A Flower For Stein

This one is for Stein.

I went to Stein's home today at the dolphin pool. I was sad because he was there the last time I came, but he died before I could get there again. Stein was my favorite dolphin. He was the oldest one there and he had no teeth and most of the dolphins there are his kids.

But Stein went to Jesus and that's ok, because Jesus has probably got him working up there making people happy, like Patty and Destiny. I sure know I'm happy when I see a dolphin. Today I petted a couple of Stein's kids in the dolphin pool. You just hold the fish and pet their forehead, then give them the fish. Those dolphins stayed extra long for me today, probably because they know I love them.

Stein (photo by SWCali)

When I grow up and be all of the -ologies, I want to be a dolphin trainer so I can see them every day and get in the water with them. Oh that would be so cool.

I picked a special flower and gave it to the dolphin trainers for Stein. They hung that flower on their board so that everybody could see it. I sure love Stein and I'll never forget him.

Petting dolphins today

Read the Stein story from the beginning here.

Live From San Diego

[Dad's Note: Tonight's post comes to you tonight from sunny (and smokey) San Diego.]

This one is for Dadda and Mumma.

We are in San Diego right now! We almost couldn't come because San Diego is on fire right now, but it's ok where we are. San Diego is a place far, far away by the sea. There is ships and jungles and Sea World where Stein lived before he went to Jesus. We are going there tomorrow even!

Sunday Night Prayers

BRIDGER
Heavenly Father, please help me sleep good and have a good day at school tomorrow. Please help me have good dreams.

Heavenly Father, I sometimes wonder why Jesus made sting rays have stingers, but I already know why- because it's their protection against predators.

Please bless Jack Hanna and Stein the dolphin. Please bless West to have a good day tomorrow and bless Coulter not to break my tracks while I'm gone to school tomorrow. I love you in the stars. Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

WESTON
Heavenly Father, please bless Bridger so he have a good day at school tomorrow and please bless Coulter. Bless my froggie and Ziggy and Goffy. Name of Jesus Christ, amen.

COULTER
Heavenly Father, Amen.

Evil Genius Musings: Experiments, Dolphins, & Stegosaurs

This one is for Stephy.

Stegosaurus skull

I think I know how make experiments. First you take the snake-like thing and you turn this switch down. That's you charge it's molecums. You want to charge the molecums or the experiment will have a glitch and it will die some day.

I would make an experiment that can shoot things out of its tummy. I could make one that could turn into different things. I could make a dinosaur experiment, maybe one that can make stegosaurus have bigger brains. That way it would be smarter and you could have a conversation with it.

Like dolphins have large brains, not small ones like the stegosaurus. Dolphins are so smart that they can talk to each other and even type on a 'puter. If Stein was an experiment I think he could turn people to be really smart like him.

Then I could make an experiment like Clip that cuts hair. But you better make sure you don't want that hair, because it will never grow back. That also makes it easy to take care of. Plus mumma says when I have shorter hair it makes me look handsome. I would definitely get a haircut from Clip. That way I'd never have to get haircuts from my haircut lady Angel. Angel is a nice lady but I just don't like getting haircuts.

There is so many cool experiments I could make. The only thing I'm missing is an evil genius laboratory.

Clip (Experiment 177)

[Dad's Note: 'Molecums' = molecules. The stegosaurus is sometimes called the dumbest dinosaur (but we don't use the words 'dumb' and 'dinosaur' in the same sentence in our house) because their brain was the size of a walnut.

The typing dolphin thing is true. Bridger is referencing a recent article about SeaWorld trainers using a special underwater computer to teach dolphins how to surf the Web.]

Goodbye, Stein

[Dad's Note: Stein the dolphin has passed away after a long battle with liver cancer. He was in his mid 40's. As he aged past normal dolphin life expectancy (about 25 years) he began losing his teeth, making him very easy to recognize. Bridger met Stein in San Diego last year and has mentioned him often in his posts.]

This one is for Stein. He went to Jesus.

Poor Stein went to Jesus. He was a good dolphin. He was a sensational dolphin. He had no teeth because he was so old, but it was ok because the SeaWorld workers took good care of him. He had this thing called cancer that grew in him until he died.

