Ground Control to Zookeeper

Hello! Hello! Yup I am here, I think. All the cliches are true again. Everyone said when I closed the shop I would wonder how I ever did it all...I am stunned. But then again I did do less outside the shop, because I was actually at work. I have exciting news in the business department but that will wait a few days. I have so much else to say.
1. Dad nailed it. He and his dance partner were amazing. They won the online vote, the People's Choice award, best male dancer, and best "team". We were completely beside ourselves. I am going to plagiarize and paste a paragraph from Dad's thank you note that he sent supporters. Read closely. There is a message. "I must tell you that Saturday night was one of those experiences that will never, ever fade into oblivion. After all 25 forty-minute training sessions, our routine was really a stand out. The whole evening was great fun and everyone there seemed to enjoy themselves. It certainly was one of those challenges that takes you out of your comfort zone. To win made the whole effort even more rewarding. If you ever accept a challenge like this: choose your partner wisely, choose a good cause (if it is a charity), line up loyal supporters, and GO FOR IT!"

2. I am spreading myself a little thin in the volunteer department, but it seems worth it. I hung up a list of all the charities I am involved with and then panicked a bit. Right now this is a full time job. I will however share my moment today. You loyal readers will remember the Kelly Corrigan event. Well that is what we do in the Spring. In the Fall, Planters awards scholarships to LPNs who are in school to become RNs. The scholarships are named after my late maternal grandmother, Lois Odence. We have a nice luncheon, usually over 100 people attend, and we present the scholarships. That is coming up November 10th. Following is the email I sent to my fellow committee members tonight. "Tonight I had the moment, the one where all the emails over fudge sauce, all our meetings, all our flower arranging, all our application reviews, all of these things come together...and BOOM! I am standing at the Country Club with Trevor (after the golf tournament) and Trisha waves me over to this woman who is sobbing. She has just been told that she is a recipient of a Lois Odence Nursing Scholarship. And we just stand there hugging and crying. Never have I been so sure that what we do together matters. Her boyfriend just told her not to worry that she didn't get the money-they'd make it work. We changed her life tonight. And in turn she will be an amazing nurse and she will change other peoples lives.I know that there is one VERY proud Angel watching over us...let's keep up the good work!"

3. Message from the Zoo tonight. Go make a difference in someone else's life. You will be surprised at what a difference it will make in your own life.
Kisses from the ZOO

Commercial Break

Taking a quick second for gratitude. To those of you readers, and those who don't, Grey Goose (aka T.L. duPont, Tom Terrific, Dear, Dad, Uncle Tommy, and his own fave-Pops) appears to have won the online voting for Dancing with the Stars Tampa Bay. I am in awe of so many good things today-but am going to give the prize to my Dad. Another A+ example of how to put yourself out there and make a difference in the world. See you on the dance floor tonight. We will be in the PROUD section.

The other award today goes to BEAR! Today is sandwiched between Monkey's friend birthday party yesterday and Monkey's family party tomorrow-who decided it was ok to have two parties per child- I LOVE YOU! Anyway, today was Bear's first soccer game and he made the Zookeeper (and the sick Shark-damn!) VERY PROUD!!! You good little jock Bear! Thank you for proving you got SOME of Daddy's genes.

Full report tomorrow on Grey Goose's performance AND Monkey Parrty, Part II!
whew! from the Zoo

Swine Flu Zoo

At least we think so. Bear, Monkey and The Zookeeper have been down for the count. Fevers and coughs-yuck. They dont test and they dont give kids Tamiflu, but we have had all the signs. LUCKILY, Shark got Tamiflu in time because there is nothing worse then a sick Daddy.
Speaking of Daddies, if you know me, you know how much I adore the Grey Goose himself!He braved the infirmary to deliver chicken and dumplings AND toys from Cracker Barrel. Just a small and silly example of his kindness and generosity. So please go to http://www.dwtstb.com/?page_id=431 and spend $10 to vote. And next time you need me to support your fave charity,I will do my best!
Coughs and Sneezes from the Zookeeper!

