TWO DAYS IN REVERSE ORDER

2010 Feb. 25 Thursday
Chilly morning, but very sunny. We had a relaxing morning, reading and doing computer work. Linda did some laundry. It’s much nicer for her to be able to do a little on several days right next to the kitchen, without waiting for a big batch and having to take it somewhere to get it done. After lunch here, we went to the workout center for ½ hour of treadmill and stationary bike. I should be doing this every day, but it’s hard to get the habit again. My glucose count is a little high again (140’s), and I’m sure it’s due to lack of aerobic exercise and weight gain. So I’m determined to watch the diet and exercise more - the same struggle goes on and on!
Supper here, then watched the Idol results. It seems like the talent has not performed as well as in the past with no one really good. Hopefully that will change as time goes on.

WEATHER: High 64, low 33. Predictions of a freeze more inland and north, with Ocala forecast of a low of 24.

FL NEWS: “KILLER WHALE PULLED IN TRAINER BY PONYTAIL”
SeaWorld Orlando trainer Dawn Brancheau died Wednesday from "multiple traumatic injuries and drowning" after a killer whale pulled her underwater by her long ponytail near the theme park's Shamu Stadium, autopsy results released Thursday revealed. As horrified fellow trainers and visitors to the theme park watched, the 12,000-pound orca named Tilikum shook and tossed Brancheau and circled around in a tank with her arm in his mouth, witnesses told the Orlando Sentinel. Brancheau, 40, was petting and otherwise interacting with the killer whale in knee-deep water about 2 p.m. Wednesday when he grabbed her by the ponytail and wouldn't let go, the Orange County Sheriff's Office determined. Other trainers couldn't jump in and save her because of the male orca's aggressiveness, investigators concluded. Brancheau's body was recovered after Tilikum was coaxed into a smaller tank and lifted out of the water on a platform scale, the Sheriff's Office said.
Sea World Orlando said Thursday that it intends to keep the killer whale that has now been involved in three fatalities in 19 years, but it hasn't decided whether Tilikum will perform in front of audiences again. The mammoth male orca has been valuable property for the resort through the years, both as a stud who has fathered 13 calves and as a performer who delights audiences with outsized splashes. But the characteristics that make the killer whale so prized — testosterone and size — also make him especially dangerous for the trainers who work with him, some orca experts say. Since the tragedy, the resort is taking extra precautions with the animal, with trainers forbidden from putting their bodies close to him.
The only mature breeding male at SeaWorld, Tilikum is big and randy. As a result, SeaWorld must often keep him separated from the seven other killer whales in its collection. Chuck Tompkins, corporate curator of animal behavior for SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, said the park's female killer whales typically only want Tilikum around them when they are sexually active. All of SeaWorld's other orcas are either females or juveniles. "Any one day he could spend the whole day by himself, and the next day he could spend the whole day with the females," Tompkins said. He added that Tilikum spends as much as three days alone, though never longer. But some experts say extended periods of isolation can be stressful for a killer whale, an inherently social animal. That, they say, can in turn make them prone to unpredictable behavior such as that exhibited Wednesday.


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2010 Feb. 24 Wednesday
This morning a girl came to clean the room, leave fresh towels, and refurnish consumables. They also come on Sundays to do a ‘tidy up’, not a complete cleaning. That’s another benefit of not living in a 5th wheel camper - other people are taking care of those things. We think we made the right choice, but the camper has not sold so far. In a few months, we may be paying to have it hauled home - I sure hope not! For lunch, we went to Olive Garden for salad, soup, and bread sticks. The restaurant is just across the highway from the entrance to the resort. We enjoy going there because of the good Italian food, the nice atmosphere, and the reasonable cost. I had pasta fiagoli (sp) and Linda had minestrone, both excellent. Since it was raining, we decided to go to the Florida Mall, which is about 15 miles away. It is a covered mall and is gigantic - a good place to spend a rainy afternoon. We walked a lot, spent some time at the bookstore (bought 3 books), and of course spent some time at a Starbucks. Home for supper, then watched Idol again. Last night was the 12 girls, tonight the 12 boys.

WEATHER: High 72, low 44 . It started raining a little this morning, then cleared off, but rained in earnest all afternoon. No thunderstorms or pouring rain, but steady. Total rainfall of about ½ inch. Tomorrow the high is supposed to be about 60, because this front is supposed to move on through. Diane and her daughters are coming Fri. night, and it looks like it will be pretty cool while they are here. I hope at least one day is warm enough for them to swim. The pool is heated, but it’s a lot nicer swimming in 80 degree weather.