Lately at the Oregon Zoo...

[memento1]

So, my co-workers have started calling me "Finona". It started when one of them, who's a bit dyslexic, wrote my name that way on the board one day. They teased me about it, I laughed, done. Then one of them went on stage and introduced herself as "Finona" to the crowd (this is a regular occurance once a script gets memorized. I once did a show as "Glinda", another as "Olga"). I pretended to act offended backstage, we all laughed. Now they all call me Finona, every day, even the boss. On the one hand, it's not so funny any more and I don't care for the moniker. On the other, I love that I'm a part of this big in-joke. Anyways, that's that.

Yesterday I was bit by the kinkajou. I knew it would happen. He always threatens me and he bit me the last time I tried to pick him up too. But the boss decided I should start handling him and of course I'm thrilled to get to start handling a new animal. I knew exactly what it would take and that's not flinching when he threatens and bites until he learns I'm not intimidated by him, but until then I forsee getting bit a few more times. Also, the bald eagle flew off during the last show and as I was the only staff member not on stage, I followed. Yay me. All this with debilitating cramps. D*mn woman parts.

And that is all for now. I never have anything exciting to say anymore, do I? Haha. Back to reading fic.

Comments

[krisnreine.livejournal.com]

As someone who has a habit of bestowing upon my co-workers odd nicknames... it's really a sign of affection, I promise! I can't *not* call Chandler "Miss Chanandler" no matter how inappropriate. I called one guy "Tall Guy" for all 6 months he worked there. No clue what his real name was anymore, but after a few weeks EVERYONE called him Tall Guy. *g*

[memento1.livejournal.com]

*L* I've realized that, which is why I'm putting up with it. Better than "Tall Guy", anyway. (Seriously? *L*)

[naushika.livejournal.com]

Haha, that reminds me of an incident at my old workplace at Bank of America. When we switched our jobs (we went from calling people to offer credit limit increases to calling people to collect on past due bills), we went through a new training. After the training came out, there was all new paperwork - new productivity printouts and all that. Anyway, some genius somewhere along the line misspelled my name horribly, turning Noelle Keyser into Nicole Keysey. Fortunately my paycheck was spared this, but all my other paperwork said Nicole Keysey, and all these productivity printouts were public and visible by everyone! So my whole team (we were all very friendly) and even my MANAGER started teasing me by calling me that, like, all the time. It didn't help that it took a MONTH before my manager could finally get the misspelling fixed on the paperwork. But I was teased pretty consistently and called that for a few months, and it would still pop up now and again long after that.

Like you, I got tired of it after not too long! But I realized that as I started ignoring it and not really reacting when people called me it, eventually it phased out. Or I would act bored with it, and be like 'haha' or 'oh, you're really clever' or roll my eyes. But we were all a really sarcastic bunch, I dunno how that level of sarcasm would fly in your workplace. ;)

The point of this long story is that eventually it will fade away! Just hang in there in the meantime. *lol* :D

I had to look up what a kinkajou is! How cuuuuute!

When you say the eagle flew off, do you mean he just like.. flew away into outside-land? Did you have to go track him down making a nest on the top of a building or something?

[memento1.livejournal.com]

Well, I had just decided it was actually rather amusing, and they pretty much stopped doing it. *L* I've definitely learned the "ignore it and it'll go away" trick, as I used to pretend to be offended quite a lot and learned that just drives it on. I have to say, it is rather amusing the could get your name SO WRONG, though. Hehe. Ah, the pleasures of having unique names ;)

Kinkajous are adorably cute, but terribly temperamental. It's hard to display them because they act so cute (clinging to your arm, climbing down your shirt sleeve, hanging by their tail), everyone wants one as a pet and they're SUCH bad pets.

Our eagle, Chinook, has landed on TOP of the bandshell instead of on stage the past 3 days, and had to be called down. Technically we call a fly off if they fly out of view of the stage and we don't know where they went. Like that first day she flew into a construction area further down the zoo, and it took us a minute or two to run over and locate her. She's got an injured wing so she can't fly too far, but some of our other birds wear telemetry units so if they fly off we can track them that way.

[penumbra23.livejournal.com]

I think you have the coolest job ever - all those birds. I really want to drop in and see you at some point. I've been bitten by a scarlet macaw and taloned by a great horned owl - not much, but it's a start.

[memento1.livejournal.com]

I would have to agree with you! :) If you stop by, I'm sure I could give you a quick behind-the-scenes tour. All our best animals aren't in the show yet (the porcupine, kinkajou, parrots). Let me know!

Hey, that's a pretty good start! A co-worker of mine got taloned in the face by our barn owl yesterday. It doesn't look fun.

[bayareajenn.livejournal.com]

Well, I will never call you "Finona." I love your real name as it is. :-)

Kinkajous are awesome! How hard do they bite?

Girlie parts suck. :-( Just getting over my time now. Add that to depression, and I become a couch rock (which is an order of magnitude worse than a couch potato).

How did you get the eagle to come back down?

[memento1.livejournal.com]

They bite pretty hard. He likes to wrestle and "play bite" (bite just hard enough that he almost breaks the skin, haha), but he gave me quite a few punctures when he was pissed, although my co-worker got it worse. Her hand was still swollen and bleeding the next day. The poor girl was also taloned in the face by the barn owl this week. It is just not her week! *L*

Couch rock, I like that turn of phrase. :) Probably describes me fairly well, as most of my days off I never even change out of my PJs.

We bring a fake stump (her landing post on stage) over close to where she's landed and bait her down to it with a few mice. She's just not motivated enough lately, so we're lowering her diet until she responds better.

[ranee42.livejournal.com]

hahaha, the nickname makes me a little sad because I love your real name! but at least you're part of the in-joke! haha!

aww, you got bitten! :(

HEY BTW I TOTALLY MISS YOU!! ♥ ♥

[memento1.livejournal.com]

*L* I actually found it amusing after a while. But they stopped saying it. Awwww.

I TOTALLY MISS YOU MOAR!! Hehe. *HUGS*