 | News in the Family |
January - March 1998
2/27/98 I haven't been able to update my page the past 2 days because my ISP was apparently having an attitude problem and wouldn't let me onto Geocities. Seems okay now . . . I updated lots of stuff. I added new pics to Adia & Riven's page, updated news on the pups' page, added a new page to the picture page, and tweaked a few other pages because Dana and Fox have decided to postpone their first litter YET AGAIN. I'm really beginning to think Phoebe is expecting.
2/23/98 My my . . . is that thumping I hear? Could it be? Why, yes! It seems Eve and Reilly are expecting their first litter soon = ) Have a nice day . . . I know I will = ) Dana, and possibly Phoebe, are due in 17 days also = )
2/22/98 Okay, got new pics = ) I added a new page of pictures to the picture page, a tour of the Clan. I also added new pics to Riven and Adia's page, Eve and Reilly's page, the color spectrum, and the breeding statistics pages. Now that I've made my update so early in the afternoon, watch something major happen tonight . . . I just gotta feeling . . .
2/21/98 Do you have a breeding pair (or pairs?) of gerbils? Then you'll want to check out the new Breeder listing that I set up. I haven't gotten 'round to make a link to it from my main page. There are getting to be too many graphics = ) I added some more info to Eve and Reilly's page because it was a little sparse. I did the same for Riven and Adia and Dana and Fox. Pookie has been making a worrying clicking noise lately, but since he hasn't lost weight or anything, I think he'll be okay. Though I notice that he's lost a little fur from his tail. Skittish must be "barbering" him. The same thing is happening to Phoebe, probably because Ciaran is nervous lately (he misses the babies = () He did that last time, too. He's getting kind of chunky, too! Too much monkey chow, maybe? Nah . .
2/19/98 Not too much going on 'round here = ) Reilly is mature and seems to have idle interest in Eve but nothing's going on. Riven is still rather naive. He's cute though! Phoebe's third litter is now up for adoption, and I have their individual pictures on that page. Oh, also, Cupid died on Monday night or Tuesday = ( Other than that, things are rather mundane here with the Clan = )
2/16/98 I GOT IT BACK! Wahoo! New pictures, umm . . . everywhere! Dana and Fox mated again last night = ( That means no babies . . . at least for another 25 days. They're due on March 12th now. As of tonight, Cupid is still with us, thankfully = ) Everybody else seems fine, nothing unusual.
2/15/98 I might get my capture drive back on Monday, and it sure is a good thing, too! It's been over 3 weeks now . . . Anyway, Phoebe had her litter! But only two pups, and one died today = ( They were born yesterday, on Valentine's day. The other one, Cupid, looks better than his brother/sister Valentine did, so I'm hoping he'll be okay. Dana's belly is getting a tad wider and is starting to stick out. I'm not expecting too much of a litter from her, maybe four? Whatever it is, I'll looooooove them soo much. Grace and Lucy are together, AT LONG LAST! They seem to be doing fine with each other.
2/11/98 STILL no capture drive! = ( But . . . Pookie is a great-grandfather! And Phoebe and Ciaran are grandparents! Their son Shadow (formerly "Angel") of The Lautreras of Oklahoma is now the proud father of 8 little pups! Congrats to him and his mate Sweet Pea. Phoebe is expecting her fourth litter any day now, she's getting quite big. My guess is 4. Dana is halfway through her first pregnancy, too, only 13 more days! Also, tomorrow is the 2nd anniversary of my very first litter, the one Alpha came from. It seems like just yesterday! No, really . . .!
2/9/98 Ick still no capture drive! Perhaps by Friday . . . Anyway, there is now a webpage for the Lautreras of Oklahoma, aka Rascal (Surfacing) and Shadow (Angel) of Lautrera litter 1. Dana's due in 15 more days! She's beginning to spend more time in her nest. When she stands up you can kinda tell she's getting a belly = ) I've updated the links page now.
2/7/98 My daddy's gonna talk to the *nice* people at the repair place on Monday . . ::grumble:: Anyway, basically all I've done today is add some more info and general blabber to Riven & Adia's and Dana & Fox's page = ) Dana is due in 17 more days! Cross your fingers for her. I also updated the adoption page.
2/6/98 I FINALLY got some photos developed. I've waited TWO WEEKS for this moment. The idiot at the repair place (or whever my disk was sent and not fixed) was supposed to call back yesterday. He didn't. Then he was supposed to call today. He didn't. Well I guess I see the beinning of a pattern here . . . Anyway, I put new pics on Grace & Lucy's page, Dana and Fox's page, and Eve and Reilly's page. I also added a new page of pictures, and updated the color spectrum. Have a nice day!
