Lil F's 5th Birthday

Call us silly or crazy, but Husband and I still "celebrate" our turtle's birthday. We have been counting down all week ("4 more days until your birthday, Turtle!"). Husband said that she was especially active and lively today. We concurred that she must "know" that it's her birthday. :)

We cannot believe she is already 5 years old! A month ago, we had some confusion. We lost track of whether she is turning 4 or 5, but Husband cleared it up when he said he brought her home (or as I like to say, he "rescued" her) two months after we moved into this condo. I remembered that we moved here in 2004.

To celebrate her birthday, we bought her 5 rosy red minnows. Since Husband didn't want to let her chase them in her tank (because they inevitably get stuck under the tile), he put her in her feeding tub and dumped all 5 fish in. She ate them all in less than a minute! We were so impressed with how fast her reflexes still are! Subsequently, we fed her a huge meal of Reptomin and lettuce, which she finished all of.

Happy 5th birthday, Turtle!

Still Growing

Introducing Lil F at 3 years and 8 months! She's a whopping 7.5 inches and 2.5 pounds!

Last week, BF had a client over for a meeting and at one point, the guy said to BF, "Dude, check out your turtle. I think it really wants to escape..." This was the first time that she REALLY tried to climb out of her tank. I told BF that this is a definite way of her telling us that she needs a bigger tank. (Sorry, my little green baby, Momma needs to get paid first!)

When she's feeling bold, she'll climb up there, chill, and then dive into the water.

She's also been splooshing like crazy (at 6:30 AM still and onwards). Yesterday morning, she was going berserk even after I fed her a lot and let her walk around. When the craziness continued, I turned to BF and said, "I think she's trying to tell us something through Morse code with her splooshing sounds."

This is what wakes me up every morning between 6 - 7 AM. It's amazing that she and I have trained each other through behavioral principles.

Spring Forward

Dang, I just lost an hour of sleep. Boo! I am suddenly tired.


Other bigger and better news -- Lil F is officially 7 inches! Hope to post new pictures of my big green eating machine soon. I love my turtle so much. :)

The Great Escape

After a year, Lil Fawker finally figured out that there may be a way to escape! Our baby's growing up!

That also means it's time to upgrade her tank. Plans are underway as a belated birthday gift to our baby girl. Lil F's Daddy is ordering a stand that's fit for a 75-90 gallons. He wants to keep Lil F in a 75 gallon...but Lil F's Mommy says, the bigger the better!

I figure Lil F's had a growth stunt for the past year b/c she's max'd out in her current tank. As they say, the bigger they come, the more to love!

Happy 3rd Birthday!

Happy birthday, Turtle
Happy birthday, Turtle
Happy birthday, dear Turtle
Happy birthday, Turtle!

Today, Lil F is 3 years old! This morning, when I picked her up to feed her, I actually sang the birthday song to her. I think she enjoyed it...along with an extra helping of Hikari sticks.

After work, I stopped by Lil F's favorite store, Petco, but sadly, I walked out with no birthday gift for the usual reasons (that seemed worse today). Not to mention, I stood by the rosy red minnow tank for almost 10 minutes and after two unsuccessful calls for assistance, I left. Hopefully, Lil F will forgive me.

She's happily basking. BF often asks if the Turtle was the best (free) gift ever. She totally is. She brings us joy everyday. Three years later, we are still basking in her silliness. We still stop by her tank everyday to gaze at her. We still call each other and ask what the turtle is doing. We still say hello and good-bye to the Turtle whenever we come home or leave. She still surprises us with new crazy antics and makes us laugh like the first day BF brought her home.

I love my turtle!

Turtle Race Training

For about 2 weeks now, I've been feeding Lil F in a separate container. She's not exactly conditioned yet (she still splooshes like crazy in her feeding corner, immediately after I've fed her), but hopefully, it'll happen sooner.

This AM, I was just about to put her in the container, when I thought I'd try something crazy. Just for funzies, I set her on the bathroom floor...and held her turtle food container right in front of her. Call it preliminary rounds for a turtle race...but she totally made the cut with flying colors! She chased the food container from the bathroom to the living/family/dining room, around the coffee table, and all the way back to the bathroom! At one point, I set the bottle on the floor, wondering WTH she'd do. She just walked up to it and stared, probably thinking, WTH mom!

