The Saga of the Lost Turtle

Spencer went missing yesterday!  We are are so sad.  My human brought us out into the yard to play and even while she was specifically keeping her eye on Spencer, he simply got away.  

This is a tragedy for my human.  I’m okay.  A little confused yes, but alas, I am a turtle and I shall live out my long years wondering what Spencer got himself into if he is not found.

It was apparent that my human was in utter shambles when he got away.  She was sitting right there practically watching him escape and as she gave him a few seconds before she got up to capture him… by the time she got to where he should have been, he just wasn’t there.  He wasn’t anywhere.  

See, contrary to popular belief, turtles can actually move quite fast.  We can also climb things, sideways even, and pull off other strange contortions that one may not think turtles could.  We are diggers and explorers and it is just any wonder where Spencer could be.

This is quite the unfortunate event, though my human doesn’t just give up on things like this.  That little turtle needs to get found.  I’ve already figured out what she’s doing when she’s taking water from the tank.  She’s setting up a trap for him outside where he may come looking for water.  I hope he comes looking for water.  I hope he knows where he is in relation to the yard and turns around comes home.  I wonder if he can smell the water from our tank.  I hope he can.  

There is good news and bad news for Spencer being out in the elements.  Thank goodness its summertime so he won’t freeze to death at night but there are raccoons around here and they would love a tasty treat like a turtle.  The good news is that if he isn’t found by a predator, he can live up to a month or more on his own out in the wild, even without anything to eat or drink.  That’s pretty amazing!

So for now, we are mourning the loss of a dear friend… we are praying that he is found safe and sound.  We will be looking for him daily until the search becomes utterly fruitless.  

Dear, Dear Spencer… what a little rascal.

Piggy Piggy Turtles

We love to eat!

Our human starves us!  Someone help!

Just kidding.  She feeds us well.  In fact, she just said I was fat yesterday.  While I don’t appreciate that, she’s right.  The fact is, Spencer and I are turtles and turtles love to explore and engage in things.  Most especially, food.  We love to eat things that we might find floating among our tank.  Or things that we see at the bottom of the tank.  Every so often there are ants crawling on our rocks… Spencer tries to eat them too.  There’s probably some good protein there.  Nonetheless - the point is this - we may look like turtles but we eat like pigs!  Or rather we would if our human allowed us.

For those of you visiting for the first time, perhaps I should elaborate.  I am merely one year old and I have grown five inches in that time.  Seems a lot being that I will only reach 13 inches at most, full grown… I’m six inches long right now.  

Spencer is smaller than I but he is already getting fat too.  

It must be difficult for our human to resist feeding us when we scratch and scrape at the side of the tank, practically screaming for her to feed us.  Like we’re starving.  It’s really great when she gives in and throws us a few shrimp.  I think I heard her say something to the other human about getting us some new guppies!  Yippee!  That will be sooo yummy.

It should be a good lesson for the human not to feed us everytime we beg.  It’s like giving in to a child and she could really use the practice for her own will power anyway.  Just because we act hungry does not mean we actually are.  Most likely we are only bored and looking for some attention.  

So the human says we’re piggy piggy turtles but really we’re just looking for a good time.  Perhaps now that summer is here we will be allowed to spend more time outside.  This will be good exercise and extra vitamin D!  

On another note - here’s a little reminder for you to check me and Spencer out on Periscope Friday nights at 7pm PST.  You can find and follow my human on Twitter @Scarlet_Nathan.  

See for yourself… we beg like begging little beggars.  Ask questions and see how cute we are!

 

Redundancy

I’m just hanging out this week - not too much to say but a few words on redundancy.  I picked this topic because, well, it’s kind of a reflection of my life.   

I swim, I eat, I hang out with Spencer.  Sometimes I climb upon the rocks to take a bask.  Every day my human feeds us at morning and night.  Once in a while she brings us outside to play in the grass.  She lets us out in the house every now and again.  This gives us a chance to explore and get out of the tank to dry ourselves some.

Anyway, pretty boring, you think?  Well, you thought wrong.  My life may be redundant from day to day but I am a turtle after all.  Slow is how we roll.  I happen to think we live an extraordinary adventure each moment we are alive.

