Seal Team, Day One

This Monday was my first day on the rescue team with the Riverhead Foundation.  I've seen a list of the duties so I was mostly prepared for what was headed my way.  Much washing and scrubbing.  And then scrubbing and washing.  Endangered species are a messy lot.

I get my first job, scrub the turtle tanks.  Oh I love the turtles!  I would be honored to scrub their tanks with a vigor that comes only from some lunitard first day volunteer.  So I finish the first tank of the little green turtles and move to the next tank.  I'm scrubbing along and I hear a splash behind me.  I turn around, nothing to see, so I go back to scrubbing the tank.  It happens again, but louder and messier.  Turn around, still nothing to see.  Back again, third splash, huge splash down my back.  Warm turtle water.....ew.  Listen I know that these are wild animals and all and its arrogant of me to give them human qualities but I am positive they were laughing their turtle asses off in that tank.

Elvis aka Beavis

Jetty aka Butthead

 








I got to feed the seals twice and refill the medication bottles for the next day.  I did a lot of washing.  Trays, walls, counters, floors, truck cabs.  I learned many things on Monday.  Mostly importantly I learned the boots I chose were all kinds of wrong.   I also learned that when I am nervous I make Homer Simpson look like Steven Hawking.  Here's to hoping that next week I demonstrate actual skills with a mop and the English language!