Zoo Bucket List (post 1)

As I walked through the brisk winter air. I realized I had a large grin on my face. Because I was going to check something off my bucket list.

The thing about Bucket Lists are, I think, people wait till they are older to start checking them off. Why wait? Life is to short, things happen, people die, people get sick. I’ve been checking things off my list since 1978. And today I was able to do another one.

Going to one of my favorite places, like I have SO many times before. But this time. By myself.

Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo.

Some people see the zoo as a bunch of animals in cages to show off. But little do they know HOW much more then that the zoo really is. It’s about conservation, and teaching, not only the public about animals but teaching themselves. Learning something new everyday. Through observation, and study.

I spend a good amount of my day chatting with the amazing volunteers, or as they are also called, Docents.
Patricia was the first I had encountered. She was in the Australia house.

I did spend some time in the beginning of the Australia house, watching the boa’s and other small displays they had. It’s a smaller darker house, and while most people run through it. I stroll.

I was first drawn to where she was because the keeper was hosing down the Kookaburra birds, who are housed with a Tawny Frogmouth birds (seen here)

Super cool to watch. The keeper was hand feeding fish to the birds.

Which excited the Kookabura’s and they starting their amazing singing! It’s not often the public gets to hear them. I felt lucky.

Patricia and I chatted about wombats, the baby they just had there. Their age, weight and how strong they are. Being that it was feeding time, and no people, this was the most moving around I’ve ever seen the wombats do. They were scratching, sniffing, and moving about.

I was too excited to move onto my favorite place in the Australia house, and one of my favorite places period in this zoo. The free flying bat area.

Well there is one thing to learn about me, it’s that I don’t fear animals. Don’t get it wrong with the fact that I respect them. I know their dangerous, and could at any time, harm me. BUT I also know enough about animals that I know what to fear, how to act, and how far to trust.

So when you go into the free flying bat area, know that the Rodriques fruit bats will fly around. They may even fly close to you. I did hear a story where a lady had one land on her. She wasn’t amused. Myself? I’d be thrilled only hoping it wouldn’t go to the bathroom on me.

Patricia taught me about how the bats are named from Rodriques Island that is off the coast of Madagascar. I learned the one’s you see in the open area are neutered males and females. (they like to breed!) With out a flash you can still capture a great shot.

Hard to see the bats. They are usually above on the screen. But to the left on the ground is one crawling.

I spent about 45 minutes chatting with Patricia. Found out later she’s THE know all of docents that volunteer at the zoo. So happy I was able to spend so much time with her.

After our conversation. She said I’ve got something to tell you. I was nervous. She said “Thank you. You are an exception to many people that come to our zoo to visit. You WANT to learn about animals, you also appreciate what it is we do here. You seem to be teaching your children all about the animals. But you are teaching them about what it is we do here at the zoo. You have a great respect for the animals, and a great want to learn all you can about the animals. I’m thankful for people like you.” She touched my arm. And said she had to go off to her next station. It was a great visit.

THIS is what I wanted out of my day. Not expecting a compliment like that. But time to chat with keepers, and docents. To explore the quiet of the zoo. The winter life. The Zoo to me is so much more then the summer rush of too many people and those damn tour busses that drive around, forcing you to move out of the way. I’m not a fan of crowds, and at this rate I’m spoiled with quiet time at the zoo.

To be continued…

JCat McGack

Because I can.

I put on my neon shoes today. Because I can.

I put on Sophie’s leader.
I put on her coat.

I put on my yoga pants. Hoodie. Hat.
I put on my P!nk and Nikki Minaj music.
I went for a walk.
I went for a jog.

I was sick this morning. I felt blah.

I pushed myself.

Because I can.

Because some people I know can’t put on their shoes.

Because some people I know can’t walk. Can’t jog.

Because some people don’t have their dogs anymore.

Because some people can’t hear.

Because some people my age are not here anymore. Gone too soon.

Because they can’t, is why I do.

They’d love to walk their dog one more time.

