Guess what?!?!?!?!

So....I GOT A FULL-TIME ZOOKEEPER JOB!!!!!! It is at the Niabi Zoo where I have been weekends since November. It's a real grown-up job doing what I have been dreaming about doing since I was just a lil girl. It is by far the best day of my life Aug. 28th, 2010. I feel like everything was now worth it. The school, projects, internships, volunteering, driving, and working weekends. It was a long one, but it was well worth it. My next goals are to get me own place and really truly settle in the the Quad Cities as it looks like I may be here for a while :) Also with my own place and still working just a few hours a week at PETCO (to keep my discount & adopt a few critters), i hope to save money and eventually buy a house some day. I have already started my job and everyday is just as great as the next. Now-excuse me I must go celebrate!

Wait! it's August already!?!

Me and Miss CarlyMe and Miss Molly

So lots and lots of time has passed again since I have written in this thing yet again. Sigh...I said I was busy before, well now it's worse! I enjoy it all though I like to keep busy with things. I am still at the zoo and PETCO. I am still working 40 hours at PETCO, (which means I haven't had a day off in 5 weeks) but the new thing with that is I not only work in the Davenport store, I have also been working a few shifts at the Moline store. The Moline store is a little closer to my house and the people there are super nice so I don't mind. I also this week had my 6 month evaluation. I passed with flying colors and got a 15 cent raise...I know, I now make a smidgen more than minimum wage! Lately the zoo has been hot and humid. I like the hot weather however I could do without the humidity-that has just been unreasonable. No fancy news to report other than the penguins now have an exhibit to hang out in during the day. This has gotten rid of the where are the penguins question, but has brought on a new question-isn't it too hot out here for the penguins? For your fun fact of the day we have black-footed penguins which are from Africa which is a warm continent last time I checked. Only 4 out of 12 penguin species live in cold places.

I did get to go home for the 4th of July weekend so I did attend the family reunion. It was nice to know I did recognize most people even if I didn't know their names. I also got to see Jason and his gang up in Minnesota. I even got to see them again this past weekend as they were down in Lincoln to introduce Molly to everyone. Carly is finally getting old enough to recognize who we are. Guess who her favorite is...Uncle Steven. She loves swimming in the pool with dad's help of course and helping take care of Molly.

I am still looking for that full time zoo job and finishing up the thesis. It is coming along just not quickly due to the obsessive working. I am fine and do still find some time to have fun. Stella and I hang out when our schedules match up which is always a good time. We recently learned some valuable lessons in the kitchen together! Spooks is happy as right now he has the run of the house. His favorite game is to hide behind a corner and then run off full blast when I round the corner. Pebbles is eating crickets again. For those of you who don't know who Pebbles is, she is my leopard gecko and I fed her some mealworms and she got too lazy to chase after the crickets. So, this is a good, big step for her. I do enjoy living in the Quad Cities. I have recently been running into more and more people that I know which is a nice surprise. Nick is working away in Aurora. They keep coming up with projects for him to do so he will be staying there for a while which is nice for him. We don't get to see each other very often, but when we do we pretty much make dinner and watch a movie while cuddling with the kitten (I think he misses the kitten more than me and secretly just comes to visit him).

Take care and I'll update soon...at least I'll try! :)