Dude, she is so ready for the turtle races! Granted you can hover her food container ahead of her.

ADDENDUM: (Self-Commentary) I realize how insane all of that sounds...and just reading it makes me think I am so like my dad. Likewise, he is always up to some crazy antics. It must be in the blood.

45 Degree Angle

Lil F has been sleeping in a weird position lately. It's like she is sitting and then falls asleep. It's both funny and creepy at the same time. Is she crazy, talented, or both?

She also continues to baffle us by climbing onto her dock after-basking-hours to go to sleep. After 2.5 years, she is still surprising us with new shenanigans!

Shells

On Sunday, BF and I went to FBM's to help prep for their Mother's Day celebration. While I was at the bakery, the boys went grocery shopping. I later took off to celebrate with my family and then went back for a 2nd dinner. =P

Later on, BF told me that at the seafood department in the Chinese supermarket, BF's Godson exclaimed to BF, "Look! Turtles!" =O

When BF realized what Godson was pointing at, he stifled laughter and said, "No, [Godson], those aren't turtles. Those are clams."

"Cyams?" (Godson is slightly gliding his /l/s + he's missing one of his front teeth.)

When BF was telling me this, I reacted in two ways. In my normal-person mode, I was laughing so hard b/c it was funny and cute. In my future-SLP-mode, I thought it was fascinating to hear a classic example of a child learning vocabulary and overextending classifications. Out of professional curiosity, I had to ask, "How did you explain to him?" I mean, I don't blame the kid; both have shells.

"Well, I explained to him that those clams weren't turtles. Turtles have arms and legs." How cute are they both. :)

So after a full fun day of Mother's Day festivities, we came home and as usual, I approached Lil F's tank to greet her..."Hi Clam!"

BF was not amused. But I was. :D

Turtle Report

Yesterday, when BF came home, I gave him the daily report on Lil F. (Yes, we are crazy. We often give each other reports on the turtle's crazy antics.) I reported the typical craziness: splooshing like crazy, eating the doc, basked a heckuvalot, stared at me while I studied, etc.

Then I said, "OMG! I saw the craziest thing! The turtle sneezed!"
BF exclaimed, "What?!"
Me: Yeah! It was so weird!

I didn't even wait b/c I'm such a dork --

"April Fool's!"
:)

Other nerdy turtle news~
I got invited to be a Guest Judge for the January-February-March-April Photo Contest Winner here. I just casted my votes this morning. I felt so special.

BF: how did you get chosen? Do you post a lot?
Me: No, I've only posted 4 times since I joined last March!
BF: That's weird.
Me: I'm telling you, it is b/c Lil F is a celebrity!
BF: You and turtle are crazy!

Yes, I still believe Lil F is a celebrity.

Because We Do

So, I probably ask BF at least once a week if we can get another turtle or turtles. He usually responds with:
A. No!
B. Only if we can trade this crazy one in.
C. No, you're crazy! What are we going to do with [absurd # of turtles I am requesting for]?!
D. (All of the above)

But really, the big problem is that Lil F is too spoiled. We tried getting her playmates in the past, but she thought they were food. So, if we were to get another turtle or two, we'd have to get a separate tank. Now, an initial tank set-up can cause quite a dent in one's wallet. For a decent one, it'll run at least $150 for initial set-ups. For a more bougie one, it can run $300+. I haven't calculated monthly costs b/c I typically buy things in bulk (kind of like how I buy our food and necessities from Costco!).

Then there are the expected unexpected expenses. For instance, yesterday, Lil F splooshed so wildly in her "feeding corner," as usual. The unusual thing is that a drop of water hit her second basking bulb and it popped and blew out! Dude, we just replaced that $9 bulb! (But I got it for $6 b/c I purchased it online.)

So, BF did say in a serious tone that we would have to get a separate tank. Of course I said, Yeah! Put it in the bedroom! I don't think he was sold on that idea. He did seriously consider moving her into a bigger tank (hm, wouldn't that mean we could move her current one into the bedroom? Of course we'd have to get rid of our dresser. Who needs clothes anyways!)

So tonight, BF said, "Tell me why you NEED another turtle." At first, I just kept saying, "Because we do!" Because we do.

