If I had the chance, this is the kind of thing I'd love to do. The Wildlife Conservation Society (the organization that brings us the Bronx Zoo and even the tiny Prospect Park Zoo that my baby loves) has posted this overseas job offering:

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) currently seeks candidates for the position of Manager of Administration in the Gabon Country Program. WCS first started working in Gabon in 1985 and established a country program under Lee WhiteÂ’s direction in 1992. WCS activities in Gabon include technical assistance for National Park and protected area planning and management, capacity building in management, tourism and scientific institutions, research and monitoring, park delimitation, eco-tourism planning and development, and instituting a wildlife health program and bushmeat management program.

The Manager of Administration is responsible for management of the office administration, logistics and human resources functions. The MA is based in Libreville, Gabon and reports to the Country Program Manager. Responsibilities include supporting field operations on administrative and logistical matters including the procurement and shipping of equipment, supervision of Administrative Assistant and IT manger, assistance in maintaining proper licenses, insurance and visas for staff and equipment, and ensuring that the Country head office is run efficiently. The MA will also be responsible for maintaining staff operations manual, liaising with New York staff regarding staff issues, and working with the Personnel Director to develop career development and training programs.

The candidate should have a minimum of 3 yearsÂ’ experience managing an administrative or logistical team. A Bachelor degree, preferably in Business Administration is required. French and English written and spoken fluency is essential. The candidate should have strong organizational and proven managerial skills as well as proficiency on Microsoft Word and Excel. Good communication skills, both written and verbal, as well as strong analytical skills are also necessary. The candidate must be willing to travel to field sites, and work constructively in a multicultural situation with strong interpersonal skills. The position would ideally begin in March-April 2006. Interested candidates should e-mail a cover letter and CV to Bryan Curran at both bcurran@wcs.org and wcsafrica@wcs.org.

Equal Opportunity Employer
M/F/H/V

These were the words that rolled off my oldest son's lips. It's funny, but Thing #1 seems to be deciding these days he is heterosexual.

His father is quite alarmed that I made this observation impassively, diagnostically. Well, I do look at pregnancy, mothering and the whole parenting thing as one big human Wild Kingdom experience. It's like I am looking at animals in the zoo but I am one of them.

And let me tell you, there's a couple of boys that by their choices are really hell bent on liking Peter and Paul waaaay more than Mary. It really is amazing to see, how some of us are just, well, gay from the day we were born. I think it's beautiful.

This, of course, takes me to the subject of our gayest of all New Yorkers, the penguins at various of our zoos. There's Squawk and Milou, Georgey and Mickey. Then there's the most controversial couple of the bunch, the then closeted bi-sexual Roy and the now forlorn and broken hearted Silo.

Roy and Silo became notorious during the 2004 election campaign as the poster boys for the equal gay rights amendment. They even have a children's book based on their love and parenting story. Then in 2005 Roy caught the eye of a homewrecker. After refusing for 6 years to mate with anybody else but Silo (females included) AND raising a chick with him, Roy walks out on him and starts building a nest for a hussy called Scrappy. Weirdest part of the story? Tango, their chick, is one half of a lesbian couple. Her mate's name is Tazuni.

So we talked about the gay penguins this morning; about how love knows no bounds. I reminded him of his friends two moms, of some of our friends (and some of his favorite people) who are gay and lesbian.

His answer? "Oh. Right. I totally forgot."

"You see, so boys can send valentines to other boys."

"I know, but mommy ... can I give my valentines to a girl?"

"Yes honey, it's your choice."

"Great."

Next month, they'll be reporting about their homeschooling classes at Central Park and their experience with the gayest New Yorkers of all, the zoo's penguins.

Happy Valentine's Day y'all.