I'm very sad about Stein, but it's ok because I know Jesus is taking care of him. Also the Crocodile Hunter, and that's really good because the Crocodile Hunter knows how to take care of animals.

Wish I could hold him and love him when he was dying. Then maybe he would feel better. I wish I could have seen him again and I wish I could give him something. Like I gave old granny a sticker of a starfish when she died. I got it from wal-mart. I don't even think they sell that sticker anymore at wal-mart. Then I put that starfish sticker on her shirt before she died.

Do you know what's good? I think when Stein gets resulected, he will be a kid dolphin again and he'll have all his teeth. I love Stein.

[The following is an excerpt of a letter from our dolphin connection, Erin at SWCali:

I am very sorry to inform you that Stein passed away on May 28, 2007. I was actually there when he died (coincidentally). He died peacfully in the arms of his trainers. He had been battling liver cancer. He was a very old dolphin. I am very sorry you won't be able to see your favorite dolphin during your trip to sea world this summer. Just remember he was loved by a lot of people, including Bridger.

Erin took some pictures of Stein in March. Here are those pictures with her comments:

This is Stein and Bodine. Bodine is a pacific bottlenose dolphin and the biggest bottlenose dolphin at sea world. He weighs about 850 pounds. They tend to be a lot larger, and a lot darker than the Atlantic bottlenose dolphins which is what Stein is. I don't know what Stein's actual weight is but it's probably around 450 pounds.

That is Stein on the right and two of youngsters, Nitro (age 3) and Venus (age 2).

This is Stein on the scale with a female named Beaker. Beaker is actually Stein's daughter. Her mother is a pacific bottlenose dolphin, which is why she is so dark. Beaker has two kids of her own. Her most recent one, Captain, a female, born in October 2005, is at RPP with her.

Stein on the scale again.

Thank you Erin for the information and the pictures.]

Previous Stein-related posts:
Prayer for the Toothless Dolphin
Toothless Dolphin Update
Things That Make Me Happy
Hot Air Balloon Time

Control, We Are 'Go' For Launch

This one is for my teacher.

I went in a hot air balloon today because I won the reading contest! Me and Jane and Silas got to go and lots of people got to watch. A hot air balloon is so cool because it's this big balloon and a man in a blue coat turns a machine and fire goes up in it. That's what makes the balloon stay up.

When it was my turn to go up, I put my foot into this little hole in the basket and climbed in. Then it started to feel like I was floating and that's when I knew we were flying in the air. I didn't look at the bottom of the basket. I just looked out the side of the basket and my teacher lifted me up so I could see better. We were very high and when I looked down I could see all of the kids from my school.

When we came down it felt like I had parachutes on me. Then it was time to get out of the basket. I love riding in a hot air balloon. I definately need to do that again. There was no way I could have taken Stein up there. But I did take a dinosaur up there. Now that dinosaur's been in a hot air balloon!

[Dad's Note: I honestly thought Bridger would freak out once it came time to climb in. He did get a bit nervous the first time they ignited the burner, but he was ok after that. I also thought he might be disapponted that the balloon was tethered and stayed low. Wrong again, his first words after landing were "Dad- did you see how high I was?!"]

Contest Results In: It's Hot Air Baloon Time!!

[Dad's Note: This week's Monday Mailbag has been bumped to tomorrow.]

Oh I definately need to talk about this reading contest. Guess what? I won! It will be me and Jane and Silas that get to go in the hot air baloon with teacher. Teacher read the paper and it said that we won. First, I was like "No way." Then, I was like "Yes!!"

Silas was so excited. He said "My first time in a hot air balloon!" It's my first time in a hot air balloon too. But not Jane's. This will be her second time. She says it's really fun. I sure like Jane.

I wish dadda could come up there with me- even Stein. But I probably couldn't bring Stein because it would be very hard to get him up there. Maybe I will take a picture of him up there with me.

I can take pictures of all the things I love up there with me and I could tell Silas and Jane all about them while we're up there in that balloon.

Thank you everybody that helped me win that reading contest!

[Bridger, Silas, and Jane lift off on Wednesday, weather permitting. We'll take plenty of pictures. Again, thanks to all that sponsored and encouraged Bridger in his reading!]

