Baby Llama (and other zoo animals)

First, our new baby llama that was born this past Saturday (1/16/10)

She was a surprise! The keepers didn't know her momma was pregnant until one morning she was there--found by one of the keepers. No name yet :) But she's a skittish little thing.

Binturong

Asian animal that is also referred to as a Bear Cat. She lumbers around like a bear but has the whiskers and face of a cat. Her name is Heather. She smells like Fritos. And she is so sweet and curious.

AND FINALLY <3

Red Pandas

Aren't they cute? A few months ago (summer time) our female died =( They were supposed to be a breeding pair but apparently that didn't work out. Now we have two again! Our male looks...sleepy and so did she! But who knows what will happen when spring comes around ;)

LIttle update about being home and then coming back to MO

I miss being home but I have had little time to really reflect on it. I hit the ground running when my toes touched MI and I haven't stopped since I got back to MO.
Working both jobs is really wearing on my health. I haven't been able to shake this cold since New Years but now it's dwindled down to a soar throat and sneezes.

I missed my transfer again and called mom crying because I was so mad. I am continually reminded how blessed I am, though, that I have a boss who is forgiving and a God who is protecting. I should take pictures of this stop so you can see just how deceivingly tame it appears. Oh well. What can a girl do?

I'm hoping to get into the South Korea program but I sometimes feel that whenever I tell a lot of people about something I'm signing myself up to have it not happen. I still feel this way but I think I need the help, prayer, and support. If I were home in MI I could do it I think. A car or transportation would be easy to come by.

I love my house church here. Best people in the world. Another blessing. Ah man. I wish this Zoo job worked me enough to live on that job alone. I would do it in a heart beat. I am so looking forward to summer.

I miss everyone at home. I miss my favorite little boys. I miss their mom's. I miss my friends and family. The week I came back was super depressing. I was bored and realized it was because I didn't have anywhere to go after work. I just went home. Fun times.

But then I'm following my budget (thank you LINDA) and see a sunny horizon in my future. I want to donate money to this charity that takes care of children who have been taken and exploited. Human Trafficking. I think that will be my charity of choice and next pay check I will be able to give. My house church--I'm the bread giver now so that will be my contribution there. Also a dessert every once in a while.
Thinks are picking up and I hope they stay that way.

Funny how the good things feel like baby steps but the bad things feel like gut-renching pushes.

I will endure <3

BE BOLD AND STRONG BANISH FEAR AND DOUT FOR REMEBER THE LORED YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO!!
Joshua 1:9 <3

My apt =)

You can kind of see the kitchen from here

Living Room

This used to be open to my bedroom but the curtains give me a little more privacy

Bathroom <3

3 AM

A Time to vent


I have refrained from talking a lot about my new landlord out of fear that 1. He might find my blog and bet upset about what I have to say or 2. That I sound like a man-hating chick.

Well, I can no longer be silenced! Last night/Early this morning I draw the line at being polite and a good neighbor.

My friend was spending the night and we were talking. We’d just gotten done watching 17 again and were talking about High School and stuff. Well, we know it was late, around 3AM and we decided we weren’t super tired but we should really calm down. I had turned on the TV to play some video games and she was on her phone texting. Chill time.

Then there came a knock upon my door.

“That’s not your door,” my friend says.

“It’s 3AM , we’re the only ones awake. Whose else’s door would be knocked on but mine?”

“It’s not yours.”

Then the knocking happened again. I’d already had my coat on to cover up the fact I wasn’t wearing a bra. I had long pajama bottoms on so I was decent enough to answer the door. I turned on the outside light, checked through my peep-hole, and confirmed who it was. My landlord. Of course. 3AM and my landlord is banging on my door.

I open it up and the first thing out of my mouth is, “It’s 3 o’clock in the morning. What are you doing here?”

He kind of had this sick smile, his eyes were red and puffy, but at least he was fully clothed, “Now why would I be here at 3AM in the morning?” he sneered.

By the look of his eyes I thought he’d been crying or something. Red, bloodshot, and such. Remembering that his dad died like three weeks ago I asked, “You OK?”

“Why would I be OK?”

I gave him a look that probably made it clear that I was clueless about why he was on my doorstep at that hour.

“You two are being loud…” then he gets comfortable as he swings into lecture mode. Honestly, I felt like he was my dad lecturing me about life, “Now, I told you I would come and knock on your door whenever you were being loud. I woke up first at 12AM and then went back to bed. Now it’s 3AM and I’m woken up by talk about High School and laughter. Now, that is called negligence, I think.”

I give him another blank stare because I’m completely blown away by what he’s talking about, but I have enough sense to question, “Negligence? I don’t think so…”

“Oh, I mean disturbing the peace. Now, I could call the cops cause that’s against the law, to disturb the peace, but I told you I would knock first and tell you.”

“Well, you don’t have to call the cops. I didn’t think we were being that loud. I’ sorry.”

“Yeah well, I could call the cops you see, but I didn’t want them to come over for this. Just keep it down.”

“Ok, yeah, we’ll keep it down. Good night. Sorry we disturbed your sleep.”