1/30/98 Well, I wasn't gonna update my site until I got my capture drive back (dad says TUESDAY now!!) but . . . it's getting LOUD over here! = ) Yep, Dana and Fox ought to be welcoming their first litter into the world in about 25 days! They're due February 24th. I have *such* a gift for understatement . . . "I hope to be announcing a due date before the end of February" or before the end of January . . . ;) Also, we're beginning to think that Lucy is a patched nutmeg, not a patched dark eyed honey. We'll have to see if she gets darker! She's got lots of gray streaks, it's awfully suspicious = )
1/29/98 Ohhh nooo! = ( I just today realized that Eve was a boy, as is Reilly! Never fear, though, because it seems Mindy still has their "brother" who is actually their sister, who is the real Eve! Phew! We're trading back this weekend. I'll be sorry to see the sweet little schimmel go, though. He's soo cute, and it was neat watching him go from runty little boy (which is the reason for our misdiagnosis!) to catch up with his brother. We'll have the real Eve soon! Ack, other than that, everything is okay around here. Skittish is a dark tailed white! His tail is turning brownish. If I didn't know better, I'd think it was just dirty! Dana has been mature since last Monday, I expect to be announcing a due date sometime before the end of February, if all goes well. Phoebe's litter is doing great! I hope to have my capture drive back tomorrow, we'll see!!
1/28/98 I added a new message board that you can feel free to used for gerbil related questions, comments, website URL listings, and birth announcements. Everybody's doing okay here! Riven & Adia spent the night curled up with each other, awwww = )
1/27/98 Thank goodness! My capture harddrive has been fixed, but we don't have it back. I'll probably have it by Friday (I HOPE!) I have new news about Mystery, Angel, and Surfacing (from Lautrera litter 1) on the litter's page. Also, I put Riven and Adia together today, they're doing great! Everyone else is just fine, and the pups have opened their eyes!
1/25/98 Curses to what ever cruel twist of fate broke my picture-capture harddrive! Argh. Well, all is well here at the Dani clan. Dana and Fox have been together since yesterday afternoon because Fox leapt over the divider and into Dana's side, and they got along fine so I just left them. Last night they slept next to each other, so cute = ) Grace and Lucy are in a split tank, I'm a bit worried because Grace keeps batting at the bars. Nutso! But I'm told that's pretty normal, and that they usually calm down a lot after 2 days. They'll be in there for at least a week. Adia and Riven are in a split cage, too, but I might just put them together tomorrow since they don't seem concerned at all, and Riven is so young. Phoebe's pups should open their eyes tomorrow, wahoo! Anyone interested in my 3 lilac males, 2 lilac females (with fixed wrists = (), and 1 argente male should check out my Adopt-A-Dani page. Today I updated my links and I added a little to the introduction information on the breeding page. Mindy came by today to pick up Sherlock, Dana's brother, who will be Mystery's mate.
1/24/98 Omigosh they're here already! They arrived at 11am! You can ask Victoria how excited was. I was in the middle of predicting what colors her gerbils could have as babies and then, "AHHH THEY'RE HERE!!" = ) Unfortunately, I can't get pics on! = ( But I have updated the pages to take them into consideration = ) BTW I am very sure that Reilly is a male. It is becoming more and more obvious.
1/23/98 YIPEE! Riven, Dana, and Lucy are all on their way!! Oh, so is Dana's brother, who is probably destined for Mystery. Do you all remember Mystery? She was one of the pups in Lautrera Litter #1 and now belongs to Mindy. I hope that new gerbs will be here by tomorrow, but Sunday at the latest! Unfortunately pictures will take a while . . . my dad dropped off the harddisk to be repaired, but it could take weeks . . . but he's calling on Monday just in case. The pups are great, getting ready to open their eyes in 3 days! Happy 2 week birthday little ones! Oh I also did a little revising of the Care and Breeding pages.
1/21/98 WAAAAAH!!!! ::insufferable sobbing:: My video capture program broke!!! No more pics for a while . . . my dad needs to make an appointment to get it fixed. I hope this week! But for now, no new pup pics or pics of Eve and Reilly though I'll still be filming them. In case something important comes up. A bright spot in my day: Mindy's gerbil, Madaline, had pups today! She's a nutmeg bred to ivory cream. Her kids are the ones who will give me soooo many colors. They'll probably be agouti and black. Mindy thinks she had 6, so hopefully there will be at least 2 pairs, seeing as Mindy has first dibs.
1/19/98 Eve & Reilly seem to be doing just great today! I fixed their wheel so it will actually turn. Today I added new pics for the pups' page, and updated the Adopt-A-Dani and breeding stats page. Oh I also updated the genetics page. Yeah . . I think that covers it.
1/17/98 They're soooo cute!! I got Eve & Reilly today! Yippee. They're very happy in their brand new tank, in their little "cubby" on my shelf = )
1/16/98 Aieeeee! I don't like midterms!! Anyway, I hope to get Eve & Reilly this weekend! Since only a truly evil curse will keep me from getting them I have decided to commit and put them on the main page = ) I got 2 new pictures and some news about the Pookie (on his page). Well, that's it for now!
1/12/98 Joey died last night = ( His brothers have been moved into a new ten gallon tank. The pups seem to be doing fine today though = ) In my haste yesterday, I forgot to mention that I had added pics of Dana's family to Dana & Fox's page. Also, I bought a new book yesterday, and will be reviewing it as soon as possible. Today I also update the honorary clansmen page.
