So, I think today was my favourite volunteer shift so far. I got there on time, it was beautiful outside, there were four things on my part of the board’s To Do list, and for the first time ever, I got them all done! That never happens. Not until today, at least. One task was even new to me, and another one I generally suck at.
Again, until today.
The first thing I did was spot clean the small animal room. This is the one I usually don’t do very well at, so I was glad to get it out of the way first. I talked to everyone while I worked, which I usually do, but today seemed different. Today I felt a little more bonded to the critters, and a little more confident. I even managed to get both ferret pairs locked in the upstairs part of their cages so I could clean the downstairs part without getting bit. Haha
I was super proud of myself, because I’ve never managed to doc very good job with one pair, let alone both. First time for everything!
Up next was changing the small parrot papers, which has somehow become my favourite thing. The first guy had just had a bath, and was still pretty soaked. I laughed and laughed! He looked nothing like himself, but when he dried off, he was back to super handsome.
I talked to all of the birds more than usual, too. I was chatty today, apparently. They were all actually pretty good today, too. Even when I was vacuuming, the “murder birds” didn’t try to get at me at all. Even Blue seemed more like he was just watching me rather than plotting something. It was cool.
Somehow I like birds now.
The new thing I got to do was to spot clean the lemur shifts. Well, their shift and two others for their enclosure mates, Lilly and Kinka. Bigger poo than the birds or small animal room, but not too bad. Plus, the lemurs were staring at me through the door the whole time. As they do.
AND, to top off the whole day? Willow the capybara was taking a bath outside the whole time!!! The back doors were all open and she was happily rolling around in a tub in the sunshine and looking so cute and content I could hardly stand it! She kept flipping her little ears like a hippo. I melted.
Vaccuming the parrot floor was actually the last thing I did, and while I usually like it, this time the vaccum cleaner stopped sucking. Which is its one and only job.
But *I* fixed it! By myself. Didn’t even discuss with Tiffany first, I just fiddled with it, figured out the problem, and carried on. So I was there a bit longer than usual, but I rocked it so I didn’t even care.
And lemurs. And capybara bath time. And no one trying to tear my flesh.
It was good. I was sore and hungry and exhausted and in desperate need of a shower when I got home, though!
In other news, when someone you love is hurting, and you can do a whole whopping zero to help…it sucks. And kinda hurts in sympathy, too.
Inventory Of Everything 