Coffee Shop Forever, It's time to kick bottom and drink coffee! Options

[mALX]

Back from a road trip to Hershey, PA. The upstairs air conditioning is now not working. That’s the one that the guy didn’t fix before we left because that one was working. Argh.

But we have chocolate.

GAAAAAAH !!!! [drool] [slurp]

[bbqplatypus]

Day 1 of the Big Heat Wave. The heat hasn't arrived in Minnesota just yet (though it has been hot) so much as the humidity. I took my dog running tonight, and ended up running through a thick 80-degree fog. It was quite eerie.

Tomorrow it's supposed to get over 100. Funny thing - we've gone from one of the coldest winters in years (featuring the biggest snowstorm since '91) to one of the hottest summers (featuring the biggest bona fide heat wave I can remember since '01).

This post has been edited by bbqplatypus: Jul 17 2011, 07:31 AM

[treydog]

Stepped out front just now to wander around the yard and was gathering twigs.

Saw a largish one under a dogwood and then realized- NOT a twig.

Based on the white chin and vestigial markings (where she had eaten), she is a 3 to 4 foot black rat snake.

[mALX]

Stepped out front just now to wander around the yard and was gathering twigs.

Saw a largish one under a dogwood and then realized- NOT a twig.

Based on the white chin and vestigial markings (where she had eaten), she is a 3 to 4 foot black rat snake.

Urg !!

[grif11]

Don't worry too much Trey! Black rats are fairly harmless. There non-venemous constrictors. Just dont pick it up! It will probably spray musk at you.

[Black Hand]

At least its not venomous. Be more careful Ser Trey!

[treydog]

Oh- no worries. I have been around our ophidian friends for my entire life. Have handled rat snakes, garter snakes, ring-necks, water snakes (natrix natrix), and green snakes.

The only thing for me- particularly in the suburbs is the "startle factor."

And there are copperheads and rattlers in the area- although I have not encountered any.

I just took a few pictures and wished her good hunting.

[haute ecole rider]

Cool, Trey! All I ever see around here are garter snakes, and only in the "Hasta la Vista Baby" mode - i.e. streaking away from me through the grass. Dang!

[Thomas Kaira]

And then you have people like me who have to deal with Diamondbacks...

I wish there were more non-venomous snakes over my way.

[treydog]

OK- going to see if I can paste in links to a couple of the pictures- for those who are interested.


NOTE: IF YOU ARE AFRAID OF OR DO NOT LIKE SNAKES- DO NOT FOLLOW THE LINKS!

You can get a good view of the markings (and her meal- which is why she was not moving quickly).

Black Rat Snake 1

A view of her head- taken by the intrepid (and nervous) Mrs. Treydog!

Black Rat Snake 2

[Thomas Kaira]

And now Coyotes, too.

One of my mum's barn cats has gone missing, and its highly likely that she was killed by Coyotes.

I liked that cat, too. She loved it when I was around to pet her.

[Grits]

Nice snake! Her markings are so pretty. I wish she would come eat some of our voles.

TK, I’m sorry about your cat.

[mALX]

And now Coyotes, too.

One of my mum's barn cats has gone missing, and its highly likely that she was killed by Coyotes.

I liked that cat, too. She loved it when I was around to pet her.

So sorry to hear about your cat, TK

[Kiln]

I'd like to get a snake but my old lady is too afraid of them to have one around. If I were going to get one I would probably get a python because I like their body structure and their coloration.

Unfortunately, when we used to have chickens I had to kill a few black snakes that were eating the baby chicks. One was about six feet long or so and while I didn't really enjoy killing it, he had three or four lumps on his mid section where he had eaten a bunch of freshly hatched chickens. Bad thing about non venomous snakes is that they swallow other animals whole if they can fit their mouths around them.

This post has been edited by Kiln: Jul 18 2011, 05:39 AM

[Olen]

Good pictures there Trey, she's a beauty. Impressive too, I've only once seen a snake (alive) in the wild, that was a cobra in India and at a sufficent distance.

No such wildlife here (well unless you count some of the locals), even most of the plants are dead.

[minque]

Ahem....I..am actually rather scared of snakes, I think you're quite brave treydoggie to approach those that near....Ewwww


Aaaanyhow, I'm off tomorrow for Germany , back 5th of august. Just maybe I will get a chance or two to access internet, but I can't promise...so you'll have to be without me for some time!