1/11/98 Sadly, yesterday afternoon I found one of Phoebe's new pups dead = ( However, the other 6 are still doing fine. The same cannot be said for Joey, though = ( He is now at death's door, despite the fact that he seemed healthy and vigorous just days ago. While he seemed okay yesterday, today he is thin and boney, and barely breathing. However, he is still clinging to life. He's a fighter--even if there's nothing left to fight for = (
1/9/98--7:22pm Okay, I got a pic I got a pic! = ) It can be found on the new litter's page. I also added 2 pics to the Breeding page, which, BTW, I separated from the care page. I'd also like to give my congrats to Victoria, whose gerbil girl Libra had 5 pups today. Now both our litters are Capricorns and born on the same day = )
1/9/98--4pm Conservative indeed! Conservative was a mild word for it. Phoebe did, actually, have SEVEN pups = ) imagine my surprise this morning! Well I *was* going to take pictures of them right away, but as per usual, the camera is never around when you really need it. Then, when I finally found it, I couldn't use it because it was full of DEW because my stupid brother left it out in his car for 3 days! I MIGHT have some tomorrow. ::sigh:: As for the rest of us, Skittish is looking much better (did I forget to mention he had some strange blood-like substance all over him?! Probably because I didn't update yesterday--he's okay though) and just as I thought, there is not a cut on him! It's very odd. Ben continues to scratch at his cut by his ear, much to my chagrin, and was bleeding profusely = ( I gave him a nice dose of neosporin though (even though he continue to wipe a good deal of it off . . . ) but today he seems all right. Gerbils make the worst patients = )
1/7/98 Phoebe = due tomorrow = ready to explode = ) I think she's the biggest I've ever seen a gerbil get!! I wonder how many she's been having. Maybe my estimate of four was waaay conservative! My dad got a scanner today, so I scanned some old pictures and put them on the Pictures page. Hopeful;y tomorrow I will be able to report the birth of Phoebe's 3rd litter! I also added new pics to the book review page.
1/6/98 Wow, Phoebe is really getting BIG! She is a genuine pear. I'm expecting a litter any day now. I bought chinchilla dust at the store the other day. Grace and Adia sure love it! But nobody else seems to "get" it (though I haven't tried Phoebe & Ciaran or the boys yet). I dunno how often I'll be able to update for the next week or so, because midterms (EEK!) are next week, and this weekend I'm working on my mass media video. I'll try my best, though, especially since Phoebe's due so soon! Today I added a few pictures to the care page. One is a picture of poor Phoebe all stretched out (In the breeding section, naturally), one is of her and Ciaran "play-wrestling" (in the little behavior section), and, umm, that's it. I'll try to get some chinchilla-dust roll pics taken but they always come out too dark or not clear enough. Oh, I also gave Grace her own page as she will be staying with us = )
1/4/98 Today I added a new section, called Gerbil Book reviews I welcome your own reviews if you wish to send them to me. Right now I'm guessing Phoebe will have 4 . . . because I don't want to say many more than that = ) All is well with the Clan, the boys are dozing sleepily, Pookie and Skittish are enjoying the new tissues I've just given them, the ladies of Lautrera litter #1 (Grace & Adia) are snoozing in their pop-tart box, and Phoebe and Ciaran are taking an undisturbed, pre-parenthood nap! I've received some new news on Angel & Surfacing from Oklahoma . . .apparently, Angel ("Shadow") is gonna be a daddy in 24 days!!!! Which makes Phoebe & Ciaran grandparents, the patriarch Pookie and great-grandpa, and the late Missy a great-grandma.
1/2/98 Mmmmmm okay . . . I'm going to make my guess. Okay, my guess SO FAR is that Phoebe is going to have 5 babies (she's very big and due on Thursday 1/8). You doubt me? You don't think I know what I'm talking about? Well I never. You're right I don't know what I'm talking about . . .hee hee . . . ::ahem:: Anyway, all is well. Ben seems to be none the worse for his awful injury on the side of his head. He's very active, running around and all that, but his left ear looks awful! And he's a bit tilted . . but doing okay, can make it up to the second floor, and managed to escape me longer than his brothers did when I let them play in the box. All I've done today is updated the links page, move the news from 1997 onto the old news page, and added a gerbil survey. Oh and for Phoebe's next litter, the names I'm considering are: Ciara, Ailish, Caitr�ona, Liam, Conor, and Finian. Also, I have been given the opporunity (which I will probably take) to adopt a male and female (probably both agouti) pair from a nutmeg x ivory cream cross (making them AaPpGgEeCC!!!) as soon as there is a litter. If I do this, I'll get 12 different colors from them . . . ::dizzy::
1/1/98 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! Okay, well, I cheated and updated this at 12:09a.m. All I've done is added a new page, 1997 (a sort of retrospective of the year) and put some new pics & info on the care page including some pics of Phoebe.
1997 news
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