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3:00 snapshot #1979: Monday
May. 10th, 2015 11:59 am
On Monday the new Bowling for Rhinos shirts arrived! Nice design, Sarah.
On Monday the new Bowling for Rhinos shirts arrived! Nice design, Sarah.
3:00 snapshot #1688: Saturday
Jul. 13th, 2014 02:30 pm
Yesterday I went into work on my day off to help promote Bowling for Rhinos. I sat at a table giving out flyers and awarding stickers to children who bowled with the toy bowling sets (suggested donation $1). In the center is Bill Konstant from the International Rhino Foundation, who came to deliver a talk on rhinos conservation and how Bowling for Rhinos is helping. On the right is the president of the zoo, on the left is one of our zooteens.
3:00 snapshot #1666: Friday
Jun. 21st, 2014 02:45 pm
I've never planned anything this far in advance before in my life, and that counts two weddings.
Art and generosity
May. 25th, 2014 11:18 am
My dear friend Jason Eckhardt happens to be an amazing and award-winning illustrator. He generously drew and donated this rhino illustration to be auctioned at our Bowling for Rhinos event! If you would like to bid on it, register for the event and come by--it's in Malden Massachusetts this Thursday evening, so plan accordingly if you are in Australia or Toronto or something. Go here to register: http://www.zoonewengland.org/szevents#rhinos
If you just want to help us out, feel free to chip in a few bucks--all the money goes directly to help protect rhino habitat in Africa and Indonesia. Go here to donate: https://www.crowdrise.com/aazkznebfr
Bowling for Rhinos 2014 (Providence)
May. 12th, 2014 07:30 pm
Saturday I went to Roger Williams Park Zoo's Bowling for Rhinos event! I took a few terrible pictures but I need to save them to share with my AAZK ZNE comrades so we can learn from our Providence colleagues. This was a painting at the silent auction that I bid on. Didn't win it, alas.
( Read more... )
I am full of gratitude for all the people who donated to my latest charity thing. I worry that it probably seems like that's all I do on here (and my other social media, let's be honest) since it's become a bigger and bigger part of my life. This latest effort, for my 25 mile bike ride to support the Gilmour Fund has been maybe the most successful fundraiser I've been this close to.
My team raised over 2000 dollars, over 600 of which was donated by my friends and family wishing me well. All you get in return is whatever good feelings it brings, the tax deduction, and maybe some pictures of me wearing purple and blue butterfly wings. The ride is tomorrow, and right after I finish it I've got to hurry back home, change and shower and head out to the Bowling for Rhinos event for the zoo in Providence (Roger Williams park).
That's right, two fundraisers, three New England states, biking bowling zookeeping conservation...and in three weeks we're holding our own Bowling for Rhinos. Then it'll calm down and I won't sound so much like someone holding a clipboard outside the grocery store.
Here's the tally: https://www.crowdrise.com/jeftaylor-ZNEGilmour2014
My team raised over 2000 dollars, over 600 of which was donated by my friends and family wishing me well. All you get in return is whatever good feelings it brings, the tax deduction, and maybe some pictures of me wearing purple and blue butterfly wings. The ride is tomorrow, and right after I finish it I've got to hurry back home, change and shower and head out to the Bowling for Rhinos event for the zoo in Providence (Roger Williams park).
That's right, two fundraisers, three New England states, biking bowling zookeeping conservation...and in three weeks we're holding our own Bowling for Rhinos. Then it'll calm down and I won't sound so much like someone holding a clipboard outside the grocery store.
Here's the tally: https://www.crowdrise.com/jeftaylor-ZNEGilmour2014
What I need to remember on Saturday
May. 7th, 2014 07:09 pmKatelyn's bike
Bowling for Rhinos flyers
Hyrax footprints
Bowling for Rhinos t-shirts
Steph's bike
Butterfly costume
Bowling for Rhinos flyers
Hyrax footprints
Bowling for Rhinos t-shirts
Steph's bike
Butterfly costume
Sponsors wanted!
Apr. 13th, 2014 02:52 pmIf you have a small business, non-profit organization, or anything at all you want to promote, please consider making a donation to our Bowling For Rhinos event! Sponsors get their logo (or website address, or message, or whatever) on the back of our official t-shirt, as well as mention in all our promotional material. Sponsorships start at 50 dollars and are tax-deductable. The bigger the sponsorship the bigger the image on the t-shirt.