They’d love to put on their shoes.

They’d love to walk, or jog.

They’d love to hear music.

I can put on my shoes. I can walk. I can jog. I have my dog. I have my health. I have my hearing. I have the strength.

There is no excuse to NOT get outside. Enjoy the last day of warm weather before winter hits. To do what so many others would love to do again, or for the first time.

I can. I will.

JCatMcGack

In My Spare Time

Over the summer I was often caught saying “In my spare time” as if I had TONS of it. People would ask…

“When do you do your scrapbooking? Paint? Draw? Garden? and all the other organizing and fun projects you come up with?!”

I don’t come up with time. I don’t have a magic wand that creates me more then the 24/7 we all have. I just schedule my life differently then the average person does.

Now I’m not so irresponsible that I put off ALL things I need to do. BUT we do the minimal around here. So in the morning, Tink is off to school, and Buzz is fed, pets too. Dishes done, some basic picking up. If bills need to be paid, or the accounts balanced, phone calls made, I do it. Then instead of diving into laundry, cleaning, dusting, mopping, and other things I COULD do. I see what Buzz wants to do. At 4 1/2 I’ve got a very limited number of months before he’s off to school all day, and my play friend is whisked away learning and growing like his sister.

We usually go to the basement, where it’s 1/2 playroom and the other half is my art room. Play-doh, paints, or just drawing. Sometimes we are lazy and watch cartoons for a bit together. As of the last few months he’s TOTALLY into his Monster Fighter LEGO’s. (LEGO’s + Halloween) so we’ll play for a while. Maybe a Nerf gun shoot out, or just read stories. Recently (as of this week) he lets me read Shel Silverstein poems to him! That makes my heart so happy!

And when he’s tired of playing with Mommy, then I go off and I drink coffee, I blog, Pinterst, I microblog (Facebook, Twitter) read, doodle, play games. THEN, after a nice morning, I’ll get into the above adult jobs that need to be done. Now before I go much further, I need to tell you that I am a Stay At Home Mom. I do not have a 9-5 job. My kids and this house are my current job.

BUT. and that is a BIG but.
Understand that my life priorities are still the same, kids or not, 40 work hours a week or not. Fun, playing, and creative time, it’s all been a priority to me. So to say that because you work a job outside of the home, you can’t say you don’t have the time to do fun things, I’ve got to say I’m calling that bullshit right there.

I get that you may not get time for 3 hours of play time, on top of all the other jobs to do around the house, I get that. Working parents get just a few hours a day to fit in playtime, housework, and just a bit of me time. If you say “I just don’t have time because I work” THAT is your own fault.

I used to work 40+ hours a week, and I used to STILL have time to read, draw, paint, scrapbook. YES my time was limited, but I made the best of the time I had. Took a sketchbook, pictures to crop, or my book to work and when I had a 15 or 20 minute break, I’d enjoy a bit of ME time where ever I go.

I know having kids is a time suck, they take up SO much of your energy, you are always waiting on them, cleaning up after them… it’s HOW you choose to live this life with them. So sure, the first few years you are their maid, their chef… but even then I was able to just zone out. Then with my PPD the best I could do was watch the 24/7 Big Brother live feeds while the baby slept, but it was some me time. Not laundry, not dishes, just some zone out doodle on paper, read a blog time.

I’m at a point with my 6 1/2 and 4 1/2 year old that they can pick up after themselves, help with small jobs around the house (they have a chore list) and help me in the kitchen. So it’s ALL of us enjoying every moment instead of grumbling about doing it all myself.

Remember Mary Poppins and how she made cleaning the nursery room fun? It’s like that. Make fun of what you do. I don’t like dishes, so I time myself. Try to beat my old time. And play music. My family knows I get the MP3 player and rock out to some Linkin Park to get the dishes done. I also remind myself how much I don’t want to wake up to a nasty kitchen. (note I have yet to come up with a fun idea for laundry. I just suck at it. Period)

This year, and the whole “Simplify” theme is making house work simple. Do it, get it done, enjoy life. A few years back it was “Balance” and I needed to find the right amount of time to give to the house, and adult jobs and how to give enough time to the ME time that I needed with kids and husband time too.

