Like Kelsi wrote in yesterday’s blog, there is no such thing as a dull moment here at CSNW. Sometimes I think the phrase “keeps you on your toes” was coined by / for chimpanzee caregivers.
This morning, we got to work and it was a brisk 34 degrees. Kelsi and I hopped in the side-by-side to do our perimeter check so we could let the chimps into their respective outdoor enclosures. The two sides of the chimp house operate simultaneously, so we have two shifters during morning cleaning. The lead caregiver for the day shifts doors in the original building and the second shifter shifts the new building, so we buddy system the perimeter check.
When I opened the door to Young’s Hill, I didn’t expect anyone to go rushing outside since it was so chilly. I was proved wrong, though, when Jamie went right out and around we went for an early morning patrol.
By the time we got around the top, we had been joined by Missy and Burrito. The early morning walk with Jamie turned into some cardio when Burrito took over and we raced down the hill. Because who doesn’t love cardio in the morning, am I right?
As you all know, one of the best holidays of the year is coming up in a few short days. The countdown to Jamie-ween is officially in single digits! I grew up in a family that loves Halloween and I always look forward to pumpkin carving, dressing up, and lots (and lots) of candy. And, because I’m a mature adult, I’ve been really wanting to purchase one of those big blow up T-Rex costumes that are pretty popular online for a while. Amazon Prime day got the best of me this year and, you guessed it, a few days later a giant inflatable T-Rex showed up at my door.
Best day ever? Maybe.
And over time, we’ve learned that some of the chimps think that masks are pretty funny. Gordo especially loves a troll mask we have that was donated a while back! So I wanted to bring the costume to work and share it with my friends.
With a little help from my human coworkers I was able to show it to both groups of chimps! First I went back to Cy’s group and made sure all the chimps were around while I put it on, so that they knew it was me inside it. Gordo and Dora both seemed really interested in it! The people in Jamie’s group were more unsure, so I didn’t spend much time on that side of the chimp house. Jamie, Negra, & Burrito saw it acted like it was just another Wednesday. Annie, Foxie, and Missy weren’t into it- which is totally okay! The fun part about random enrichment things like this is that it’s okay if some people don’t want to engage. Some people though, like Gordo, enjoyed the short T. Rex intermission. 🙂
If you’re looking forward to Jamie-ween like we are, be sure to get your tickets to an exclusive Behind-The-Scenes of Jamie-ween virtual sanctuary visit on 10/31/23 at 12:00pm PT. If you want to attend, but have to work or have other responsibilities, still consider registering, because we’ll send out a link to the recording to everyone who registered so you can watch it at your leisure. 🙂
We’re super excited to share some of Jamie-ween with all of you, since it’s such a special holiday to all of us here. It’s also the perfect kick-off to our Comfort & Joy auction, which will be going live on the 31st and will run until November 18th. To celebrate all things Comfort & Joy, we are also offering a Comfort & Joy Virtual Gathering event on November 12th! This will be a great opportunity to learn more about the sanctuary, connect with us via chat, and just enjoy an evening full of comfort, chimps, & joy. What could be better? 🙂
See y’all soon!
P.S. Thanks so much to everyone who submitted a review in Great Nonprofits for us yesterday evening! We won a spot on the 2023 Top-Rated Non-Profit list, which is awesome. 🙂 Thank you!
Linda C says
Grace, that’s so funny!
I love stuff like that I love to see people run races in the T Rex costumes, I love seeing the guy snow blow his neighborhood’s sidewalks in a unicorn suit…all of it!
I used to have a witch’s costume, but tossed the cheap satin hat hat I bought over 20 years ago when I moved a couple of years ago. And I’m sorry I did so, because I cannot find a replacement. So I quickly grabbed at chimp mask that I saw at CVS. My first Halloween here, I was answering the door as a chimp and jokingly offering kids bananas. One little guy was so traumatized that he started crying. So I told him to take 2 candy bars. His order sister looked up at her parents and without even asking the question, in snap took a second one herself! Sister wasn’t born yesterday!
I see the parents frequently on my street and they told me that he has since forgotten about the chimp mask. I don’t know if I will wear it again or not, as a friend saw the picture and said she could totally see why it would be scary.
I think Dora was trying to see where you had gone to!
Marya says
Thanks, Grace! I’ve been offline for a few days so missed the recent blogs til now. One of my thoughts about the TRex costume is how sensitive it is for you to show the chimps that it is you inside so they’re not frightened. I was wondering about it before I read that & when I saw it I thought, “well, of course that’s how Grace would do it!” Such immense sensitivity for the chimps and their feelings!
Kathleen says
Did Dora’s big eyes just grow 2x’s in size?! Her expression was the best. I agree with Linda, I think Dora was trying to find you inside that big creature. And Gordo was totally entertained by Grace the TRex! But I have to ask….what about Cy? Did he see you? Was he scared? Or maybe seeing things in real life aren’t scary to him, only scary if seeing things on the printed page.
Great idea, Grace! I know I personally enjoyed your effort.
PS : I can hardly wait for Jamieween to arrive. Hoping the weather report is all wrong and the sun shines down on Young’s Hill and the thermometer inches upwards.
Marcie says
Grace what a fun thing to do even if Jaime’s group wasn’t impressed. What a great way to introduce new and different experiences to the chimps. Thanks for sharing on the blog also.
Susan Kathleen Feeley says
What an absolute hoot, Grace, top marks for originality and the chimps sure had a surprise seeing T Rex bobbing about. I know Jamieween is around the corner and yesterday Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest posted a fabulous video on Facebook showing one if the chimps having a ball dancing about with a tea towel over their head. It was hilarious and I just wondered where it might be in the your blog archives if I could watch it again. I can see much pant hooting over the nect week, so happy Halloween!
Eli says
I think that might be a vidoe just posted for Facebook and Instagram. They also posted another video a while back on instagram with Burrito playing with a towel over his head.
There is a similar video in the archives titled Ghost Spotted (Totally Not Burrito), which shows Burrito playing with a yellow blanket over his head. It’s from November 18, 2022.
Susan Feeley says
Many thanks for that, Eli, much appreciated. I’ll check the video out in the archives. Those captured moments of the chimps are a delight.
Elaine Reininger says
Loved Dora’s reaction….so sweet. And what a nut YOU are, Grace for thinking to bring in your costume. I’d say you were a big hit,