Comment if you're interested!
This is our event logo, which will appear on the front of the shirt.
Comment if you're interested!
This is our event logo, which will appear on the front of the shirt.
Wanna bowl with the zookeepers?
Apr. 12th, 2014 07:40 amHey everyone, especially people in the Boston area, want to come bowl with the zookeepers? The American Association of Zoo Keepers, Zoo New England chapter is holding a bowl-a-thon on Thursday May 29th at Town Line Luxury Lanes in Malden.
This year we've made it easier than ever to participate. Simply click this link to begin your registration: http://www.zoonewengland.org/fpzevents#rhinos
Then you collect pledges which will go to protect rhino habitat in Africa and Indonesia. This is a nationwide fundraiser that is pretty rigorous and strict about making sure the money goes to the right place. I've been working with our chapter for about 5 years now and have seen first hand what a lean operation it is. We rely on donations and volunteers--there is very very little administrative cost to this event, so the money is going to the right place. At Lewa, the sanctuary in Kenya, the money is going to pay rangers and guards who risk their lives to protect animals from poaching. In Indonesia the animals that are being protected are some of the most endangered mammals in the world--the three Asian rhino species are all critically endangered. The preserves that are being protected are also habitat for many other species. So besides rhinos, these effort protect elephants, cheetahs, grevy's zebras, hornbills, pangolins, and thousands of other animals and plants in these ecosystems.
The event is sure to be fun! We have a great t-shirt for everyone who registers, and the top fundraisers will win prizes! The nationwide top fundraiser wins a trip to Africa to see the Lewa preserve. We will have raffles and silent auction prizes, featuring unique zoo-related items.
Find me at the event and tell me you saw this journal post for a special gift!
This year we've made it easier than ever to participate. Simply click this link to begin your registration: http://www.zoonewengland.org/fpzevents#rhinos
Then you collect pledges which will go to protect rhino habitat in Africa and Indonesia. This is a nationwide fundraiser that is pretty rigorous and strict about making sure the money goes to the right place. I've been working with our chapter for about 5 years now and have seen first hand what a lean operation it is. We rely on donations and volunteers--there is very very little administrative cost to this event, so the money is going to the right place. At Lewa, the sanctuary in Kenya, the money is going to pay rangers and guards who risk their lives to protect animals from poaching. In Indonesia the animals that are being protected are some of the most endangered mammals in the world--the three Asian rhino species are all critically endangered. The preserves that are being protected are also habitat for many other species. So besides rhinos, these effort protect elephants, cheetahs, grevy's zebras, hornbills, pangolins, and thousands of other animals and plants in these ecosystems.
The event is sure to be fun! We have a great t-shirt for everyone who registers, and the top fundraisers will win prizes! The nationwide top fundraiser wins a trip to Africa to see the Lewa preserve. We will have raffles and silent auction prizes, featuring unique zoo-related items.
Find me at the event and tell me you saw this journal post for a special gift!
Life lately
Nov. 10th, 2013 07:23 pmYou wouldn't think I would need to make a post like this, since I literally take a picture every day and say something about my life. But 3:00 doesn't tell the whole story, and it doesn't get off my chest what I need to right now, I guess.
Thursday was the Bowling for Rhinos event, the second one that I presided over as President (presidents preside, I suppose) of the local AAZK chapter. Initially we were worried because we only had spots for 40 bowlers, then we had problems filling even that many (we had about twice as many last year). Anyway, what ended up being a bigger issue was that the location was in Boston proper, meaning bad traffic and bad parking situations all around. People spent a lot of time in traffic and circling the block, so getting going was rough.
But once the event was rolling it kind of ran itself. The other AAZK officers snapped into their roles and made me feel like I didn't have to worry about every little thing. I delegated. I trusted. I circulated and saw that people were happy. I even bowled.
Friday Kikipuff called me and asked if we could get a beer after work. I went to the bank and deposited over 2000 dollars from the bowling event. Then I went to the other bank and checked my personal bank balance, discovering that I was overdrawn. Kikipuff bought me dinner and a couple beers, and I circled the drain of despondency that money troubles always drag me to. She offered to lend me money, I refused.