This life of mine is all about finding out what works, changing things up when it doesn’t, and loving it when it does.

Happy Tuesday!JCat McGack
“Just remember that we are all given the same 24 hours in the same 7 days. What you do with your time is up to you. “

“Don’t take life to serious. No one get’s out alive.”

Coffee Slut

In honor of National Coffee Day. (today) I thought I’d do a post on coffee. I’ll tell you what it means to me.

I remember the smell of it growing up as a kid. Brewing everyday.
I remember the church I grew up in brewing it for everyone at every event.
I remember the Folgers commercials. I remember crying at them, especially at Christmas, when the boy would come home to surprise his parents.
I remember my grandmothers drinking coffee. Along with my aunts. I remember how I thought how crazy they all were to drink it black. Right from the pot. At least my mom and dad added sugar and cream to make it taste better.

I loved to smell it. But I never liked the taste. It was just BITTER to me.
I loved SWEET.

I had a boyfriend in H.S. he was nice, but he often thought that breaking up for me or how he’d say “I just need a break for a few days” would destroy me. So my amazing friend we will call, Death Before Decaf, would hang out with me. Listen to my sad story, broken heart. And just listen, tell me I could do better. But he supported me, like a best friend does. And often times we’d be at Georgio’s, in front of the bowling alley. That, is where I had my first best coffee.

I’d fill it almost half way, yes HALF way with pure sugar. Then the rest with coffee. It was good, sweet, with a hint of bitter.

The coffee thing stuck, but as a treat. As I got older and started working midnights at the local casino’s coffee was still a helpful friend.

It wasn’t until I had Tink that I truly welcomed coffee daily. I dusted off the coffee pot we got as a wedding present 5 years before (we’d use it when family came over) I drank a lot of coffee now with a new born. And I went through a LOT of sugar.

It wasn’t until Buzz was about 1 year old, Blue and I decided to try the P90X work out system. Reading the new healthy diet book we had to cut back. He stopped drinking pop, cold turkey. And I took the sugar out of my coffee, cold turkey.

(see even Buzz likes his coffee! Don’t freak, just a juice!)

It’s 3 years later, he has yet to take a sip of pop, and sugar in my coffee is just TOO much sugar. I drink it black. NOTHING in it. Well maybe an ice cube.

I’m a Starbucks junkie. I’ll admit it. I LOVE their coffee, I’ve tried a few different once. The Tribute was hands down the best, most expensive (thanks to Death Before Decaf for that) I’m more of a Café Verona girl right now. The dark brew’s are my fav.

Oh and I have to tell you my dad and I have an ongoing friendly feud over coffee. For some weird reason he drinks the DD brand coffee and loves it. I get it, it’s a sissy coffee, not very strong. Good for the sissies. I do drink McD’s coffee out of desperation. It’s ok. It works, but for a strong coffee that does the job. Starbucks can not be replaced!


I used to go into the Starbucks stores and order the Raspberry Mocha. Depending on my mood and the weather it was hot, iced or Frappuccino (blended) with chips on it! LOVE.

Oh, and sweet budget breakers they put a Starbucks RIGHT down the street from me! Sadly after 11 months they closed a ton of stores, that was one of them. I was sad. No really I cried. Bastards.

A new mom friend from Tink’s preschool and I headed to Starbucks for a kid free break. She saw my order, and I said right away I knew how bad the Mocha’s were. TONS of sugar, carbs. But my treat. I do love the espresso part of them. Get the job done!
She said to try the “Americano” it’s what she gets. It’s nothing but espresso and water.
Sounds gross? It is. It’s straight bitter and strong, but throw in a shot of raspberry, or vanilla. It gets better. It is not for the weak of taste, but it’s a good time of espresso! (and cheaper then a Mocha!)

I’ve gotten my coffee fix so many other ways.

