Thursday, July 15, 2010

How I murdered my neighbor's goldfish

Just kidding, I did not kill my neighbor's goldfish. Well at least, not intentionally. They are on vacation this week and asked me to fish-sit. So I faithfully go feed them once a day after work (I don't want to overfeed them, they could die! Look it up) but yesterday when I went to look, one was missing. Their tank is a big plastic trashcan filled with water and it has these pretty lily pads in there. It's quite nice because the fish can swim real deep and hide or stay cool. Anyways, one fish is missing. So I look around the trash can thinking maybe he flopped out. Nothing there. Look around for birds but it's a no go. Finally I look deeper into the trash can turned fish tank and see a slight shimmer of scales. Crap. IS HE DEAD NO PLEASE DON'T BE DEAD. I somehow convince myself he's sleeping. Fish sleep right?

Went home, looked it up. Fish definitely sleep, though not sure if sleeping on their side, which this goldfish was, is normal. Went back a couple hours later hoping to see the little guy awake from his nap. I guess I didn't really fully convince myself he was sleeping though, because I took a fly swatter just in case I needed to fish (hah!) him out. He was sleeping alright, except for eternity. Dead and floating at the top :(. I didn't do it, I didn't kill him! I promise I did not neglect the fish. I'm thinking maybe the other one is a bully and took all the food. Or maybe he was just old and the time was right. Carried him on the fly swatter to our backyard compost pin and buried him. Rest in peace. I dread telling the neighbor's when they get back...their little daughter is going to think I am a killer of goldfish, and hence, a killer of all things good.

On another note I was watching jeopardy the other day and there was a guy named Van. Alex Trabek, when preparing for the commercial break, said "And when we come back, Van goes next." VAN GOGH. bahaha. Laughed out loud. Poor guy, he probably got it a lot growing up. Or maybe not because kids might not know who Van Gogh is. Something I learned about Van Gogh in Contemporary Art History class last week: Van Gogh most likely did not intentionally kill himself. He had episodes of manic depression where he would lash out in weird ways like cutting off his ear or swallowing paint. On this particular day he was painting in a field, had an episode, and shot himself. When it passed he gathered up all his stuff in the field, went back home, and died three days later. Poor Vincent. But he is now a legend in the art world so he will forever be remembered.

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