Introducing Sir Hiss!

The Reptile Project - Day 2

Phew!  I think I've got all the tweaking done for the new Dragon.  I returned one of the lights, added 2 more, and switched the thermometer/hygrometer setup.   I've now got basking temp's of 120 degrees, hiding area temp's of 75 degrees, good humidity levels, and all food supplies except the crickets.

I peeked into the Dragon terrarium at the store, and it looked like there were 2 babies.  Hopefully there will be one left when I get there tomorrow.  They are so tiny right now, probably 4" or so.  Hard to believe the little guy will reach 24"!

Hopefully, by late afternoon Friday, our house will have a new resident!

Reptile Project - Day 1

Today was the initial terrarium setup.  Spent some time at the pet store choosing the items needed for my Dragon - large tank, heat and UVB lighting, reptile carpet, hiding cave, basking perch, water/food bowls, etc.  

I also worked out the one aspect that I hadn't yet figured out - the crickets.  I bought a small "cricket keeper" that I can take to the pet store and have filled with a weekly supply.  Its just a small ventilated plastic case, with 2 black tubes that slide inside.  The crickets, after being loaded into the case by the store employees, will gravitate to the black tubes.  Then you just take out one of the tubes, shake it into the reptile cage, and your done!  Hopefully it will work as advertised. 

Brought everything home and cleaned/disinfected all the pieces.  Instead of buying a small terrarium, then buying another larger one when the Dragon starts to grow, I bought a very large terrarium and used a piece of cardboard to create a smaller housing area.  Then as he grows, I'll move the cardboard. 

I set up all the lights and ran some temperature tests.  Determined that the digital hygro/thermometer didn't work, and that the UVB lamp generated way too much heat.  So tomorrow I'll make some tweaks to the setup.  

Below is the tank setup, missing only the UVB lamp.

The Reptile Project

This week I will embark on what I'm calling The Reptile Project.  I will be purchasing a baby Bearded Dragon from a local pet supply store.

Why you ask?  Well, here's the long story.

I am part of a community advisory panel for a large pet supply retailer.  Several months ago, they put out a survey for panel members interested in becoming, or already were, fish or reptile parents. 

Their plan was to launch a fish / reptile parenting program, to gain insight into all the aspects of becoming a parent to one of these type of pets.

Having grown up in Las Vegas, with the surrounding desert as our playground, I am very familiar and comfortable with lizards.  My brother and I would frequently catch horny toads and bring them home.  I am so fond of the desert, and all its inhabitants, that I have a lizard tattooed on my ankle. 

I filled out the reptile survey, answering all questions as honestly as I could.  About a month later I received notification that I had been chosen to participate in this reptile program.  While more detail was forthcoming, the bottom line was that I would be adopting, at the expense of the pet supply retailer, a reptile - including all necessary housing and care/feeding supplies.

My part of this program involves adopting and raising the lizard, journaling the experience - from day one through 3-4 months. 

They provided a list of acceptable reptiles, most of which I eliminated immediately.  Frogs, turtles, snakes ... no thanks!  Of the Lizards, there were 6 options.  I took them one by one, learning about their size, care/feeding requirements, housing needs, etc.  I narrowed it down to the Leopard Gecko and the Bearded Dragon.   Both said to be excellent choices for the first time reptile parent.

Pros for the Gecko included it's smaller size, and therefore smaller terrarium.  This was also the one Con for the Dragon - it grows to about 2 feet, requiring a much larger house.  The more I researched, the more instances I came across of the Gecko requiring much more attentive care, as it is a more fragile species compared to the Dragon.

And as you probably already know, I've decided on the Bearded Dragon.  Fortunately, in my son's old room, I have a 4' long, narrow oak table where I can set up the Dragon's house.  I'll have to move a few things around, but it shouldn't be much of an impact.

