Alligators

 I was just rereading today's post, and a couple of earlier ones, and noticed something missing.

Here I am, being in the doldrums, basically complaining about my life - when in reality my life is so interesting that I can forget something like this?

Alligators.

We have an alligator habitat at the museum with 5 alligators, a bit over 6 feet long each.  The other day at work Chris asked if I'd like to feed them.  Of course I said yes - envisioning that I would be on the boardwalk over the exhibit, tossing food to them.

Instead, Chris unlocked the gate, and we went into the habitat with them.  He handed me a stick.  We were going to be practicing the target training with them.  Target training is where you use a stick - you hold it out, or touch something, and if the animal comes and touches in the end of the stick it gets a treat.

Chris told me the drill.  Hit the stick twice on the ground to alert them, then hold it out and toss food when they touch it.

It's not a very long stick.  What could possibly go wrong?

And yes, that's me with a stick in one hand and my camera in the other.