Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Devastation .. at it's finest.

My parents are away for a couple weeks, and I'm lounging staying at their house to take care of their massive dogs (whom I absolutely adore!) - with Emily.  So it's not entirely simple, or enjoyable.  However, it is where I will be camped out for the next week and a half (with a few exceptions) not an easy thing to do - but we are.  Not a full nights sleep - hard to sleep in a different place - especially when you're 4.  Just keep this in mind, on top of the "normal" sleep issues I have - I'm in a different place, without my husband.

At any rate, I digress. 

I've been following the Norfolk Botanical Garden Bald Eagles since their eggs were laid, and was blessed enough to see all three hatch.

Yesterday, I signed on to the web cam, and was watching as usual.  Then I signed onto a forum I'm a member of, where I have successfully made Eagle Cam Addicts out of quite a few of my online friends.

Then I read This:

NORFOLK -- A plane landing at Norfolk International Airport struck and killed an eagle Tuesday morning, and it has been confirmed that it was one of the very popular eagles from the Norfolk Botanical Garden.

Tuesday afternoon, Stephen A. Living, a wildlife biologist with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries confirmed it is indeed one of the nesting pair from the Norfolk Botanical Garden.

These eagles were well known through the Norfolk Botanical Garden Eagle Cam provided by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF), Norfolk Botanical Garden and WVEC, and have been at NBG since 2001.

Eagle Cam watcher Linda Eszenyi drove from Northern Virginia in hopes of getting a personal glimpse of the pair and their eaglets.

“They told me and I just had to go have a cry.  I was so hurt and disappointed, not for just me but for everybody that watches,” Eszenyi said.

Reese Lukei, a research associate with the Center for Conservation Biology (CCB), has monitored and blogged about these eagles for ten years.
“It’s about like losing one of your kids,” Lukei described.
Moments before the confirmation, Living said "We are fairly certain it's the female from Norfolk Botanical Garden based on the location, the physical characteristics of the eagle and the fact that the female hasn't been seen on the nest since early this morning."

DGIF management is meeting at the NBG.  They're trying to determine the status of the eagle nest.  They are concerned whether the male eagle can raise the three eaglets solo.

“We are going to be watching this nest very closely over the coming days to see if he is able to provide regular feeding for the chicks,” Lukei stated.

Biologists with the VDGIF, CCB, and the staff at NBG will continue to monitor the nest and are working to ensure the health of the eaglets. 

The strike happened sometime between 8:30 and 8:50 a.m.  A US Airways regional jet coming from Philadelphia was preparing to land at 8:50 when the pilot reported the bird strike.  

Shank says the eagle was reportedly feeding at Lake Whitehurst with another eagle when the strike was reported

The plane landed safely and no one was hurt, Shank stressed.   He added that there was minor damage to the aircraft.

Shank told WVEC.com that this is the second eagle strike in several weeks and fourth in 10 years; the others occurring in 2005 and 2001.
Shank said the airport is working with the US Fish and Wildlife office to see if anything can be done to protect airline passengers and wildlife.

Call me sentimental, call me silly, call me whatever - but I cried.  Call me dense, and irrational - but I've been crying ever since - off and on.   I've followed this site for months, others have - for years.  In 2001 this Mama lost her mate, in the same manner.  She and this current daddy, successfully hatched, raised and fledged 19 Eaglets over the course of nearly 10 years.  One of their babies is currently housed at the Wildlife Center of Virginia - where he has been since it was discovered he had Avian Pox.   Sadly, but triumphantly, he is flourishing there, and can never be released to the wild - he would never be able to feed himself, due to his beak deformity.  His name is Buddy, and he is an Ambassador of sorts.


My Friend Cassiopeia made this out of a screen shot she captured from the live cam, and with her permission, I'm posting it here.


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The decision was made today - to remove these three gorgeous, healthy, thriving Eaglets, and bring them to the same center their "brother" is.


WVEC: DGIF biologists have decided that it is in the best interest of the eaglets to remove them from the nest and relocate them to the Wildlife Center of Virginia. The removal operation will take place at 10 a.m

At 10am this morning - roughly the same ground crew that helped examine and band these babies a mere Six Days Ago - gathered to remove them from their nest, for a final time, to transfer them to their new, temporary home.

When the professionals were questioned - and lambasted - for this choice, Ed Clark - the President of the Wildlife Center of Virginia said this:


Source Ed Clark, WCV: ...While the male may be able to feed the babies for now, those chicks will triple in size (and appetite) over the next two months. There can be no reduction in nutritional intake during this rapid growth period or the babies could suffer developmentally. If there is not enough food to go around, the stronger chicks will either push the weaker out of the nest, or kill it.

