So nothing too exciting happened today, expect for an unusual critter coming into the vet clinic... so here comes the nerd in me

The Barred Owl (Strix varia) is found all over the eastern United States from Florida to Texas and up into Canada. They have an average wing span range of 39-43 inches and average weight of 16-37 ounces. They have round heads with no ear tufts, dark eyes, and belly feather of some Barred Owls are pink, which is believed to be linked to eating a lot of crayfish. Usually the underparts of a Barred owl are white with dark streaks. They are opportunistic hunters and will often eat pray that is easy to catch such as small reptiles, amphibians, and rodents, but will prey also on woodchucks, geese, and herons. These owls can often been found hunting in open country, over farmlands and along roadsides and rivers.

Barred owls are usually found in areas with mature forest and heavily wooded swamps. They are known to established long term pair bonds and nest territoriality which makes them fairly sedentary creatures. Barred owls usually lay 2-3 egg, which are incubated solely by the female for approximately 28-33 days. By 4-6 weeks the young owls being to branch out, but do not fledge until they are closer to 6 weeks. Here are a few pictures I found from ages 1 to 6 weeks. Aren't they precious?

Week 1


Week 2 & 3


Week 4


Week 5


Week 6


And here is the guy that came to the clinic. He may have been hit by a car.



Here is also a quick video....

Remembering Gramp.... he has a funny way of popping into my life!

One of the most important people in my life was my Gram and Gramp. I spent all my free time with the both of them, even as a teen I would go stay at their house on the weekends. My Gram was EVERYTHING to me!! And Gramp, well he was a little rough around the edges and could sometimes be very abrasive. But he would do anything in the world for me!! I remember when I was 9 or so, going with my grandparents to Bangor (which is 2 1/2 hrs) south of where I was living, to take Gram to a doctor's appointment. While Gram was at her apt. Gramp took me to get lunch and to the mall (which was HUGE for me cuz we didn't have a mall and he wasn't much for the mall scene). We went to the music store and I found a Debbie Gibson (yep I was a dork!! but hey I was like 9!) video of her on tour. I was so excited about it and Gramp bought it for me.

Well Gramp has been gone for 5 years now and really missing him, and Gram too. The only way to really describe him is as "Archie Bunker" You always knew where you stood with Gramp and what was on his mind. If you didn't like it, there was the door, don't let it hit you in the ass on the way out. He was famous for repeating catch phrases such as "Did you see the size of that chicken?" and Gramp was ALWAYS singing crazy songs. I remember one about a zoo (something about a baboon combing his hair in the light of the moon), but the one I remember the most was call "

So my "cure" for sadness is music. When I am lonely or sad I find that venturing back to 80's music always helps me. It takes me back to a safe place in my life and fills my sadness with wonderful memories. So as I was searching through iTunes I some how came across "The Little Brown Shack" which is, I would almost say a miracle because I think it was recorded back in the 40-50's. And even better I found a video on YouTube! We had this song on a little vinyl album that I would play over and over again when I was 6 or 7 years old. I have never laughed and cried so hard at the same time! I truly believe that loved ones that pass on are always with us, and me finding this treasure was Gramp's way of saying he's right here with me. I couldn't resist sharing a piece of my Gramp with you all. Enjoy!

Colored my hair last night at 11!!! I'll write more later tonight.... I'm off to have a good time!!

Well I did it!!! I completed my case study, all 28 pages of it!!! So I'm heading to bed... which will be weird because I'm stay at the professor's house (my ex-boyfriend)... He's out of town so I'm watching the critters... The one dog we share custody of and his dog, plus he's taking care of 2 of my cats and my pot belly pig.... yes I said pot belly pig.... What kind of guy is that to take care of his ex's pets?? A truly amazing one!!! He is the best and I love him with all my heart... too bad we have to be so different..... Ok... I need to get to sleep... I'm getting too sappy!!!

It's amazing what the impact one person can make!!! (or two I guess)!! The zoning board hearing was tonight. So my mother and I went. I'm not planning on living here much longer, but I have a vested interest because I will inherit the house one day, and I must advocate for the wildlife that stood to loose their habitat. My mother was a blubbering idiot (I mean that in the kindest, loving way possible) but I wrote a rocking letter, and when asked to speak made pointed out several inconsistencies from the director of the football project presentation. So for now, my eagle is safe, my 4 hawks are safe and I won't have to be scraping up any dead skunks soon. Well I'm off to finish my case study!! I'm hoping it will be done tonight, but I'm fading fast!!!