Kiki was going out with friends later, but wanted to hang out a little while longer, so we went to a second hand shop across the street. We flipped through CDs--an activity that I find at once comforting and depressing. I hadn't done it for years, but found that many of the same titles were in the racks. (Poor Frente!) The records were even worse, but I did come across Gordon Lightfoot's Sundown, and showed it to Kiki. She didn't really know who he was, and I don't know why I showed it to her, saying "the title track is a really catchy soft rock tune."
That night the dogs woke me up three times (to get drinks of water, and to pee). One of the times I decided to use the unexpected awake time to learn all about Gordon Lightfoot. I listened to the song "Sundown," and got it in my head for about 36 straight hours.
Saturday Alex came over, offered to lend me money--I refused. We had a nice time playing with the dogs and hovering around the fire, and talking about movie night this coming Tuesday (Pacific Rim, if we can get a copy, otherwise I'm making everyone watch Snakes on a Plane). I borrowed 30 dollars from Alexis.
That night was a housewarming party, I bought a pumpkin pie with my borrowed money, drank other peoples' beer, sat around another fire with Kiki, and made her listen to Sundown. On the way home (about 25 miles) my low fuel light came on.
For a while this morning I was sulking about being broke, thinking about begging on LiveJournal, selling things and putting out a paypal button or something. I was worried that some autopay thing would go through and hit me for another overdraft fee. I asked Alexis to paypal me some money so my account could absorb such a thing.
Today I noticed a leak around one of our toilets, said it was probably the wax seal around the drain pipe (I'd seen this happen with plumbing at work). Alexis googled it, watched a youtube video of the repair, and said, "we can fix this ourselves." I said "Are you fucking kidding me?" I'm a big proponent of paying specialists to do specialized work, but obviously was in no position to argue, what with having no money. She went to the store (with my car, getting me enough gas to last until next payday) and got a wax seal. She did all the work except moving the toilet, which I did. We put it all together and it still leaked a little. She took it apart again, then googled the problem, and decided we needed a wax-free seal thing (a big rubber thing that sticks to the underside of the toilet.
Alexis had had it with the store--already too much xmas shit and xmas shoppers. I volunteered to go buy the thing (it somehow felt good to buy something) and then we set upon fixing it again. Once it was all back together the last nut wouldn't screw onto the last bolt, even though we'd done it twice before. We gave up on it. The toilet isn't leaking. Alexis made shepherd's pie, and eating that and writing this has made me feel a little better about having no money.
Thursday was the Bowling for Rhinos event, the second one that I presided over as President (presidents preside, I suppose) of the local AAZK chapter. Initially we were worried because we only had spots for 40 bowlers, then we had problems filling even that many (we had about twice as many last year). Anyway, what ended up being a bigger issue was that the location was in Boston proper, meaning bad traffic and bad parking situations all around. People spent a lot of time in traffic and circling the block, so getting going was rough.
But once the event was rolling it kind of ran itself. The other AAZK officers snapped into their roles and made me feel like I didn't have to worry about every little thing. I delegated. I trusted. I circulated and saw that people were happy. I even bowled.
Friday Kikipuff called me and asked if we could get a beer after work. I went to the bank and deposited over 2000 dollars from the bowling event. Then I went to the other bank and checked my personal bank balance, discovering that I was overdrawn. Kikipuff bought me dinner and a couple beers, and I circled the drain of despondency that money troubles always drag me to. She offered to lend me money, I refused.
Kiki was going out with friends later, but wanted to hang out a little while longer, so we went to a second hand shop across the street. We flipped through CDs--an activity that I find at once comforting and depressing. I hadn't done it for years, but found that many of the same titles were in the racks. (Poor Frente!) The records were even worse, but I did come across Gordon Lightfoot's Sundown, and showed it to Kiki. She didn't really know who he was, and I don't know why I showed it to her, saying "the title track is a really catchy soft rock tune."
That night the dogs woke me up three times (to get drinks of water, and to pee). One of the times I decided to use the unexpected awake time to learn all about Gordon Lightfoot. I listened to the song "Sundown," and got it in my head for about 36 straight hours.
