that's how us Romanians say "Rest in Peace."
Leopold died tonight. I didn't expect him to be the one that didn't make it, since he was the feisty one. Oh well. We found out that there was too much ammonia in the water because I was feeding them too much.
See? Love kills. Don't do it folks.
Rest in Peace, Leopold.
Dummezeu sa'o ierte!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
I'm a Mama
That's right folks, I'm a mother. Joe and I decided that it was time to expand our family. We thought that fish were an easy way to start. We headed off to Petco, but no one bothered to assist us, so we went to Aquarium Adventure on Sawmill. If you have never been to Aquarium Adventure, you have not lived. It was like real live aquarium. Huge tanks, fancy "habitat". It was amazing.
We looked at the goldfish. After a couple minutes, we asked a guy feeding the fish to help.
"You want to get a goldfish?" he asked. "Well, you'll need a 30 gallon tank and twice a week water changes."
I gulped. Who knew goldfish required that much?
"Uh," I asked, "What do you recommend for a small...2 or 3 gallon tank?"
"Minnows. They're delighful. They can last quite some time. But, remember, the first 4-6 weeks is the most riskiest for fish loss."
Fish loss? There's a term for it? Joe and I hadn't realized the extent to which "Fishkeeping" was an art form. I spent the next day at work, researching online while the computer system was down. Having a home aquarium, no matter how small, was more work than I had anticipated. But, I was ready to dedicate myself.
The next day, Joe and I went to Petsmart. The saleswoman, not quite as much a fish conniseur as the guy at the aquarium place, recommended some great, sturdy fish. We purchased our aquarium, a 5 gallon, and set it up.
Two days later, we adopted our little fishies! We got three guppies and an Oto Cat:
Leopold, a little yellow guy with black spots and an opalized belly. He was a fiesty one, constantly attacking my fingers as I carried him home in the bag. He's pretty inquisitive, too.
Cloak, he's a black guy with a white face with a big fan tail that is injured. It's currently healing. He didn't initially want to be caught, and suffered some stress and trauma to the transition, but he's getting along much better now.
Margaret, he has red tail, blue core, and yellow front. He's not a Fancy Guppy, like his buddies, but demonstrated his place in the pecking order pretty quickly and took control of the aquarium. He used to pick on Leopold a bit, but they're all friends now.
They all swim together. It's pretty cute.
We also got an Oto Cat, Chupa, who spends his day sucking around the tank eating algae, dust, and whatever else he can get his little mouth on. Every once in a while, during mealtimes, he mistakes Leopold for a flake of fish food and will chase him around the tank.
So yes, Joe and I are proud parents of a tank full of fishies. Today marks one week of successful fishkeeping!
We looked at the goldfish. After a couple minutes, we asked a guy feeding the fish to help.
"You want to get a goldfish?" he asked. "Well, you'll need a 30 gallon tank and twice a week water changes."
I gulped. Who knew goldfish required that much?
"Uh," I asked, "What do you recommend for a small...2 or 3 gallon tank?"
"Minnows. They're delighful. They can last quite some time. But, remember, the first 4-6 weeks is the most riskiest for fish loss."
Fish loss? There's a term for it? Joe and I hadn't realized the extent to which "Fishkeeping" was an art form. I spent the next day at work, researching online while the computer system was down. Having a home aquarium, no matter how small, was more work than I had anticipated. But, I was ready to dedicate myself.
The next day, Joe and I went to Petsmart. The saleswoman, not quite as much a fish conniseur as the guy at the aquarium place, recommended some great, sturdy fish. We purchased our aquarium, a 5 gallon, and set it up.
Two days later, we adopted our little fishies! We got three guppies and an Oto Cat:
Leopold, a little yellow guy with black spots and an opalized belly. He was a fiesty one, constantly attacking my fingers as I carried him home in the bag. He's pretty inquisitive, too.
Cloak, he's a black guy with a white face with a big fan tail that is injured. It's currently healing. He didn't initially want to be caught, and suffered some stress and trauma to the transition, but he's getting along much better now.
Margaret, he has red tail, blue core, and yellow front. He's not a Fancy Guppy, like his buddies, but demonstrated his place in the pecking order pretty quickly and took control of the aquarium. He used to pick on Leopold a bit, but they're all friends now.
They all swim together. It's pretty cute.
We also got an Oto Cat, Chupa, who spends his day sucking around the tank eating algae, dust, and whatever else he can get his little mouth on. Every once in a while, during mealtimes, he mistakes Leopold for a flake of fish food and will chase him around the tank.