Monday Mailbag: Dromeosaurs, Grown-Up Work, and the Goodyear Blimp

Responding to Singers, Fiddlers, and People Under Water, Kristen said...
You asked if I liked dinosaurs...and I must say, I do VERY much!! :D My little sister also loves them! And you know, thinking about it now, it would be pretty awesome if Alison sang a song about dinosaurs! Did you know her son, Sam, loves dinosaurs too? What's your favorite dinosaur Bridger?

BRIDGER RESPONDS: No way! I didn't know Alison Krauss had a boy. That's a pretty lucky boy. If he likes dinosaurs, maybe he could come over and we could play. My favorite dinosaur is all the dinosaurs- even crocodiles, snakes, alligators, lizards- every reptile in the whole white world and the whole white space. But right now I'm thinking of a dromeosaur, or raptor. Probably one that has short feathers that is hunting for his prey. Oh I just saw a very pretty picture of Alison Krauss.

Responding to Helping Hilly Give Blood, Steph said...
I would be willing to bet Hillari was grateful for your help with her blood donation. Maybe medical school is in your future.

BRIDGER RESPONDS: Stephy, I'm going to do all of the 'ologies' when I grow up- even doctor-ology. Is that one of the ologies? I could be a people doctor and an animal doctor. It would be cool to be a dinosaur doctor in the time of the dinosaurs. I will do all kinds of work when I grow up, like clean my room or play on a 'puter like dadda.

Responding to School Reading Contest, Grammy said...
I sent you some moolah for your contest and I hope you win. If you want to take all those special people and Stein though.. the school might have to get a Texas size balloon.. or the Goodyear Blimp. Ask Dad to look that up for you!

BRIDGER RESPONDS: Grammy, here is a picture of a blimp. That's a funny name.

Thank you very much for the money for my read-a-thon! It makes me have special feelings. Oh I hope I win that trip in a hot air balloon.

Responding to Did Jesus Really Live Again, Ammon said...
Thanks for sharing your feelings about the ressurection. You truly shall live again and so will I thanks to a loving Savior. You're awesome. It's so fun to read your blogs.

BRIDGER RESPONDS: Ammon, I know who you're named after- that guy who cut off bad guys' arms. I was learning about him one time at church. That guy was true blue.

Tonight's Reading Stats
Reading time: 21 minutes
Total pages: 8
Books/Sections: First Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life- Dromeosaurs; Fantastic Frogs; Amazing Snakes

**4 Reading Days Remaining! Thanks to so many of you who have sponsored Bridger's reading so far. We are very grateful for your generosity. If you haven't yet and would like to sponsor Bridger, click on the PayPal box in the sidebar!**

Omeisaurus, Dolphins, and Sharks

I just did my reading tonight. I was really wanting to read this book about dinosaurs that has stickers where you read the page and then put a sticker on it. Hilly gave me that book a long time ago. We read about sauropods and I found out there was this sauropod called a omeisaurus. Paleontologists first thought he had a club on his tail, but actually they found out that the club was from another dinosaur, not the omeisaurus!

Then we read the dolphin part of my sea book. I learned about that if a dolphin is sick, the other dolphins will take care of it. So I hope that means that the other dolphins at SeaWorld take care of Stein because he is very old and has no teeth.

Then we read my shark book and I learned how to tell a mako shark from a bull shark. The bull shark is gray and the mako shark is kind of blue. I did really good sounding out my words tonight. That means I might get a good note from teacher.

Tonight's Stats
Reading time: 23 minutes
Total pages: 5
Books/Sections: Sharks- Overview; Under the Sea- Dolphins; Dinosaurs!- Jurrassic Sauropods


[Dad's Note: Please check the link to the right titled "Support Bridger's Blog" to see why Bridger is giving his reading stats.]

School Reading Contest

My school is doing this reading contest where the winner gets to fly in a hot air balloon with their teacher. Oh I want to go on that hot air balloon! A hot air balloon has this basket on it and a balloon's on a basket and you're in the basket and you go up in the air.

If I could take whoever I want up there with me I'd definately take Tiff and Tammy and my whole family. And Nigel Marven, Bear Grylls, Jack Hanna, some dinosaurs, and Alison Krauss. Oh, and Stein the dolphin without teeth. We'd have to take a big tank of saltwater up there for Stein, though. I'd also find a really good entimologist to take up there with me.

