Sorry I disappeared again. I've been working double shifts for someone who got into a car accident. It is good because I do get extra money and I have begun to save for a trip to Africa. I think I'm going to do it. Put my resume in to work at a reservation in Kenya. I just really want to get far away. Maybe he'll leave me alone!

The animals have been finicky at work. I feel bad for them because their food doesn't taste as good to them anymore. They'll still eat it, but the monkeys have been throwing bananas they only took a small bite out of.

I hope this ends soon because I would like to be able to taste food again. I am so tired of the gods. I really am.

Anyways! The Endangered Species of the Moment:



Scimitar Oryx
Oryx dammah

This oryx is considered to be extinct in the wild. There are over 4000 in zoos and private collections of exotic animals. It is native to Northern Africa and inhabits grassy steppes and semi-deserts and feeds on fruits, bugs, and other plants. Their status is due to the desertfication of Africa (the Sahara is actually growing larger as the climate gets warmer). Also, the animal was hunted for trophies and the use of its horns.

Many people thought they were unicorns! Their horns are pretty neat though.

Oryx are highly social animals and live in huge social groups that seeks for gender equality (the ratio is almost always 50:50). Another interesting aspect is their mating season is purely dictated on weather and the status of resources. If it is a good year, it is a very active mating season. The males approach the females and they circle each other but if the female encircles in a counterclockwise way, she doesn't want to mate with that particular male and the male leaves her alone.

The moms will leave the herd to give birth and spend the first three months taking care of the calf alone.

It is an interesting species!

How come everyone I know is in the underworld right now? My apartment feels pretty lonely. Yes, I have my pets. But I sort of miss my roommate in a weird way. And of course I miss Felix and Rylee. Hurry home, you two!

I had to treat a sick lion today. Basically, he had a horrible case of indigestion. I had to have a talk with one of the feeders to make sure he closed the coolers properly. I am sort of worried about this new guy who started to work. I caught him smoking some pot during his break. He convinced me to not turn him in and I decided to give him a chance. I did unleash my shadow on him and tripped him on the floor.

Endangered Species!

The Island Fox



I decided to go American this time and do a species that is indigenous to the US. The Island Fox, Urocyon littoralis is Critically Endangered and only found in the Channel Islands off the coast of California. Like the Galapagos Islands (another place I would love to go), the Channel Islands created quite a unique species of fox and each one is different depending on the island in which they live. The Island Fox are affected by dwarfism and are a lot smaller than normal foxes.

Like regular foxes, they hunt on small rodents, insects, birds, crabs, eggs, and lizards. They also eat fruit. And they live in complex layer of vegetation and woody areas.

The island fox began to go endangered in the 1990s which coincides with when the Golden Eagle arrived and began to hunt them. The Golden Eagle came to the island because of the decline of the Bald Eagle, the Golden Eagle's nemesis. The Golden Eagle arrived to the island to hunt on the feral pig that thrived there but then the pigs were exterminated by the National Park Service. The eagle turned to hunt on the small fox. There were 1400 in 1994. There were 15 in 2000. The massive deaths, after research, concluded the only course of action to save the species was to remove the eagles. You can't bring the foxes onto the mainland because they are suseptible to parasites and diseases carried by canines so they are safest on the islands.

Right now, Santa Cruz island reported a good year in 2009 of having 700 foxes, up from 100 the year before.

I had such a great time at Belize! I got a lot of sun! I swam a little. I did a lot of hiking! I even tested out my magic! I had wonderful company! It was all such a great time. My pets missed me. I hope my roommate remembered to feed them. And I had our neighbor walk the dogs.

I almost considered looking to see if I could find a job in Costa Rica. Some guy at the bar told me Costa Rica's main export is science. I think I would really like it. Or perhaps I should just get a job in Africa on a nature preserve. I get to play with elephants! Maybe I can be there when a baby is born and I can name him. I'd name him Felix. I think that would fit.

---

ENDANGERED SPECIES THIS WEEK!

Geoffroy's Spider Monkey!



Ateles geoffroyi live in Central America, Mexico and part of northern South America. They live in fission-fusion societies which means they sleep together in large groups but they search for food in smaller groups. They eat fruit and they need large forests in order to survive.