I drink it this way when I’m at a gas station…

Or this way when I’m scrapbooking all night with friends….

If I had it my way It’d be like this…

I did try a French press coffee once. HANDS down, the best way to drink coffee, OMG. It was beautiful. I need one of those… hint hint… Christmas…

And not kidding, I think this all the time. Maybe that is why I love to go to bed by 10 so I can get up early and drink my coffee…

Oh and I use my coffee pot so much that I had to get it replaced after 3 months this year. This was my beautiful red Mr. Coffee pot that my sister Frances bought me for Christmas 2011, by March it was fried. Good thing is JCP let’s you return it. No box, no receipt and lucky me, they had a red one. ALL better!

But every other day of the year besides the Mocha, and American, gas station or scrapbook ways. it’s like this. In one of my many coffee cups. Mostly Starbucks. Otherwise Disney.

 

SO Happy National Coffee Day!! Drink up however you take your coffee!!

JCat McGack

I want to sell me.

I read.

I read lots and lots of fantastic books, and magazines, and pretty $15 magazines, Where Women Create is my favorite.

I like to get idea’s, I like to live in other people’s worlds. To know that a world of being something BIG, even if it’s small town, and a small business, it’s BIG to their world.

I want that. I want to be something BIG to me.

Sure I talk of my dream job. The Zoo. Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo to be exact. I mean it WAS my job for a day. 

And it’s not a imaginary job, but it takes SO much time and dedication, SO much schooling and where I am in life with my kids and my family… well those are my excuses. My new path in animal love is to volunteer when I can. To read my books and watch my shows to learn as much as I can about them.

And like everyone else I have other dreams. Big ideas. And I read these magazines, see websites, blogs, and books about women who have taken what they love SO much and created a store, a website store, even if it’s just to make enough money to buy more product to make more of what they love.

I’ve always had this knack for making things. I claim to be pretty damn artsy fartsy and I love to create… BUT I don’t seem to really settle on ONE thing.

Let’s go back to my dream idea before I start rattling off my long list of creative loves… the dream is to have a store. Well it WAS a dream. But realizing a physical store requires you away from your family and loved ones. And in the economy, I’m not really sure I could even afford to rent space in order to do this.

But then something like Etsy came along, and all of it’s online wonderfulness. Or the town nearby has stores, that would let you sort of ‘rent’ a space in their store and sell what you make…right now I’ve got a booth with my mom. It’s in an antique mall. And 99% of the stuff is vintage or antique. Great place, great to clean out my house, just not great for my dream.

What would I sell? Hmmm….

I’ve sold my Ugly Sock Monsters before…

We can put these guys under sewing… well here’s a list of everything I can and love to do creatively.

I sew.

For the love of sewing it’s all due to my mom. She’s been sewing since, well forever. She bought me a sewing machine when I was in my 20’s and I’m pretty sure it sat in a box for 5 years before I even looked at it. I do enjoy it. And I’ve been hoarding ALL the fabric that I like from clothes that are on their way out the door to ‘create’ with.

I paint.

High School art class taught me that. Watercolor is fun, acrylic is random, and it’s a good stress relief.

I draw.

Cartoons to be exact. I love Disney characters. Bad guys and animals are the easy one’s for me. I’d love to take the time to sketch more, to practice, to remember the basics again.

I do clay.

It’s easy stuff. Stays soft till you bake it. Good because I’ve got a 5 month project STILL half finished on my counter!

I scrapbook.

THIS is a hobby I stayed away from. I KNEW once I got in, it’d be trouble. Well trouble it is. But I love to capture life, stories, every day events, and all about me. In pictures, papers and my art. I traditional scrapbook in the big ol’ 12x12 size. I’ve done 6x6, 8 1/2 x11, 8x8, in a journal, in a mini book. I love to try them all.

I rubber stamp.