I am really excited about bringing a lizard, especially one of this size, into my home.  The only aspect I'm a little nervous about is the feeding.  Baby Dragon's mainly eat very small crickets, and salad on the side.  Yes, crickets.  Ick!   That will be my biggest hurdle.  As they get bigger, they eat more salad and less crickets, but the need will always be there.  This is their main protein source.   I'm still trying to understand all that is involved in sourcing crickets, keeping them ready for feeding, etc. 

Hopefully by Friday afternoon, or Saturday morning, the Dragon will have joined our family!

Wordless Wednesday (or Back from Extended Absence!)

Travel Thursday!

I'm taking a little 'blog break' this week and next.  In place of what would have been a look at all places "G", I'm going to share some photos that I borrowed from the internet.  This is where I will be next week!

St. Maarten
An island in the northeast Caribbean, approximately 186 miles east of  Puerto Rico. The island is divided roughly 60/40 between France and the Netherlands.

 

St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

An island in the Caribbean Sea, and an unincorporated territory of the United States.

Castaway Cay, Bahamas

This is a private island, for use by the Disney Cruise Line. 

Wordless Wednesday

Movie Review Monday

Another couple of movies this weekend.  Definitely not main stream stuff.

A Single Man
This is a story that centers on an English professor who, after the sudden death of his partner, tries to go about his typical day in Los Angeles.  Colin Firth plays the main character and does a great job.  This movie was written and directed by Tom Ford, the clothing designer for Gucci.  Kind of depressing, with some surprises along the way, but a well done effort.  Not for everybody, given the subject matter.   3 Junior Mints


Legion
An interesting movie about the apocolypse, survivors, and the fate of the world.  From IMDB; "An out-of-the-way diner becomes the unlikely battleground for the survival of the human race. When God loses faith in humankind, he sends his legion of angels to bring on the Apocalypse. Humanity's only hope lies in a group of strangers trapped in a desert diner with the Archangel Michael".   We thought this was a interesting concept with great potential, but both the storyline and the acting fell just a bit short.  There were many familiar faces - Dennis Quaid, that 'big guy from 3:10 to Yuma', Paul Bettany, The Roc.   3-1/2 Junior Mints

No Words Weekends

Travel Thursday!

This week I'm looking at locations "F".  I came up with far fewer places than I thought I would. 



Fiji
This island chain is located in the South Pacific, about 2000 miles NE of New Zealand.  If you've ever seen the movie "Twins", this is where Arnold Schwarzenegger's character was raised.  These are beautiful islands that I hope to visit one day. 

Frankfurt, Germany
This largest city in Germany is also home to one of the world’s busiest international airports.  I've flown through here a couple of times on my way to other destinations.  I haven't seen much of Frankfurt, yet, but here are a few interesting factoids:  Frankfurt is one of only three cities in the European Union that have a significant number of skyscrapers. With 11 skyscrapers, Frankfurt is second behind Paris with 14 skyscrapers, but ahead of London which has 10 skyscrapers.  Also, Frankfurters are named for Frankfurt, the city of their origin, where they are sold and eaten at beer gardens. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Flagstaff, Arizona

This northern Arizona town is located near the Grand Canyon.  It has a much higher elevation than Phoenix, so the summers aren't as hot and winter can often bring snow.  Flagstaff was a main stop on the historic Route 66, a road my family traveled every summer.  Interesting factoid:  This area is known for it's very dark skies.  Due to this unique feature, Flagstaff is home to two major astronomical observatories - Lowell Observatory and the United States Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station.  In 1958, the city council passed the nation's first ordinance governing outdoor lighting.  

One of my favorite buildings in Flagstaff is the train depot.  The station, built by Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad in 1926, now doubles as a visitor center and is located among shops, cafes, and boutiques in downtown Flagstaff.

Farmington, New Mexico
Another of my favorite places in New Mexico.  Farmington is located near the Four Corners area, where Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico come together.  This area is also known for some fantastic geographic features - most notably Shiprock.  Farmington is also central to many native american tribes, including the Navajo, Jicarilla Apache, Southern Ute, and Hopi.   There are many things to do in this area, from hiking and skiing, to golf and water sports, fishing and exploring indian ruins.  The landscape is unique in the world, and a place where I truly feel at peace.

