So I probably should have started this a long time ago. In fact I meant to but I never really found the time. Finally, after a year or so of putting this off I am starting it.

First, and maybe most importantly, I am by no means a writer. Sure, I can string words together but am not becoming an author for a reason.

Now that we've cleared that out, the real fun can begin.

As some may or may not know, I have been volunteering with the New England Aquarium  for over a year now and there is never a dull day. Even if all I have on the agenda is to feed and clean, there is always some crazy occurrence (such as an anaconda eating itself or hand feeding nautilus). So that's what this blog is about: all those crazy events happening at the aquarium or anywhere else involving the sea.

So I guess a good place to start is yesterday, since I can't really go over a year of events that I didn't blog.


Earlier this fall I made the switch from fresh water to cold marine (good-bye cockroaches and hello frozen fingers!). I absolutely adore it: the creatures, my boss, my job. I adored freshwater for these reasons as well but it's nice to learn about different types of sea creatures. Well, I come in on Sundays and boy is it a busy day. Since it is the first time Bill, the aquarist in charge, is back, it is the day everything happens. So this involves lots of food for lots of animals.

Well my favorite to feed, and play with, is Athena, our resident Giant Pacific Octopus. At two years old she is a medium sized beauty with tentacles about four feet long. Since I love cephalopods, I take ever chance I can to learn more about her through interaction. While she is usually very touchy-feely, yesterday was different. She consistantly had six or seven of her tentacles wrapped around my left arm and was pulling me as close as possible. Curious to what she was doing, I watched as she gently pulled my arm closer to her center. Seeing as she was doing it slowly and showing no aggresive behaviors, I knew she wasn't attacking me. So, after over an our of this she stops. I then felt something a bit odd on my hand and pulled away  a tentacle to see her biting me! Granted, it wasn't a huge bite but still, I like to show off my octopus bite mark.

At the time it didn't hurt at all and I wasn't worried. I know all octopuses inject a small amount of venom into their victims when they bite but most are not toxic (with the exception of the infamous blue-ringed octopus). However, today my hand is swelled and the vein she bit does hurt. I also am having a hard time functioning. I like to blame that on Halloween weekend/exams though, not Athena. :) I also have my traditional octopus hickeys that make people believe I have leprosy on my arm (makes for good people watching as they see it).

Besides that, the day was normal ( a lumpfish almost jumped into my face because I was too close to the water but nothing new there) and I adored every second of it.

I have also been talking with Les Kaufman at BU and may work in his lab for co-op! I now have the tough choice between Woods Hole and Les, but that dilemma will be presented at a different time.

Wishing you all the best and happy November!