Per BSILF's request, here are my 5 reasons why BF should rescue another turtle:

1. BF won't be home to keep her company from ~9:30 AM - 7:30 PM. Ever since she came home with him in December '04, he has kept her company for more than half the day.
   
2. I am not home to keep her company for most of the day, too.
3. BF usually keeps her company well into the night (like 3 or 4 AM); he won't do that any more since he will have to go to sleep at a "decent" time.
4. If she had a playmate, perhaps she wouldn't be so "bored" as to devour her basking dock.
5. We just do need another turtle. Preferably a Yellow-Bellied (to which he responded, "our turtle already has a yellow belly" to which I responded, "but I want one with yellow ears."
   

Maybe he struck my 5 reasons down because they could all be summarized under one reason: she will be extremely lonely. I think deep down, he fears that I am too obsessed with turtles...and he certainly does not want to add fuel to the fire!

Clearly, I am just procrastinating studying for dysphagia. Back to the grind...

Turtle Rescue

On occasion, I read on turtle forums how people rescue turtles. People either find them on the roadside or become foster parents who nurse turtles back to health.

Although I will never have the delightful opportunity of seeing a turtle on the roadside here on the Westside, I did rescue a turtle today!

After my lovely enzymatic facial from Peponi (last one in my b-day gift package -- it was so good while it lasted!), I went next door to the pet store to visit the turtles. Last Friday when I found the area where the turtles were, I snuck a paparazzi shot w/ my camera phone and captured a photo of 12 turtles stacked and basking! Today, I went back and saw 13! It's amazing to see that many basking and stacked on each other. They are like natural yoga masters and gymnists. However, my pseudo-paparazzi personality didn't come to the forefront because I was too preoccupied with one of the turtles.

I noticed that there was a juvenile wedged completely vertical between the large basking rock (that had the 13 turtles) and the side of the aquarium. I was certain it was stuck because I had stared at it for 5 minutes, peeked under and over it (as much as I could see), and a bigger turtle climbed onto the log and totally "palmed" the helpless turtle's face in the process, oblivious to his helpless brethren.

I finally went to tell an employee, I think there is a turtle stuck. He said, "let's see" and grabbed a net and pushed the turtle gently at first. Then he pushed with so much force that the turtle went "tumbling" hard in the water. At last, it was free! I saved a turtle!

True, I did not "rescue" a turtle by the typical definition. I wish I could have. All of them looked really sick by the looks of their shells. :(

I told BF that I rescued a turtle, but not in the real sense -- but I am still proud of saving one. :) When I got home, he said, "well, we did rescue that one." Oh, Lil F, how we love you!

Lazarus the Betta

Because future doctor cousin asked, I am providing an update on my dad's betta, who I have christened Lazarus.

Lazarus is doing fine. His/her home has been moved next to the water heater for added warmth (how did my dad know that increasing water temperature helps aquatic species recover?) and appears to be in great health.

I am still laughing about all of this. I don't have the heart to tease my dad about how much he has spent on resurrecting Lazarus. He bought Lazarus from a 99 cent store! And here he is, feeding it all sorts of vitamins and pills. So crazy.

Hm, I'm one to speak. I have spent soOOoOoOOo much on Lil F (and we got her for FREE! Best FREE gift ever!). She just received a shipment that included medicine that costs more than my vitamins. We got her medicine because the other day, we thought she contracted tapeworms from her rosy red minnow rewards. I'm very happy to report that Lil F has been her usual self: wildly begging for food even after she has been fed, still upsetting me by eating her dock, and growing bigger and bigger (she has reached 6 inches and is b/t 1 & 2 pounds). As a Valentine's Day gift, we set up a feeding tank for her. It hasn't worked out so well b/c I need to pick up her first filter from Dad's tomorrow.

That's it on the Westside's version of Animal Rescue 911.

The Celebutante of West LA

Two nights ago, I was preparing some spinach for dinner and thought about feeding Lil F some of it. I am always trying to vary her diet since that is what's recommended. My poor baby (BF would argue her being "poor") just eats Hikari turtle sticks, carrots, and romaine lettuce everyday. Oh, and occasional bites of her dock (which still makes me angry!) and cuttlebone.