So let’s talk about redundancy then - you’re definition of the word is probably far different than mine because you see, I am a species born of instinct and intuition.  Therefore to be redundant is merely my life cycle.  

You may notice redundancy in your life from time to time.  Waking up, eating, eating again and again, and going to sleep each day - something about showers and brushing your teeth probably fits in there.  Nonetheless, this is redundant behavior, no?

Well - the dictionary defines “Redundant” as something being ‘in excess’.  There are obviously a few definitions to correctly utilize the word, but in this case - allow me to be redundant here - haha - we must use the word in its correct context.  My life cannot be considered redundant because my life is natural.  In a natural state of being, however, does my life fit the definition?  Redundantly so!

I know this may be getting confusing.  Believe me, I was confused by my own thoughts on this as well.  Its funny you see because I am living a life that fits the definition by form but in other words, breaks the definition down completely to mean nothing at all.  

Turtles live lives that resemble repetition, apparently this difference between repetition and redundancy makes for a confusing relation of the words.  Let us define “Repetition” then as ‘the act of repeating’ or ‘repeated action’.  So, don’t these words fit the same category within each other?  

Not really.  The reason for this differential is because of the fine lines in each definition.  To be redundant would be behavior that continues forth without necessity.  Whereas to be repetitive without excess is merely continuous behavior.  

Still confused?  Okay - let me sum this up.  I am a turtle what do I really know - these are just my reflections from the pond.  Otherwise, I urge you to practice with definition in your life.  Know what you say when you say it and understand that when you say something, people think you mean it.  Don’t become redundant nor repetitive in your speech.  Words are important - they mean something.  Be sure you know what they mean before you make assumption or judgement upon behavior, especially.  Know the difference between things like redundancy and repetition.  Notice the definition of a word before you use it.  

Recognize what you say when you mean it and what you mean when you say it.  This results in the reflection of any situation to be a lot more positive.  Just think of the peaceful turtle pond - redundant, repetitive, whatever it may be - it’s steady nonetheless.

Moving On

Well, Spencer and I have taken over our space.  I have grown SO fast and adding Spencer to the tank has prompted my human to upgrade.

So, we got a new 55 gallon tub with a super duper filter!  And some bigger rocks!  And more room to swim around!  It is just awesome!  

Can you tell how excited I am?  My human can.  Spencer and I have so much water in here… we are swimming in every direction.  Right, Left, Sideways, Up and down!  This is GREAT!  Spencer even swam backwards - haha.

As it may have been mentioned before, aquatic turtles require a sufficient habitat to meet the distinct needs we would have in nature (as does any turtle in captivity).  This includes plenty of space for us to dive around.

Our new tank is sixteen inches deep with water and at least as wide.  The best part, it is long.  The length of the tank far exceeds the depth and width by probably double, and this still is not even the best part.  The best part is we are by the window, in the corner of the room.  Now we can see everything that happens in here and sometimes we might even catch the sight of a passing bird outside.  How cool, right?!  I also look forward to the natural scent of the outdoors blowing in.

Mostly, this tank is like a real pond.  We are digging it!  I think my favorite part is floating at the top and then realizing I have all this extra space below me.  Or else my favorite new thing will be to swim behind these gigantic rocks, to explore.  This new territory is exactly what I was hoping for.

Now, if we could just have a few plants, I would probably be the happiest turtle on planet earth.  Well, except for Spencer.  He’s pretty happy too.  But does he really count as a turtle?   I haven’t decided yet.  Whatever planet he comes from, I bet they don’t have the coolest humans to build indoor ponds there.  Therefore, I could be the happiest turtle in the whole universe!  

I can’t wait to see what kind of habitat we get when we’re full grown.

Spencer's Tale

Well, last week I introduced you to Spencer.  Let us this week then, focus on his story some.

Spencer’s tail is way longer than mine.  He must be a boy.  Boy turtles have longer tails and claws than female turtles.  This is true among most species but predominant in ours.  At first I thought he just wasn’t grown into his shell enough.  I wondered what was wrong with him… then he started fluttering his flippers in front of my face and I knew better.  I fluttered right back of course, but after a while I gave up.  He can flirt with me all he wants, I like him enough.