This decision was not an easy one for those involved.

Devastation doesn't begin to cover the feeling I've had all day.


I take some comfort knowing they'll be well cared for, but my heart continues to ache and break, for Daddy Eagle.


This was also posted by a moderator on the NBG Eagle Cam Chat Blog today - multiple times:


Congowings:
In light of the events this year, the 2012 ‘Garden of Eagles’ calendar will be dedicated to the memory of the Norfolk Botanical Garden female  -  and will include photos not only of this year, but will include photos of her from past years. Viewers who would like to receive the informational e-mail on pre-ordering the 2012 'Garden of Eagles' Calendar can go to the Garden of Eagles website (located on the lower right hand side on WVEC website) and use the contact form to place your name on the mailing list. The photos for 2012 will include the 2011 nesting season  -  both in the nest, their growing up at the Wildlife Center of Virginia and their fledging. Information for pre-orders will go out next week - with calendar delivery the latter part of August. The calendar will not be printed until early August - to assure that photos of the fledglings will be included.

Can you guess what I've arranged to pre-order?  The 2011 Calendar is on my office wall, with a gorgeous photo of Mom and Dad on the cover.

Another of the moderators posted this:  (and nailed down how we, the viewers, were feeling too)

Shoebutton♥: Some thoughts from me – to the viewers, and some being my personal friends….to all of you that have come to love the Norfolk Eagles -

It is so hard for all of us to understand why this season has come to such an abrupt halt…

first we watched a “perfect” season with Mom and Dad raising three eaglets, looking forward to first flight. Then we lost Mom yesterday and now the eaglets have been removed from the nest after all the cheers for Dad when he brought fish to the nest. This morning, I have reminded myself several times, to remember that Dad would have to continue to feed the eaglets for almost a month before first flight, three eaglets – not just one, then he would also have to hunt for himself and at the same time, defend his territory and nest if need be. Then after first flight, at least two more months of feeding the eaglets and teaching them to hunt before they left the Gardens. When you think about it, truly would be hard on Dad and it may not have been successful for him or the eaglets. Even though I’ve had a lump in my throat this morning and I am sad, I respect VDGIF’s decision, all the biologists and partners involved. We must trust them, because they all are very experienced in their fields.

Removing the eaglets from the nest is a better means of survival for them and Dad. . As we wait to see what Dad does in the next few days, we will all want to know what his future may bring. Will he find a mate? Will he continue to make the Gardens his home? So many questions and so many will go unanswered probably until next Fall. My best to all the viewers. Despite this sad ending, it has been a wonderful season. It certainly has been a privilege and an honor for myself to be a part of this season. Thank you Pete / WVEC for asking me to be a volunteer.

Thank you Julian for taking care of our precious cargo this morning! To all the schools – teachers and students, all will be ok. I know that you miss Mom and the eaglets right now so my suggestion to you is to talk to each other about all the great fun you have had watching the eagles and all that you have learned prior to yesterday. Laugh and giggle about the eaglets, it is good for the soul

After literally bawling my eyes out for the entire day - specifically when Daddy returned to the nest with a fish, only to find his babies gone .... I have come to the following opinion ... and I can only hope Daddy Eagle finds his way in this world, without his mate and babies, very quickly.

I am running on little sleep, and lots of emotion - I've been watching this nest since just after the eggs were laid - forgive me if I start to sound snotty, snarky, bitchy or unkind at all ---- now that's out of the way .....


At first, I had the same opinion - as those babies were taken from their nest, placed into dark bags, lowered from their home and transferred into boxes - after suffering the loss of their mother - I was through the roof upset.  Angry, Emotional, Sad, Frustrated - you name it, that was me.

After watching the Eaglets, and reading what Mr. Clark had to say, and doing some research on my own - I am convinced that once you put your personal feelings and emotions aside ... you'll see it's the right choice.   There really was no other feasible option for the ultimate survival of all four of these majestic raptors.

As hard as it was for us to watch, and endure, imagine being Julian.   6 days ago he was jubilant, posing for pictures with the babies, holding up a happy birthday sign.  Imagine being that ground crew.  6 days ago they were laughing, joking, measuring, snapping pictures, carrying each Eaglet to the crowds of people to get closer photos.  Imagine being Reese Lukei.   10 Years he has been studying this pair.  Imagine being any of the numerous staff members of the NBG, the CCB, WCV, hell even the news channel that sponsors the damn web cam.

Now, imagine you're the pilot of that 747.

