weekend

So, it's been a crazy weekend. I went para sailing on Friday. It's the first time I've ever done that, and I went twice! It was beautiful. Floating in the bay, 40 stories up. The captain was my friend's boyfriend, so he dunked us a couple times. It's very peaceful though, one step closer to flying...my favorite feeling :)

Then, on Saturday, I went with Christine to the North Shore. We went to Sunset beach where the surfers usually go. But the water was so glassy, there were no waves at all! They are on the South shore right now. We went to go look at surf boards because Christine is going to get one. It was a great day. We had mudslides and daiquiris, garlic shrimp and french fries. Here's a pic of Sunset



Oh also, last week I house sat for Les and his cat and my friend and I went hunting for frogs in his backyard. He has the green and black poison dart frogs--but they aren't poisonous here because they don't have the food that gives them the poison. We didn't get any frogs, but we found this crazy slug with eggs. I have been trying to figure out what it is. I've never seen anything like it. Here it is (and Les' cat Dongwa)




Then, yesterday, I went to see Up! It was wonderful. Then Christine and I went to the beach and watched the waves and the sun set. There was a monk seal on the beach! It's the first time I've seen one here (other than at the Aquarium).



Also, I finally got a picture of me and my bike. You asked for it and I finally have delivered it!!

King Kamehameha Day

It's King Kamehameha day. He was credited with uniting the Islands.

Yesterday I went with Christine to catch baby hammerheads. We got one! I'm still octopusless... It's making me rethink my project. I'm feeling at bit lost right now.

One of the students here, Melanie Hutchinson, is doing research on the effects of some types of metals on shark behavior. She is trying to figure out how to minimize shark bycatch. Last semester she was in my animal behavior class and she gave a presentation where she showed this picture. When I first saw it, I was momentarily confused by what it was--an upside down baby hammerhead shark placed against the background of a sort of hand made protractor. It was such a weird image and it reminded me of the baby from Eraser Head. Enjoy!

Thursday already?

I just had my first real compliment on my bike (from a stranger)! :) It felt good. Although, I had kind of a creepy compliment this morning. I was sitting at a red light and this guy conspicuously walked over to where I was and looked me up and down, then said "Hi." Thankfully the light changed and went on my merry way to work.

Speaking of work, I haven't gotten any octopods yet!! They are poopy and eluding me. This particular species is supposed to be the best camouflager ever, so maybe I am swimming over a billion of them and not knowing it. I don't think that is the case though, because I know what I am looking for. You try to find a sort of cemetery of crabs and bivalves--then you know you have found a den. Then, you take a stick and poke around a bit, hoping an octopus will grab on. However, this species is active during the day so likely won't stay in their dens but will be out foraging for food. I talked to a girl who studied them a few years ago and she said she thinks they go to deeper water in the summer...I need to talk to the fishermen. They'll know what to do!

Even though I haven't found any specimens to study sexual selection, it has been quite beautiful snorkeling around Coconut Island. I saw the largest trumpet fish I've ever seen as well as a puffer fish as big as a basketball! The coral seems much healthier over there than any other place on the island. I saw a stomatopod (mantis shrimp) using it's hammer-like appendages to kill and eat small crustaceans. I've seen several Cassiopeia jellyfish (upside down jellies), their green tentacles undulating in the current.

I've decided to organize a group hunt for octopods. Maybe I'll have more luck with some more eyes... But really, who can complain? My days consist of snorkelling and riding my motorcycle, not so bad. I've also been watching a lot of Star Trek--the original series. I'm almost embarrassed to admit it, but it is so good!! It's terribly cheesy and wonderful. Every episode is on CBS and so is every episode of Twin Peaks!

Alright, I'm on campus today trying to get some work done for Les today--and this weekend I get to cat sit! I'm so excited. I love his cat. I miss animal love (I guess that sounds kinda bad...)

i have recently become kind of obsessed with this song--and the video isn't bad either. it's some weird video from 1984, the year i was born.

one of the more depressing parts about being poor is saving quarters for weeks to do laundry for five dollars at the laundromat and having my clothes come out damp, knowing i can't afford to put them in the drier again. my apartment has become a sauna recently, which proves ineffective when drying clothes... oh well, pour myself another glass of wine.. :P