Saturday Alex came over, offered to lend me money--I refused. We had a nice time playing with the dogs and hovering around the fire, and talking about movie night this coming Tuesday (Pacific Rim, if we can get a copy, otherwise I'm making everyone watch Snakes on a Plane). I borrowed 30 dollars from Alexis.
That night was a housewarming party, I bought a pumpkin pie with my borrowed money, drank other peoples' beer, sat around another fire with Kiki, and made her listen to Sundown. On the way home (about 25 miles) my low fuel light came on.
For a while this morning I was sulking about being broke, thinking about begging on LiveJournal, selling things and putting out a paypal button or something. I was worried that some autopay thing would go through and hit me for another overdraft fee. I asked Alexis to paypal me some money so my account could absorb such a thing.
Today I noticed a leak around one of our toilets, said it was probably the wax seal around the drain pipe (I'd seen this happen with plumbing at work). Alexis googled it, watched a youtube video of the repair, and said, "we can fix this ourselves." I said "Are you fucking kidding me?" I'm a big proponent of paying specialists to do specialized work, but obviously was in no position to argue, what with having no money. She went to the store (with my car, getting me enough gas to last until next payday) and got a wax seal. She did all the work except moving the toilet, which I did. We put it all together and it still leaked a little. She took it apart again, then googled the problem, and decided we needed a wax-free seal thing (a big rubber thing that sticks to the underside of the toilet.
Alexis had had it with the store--already too much xmas shit and xmas shoppers. I volunteered to go buy the thing (it somehow felt good to buy something) and then we set upon fixing it again. Once it was all back together the last nut wouldn't screw onto the last bolt, even though we'd done it twice before. We gave up on it. The toilet isn't leaking. Alexis made shepherd's pie, and eating that and writing this has made me feel a little better about having no money.
Blog promises
Sep. 30th, 2013 07:48 pmOkay, so I just uploaded my pictures and there's a million (no, just under 70) that need to be organized in different ways. That's not so different from how I usually do things, actually I can see how to do this batch a little more clearly than some other times.
Anyway, here's what's coming:
1. the new puppy (!!)
2. last sunday's urban nature walk (not a long walk or a long time spent walking but hoo boy I took a lot of photos)
3. the conclusion of my 100 species project (begun in 2012, it was supposed to be 100 species in one year but it's going to turn out to be closer to two years)
4. the usual 3:00 snapshots
I need to try to get these out by Wednesday, because I have two work/AAZK events this week. Thursday we're registering people for Bowling For Rhinos. We have a cut-off of 40 people we can register, so while we really want people to participate and raise money to protect rhino habitat, we're scared that too many people will try to register and get mad when we turn them away. We'll see how that goes. The other thing is a softball game, which should be low stress, I just have to arrange to "sponsor" it, which means bringing snacks and drinks.
Now that I write it all out it doesn't seem so daunting. Let's see if we get those puppy pics up tonight!
Anyway, here's what's coming:
1. the new puppy (!!)
2. last sunday's urban nature walk (not a long walk or a long time spent walking but hoo boy I took a lot of photos)
3. the conclusion of my 100 species project (begun in 2012, it was supposed to be 100 species in one year but it's going to turn out to be closer to two years)
4. the usual 3:00 snapshots
I need to try to get these out by Wednesday, because I have two work/AAZK events this week. Thursday we're registering people for Bowling For Rhinos. We have a cut-off of 40 people we can register, so while we really want people to participate and raise money to protect rhino habitat, we're scared that too many people will try to register and get mad when we turn them away. We'll see how that goes. The other thing is a softball game, which should be low stress, I just have to arrange to "sponsor" it, which means bringing snacks and drinks.
Now that I write it all out it doesn't seem so daunting. Let's see if we get those puppy pics up tonight!
3:00 snapshot #1251
Apr. 13th, 2013 10:25 am
Sarah visits with Squirt, a blind Sardinian dwarf donkey. Sarah, my vice president in our chapter of the zookeeper association, came in on her day off to provide snacks for our visiting speaker talk.
Our visiting speaker was Bill Konstant, from the International Rhino Foundation. (You may remember my hilarious crack comparing various deeply held beliefs and so on.) It's important to know that rhinos are gravely endangered, but have been more endangered in the past, so things can get better. Bill let us know that the work we do with Bowling For Rhinos is improving the situation for wild rhinoceroses.
