How are you spending this gorgeous Saturday?

Well, its gorgeous here !! Hot, sunny, breezy and not a cloud in the sky :)
If only every day could be that way...

Its been so hot, I gave our dog a bath in the yard!! And doing some yard work, too.
Feels like summer :)

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Personally....I'm snowed in. Literally.

School work [emoji53] and waiting for my hognose to lay the rest of her clutch (3 eggs so far!). Beautiful pup, by the way!!


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Binge watching Netflix shows while Sammy is wrapped around my neck :)

Watching anime at work lol

Zina, it looks so nice! Where's the invite?? I could bring the whole family!

Or not. 😉



*Yeah, I'd bring the whole family. lol

Pool Party !!! :gj::taz::pinkele::fest2::carouse::partyon::party::relax::relax:

Yesssssssssssssss!

We are actually busy with a typical soccer Saturday and then Odyssey of the Mind practice. No rest for the weary.

I hope you enjoy that fantastic view for the rest of us. :)

We normally have great weather. I like the desert South West for climate. Ugh... Not this week! Rainy, windy, grey, and chilly.

I'd rather lay out by your pool, Zina, read a novel, and sip some iced tea.

2 games, 2 MVPs! Almost as good as your pool!!

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Originally Posted by rock

2 games, 2 MVPs! Almost as good as your pool!!

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Nothing beats quality time with the family :)

Working overtime... Life in the factory, it could have been worse in the night shift LOL... I think you guys buy way too many Sierras, Silverados and Cadillacs (thank God). Gotta say I love my work!


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Originally Posted by zina10

Nothing beats quality time with the family :)

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True. 😊

Now Dad needs a cold one. Cheers!

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Originally Posted by rock

True. 😊

Now Dad needs a cold one. Cheers!

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Thats what I treated myself with after a long, hot day of chores yesterday !!

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I don't drink beer very often, but when I do, its got to be a nice dark or deep brew. No "light" stuff ;)

Snowing here...thanks a lot Zina :(

Well Lucy it looks like somewhere Id go on Vacation ☀️[emoji1362].
I left this morning to go Downstate a few hours and grab the AFS's from Joe that is also a member here.. Im at my In-Laws now because its in the area and will be headed home after dinner.. They aren't happy that I brought 10 Rats in the house with me.. Hahahahaha..
Im sure you'll be hearing from me In the next few days about these Gremlins Im adding to the collection. Enjoy the Sun and soak some up for me.. Its 35 with rain/sleet here in NY [emoji85][emoji85][emoji86]


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Originally Posted by Mr Sully

Well Lucy it looks like somewhere Id go on Vacation ☀️[emoji1362].
I left this morning to go Downstate a few hours and grab the AFS's from Joe that is also a member here.. Im at my In-Laws now because its in the area and will be headed home after dinner.. They aren't happy that I brought 10 Rats in the house with me.. Hahahahaha..
Im sure you'll be hearing from me In the next few days about these Gremlins Im adding to the collection. Enjoy the Sun and soak some up for me.. Its 35 with rain/sleet here in NY [emoji85][emoji85][emoji86]


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I was giving you 2 weeks before you would have some ASF, you actually beat that timeline .....:rofl::bow:

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Originally Posted by zina10

I was giving you 2 weeks before you would have some ASF, you actually beat that timeline .....:rofl::bow:

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Im a lost cause hahahahaha ..
Last night I got the 36x24x63 Critter Nation hahahaha[emoji1360]


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Spending it drinking marguaritas (it's 5 oclock somewhere) and getting sunburned (redhead here) in the backyard.

Not the bright and beautiful here, but warm enough I'm making some good headway into spring cleaning.

Went to a cat hotel open house and spending the rest of the evening playing Zelda Breath of the Wild :p

Today the weather is finer than frog's hair. I did a little bit of yard work along with some major planning of a landscaping project. A little bit of prepping the bathroom for painting. Going to spend the evening watching the Redwings play another meaningless game, as they have no chance of making the playoffs for the first time in 25 years.

As for libations, either a Hendricks Gin martini (dirty), Maestro Dobel Diamante Tequila (neat), or Glen Deveron Scotch (neat). Decisions, decisions. I like Zina don't drink beer very often. When I do, my go to is Yuengling Black & Tan. Probably not quite as dark as a Porter, but definitely not a pale beer.

My anime ended, now I'm on this Netflix show called 13 Reasons Why. It's interesting, but I feel a little uncomfortable with how much I relate to the girl the show is about.