No Vacancy at the ZOO

For the love of the game???blah, blah, blah. Or the love of the Scouts? Shark and Giraffe Daddy are at a concert tonight...poor guys never get to do anything fun-ha! (That was for all of you who think they just get paid to watch games, and like that would be fun all year long!) Anyhoo, (Shark really hates that!) all creatures are having slumber party tonight. Big kids in sleeping bags in Bear's room, Monkey in pac n play in mine. All I can say is this is a GREAT start to a holiday weekend...everyone ASLEEP!
Since Giraffe Daddy reads this just wanted to say I will try to keep the AWESOME FOURSOME quiet in the morning...hope you guys had fun!
Happy Labor Day to everyone in New England, down South we don't care since we "can" wear white year round!
kisses from the Zookeeper

The Butterfly

Ten years ago today I was on a cross country flight from Monterey, California to Laguardia. After an 11 day vigil, my 14 year old cousin Emily, earned her butterfly wings. If you are one of my dedicated readers you know how special Fishers Island is to me. We had just been there for our eldest cousin's wedding and for our month long July stay. Shark was pitching in Knoxville, I was working at Sotheby's in Manhattan, life was easy! Emily's horseback riding accident changed my life FOREVER. In ways that are so obvious and in deep dark ways that are unforgettable.
The days we spent together that August seem like just yesterday and then seem so long ago at the same time...eerie. There is strength in numbers though and the Grey Gulls girls bonded together and paid tribute. You have to remember that ten years ago the internet was boosting web-rings as a major form of communication. Kate the Great got online and emailed a woman about getting some butterflies to release at the cemetary. While we were out running errands the woman called Kate's cell to confirm. For some unknown reason Kate asked this kind soul where she was calling from. The woman promptly answered, "Springfield, Mass." Emily died at a hospital in Springfield, Mass, she was taken there by helicopter. We didn't know ANYONE there. This was the first of many amazing signs that Emily was still with us. And I know today she still is.
My heart breaks when I think of all the things we havent shared. I always planned on Emily being a bridesmaid at our wedding, a godmother to our sons, a constant in my life. And I will tell you that she is a constant in my life. The memories, the hopes, and the dreams are all still here. She is just there. In every butterfly that passes she is there.
I missed you extra today. I ran through all the movies of you in my mind today. I wept as I looked at my boys today, imaging your parents agony, and I called my sisters today, wishing your brothers had you to call. Mom texted me a photo of a butterfly at Fishers this morning, I know it was you. And Dad sent me a text and mistyped using WTF instead of ETD, and I know that was you too. Have fun tonight with Gram, we miss you both too much. See you in my dreams.
With love, The Zookeeper

New Hours at the Zoo

I have said more then once over the past few days that I think all (ok maybe most) parenting cliches are true. Mostly "They grow up so fast". Bear going to a new school has just about done me in-lotsa cahnge. However, it is all for the good of the group! Bear absolutely LOVES it! He heads off with his backpack and his carpool buddies and never looks back. Gulp-enter the zookeeper crying-AGAIN!
In the meantime Monkey has been up to his usual tricks. He is talking so much more and has a lot to say about his big brother not being home "Where T.D. go? Where T.D. go?" And next week he will be back at schools as well.
So we are up early to get to school and time, and going to bed earlier...this grown up stuff is exhahusting!
kisses from the zoo

Back to School Zoo

Shark and I headed back to my alma mater tonight in a new role, new parents! Say it isn't so, but it so is....Bear is headed to Pre-K! So surreal to be calling my old teachers by their first names...and trying to prepare them for the arrival of our somewhat sensitive, very imaginative and eager to please...Teddy. I started at the same school when I was only a year older. Now for the most part our creatures tend to look like Shark, but Bear's behavior will put the faculty back 30 years. Mini-me offically goes to Pre-K in a week, I am not sure who is more excited!
Catch you up on the road trip details tomorrow!
Sweet dreams from the Zookeeper