Aquarium
Once upon a time I entertained the notion of being a biology major. I'm just as happy nothing came of that, because I have no interest in most jobs in the field. Being a biologist, especially a marine biologist, is pretty smelly, nasty work. Volunteering at the Aquarium is about the right amount of bio-exposure. When someone finds out I volunteer there, one of the first question I get is, "Do you work with the animals." Yes. I do: people. I TALK about the animals, working with them requires way too many hours spent cleaning up after them, and I get plenty of that at home. Though, I'm sure the cats wished I devoted as much time to fish-prep as the husbandry staff does at the AoP.
Today, during Update-- the first half-hour of the volunteer shift-- we were subjected to a little more hands-on biology than I was really in the mood for. I use to get really enthused about cutting up critters. I was the one that could eat my sandwich while dissecting the fetal pig, or using the cow eye as a squirt-gun. But I've been there, done that, and I just not that into anymore: you've seen the innards of one fish you've pretty much seen them all, and I think if I'm going to be dissecting marine life I'm hoping it will be to enjoy latter with butter and lemon.
So waiting for us this morning was a lovely plate of peanut butter cookies that Shirley had made, and a not-so-lovely, pale, limp squid sitting next to a pair of tweezers and scissors. Based on the murmurs of discontent humming from most of the other volunteers I knew sitting back as a spectator munching on a cookie and sipping coffee probably wasn't in my future. Oh, I could have, but it just seemed kind of mean not to do the dirty work since so many people didn't want to.
Ok! Here we go cold, slimy animal. First find the obvious stuff like arms and tentacles-- I waggled mine at Shirley, who considered taking away my cookie. Next, let's find the radula. Then, Michelle, our Education staff leader, wanted us to remove the mantel so we could expose the color-changing pigments. There. Yes. It is changing color. Weee. Onward and inward. Time to pull out the pen. This was actually pretty cool. Squids, being invertebrates, have pretty spiffy structural components. The pen is the squid equivalent of a backbone. It looks like a plastic, see-through feather. Once it is out, you can dip it in the ink sack and write with it.
It was fun. I did have a good time. And having experiences like this now and again is a good thing. I just was tired and not in a writing with squid-ink kind of mood. Since I was on plankton gathering duty (why, I really don't know! My sample of plankton is always crappy; I managed to get one measly worm this time--go me!), I helped Michelle clean up the remains.
Good size crowds this morning. The expectation is possibly seven thousand guests today, that's summer numbers. The economy is causing some problems in staffing-- everyone is spread a little thin-- but the AoP seems to be hanging in there. Someone gave us a big, chunk-o-change to remodel the otter exhibit so we will have something new and shiny to show off in a couple of months. And the hiring freeze seems to be slowly melting.
Now time to get back to the daily wear and tear. Houses to clean. Non-slimy things to study. Possibly a cat to dissect. Etc.