Speckled King Snake

Also called the Salt And Pepper King this highly beficial snake not only eats other snakes it seems to specialize in Copperheads. Interestingly and maybe coincidentally, on the property I caught this one on I have never seen a Copperhead in spite of it being relatively undisturbed and ideal habitat for them. They also eat a lot of mice and rats. It's a pointless shame people would kill such an interesting, harmless and beneficial animal on sight.

Monday's Missives

Mexican king snake found in a drain in Scotland- demonstrative of the multiple problems with mans fascination with animals and the trade in same.

• A few weeks ago I gave an Iraqi patient who is fluent in English the number for one of my contacts in the translator/interpreter network underworld. He called them and was not only offered a job and training but the classes and test fees will be paid for by the organization and as his is worn out they are buying him a new prosthetic leg and paying for his physical therapy.
• Every once in a while I get something right- don't get too used to it though.

  

  Miss Landmine contestants

  
  
  
  
• For Robert F. Scott's Antarctic expedition he chose to incorporate ponies, sled dogs and 3 tractors into his plans. It was destined to fail before the severe weather hit. Another interesting related fact- part of the reason Amundson succeeded and Scott's party starved, froze and dehydrated to death was Scott's insistence it be a scientific journey to gather samples and take readings etc. along the way not just a race to the pole for the sake of getting there. This is a really odd fatal error. If he had slogged to the pole and not worried about anything but getting there and back alive- he could have wrote his own ticket and done anything he wanted on the next expedition.
• Of course he would also have had to leave the ponies and tractors behind...
• Unsolicited outdoor tip for the day: Almost no matter where and when you go in the great outdoors in the US of A if you carry a backpack with a water reservoir, a water filter, headlamp, some bandannas, two ways of making a fire, a knife, some 550 cord (50-100 ft.), a trash bag and two space blankets it will only cost you a few pounds of weight and you still might be a knucklehead and get lost but at least you'll be a live knucklehead.

  

  Ad said to the effect," I'm a single mom and my ex husband set fire to my car. I don't know where to find parts for it...." That is code for, I talked to the body shop and if you buy it from me it will cost twice what the car is worth to fix it and you run the risk of getting killed by my ex or at the very least having him burn it to the ground when he sees it and assumes I still own it.

• It depends on the server and the situation but I most often get perturbed when  they ask about what I'm reading when I have a book at the table. There is a snap judgement where I sense their motive (maybe incorrectly) and if I sense they're genuine I'll engage them, if I sense they're sucking up to enhance their tip I'll shut down- quick.
• It is 05/18/2014@0740 and Zac is rubbing Crayons together to see what colors are formed on the paper.
• Formed? That gets the point across but I am sure that isn't correct.

  

  Her eye looks sad. How is that possible- one eye? It seems like it would take both to form an expression. Anyway, I am sure it was something I did.

  
  

Monday's Missives

Wassup!? You got somethin' you want to say?

Old picnic area on Goose Island at Mineral Wells State Park Lake.

• Caraziest thing that's crossed my mind since I don't know when? After my patient left this mortal coil before my shift was over the other night it put me driving home in the middle of the night. Out of nowhere and without provocation it popped into my mind: You know what would be terrific right now- I mean awesome? A dip of Copenhagen! Doesn't that sound tumultuous?
• I don't know the last time I had any of the stuff.
• It was all could do to keep from pulling into a convenience store.
• I mean I fantasized about the stuff.
• Something you'll have to learn to accept if you're going to be around women: they always look for deeper meaning in everything- from the music you listen to, to the random sighs you make and they always and I mean always come to the wrong conclusion(s).
• Last night I dreamed about travelling to a foreign land, a foreign land where militants held sway. I was in uniform but not an actual soldier. A group of us were captured with a bunch of tourists. At one point we were marched into a mosque. I looked up and realized only the Muslims were in there- besides me of course. I sneaked out. A big, mean looking female terrorist came out and started beating a small child assuming he was the offender. I didn't say a word to intervene. It also involved zombies and dinosaurs. 
• That was my dreamscape for the night of 07182013- how was yours?
• Nope.......I may not agree with his sexual orientation but, he was a solider and deserves exactly what every other hero gets. Whos peter hes puffin' shoudnt make a difference. A comment regarding Alan Turing.
• Take it away Fly's with Got You Where I Want You featuring a pre Cruise kook-fest Katie Holmes.

Death Among The Gladiolas

This sweet looking young thing is what is commonly called a Copperhead. I'm not sure but,I think this is ancient Aztec for "He who lies in ambush between the Umbrella plant and the Gladiolas waiting to put a severe hurtin' on ole Chupa el Cabra"-but,I'm not sure.

They often live in wooded areas often hence the camoflouge but,there will always be a water source nearby.(like my water hydrant) They have a wide range of temperament but,instinctively freeze at danger-often giving rise to the impression they stand their ground-they will often just as likely freeze but,make little effort to attack.

I have no animosity whatever toward our legless neighbors of the woodland realm but dog gonnit bro. my flowerbed? You gotta go!

Copperheads are birthed live, not from eggs.

There are exceptions but,it seems poisonous snakes just look like bad news. Compare this specimen to a grass snake or whatever. A grass snake or a corn snake et al makes you want to cuddle up with it and eat Rice Krispy treats- this thing can just look at you and make you draw up inside.

Copperheads was the name of a Civil War era anti war political group.

I'm not afraid of snakes-I never kill them,I capture and release them but, after I interact with one everything makes me think snake! I walked around the house last night checking for other snakes. When I stumbled upon a water hose, inside I jumped a bit-yeah, like there are always 75 feet long,lime green snakes lurking the shadows waiting to take me down.

What was I thinking when scooping this bad boy up into the Mason Jar you ask? "Man, you are going to look like such a goob in the ER explaining how you got bit by a Copperhead on the thumb!"