My experiences as a snake owner and as a snake enthusiast. With a healthy potpourri of other stuff...




Monday, November 29, 2010

Hunger

Barbossa finished shedding today so he gets his three mice when my parents come back from work. When I opened his cage to give him water this morning, he raise his head in expectation. Sorry Barbossa, but later, I promise.
Yesterday Topkapi scared me half to death. I brought her out and gave her water, as per usual, and then I handed her over to my sister so I could put some dishes away. My sister wrapped her Topkapi around her neck, which I don't do but why not? A few minutes later, I turn my head and I see my snake baby drooling, long lines of drool. I've seen them do it before, but only when they have the scent of mice close to them. They salivate just like we do.
I freaked a bit, took hold of her and checked her, but she seemed fine. My mom pointed out that my sister had been eating a piece of cold meat and maybe Topkapi had caught a whiff of it and decided she might like to have a taste. I don't know, I guess it could be, but I'm still a little on edge. She didn't do it this morning, though, which is good.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Feeding Frenzy Friday Part 30

I am a ball of happy right now. Everyone has eaten and is curled up in their cages.
Talulah gave me a little bit of trouble this morning, she couldn't make up her mind if she wanted the pinkie. She struck once and then said, you know what, no, and she refused the mouse. I left her alone for a few minutes and then tried again. This time she took it without issue. Who knows what was going on in her head.

Topkapi just finished eating, gave a big yawn, and curled right back up to sleep. Talk about an easy life. Well, I don't really know, maybe she has pressing business tomorrow morning and needs to get to sleep early. I doubt it, but you never know.

Tomorrow I have no French class because of Thanksgiving, so I get to stay home in my pajamas all day. By the way, if you want to see some of the items that I baked for last night's dinner, click on the link on the right with the name Carabosse's Bakeshop, it'll take you to my baking blog.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thanksgiving

Happy Turkey Day!

Hope your bird is in the oven already or you'll be eating at midnight. Mine is already cozied in there, baking away in its sauce.
Yesterday I baked and baked until I thought my hands would always smell like butter, but I am done with that now, desserts at the ready for tonight.

Yesterday I wasn't able to take too many snakes out because of said afternoon chores, but I made it up to Topkapi today by letting her sit with me for about an hour and a half this morning.
Barbossa is still shedding, so he wants nothing to do with the outside world, but I wish you could see Coral. Sparkling and new.

Something amusing happened yesterday morning. I was sitting at the kitchen table when I saw Vinicius chase something across the room. It was a little bird, probably a sparrow. The door was open so the bird flew right out. A few minutes later, I see him inching his way up the door step and into the house. He explored everything, he walked on the floor, stood on the arms of the hatstand, flew to the kitchen. He thought he owned the house. Too cute.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Woe is Me

It appears I have caught a cold. I guess I had it coming after spending 3 FREEZING nights in a tent recently. Oh, well, nothing to do but grin and bear it.

Barbossa is shedding once again, which is incredible. I guess he is eating enough now to be growing every month. So of course he got no mice yesterday, and he's laying very still waiting for his blue eyes to fade.

None of them seem too concerned with my illness. Topkapi looked at me today when I brought her out with a face of disdain "oh, you're sick again. Ugh."
Sorry guys. I'll try my best to get better in the next few days so I don't offend you with my Vick's-vapor-rub-smelling self. I didn't do it on purpose!

Friday, November 19, 2010

Feeding Frenzy Friday Part 29

So we are back from the bookfair! My sister and I alre exhausted but full of reading goodies. Honestly I have no idea where I'm going to put all these books. I think the only free place would be under my bed. We'll see.

I fed everyone although I am exhausted because I felt guilty in making them wait. Talulah finally finished shedding and she was starving. I had barely put the mouse in front of her when she pounced in her best imitation of a viscious snake. You're not fooling anyone, Talulah.
Odin continues eating beautifully as does Damascus.
I just have Topkapi to feed in about an hour and I am done!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Gravity Defying Snake...Not

I am sitting on the floor in the upstairs hallway, the laptop balanced precariously on my lap, while I watch Barbosa try to climb the wall. That's not a metaphor for anything, he very literally is trying to climb the walls. Who knows why. He's not having too much success at it, not surprisingly, since he weighs more than say, an ant or a spider. It's not going to happen, shy one.