See you all soon! Bye!

[mALX]

OK- going to see if I can paste in links to a couple of the pictures- for those who are interested.


NOTE: IF YOU ARE AFRAID OF OR DO NOT LIKE SNAKES- DO NOT FOLLOW THE LINKS!

You can get a good view of the markings (and her meal- which is why she was not moving quickly).

Black Rat Snake 1

A view of her head- taken by the intrepid (and nervous) Mrs. Treydog!

Black Rat Snake 2

GAAAAAH !!!! Mrs. Treydog is brave, I may have to send her a medal with a snake on it (to match the one she sent me with the mouse on it) - the pictures are GAAAAAH !!! But my hat is off in a hearty "BRAVO !!!" to Mrs. Treydog !!!



Here is Mrs. Treydog's medal, the image on the right shows how the snake would have been climbing up into the house if Mrs. Treydog hadn't risked life and limb to deter it ... :


http://oregondigital.org/cgi-bin/getimage....&DMROTATE=0

*



This post has been edited by mALX: Jul 18 2011, 08:33 PM

[King Coin]

And now Coyotes, too.

One of my mum's barn cats has gone missing, and its highly likely that she was killed by Coyotes.

I liked that cat, too. She loved it when I was around to pet her.

sorry about the cat. I'd miss my buddy if she were to disappear. She always sits on my lap at night while I do stuff on the computer.

[Athynae]

Several years ago I acted as Wedding Coordinator for my cousins wedding at an historical home that had a vineyard on the grounds. Everything was set up outside and we had a sudden summer shower which postponed the ceremony for about 45 minutes. The rain stopped and my son, who was 12 or so, and I went out and dried off all the chairs so we could get started. I was standing at the door as the first few people went out to take their seats and one of the men screamed like a girl "SNAKE" and of course everyone scattered. I walked out to see a Black Racer curled up in a slight indentation under one of the chairs. Casey, my son was by my side,( all of my children have incurable cases of Mama-itis) Thankfully all of my children have inherited my love of nature and all the creatures therein. "Mama sorry I missed him when I dried off that chair."

I gently moved the chair and removed our friend, he was about 5 1/2 or 6 feet. The rain had cooled him off a bit so he was pretty calm. I took him out to the far end of the vineyard and set him free. I made sure to ask him nicely to find another warm hole as we didn't need his company for the ceremony.

Anyway, every year on their anniversary, I get something from them with a "Thank you" card. Not for being the coordinator but for removing the snake. It always cracks me up.

Have a safe trip Minque, we'll miss you while you are away. Hopefully we'll be getting an update to Serene's story soon. Thyna is getting quite anxious over the whole thing.

This post has been edited by Athynae: Jul 18 2011, 11:35 PM

[Black Hand]

I have a very conditional fear of Spiders. The worst of them all being Black widows, I mean...its this deadly deep black color, with a symbol human mortality, an hourglass, on its creepy abdomen. Yuck!! But all 'household' spiders, I hate and kill the second I see them.

On the other hand, I have no problem with larger spiders like tarantulas, I can handle them no problem. I like and handle snakes of all varieties, even a King Cobra once (Devenomized, no I don't support hacking into their heads, it was just an opportunity to handle one.)

And weirdest of all: I would actually love to own a Emperor Scorpion....

Do not click if the sight of a large black scorpion scares you...

Despite their fearsome appearance they're actually quite tame when handled and fed by humans regularly, and they actually do well in captivity, living 5-8 years, as opposed to 3-7 years in the wild, and the sting is comparable to a bee sting.

I am not allergic, as it once happened that I entered into my room several years ago, that I shared with a roommate, and saw this giant, evil looking black scorpion on top of my dresser in a small terrarium. I proceeded to leave the room and rant maniacally about said giant, evil looking black scorpion to my roommate.

After several weeks, I grew accustomed to Darth Darkness. (Not my idea,...his..) and began to handle him occasionally, once or twice I was stung by him. Not viciously so, but enough to get some of the venom in me, and it wasn't the least bit damaging to me, no shortness of breath or tightness in the throat.

So yeah...I household spiders...but I'll sick my giant, black evil looking scorpion on them...