I will read 20 minutes a day so I can win. I hope I win because that would be so fun!

[Dad's Note: Bridger's school is holding a read-a-thon fundraiser. Bridger's goal is to read 20 minutes per day for the next two weeks. Students may ask people to sponsor them by making a donation of any amount as he reads. The student in each class who meets his/her reading goals and brings in the most donations for reaching their goal receives a ride in a hot air balloon.

If you see Bridger regularly and would like to sponsor him, you can make a cash or check donation in person. Anybody else in the world who would like to make a donation can do so by clicking the PayPal box in the sidebar of this blog. Those of you who live outside the U.S. may choose to donate using your national currency via PayPal.

I really don't like the idea of soliciting funds- especially from friends and family. So please understand that there are no expectations here. Bridger thought his blog would be a good way to get the word out (ever the little marketing exec) and we figured we'd throw it out there for anybody who would like to donate.

Bridger really wants to win a hot air balloon ride, and if he can earn it I think it will be really good for him. So sponsor him if you'd like- and only if you'd like- and watch for daily updates on his reading status.]

Monday Mailbag: Jack Hanna, Komodo Dragons, and Becoming a Man

Grammy said...
I bet there are places unexplored, just waiting for you to grow up and go find them! I think you will be famous someday like Jack Hanna or the Crocodile Hunter. Then I will tell all my friends I know you, get your autograph, and make you take me out to dinner.

BRIDGER RESPONDS: Heck yeah! We could go to Dinosaur McDonalds. Jack Hanna is in Africa. I know because he sent me a letter a couple days ago. He reads my blog, but I don't know how he does that in the jungle because there not a lot of computers in the jungle. He goes there when he's not at SeaWorld. I sure miss the Crocodile Hunter. I don't know what it's like to be with Jesus because I never been there- only when I was being made- and I don't remember that.

Sami said...
Is that real, Bridger? Is a Komodo Dragon really real? Scary!

BRIDGER RESPONDS: Yes, Sami, they are real. They are huge and gigantic. They aren't so fast, but they can still get their prey. They live on an island in Asia. They could kill a person but they could not kill dinosaurs, because dinosaurs are the most powerful creatures in the whole wide world. Sami, did you have fun at Disneyland? Did you go on girly rides?

Grammy said...
Yeah... I think I was about 43 when I started making my own food. You don't have to worry about getting to old to play. I bet dadda plays a lot during the day. I go outside at night with my boys on the trampoline and tell ghost stories and sing along to their underarm toots. We laugh so hard. So see.. you are never to old to play and have fun!

BRIDGER RESPONDS: 43? A four and a three? I can't believe that. Stein the dolphin is 43 and he doesn't even make his own food. Little kids feed him his food when they go to SeaWorld. When you're a man you always have to do work. You're an old man when you turn 94 and you get lines down your face. Then you die.

[Dad's Note: Bridger did indeed get a letter from Jack Hanna's assistant, Amy Feller, at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Jack was indeed in Africa. And he does indeed read Bridger's blog.]

He's Got The Whole World In His Hands

This one is for Stein the dolphin who has no teeth.

I love dinosaurs a very lot but today I love a lot of things- everything in the world. Every single planet in the whole wide space and every single star- even the one Jesus lives in. I even like Lightning McQueen. Even green food, but not to eat. Just to look at. But I don't like bad guys. Everything is good in the world except bad guys.

There's No Wrong Way to Eat a Fish

This one is for Chad. He doesn't think dinosaurs are the most powerful creatures that ever walked the earth. He thinks people are. Maybe he should read my blog.

Today I'm thinking about dinosaurs, fish, bugs, dogs, and Halloween stuff. I'm watching a show about cutting fish and cooking them and eating them. It's on the Discovery Channel. They slide them and cut them into little pieces. It's salmon and they will cook it on a fire. Wow, now they're picking the bones.

When me and dadda catch fish we rip their guts out then we cut their heads off and we cook them on the fire. I like to eat cooked fish. Baryonyx likes fish too, but he can't cook them because he couldn't even make a fire. Sharks grab fish with their teeth and shake them until blood comes out and then they swallow it whole. Stein the dolphin just swallows them whole because he doesn't have teeth to chew them.

Things That Make Me Happy

This one is for my Tiff. We played at her house today.

