January Reflections The Cruelest Month

January Reflections The Cruelest Month January is almost over. I can’t really bring myself to write about resumes and LinkedIn profiles today. Don’t get me wrong: Over the past few weeks, The Essay Expert has written many career documents. I have personally edited multiple drafts and updated several resumes we’ve written for past clients. I was even on WBBM radio talking about college application essays. I’m proud of that work and of the results our clients are getting. But today, sitting down to write my blog, my thoughts are elsewhere. I’m thinking of my dad, who died on January 31st 21 years ago- the last day of the month well-known to be the deadliest one of the year. And my thoughts are also with a friend whose mom died unexpectedly last week. An avid union organizer her entire life and up to her last hours, she encouraged the woman taking her food order at the hospital to take advantage of the opportunities of the 1109 Union advancement program. My thoughts are also with my 83-year-old uncle, who fell last week and broke his shoulder. As I write, I’m in his home â€Å"on call† for the night in case his health care worker needs a family member’s presence. Being here for him helps me feel like I’m being useful, as difficult as it is to see him in pain. This time of year can be a trying one for anyone who has family facing health issues. Perhaps you are one of those who is caring for a loved one now, or who just lost someone dear to you. I think it’s so important to take some time to take care of yourself as we face these challenges. When my dad died after a week in the hospital with pneumonia, I was 27 and in my second year of law school. Every day, unfailingly, I would go swimming or get exercise of some kind. Thankfully my family understood my compulsion. That’s how I kept my equilibrium through the most painful experience of my life. We need time to reflect and to feel. My friend who just lost his mom is a yoga teacher. After losing his mom, he didn’t do yoga for a week. Getting back to his practice made him feel more in touch with himself. I’ve been looking at old pictures of my dad and feeling for myself how much I miss him. Even after so many years, it’s important for me to remember. It’s uplifting to be in the presence of children, too. On my trip to NYC last week, I spent time with an 8- and a 5-year-old who were full of love and laughter (with a few lively tantrums thrown in for good balance!). And just last night, I was watching videos of my cousin’s adorably toddling 2-year-old in Israel. It’s good to be reminded that life, joy and silliness continue on. It’s Sunday night as I write, and tomorrow I will get back to scheduling resume review  and LinkedIn profile review sessions and matching up new clients with writers. It will be more or less business as usual. But I’ll also be thinking of those who have passed, and of the people who care for them, and of the never-ending cycles of life.

Angonoka Tortoise Facts

Angonoka Tortoise Facts The angonoka tortoise (Astrochelys yniphora), also known as the ploughshare or Madagascar tortoise, is a critically endangered species that is endemic to Madagascar. These tortoises have unique shell colorations, a characteristic that makes them a sought-after commodity in the exotic pet trade. In March of 2013, smugglers were caught transporting 54 live angonoka tortoises- nearly 13 percent of the entire remaining population- through an airport in Thailand. Fast Facts: Angonoka Tortoise Scientific Name: Astrochelys yniphoraCommon Names: Angonoka tortoise, ploughshare tortoise, plowshare tortoise, Madagascar tortoiseBasic Animal Group: ReptileSize: 15-17 inchesWeight: 19-23 poundsLifespan: 188 years (average)Diet: HerbivoreHabitat: Baly Bay area of northwestern MadagascarPopulation: 400Conservation Status:  Critically Endangered Description The angonoka tortoises carapace (upper shell) is highly arched and mottled brown in color. The shell has with prominent, ridged growth rings on each scute (shell segment). The gular (foremost) scute of the plastron (lower shell) is narrow and extends forward between the front legs, curving upward toward the neck. Habitat and Distribution The tortoise inhabits dry forests and bamboo-scrub habitats in the Baly Bay area of northwestern Madagascar, near the town of Soalala (including Baie de Baly National Park) where the elevation averages 160 feet above sea level. Diet and Behavior The angonoka tortoise grazes on grasses in open rocky areas of bamboo scrub. It will also browse on shrubs, forbs, herbs, and dried bamboo leaves. In addition to plant material, the tortoise has also been observed eating the dried feces of bush pigs. Reproduction and Offspring The reproductive season occurs from approximately Jan.15 to May 30, with both mating and egg hatching occurring at the onset of rainy seasons. The courtship begins when the male sniffs and then circles the female five to 30 times. The male then pushes and even bites the females head and limbs. The male literally overturns the female in order to mate. Both the males and female can have several mates during their lifetimes. A female tortoise produces one to six eggs per clutch and up to four clutches every year. The eggs incubate from 197 to 281 days. Newborn turtles are generally between about 1.7 and 1.8 inches and are completely independent once they are born. Angonoka tortoises reach maturity and become sexually active at about 20 years of age. Threats The greatest threat to the angonoka tortoise is from smugglers collecting them for the illegal pet trade. Secondly, the introduced bushpig preys on tortoises as well as its eggs and young. Additionally, fires employed to clear land for cattle grazing have destroyed the tortoises habitat. Collection for food over time has also impacted the angonoka tortoise population but to a lesser degree than the above activities. Conservation Status The IUCN classifies the northern leopard frogs conservation status as Critically Endangered. There are literally only about 400 angonoka tortoises remaining in Madagascar, the only place they are found on Earth. Their unique shell colorations make them a sought-after commodity in the exotic pet trade. It is the worlds most endangered tortoise, tortoise advocate Eric Goode said to CBS in a 2012 report on the  ploughshare. And it has an incredibly high price on its head. Asian countries love gold and this is a gold tortoise. And so literally, these are like gold bricks that one can pick up and sell. Conservation Efforts In addition to its IUCN listing, the angonoka tortoise is now protected under the national law of Madagascar and listed on Appendix I of CITES, prohibiting international trade in the species. The Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust created Project Angonoka in 1986 in cooperation with the Water and Forests Department, the Durrell Trust, and the World Wide Fund (WWF). The Project performs research on the tortoise and develops conservation plans designed to integrate local communities in the protection of the tortoise and its habitat. Local people have participated in conservation activities such as building firebreaks to prevent wildfire spread and the creation of a national park that will help protect the tortoise and its habitat. A captive breeding facility was established for this species in Madagascar in 1986 by the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust (now the Durrell Trust) in cooperation with the Water and Forests Department. Sources Fishbeck, Lisa. â€Å"Astrochelys Yniphora (Madagascan (Plowshare) Tortoise).†Ã‚  Animal Diversity Web.â€Å"The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.†Ã‚  IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.Nelson, Bryan. â€Å"13 Percent of Entire Tortoise Species Population Found in Smugglers Bag.†Ã‚  MNN, Mother Nature Network, 5 June 2017.â€Å"Ploughshare Tortoise | Astrochelys Yniphora.†Ã‚  EDGE of Existence.â€Å"The Race to Save the Tortoise.†Ã‚  CBS News, CBS Interactive.