The weather here is not good, but fortunately there is a reptile show this weekend. Me and the wife took a drive to check it out. Unfortunately it seems the bad weather drove everyone to look for indoor activity, like the reptile show. It was packed. My anxiety for big groups was only compounded by the remanents of mucha libre festivities the night before. We did not stay as long as I would have liked, but I may try to go back tomorrow. Now I am posted up on the couch looking for snake documentaries.

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Originally Posted by zina10

Thats what I treated myself with after a long, hot day of chores yesterday !!

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I don't drink beer very often, but when I do, its got to be a nice dark or deep brew. No "light" stuff ;)

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You have excellent taste. :)

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Originally Posted by Meerna

My anime ended, now I'm on this Netflix show called 13 Reasons Why. It's interesting, but I feel a little uncomfortable with how much I relate to the girl the show is about.

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Which anime out of curiosity?

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Spending it drinking marguaritas (it's 5 oclock somewhere) and getting sunburned (redhead here) in the backyard.

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mmmm....Margaritas are my very favorite !! Sounds like the perfect way to spend a Saturday :)

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Originally Posted by rlditmars

Today the weather is finer than frog's hair. I did a little bit of yard work along with some major planning of a landscaping project. A little bit of prepping the bathroom for painting. Going to spend the evening watching the Redwings play another meaningless game, as they have no chance of making the playoffs for the first time in 25 years.

As for libations, either a Hendricks Gin martini (dirty), Maestro Dobel Diamante Tequila (neat), or Glen Deveron Scotch (neat). Decisions, decisions. I like Zina don't drink beer very often. When I do, my go to is Yuengling Black & Tan. Probably not quite as dark as a Porter, but definitely not a pale beer.

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Sounds like a great Saturday !!

One of my fav's when it comes to beer is actually Killians. :)

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Originally Posted by Meerna

My anime ended, now I'm on this Netflix show called 13 Reasons Why. It's interesting, but I feel a little uncomfortable with how much I relate to the girl the show is about.

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Hm, never heard of that. My daughter is a big anime fan, but I don't really know much about it ;)

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Originally Posted by AntTheDestroyer

The weather here is not good, but fortunately there is a reptile show this weekend. Me and the wife took a drive to check it out. Unfortunately it seems the bad weather drove everyone to look for indoor activity, like the reptile show. It was packed. My anxiety for big groups was only compounded by the remanents of mucha libre festivities the night before. We did not stay as long as I would have liked, but I may try to go back tomorrow. Now I am posted up on the couch looking for snake documentaries.

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I could only wish for a reptile show in reasonable driving distance. But just like you, I cannot stand "crowds". The older I get, the worse it gets. I can't stand people bumping into me or crowding.

So you bought nothing? GREAT self control !!! :bow:

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Originally Posted by zina10

I could only wish for a reptile show in reasonable driving distance. But just like you, I cannot stand "crowds". The older I get, the worse it gets. I can't stand people bumping into me or crowding.

So you bought nothing? GREAT self control !!! :bow:

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You know, mine has gotten worse with age as well. Honestly it was so busy I was not able to even enquire about anything, at least enough to make me feel comfortable buying.

So the day ended a bit on a sad note.
As I was riding my horse, a fellow barn boarder was screaming for me to come over and let her know if "that snake" was dangerous.

So I ride over there and hand her my horse (she was holding hers, too). The snake was in the tie-up area, heading for a horse stall. Of course I wasn't wearing my contacts, so I had to get pretty
close. A eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake. Young one. Sigh...

Heading straight into trouble.
I don't like to kill snakes. Whenever possible I SAVE them, and I always educate people at the barn. To keep their area neat (we have duplex stalls, little buildings all over, barn is situated pretty much right by huge woods), not to leave grain out, not to attract rodents, etc.

But that snake meant danger, there were people, kids, horses. I don't have any handling skills with hot snakes and there was nothing there to safely try catch and release with, and time was of the essence. As is, it almost got into the stall.
My Adrenalin was kicking, as the area was littered with stuff leaning on that wall and the snake was up against the wall, trying to get under it, into the stall. All the lady had was a hoe with a short 3 ft. handle. Not good. And I'm wearing shorts, but thankfully leather cowboy boots (yeah i know, shorts and boots, but it was hot...)

But I got it done and I hurried to get a big rock at the end , to crush the brain, and make sure there was no more suffering.