Maybe one day when we go to SeaWorld, some workers will come and get me and let me be the special kid that gets to hug Shamu. Then they will give me a special necklace that has a wood whale tail on it. One time when dadda was a little boy, he got to be the boy that hugs Shamu. Now he loves whales the rest of his life. This is a picture of dadda hugging Shamu long long ago.

I didn't get to touch a whale but I played with dolphins and stingrays. Now I love dolphins and stingrays the rest of my life. Do you know what makes me happy? Dinosaurs, lizards, alligators, crocodiles, worms, bugs, dolphins, stingrays, whales, Stein the dolphin. These things make me happy.

Toothless Dolphin Update

This one is for the Soldiers.

I was wondering about that dolphin with no teeth so me and dadda called SeaWorld. A guy told us that he's a very nice dolphin and his name is Stein. Sometimes that makes me think of Einstein or Frankenstein. That dolphin is so old that his teeth all fell out. Long long ago- 251 years ago- the workers saved him and took him to SeaWorld. Now he just swims and swims all day long. I know he is happy because he smiled at me. I wish that I could pet him but I didn't have any fish left. He's a good one and I love him so much. I will always remember that dolphin.

At first I thought Stein wasn't as old as my aunt Tammy, but now I think he is older because Tammy still has her teeth.

[Dad's Note: Ryan of SeaWorld's Education Department told us that Stein is an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin in his early 40's. As dolphins tend to live about 25 years in the wild, Stein has greatly benefitted from his life at SeaWorld. Dolphins' teeth fall out with age, and unlike sharks, their teeth don't grow back. It is impossible to determine his actual age because this calculation is made by counting the growth layers in the teeth, of which Stein has none.

Several of the dolphins at SeaWorld are Stein's offspring. Stein spent most of his life at SeaWorld as a performing dolphin. He retired from show business a few years ago and has recently been moved to Rocky Point Preserve (or as Bridger calls it, the "dolphin touching tank"), where Bridger met him on Saturday.

According to the Captive Dolphin Database, Stein was captured/rescued on 5/23/1970. Erin of SWCali writes in to give us some insight on Stein:

It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who prays for the dolphins. Luckily for Stein he doesn't really need teeth. Dolphins don't chew their food, and Stein doesn't hunt for his fish. Stein is a big sweetheart of a dolphin. I have had many opportunities to interact with him. He is very gentle with his interactions. Some of the other dolphins, mainly the young ones, come up and show a lot of energy. Stein is very easy going and calm when he comes up. He'll lay on his side for a nice rub, or he'll lay on his back for a nice belly rub. He doesn't interact near as much as the other dolphins do. I think he's kind of over the being rubbed down thing. He still seems to enjoy feeding time. He's up as fast as the rest of them when he sees the fish come out. For the most part he won't go up to his trainers if they aren't going to be feeding him.

Erin has a whole page full of pictures of Stein here. Thanks to Ryan and Erin for helping us ID and get to know this dolphin!]

Dreams of Dinosaurs and Toothless Dolphins

This one is for that old dolphin with no teeth.

Every night before I go to bed, we read dinosaur stories. Then we say our prayers and watch a short show, then listen to beautiful music and watch the sea light. Then I dream about dinosaurs.

But sometimes I have bad dreams. Like if I watched a spooky show or if I think about that scary story Tiff told me. That wasn't a pretended story. It was real.

Tonight I asked Jesus on my prayer to help me have good dreams. I know he will help me because that worked last night. Jesus has way more power than dumb super heroes. If I ask Jesus to help me and then if I think about happy things, then I dream about happy things. Tonight I will probably dream about dinosaurs and SeaWorld and that dolphin with no teeth.

[Dad's Note: Stay tuned for a substantial update on that dolphin with no teeth.]

Prayer For the Toothless Dolphin

This one is for Uncle T.

Today I was petting the dolphins and I saw one with no teeth. Zero. He comed over to me but he saw that I had no food so he just swam away.

I'm worried about that dolphin with no teeth. I wonder how he lost them. Maybe he got cavities in them all and they fell out. I hope the other dolphins will be nice to him because he's a good one.

Heavenly Father, please help that dolphin. He has no teeth. Not even a single teeth. Please help him to be happy. Name of Jesus Christ, amen.