to teach, entertain, and do something I really love (even though I don’t know what that is yet)? Will I be able to handle a 40 hour a week research job? Will people pass me on the street and call me a career slut? I’ll let you make that decision next time I see you.

Actually though, I am pretty excited about the prospect of working in Portland, at a real job. It might be just what I need. I might even really like it! Keep your fingers crossed for me, and send along any extra luck you don’t know what to do with. Toodles!

A fine day at Point Loma

Posted in Day Trips, Friends and Family, Me Me Me!, Travel by

During Bob’s visit we went to Point Loma, which overlooks San Diego and the bay. It was a beautiful day – a nice cool breeze with lots of sunshine, and the views from the point were amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Point Loma is part of Cabrillo National Monument, which commemorates Cabrillo coming to southern California and claiming the land for Spain in the 1500’s.

In the 1800’s, a small, squat lighthouse was built on the top hill at Point Loma. Unfortunately, fog and clouds often hid the light from the lighthouse, so it was eventually decommissioned and another lighthouse was built near sea-level, so it would shine below the fog. But the original lighthouse still stands, and you can see how the lighthouse keepers and their families lived.

Later that day we visited Old Town San Diego, which I had never been to before. It’s modeled after the original settlement near the Presidio, and has some very good Mexican Food. I had difficulty walking out of the candy shop without buying anything, especially the hand-made salt-water taffy. We had dinner at Casa Guadalupe, and a word of warning: the large margarita is boat-sized, and you practically have to climb in and drink your way out of it.

Is this my day off?

Posted in Friends and Family, Me Me Me! by

My cousin Hanna, on her way to attending school in L.A., is staying with my other cousin Beth for a couple of months. I invited both of them to come to the Wild Animal Park so that we could catch up and enjoy the 100 degree weather.

I was able to take Beth and Hanna down to the tiger stairs, where we had a great view of Malacca enjoying her weekly rabbit. Yummy! We walked the rest of the Kilamanjaro Safari Trail, ate lunch at Heart of Africa and saw the cheetah, hung out at Lion Camp, and rode the train around the field exhibits. But I think my cousins’ favorite part of the day was visiting Lorikeet Landing and feeding the birds – Beth and Hanna were covered with them, and were only minorly covered with their “leftovers” after they flew away.

On to the next (less smelly) chapter…

Posted in Career, Me Me Me! by

Today was my last day with the elephant department at the Wild Animal Park. I definitely learned a lot about the elephants, and it was really cool being able to get so close to them. Initially I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to physically handle the work (intense physical labor in 100+ degree heat), but I actually enjoyed it. It felt good to sweat and feel like I was really doing something, as opposed to manipulating data on a computer screen or shuffling paper around on my desk.

At any rate, I am still guiding two nights a week for Roar and Snore, but that leaves me with the need for more moolah. So, I’ll be spending much more of my time searching for a job. It’s funny – I have no desire to take the jobs that would pay me well enough to cover my expenses, but at the same time, I can’t afford to take the jobs that I would actually enjoy doing because they don’t pay enough. So if anyone knows of a position that will pay $50K+ per year and includes playing with cats and coloring with crayons, please let me know. I’m willing to share my experience in these (and similar) areas.

On a good note though, at least my schedule has opened up so that I have more time for watching Cosby Show reruns (at least six episodes per day!) and catching up on my scrapbooking. Now, if I could only keep the dog from eating out of the litterboxes, I’d really have something to write about. Keep your fingers crossed for me, won’t you?

Scottsmen in kilts: cold shower, please!

Posted in Friends and Family, Me Me Me! by

A couple of weeks ago my mom and I went to the Scottish Highland Games in Vista, California. Did you know that, for the most part, all Scottish athletics involve tossing some sort of heavy, very cumbersome object? Usually in a kilt? And, much to my surprise, the kilts were quite becoming to most who wore them (mmm mmm good…).

A glimpse at Scottish Sports:

So for those of you who don’t know, here are the main sporting events: The caber toss (with the big pole), and two other tosses that involve a big weight attached to a chain. In one, the weight is flung horizontally as far as possible, and in the other, the weight is flung directly above, over a pole, and then the flinger runs like hell in order to not get whacked by it on the way down.