So tomorrow my sister and I are going to the book fair. It takes place annually here in Miami and it is fabulous! Tons of authors come to speak and you can find great deals on used books. I am giddy with excitement! It lasts until Sunday and I am planning on going all three days. On Sunday I'm going to listen to Lev Grossman talk about his book "The Magicians". I hated it, but I rad it as part of my book club and we all have a question or two as to why it was so bad. I won't actually word it that way because I don't want to be thrown out of the event for injuring the author's pride. We'll see what he says.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Sniffing Roses


Yesterday was my birthday. Yay I am now 25. OK, that's done. The enthusiasm is overwhelming isn't it?

My mom and dad got me a bouquet of roses when they came back from work yesterday, and this morning of course I had to show it to Queen Topkapi. She was not too thrilled about the scent, but I was able to catch her sniffing them.
At least now I know, if I ever want to get her a gift, flowers are not the way to go.
Maybe chocolate covered mice...

Damascus has remained in his cage, surprisingly enough. I half expect him to be gone every morning, although it would take a very strong snake to lift the top of his cage with all the stuff I have piled on it. Still, that's what I thought last time. Only time will tell.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Stop that Train!

Everyone has been doing great for the past few days. All my babies have been at their very best behavior. I wonder what they're planning.

Yesterday, after my French class, I went to the movies to see "Unstoppable". I didn't particularly NEED to see it, but since there was nothing else playing that I'd prefer, I shrugged my shoulders and bought the ticket.
I'm really glad I did. The movie was really cool. I was not bored for a single moment, which is pretty good considering some of the more recent stuff that's been in theaters lately. The acting was good, Denzel Washington was quite funny and endearing, and the whole runaway train thing was pretty frightening.
I don't want to give too much away, but at one point when some cops are trying to bring the train to a stop by shooting at an emergency stop button on the side of one of the carts, one of the characters says that they can't really do that too much because the button is right next to the fuel tank. One guy sitting a few rows ahead of me burst into laughter, which prompted the rest of us to do the same. It was quite an interesting moment. We weren't making fun of the movie, we were making fun of the stupidity of the human race in general. Really, and emergency power button next to the oil tank? Only humans.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Feeding Frenzy Friday Part 28


Today was a short feeding day. Talulah is still shedding so no food for her. I gave her pinkie to miss Coral, who had absolutely no qualms in taking it. She actually ate wrapped around my hand again. She really feels no intimidation in having me hold her as she swallows.
Yesterday, my sister sent the woman who used to own Coral a picture of her. She texted back saying how wonderful she looked and how much she's grown. I haven't noticed the change because it's so gradual, but it's good to hear.

Damascus ate yesterday and Odin was his crazy little eating-machine self.
Tonight Topkapi will get hers and that't it for today.

Queen Topkapi int the picture of course, enjoying a patch of sunlight. I think she was actually posing. Her profile is so pretty, isn't it?
I'm such a geek.

A close up

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Red Lights

Since the weather here has been a little chilly, I've left two red lights burning at night in the snake room. This does not bother them and it provides warmth. It makes the room look a bit like a brothel, but whatever.
Last night, I went into the darkened room to get something and I see Damascus, by the glare of the red light, attempting another prison break.
What the hell is so horrible about the cage you're in, Damascus? Is it me, do you no longer find our relationship fulfilling?
I went to check on him half an hour later and he had retreated into his hiding place to sulk. For now, at least, he resigned himself to his situation.

I also fed him today because he was acting like he was starving. That's what he gets for missing the last meal. He ate with no problem, as usual.

I'm so glad he is back.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Hulkiness

I didn't write that Damascus had gotten lost once again.
When I came back from the festival, I went to feed all my babies...and Damascus was not in his cage.
To me, it was unbelievable. He had I don't know how many textbooks on top of his cage. How could he have made it out!? I have come to the decision that he has magical powers. There. I've said it.
Houdini could have learned a thing or two from my baby.
Anyway, I found him last night, sleeping right next to his cage. What is the point of pulling such a feat and then coming back to the same place you just escaped?
Oh, Damascus.