The monkey is named after its discoverer: Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, another Frenchman. Many Frenchman seem to be naturalists it seems.

Geoffroy's Spider Monkey is one of the largest monkeys in the New World. And they are quite smart too. They stick lime leaves into their fur to keep away insects! Man, some nights when I was in Belize, I wish I knew that trick. They also form alliances with another species of monkey, the white-headed capuchin. They groom each other in greeting! Also, each monkey has a unique greeting and vocal noise.

This animal is endangered because of deforestation and because people like to capture them as pets.

It has been decided. I am going to be a superhero for the animals who are often targeted for poaching. Take that, Dad. I always wanted to go to Africa to study the species there. Maybe I should take the year off and get a job at one of the reserves over there. And then I can take on my identity to make sure those poachers pay for hurting animals that are endangered!

I'm going to Belize! I am very excited to go hiking to see the biodiversity there! I have never been outside the US before. I got my passport last week and it seems so empty. That is soon to change!

Also,Scuba diving! And swimming! And vacation!

Endangered Species of the moment!

Baird's Tapir
Tapirus bairdii



The Baird's Tapir is the national animal of Belize and it is considered Endangered. The people of Belize call it a mountain cow!

Baird’s Tapir has a distinctive cream-colored marking on its face and throat and a dark spot on each cheek, behind and below the eye. The rest of its hair is dark brown or grayish-brown. It is also the largest native mammal species in the area!

As I showed in the picture, Tapir babies are born with stripes, spots, and reddish hair. It is for camoflage! They always have single babies although multiple births occur

The Baird's Tapir is active at anytime but they are most active at night. They love to swim and be near water. Their diet subsists of mainly fruit and greens. They are thought to be solitary but they do sometimes forage and groups and share food with other Tapirs. They are not friendly to humans and will charge and sometimes gore any they feel threatened by. So don't let its cuteness fool you.

Despite it has very few natural predators and only jaguars and crocodiles stand a chance but Tapirs are actually really good fighters and jaguars and crocodiles will only feed on them if very hungry because of the chance of losing, they are endangered mainly for deforestation.

There is also a frog called Campbell's Frog that lives in Belize and it is ellusive and endangered. Many frogs in the area are brightly colored while the Campbell's Frog is actually not. It's dark all over. Maybe I will find one.

Sorry for my absence! I haven't been feeling that great. I've been having migraines I think it is due to the sun or something so I haven't been feeling much to much besides sitting in the dark and walking my dogs. I also haven't felt social especially with Felix

ANYWAYS!

Endangered Species of the Moment:



Aye-Aye or Daubentonia madagascariensis

Aye-Ayes are a primate from Madagascar in the same family as lemurs. Their habitat are forests, mangroves, and thickets. And they are omnivores preferring to dine on insects, fruits, and nuts. They also forage kind of like woodpeckers in that they bite holes and then scoop in with their long fingers. They are solitary and hunt by themselves. However, they do socialize where their territories overlap. Well, the males do. Females are very territorial and usually only venture out to mate.

This species was founded by French naturalist Louis-Jean-Marie Daubenton who documented many of the unique creatures on this mysterious island.

It is largely unknown where the Aye-Aye got its name. Some thought it was due to the vocalization it makes which is false as it does not. Then it was thought to be called that because of the sounds Europeans made out of surprise when seeing them. The most likely is probably due to the word used by the Malagasy people of the island for "I don't know". When asked what they were called, the Malagasy said that because of the same reason you don't say Voldemort's name.

Which is a nice segway to why they're endangered! The Malagasy people see the Aye-Aye as an evil spirit and to see one meant you would die. The only way to cancel this effect is to kill it. Many people today hold this superstition and it is still sadly common to see the animal's dead carcass hanging upside down outside villages to rid the evil.

Although the deforestation doesn't help either.

Sorry, I've been super busy. I've been going to the magic guild more often and practicing my spells. I am saving up for another scroll. Jam said he would give it to me for either a large amount of money or my patience for a month. I need my patience. I deal with a lot of things that require patience. So I am putting money away for a new spell.

Lately, my eyes have been bothering me when I'm out in the sun or under bright lights. I have resorted to wearing sunglasses and people have been calling me Ray Charles. That is so stupid. It is like "Black guy with sunglasses, must be Ray Charles!" I don't look a thing like him! Sometimes, I don't think people realize how racist they're being.

