Spring semester

Sorry I haven't posted in a very long time (as usual) but I have been working hard on my second semester in college and instead of doing online classes I am on campus all the time so I am hardly home. The work itself isn't difficult, it is the amount of work that I need to do.My birthday is coming up on Wednesday and I will be 22 and also, my boyfriend and I are having our 9 month anniversary the day before, so I have a lot of special things going on next week. 

I will hopefully be able to get my friends together so we can enjoy some drinks on my birthday since I never really had an "official" 21st birthday. Although, I do have school the next day and cannot expect myself to drink too much. I am enjoying my Intro to the Criminal Justice System class very much, and even my Sociology class a little.  I did previously get a new chinchilla named Chihiro, but unfortunately she did not get along with my others and she needed to go back, which is sad because I did love her. Also, I am working on my new book and I will be ordering more of my older two books in case anyone would like a copy please let me know by emailing me here at zombiefreak27@hotmail.com The plot of the new book will remain a secret for now but hopefully I should have the summery perfected by next week. My Math workload is sort of large so you must bare with me. Lola and Onyx are doing great, my boyfriend and I are going to celebrate our first official valentines day together in a month which will be very special. 

Oh, I know it is a little (a lot) late, but happy 2014 to everyone and I hope you all had a great Christmas!

Chinchillas

Since I mentioned yesterday that I have two chinchillas, I thought I should explain a little about them. Chinchillas are cute, and furry creatures that look like a cross between a squirrel and a rabbit. They come from the Andes Mountains in South America. Many of their species has been wiped out due to fur hunting. Chinchillas have over 60 hairs per follicle, unlike humans who only have one. This makes their fur very soft and desirable. Chinchillas are social creatures that require a lot of attention, and they need to have at least an hour of "play time," per day, outside of their cage. Speaking of cages, many first-time chinchilla owners might not even know the proper cage to get.  Chinchillas need multi-level cages with lots of room to run around. The cage must have a solid bottom, this is because their tiny feet could get stuck. Also, no plastic is allowed, this includes plastic huts and landings. They will chew on it if it's in there. Also, chinchillas teeth are constantly growing, this means they will need things in their cage to chew on such as certain types of wood, loofah and pumice rock.

Chinchillas also are very sensitive to the heat. Being from the mountains, they are extremely prone to heat stroke in temperatures over 75 degrees. A good way to keep them cool is to purchase a Chin-Chiller, for them to lay on. This is just a small slab of granite they have the option to lay on if they get too warm. I would suggest getting two and always keeping one in the freezer for emergencies. For food, they need simple, plain, pellet, and an endless supply of Timothy hay per day. As far as treats go, despite what you read online or what pet stores sell, DO NOT FEED YOUR CHINCHILLA RAISINS! It will stick in their teeth causing very bad, and not to mention expensive damage, which  can lead to obesity and diabetes. 

One cute thing about chinchillas is that they cannot get wet or be in water. To get clean they take "dust baths." This "dust" is actually really fine volcanic ash that goes inside a chinchilla bath house that can be found at any pet store. They roll around in the dust to get their fur soft and shiny, as well as remove any oil or dirt. Since their fur is so thick they do not get dandruff, fleas, or ticks. Never leave the dust bath in the cage, too many dust baths will cause dry skin.

And last, chinchillas are nocturnal. So if you plan on getting one and keeping it in your room, be prepared to be kept up every once in awhile. Just this morning my chinchilla, Lola, randomly decided to bark at 8am. Yes, chinchillas make a variety of sounds, including barking. They also usually should be kept in pairs of two, or more, since they are social animals. Which leads to more noise at night. I have gotten used to it, but if you are someone who gets up early every morning and relies on sleep, either put your chinnie in a different room or don't get one at all. Chinchillas can be very enjoyable pets to have and can live a long life if cared for properly!