Terrapene Carolina

I'm sure you probably all know about my immeasurable love for birds, but you may or may not know that I have the same fondness for turtles. I've always loved turtles (see), but the older I've gotten, the more I've learned about their (box turtles, or terrapene carolina) rapid decline due to habitat destruction and fragmentation. It's because of the information I've read that I've basically become a turtle-saving maniac. Up until today, I've only ever run into the highway or blocked traffic for two turtles in one day, but in less than two hours of driving I got 5, yes FIVE, turtles from the road!

turtle pictures found here and here.

Like a fool, I left my camera at home today, but any turtle is cute! So, back to my story. I was told the other year (regarding orphaned or injured birds, and any wild animal in a perilous situation) that, basically, I'm stepping in and disturbing nature, and I should leave all wildlife alone. I, on the other hand, disagree. I feel that I'm put in a specific place at a specific time because I'm supposed to be there, and I can help. Do we think that doctors are disrupting things by saving lives? No.

Okay, rant over, back to the silly stuff. Two of the turtles were at the edge of the road on my way to work this morning, and three of them were in the road on my way to see my first client. There was a car a ways behind me when I stopped to get the fifth turtle out of the road, so I pulled over, jumped out of the car, and put my hand up to say, "stop" while I was walking to the turtle. Well, they didn't obey the sign, but the turtle is now safe, so that's all that matters!

A couple years ago when I was at my favorite local junk/antique shop, I spotted this pretty necklace, and I felt like was made for me! Fitting, no? In addition to mingling with turtles, I also went to pick up this CD from Karl Blau at my local indie record store, Speakertree Records, and I love it!