Is it all done?

I was so rushed today, i feel like i missed something at work. Which is the worst feeling in the world when you work at a zoo.

One day i was working the "North America" area, which is like the bear, otters, raptors...lots of bigger animals than i usually work with...Well after the first month of working at the zoo one of my co-workers left the bear out over night, it was the middle of the summer, so it was probably pretty nice, but i don't know if i'd ever be able to live that down...also i'm told stories of the otters getting out, which will make your head spin when you're lying in bed.

Speaking of letting the otters out brings me to my first story of freak out. When working with the otters in the summer theres lots of draining and skimming and crap you have to go inside the exhibit to get to it...so you have to lock the otters inside holding and unlock the exhibit and go in, and then make sure you lock it before you come out, yadda yadda...Well I had been used to doing that in the morning with my a.m. routine, but for some reason that day, i decided to go into the exhibit before we closed for the day, and i went home...and freaked out! I couldn't bring myself to believe that i had locked the door...I mean the otters getting out during the day is WAY different than them getting out during the night...at night they have the whole night to swim away in the creek, where during the day, someone would probably spot them before they got too far....

So i got home and could not relax. i was freaking out, i wasn't going to be able to sleep that night. So my mom told me i should just go back to the zoo and check, if it would make me feel better. So my mom offered to come with me, and soon my dad wanted to come too, so we all climb into the car to drive back to the zoo...mind you, now it's like 7.

The ditch gate is locked, and i don't have my keys for that...i have my keys to get into the zoo, but not the ditch gate, so we decide to jump it...well of course juuuust as we're all climbing over the gate, a car drives by and sees us. AND turns around...and slows down, and stops...shit.

So i'm freaking out, they're going to call the cops...Being sweet as he is, my dad goes to the car to try and convince them that i really do work here, and we're not breaking into the zoo.

After all this, i get to the otter building...and all the doors are locked and the otters are safe.

That's why i feel like i forgot something...

"Thats how Rockstars die"

So last night my friend Jessie convinced me to go out...not really extreme, we went to sunset bowl bar, it was very chill...besides some 60 year old guys in the corner, we were defiantly the youngest people there, sweet. Anyway, i thought i was doing good...Had about three beers, then went for the Jaeger shot, ate some doritos...okay, i was feeling quite drunk. So i get home and am exhausted, time to go to bed...Joel hands me the puke bowl, and asks me if i'm sleeping on my back..and i say "Of course i am, my heating pad is on." and he says to me "Thats how rockstars die" So...i rolled over. hahaha. Thanks honey, what a sweetheart. I also slept for about 14-16 hours, i haven't done anything today. poop.

-Chanda

Lions Tigers and Bears!

Well just tigers...i know i already posted this picture on facebook, but it's so exciting to me, it's like all my dreams as a little girl are coming true...

That day was insane..A couple days before we had a staff meeting and my boss goes "Chanda, we want you to be there for the immobilization too, so be ready" okay...so i was thinking i'd be the one to take pictures or something like that...then he hangs up the 'duties' for everyone...i'm reading down the list...[Dr. Eric- initial exam, immobilization, etc....Travis- Lights, medical supplies...etc... Chanda- IV catheter, vaccinations, bloodwork...] Woah...what?!! I was freaking out! I haven't put an iv catheter in for almost a year! I was freaking....but sooooo excited!

So the next day, it was freeeeezing, and i didn't wear my long johns because i didn't want to pass out...when i get nervous, i get hot and then i pass out...it never fails, people can vouch. That, or i have to poop...i'm a nervous pooper, but that's a whole other story...

Anyway things weren't going as planned, they didn't have the right dart gun and were trying to use a blow gun, which wasn't working, and definitely pissing the tiger off....

They finally got him down and opened the doors...Dr Eric asked for me to go in first and start drawing blood...I poked, and poked and poked...and alas...could feel the jugular like a garden hose, but because of the position of his head, and that i'm right handed, it was alot easier for the dr to draw...stealing all my glory, but i gave him his vaccines and was getting ready to check his teeth for tartar when all of a sudden, his huuuuge tail goes "Thump" and we all look at eachother and Dr E yells "Everybody out!!" haha...biiiig kitty waking up, and pissed.

Everyone was fine, and it was kickassness in the making. I'm exhausted. thats my story for the day.

-Chanda