Day 17: Sea-Monkey Project

The SEA-MONKEY PROJECT (research for illustrating Sea-Monkey and Bob picture book, which comes out from Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers in Fall 2015, author Aaron Reynolds):

There appears to be a new addition to my Sea-Monkey family; I suspect one of the eggs hatched late. I've christened him Russell, which was one of Annie Walker's suggestions. Russell seems to be a bit wonky and does nothing but swim around in tight circles. If you look closely (he's much smaller than the others), you can see him in the video above, doing his spin thing just above the arch.

I regret to report that Monkey C has disappeared. I'm not exactly sure what happened. Perhaps he choked on a Sea-Monkey Pellet. perhaps Sea Monkey Killing Unit #1 lived up to his name. Monkey Doo, of course, is inconsolable. The others (particularly Brunhilda, who seems to be especially nurturing of her siblings) are doing their best to offer comfort.

Anyway, the Sea-Monkeys now remaining are: Micky, Davy, Peter, Michael, Nyarlathotep, Alan, Mary Margaret, Bilbo, Sojourner, Boris, Hortense, Pochyk, Pippa, Sea Monkey Killing Unit #1 (SMKU1 for short, I think), Tarquin, Brunhilda, Edwina, Brianna, Delphine, Joan, Monkey Doo and Russell.

No signs of little crowns or smiles yet.

For an index of other blog entries, please see my Sea-Monkey and Bob blog archives. Also: Sea-Monkey and Bob Facebook Page.

Day 8: Sea-Monkey College Diploma, candid family shot of Pochyk, Alan, Bilbo, SMKU #1 and Nyarlathotep

Some of you said you were confused about which Sea-Monkeys were which in my previous video, so I've provided the helpful photo above to identify a few of them. I did try several times to corral them all into one place for a family photo, but the wee beasties seemed to delight in pretending to cooperate, then suddenly dashing in all directions just as I was about to snap the photo.

Here's a short video:

Debbie's Sea-Monkey Project, Day 8 from Debbie Ohi on Vimeo.

Their personalities are emerging now, which makes it easier to differentiate between them. Bilbo's a bit of a loner, for example, while SMKU #1 has become somewhat of a bully in the aquarium. Nyarlathotep tends to prefer lurking in shadows in the depths, which is why I was so pleased to have managed to catch this elusive Sea-Monkey in the photo above. Thanks again to Taunya Gren, John Chew, Annie Walker, Rachel Gay, June King, Noah Chinn, Andy Beaton, Paul Willett and Elizabeth Law for name suggestions over on the Sea-Monkey and Bob Facebook Page.

I've been going through some of the paperwork that came in the kit, and found this:

Wow! You can get a COLLEGE DEGREE AND DIPLOMA inscribed with YOUR NAME and inscribed in GOLD and BLUE!! Who needs to spend all that money going to college in real life when you can get one for just $16? Though I have to wonder how impressed an employer would be from The Crustracean College, even if it did have a raised Official Seal and Ribbons.

Sadly, this is only being offered in the USA.

For an index of other blog entries, please see my Sea-Monkey and Bob blog archives. Also: Sea-Monkey and Bob Facebook Page.

Day 7: Sea-Monkey video

Debbie's Sea-Monkey Project, Day 7 from Debbie Ohi on Vimeo.

Delighted to report that my Sea-Monkeys (Micky, Davy, Peter, Michael, Nyarlathotep, Alan, Mary Margaret, Bilbo, Sojourner, Boris, Hortense, Pochyk, Pippa, Sea Monkey Killing Unit #1, Tarquin, Brunhilda, Edwina, Brianna, Delphine, Joan, Monkey C and Monkey Doo) are thriving, no doubt buoyed by their excitement re: the birthday cakes that Annie Walker has promised to bake them a year from now.

For an index of other blog entries, please see my Sea-Monkey and Bob blog archives.

Day 5: Sea-Monkeys hatched!

After the flurry of excitement setting up my Sea-Monkey Aquarium, purifying the water and pouring in the eggs, there was a lot of waiting. 

Got back from Niagara-On-The-Lake to discover that my SEA-MONKEYS HATCHED. I was sooooo excited to see at least 21 tiny hatchlings swimming around. Thanks to Taunya Gren, John Chew, Annie Walker, Rachel Gay, June King, Noah Chinn, Andy Beaton, Paul Willett and Elizabeth Law for name suggestions. Some of your names are quite...creative.

The names I've chosen for the 21 are: Micky, Davy, Peter, Michael, Nyarlathotep, Alan, Mary Margaret, Bilbo, Sojourner, Boris, Hortense, Pochyk, Pippa, Sea Monkey Killing Unit #1 (SMKU1 for short, I think), Tarquin, Brunhilda, Edwina, Brianna, Delphine, Joan, Monkey C and Monkey Doo.

As promised, I put all your names in a hat for a copy of the book. Congrats to JUNE KING on winning a copy of Sea-Monkey and Bob when it comes out next Fall!!

For an index of other blog entries, please see my Sea-Monkey and Bob blog archives.

Day 0, Sea-Monkey Journal: Setting Up Sea-Monkeys On Mars

Setting up my Sea-Monkey aquarium! My UK friend Annie Walker says she'll bake a birthday cake for each one of my Sea-Monkeys that survive a full year. I hope she's READY TO DO A LOT OF BAKING, because I am going to be a wonderfully nurturing and caring Sea-Monkey Owner. The package guarantees that they'll live two years, but MY Sea-Monkeys are going to be so happy and healthy that I predict they'll live on for much longer. I will keep you all updated, of course.

For an index of other blog entries, please see my Sea-Monkey and Bob blog archives.