Nonetheless, his neck is longer than mine too.  He is a spindly little character.  Very pretty though.  I mean, I’m pretty, he is too.

He likes bananas …. I wonder why.  My human has tried to feed them to me before but they are un-interesting.  Spencer likes everything.  He likes me a lot.  He REALLY likes the terrarium where we live.  I can’t think of anything that he doesn’t seem to like.  He’s a pretty cool guy.

 

As for his size, he better step up.  I’m about twice as big as he is, yet he is probably twice my age.  I’m unsure how old he is, but I know he is older than me because he keeps trying to play this mating game.  I won’t mate until I’m older, perhaps between the ages of 5-8.  Spencer must be going on about three years old and therefore he’s ready to mate up.  I ain’t having it, not now, not ever!  Ha.  I’m sure my human however would just love to hatch some baby turtles someday!

Otherwise, Spencer is just a turtle with a story to tell just as the rest of us.  I will share his thoughts here from time to time.  Basically, since he lives with me now, this will kind of become OUR story… but I get to keep the name of the blog.  Hehe.  I’m special like that.

Alien Invasion

And then there were two!

I got a new pond mate.  His name is Spencer.  He’s a red eared slider and he’s much smaller than I am.  Weird, because apparently, he’s a bit older than me.  That’s okay because I’m still bigger!

He looks like an alien.  Although, maybe some people think I look like an alien too.  At least I’ve disguised myself to look like a turtle.  He really looks like an alien.  From outer space!  It’s no wonder my human named him Spencer.  

I like him.  He’s even kinda cute.  Obviously not as cute as myself, though he is pretty darling.  

So, pretty much, we just swim around together.  

When he was first introduced to the tank we had a territory dance.  No big deal.  It was kind of like shaking hands.  We both flutter our front flipper feet at each other and kind of wiggle shake our bodies.  My human thinks its cute.  I just hope Spencer remembers no matter what, I was here first, and I’m the bigger turtle!  I think he’s a boy, and my human thinks I’m a girl, so this could be a mating ritual.  Even while he’s small and maybe a year or more older than me, I think he’s ready -  Not me, I won’t want anything to do with that for at least a few more years.  

Turtles are not aggressive animals.  Maybe aliens are not either.  Maybe he is an alien!  

He fits in just fine.  I do not think he realized at first that Ralph and Sophia (the Goldfish) are almost bigger than he is as well, so he won’t be eating them anytime, either.  When he first got here, he started swimming as fast as he could in circles chasing after Sophia.  I think Ralph was laughing - Ralph is near as big as me after all.

Since there are two of us now there is a whole lot more to say.  I have much more to keep me entertained.  Such as the way Spencer climbs atop of me while I’m basking upon my sacred rock.  He just moved right in and became uber comfortable with this space.  Maybe that is what aliens do to fit in.  Maybe all turtles are aliens.  Maybe I am an alien too!  Maybe this is why he likes me so much.  He just swims around me and always wants to know what I’m doing.  

Can you tell I’m a little hung up on his presence.  It’s weird looking at another version of oneself.  And because he is a red eared slider and I am a yellow bellied slider, well, he looks different.  Like an alien.

Growing Up

Well, my human has had a rough go at inspiration regarding my story over the past several weeks so she decided to sit and chat with me.  For the first time in months she removed me from the tank for a short hour or so and was astonished to find how I have grown.  You must recognize how different I look to the human eye under water in comparison to being close up and personal.

I am getting so BIG!

Growing up is hard to do - that’s what I have heard people say anyway.  I do not think it is particularly difficult, really.  I just grow.  Not necessarily up either.  I guess humans grow UP - because they become taller as they grow.    I just grow larger.  By volume and weight.

Well too, I suppose I grow mentally.  Turtles are more instinctual animals rather than being classified as those that think.  As it is referred to as intelligence, ‘they say’ that turtles are not very smart.  I am not quite sure how that is classified… perhaps on the scale of IQ.  But I assure you, my brain is growing right along with my body.  Those scientists must know something about my brain that I do not!  Ha.

I sure do look like I am thinking a lot.  I will tell you what I think about - I think about FOOD.  It is all I do care about really - aside of my basking hours.  I must say, it is really a very simple life… Growing up shouldn’t be hard to do at all…..