Where to find the motivation???? I'm completely drained!! And still have to pull a 10-12 page case study out of my ass!!! Can I do it?? Maybe??? It was do today, but I asked for an extension. I just can't do it tonight......My laptop is dead, all my research and stuff is on that..... and I'm just beat!!! So I think I'll go watch court tv or some fornesic show.... I wish ghost hunters was on tonight!!! or maybe read some of the new book I bought... this one is for pleasure and has nothing to do with animal welfare, dog training, business management, biology, psychology, or any other ologies for that matter!!!! It's call Magical Thinking by Augusen Burgoughs, and I found in the True Life section of the book store during my Friday night stalking sessions of the book man.... (can you say Fatal Attraction!!!!) Yes every Friday night, I go hang out in the book store, because 1. I LOVE BOOKS!!! and 2. I'm in LOVE with the book man (have been for over 10 years)... back to the book- One of my "quirks" is that when I'm looking for a good book to read, I read the first few pages of the 5th chapter (I have no idea how or why I started doing this) and this chapter was entitled "I Dated an Undertaker" I wasalmost peeing my pants from laughing while I was reading this... It recanted a hilarious experience of a guy getting a blow job at the funeral home... Ok so I HAD to buy the book!!! Now after writing all of that, I'm gonna say screw the paper, and go do some reading.... Hope all is well in SG Land and have a fabulous night all!!

I just finished my final for my non-profit management class it ended up being 12 pages plus 2 surveys I created.... and I completed all of that today... Yes I rock!!! hahah.... I need to stop being such a procrastinator!!!!! I can't even imagine what I could accomplish if I didn't wait till the last minute for everything!!! And to top it all off, my lap top is messed up and won't turn on... it's the charger.. stupid P.O.S!! I have replaced twice! So I had to write the paper without any of my notes or research.

I'm hating the idea that I have to go to work tomorrow!!! I didn't really get to celebrate my graduation. I went to dinner with some friends and ex-boyfriend (who is one of my best friends).... he is actually one of the professor at the college I attended... in fact I took his research methods class (boring) and animal behavior which was fun a long time ago, long before we dated.... We've been spending more time together lately and I have realized how much I missed him.... We'll never go back to dating or living together, because we want different things in life...he can never be what I need him to be, and I can never be what he wants me to be.... Although I love him so very much and don't know where I would be without him!!! Well I would not have graduated I do know that much....

So one more paper to write and I'm off to start another chapter of my life.... But tonight I have to write a letter opposing the football field someone is purposing to build behind my mother's house.... I guess I'm a resident here for a few more weeks....I don't want them to ruin the wonderful diversity in my backyard and the rich habitat..... So I've got to support the moose, deer, bear, eagles (which I saw yesterday for the first time this spring), fox, and rotten little raccoon that keeps getting into the shed and into the trash..... he's become quite the little fuckerpant!!!! So I have to figure way to keep him out, with out putting any dangerous chemicals around.... He's not being a very good neighbor!!!
Here's one of my neighbors... (sorry it was a rainy day, so the picture is kind of dark)

Well I did it!!!! I'm now a graduate!!!! Woohoooo!!


and here's a pictures of me on the way to the senior banquet last night

Well I'm back to the hell hole I call home. After spending 2 days with my very best friend, I didn't want to come home. We had so much fun yesterday driving around Portland with the top down. I miss her so much and I love that area. I was able to buy gas for $3.51 a gallon which is better than the $3.78 a gallon here..... And being near the ocean is so good for the soul. Here's a quick silly video....(sorry working on getting the video to work)



Here is a pic of a new buildling going up in Portland....

I took the 4 hour trip south to give a presentation on Wednesday night and had a meeting today with a colleague and the new ED of one of the larger animal shelters. I am working with this associate on a research project. However, the end of the meeting became like a mini interview. The ED asked me to send my resume to her because there is an opening for a Shelter Manager at her shelter. This is exactly what I've been looking for. So I'll send that out in the morning before work and see what happens. There is also another part time job that would be a great opportunity, and would fit into my schedule with my current job and the Masters program I'm planning to do.

Two more days to graduation, I can't believe it's finally here. I still have so much work to do before Monday when my final and case study is do. Crunch time!!! So I probably won't be around over the next few days. Wish me luck, because I'll need it!!! Have a fabulous weekend all....xoxox ~Jen~

Guys hang on to your penis……. I just spent the last hour and a half watching a stupid but hilarious movie. If you have some time to kill you have to see the movie Teeth. I don't know what creators of this movie had in their crack pipe but this movie is crazy!! It's about a high school virgin and she has vagina dentate, which means her cooch has mutant teeth. Isn't that kinky!!! Now this is by no mean an Academy Award winning movie, in fact it's really stupid, it's just one of those movie you just have to see!! But boys I warn you, it's gruesome!!!