Anyways, I think maybe I've just been working too hard and its a migraine or something. Except I'm not entirely sure about that either.

---

Now, it is time to the Endangered Species of the Moment!

I know, I said I would go for an ugly species but it cannot be helped.

Sand Cat!

Look! He's winking!

Anyway, the Sand Cat (Felis Margarita) is Near Threatened and its home is in desert climates. Random tangent but next to humans, felines are found in the most places across the planet. Cats are highly adaptable creatures.

The Sand Cat is found in parts of the Sahara, Arabian Desert, and in Iran and Pakistan. Luckily, it lives in areas that aren't threatened with overdevelopment but what caused it to be endangered is the fact that they're hunted for food and their furs sold. They are also often made pets and interbred with domestic house cats.

The sand cat is a relatively small, stocky cat with short legs, a long tail, and large, pointed ears. They range from 39 to 57 centimetres (15 to 22 in) in length, plus a 23 to 31 centimetres (9.1 to 12 in) tail, and weigh from 1.4 to 3.4 kilograms (3.1 to 7.5 lb).[3] The head is conspicuously broad, and the ears are so widely spaced that they can be flattened horizontally, or even pointed down to aid in hunting.

This type of feline lives a solitary lifestyle outside mating season and they prefer to find abandoned fox holes and other abandoned homes of desert animals to sleep in. It sleeps during the day, and like most cats, is most active at dawn and dusk where it huts rodents and lizards for food. Their predators include humans, snakes, birds of prey, and wolves.

They are actually docile and unafraid of humans but they have a fierce independent streak so they are difficult to get them to stay to be pets unless you take them far from their habitat. But they usually get sick and die when that happens.

Hunting this cat is prohibited in Algeria, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Mauritania, Niger, Pakistan and Tunisia. No legal protection is offered by Egypt, Mali, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, or United Arab Emirates.

No endangered species at the moment. My mind can still not recover by what happened to me. I'm also incredibly sore. While I'm used to chores around the ranch growing up, my knight really liked to make me do a lot of things. I'm also a bit injured from the wizard's duel I got into with Simon. So I took the rest of the week off. I had some vacation time anyway so it's cool!

You know, why couldn't I have been in a book in which it didn't suck to be black? Someone went to Peter Pan, right? I think I would have liked to go there and I wouldn't suffer the racism I suffered in Sword in the Stone. Overall, I did make friends, although I don't think they were real. I do wonder if Merlin is part of some pantheon though. Perhaps I should ask one of the Celtics?

I had so much to catch up on when it comes to Football. The Cowboys didn't make it in but I suppose I will be rooting for the Giants. The Patriots have won way too many times! It gets boring that they keep winning! I will definitely have a small Superbowl Party so whoever wants to come can come!

With all this excitement, I completely forgot my birthday is in a couple of days. I'm turning 29. That probably explains it.

Why couldn't I be in that space story in which no one would care about my skin color? This is a whole lot of bullshit. But then again, I don't seemed to be as hated as much as "Wart" which should say something since he is King Arthur.

And I am so confused because three names keep on circulating in my head. There is Hector... Jonah... and Samir.

This sucks. I hope this "lesson" is worth it.

I really don't think I'm much of an artist but I admire people who have that sense of creativity! No, I guess I've always been a hands-on Sciencey person! The festival did somehow remind me of 4-H, the strong sense of community. I miss Sunflower! So in honor of Sunflower, I am choosing an equine for the Endangered Species of the moment!



Przewalski's Horse (Equus Ferus Przewalskii), although it is critically endangered, is actually a success story.

Przewalski's Horse is the only species of equus ferus (Feral Horses) that actually always was wild. Mustangs and Brumbys were horses that were once domesticated but were released into the wild so became feral. No, Przewalski's horse are untamable and they're from Mongol country, a people who were known for their love of horses. The Mongols gave up even to try and ride them.

Przewalski's horse is what is known as a living fossil. We have fossils of this particular species and they diverged from modern day horse 160,000 years ago. While this species thrives in the steppe of Mongolia, at their height, there were populations as far west as Eastern Europe. Probably due to when humans began to ride horses and began to take the land to farm was what caused the population of this wild beauty to diminish.

