adventures in china

Sometimes I find myself ignoring common sense, doing the opposite of what I know to be responsible. Like buying a bunch of monkey frogs (Phyllomedusa tomopterna) only weeks before going to China for 4 months. They arrived on Tuesday, in a box marked “Live Perishable Tropical Fish”. The FedEx carrier handed me the package sideways, with the red arrow pointing towards her instead of up. The frogs were okay though, slightly jostled, ready to leave their deli cups. When I return in October they won’t look so delicate, but for now these nickel-sized froglets appear frail, walking on angel hair legs. They don’t jump or hop, but creep, cautiously gripping vines with their fingers like miniature drugged lemurs.