Photostory Friday~ LIfe Interrupted by Reptiles

Last week, I.HAD.A.DAY! Oh was it a day. If you don't know about it....you might want clickity click that link, and get up to speed. We'll wait.....

Anyhoo.....let's just say it took me some days of adjusting this sudden turn of events. I've learned from experience that it doesn't pay to get all worked up about things. Life is too short. I can just take a new look at things, and find a way to appreciate what it is.

Now I'm not saying it didn't take me awhile. Cause it did, but last night...six days later, I consented to taking some pics of these new pets. For the record, it took me less time to accept the bunnies....cause....well.....they are bunnies...and who doesn't love bunnies? Even if they are eating everything in your yard.

So...without further ado (because we all know I tend to have WAY too much ado around here.)
I'd like to introduce to you......(drumroll please!).........Shiny the Ball Python!




Sugar Bear chose the name....so no snickering! She is 36 inches long, and chubby. To give you better perspective on her size, I took this photo with more of The Hubby showing. (he is not fond of pictures of himself.)




The Hubby is the only one who holds her, and she seems to really enjoy being handled. She will soon be enjoying her first meal at our house. A poor innocent little mousey. : Sugar Bear is very matter of fact about the whole thing though. She informed me that our cat catches and eats mice every single day, so I should not be sad if the snake does it. But I feel like it isn't the same. I don't go out and hand feed a mouse to the cat. Anyhow....I won't be watching this meal, and the jury is still out on whether Sugar will be observing or not. She really wants to, so I'm pretty sure I'll let her.





The next new pet up for inspection is......(another drumroll needed, but I'm sure it's lost it's luster.) Statue the Frilled Dragon!



Yes, Statue is about 12 inches long and pretty darn feisty! He eats crickets, meal worms, and veggies.




Some folks also call him a Christ Dragon, as he can walk on water. I'm sure you have seen this sort of lizard on TV. He can get up on his back legs and run. We have not seen him do this, and I'm actually not sure he knows he can. As the name, Sugar so perfectly chose, suggests, he mostly freezes and just waits for you to go away.





Here is a photo for perspective. He is sitting on The Hubby's shoulder here. He is the only one that holds Statue since it seems quite likely that he will bite. So far he hasn't, but I'm not taking any chances.




I mean...would you put her child's hands anywhere near THIS vicious monster???? I didn't think so!

So there you have it. The exciting new additions to the Living and Loving household. Lucky...lucky....US!

oh....and I TOTALLY know you are sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo jealous of my fabulous 1980's carpet. I know you are! Admit it!

It got me....right in the old soft spot

The other day, as I stood innocently in line at the bank, something rather strange happened.

It was a long line, a slow line.....a "you have so much time you might as well do some people watching" sort of line. I found myself eyeing the other customers. We were quite a diverse little group. Most of us were being quiet and keeping to ourselves, However, one young man was talking VERY loudly on his cell phone. Many of us glanced back and forth trying not to listen to his conversation. In an effort to keep HIS business not MY business, I let me eyes wander to a lady a right beside me.

She appeared to be in her late 70's, and stood in that line with a purpose. Business in hand, she never took her eyes off the cashier's counter. Her face was determined, and the lines that played across her face were plenty. I let my eyes drop to her hands, and took in their experience. I followed the map of visible veins from one hand the other, as they clutched her deposit slip. I found myself wondering what she looked like in her 20's, her 30's, her 40's.....I know nothing about her, and yet she has been on this earth for over 70 years. I wondered who she nurtured....who she loved. I pondered who she is important to, right now. Who will grieve her when she is gone.

It was that moment, I had to turn my back to her, and let the tears flow. Never have I felt such a sense of inner sadness about how very short this life is. For the first time in my adult life, I quite literally broke down in angst that I will not be here forever. It sounds silly now, but at that very moment, I was totally in touch with my deepest desire to be here.....and by "here", I'm pretty sure I mean "here in the life I have NOW!"

I heard the voice in my head saying, "it's not fair, I don't want to grow old and die!" I hadn't heard that voice since I was young, and I do mean young. I can't recall how old I was exactly, but I remember that panic when I realized that at some point we all die. It was a hard pill to swallow then, and NOW....oh my word, NOW....it is all the more bitter.

NOW I have Sugar Bear. The mere thought of her being here....and me not...is overwhelming. I stood in that line at the bank choking back tears at the idea of Sugar watching me age, and having to let me go. I'm selfish. I really really am. I don't want to grow up. I don't want SUGAR BEAR to grow up. I want to be HERE! right HERE! HERE is good. I like HERE.

I looked at the lady again, and thought....I have a long life ahead of me....no need to panic now, right? right? Then the voice said, "I'm sure she thought that way too, and in a blink of an eye she is old, and on her way out!" (yeah...I'm sensitive like that. In all honesty, she looked rather spry for her age.) But seriously.....where did the last 35 years go.....and especially these last 5. What about the next 5.....and the next. I'll be dead before I know it!!!!

(Breathe COREY!)

I guess, I just had a moment of incredible weakness. A moment where I let my heart do the talking. Next thing I knew, it was my turn and I slipped from the line, made my deposit, and went on with my day like nothing happened.

P.S. I'm not depressed, don't worry. This particular event happened on THAT day...you know the one...THAT day. I was extremely hormonal. Now I'm good! Good for another three weeks...then....we'll do it again. Minus the new pets.....I hope! (cross your fingers for me!)

Wordless Wednesday~ Nope....NOT Snake Food!

For more Wordless Wednesday, go HERE and HERE.

Kitty Has the Winter Blues

Blue is my favorite color. I think I could have dedicated an entire month to BLUE. ♥

Day 141
(Kitty loves going grocery shopping when we get to use our reusable bags.)

Day 142

(Sometimes all you really need is a good book on a rainy day.)

Day 143
(Both Kitty and I were amazed by the incredible blue night sky in the BIG CITY!)

Day 144-taken on day 145, cause I was too lazy to climb out of bed at 11pm when I remembered I had forgotten to take my shot.

(Sometimes I just feel like a nut trapped in a bag, about to be eaten. Don't you?)

Day 145

(Kitty thinks THIS HAT is fabulous as well.)

Day 146

(I'm not sure I have an explanation for this shot other than I just love the blue background and the little blue flashlight Sugar Bear has confiscated from The Hubby.)