More importantly, we saw pictures of baby Sumatran rhinos which are by far the cutest animals we've never had at our zoo.
Bowling for Rhinos!
Oct. 28th, 2012 10:53 pmI just came home from Bowling For Rhinos! This is the biggest fundraiser for the American Association of Zookeepers, with dozens of chapters across the continent holding events to raise money to protect rhinoceros habitat. The money raised goes to anti-poaching efforts and jeeps for the rangers and similar expenses, real world stuff. Rhino habitat in Africa and Indonesia benefits from the event--all rhino species are endangered and the Asian species are critically endangered, some island populations are on the brink of dying out. It's a weird cause for Zoo New England because we don't have rhinos at our zoos, but the habitat that's being protected also includes animals like Grevy's zebras, hammerkops, elephants, tigers, and many other species.
If you would like to buy a t-shirt (or more than one) please click the paypal button below. You can also send a check to AAZK New England 1 Franklin Park Road Boston MA 02121. If you are going the check route, please email me (email address is in my profile info) and let me know so that I can reserve your shirt for you and not sell it to someone else.
2012 shirts are dark gray with a design in purple ink. Everyone loves the color combination, even though I was worried that they would hate it. The printer (who also bowled) even lightened the purple ink with white to make it "pop" more. It's cool. I have small, medium, large, and extra large, but I'm going to run out of small and medium real soon. These are 20 dollars for the first shirt, and 10 dollars each for any additional shirts.
"Classic" shirts are white with a small design where a pocket would be (if there was one, which there isn't) and a big design on the back, all in black ink. It's a different design from the one above, with more naturalistic silhouettes of rhinos. I have large and extra large. These are five dollars each.
If you would like to buy a t-shirt (or more than one) please click the paypal button below. You can also send a check to AAZK New England 1 Franklin Park Road Boston MA 02121. If you are going the check route, please email me (email address is in my profile info) and let me know so that I can reserve your shirt for you and not sell it to someone else.
2012 shirts are dark gray with a design in purple ink. Everyone loves the color combination, even though I was worried that they would hate it. The printer (who also bowled) even lightened the purple ink with white to make it "pop" more. It's cool. I have small, medium, large, and extra large, but I'm going to run out of small and medium real soon. These are 20 dollars for the first shirt, and 10 dollars each for any additional shirts.
"Classic" shirts are white with a small design where a pocket would be (if there was one, which there isn't) and a big design on the back, all in black ink. It's a different design from the one above, with more naturalistic silhouettes of rhinos. I have large and extra large. These are five dollars each.
This Sunday the zookeeper association I belong to is doing our Bowling for Rhinos event! I already have one very generous pledge which I am quite grateful for (something special coming your way, B). But just now I was wondering: how can I increase my pledge amount with so little time to go, without being an annoying beggar? Then I remembered what I did last time: I offered up the chance to make me photograph zoo animals and post them here!
That worked, so I’ll do it again: GO OVER TO MY PLEDGE PAGE, and pledge any amount (I suggest 5 dollars if you feel as cash strapped as I do these days) and tell me what zoo animal you’d like me to photograph and post about.
ALTERNATELY: if you live in the Boston area and would like to bowl with us on Sunday, we have some spaces left. Email me (my email address is in my profile info) your desire to do so (put BOWLING FOR RHINOS in the subject line so I don’t miss it) and I’ll put you on the list. It’s 15 dollars to bowl, and you get food and soda for free; There will be prizes for the best bowlers and for the most pledges raised.
Poster by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
cottonmanifesto
That worked, so I’ll do it again: GO OVER TO MY PLEDGE PAGE, and pledge any amount (I suggest 5 dollars if you feel as cash strapped as I do these days) and tell me what zoo animal you’d like me to photograph and post about.
ALTERNATELY: if you live in the Boston area and would like to bowl with us on Sunday, we have some spaces left. Email me (my email address is in my profile info) your desire to do so (put BOWLING FOR RHINOS in the subject line so I don’t miss it) and I’ll put you on the list. It’s 15 dollars to bowl, and you get food and soda for free; There will be prizes for the best bowlers and for the most pledges raised.