When I was a kid we took a family vacation to St. Augustine Florida, my Aunt and Uncle live there. My mom and I came across a Rubber Stamp Store, we fell in love with the idea. 15 years later we learned of Stampin’ Up! rubber stamp company, within 2 years I was selling it as a demonstrator. Did that for 6 years.

And out of all of those my basement is where they call home. I have 1/2 as my beloved art room. YES I have a HUGE purple room dedicated to my love for art. I share it with family and friends, and most of all my children when they are creating as well.

What the problem is?

Problem is my personality. There is this amazing book that I found out about from my good friend Tiff. WAY back in 2003.

Personality Plus

It’s a book with a personality test. Then it breaks it down. Your positives, your negatives, and how to work with what you’ve got. I love it. I had my family take the tests and it’s amazing how ON point this book was. I suggest EVERYONE read it. And it’s amazing for people who work together as well.

So before I go into a 10 paragraph book review. I’ll get back to my point.

This book said it. And it’s true.

No Follow-Through. But good intention too.

I start projects, BRILLIANT ideas… again, not a good finisher.

THIS was on point with me. I call it procrastination at it’s best, they call it my personality.

SO with all that in mind. HOW do I follow through with this? With any idea of selling art, of making my creativity actually work in this world I’ve made. I’m a SAHM with my free time numbered. When Buzz goes to school full time in the fall of 2013, it’s a good time for me to get a J.O.B.

And believe me I want more money around this house, so we can enjoy things OUTSIDE of this house again.

Do you think it’s possible. With my no follow through personality, with my procrastination at it’s best, but with my willing to WANT to create, and to make it out there in the world… could I?

I’m not saying have a billion dollar idea, and a rocking chain of art stores. I’m just saying that I’m inspired everyday to create, to share my creation, to teach to others the basics of creating… and to possibly make money doing this…

Now where do I begin?

JCat McGack

It’s a Zoo. A walk to remember, Part 1

I had a chance in a lifetime. I entered a contest. A CHICAGO contest. I mean what were my odds? Hundreds and hundreds of people entered through Facebook and the ABC News channel website. It was a simple contest. Answer one question.

“What is your Dream Job?”

I posted mine. Out of all of those wishes, 4 of us get to have our dream come true. I found out the other jobs were, a baker (I think in a cupcake bakery) a voice over (sounds cool) and working the grounds at Wrigley Field where the Chicago Cubs play.

Well mine? It was here…

The beautiful, (even in the pouring rain) Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo. I wanted to be a Zoo Keeper. And do EVERYTHING they do.

I started my day out on my own. I was there SUPER early. (about an hour and a half early. But traffic is tricky, and I just COULDN’T be late for this day)

The first amazing thing I was able to experience was this. 200 acres of ME and the Zoo. Outside of a few keepers in their vans and golf carts driving by, construction working updating buildings, and making the sculptures for the upcoming impressive bug display and the Brookfield Zoo police (yes they have their own police department) it was me, myself and nature at it’s best.

This lawn pictured is usually FILLED with people, kids, and noise. At 7 am it’s just silence. JUST silent.

I came across these Waterbucks. They were all laying down till I showed up, then they all got up came to the fence and just awkwardly stared at me.

Not sure if it was because I wasn’t a khaki pant wearing regular this early in the morning, or if they thought I was bringing them food, we were both thrown off a bit.

After a minute of uncomfortable staring on both of our parts, I laughed. Said ‘Good morning, Waterbucks!’ and even though it was pouring rain, I continues on my walk around the Zoo. I’ve learned in life, there will be rain, and instead of whining about it. Enjoy it, take in a scenery your not used to seeing in this weather and go with it.

Then I walked, and walked. Not to many animals were out. Most were probably with keepers, getting taken care of before they went out to their yards for the day.

I went by the Lions, no one was out. But I could just HEAR them roaring. And a lions roar just goes right through me. It’s an amazing sound, and when your right there. It’s even more amazing.

I did come across these two snow leopards. I found out later that these are new to our Zoo, they are only 2 years old. So super playful. This is the most I’ve ever seen an animal move in this area! Usually they are fast asleep (well they are cats!) I had a blast with them.