Sometimes I can't remember what veggies I'm allowed to feed her so I refer to my favorite turtle forum site. I went there and was pleasantly surprised at seeing their home page.

She is still famous! :)

P.S. My famous turtle cannot have spinach in her diet.

Last minute relaxation and shopping

After I dropped BF off at his sister's, I came back home, found out I'm placed in IngleWOooOod!, blasted Sarah McLachlan's Wintersong with BF's new home theatre system (mu-hahaha! I got it for him for Christmas), cleaned Lil F's tank, and then headed off to my spa pedicure.

My spa pedicure at Peponi was absolutely fabulous! The place is so chic, cozy, and lovely. I arrived early to my appointment so Kaamilyah started me 10 mins before 2. My appointment went way over (which I totally appreciated). I asked for a 40 min Rejuvinator tx, but I walked out 2 hours later! I had such a wonderful time w/ the girl, and she did a great job. Not only that, but she is also a Dexter and America's Next Top Model fan!

Afterwards, I went last-minute shopping with my bro at the Westside Pavillion and the Century City Mall. I rather enjoy shopping with my bro b/c we get really silly and have a grand ol' time. I love the Century City Mall, except I always get lost either going there or leaving. Now, I even get lost in the Mall b/c the maps just aren't correctly oriented (IMO). My bro and I walked in so many circles. The best site was walking into the Swarovski store. I was actually looking for a turtle brooch (that shouldn't be a surprise!) and I saw something far more marvelous.
First I saw in the case some sea shells. I thought they were adorable. They were scattered along the bottom of the first display case you encounter when you walk into the store.


My eyes moved along the display and I could not believe my eyes! There to the left of the sea shells was a huge sea turtle crystal figurine. On the other side of the case were 2 hatchling sea turtles! Beautiful.

Ever since I started reading my sea turtle book, I've been spewing off random sea turtle facts to BF and Bro. I even brought my book to Peponi so Kaamilyah asked me what I was reading about. Of course I had to start off talking about Lil F. I am on a quest to convert people into turtle lovers. :)

Lil F's Second Birthday

Scott remarks, "It'll be so exciting to see where she goes. I've seen them do the most amazing navigational things. One came off the Flemish Cap and beelined for the Canary Islands. Now, that's what, three thousand kilometers [1864 miles] across open ocean? If you laid a straight edge over her track on the map, you couldn't have done better yourself using GPS and satellites. You look at those tracks, and their capabilities blow you away. Then you realize -- fishing off Iceland and Africa can affect the turtles on this beach."

That remark makes the world seem both oddly small and strangely large at the same time, because Iceland seems a world removed from this warm beach, with its palm shadows and tropic breeze. And it is. But to be a Leatherback is to be perpetually on the move from one world to the next.

~Voyage of the Turtle by Carl Safina~

I am slowly making waves in my book, and I am really enjoying how the author portrays sea turtles as such mysterious but magnificent sea creatures. I hope that one day, I can witness the miracle of a sea turtle nesting on the beach shore.

.·:*¨¨*:·. .·:*¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨*:·. .·:*¨¨*:·. .·:*¨¨*:·. .·:*¨¨*:·. .·:*¨¨*:·.

Sea turtles are amazing, but so is Lil Fawker! Today is her second birthday! Lil F received a wonderful e-card from her newly-deemed God-Parents, BILsF, that read:

Happy birthday, Lil F! We wish you a happy day and a happy year! We hope you get a yummy treat today! Enjoy your special day, M... and K...

Lil F actually got 6 yummy treats, which is more than enough. She will get a whole leaf of lettuce after the Lakers game (we have been very curious to see how much of a whole leaf of romaine lettuce she can eat. We may, however, intervene the lettuce binge). Last year, Uncles B&B, gave Lil F a dozen+ fish, which was waaaay too much. That's what she gets for being the first turtle in this family. :)

This is Lil F when she was two months old and 1.25 inches in Daddy's hand. This is also when we thought that she was a he.






Here she is two months ago at 5.25 inches in Mommy's hand. Today, she is 5.5 inches!

In the past year, she has been deemed runner-up for a RES photo contest and winner of the RES photo contest.


Happy, happy birthday Lil F!