Dionne - ClinVet Poet

Here is a post-post from the trip to S. Africa. Dionne has been generating poems published in the ClinVet Chronicles (Vol. 27) for some time. A little background on one particular piece. As I walked into the 'dry lab' to begin some experiments one early morning the door was wide open...surprisingly so. With one step into the somewhat dark space I observed with both my eyes and nose a malodorous thing...numerous containers filled with dog poop. The folks in the lab looked for my vocal response because my eyes may have given me away...I was surprised...not missing a beat I took a deep breath and exclaimed...'the smell of money'!. This was a funded research project on a product for eliminating an internal parasite from canines. Dionne responded with this poem, which I assume is his copyright-protected material.


Spring has Sprung--Thank God for Dung!
Spring has sprung, thank God for dung
And the many worms writhing inside.
A brand new spring day has begun,
And I collect crap with humble pride.
Don't mind the smell, forget the stink,
Or rather once you smell it think:
As long as dogs crap and worms live free,
So long do I have work and is ClinVet paying me!

And one more to catch the essence of what ClinVet is about...
Spring has Sprung-an External Vermin Song...

The air is brisk, the air is fresh
Ticks and fleas will try their best
To crawl and bite and breed and infest.
Behold the mouthpart hunger in gluttony,
Envision the crawling of the gravid flea:
As long as bugs doth bite and ticks roam free,
So long shall the renowned authority of ClinVet be....

Last Sunset in Bloemfontein

Our last evening we enjoyed a lovely dinner and a sunset the marks the end of a visit but not the end to a longstanding friendship between the Needhams and Fouries. The blowing dust reminded me of Oklahoma springtime, one by-product is a reddish-orange sunset.

We learned so much on the trip about one another....some things that are flattering...others not. Worship at Christian Revival Church is an awesome experience, which charges your spiritual battery so you can take on the challenges of the week. I will post some short video clips soon. In another post I will share some poetry from the unofficial poet of ClinVet. Stay tuned as I hope Elizabeth will share some additional photos and thoughts.

Eunice

Both Elizabeth and Kathleen attended Eunice for about 3 months in 1998.




Here is Rykie heading to Eunice...she graduates the end of the calendar year then begins at the university in January. She was just voted a captain of the Orange Free State girls hockey team..quite an honor!

Engela & her Mom

We really enjoyed our time in Bloemfontein, especially meeting the many folks in the Fourie's lives. Here is Engela with her Mom who is still very active and lives a short distance away.

Glen at ClinVet giving fleas a 'suntan'

The week and a half has been productive in that fleas appear to be sensitive to a brief exposure of UV-C. Work will continue at ClinVet to repeat the experiments, which I anticipate will lead to a scientific publication.

Rykie & Elizabeth going out

After studying and taking exams all week, Rykie is ready to spend time with friends...she and Elizabeth go out for the evening.

We are home!

Just a note to say we are home from RSA...in need of showers and to do some laundry. The Fourie's were awesome hosts and we will miss them...until next July when I will be going to Durban for the International Entomology Congress...hopefully with Karla.

Karla and I go to Seattle tomorrow for the OSU-Washington football Saturday...our first away game ever. We will be stay with family.. Jim and Sheila. We hope to eat salmon and enjoy a Bugeye...oops Buckeye victory. Go Buckeyes!

Elizabeth starts at OSU Marion next Wednesday so she has a few days to get organized and enjoy life before beginning her pre-nursing curriculum.

Here are some photos to catch up with some things that happened later in the visit...

More from Game Drive & Bloemfontein

Just a little more from the events of the week....we received some additional pictures from Johan and Charlotte. We really counted our blessings to have such good travel companions to Willem Pretorius. Johan is an expert birdwatcher, knowing many of the birds both in English and Africans.

We have eaten so much on this trip...clearly from some of the pictures I see a larger abdomen so some exercise will be required upon our return. In the photo of me trying to read an book in Africans...it is also clear I need a shower.

The lone animal picture is either of a very large grasshopper or one taken up close with a very good camera...you decide.

Engela's niece Engela has prepared dinner for us the past two evenings...she is training to be a professional chef. We give her our full endorsement.

Yesterday Elizabeth went to the CRC School where they feed the children soup. This is a major operation on a scale that is difficult for us to comprehend. Clearly the kids are being fed mentally, physically and spiritually.

Today is Friday so I am trying to wrap up some flea and lice experiments with various exposures to ultraviolet light.

We expect to dine out this evening as Leon has a guest coming from Germany. Elizabeth will be going out with Rykie and her friends. Tomorrow we will be shopping some more for those final 'treasures'. Sunday we look forward to worship at CRC. Their web site is: http://www.crc.org.za/

Willem Pretorius Bush Camp

It is already Thursday and we depart for home next Tuesday. We just returned from two wonderful days observing various animals in a game park about two hours from Bloemfontein. Johan and Charlotte Kok originally from Bloemfontein, now living in Auckland, New Zealand, drove us around the park where we saw some amazing creatures. Giraffes and kudu were impressive as were a rhino mother and her calf. Elizabeth took some 200 photos and we share a couple here.

Today Elizabeth is going to the Christian Revival Church feeding site where they will tend to some 4000 people in one afternoon. They do this daily...an amazing outreach effort.

I am exposing flea larvae to UV-C this afternoon. My experiments with flea eggs were spectacular....1 second killed all of the 150 specimens. I am hoping to have an abstract accepted to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. I did not know the results until after the deadline so I am hoping there will be some grace extended.

Grace and Peace, Glen