a couple quick things

Alright first off...a couple days ago i was doing what we call ("we" meaning trainers/interns at Marineland) a gating session. Basically that means we move one or more dolphins from one habitat to another. we have gates made of 4 inch PVC about 6x6 with a rubber net-like attachment. The gates can be removed or pulled up and lowered into the opening between two p0ols. Some dolphins are very curious of the gates or want to get out of the pool they are in so we have stakes that wedge into the gate so they cant pull them up (and trust me almost everyday they do). OK well here goes. I was helping with a gating session to get chubby into the med pool while the other two boys stayed in the other pool (pool in the picture shown above). i stood on the bridge seen above and lowered the gate in after he entered and everything was going great so i then decided to step down and attach the wedge when i placed my right foot down on water. Its hard to stand on water. Chubby and I got a little closer than. No physical damage occured. Just a little emotional given there were many people watching the session so I'm sure the act was caught in the background of at least 1 or 2 pictures they took. It was a fun day!

Next on the list...today I participated as a guest in a session with Dazzle. I did get a little more action with her. She needed some practice. We try and get our dolphins used to things such as holding their rostrum in their hands and getting a kiss. Directly following the session we got to see the Discovery Shuttle fly through the air. You could see all the fire come out the end a lot more than the actual shuttle. That was awesome!!!

Hope all y'all are enjoying your summer. If anybody is interested i will be home (Long Island that is) on July 20-24. Stop down. Maybe we could meet in the city. Enjoy your 4th of July and I will see you soon. I feel like this summer is going by extremely fast. Time does fly when youre getting the chance to do something you love....

J-Ball