Crumpled Home » animals

How to save an orangutan

Luke — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:07:51 +0000

Towards the end of last year, LR decided she wanted to help some endangered species in whatever way she could. She remembered our local zoo has an orangutan conservation and breeding program with several large, well designed enclosures, and decided that donating money to their program would be a great way to make a difference.

Her idea was to hold an art show where kids at her school could donate two dollars to enter. In return, they would get a certificate and also a chance to win a huge jar of lollies. She hung several of these signs around the school and recruited a few of her friends to help collect money during their lunch breaks.

LR printed out these posters and hung them around the school.

After four weeks, she had a huge jar full of coins and only four pieces of art for the show. It turns out the kids wanted to win the jar of candy more than be in an art show. She called off the art show, but continued the lolly competition.

After weeks of work, she had collected over $250 dollars!

LR didn’t mind, though — every bit of money would help the orangutans. At the end of the school year, the winner’s name was drawn from a hat by the school principal. The winner of the lollies was a second grader and not even one of her friends.

We contacted the Perth Zoo who were really excited to have LR come in. They presented her with a certificate and showed her around.

During the school holidays, we contacted the zoo who were delighted to have LR come in and tell her story. They presented her with a certificate and gave her a tour. Unfortunately, the uncooperative giraffes wouldn’t come over to be fed, but she had a great time anyway.

Good job, LR! We’re amazed at what you accomplished. You definitely made a huge difference.

Well done LR! We can't believe you did this all yourself. We're so proud of you.

+1 Be the first of your friends to lick this!

Luke — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:07:43 +0000

(reading before school)

RJ: So… Why are they called hedgehogs anyway?

Dad: Well, there used to be lots of different sorts… Hedgehogs, bushhogs, treehogs, sandhogs… You get the idea. But they all went extinct.

RJ: DAD!

…

RJ: (reading) “… Some hedgehogs live in the dessert…”

Dad: Careful. It’s DESERT with one ‘S’. You know, the dry place with lots of sand.

RJ: (deliberately ignores Dad and continues) “…There are people who lick hedgehogs and leave food for them at night…”

Dad: RJ, It’s LIKE, not LICK. You know that one.

RJ: But if they live in the dessert, they must be pretty tasty. I would lick them too.

At the Perth Royal Show, 2011

Luke — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 03:07:03 +0000

The Perth Royal Show is held every year and is similar to the state fairs that take place across the US. It’s generally focused on agriculture and regional Australia (with prizes awarded for the best livestock), but also includes a lot of rides, junk food and … showbags.

Showbags are generally themed and have 5-15 different toys, gadgets and other bits of plastic junk relating to that theme. We like to think we’re doing our very important part to support the Chinese economy. The kids spend a lot of time agonising over which bag to get; comparing the contents, considering the utility and evaluting the coolness factor. They’re fully aware, however, that the chocolate and candy bags are totally off limits.

We had another reason for visiting the show this year: LR had two of her photographs accepted into the photographic exhibition. It was a big accomplishment; only the best photos make it in, and she was competing with high school kids, too!

This year, we visited two times: once during the day, and a follow-up visit in the evening to see the excellent fireworks with Grammy, Poppa and the Melbourne cousins, PA and MS.

Well, we're here guys. What should we do first?

Mom and LR meet the world's friendliest goat.

RJ and LR spend some quiet time with some recently hatched chicks.

RJ really liked the chicks. Someone needs to genetically engineer chickens that never grow up.

LR found Poppa's favorite pig, just laying around in a stall. No performing medical research on this one, Poppa!

The first ride? Teacups, of course! This ride operator made sure the kids were spun EXTRA fast.

The kids rode on the bouncing kangaroos. The ride operator refused to speed it up any further, despite RJ's many protests that they weren't bouncing high or fast enough.

While the kids waited in line, Mom wandered off to get some donuts. The shouty man insisted they were American donuts, but we honestly couldn't tell the difference. They looked pretty tasty.

But to really enjoy them, you first must make sure the kids are locked away behind bars.

RJ gets his donut!

LR gets her donut!