So yes, Joe and I are proud parents of a tank full of fishies. Today marks one week of successful fishkeeping!
Friday, October 12, 2007
the library wait
Today I cut out of work early. I was exhausted after last night's Smashing Pumpkins concert. On my way home, I stopped by the library to pick up some CDs I had on reserve. A small crowd of about 15 were gathered in front of the doors. I checked my clock - it was 5 'till 10. The library opened in 5 minutes. I joined the group.
I had never waited in line to go to a library. Especially the little Columbus Northside library, with its 4 rows of books and a handful of computers. It was mostly good for having reserves sent to it, for convenience, but for browsing, you're best going to the main branch. This wait, though....it sort of reminded me of my old Toys R Us days, when parents would crowd around outside the doors on the day after Thanksgiving (or Black Friday as they call it here in Columbus), peeking inside, checking their watches irritatedly. So here I was with this diverse group, waiting to get into a library. I knew what my purpose was, but what were they all waiting for?
The group consisted of a well dressed middle aged Asian man, forehead pressed against the windows, peeking for the (lucky) employee who will unlock the doors. Behind him was a couple, both with some missing teeth, the woman wearing an old Starter jacket for some football team. Remember when those were popular? The man was sporting a nice mullet. Behind him were several men who appeared to have just gotten out of the shelter for the morning and were waiting to have a nice, comfortable place to spend their day, surfing the internet on the free computers to kill time until their group therapy session later that afternoon. Next to me was a woman who had pulled up in her SUV and stood there, staring at the door, not looking at anyone else. Beyond her was a kid, about my age, holding (and then dropping with a loud thud on the cement making everyone turn and stare) a book about punk rock. Then came this guy, probably in his late 30's, with intellectual glasses and a sort of disheveled artist look about him. He pulled into his parking space, traipsed right up to the doors, stood there, looked around at the group gathered around him, and let out a loud sigh.
Finally, the poor little librarian came and opened the doors. People pushed and shoved to be the first ones in. I couldn't believe it. This was the library! I hardly doubted any of those waiting were there to get their READ on.
I was highly amused by the event I witnessed this morning. It seemed to be a regular occasion. The staff inside were all poised for the flood of customers. Artsy guy was trying to sneak books on the reserve cart, while the aide was shooing him away. The shady characters made a beeline to the back "study tables" and computer terminals. A couple women pushed past me, hurriedly, to grab who knows what book off the shelf.
I grabbed my reserves and left.
The library. Who knew?
I had never waited in line to go to a library. Especially the little Columbus Northside library, with its 4 rows of books and a handful of computers. It was mostly good for having reserves sent to it, for convenience, but for browsing, you're best going to the main branch. This wait, though....it sort of reminded me of my old Toys R Us days, when parents would crowd around outside the doors on the day after Thanksgiving (or Black Friday as they call it here in Columbus), peeking inside, checking their watches irritatedly. So here I was with this diverse group, waiting to get into a library. I knew what my purpose was, but what were they all waiting for?
The group consisted of a well dressed middle aged Asian man, forehead pressed against the windows, peeking for the (lucky) employee who will unlock the doors. Behind him was a couple, both with some missing teeth, the woman wearing an old Starter jacket for some football team. Remember when those were popular? The man was sporting a nice mullet. Behind him were several men who appeared to have just gotten out of the shelter for the morning and were waiting to have a nice, comfortable place to spend their day, surfing the internet on the free computers to kill time until their group therapy session later that afternoon. Next to me was a woman who had pulled up in her SUV and stood there, staring at the door, not looking at anyone else. Beyond her was a kid, about my age, holding (and then dropping with a loud thud on the cement making everyone turn and stare) a book about punk rock. Then came this guy, probably in his late 30's, with intellectual glasses and a sort of disheveled artist look about him. He pulled into his parking space, traipsed right up to the doors, stood there, looked around at the group gathered around him, and let out a loud sigh.
Finally, the poor little librarian came and opened the doors. People pushed and shoved to be the first ones in. I couldn't believe it. This was the library! I hardly doubted any of those waiting were there to get their READ on.
I was highly amused by the event I witnessed this morning. It seemed to be a regular occasion. The staff inside were all poised for the flood of customers. Artsy guy was trying to sneak books on the reserve cart, while the aide was shooing him away. The shady characters made a beeline to the back "study tables" and computer terminals. A couple women pushed past me, hurriedly, to grab who knows what book off the shelf.
I grabbed my reserves and left.
The library. Who knew?
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