Now he has 4 textbooks and one HUGE round cutting board on top of his cage. If he makes it out again, I need to get a TV crew here because I have the Hulk living in my house.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Pagan Madness Samhain!

I am back! And in one piece!

Ok, was anyone aware that we were going to have cataclysmic cold this weekend? I knew it was going to be cold, but not THAT cold.
Mainly it was the wind. At one point I was reading in my tent when one of the walls started closing in on me. It was bending under the gales! I had to push it back and hold it. Thrilling moments, let me tell you. I didn't put my book down though, if the tent broke I'd deal with it when I finished the chapter.

The first night I attended the opening ritual, which was moved indoors because of the rain and bitter cold, and then afterwards I went to the meet and greet. This year, the celebration was about The Hunt, which is a Celtic, pagan idea. So for the meet and greet we had to dress up as animals. Give you three guesses what I went as.

For those of you who are on the slow side, I went as a snake. Duh.
It was cool, I used a pair of fishnet stockings to make the scales. I put it over my face and applied foundation and powder over it, then peeled it off and voila I'm a snake.

I tented in the same place as last time and really, I still think it's the best spot. The ants were not horrible, although there were pretty scary looking spiders. Think Harry Potter big running around. I tried not to shriek too much when I would feel one on me.

The main ritual was again a bit disappointing. I don't know what's going on with that group, but they just don't seem to get the rituals on a good level. There's no energy, no buzz to it.
At one point, they wanted to pass out candles to everyone, to burn for the loved ones who are no longer with us. The idea is great, cliched to death (no pun intended) but the image of lots of lit candles is always pretty.
But you have to be realistic when you plan these thinks. So: we had around 800 people standing around in the bitter, bitter cold, each one getting a candle passed to them, then having to line up to get it lit, then having to KEEP the candle lit in the raging winds. None of this is a good idea. In theory, nice; in practice, I was considering throwing the candle at someone so at least we would have a fire to cozy up to. It was miserably cold.

All in all, it was great, as always. I just can't get enough of camping and the pagan community is so nice and easy going. I met some interesting people and saw some people I already knew. It's a nice community feeling. Looking forward to going again.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Chaotic Adventure


That's my camping luggage, as I call them, packed full of carefully selected items that will last me until Sunday afternoon. I am soooo excited!

So this morning my sister and I had an interesting few minutes. The pool guy came and cleaned the pool and obviously thought that closing the backyard gate was too much trouble. I let Chaos and Dublin out, my Rottweiler and Basset Hound. Can you see where this is going?
Dublin s scared of the rain, and it was pouring this morning, so he stayed inside, but Chaos decided it was time to explore.
I went about my morning tasks until I realized, hey I don't have a black nose sticking itself everywhere I go. I looked everywhere, but of course he was gone.
My sister and I set out in different directions through our neighborhood, to see where the hell he was. Fortunately, after walking a block I caught sight of him. I called his name, but he looked terrified, he didn't recognize me until I got a few feet in front of him. He was soaked to the bone and very frightened. He had been hanging out on someone's driveway, hoping it was his house.
Let me show you what he looks like:



Now picture him wet and scared. He looked truly miserable.
He was so happy to see me and our house. It's incredible to me that he was only a block away and had no clue where he was. He could have been in Timbuktu. I was and am quite relieved. From now on, I'm going to have to check the gate every time the pool guy comes. I know it was raining, but buddy, come one, it's not acid, take two seconds and close the door!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Mounting Excitement


Only a few more days until I go camping! I'm going again to the Florida Pagan Gathering up in Altoona. I leave Thursday and will not be back until Sunday. It is going to be so much fun and there are going to be some interesting workshops that I'm looking forward to attending.
I didn't see any bears last time I went, but I have not given up hope. I just rather not see one as it tears through my tent in the middle of the night. I guess I should be more careful what I wish for.


No that's not Topkapi, that's Damascus. Isn't it incredible how much he's grown? Last night I wanted to make him a new hiding place, so i chose a carboard box that was holing some flavored tea bags. My mom helped me and we got it all set, it was cozy and dark for him. Then, we tried to put him inside...and he didn't fit. Astounding. So we had to make him another hideout, this time out of a pasta box.
Big box for a big snake.