Now I feel bad...

But I honestly didn't see any other way.

Where I board horses there is no shortage of wild life. Its a military installation, so hunting is very controlled and we have a lot of animals that have gotten to be endangered elsewhere. There are snakes all over, many harmless, but also lots of venomous. Usually they aren't in the barn area, or at least, they aren't "seen".

But between the people there, and the horses, I guess the ones one is responsible for have to come first.

It did put a damper onto my perfect Saturday, though. :tears:

Sorry to read this. I just finished watching a movie with a somewhat sad ending and the whole family except for me is sleeping. I came back to this thread for a little light-hearted reading... But this didn't have the ending I expected either.

Kudos to you for having the courage to take care of things yourself, especially as someone who loves animals and snakes. I believe you did the right thing.

Stuff like that is why I keep wanting to find some place to apprentice and get skills handling hots. I'd prefer to safely (for both me AND the snake) remove it.

I keep thinking it through, but if I was presented with the same situation again, I would do the same thing again.
As much as I love snakes.

There wasn't time to think then, but even now I can't see any other way. It was trying to crawl under the wooden wall into the stall, where a horse would have no doubt put its nose down to investigate. I couldn't re-directed it, it would have went towards the lady that was holding my horse and hers, the other directions were people, with kids and behind me only went deeper into the barn/riding area.

I had nothing to work with but that tool, no tall buckets, no hook or stick, and no experience to handle such dangerous snakes in a less then ideal situation. I kept thinking, if that had been my horse, and someone hesitated to help...
Usually people that do get bit, are the ones that "mess" with the snakes, so I was aware of that, too.

I know coming with that horrible story to a forum of snake lovers seems odd. But after the third person questioned why I was feeling sad and upset about the whole thing, I felt the need to share with people that understand why I feel that way.

Fully understanding that I may get judged for what I did. If someone else were to tell such a story, I guess I'd be wondering as well, if there wasn't something else that could have been done.

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Originally Posted by Lizardlicks

Stuff like that is why I keep wanting to find some place to apprentice and get skills handling hots. I'd prefer to safely (for both me AND the snake) remove it.

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I thought about getting those snake tongs, but then, without any skill, this is soo dangerous. The diamondbacks especially are fast and they have attitude. I wouldn't dare use a hook alone. And the situations are so not "controlled". There is stuff laying around everywhere, other animals, people.

I may still look into those catching tools. Mostly I hope not to be in that situation again. We come across many snakes out on the trails and the wood edge, and "we ignore them, they ignore us" which works fine.

I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought this to this form. I wanted to unload on people that understand why I'm upset. Everyone else was shaking their head about me feeling bad.

I didn't think this through how this would make other snake lovers feel, though. So I apologize.


To change the subject.

I have a WICKED sunburn on my back and neck. That is what I get for bragging about our sunny days and spending all day outside in a tank top while washing the dog and doing yardwork...
I think I may need another beer or a margarita after all.

Thank you all for sharing what you did on this Saturday, it was fun and interesting to read, esp. how wildly different the weather still is. We are having another hot and sunny day coming up and I shall start using sun screen. Esp. now ..

No judgment here. Sometimes common sense or practicality has to prevail. If the choice is between a person, an equine pet, or a snake, the snake is going to lose every time. Also, this is a forum for sharing, good or bad. Your thread started out on a completely positive note. But as life sometimes does, it took a turn that couldn't be avoided. Don't beat yourself up.

^^^ well said ^^^

I would urge you to call an expert to remove the snake next time, as killing a snake is an excellent way to get bit.

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Originally Posted by AntTheDestroyer

I would urge you to call an expert to remove the snake next time, as killing a snake is an excellent way to get bit.

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If there were any to call and there had been time...I would. This is a boarding barn on a military installation. Civilians can't just come in without applying for a pass. On top of it in this area there are no experts because sadly, most people just kill any snake they see. Out there at the barn most often you see snakes out on trails and on the wood line. Where they are just being left alone. This was a different situation and there wasn't much time to even think. I did keep the thought of people who mess with them ending up being bit in my mind. [emoji17]


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I find it hard to believe there is no one in your area to remove venemous reptiles. Of course doing a search for reptile removal specialists may yeild some results. If not you could check with general pest removal services, or find someone who is experienced with keeping hots.

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Originally Posted by AntTheDestroyer

I find it hard to believe there is no one in your area to remove venemous reptiles. Of course doing a search for reptile removal specialists may yeild some results. If not you could check with general pest removal services, or find someone who is experienced with keeping hots.

