Less Than 36 Hours Before Take Off!

Today is 11 March 2009 at about 9:30 PM EDT and I am almost ready to go.

It is always very hectic planning a research expedition to St. Croix. This trip seems to be a little more so because in addition to getting all the equipment and supplies together, I have been busy arranging the Skype session with Jonathan's class. Also, I have been advising students so that they choose the correct classes for next fall and teaching two classes, one which had an exam today.

This trip is also different in several other ways. First, I have more electronic gadgets than I know what to do with. I have several GPS units (I don't want to get lost after 30 years without one!). I have a Trail Camera to capture still and video images of mongoose in the field. Of course, I have to bring a card reader to get the images from the Trail Camera card to my MacBook Pro. I have a webcam for our Skype video session. I have a Flip Mino for capturing video to post on our blogs. I have an underwater camera. I have my above-water camera. I have a Power Tracker II to read the RFID chips in mongoose. Jonathan's digital camera is also tossed in as well as his XO computer (he needs electronic toys just like his daddy!). Gone are the days when I would hop on a jet to the Caribbean with my mongoose traps, ear tags to mark mongoose, and a field notebook to record data! Gone too are the days when I would sit under the evening stars and chat the hours away with my colleagues. Oh well, just like the mongoose, we must adapt to the changing times as well.

I am very excited about the Skype conference with the Kindergarten class. I am also excited about Katie Case's project investigating mongoose blood for parasites. And, as always I am just plain excited about returning to my favorite Caribbean Island!