I picked up my umbrella to shake it out with out thinking, and one crouched down and shook his butt to pounce at the window! I laughed and played along. I teased him with my umbrella as he put his massive paws on the glass!

Having the Zoo, the Waterbucks, the Snow Leopards, the lawn empty to myself was just another amazing part to my day.

Let’s talk Geese. These are not strangers to ANYONE who lives in Chciagoland. They are native and I love them. They are huge, beautiful, strong, and I have a weird love for them.

They are also overprotective and aggressive. They bite. Don’t try to pet them. They don’t like it. I once worked in a vet. I cleaned kennels. The vet took in wild animals who were injured. So on that note these birds are nasty messy, and I can say I’ve had a left wing to my face and it hurts like hell. But I still love them. From a respectful distance.

My amusement was watching the Zoo employee’s have to shoo them from these planters (behind the bench there) if you look close, she’s in there trying to nest. He’s watching me ready to assault (believe me I keep my distance)

The Zoo can’t have them nest there, because it’s RIGHT by South Gate, and people don’t have brains. They like to pet things, and well let’s just say this wouldn’t be a warm welcome to the zoo. So they put big branches in their to keep them out… I don’t think it’s working well. (the geese do nest all over the grounds if your wondering.)

At one point while on my job, we had to stop the cart. PR got out to YELL at these kids who were taunting the Geese. Good for her, she said “I’m NOT asking you. I’m TELLING you” Shame on those chaperone’s/parents, that was just irresponsible on their part.

On my long walk, I came across a HUGE board, a timeline of the Zoo’s great history moments. I’d post all the pictures but there is about 12 of them. Not sure if you want ALL that on here.

After a nice morning, of Brookfield Zoo to myself, with all the rain and cold. I loved it. It was a good time to gather my thoughts, to take it all in, and to just BE one with my Zoo.

I’ll leave you with that for now. It was a jam packed morning of events. It’ll take me a few posts to get it all in. Until then, have a happy day!

JCat McGack

Zoo Day on her Anniversary

Starting at the beginning, I was on Facebook. I saw that ABC 7 Chicago News This Morning had a question posted on their page…

“What's your dream job? Tell us here and maybe that dream will come true!”

So I take a chance they will pick me, now I’m sure like many people out there, we all have multiple dream jobs. To own an art/craft store workshop with amazing gardens all around with my mom is one of mine. To have enough money to live comfortably is a big one (that’s more of a dream we ALL have, not so much a dream job)

And I think to myself. Well let’s be realistic. It’s a BIG news station that COULD make a dream come true for a day. BUT make it so they COULD do it. And I know EXACTLY what I’ve always dreamed about…

I tell them my dream is to work at Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo. I’ve loved animals all my life, and have worked in a few Animal Hospitals and love every aspect of helping and caring for animals.

Out of hundreds of people, they messaged me to give them contact information. I eagerly gave them email and phone numbers and waited…

I have to say it’s pretty cool when your caller I.D. reads ABC 7. And I spoke with D from the network. Just being my usual self, joking and laughing. I realized after a few minutes this was more of a phone interview! But I knew to just be myself and hope they like it. She said I had a good idea, and my personality was great. But they wanted more.

They were holding a table meeting about the possible jobs. So I hadn’t gotten it, but I was a good contender. She needed a bit about me, some pictures of me with animals. A story to share at this meeting.

I quickly typed out a few paragraphs, about my family. Life. Interests. Posting pictures from back when I had done the ‘Trainer for a Day’ at  Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium behind the scenes for my 30th birthday.

Yeah, THIS is me. I had JUST felt her heartbeat. I was ELATED.

There was TWO of us. JUST two of us together for this experience. We were IN the dolphin show. Hand signals and all.

A.MAZ.ING.

Still hands down the best birthday gift for me EVER.

 

 

 

 

I told them about how much I had wanted to be a Zoologist, with out going into to much detail about how I did attempt school for one semester and stopped. I knew we wanted to start a family soon, and trying to start school for a big career just wasn’t going to work out.