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Although there probably is somebody in her area that removes venomous snakes, it seems as if time was short and a decision was made to protect the other people around, the horses, etc... Based on the surroundings and the situation, I feel the right call was probably made. Obviously, Zina is a snake lover and I'm sure it was extremely difficult for her to make this decision and act on it. It sucks that a snake had to lose it's life, but perhaps it saved the lives of the horses and people in the area...
That being said, maybe having somebody basically on speed-dial might be a good idea moving forward? At least if the situation arises again you can get them on the phone and see if safe removal is an option based on the timing, surroundings, the location of the specialist, etc...

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Originally Posted by AntTheDestroyer

I find it hard to believe there is no one in your area to remove venemous reptiles. Of course doing a search for reptile removal specialists may yeild some results. If not you could check with general pest removal services, or find someone who is experienced with keeping hots.

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Although there probably is somebody in her area that removes venomous snakes, it seems as if time was short and a decision was made to protect the other people around, the horses, etc... Based on the surroundings and the situation, I feel the right call was probably made. Obviously, Zina is a snake lover and I'm sure it was extremely difficult for her to make this decision and act on it. It sucks that a snake had to lose it's life, but perhaps it saved the lives of the horses and people in the area...
That being said, maybe having somebody basically on speed-dial might be a good idea moving forward? At least if the situation arises again you can get them on the phone and see if safe removal is an option based on the timing, surroundings, the location of the specialist, etc...

I think there is an added responsibility and difficulty with this situation in a public area. She risked herself for the safety others. As stated, even killing it had tremendous risk of failure.

Even next time, speed dialing a professional and waiting for his arrival and giving the opportunity for the rattlesnake to retreat and hide offers a whole new complexity. The risk of an animal or child stumbling upon this snake at a later time poses a whole new set of potential grief and second guessing if the outcome is a bite.

In this situation in this public place with animals and people, the person who finds the snake captures or kills immediately. How good are someone's hot skills if they do not practice often?

Its easy to say you would like to find someone to teach you or start to learn those skills. However, the decision is made right now, yesterday, etc... Here's the snake, no delays, are you ready to capture it safely?

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Although there probably is somebody in her area that removes venomous snakes, it seems as if time was short and a decision was made to protect the other people around, the horses, etc... Based on the surroundings and the situation, I feel the right call was probably made. Obviously, Zina is a snake lover and I'm sure it was extremely difficult for her to make this decision and act on it. It sucks that a snake had to lose it's life, but perhaps it saved the lives of the horses and people in the area...
That being said, maybe having somebody basically on speed-dial might be a good idea moving forward? At least if the situation arises again you can get them on the phone and see if safe removal is an option based on the timing, surroundings, the location of the specialist, etc...

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I am leaving my personal feelings out of the conversation as there is no way for me to fully understand the situation. I am just encouraging finding someone more qualified to deal with venomous reptiles in the future, if not for anything more than for her safety.

Its ok. I don't want this to end up into arguing back and forth. On a snake loving forum, I expect be criticized or questioned about what happend.

I thought about it afterward, if there was something else I could/should have done. And there wasn't. There was no time to wait for someone. Not without grave risk to the horse whose stall the snake tried to get into, or the people / animals around.

In order for any civilian to get on the installation, they have to go get a pass. That office closes after business hours. You have to get fingerprinted and have a background check done BEFORE you get that pass.
You have to find someone willing to go through this process. Before you bring in someone like this you would have to clear it with the installation authorities. None of that could be done fast or easy and esp. not on a weekend.

On a search for rattlesnake removal service, I've come across "experts" that show a Hognose snake as a rattle snake and say they use fumigation to flush them out. This is rural Alabama.

That snake would have ended up in the stall. Or if pushed and re-directed from that wall, it would have ended up in the other peoples area. You take your eyes off, and they are hard to see, "disappear" until you grab for something or step near them. There was nothing on hand to use for a safe capture and re-release.

I know I sound defensive and like I'm making excuses. That is not the intent, it is simply to show just how bad the situation was. I definitely do not want to kill snakes. I most definitely do NOT want to be bit by a diamondback rattle snake, as I know full well what the consequences are. I hope I won't be in this crappy situation again. I want to apologize one more time if I upset anyone. That was not my intent, but I should have thought it through before posting. I accept if someone doesn't agree with what I did and feels it should have been different.