As for the name of this horse, the story is kind of cool. It is something out of Indiana Jones. The horse is named after a Russian explorer and naturalist Nikolai Przewalski. On his travels, in the mid-19th century, the local spoke of a mythical creature of the untamable horse. While most dismissed it as legend, he searched for it and actually found a social group of them. Notoriously hard to find and to capture, they finally were by Carl Hagenback, the man who found the modern day zoo. Many other people wanted to capture them for their zoos so the species was extinct in the wild in 1967 due to not only people capturing them for their zoos but also for developing in Mongolia where they originate. Also, interbreeding between the wild horse and domesticated horses were common.

At this point, there were only 12 existing horses in the Munich zoo and the Prague one. Activists attempted to breed the population (and the two different populations were different enough genetically to prevent problems of excessive inbreeding) and released 16 into the wild. About 200 remain in the wild and they're heavily protected by the Mongolian government.

I love horses.

[Private to Kat and Felix]

I tried the spell. My shadow tripped and threw a bunch of stuff at my roommate.

I think I need a new roommate.

Happy New Year's Belated everyone! I got to say I had an interesting New Year's Eve and I hope things act normal for at least a little while. I just want to go to work at the Zoo and do my volunteering at the Animal Shelter and not have to worry which monster is after us next. I feel like Harry Potter or something.

I decided my New Year's Resolution is to get more involved than I already am. And I'm going to try something a little different on my journal (which I'm bad about updating). I'm going to talk about endangered species!

Today is Lycaon Pictus or the African Wild Dog



It is an EN of the Endangered Level which is in the middle but its habitat is disappearing due to human overpopulation which is causing larger predators to migrate into the Wild Dog's territory thus turning them into prey but also compete for food. Lions are known to kill all at the brooding area and won't even eat them. Male Lions are bastards sometimes. But that is another story.

It lives in 36 countries in Africa and "thrives" in the Savannah.

Some interesting facts! They are pack animals with two different hierarchies within the pack separated by sex. These subpacks will also divide ever so often and meet up with other unrelated subpacks and join together for a time. Also, when the female pups in a pack reach maturity, they leave it and search out a new one that lacks a decent number of sexually mature females.

The African Wild Dog is also what is called a cursorial hunter. That means, they presue its prey in long open chases. Lions hunt like this sometimes and only catch their prey this way 30% of the time. African Wild Dogs? 80%. They prefer disembowling as their method of killing.

What you can do to help! Well, African Dogs do best in reserves and the biggest one is Zimbabwe. Donations are always accepted!

[Private to Felix and Kat]

Are you feeling better, Kat?

Also, I don't mean to switch the subject so fast but I woke up with a new spell today. He gave it to me. I'm afraid to use it! It seems it may be another darkness related spell...

Should I... use it? Practice it?

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." - Luke 2:8-14

My mother and grandparents used to read the Christmas story before church on Christmas Eve. We'd put the baby Jesus in the manger in our Nativity Scene and then granddaddy would read from the Bible. Then, we'd go to church.

We also did do a Christmas play at church. I was a shepherd for most years until age ten. Then I was promoted to Wise Man for two years. Then, I ended with being the narrator.

Jesus must have been a cool demi-god. So Happy Birthday, Jesus! My grandma used to say that.

You know, I always found it interesting that in Christianity, we were all born with the original sin. And there was the thought that if you accepted Jesus into your life, he could wipe those sins clean. I wonder if a son of Set was considered. Probably not. I certainly don't feel saved. And I have been baptized. If it wasn't so much apart of my family with so many memories-

War Horse opens tomorrow! I've always been a sucker for horse movies. I think I may go. Who wants to come with me?

Any holiday that involves eating, I am completely there! So I am a fan of Thanksgiving! Whenever there is football! I am there. Animals... well, you know. :)

I was so happy to see the Cowboys playing! Of course, it was against the Dolphins. But it was an intense game and I wasn't sure if my team would pull out ahead! It was nail biting close.

The food was delicious, so compliments to the cook!

In other news, it seems like things have calmed down a little bit. I wonder how long that will last. Maybe we should get a pool going :)

( Private to Self )

So I had to give back most of my clowder of cats. I really don't have the room for them. I did agree to continue fostering Tony, though. He kind of grew on me, especially with his fetching abilities! But if someone wants to adopt him, I will let him go. This is only a temporary home.