Wordless Wednesday

Tales from the Sewing Room

Kinda sounds like a mystery novel or something.  Actually, I thought I would introduce you, my reader, to the place where I go to create, play, hide, or just think - my sewing room. 

This room is a thing of beauty.  Large, maybe 20x20, with lots of natural light from windows and skylites.  Hardwood floors allow me to scoot around as I need to from the sewing station, to the cutting table, the large worktable where I can lay out a full sized quilt, to the entertainment center with the flatscreen LCD TV and the Playstation 3.  Around the room are built in cabinets to store all the supplies for my various hobbies, and on the walls are shelves filled with all the 'treasures' I've collected over the years.

Okay - let's be honest ... this is the sewing room of my dreams!

The sewing room I live with today is a small bedroom, only 10x10.  I claimed this bedroom the day we moved into this house in the fall of 2000.  I have filled this tiny space with all the items mentioned above .... except the large worktable.  As you can see in the photo below, there's a LOT crammed in here!  There's even a blanket on the floor for the times that my dog Buddy joins me.

What you don't see to the right is a window, small cutting table with book storage, and behind me in the photo is a closet filled with supplies and my small "design wall" for quilt projects.  

I really love this space.  I spend a lot of time here on the weekends.  Either sewing, playing video games, or working on a myriad of craft projects.

Today I decided to work on something I've been thinking about for a while.  Five years ago I created this wallhanging - which I call 'South Pacific'.  It was inspired by our honeymoon trip to Tahiti in 2000.

Since the day I finished it, I've wanted to do a companion piece.  Last year I got the idea of sea and sun - so today I completed the bulk of 'South Pacific II'.

What else happens in this room?  Well, slowly I'm trying to teach myself to make clothes.  I started with pajamas, then a robe, and last year I finished an Esmerelda costume.  Next I'll try a simple top, or maybe a pair of shorts. 

Let the Packing Begin!

Yea, I know. The cruise is still 2 weeks away, but it's never too early to be thinking about packing!

The 'staging area' has been cleared and I've started to pile up clothes, paperwork, and other fun things.

Getting excited!!

Finally Friday!

Not much to talk about today, as it's a working Friday.  

I thought it should be mentioned, however, that the countdown has begun!  

That's right - 2 weeks from today we'll be flying out to Florida, getting ready to board the cruise ship!!

Travel Thursday - "E"

Once again, we discuss travel locations - either places I've been, want to go, or otherwise have thoughts about.  This week I look at "E".

El Paso, Texas
My brother and his family have lived here for years, and it's not that far from my other family in Albuquerque ... yet I've never visited.  El Paso is just over the border, and the Rio Grande, from Juarez, Mexico.  Interesting factoid - the sun shines 302 days per year on average in El Paso. 


Eastland, Texas
My grandparents lived here for a short time in the 80's.  It was a small town then, and the thing I remember the most about it was 'Old Rip'.  I'm borrowing this story from the Eastland visitors website, and I hope you enjoy.

Old Rip, the "horny toad," put Eastland County and the county seat of the same name on the map back in 1928. Folks are still amazed and amused by the critter's tale.  The story began in 1897, when a horned lizard, the animal's proper designation, was placed in the cornerstone of the county's third courthouse. When that edifice was demolished in February 1928 to make way for the current Art Deco model, the cornerstone was opened.  According to published accounts, a crowd of three thousand showed up to see the opening of the old building's time capsule. Much to everyone's surprise, when the marble box was opened the interred lizard was still alive 31 years later!  Despite skeptics who questioned how the critter could have survived, the lizard was dubbed Old Rip (after Rip Van Winkle) and became an instant celebrity. Town folks took him on a tour of the nation that included a stop in Washington D.C. to meet President Calvin Coolidge.  The travel and excitement must have been too much for Old Rip, because on January 19, 1929 he went to the pesticide-free land in the sky. The autopsy showed that he had fluid in his tiny lungs and pneumonia was list as the official cause of death. He was subsequently embalmed and placed in a red velvet-lined box in the courthouse lobby for all to see.