After a few days D responded to my email with this…

This is perfect Jacki!

We’ve chosen you for our “Dream Job” segment at Brookfield Zoo.

Congratulations!

It didn’t hit me right away. I mean it did. I called my dad right away (my parents and sister are HUGE fans of the zoo) and gave him the details. But when I was telling my best friend she’s like “Is this really hitting you?! Because your excited but not freaking out. You should be freaking out right now” I said maybe when it’s closer to the date. And more details come around… maybe I was in a excited shock?

When my caller I.D. then reads ‘Chicago Zoological Society’ my heart stops. I PRAY the kids will behave for the time I need. I ran up to my bedroom and locked the door.

The conversation was great, she asked what animals I was interested in. I said primates and big cats, and reptiles. (along with Zoologist, I had considered Herpetologist as a field at the zoo) I added in that ANY animal at the zoo would be fine with me. I love them all.

After talking with me, she said she’d like to have a staff meeting (did you read that. A STAFF meeting over ME?! I mean the people at the ZOO are holding a meeting about ME! It’s hitting me now.) to go over possible idea’s of what I could do. And she’d contact me next week on it.

That was Friday, and by the next Thursday I was obsessively checking my caller I.D. to see if I had missed her call. Finally Friday night she called back.

She said after a long meeting, they had ideas like a harness to go in with the big gorillas, but too many safety issues. OMG the fact that that was considered made me excited. Big cats are also a HUGE safety risk.

BUT this IS what they came up with… and I just want to let you know the WHOLE time she was telling me my ‘schedule of events’ tears were running down my face.

9 am – Giraffe.  I will get to clean, rake, and pick up poop. (understand I’m doing exactly WHAT they do!!) I will put hay in the racks outside, and… feed the giraffes!! SQEE!!

10 am – Penguins. Prepping fish with their special vitamins then feeding them!! OMG!!

10:30 am – Harbor Seals. I will be giving them some hand signals. Then giving a ultra sound as part of their husbandry program. ESTATIC!

Rhino -  Cut up food. And I kid you not, I about died when I heard her say this… they are training them to paint. So I will HOLD A CANVAS while the RHINO paints it. I mean, seriously?! I do art. THIS is the BEST.

Reptiles -  Monitors

Galapagos Tortoise

Poison’s Frogs feed them crickets!

Snake – I get to feed them a mouse! (she may have said what kind, I don’t remember.)

So after this list of animals, after going over my outfit, and what time to meet them it’s hit me. I called my dad freaking out, he’s very happy for me. Knowing how much I’ve always wanted to do this.

So on Friday the 20th I will be doing the one thing, I’ve ALWAYS wanted to do. Hoping to get a digital copy of this when it airs. So I can share it.

I know this will be an emotional day for me. Being with animals that I love, the Zoo, and being around the zookeepers themselves it will be an overwhelming day.

And what are the odds that it’s the one year anniversary of Maggie.

 http://spaghettiandbagels.blogspot.com/2011/04/maggie-may.html

I can’t wait to tell you all my story, hope to share the video, and fingers crossed I don’t loose my shit over Maggie and all these animals. But I’m sure that would be good for t.v., right?

JCat McGack

Confetti Kids, and my LOVE of theater

I have one of THE best things going in my town. MINUTES from my house (about 8) is a Fire House… well the firemen moved out, and they gave residence to a wonderful group of people making a difference.
Three Rivers Art Council, or as we all call it TRAC. It’s a place to create… ANYTHING artistic. There are painters, and builders, 
singers, and musicians, drawers, sketchers, doodlers, real life 
and abstract, from the wonderful ages of kids, teens, us middle aged people, and the seniors… well they are some of my favorite artists!












While cartooning one night at the ‘Open Art Night’ with my friends, and always making new ones, I had the chance to chat with Amy. She’s boss around this fire house… I guess that makes her Chief, right?