Look at all those delicious be-kilted men-folk!
What’s under there, anyway?

In addition to these fine events, we found that the Lewis family (my Granny on my Mom’s side) is part of the MacCleod clan, watched some bagpipers and sheepdog trials, and enjoyed some pseudo-scottish festival food. Yummy! I had a pretty good time – it was a nice day out, and the people-watching was top notch. I know you’re jealous, you bloody blighters!

A glamorous look at what being an elephant keeper is all about

Posted in Animals, Career, Me Me Me!, Non-cats by

I was recently given the opportunity to be a temporary elephant keeper, kind of as a reward for doing such a good job with Roar and Snore. I was pretty scared that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with the hard physical work, especially in the heat, but I’ve really enjoyed it. Look at me, all clean in my WAP uniform (not clean for long, though). Those are some of our African elephants, and I am indeed standing in the exhibit. It is pretty exciting to see the elephants up close, and I’m learning a lot about them. My favorite elephant is named Lunguili; she’s the smallest of the herd (besides the baby), the least dominant, and clearly the smartest.

Vus Mus is our newest elephant, born February 23, 2004. He’s very cute, but he’s a little rat – he steals elephant pellets from the other elephants’ mouths, and will do just about anything to get your attention. What a ham!

Did you know that elephants are hind-gut fermenters? This means that 50% of their food goes in one end and out the other. Which is what 75% of my job is all about.

Look out New Orleans, I got my mojo workin’!

Posted in Friends and Family, Me Me Me!, Travel, Vacations by

My friend Jeremy sent me to New Orleans at the end of May to represent Freshwaters Illustrated at the NABS annual meeting in New Orleans. I picked up a nasty cold there, but met up with a lot of friends and explored the French Quarter and the Garden District. I had a good time, even though I wasn’t feeling my best. (This is a picture of Rue Royale, one of my favorite streets in the French Quarter.)

I got to spend some time with Toben and Brenda, two of my very best friends who now live in Minnesota. It was great seeing them, even though I was running a fever and wasn’t up for going out much.

Julie and I worked on our M.S. in Ecology together at Colorado State and it had been a long time since I’d seen her.

I set up the booth for and represented Freshwaters Illustrated at the NABS meeting in New Orleans. I thought it looked pretty good, and I got lots of really great feedback about the organization.

Bob flew out to meet me from Miami, and we stayed at the New Orleans guest house, which was awesome. The building was the color of Pepto Bismol, and the courtyard was guarded by a rather friendly (and ancient) orange kitty. We ate at many fine establishments, visited the St. Louis Cemetery #1, and the aquarium, but our favorite part of the trip was exploring the garden district and looking at all the beautiful old houses.

The New Orleans Guest House – we had the Red Room!

Welcome to my Blog!

Posted in Blogging, Career, Me Me Me! by

Hello everyone out there in Gotta-See-What-Marci’s-Doing-Land!

Clearly you’re here because you want to know what I’m up to lately. Well, the short answer is this: I’m pretty much up to nothing. I’ve decided to start this blog because it might encourage me to do something so that I have something to post on my blog. Who knows if this cutting-edge experimental technique will work, and I can’t promise that I’ll update this blog very often, so you’ll just have to hold your breath and keep your pants on.

Actually, I can tell you that I’m busy with working as a camp guide at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. I get to show overnight guests (who participate in the Roar and Snore program) the lion, tiger, and elephant exhibits, and all the associated behind-the-scenes areas. I also get to give camp-fire talks, where I highlight skulls, antlers, horns, elephant foot trimmings and tusks, and animal x-rays, to name a few things. It’s been the most fun job I’ve ever had, and I’m hoping to either get a full time at the Wild Animal Park, or at another place where I can get work in a conservation and ecology education program. We’ll have to wait and see.

Other than that, I just purchased a pair of Vans shoes. I had a dream about them, so I took an afternoon to raid the local mall in search of the perfect pair of Vans. Who would have known that I’d find an entire Vans store (especially after suffering through 95% of the mall just prior to finding it)? The pair I bought are light pink and have a black and white skull pattern drawn on them. They’re pretty rad.

Anyway, enjoy my blog, but don’t expect too much. Stay off my back, man! Relax! I’ll update this when I get around to it! Jeesh!

Taa taa for now!