So…he was threatening to call the cops because my friend and I were laughing too loudly. No booze, no drugs, TV was off, and no music was playing. He didn’t bother to call me when that would have been appropriate and such.

I feel like I have a right to be angry. I know I should have greeted him a bit nicer at the door but it was 3AM In the morning!

Also, how did he know what we were talking about and how thin are the walls? That’s just creepy.

 
 
I could see if I were a repeat offender that this would be such an issue but why so dramatic? Grrr.
 
I told mom I needed to pray for patience but mom said, "Don't do that, cause that means God will just throw people at you who frustrate you because the only way to get better at something is to practice."
 
Wise wise words, mom.

THe last 48 hours=Snappish

So lately I've noticed an attitude change. Well, I didn't notice it, my friend Danna did and she pointed it out to me while she was here. What really brought it to my attention was when I was forced to deal with my landlord on a particularily cold night.

He'd been making comments about the size and thickness of my rug each and EVEYR time he came by to ask if I was cold or not. The apartment I am living in has radiant heat so it comes up through the floors. I tried to explain that a rug wouldn't stop the heat...but he doesn't believe me. Well, one night I finally was a little chilly and though I was tired I trudged over to knock on his door at 8:30 in the evening.

But he was dressed in his boxers. I had knocked on his door and he was wearing silk boxers and a tee and he invited me in...I was like "NO NO NO, this is NOT that IMPORTANT." I'd gone over in search of a heater he said I could have. SO It could have just been nervousness at talking to a older guy in his underwear...especially with my track record.

He then brought up my rug, again, and put on his coat and sandals and proceeded to walk over to my apartment. Did he bother to put on pants? No.

He then proceeded to get on his hands and knees and fold up a part of my rug, telling me to touch the floor and feel the heat. I'd already done this before with him so I growled, "No, that's OK. Already did that, remember the last time?"

SO then he suggested I roll up the rug and store it in the attic.

I snapped.

I finally told him flat out that I was keeping the rug because the floor is ugly. He then replied with a, "Then you can find another apartment with a prettier floor."
He apologized but it made me realize I was being a bitch.
In the end I ended up carrying my rug to the attic with my eyes shut since he had to go up before me. Use your imagination but for God's sake stop before you go too far!


Oh I am a lonely painter

I live in a box of paints

I'm living in my own creation but still I am not complete :(

Been listening to what I own of Joni Mitchell, NIN Something I can never have, White T's Delilah, Going Through Hell by some country singer, meh...and Swan Heart by Nighwish.

That was Monday night. Tuesday I missed my 12 o'clock bus so I had to catch the 1, which meant I might miss my transfer. I did...but not because the bus was LATE. No, it was on time. The other bus was early.
I saw it and hopped off the bus and RAN towards it. The busdriver of the bus I had just been on honked her horn, flashed her lights, everything...the bus kept going. I know he saw me. I saw him see me. He KNEW I was there...but he didn't stop.
 
That meant I had an hour, an entire hour, before I the next bus came. An hour of standing on the busy street in the cold freezing rain where I would be oggled and stared at. Horns honking, males hollering, and passer-by's staring. GRRRRRRRRRRRRR. SO I hid. Yes, I hid. I hid by some houses and called my mother.


after work I came home to my landlord in my apartment. I'd told him he could come in and check the thermostat to see if the heat had gone up during the day. No, I didn't get my heater. The rug was gone. The heat would go up then, right?
No, my rug was back in my apartment and everything was as I had left it this morning, plus my rug. It was a little bitter sweet and I graciously accepted his apology--and the heater. He talked and talked and talked and I listened...as per usual. Then he left, thankfully, after explaining what  I should do with the heater and where it should be. I nodded and pratically shoved him out the door. Two hours later, maybe three, he's knocking at my door again.

To check the thermometer. Yes, heat has gone up a few degrees. Good night. *shut door*

what...a...week....

Upon Request

The Mighty Red Panda

As we approached the exhibit I knew it was going to be a good day because it was nice outside and there wasn't a blessed soul in sight outside of my mom, Danna, and Me.

Soon we see a little ball of brown, red, white, and black fluff come waltzing towards us, sniffing nonchalantly at various branches and food dishes. He stops, stares at us, and decides that playing coy isn't going to get him ANYWHERE with his visitors.

At the edge of the exhibit he stops and stares, I bend down to hide behind the people gate and he suddenly seems VERY interested in what I am doing. So much that he sticks his nose through the wire and licked the air. Then he proceeded to back up and start wiggling his tush at us.

He bumped into his dish and wiggled his tush.

He climbed the log...and wiggled his tush.

All the while taking the time to see if his lady-lookers liked what he was doing.

Oh yes, we did.

Then he proceeded to walk back to where we were, sit down, and pose for us.

Danna has the pictures and as soon as I'm able I will show you the adorableness that is our Red Panda.

News about this weekend and later an entire synopsis of it :)

Keeper guy has a girlfriend =(

Could have given mom and Danna a golf-cart tour instead of making them walk all around

Red panda was FRIGGIN ADORABLE on Saturday

People at the zoo recognize me without my bright yellow shirt, which means there is something worth remembering, right? xD It was very flattering!

Awesome awesome weekend and I miss being home.

More to come laterz :)