My job is weirder than yours.

Oh sure, Danger works with honest-to-God crazy people, and SSFB studies a ladybits disorder, and That Chick works in some kind of top-secret nuclear missile silo, guarded by large men with machine guns. But, I ask you, do any of these ladies have their very own desk parasite? Do they? I didn't think so.

Say hello to Bernadette, the tapeworm.

Besides playing host (HA!) to Bernadette for the past three weeks or so, I also spent this afternoon fetching these gals and this thing and bringing them back to the office with me.

The lovely lady at the lower end of the tray is an Ascaris roundworm, and her species is arguably the most successful parasite on the planet. The gal / gent at the top is an earthworm.

The thing, it's what happens when a dog doesn't get treated for heartworms.

We're doing research for a parasites program, which makes this still weird but not utterly creepy.

In the course of my research, I read this fantastic book. It was gross but also super cool, and surprisingly funny. This is my favorite photo from the book:


(Sorry about the quality. My scanner is rebellious.) The text to accompany the photo says, This is Buddy, a Pomeranian dog who has clearly just been to the canine hairdresser. As you can see from the relative positions of the dog (who is clearly having a very good hair day) and the human (who is clearly not), dogs of this size and shape make very good lapdogs. Good times, good times.


Edited to add:  I want this shirt. REALLY REALLY BAD.





Reading:  Something Rising (Light and Swift) by Haven Kimmel


Playing:  Howl by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club