The Urban Pantheist

Here we are, the vice and pres of the local chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers, sitting at our table in front of the baby reindeer. A Wild Affair is a restaurant tasting event that is held at Stone Zoo every June. I liked the buffalo chicken mac and cheese the best, but the chicken pot pie cup was pretty delish. We were there to tell the guests about Bowling for Rhinos, happening only 11 months from now.

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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

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.

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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

Here's Alexis with her freshly shaven head, and of course Reggie acting all crazy.

( How'd that head get shaved? )