Actual Fish

Our fishy tale starts here and continues here if you want to catch up.

Meet Actual Fish II.
He isn't this fuzzy in real life. I swear I took 50 pictures of this fish. This is the best. My camera kept focusing on the plant. So if you want a picture of a good fake aquairium plant, I have tons of them. Just let me know.
Anyhoo, we aren't making too big of a deal about A.F the second. I think that is what killed the last one. He couldn't handle the social pressure.
A few people asked me how Mark took the death of A.F.the first. Truth be told he never noticed. He is after all a man in training and not overly observant. (I hope this doesn't offend my one male reader.) He came down the stairs like always and said "Hi, Actual Fish." He never took note that A.F. was residing in a place far less cheery than his fish bowl. After trying yet another church on Sunday, we took a drive to the pet store. I ran inside grabbed the goods. When I got back in the van, I just never mentioned what was in the bag. We came home and I just acted like I was changing A.F.s water. I love men in training.
I do have high hopes for new Acual Fish. I got a different kind of water purifier. (A couple of people suggested to let the water just sit out. Thanks guys but I am afraid. What if I don't wait long enough or all the chemicals don't come out. I will put A.F. in there and he will go belly up. That would be rather disconcerting.) He is a half moon betta. They are supposed to be very robust and hearty. He will have to be to deal with me.
BTW is it bad that when I walked in to the pet store, all the fish swam the the back of the aquariums and quivered? Just wondering.

Update Day

A few people have asked me questions from previous posts so I thought I would take today to answer a some of them.

1. A few weeks ago I showed a video where Anna took a few tentative steps. It looked like the beginning of walking for her. We were thinking that any day she would just take off walking. Well, we were wrong. She thinks walking is far too dangerous for her. She is a very comfortable crawler and she would like to keep it that way. I am confident that she will get there. She just isn't ready yet.

2. It is official. Mark is potty trained. The entire neighborhood knows when he has to poop because he yells it at the top of his lungs. I don't care if the whole world knows. I am so proud of him. It only took a year of trying with much threatening, begging, pleading, and bribing (bribery finally worked and no I am not above bribing my kids. I thought I was going to have to go to college with this kid and change his diapers). He still wears a pull up to bed but he really doesn't need it. I just put it on him out of habit mostly. Also if he should have an accident I don't want him to get his big boy bed messy.

3. Speaking of the big boy bed, the transition went really well. He loves his new bed so much. He stays in bed pretty well. There was once about a week ago I went into his room when he wasn't expecting me. He burst into tears and ran back to his bed. He thought he was going to be in trouble. Every time since then I have found him in his bed when I go in. If he is getting up, he is far more sneaky about it.

4. Actual Fish has been replaced with Actual Fish II. A few people suggested a Betta so that is what I am trying this time. If this one lives a week I will take his picture and post it. It is starting to get embarrassing to go to the pet store. Yesterday, they made me stand up, raise my right hand, and swear an oath to the effect that I don't believe fish to be expendable. OK, so that isn't true but the fish guy did give me a funny look. I think he thinks I am going out in the parking lot with my fish and downing it like a shot. Sushi.

OK, well I think that answers all the questions. Thanks for your interest in our family. I love that people care.
I will probably post some pictures in a bit.

A Tragedy

OK, so the other day I told a lovely story about a fish. He is the new member of the family. We are going to enjoy him so much. Mark loves him. Blah, blah blah.
Well here is the thing, I have murdered another of God's creatures right here in my very own home. Last night when I went to bed and A.F. was perky and happy in his little fishy world. This morning I got up and went to feed the little beast and he was floating and not in the good way. I really am a fish murderer. Jason was right. Oh, how I hate it when he is right.
So before I got Mark up I got rid of the evidence and filled to bowl back up with water. He didn't notice anything missing this morning. So, tomorrow we are going back to the fish store and getting another fish. I feel a vicious trend starting again. And I can't stop myself.
Let this be a warning to all fish owners. DON'T LET ME FISH SIT!!! Oh, I will tell you everything you want to hear when looking for a good fish sitter.

"I have had fish for years." (a different fish every week for years.)

"I feed them everyday and keep their water changed often." (Not often enough)

"I love them to death." (maybe I do love them to death.)

Don't listen. I am not good with fish. But, hey, if you are looking for a dog, cat or baby sitter I am OK with those. It's a good thing too. You have to dig a much bigger hole to bury a dog. I am a little more attached to my non aquatic friends too.

Thanks to all the encouraged me in my fish endeavours. It looks like I am going to need a lot more so keep it coming.

The New member of the Family

Meet Actual Fish.

I know you are thinking to yourself, Actual Fish, What kind of a name is that? Well I will tell you this, I was not consulted in the naming of the fish. I suggested Walter, George, or Frank. All of these very sensible fish names were rejected. The toddler's suggestion was Actually Fish and that is the only name he would consider. So Actual Fish it is.
Actual Fish is a little shy. He really didn't want his picture taken at all. Do you know how hard it is to take a picture of a fish in water. I took 30 pictures of this fish and this is the only one that turned out even decent. And it is not that great.
I can see why our fish is a little apprehensive with me. You see I have a history with fish. It isn't a good one either. I got my first fish when I lived in the dorms in the AF. We did pretty well together. I kept him for about 1 1/2 years. Not bad for a fish. When he died, I went through a mourning period like you do when any pet dies. I decided to move on and got another fish. That started what is known in all of fishdom as the dark ages. I went through a fish a month for about six months. It was a very sad time. At the end of which, I decided I would never have fish again. I got rid of my bowl and declared myself done. Then we had kids and I started yearning for a fishy friend again. I wanted to share the watery world with my kids. Jason called me a fish murderer and I have to admit that hurt. I cried myself to sleep a few times. But I got over it. I decided it was time.
We went to the pet store and picked out a lively specimen. We got him a bowl, some rocks and of course a good fake plant. What fish bowl is complete without a fake plant. We brought him home and all the way Jason told me I would kill it. But I am not listening to him. He is mean. I think our little friend will do just fine here.
There are no bounds to how much Mark enjoys the fish. Every morning he comes down the stairs and yells at the top of his lungs, "There is the fish." I wonder if he is surprised Actual Fish survived another night in my care. Maybe Jason has been talking to him.
On a side note, I am looking for suggestions. The chlorine neutralizer I am using makes the water cloudy. Does anyone have a suggestion of something that won't cloud the water. It makes the water look dirty and it isn't. I just changed it. I really want him to live.
Another side note. It is Farmer's Market Friday. I love Farmer's Market. We always walk up and pick out all of our veggies for the week. I plan to take my camera this week. So check back later for pictures of our findings.