The Dumb, the Fun, and the Cute

Somehow I managed to post the title “Two Clarifications” after believing it deleted. Back-dated to November 1st it got buried in my timeline. ~sigh~ Twice addressing the same issue about my interaction with the lifeguard is embarrassing but I don’t really consider myself dumb, just technologically challenged. My subject tag stating the contrary is all in good fun.

In other news, my husband discovered wall plugs, a power strip, and even light bulbs that are controllable via smart phone. Now when I’ve been outside or away from home I can tell if his oxygen concentrator is on. If it’s on I know he’s napping and enter quiet as possible.

Electrical outlet controls are obviously limited to on/off but the bulbs are fun. They allow us to change intensity as well as color (!) which means we can set mood lighting for a creepy movie. Anyone who knows me in the slightest can probably guess that I sometimes enjoy messing with him from afar. Don’t judge; he does the same to me on occasion.

A Blurry Dandelion glows in the black light setting...

More cuteness comes in the form of Terra spending time near my desk on the newly purchased cat tree. She’s a bit tough to photograph being in near constant motion.

She is one of my best friends...

Precious Polly is more of a lounger. Seeing her toes dangle off a different piece of cat furniture inspired me to take photos.

She does not let me trim her claws but I do make sure her
ill-formed ‘Polly Wogs’ look healthy...

Isn’t it fortunate that Polly only uses her murder mittens for good? And had you seen a glow-in-the dark kitty before?

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Two Clarifications

I sure botched the wording about my most recent swim. The bodyguard didn’t stop to talk with me. Rather, he paused his walk halfway across the natatorium before our paths coincided. Rereading my words reminds me what a goofball I can be.

Ah, well.

As for my second point, I learned why our next door neighbor’s house is on the market. The couple split up. With their son long grown and moved away, the soon-to-be ex-husband doesn’t need all that space.

I always thought they were cute together. Many an afternoon I saw them take off on their motorcycle. And sharing a love of their two dogs makes me wonder if he kept his virtual shadow, aging little Maggie while she took her walking buddy Bruno. Couples throwing all their shared history out the window might be justifiable but makes me sad every single time.

Do you agree that children grown and gone seems to leave couples adrift? Is it not especially heartbreaking when the death of a child, whatever the cause, destroys a marriage?

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A Wild Time with Wildlife

I know many folks do not like snakes, at all, so if you are among them, skip this post. I am serious. Be well, those about to click off, and please stop by another day.

For anyone sticking around, I learned that rattlesnakes apparently live here in Southwest Ohio. Rattlesnakes. Should there be rattlesnakes in Southwest Ohio? According to a little research, they live in the eastern part of the state.

Okay… And I thought they were only in the Southwest United States, not my home state.

Here is the story. When I saw a baby snake on my back patio earlier this week and decided to take photos and video, my ignorance could have gotten me killed. And I don’t say that lightly. Adult pit vipers know how to control their venom. Their offspring will just throw everything into a strike.

Below is my photo of what I idiotically assumed to be a harmless, literal garden variety reptile. If you want to see my idiotic video, keep scrolling. Only during a later viewing did I realize this little creature wasn’t just pretending to be tough. ~rolls eyes~ Now I ask myself, why would a non venomous snake fake a rattlle if there aren’t any living in the area to imitate?

Minding its own business...

~slaps forehead~

If the following clip isn’t proof that I have a guardian angel or several, I don’t know what would. My friend Scars suggested I not only be more careful but also check if local hospitals carry antivenin for the Eastern Timber Rattesnake. I think I’ll reach out to my doctor’s office. But honestly, I doubt we’ll cross paths again as they prefer avoiding people. It’s this dummy wanting to get closer that escalated the encounter. Furthermore, my identification could be wrong. This could, in turn, be an escaped pet. I am just so, so blessed not to have been bitten.

Do you know the Eastern Timber rattler is endangered? Would you, like Scars, have killed it regardless?

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