She knows I bleed love for crafts, and this week they are having “The Confetti Kids, Children's Theater Camp” they need to do costumes, and SINCE I just so happen to know what to do with pipe cleaners, fuzzy vests, paper wings, glitter, glue, feathers, and construction paper. I was asked to come by and help.

To be honest with you I’m not one for volunteering to work with kids… And while we are being honest, I often say “I’m not a fan of other peoples kids” and I’m all right with saying it out loud. Unless your one of my CLOSEST friends, I shudder at the idea of play dates…I’ve been getting better at them. But now after a day like this… I can’t imagine why NOT kids.


I mean I walked into the garage bays, to the kids practicing their show for this Friday night.
I was taken back to a place, to the stage, to the choreographed moves, ‘Stage RIGHT!’, seeing these kids, I started to place them with my friends from High School. Oh she reminds me of this person, and he reminds me of that guy…


From the old memories, to realizing that theater is alive in kids today. But now it’s OUR job to make sure of that. I had amazing teachers help me learn the love of theater, and even if my job was just creating costumes with the kids. It was the best 3 hours for me.



I would stand in the center of these tables, I had my ‘Angry Bird’ group designing their head wreaths of feathers, how to wrap the feather boas around their arms.


I had my ‘Clap-o-Meter’ makers busy at work, and the one girl, who is King Lear (and a knight) we worked on her costume of shiny gold fabric, hand made crowns, and paper towel rolls to a sword



This is Paige… she’s one of the Angry Birds in the show, and, well I have the pleasure of hanging out with Paige every morning at our driveway waiting for the bus.


Even though I see her everyday, it’s usually rushed getting everyone out for the bus. But seeing her here, in her PERFECT element, we had a blast together.






THIS little rock star, Elizabeth, has a skill she said she learned from a friend… all I know is I asked for a paper crown and she made this pointy triangle out of paper… I said that doesn’t look much like a crown… it’s like King Lear had a beak coming out of her head…we all said “ANGRY BIRD BEAKS!”
So I quickly learned the origami art of making these beak like masks, pipe cleaners through them, and around their ears! Some like the one below, rocked a pipe cleaner mustache.

We laughed, sang, and at times took a dance break (Ah hello! Tweens LOVE top 40 pop music?! Show tunes?! OMG we had a blast)

Before I knew it the two hours for costume design was over, I was calling myself “Costume Designer” the kids had to go off to lunch, I stayed behind and wrote out lists of who’s costume was who’s. What pieces they needed.


A few of the older girls are (self titled) “Costume Dictators" so they will be there Friday night to get the girls dressed and ready.


I chatted with Chief Amy some more, and she showed me this HUGE curtain, for behind the stage… she said something about it needed to be sewed across the top… and when she got a chance between now and Friday… she’d take it home… even though she’s already there 10 hours a day, 5 days a week. 


It’s a not for profit place so I’m pretty sure there is little or no pay. I sew, and I’ve got time. So I said I’d take the stage curtains home and work on them. (thanks to my mom for helping me out! She’s my sewing hero!)


I wish so bad I could be there Friday night to see the Confetti Kids and their play. To see the Angry Birds v.s. the Pop Star Fairy Princesses fight it out. I’ve got my father-in-laws birthday party that night.


Either way I’d like to thank the TRAC house for letting me volunteer… sure I did you a favor… but in return you did me a much bigger favor, reminding me why I love art, kids in theater, and what this Three Rivers Art Council means to me.




Love and creativity,
Jcat McGack


This would be me… the dancing banana…in the Joliet West production of “Once On This Island” circa 1994. My photographer cut off my head. This kid was my ‘Kid’ when I was my other character, one of the island peasants.

And for the sake of keeping my head in this showcase of 1990’s pictures I also found this one…


Again, not the BEST shot, blurry, but that may be a good thing. I was rocking some killer glasses back then. LOVED the costumes of this play. Had  BLAST on this one…
Which reminds me… Frances and I should go see a musical at Joliet West… they are the best you know.