Update... 3 weeks post blaze. (DUW-now with pics)

[Muze]

Happy to know you are slowly getting back on your feet again. Take it easy since you still have a long road ahead of you. But I think you have a lot of good people to keep you company along the way

[waltah!]

I'm glad to hear that things are starting to look up a bit for you and Jerome. Not a day has gone by that I don't wonder how you guys are makin out. I'm planning on making my way up north for a few days in August btw

[Mettle]

Glad to see this update, Bruce, and so happy to see you're doing well! I just wanted to let you know that Hubert, Danika and Victor are all doing well. Hubert (or Huey as I call him ) shed and of course all in one piece. Danika is a bit of a picky eater it seems, but she's doing alright. And Victor is a prick, lol. Good thing I own a snake hook! But he's pretty. I guess he's a bit of a diva.

I'm sorry you have to give up the rats, but it sounds like it's for the best...

Your positivity is inspiring! Possibly too inspiring... Because of you - yeah, I'm g'na blame you - I have my first ball python.

Hope to hear more of these good updates from you in the future, Bruce. Take care!

[Ginevive]

Wow; I have been gone lately.. read up on your situation. I definately wish you's all of the best in this. I am very glad that you're on you way to a new home and have such a positive outlook on things.

[frankykeno]

Your positivity is inspiring! Possibly too inspiring... Because of you - yeah, I'm g'na blame you - I have my first ball python.

Hope to hear more of these good updates from you in the future, Bruce. Take care!

Haha!! another one won over to the dark side (here have a cookie ) Congrats Stephan on your first BP!

Bruce, what can I say my friend. I've seen the pictures, I've spoken to you by phone, I'm just humbled and in awe of your ability to move through what one horrible jerk did to you and all those other folks. If I ever get back up home I'm coming to visit you and we can eat poutine and guzzle wine till we puke (you know this must be why Mike married me....I was such a fun date LOL).

They say you can judge a man by the calibre of the friends he keeps. You are one helluva man if that is the standard by which you are judged. This site and it's membership, how they stepped up for you and Jer just makes me so very, very proud. We miss you Bruce and can't wait until you are settled in your new home and back with us again. Personally I miss your incredibly funny and very dry sense of humour (look I still spell it "right"....eh).

[Argentra]

Bruce, dude, glad to hear that things are straightening out and you two found a new place!

I SOO wanted to send some herp supplies, but we've been going through some really tough times financially that only now are being sorted out.

I do send all the good wishes, karma, and healing energies I have to spare! Keep it going and things will turn out just fine in the end.

[Bruce Whitehead]

Here are some pics that Jerome took a few days later...



This was the dining room... and the door next to the red cabinet leads to the snake room, and yet the snake room was fine if you can believe that.

And here is the snake room...



God does love snakes it seems.



Jer took these pics... but... here is the rat room. I think he took them in the dark at night so they are just *sweeps*... but as you can see the rat room was the best room in the house.

Did not even lose a pinkie mouse.



This is standing in front of the rat room looking down to the dining room...



This is a shot from the dining room looking towards the rat room... you can see where the fireball hit and the smoke damaged half up the wall. That was the point we left (we were watching from the street), when we could see the black smoke pouring out the living room window (to the left of the rat room).

And this is the kitchen...



Living room... you can see the smoke damage and water damage... nothing came out of that room.



And lastly the bedroom... where I was asleep when it started.





I actually went back last night and grabbed few incidentals... I figured this sucks, but I do want a bit of history at my new place... I want a coffee mug, and my wine glasses (ulimate heavy glassed 70's flea market finds).

Bruce

[Bruce Whitehead]

And thanks for the update Stefan! I love Hubert, he really is a good little snake.

And congrats on the BP... but you do realize if this season does not end up completely sucking you will have at least one more.

[Muze]

OMG! Those pics made me cry. That is horrible. And it is incredible that everyone (incl snakes & rodents) made it out ok. I guess you really are lucky. But it is still a very sad situation.

[Bruce Whitehead]

The actual night of my 40th, 2 days after the fire... do I look shell shocked enough?

The bald boxer guy (he used to be a boxer actually) is our friend Robert. Nicest guy in the world. He did a tryptich of *prints painted* of our place burning down to give me for my 40th.

Amazing work.

The brunette sitting is our friend Coll, where we went with Stanley when the fire was still going. And where Zoe picked up the snakes from.

The brunette standing, is our friend Wendy, we lived at her house for the first 7 days after the fire.

All 3 of them, Coll, Wendy, and Robert were the ones that put the fund raiser art show vernissage together for us the Friday following.

Really good friends and amazing people in general.

Bruce