In 1973, Old Rip was in the headlines again. This time he had been "toad-napped" from his exalted perch in the courthouse. The anonymous kidnapper wrote a letter claiming to have been part of the conspiracy to hoax the nation. The letter demanded his co-conspirators confess and a small ransom be paid. When neither seemed forthcoming, the velvet box containing the lizard was left at the county fairgrounds. Now there is controversy whether or not the item in the box today is really Old Rip or an imposter. The frog rests in peace in a glass display case at the Eastland County Courthouse.

One final note on the incredible journey of the horned lizard from Eastland County. In 1955, cartoonist Chuck Jones and writer Michael Maltese, inspired by the legend of Old Rip, created "One Froggy Evening." The classic cartoon tells the story of a frog who is freed from a cornerstone and sings ragtime jazz when no one is watching. That creation morphed into Michigan J. Frog, the official mascot of the Warner Brothers Television Network.

Ellis Island, NY
We've all heard of Ellis Island.  Ellis Island, in New York Harbor, was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States as the site of the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 to 1954.  I'm proud to say that my maternal grandfather came through Ellis Island, as a child, from Germany.


Everglades, Florida
I first visited the Everglades when we moved from Nevada to Maryland, in 1974.  We were there in late summer, so the mosquitos/heat/humidity were almost unbearable.  What I remember about that trip were the spoonbills and seeing my first wild alligator. 

Everglades National Park It is the third-largest national park in the lower 48 states after Death Valley and Yellowstone - nearly 1.5 million acres.  Unlike most U.S. national parks, Everglades National Park was created to protect a fragile ecosystem instead of safeguarding a unique geographic feature.  Thirty-six species designated as threatened or protected live in the park, including the Florida panther, the American crocodile, and the West Indian manatee.  Most of the Everglades see only two seasons: wet and dry.

 

Eagles Nest, New Mexico
So many fond memories for me here.  Every summer that we visited family in Sante Fe, we always made a day trip to Eagles Nest for some fishing and general family fun.  Aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins - there were many of us that gathered at the lake to fish, play, eat, and just be family.  It was here that I first fell in the water ... a bad habit that has stayed with me into adulthood.  Take me to a stream, I'll find a way to fall in.  :)

Eagles Nest is located in northern New Mexico, surrounded by the Carson National Forest and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.  The area is also known for its ski resorts - Angel Fire, Red River, and Taos Ski Valley.  The lake itself is fairly large, about 2,400 acres, and the main game fish are kokanee salmon and rainbow trout.

Estes Park, Colorado
This cozy little town sits in the valley at the entrance to the Rocky Mountain National Park.  In the 80's, the National Wildlife Federation held 'conservation summits' in the summer season.  Usually lasting a week, and geared to both families and adults, the days were filled with a variety of workshops, and the evenings with more traditional summer camp fun - campfire singalongs, etc.  The town reminds me of a scaled down version of Jackson Hole, Wyoming - western flavor, speciality gift shops, restaurants.  I attended the conservation summit two years in a row and fell in love with this area.

El Toro, California

More specifically, Marine Corps Air Station El Toro.  I was stationed here from 1983 to 1987.  This base is located about 10 miles south of Anaheim, California.  In its day, it was a very active air base.  We had every type of aircraft - from the 'vintage' F-4 to the new kid on the block, the F-18.  This base was home to all the Marine Corps' west coast air operations.  Being in the heart of Southern California, even the base's "Flying Bull" patch was designed by The Walt Disney Studios.  The base held an air show every summer, drawing crowds of up to 2 million in its final year.  Demonstrations included the Navy Blue Angels, Air Force Thunderbirds, all manner of aircraft from near and far, and even some combat simulations.  This was an incredible place to be in the 80's.