Time for a quick break to watch the show jumping. Mom teaches us all the inside tricks that we didn't know about.

LR and RJ carefully make their way into the boy scouts encampment.

RJ and LR explored the different mazes in the boy scouts area. Apparently, Bear Grylls was EVERYWHERE.

We stopped by the best exhibit of the show, the photography competition, where LR had two entries accepted into the show!

At the end of the day, RJ got his precious, precious glow bag, complete with 200 ways to light up the night.

We went home before the fireworks started, but it was okay. We knew we were coming back the next day with Grammy, Poppa and the cousins!

Everyone enjoyed a super "healthy" dinner of showgrounds burgers, chips and pizza.

We had to arrive a bit early to get good seats, which meant there was time for some angry birds to fight some pigs.

MS huddles in with Grammy to try to keep warm.

Poppa decides the LED augmented green shutter shades are necessary to really enjoy the fireworks.

RJ starts assembling some of the essentials from the Glow Bag.

With all the waiting, Dad and the girls headed off to the ferris wheel. We were hoping to get back to the grandstands before the fireworks started…

The ferris wheel is huge, but luckily the line is not too long.

PA, LR and MS cheer as the ferris wheel starts up!

All of a sudden, the ferris wheel shook with a series of loud bangs and the sky lit up with bursts of colour. We got to watch half of the fireworks show from the top of the ferris wheel and it turned out to be terrific!

MS and PA huddle together in the ferris wheel as the fireworks burst in the sky above them.

LR, PA and MS ran out of the ferris wheel to watch the last half of the show outside.

Eventually everything started going off at the same time!

The cousins had a great time... and they left a trail of mayhem and destruction behind them...

Love does not question

Luke — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 03:07:34 +0000

Part of being married to a biologist…

Never asking why there is a pig carcass stored in the garage.

Disparate times

Luke — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 03:07:26 +0000

(just before bed)

RJ: But wait, Dad! I have to show you something!

Dad: Okay… What is it?

RJ: (holding up a toy seahorse and a fish) Look at this. I put a tiny hole in the seahorse right here. That’s because it’s where the parasite fish gets in. It swims in through the hole and then up through the neck and into the seahorse’s brain. Then it lives in there and makes the seahorse do whatever it likes. After a long time, the seahorse dies and the fish goes and finds another one… And that’s a real creature! They really do that!

RJ: … But usually it’s a fish, not a seahorse.

Dad: Desperate times, eh?

RJ: Yeah. He was really desperate.

Top secrat business plans

Luke — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 03:07:55 +0000

(while eating breakfast)

RJ: I’ve figured it out, Dad.

Dad: What’s that?

RJ: A rat trap! We just need an apple and a large glass pot. We put it outside and when we see the rat go in, we put some paper over the top and he wont be able to get out! They don’t have hands!

Dad: Great idea, but why on Earth do we want to catch a rat?

RJ: Because Mom hates them… and…

Dad: And what?

RJ: My friend L. at school wants one… He really liked my baby rat in a jar.*

Dad: He wants a rat in a jar, too?

RJ: Yeah, but it’s okay. I’ll sell it to him, and maybe I can sell them to other people, too!

** A few weeks ago, RJ found a dead baby rat outside — probably one of Violet Miaowmix’s recent victims. It now sits in a place of honour on the shelf in his room, preserved in a (VERY WELL SEALED) jar full of alcohol.

Cat-ception

Luke — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 03:07:16 +0000

Last Friday, RJ took a little time off with Grammy to make a new cuddly animal.

The result: Cuddle Cat (name pending review).

RJ decided Cuddle Cat needed a disguise… something that no one would think of.

Introducing Cuddle Cat, as his secret identity... Cuddle Cat.

I think he nailed it.

It’s the prolonged squawks that get to you

Luke — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 03:07:34 +0000

Dad: No watching… It’s a school night. Bedtime, Mister!

RJ: But Mom said I could watch a movie!

Dad: Yeah, on the weekend, not for tonight. Move!

RJ: (threatening) If you don’t let me, then I’ll be the… Distressed Parrot.

Dad: Then I’m just going to have to deal with a distressed parrot then.

