Puppies, Pumas, and Procrastination...

At the end of January I started taking a few online graduate courses through Minnesota State University, Moorhead.  They offer courses specifically for individuals working in education, so the load is manageable, and offered something to do when the creatures of the night begin to prowl in the jungle after dark - which is pretty early this time of year.

This past weekend I had a big paper due, which gave me ample opportunity to procrastinate, ruminate, and take random puppy pictures.  With my paper completed I can switch gears to a topic of recent contemplation, my puppy, who is now around 6^th months of age.

 Belikin was born a week or two after my arrival in Gallon Jug, and since birth has had the unique distinction, among her puppy peers, of a perfect little cowlick mohawk at the scruff of her neck.

 She was my favorite puppy long before I decided I wanted a dog, and with all of the dangers present for a puppy in the jungle, I have tried - rather unsuccessfully - to avoid getting too attached to her.  There are many perils for dogs in this area, the list including snakes, pumas, jaguars, coyotes, and - perhaps the most numerous and dangerous - falling coconuts.  A week after Bel moved into the loft I took it upon myself to wrestle and relocate a boa constrictor that was living in the stables at the time.  As a testament to the perils of being a jungle puppy, Bel's mother Dulce, loved by all in Gallon Jug, went missing from her home, about 100 yards away from the loft, a few weeks ago, never to be seen again.

 Only very recently have I begun thinking more than week-to-week as a puppy owner, but as I now have a 60 lb bag of dog food and a 5 month flee collar, I may as well continue in that same vein with a proper puppy post, to immortalize my dear puppy, instead of memorializing.

Aside from her mohawk, Belikin's other major quirk is screaming when she yawns - similar to the sound made by some female tennis players when the strike the ball.

The number one rule that I have with Belikin is NO FOOD AFTER MIDNIGHT.

gremlins.wikia.com

  I don't want her turning into one of these things...

gremlins.wikia.com

Puma update:

Aside from the obvious workout benefits, biking also allows for covering a lot of ground in a stealth mode compared to vehicle travel.  I saw my third puma while biking yesterday.  This was a big one that was sleeping in the road about a mile past Laguna Verde.  I biked within about 40 yards of him before he decided to head into the jungle.  I did catch myself checking behind my as a bike for about the next two miles and contemplating the purchase pepper spray, if such a thing can be found in Belize.


And the Orchid of the Week is:

The shower of gold orchid...