This was my squadron picture.  Not sure where I am in the group, but I am in there somewhere.

Wordless Wednesday

Movie Review (Monday) Tuesday

Oops - missed a day.  Once again, watched 2 movies over the weekend.

The Answer Man
from IMDB.com  - "Everyone wants to meet Arlen Faber, the world famous author of the best-selling spiritual book "Me and God", but crotchety, disgruntled Arlen simply wants to be left alone - and so far he's been successful in keeping his identity a secret. But all that changes when troubled bookstore owner Kris Lucas discovers his home address and barters books for Arlen's words of wisdom, and a back injury leads the reclusive writer to begin dating chiropractor and overprotective single mother Elizabeth. As Arlen's relationships with his newfound friends begin to grow, he must come to terms with his past and the realization that he doesn't hold all the answers."

Jeff Daniels stars as Arlen Faber.  I enjoyed his 'crotchety' Arlen.  I enjoyed each of the human interactions and overall thought the movie was pretty good.   I'd give it 3-1/2 junior mints


InkHeart
Well, another Brendan Fraser movie.  I like Brendan, but sometimes I wonder about him.  In this fantasy, Brendan's character has the ability to bring characters out of their  books, just by reading aloud.  While the premise was interesting, it just didn't work that well for me.  The dialogue was lacking, although some of the special effects were good.  But the whole idea of simply reading aloud and bringing out whatever character you need at the time was just a little much for me.  My rating - 3 junior mints

Catch-Up Monday

Wow, how did I go for 3 days without turning on the computer?  Happens sometimes, I guess. 

Had a busy weekend here at the homestead - did a LOT of baking!   I love to bake.  I could care less about cooking dinner, but give me a new cookie or cake recipe ... can't wait to jump in!

My favorite of all bakers, Matt and Renato from BAKED in New York, put out a new cookbook last week and my copy arrived Friday!  (thanks Amazon).  I learned about, and from, Matt and Renato at a Sweet Sundays event last year, during the Food & Wine Festival in Epcot.  They put on a 3 hour program in which they prepared 3 different yummy sweets - a cookie, a cake, and a pie.  Not only did I love their food, but I found them both to be very entertaining and relatable.  I bought their first cookbook - BAKED - that day and have made quite a few of the recipes.  

I will tell you now, these are NOT recipes for those watching their weight or calories.  What I really like about their recipes is that, while they contain many steps and ingredients, they aren't difficult.  And unless I've screwed something up myself, they seem to always turn out the way you expect them to.  (not true with all recipe books).

What confectionary delights are in the house this weekend?  Delicious chocolate chip cookies, and chocolate whoopie pie's!! 

 

Travel Thursday!

Okay, after taking a few days off to travel to my favorite D location, let's get back to business.   Yes, this week we tackle all places "D".


Durango, Colorado
This is a gorgeous town, surrounded by the San Juan Mountains, in southern Colorado.  There is so much to do here - fly fishing, skiing, hiking, backpacking, etc.  But my favorite is the Durango & Silverton Narrow Guage Railroad.  This train makes the one-way 45 mile trip from Durango to Silverton Colorado in about 3-1/2 hours.  It leaves Silverton for the return trip 2 hours later.  Roundtrip is about $80 - and worth every penny for the experience of riding this narrow guage train and the scenery!

Death Valley
The lowest, hottest, driest location in the country.  Hard to believe a place like that could be beautiful - but it is!  Located mainly in California, near the Nevada border, this area is like nothing else.  Hot - yes, but a truly unique beauty.  Interesting factoid - the average annual rainfall is 1.58".  Yes, that's ANNUAL!!  A few years ago the valley experienced more rain than normal and an incredible explosion of wildflowers.  The other thing I love about the valley is the mysterious moving rocks.  No one knows for sure how the rocks move - could be they are sliding on a thin ice sheet formed when the temperature drops, could be wind driven - either way, they are fascinating to see.