RJ: (in very loud parrot voice) Distress! No one’s getting the damsel! Arawwk! Danger Alert! Princess is in distress! Damsel in distress! Emergency! Panic!

It’s the other, other white meat…

Luke — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 03:07:25 +0000

(while cooking dinner at Rottnest)

RJ: (grabs a piece of uncooked spaghetti) Hey Dad. (crunch, crunch) What does this sound like? (crunch, crunch, crunch)

Dad: I dunno… Crunching?

RJ: Yes, but crunching what?

Dad: Umm… Crunching sticks? Bones?

RJ: Good… gooooood…

RJ: (grabs nearly-empty packet of uncooked spaghetti) Can I have these bits of pasta?

Dad: Sure thing. What for?

RJ: A secret project…

(5 minutes later while carrying dinner to a friend’s at Rottnest, RJ runs off into a dark alleyway.)

Dad: RJ! Come back!

RJ: (Silence…)

Dad: RJ! This stuff is hot and heavy and I don’t want to drop it. I need you to come back RIGHT NOW.

RJ: (Distant crunching noises… then a sudden explosion of rustling and snapping leaves and twigs) YEAH HAAAHAAHAA! IT WORKS!

RJ: (Excitedly runs around the corner) It works! It works!!!

Dad: What? What works?

RJ: The quokkas are terrified of me! Especially when I run up and make bone crunching noises at them!

RJ: (Triumphant) They think I’m a predator!

School Camp at Rotto, 2011

Luke — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 03:07:20 +0000

This year, just like last year, many of the parents and teachers from the kids’ school head over to Rottnest Island for their school camp. There are various gatherings and get togethers for the kids and parents — it’s generally just a great chance to relax and catch up with everybody. The major events are the Students versus Parents Games, a sandcastle competition, and the “Fox Hunt” — a treasure hunt in and around the main settlement to find teachers (and some parents) dressed up in crazy outfits. This year the theme was fairy tale characters. Mom always gets roped into this.

RJ watches for dolphins on the fast ferry across to Rotto. LR was the first to spot them though!

As usual, the local quokkas were really happy to see us.

A lot of bike riding took place. This year we were on the busy street through the middle of Geordie Bay.

As always, Mom was looking great despite the rental bike helmet.

RJ's bike has suffered from a catastrophic mechanical failure, so we weren't able to get enough two-wheel practice in. We'll definitely have it sorted by next year.

The cool kids always sit at the back of the bus.

The ride back to the settlement from Geordie Bay is a very long one if you're in a bad mood.

Not content with simply riding around like a normal human being, this year LR started performing tricks -- no feet, no hands, and amazingly no crashes.

RJ took every opportunity to torment his poor teacher.

Living with a devious mastermind can be daunting, but we manage to keep him in line with massive amounts of tickling.

This year, the treasure hunt was for characters out of fairy tales. Some, like Jack here, were fun to find.

Others, like the disturbingly ugly step-sisters, were a little more daunting.

The witch was handing out lollies and candy, so she was much more approachable. Don't take things from strangers, kids!.... Yeah, right!

This year saw a surprising upset -- the kids beat the parents... again! RJ took off faster than anyone expected.

LR flies through the course with incredible speed and enthusiasm! Where on earth does she get such competitive spirit?

Oh yeah... I see now.

LR traded some 'magic beans' for Jack's hat and pet cow... Those 'magic beans' looked suspiciously like something that came from a quokka.

Just before we left, we did a tiny bit of fishing on some very feeble gear... and had great success! LR caught this pretty little wrasse.

LR and RJ sing the fishing song, "Heeere fishy fishy fish". We caught five different species of fish in about 30 minutes. Dad was kind of amazed.

RJ caught this feisty silver bream.

LR took this beautiful photo of the pelican that was eyeing our catch hungrily.

We caught a red-lipped morwong that swallowed the hook. We tried to be as careful as we could, but he was injured fairly badly. Rather than let him suffer... We fed him to the pelican! YAY! Nature wins again!

RJ and his mate C. go exploring the dunes while the grown-ups waste their time having boring grown-up conversations.