Put yourself behind that windshield.  Put yourself in Mr. Lukei's shoes.  Put yourself in Julian's climbing gear.   Imagine having to report to the millions of people watching this family that Mom isn't coming home.  Imagine having to make a snap decision, with little time to prepare - what the course of action must be to save what is left of this family.   Imagine knowing you're going to piss off a large chunk of people - no matter the choice you make - and either tear apart a family, or essentially sign a death certificate for a family.

After everything that has happened - put your own emotions aside, as I had to - and realize that sometimes, Nurture needs to take Natures place.

E1, E2 and E3 are healthy, and safe.  They will be raised, taught and cared for the best they can be - and then released in an area populated by other Bald Eagles so they may learn in "real life" what they were missing at the WCV. 

It's sad, heartbreaking, and horrifying -- yet it's life. 

It Sucks.

Hopefully in a few months, come mating/breeding season, Daddy Eagle will find a suitable mate - and be able to happily move on with his life.     Until then, we have all learned, loved and enjoyed this family.   We will all continue to learn, love and enjoy this family - just a different way from this point forward.

I am exhausted - mentally, physically, and emotionally ... I can't imagine what those that were actually personally involved are feeling.  They all remain in my thoughts, including Momma and her Family.


RIP Momma Eagle, you have touched the lives and spirits of so many ... May you soar, always.  Thank you for this glimpse into your world.


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*Update*  WVEC and the NBG have turned the Camera off.

Monday, April 11, 2011

6 Days

It will be official.
In 6 days .. I will be the mother of a Pre-schooler, as opposed to a toddler.

In 6 Days - Emily - will turn 4.   My wee little lady, is going to be a not so wee little lady.

Time flies.  I cannot believe this time, four years ago, I was going through round after round of inductions.  All in the attempt to have this beautiful bouncing baby girl I had growing in my belly, for a week (and some time) over her due date.   Four Years Ago.  Wow.

In that amount of time I've learned so much, and experienced so much, I cannot fathom the amount of "stuff" that has been seemingly crammed into the last four years of our lives.

Four Years.  Wow.  

We've chosen this year, to celebrate her birthday in conjunction with her current BFF (who is 5 days younger than Emily.) by renting Atlantic Gymnastics, located in Dover NH.  I, along with Em's BFFs Mom - Amanda, decided to save everyone involved the hassle of having two birthday parties within a week of each other, with the same kids, the same games, the same presents - especially since one of those birthday parties would be the day before Easter - and just have one big rockin' party.  Well, as rockin' as a four year olds party can be.

However - I digress.   I'm not the world's greatest mom - I'll admit it.   Sometimes I yell, sometimes I lose my patience, sometimes, I'm not the world's greatest mom.  However, now, I will say.   I have never beaten my child.  Ever.   I agree with a swat when she needs it, and I have partaken once or twice in swatting (okay, maybe WAY more than once or twice in the past four years.)  when her mouthy mini-me self needs it, and I know for a fact, I'm way to hard on her sometimes.   Now, that being said, sometimes I forget she's only three (nearly four).  Sometimes, because she is so smart, so quick, so clever ... so ... me ... that I forget she's just a baby still.   it's SO hard.   I mean, if you've seen her, talked to her, heard her - whatever - you'd think she was way older than almost 4.  A few friends of mine have mistaken her for 5 nearly 6, and she's a peanut!  At barely 30 lbs, and just over 3 1/2 feet tall - she's a mini.    She's just way to smart for her own good.

Here are a few of my most favorite memories - from the past few years .... I love my nearly 4 year old, to the moon, and back. <3
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Cute, isn't she?  
*sigh* I can't even stand the fact that she's getting so big.

Friday, April 8, 2011

She's Home!!!! (okay so I'm wicked late with this post)

Okay, if you are on my Facebook, you know this story ended well .... Okay here's the tail. (heh)

I like to call it ----- Sera's Travels  

On Wednesday - March 9th at around 6:30pm Sera snuck out.   She had been seen, fed, approached and thus far had eluded capture.  Fast Foward to March 18th - Friday Night.


Around 10pm I went out (with permission) and brought some canned cat food ( a HUGE treat for her ) and sat on the porch.   I put the food close to me, but not and sat in the back corner of the porch, in the dark, where I could see her if she came up the driveway, or up the walk.  About 20 minutes later, I was watching the shadows on the house from the walk lights - and thought for sure it was from her tail.  Got up - quietly ( I had taken my shoes off so I didn't wake Penny and Paul ) and went to the railing to peek down.  No Cat.


