Today was the first hot day of the year. It probably didn't get much past the mid-70s, but it was enough to entice all of the Fence Lizards out onto their favorite basking spots. The amphibians grumpily stuck to the shade, but this didn't stop me from finding four different varieties - all of the usual suspects of course. I even found the one-eyed California Newt that I encounter once a month or so. He looks healthy. The tadpoles in the glorified puddle out in the chaparral might be in trouble though. All of this sun might dry things up before they ever get to become frogs.

The kids this week are big sixth graders. A couple of them are nearly as tall as I am. Six foot sixth graders. What next? They seem like a well behaved group so far. More mature than last week's fifth graders anyway.

This evening after work I took Lexy and Nate to see a program on Orcas at their school. It turned out to be a slide/video show run by a really animated guy with a headset microphone. He was obviously passionate about his subject matter, and managed to make it interesting and accessible for all ages. Some of his anecdotes were quite funny too. He mentioned spotting a pair of Orcas playing frisbee with a Stingray, and Orcas tendency to mess with the minds of whale watchers. One of the sadder notes of the evening was his explanation about how first born Orca babies often die due to the accumulation of toxins in the mother's milk. The nursing action of these babies cleans out the mother's system so that subsequent babies can survive.

Oh, and don't call them "Killer Whales." It's a misnomer. He demonstrated that whenever somebody says this, you should react with a sharp intake of breath and a scholarly finger tap to your chin, while informing them that they're quite uneducated. Sounds fun.

That said, their scientific name, Orcinus Orca, means something like "messenger from the realm of the dead." Hurrah!

The school cafeteria was really packed, and the kids had a great time, although Lexy did complain a bit about having to walk there and back.