Disneyland
Uh, yea, what can I say.  I started visiting Disneyland in 1964, and have been a regular ever since.  There is something about this park that makes me feel safe, welcome, and loved.  That sounds a little strange, given that so many think it's "just an amusement park".  As a child, it was a favorite for my family, we even saw Walt in the park in 1965.  When I moved to California in the early 80's, it was about 10 miles from the base where I was stationed.  I remember going out to the base softball field and watching the fireworks.  I visited about once a month in those days.  I found that when I was having a bad day, this was the place that made me feel better.  As I began learning more about the park and Walt's vision, I saw Disneyland in a new light.  I became fascinated with the technology and ideas that the Imagineers used in the park.  I still visit regularly, but my visits aren't always about the attractions.  I can easily spend many hours in the park studying the details.  Needless to say - this is my favorite of ALL locations.  Not only is it my favorite to visit by myself, but it's my favorite with my own family.  Not only did I 'grow up' in this park, but my son did as well.  He was 9 months old on his first visit!

Me at Disneyland, 1967



My son Tony, near the same spot as my photo, 1989

My son Tony, again near the same spot, on his 21st Birthday in 2009

Devils Tower National Monument
While I have traveled all over the state of Wyoming, somehow I’ve missed Devils Tower. You know this geologic landmark from the movie, Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind. This ‘tower’ is located in the northeast corner of Wyoming, and is said to be the core of an eroded volcano. President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Devils Tower the first national monument in 1906. Interesting factoid: as a publicity stunt, a man parachuted onto Devils Tower on October 1, 1941 - he was stranded for six days before he could be rescued. There are many hiking trails available, and in the winter they double as cross-country ski trails.


Denali National Park

Yet another destination high on my list. Established in 1917, it was originally known as Mt. McKinley National Park, named after President McKinley. Interesting factoid: the park was established as a way of protecting the large mammals, not because of Mt. McKinley. In 1980, the area, along with an additional 4 million acres, was redesignated as Denali NP. This land is teeming with wildlife and plants, especially during the warmer seasons. From the large mammals - Dall sheep, caribou, moose, grizzly, and wolves; to the smaller mammals - fox, weasel, wolverine, lynx, marten, pika, porcupine, beaver, and many more. In all, there are 37 mammal species recorded in the park and preserve. If you plan to visit – summer is your season as temperatures in the winter can easily reach -40F! The park sits between Anchorage and Fairbanks, in eastern Alaska.

Wordless Wednesday

Random Stuff Monday

No movie reviews this week, as I was in California all weekend.   Instead, I'll share some random sightings/encounters/eavesdropping.

Sitting at the Grand Californian resort, waiting for the shuttle to the airport.  Couple pulls up and husband gets out to talk to the Valet.  Suddenly wife shreaks and says "honey, you're not gonna believe this, I left my purse at the restaurant!".  Turns out, they stopped in Santa Barbara for lunch - 120 miles away!   Well, needless to say the next 10-15 minutes made for interesting human behavior observation.

Women in jeans rolled up to mid-calf with a cuff.  This seems to be a growing trend - saw a lot of it this weekend.  I guess this is replacing the capri?  or maybe it's a seasonal thing?

Tattoos - they are everywhere, literally.  I've seen tattoo shops in the nicer hotels in Las Vegas, and people are putting tattoos in more body locations than ever.  They seem very random, like 'oh, here's a blank piece of skin in the middle of my thigh, let's put it there!'  I have a tattoo, had it for many years, so I'm pretty accepting.  I just don't get the randomness of it.

Travel Thursday

This week we were going to discuss all places "D".    However, as it happens, I will be traveling on Travel Thursday to my all time favorite "D" location - Disneyland!!

And to add to the D hilarity, I will be spending 2 days at Destination D, with the Disney Company.   :)

So, I'll leave you with a few pictures of my favorite D travel spot, and next week we'll pick back up.



Inside the Lilly Belle car, Disneyland Railroad



My son and I (front row, middle) on his 21st birthday