Looked down the driveway - she's sitting in front of my van, staring at me.  NO Idea how long she was there watching me.   I put my shoes on, walked slowly, and quietly, toward her with the light I had.  softly calling her, telling her it's okay - she went under the van and laid down.  I put the light down, reached in, and she walked away.  I have no idea where she hid.  I walked around the circle, through the woods, calling for her - looked in the ditches, in the drainage pipe, everywhere - climbed under the porch, looked under their shed, under their cars - nothing.  She vanished. 

I sat down the OTHER end of the porch, where I would be hidden by a bush - and waited. 45 minutes.  Forty Five Minutes.  She was in front of the van again .. so I waited for her to come to me, I knew she could smell the cat food (which I'd placed IN the cat carrier, and made the door a little harder to get into, so she had to open it, and it would close behind her.  She came down the driveway, waited, came up the walk .. waited .. came up the stairs - caught sight of me - hunkered down at the top of the stairs and stared me down for FIVE MINUTES.   She decided she was done, cocked her head and walked away.  I waited a little longer - then went home.  2 1/2 hours total.



The little brat.   She may have won THAT battle, but Mom's winning this damn war.

Saturday morning, I rented a hav-a-heart trap.  Set it with a tupperware thing of tuna in the back, around 2pm


Went about our business, getting paint and supplies for the walls in the living room - set to painting the wall, and hope the phone rang.  I drove around a few times, just looking for her - to no avail.


Fast Forward to 7:30pm.  Cat was trapped!  She was pissed, terrified, and trapped.  I went and picked her up, left her in the trap until we were home, and inside with the doors closed.  Let her out, and then let her come to me. 


When she finally did (about 5 minutes later) she was purring and happy, and glad to be home.  The boys are pissed though!


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WTF have you been!?!?

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Sitting with Momma

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Loving on Momma <3
She's just as happy to be home, as we are to have her home

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Kick Tap Kick Knee Kick Kick ... Repeat

I have been kick boxing since September (ish) ... I have been dieting since November of 2009.   Not - dieting - in the clinical sense, but dieting in the sense that I'm watching what, and how much, I eat.  As well as the time of day in which I am eating.   Since 2009, I have lost a few sizes (yes, a few) and since adding kick boxing to the mix, I have lost one more (at least) and "the number" is finally going down - slowly, but yes, it's going down.

That being said ... I have a bad knee.  I've ALWAYS had a bad knee, and I have been very careful with it thus far.   That all changed this past Wednesday.

Let me back up a touch - in January I came down with a sinus, and double ear infection, as well as a raging upper respiratory infection.  I was super sick, and missed 6 weeks of classes.  In that time, Emily was sick, and the weather forced the studio to close as well.  Keep in mind, I go - one time a week, one hour per class.  And I LOVE it.   I haven't felt this good about myself, since I was a kid.  Seriously.  Missing 6 weeks, I was afraid to get back into it, for fear of over doing it and hurting myself - or making my respiratory infection worse.

I did GREAT!   I stopped a few extra times to catch my breath, and rest myself - but made it through 100% of the class, and felt great after class.   The following week I did better, and each week there after I've done better than the last.  The week before last, Emily had a fever of 103 - so I took her home, and we both missed class.  I took her to the doctor, got her on antibiotics, and she's been fine ever since.  

Fast forward to Last week ... 20 minutes into class, I'm feeling great - haven't had to slow down, or stop yet.  30 minutes in, still doing great.  35 minutes in, AWESOME!  I'm rocking through!   40 minutes in - still kicking ass ... 45 minutes in - SNAP.  Oh Shit.  Try to get through the set - and I have to stop ... shit shit shit.  Sit down, and grab some water - Shit.   It's already swelling.

Shit.

45 minutes in.  I knew what I did the *second* it happened, and I knew it was going to be a painful mistake.  

Wake up Thursday morning - swollen knee.  Come in to work, do my thing - keep it elevated (as much as I can) - and ice it when I can.  

Wake up Friday morning - text from Dad - stay home, ice the knee, it's nasty out.  Mike decided - we're going to the doctor.   My mom was of no help to me, completely on Mike's side here (SUCK!!!) so as we're getting ready for the day - the following conversation unfolds.

Mike:  I'll bet you tore your meniscuuuuuuussssss
Amy:  Um, do you even KNOW what a meniscus is?
M:     Yep, it's the main big muscley thing in your knee.
A:      Uh huh.  I didn't tear my meniscus, if I did, I'd need surgery - and I'd be screaming in pain right now.
M:     NOT ALL meniscus tears need to be surgically corrected you know.
A:     Okay Dr. Spock - get her dressed while I take a shower okay?

Fast Forward - we dropped Em off a school, and headed to Seacoast Redicare.  Find out they don't accept my insurance, and call my regular doctor.   Now, I have an appointment at my normal doctors office, and a little time to kill.

