One of the duties of working the Visitors Center is to monitor and feed the two resident desert tortoises, Digger and Dozer.
There are three tortoise habitats located on the south side of the VC. Maybe you can spot the tunnel at the top middle of the habitat. Desert tortoises spend a lot of time underground. This is Digger’s home.
He’s a pretty good size, and is about 50 years old. I got thinking about his age the other day, and figured out that he hatched when I was 17 and attending Chicago Teacher’s College. We both seem to have the same amount of wrinkles though.
After having a few bites to eat out of his food bowl, he headed back to his tunnel. Eat, drink, and sleep is mostly what he does.
But this is how I think he got his name. He’s been working on digging a new tunnel under a mesquite tree for over a year now. Slow and steady wins the race I guess.
Meet Dozer. He’s a much smaller tortoise and only about four or five years old. He’s about one fourth the size of Digger.
Monday was a bonus day, as both tortoises were out and about at the same time. Visitors like to see them, and it isn’t often that they cooperate.
Today after finishing laundry and cleaning chores I headed to town to upgrade my air card. For eight years I’ve been using one of those USB stick cards. There is no Wi-Fi of any kind here at Imperial, so my new iPad has been pretty much useless. I thought if I switched to a Mi-Fi Jetpack, I could use the iPad when I work the VC. Of course that means you have to pay for the new device. Okay, but it really irks me that you have to pay a $30 change fee. It seems to me that if you upgrade your service with the same company you shouldn’t have to pay a penalty to do it. I had already more than met my previous two year contract, but that didn’t make any difference. I also had to sign a new two year contract. At least I have 14 days to decide if the Jetpack will work out for me.
On the way back home, the paratroopers were out doing their thing on the Yuma Proving Grounds. All those tiny black dots in the sky aren’t specks of dust, but paratroopers floating down. You can’t pull over or stop any closer than this to watch.
Well, that’s about it for tonight. I guess I’ll now see how this new Jetpack works on publishing this post. I leave you with last night’s beautiful sunset.
Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later, Judy
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I think your new Jetpack did an awesome job on that sunset :)
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing like a tortoise and a sunset in the same post to make my day.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, tortoises and a great sunset, awesome photos
ReplyDeleteI have had two Verizon mi-fi devices - the 2nd was called a Jet Pack and I forget what they called it before that. They were pretty good when I moved around from place to place, but now that I have AT&T in my house I really love it. No need to charge it up or plug it in, etc. I just won't have constant access to the internet when I travel, but I can do without it - when I stay at a motel I will no doubt have internet access.
ReplyDeleteI love the photos of the tortoises. I had been voting a couple of years when the old guy was a tiny little guy!
Love tortoises! How fun that you will see them often. What would they eat there if you didn't feed them? An "upgrade" fee is ridiculous. As if they don't make enough from your monthly contract.
ReplyDeleteWe are switching from one of the old air card devices this year too--is your iPad cellular capable or just wifi capable?
ReplyDeleteCute subjects in your post, they are fun to watch and are one type of wildlife that moves slow enough that even I could get a picture of them... ;c)
ReplyDeleteInteresting post as always. Got to remember to check for Wi-Fi access when looking for a new place.
ReplyDeleteSure hope you're new Jetpack is a lot faster than the average Tortoise! One things for sure - it'll never last as long!
ReplyDeleteThose are two very lucky tortoise's!
ReplyDeleteOur cell phones were several years old so last month we went to AT&T (where we've been a customer for 15 years) and got new ones. As we were walking out the door with our new phones the guy said - Oh yeah, there will be an additional $80 upgrade fee on your bill next month.
Wow - they certainly want you to feel good about using their services, don't they!
That sunset reminds me of the ones we see at Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR where we will be next month. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteNothing quite like those Arizona sunsets...what a beauty!
ReplyDeleteReally...I cannot imagine a Wildlife Refuge not being connected...certainly they have the funds. I hope your new thingy works okay:)
ReplyDeleteWhen I was camped at Reed Bingham State Park one year, a large tortoise crossed over right through our campground. They have gopher tortoises and spotted tortoises. I can't post a picture, here, but they sure look alike from what I remember. That year, I also saw an eagle. I was there during the best time to view vultures. The park is supposed to be the buzzard/vulture capitol of the south. Did I see any? No.
ReplyDeletenot a huge turtle fan, but could see the appeal of being able to watch them over a period of time. . .see if they EVER do anything interesting?
ReplyDeleteI find it highly annoying that companies have no appreciation for loyal users. . .but if you are a new customer, you get handed the moon. . .grrr! Talked to Verizon about our upgrade last week. . .walked out without changing anything. . .will stay on the month to month until I get my way. . .ha ha. . .JK!
Change fees drive us nuts too. What did the $30 go to? It only takes a minute to hit a few buttons and get you started on the new device.
ReplyDeleteWe use a jetpack and have had no issues with it. Good luck.
Those tortoises are really beautiful and interesting! I'm so glad that you got to see them and photograph them so WE could enjoy them. I hope your jetpack is wonderful for your needs. I don't have one, at least not yet!
ReplyDeleteI hope to see the paratroopers sometime!
Eat, drink , sleep & watch Arizona sunsets....I shoulda been a tortoise. :)
ReplyDeleteI hate it when a company nickel dimes you to death. If you cancel something, you can bet there will be a charge for it. I also wanted to cancel my blind Dad's cell phone. They don't cancel it until the next billing date which was almost a whole month longer. They charge you the minute you start the service, but can't just stop it right away.
ReplyDeleteWe've had our Jetpack for several years now and it works just fine -- so I'm hoping you'll be happy.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny.... I've seen tortoises in zoos but the thought never crossed my mind, "Where do they live in the wild?"
Just one of those things I need to be more aware of I guess....
We upgraded from AutoNet to the MiFi Jetpack and we like the fact that we can be connected anywhere anytime. Hope you like it.
ReplyDeletePurty sunset, Judy!
Love the torts and what fun to get to see them! Anxious to hear what you think of the jetpack as well. Keep posting and I'm going to keep reading. So glad I found your blog!
ReplyDeleteIf you decide you don't like the Jetpack, I have a cradlepoint router that will work with your USB stick that I no longer use. I would be happy to send it to you.
ReplyDeleteAwesome page you got here, check out mine at:
ReplyDeleteticketbackpacker.com
You might get some inspiration from it. Thank you and I wish you all the best of luck!