( Private to Katsumi and Felix )

I have decided to FOSTER SOME CATS! It's awesome. I now have 10 animals in my apartment. I named them after towns in Texas!

( Meet the New Residents! )

I know it's only temporary but I really think I want to keep them. Sweetums, Nigel, and Pepper don't mind!

I'm a great liar.

I learned from the best. My father. And oh no, I'm still not telling any of you who it is. I don't think any of you are ready for it.

I still have him one upped, though. See, I bet he has a bit of a conundrum. He can't kill me because he needs me. I still plan on not listening to him. I'm going to play with my animals and do the job I love. He may take everyone away from me, but I am still stronger than him. I bet none of you can resist their parents like I can.

I bet most of you can't even step outside the portfolio of your parents like I can. A zookeeper/vet? You'd think that Kat and I share the same parent. No. I am fully able to make my life my own. How many demi-gods can claim that? Not many, I'm pretty sure. Actually probably none.

I am not some god's bitch.

This one is for you, Kat. Tell Daffy he should be doing this in a few weeks.
click here!

That was the craziest Halloween I've had in a LOOONG time. It was crazier than the Masquerade my fraternity held during my years at Aggie. It was crazier than the year I had to chase a bunch of drunk teenagers who got onto our ranch and tried to steal a horse. Apparently, one of the guys was dressed as the headless horseman and wanted a horse to complete the costume. In his drunken mind it made sense, I guess!

I... went to Hip's and I was dressed as Tony the Tiger. I was awkwardly hit on by someone in a fur suit on my way there. He said something about liking Tiger furries. I looked that up yesterday and I am incredibly traumatized. Bestiality is NOT cool. Poor animals :<

But then, there were zombies everywhere! Zombie movies kind of freak me out so I didn't really enjoy it. I tried to keep a barricade for people and used my wind artifact to keep them away while more skilled people used flame throwers or swords to decapitate them went to work.

I was happy to come home at sunrise to see my animals were safe in the apartment still. Although Sweetums was very jumpy.

I had to call in sick because I was worried I would fall asleep while giving medicine to Bertha the Bear and she rips my face off. Bertha reminds me of the woman who I buy meat from. Like I don't know if she's going to be defensive or not.

She's also built like a bear.

This made my day bad. I still can't get over 18 begal tigers. An Endangered Species that most of them live in captivity and 18 of them had to be shot because this guy had a melt down of some sort. One monkey infected with Herpes B is still out there. It sounds like the setting of a horror movie. Herpes B can be deadly to humans when passed through a monkey bite (in which the disease is asymptomatic). The wolf may be able to survive on its own in the habitat but if it's been in captivity for too long, it could attack when it's hungry.

The story is just bizarre in its own right. Lions and Tigers and Bears running around in Ohio? I really wish they could have been caught, but hardly likely. They were probably scared of the unknown and predators, especially tigers, can be very dangerous.

I don't know how this guy thought they could be pets. They deserve to be in the wild being tigers and lions and wolves and such.

UGGGG I guess I will watch Christian the Lion to make me feel better.

And sneezing panda bonus!

Monkeys are jerks. I am just going to say that right now. I have to really hide my keys when I go into their enclosure or else they steal them. I know I had a professor in college who said monkeys just like the shiny but I am more convinced they do it to spite me. Today, they also stole my feed bucket. I think after all it took for me to get it back, I have decided that I will never have children. Because that is what they're like... very, very naughty children. Just like that seven year old I had to grab from climbing into the tiger enclosure the other day because his mother was busy playing Angry Birds on her iPhone.

I wanted to tell her that my job is to make sure the animals are fed and healthy. I don't have the time to add babysitter to that list. Of course, I didn't. I kept on smiling, even when the kid BIT me on the shoulder and loudly proclaimed, "I AM A TIGER".

The animals have all be acting weird. I think they sense there is some sort of chilliness in the air. And I'm not talking about the fall. Speaking of which, I am not used to the cold weather y'all northerners are used to.

Anyways a crocodile lizard told me there are a lot of transparent people walking around. And it is freaking him out.

Time to get ready for the afternoon medicine injections!

( There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root. )