A:   Hmm I've never been into The Cozy Nest.   I wonder what it is?
M:  I was going to take you to the Sprint store to fix your damn texting, and take a peek inside Blockbuster.
A:  Well, we only have a FEW minutes, so ... is there anyway we can do that AFTER the doctor?
M:  I really wish you would have taken the later appointment (as he drives into the Cozy Nest parking lot - SCORE!) 

After browsing around and making some selections - it was time to hobble to the car, and head to the doctors office.

Mike drops me off at the door, so I don't have to hobble far.  I check in - and realize I have to pee.  Now, if you know me, and you should - you know I don't pee in public.  There are very few places - with the exception of my office, that is acceptable to me.   That includes friends houses (I'm SO sorry, please do NOT be offended) and even my families houses (though - I'd always pee at my moms house - cuz - well she's my mom I KNOW it's clean!!) - that being said, I had to go - very badly.  SO I did - and the minute I went in, I realize the lock doesn't work ... I'm already in there, so I can't just - walk out - because now my body knows it's time!!!   So I do the squat, and get ready to grab the door pose - and in the process realize "Shit, that's my right knee closest to the door, yeah that's bright Amy" ... they call my name.  I'm in there, maybe 5 minutes - because now I'm terrified someone is going to come in mid-stream ... so I jump up, wash my hands and bail.  Still having to pee BTW.

All that aside, you totally needed to know that part - because - well the next part wouldn't be as funny.

So we go down the hall to the little exam room - the nurse takes my temp, bp and makes me stand on a scale (Down 3 more pounds since the last visit to this drs office -- WOOHOO!!) and says the dr will be in.  A doctor whom I've never met, seen or know.  Great.   HOWEVER - he's the ortho guy, so it's a plus.   (Now remember the conversation about the meniscus, and me having not peed - got it?  Okay, on we go)

Dr. Cole comes in - greets me, introduces himself and asks what I did -- I explain, and (while sitting & with the LEFT leg) demonstrate what I did - and told him the second I did it - I knew I hurt myself.  I got up on the little table-y thing and away he goes.  Bending, poking, squeezing, pushing, prodding, stretching -- I didn't know I was so damn bendy -- all while I had to pee.  Thanks Dr. Cole!  (see, not as funny right!?)

Dr. Cole:   Okay, so I think I know what's going on here.
Amy:         Lay it on me.
Dr. C:        You have a slightly torn meniscus.
Amy:       ::points at Mike, who is giggling like a school girl in the corner::  SHUT IT - just f&^%ing shut it.
Dr. C:      HOWEVER - it's not a "classic tear" because your complaints aren't the same as someone who has completely, classically torn their meniscus.
Amy:       Alright, sooo what does that mean.
Dr. C:       At this point, I don't think surgery is necessary.
Amy:      ::again points at Mike who is now uncontrollably giggling like a school girl in the corner::  Zip It Paco, You're an ass
Dr. C:     I'm prescribing the RICE method to you, along with some ibuprofen (or advil) two tablets, twice a day, whether you think you need it or not.  I'll give you some vicodin to take at bedtime if the pain is to much - and if you decide the muscle relaxers you have at home work better - please call and I'll get you some.
Amy:       Okay, so -- Kick boxing is out then?
Dr. C:     :::Blink Blink Blink .. Blank Stare::: Um I'd say so - for a MINIMUM of two weeks - and no, I'm not talking the remainder of the last class, and one more, I mean 2 full weeks from today, that's 14 days - April 15th - if it's no better, you're to come back and get an MRI to see how far the damage may be.
Amy:      Shit.   Thanks Dr. Cole.  (under my breath, for nothing)

Hobbling out to the front desk, I can hear Mike snickering - the bastard was right, twice!  Grrrr.

SO.  For the next two weeks, I can't kickbox.   Damn It.  DAMN IT ALL.

I'm supposed to be "Resting, Icing, Compressing and Elevating" my leg.   yeah.  Not so Much.

PS ---- Funny tidbit.


This morning - Emily walked over to me - stopped about 10 steps away, and then started LIMPING back to me ... hobbling and with an over exaggerated limp.

Emily:   *sigh*  Momma?
Amy:    Yes, Peanut?
E:          Uhh, I hurted my leg.
A:         You did?  How?
E:          *sigh* I fink I tored my iscus
A:        ::suppressing giggles::  no baby, you didn't you'll be okay.
E:         But - It's my bad leg, and it hurts.  I tored it!  I need my princess ice pack
A:        Will that make you feel better?  Ok - let's go get it.

**SIGH** Kids ;)