I’m… ba-ack?

I guess a lot has happened since the last time I felt like writing in this space. My last post was a little more than fifteen months ago. Since then I got a job, finally finished my bachelor’s degree, and (most recently) started an MBA program (that’s “started” meaning “enrolled in and began to take courses,” not “created,” “sponsored,” or anything else that word can mean). We’re having another baby in January, and Kristin hasn’t been nearly as sick and miserable this time as she was with AJ. Alexa’s not that excited to have another baby brother, but she loves AJ and she’ll love this one (who could possibly be named Jack or Logan, but very likely will be called something else entirely), too.

For those who still remember the fan-favorite featured here on this blog that I lovingly refer to as “The Fish Chronicles,” I have an update. I can’t remember what the status or count was the last time I wrote about them (and I’m far too lazy to go back to the last fish-related post and find out), but the current status is this: they’re all dead, except one. One of the blue Gouramis (which may or may not have been part of the Washburn fish population the last time I updated), whose names were Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather, is still hanging around. This is really only noteworthy if I fill you in on the rest of the story.

[Note: Contrary to what I wrote just a few lines ago, I got over my laziness just long enough to go back and look at my last post.]

So we had 19 fish, I guess, or maybe 18 after the last post (which was specifically about the death of a fish named after Byron Scott). The next 12-15 died slowly over the next year. Three or four hung on for a few extra months, and then all but the last blue Gourami died. But here’s the thing: after the three algae eaters were dead, I kept saying I needed to clean the tank myself and/or get some new algae eaters. Unfortunately, I did not do either of those two things. I had a good reason for not buying more algae eaters (unnecessary spending during tight financial times), but no good reason for not cleaning the tank myself (apart from the aforementioned laziness). The algae growth got worse, and then the filter/pump-thingy stopped working. I’m pretty sure that was the point when they started dying off more quickly.

By this time we were down to the last three or four fish, and I repeatedly declared that I was going to clean out the tank any minute. I, of course, did not, and the last few fish (except Flora, Fauna, or Merryweather – whichever one is the one that’s still alive) kicked the bucket. Here’s where it gets really bad. I got even more lazy (I know what you’re thinking, but it’s always possible to get lazier, as long as you’re not dead or in a coma). Not only did I never get around to cleaning the tank (even now, it sits disgustingly against the wall, desperately in need of a good cleansing), but I pretty much gave up on the last fish. I thought sure it would be dead, so I stopped turning the light on in the morning and off in the evening. I even stopped feeding the fish.

When I turned on the tank light to see what was up after a few weeks, I was shocked to discover that the last fish was still alive. I put a pinch of food in the tank, but the Gourami pretty much ignored it. I didn’t watch to see if it ever ate, but I don’t think it did. Another week or two went by and I checked in on the Last of the Gouramhicans, obviously expecting to see a floating fish corpse. Nope. Still alive. I put in another pinch of food, but this food was ignored like the last time.

I’m out of town for a few days, but I won’t be at all surprised if “The Fish That Wouldn’t Die” is still aimlessly wandering around the tank (I’m not sure it’s grammatically possible to “wander” while swimming, but you get my meaning), ignoring any food I might offer.

~ by jabe19 on 16 October 2009.