Poster by
cottonmanifestoWith baffling lightning speed, it's time for Bowling For Rhinos again! In a little over a week staff and friends of several of New England's zoos, aquariums, and science museums will gather to bowl against each other for bragging rights and to raise money to protect rhinos and rhino habitat. Rhinos are extremely endangered, and live alongside other precariously endangered animals--by protecting rhino habitat we're also helping out cheetahs and Grevy's zebras in Africa and clouded leopards and Asian elephants in Indonesia (as well as countless bird, reptile, amphibian, and plant species that are likewise endangered).
If you would like to pledge to support my team (I used to be on the "Pinheads," but now I may be in the Officer's Club or something) just click the paypal button to donate. FIVE DOLLARS IS NOT TOO LITTLE. In fact, every time someone posts a charity request on LJ or FB I donate 5 dollars--because I barely notice, it's the cost of a beer at a bar or a fancy coffee at Starbucks--and the people asking are very appreciative. A 5 dollar pledge given by 200 facebook or livejournal friends adds up to a really significant contribution to helping out wildlife.
Thanks for your donation!
For more Information!
If you would like to pledge to support my team (I used to be on the "Pinheads," but now I may be in the Officer's Club or something) just click the paypal button to donate. FIVE DOLLARS IS NOT TOO LITTLE. In fact, every time someone posts a charity request on LJ or FB I donate 5 dollars--because I barely notice, it's the cost of a beer at a bar or a fancy coffee at Starbucks--and the people asking are very appreciative. A 5 dollar pledge given by 200 facebook or livejournal friends adds up to a really significant contribution to helping out wildlife.
Thanks for your donation!
For more Information!
Bowling For rhinos follow-up follow-up
Jul. 20th, 2009 08:45 pmI finally found out how we all did this year at Bowling for Rhinos AAZK New England Chapter. We broke our old fund raising record again! The event raised $4158. The money goes directly to fund rhino habitat protection, including hiring guards to help protect rhinos from poachers.
And a team from my zoo reclaimed the trophy from Southwick's Zoo, which was kind of a relief. Thanks again everybody, and that's the last I'll bother you with it until next year (when I may try to get a chapter of "Rocking for Rhinos" started).
And a team from my zoo reclaimed the trophy from Southwick's Zoo, which was kind of a relief. Thanks again everybody, and that's the last I'll bother you with it until next year (when I may try to get a chapter of "Rocking for Rhinos" started).
Bowling For rhinos follow-up
Jul. 16th, 2009 04:44 pmThanks again for your donations to Bowling For Rhinos! A good cause for a very endangered group of animals. And the bowling was fun--My team did not win, but we were not dead last, which is like winning. I actually don't know who won because it was nightclub loud in there and I couldn't hear the announcement, but no one gave me a trophy so it wasn't me. Any way, Alexis took this picture there:
which is pretty cool. ( and here are some I took: )
I owe you some request posts: something about corvids (I need to give myself enough time--they are one of my favorite taxa and I insist on doing it right) and a long-overdue post about my tattoos (I'll put that one behind a cut since you either are curious or you really don't give a damn). If there are any requests from pledgers that I'm spacing, let me know. The mulberry and american chestnut posts are there, you just have to go back a few posts in my journal.
I have a lot of stuff happening in real life right now (all good stuff so far) so it may take me a while to catch up, but I'll honor those commitments.
Weather notes: mid seventies very humid. Not pleasant to work in, but I like it in general. You have to wear minimum clothes and not exert yourself to remain comfortable. I think I must be the only person I know who likes humidity.
which is pretty cool. ( and here are some I took: )
I owe you some request posts: something about corvids (I need to give myself enough time--they are one of my favorite taxa and I insist on doing it right) and a long-overdue post about my tattoos (I'll put that one behind a cut since you either are curious or you really don't give a damn). If there are any requests from pledgers that I'm spacing, let me know. The mulberry and american chestnut posts are there, you just have to go back a few posts in my journal.
I have a lot of stuff happening in real life right now (all good stuff so far) so it may take me a while to catch up, but I'll honor those commitments.
Weather notes: mid seventies very humid. Not pleasant to work in, but I like it in general. You have to wear minimum clothes and not exert yourself to remain comfortable. I think I must be the only person I know who likes humidity.
