Beautiful Sunday Chat (being optimistic)

Sure Cathy...on my way!

This is the 6th time today I've sat down to post.  The first five someone was in urgent need of something.  If I'm called again they are going to get a piece of my mind. 

I spent THREE hours today cleaning up the family room that Ryan has been supposed to do for the past several weeks.  I simply couldn't deal with it anymore and broke down and did it myself.  However, his ears may still be ringing......

About ready to go soak in a tub full of bubbles with a nice glass of wine!

**Raises hand**  I do!  I'd love to meet you and Shane (and your DH) while checking out your new decor items, too! 

Karen, bugs and rodents I can handle -- it's just snakes that freak me out.  Even spiders are OK -- not that I want to hold one in my hand, and I definitely would be startled if I saw a huge one, but my reaction would be reasonable.  Another snake phobic woman told me her theory was that if snakes had FUR or FEET, they'd be okay.  I agree.  I don't mind lizards or salamanders -- even though they're "slimy" or scaley, they have legs and feet.  Snakes seem like evil personified -- slithering around as they do, all silent and everything! 

When we moved back to CT, our yard was a snake haven.  I was nearly a prisoner in the house that summer.  The garter snakes were bad enough, but one day I saw a big black snake.  I called a pest control place and the guy told me it was good to have them because they kept the population of rodents and other snakes contained.  He wouldn't come trap it because they're protected.  I asked him if DH could "relocate" it to another yard -- he said yes, but they're territorial, so it could return.  I was imagining the darn thing with his little snake suitcase slithering back to our yard after DH told me which yard he moved it to (it was only 3 or 4 houses away). 

All this typing about snakes has me lifting my feet off the floor.  I think I'll have nightmares tonight!

Jen, I hope your leg issue clears up with some seat or posture adjustments in your car!

 hehehehe sorry Tracy I am chuckling at you - take no offense please. And I hope you don't have nightmares

 This snake talk gives me the willies...:)

JackieG

ETA Maureen, I have owned and known dogs who only had to be snake proofed once to remember that negative experience all their lives.  Others have to be reinforced every two or three years.  A very strong, well timed negative correction is very effective.  It can also leak over into other objects like water hoses. :( One of my Labs was terrified of hoses after being snake proofed.  I also had a dog who went right up to a big rat snake (non poisonous) the weekend after she was snake proofed.  She had the type of personality that was all about fight instead of flight.  Two examples of why I stopped having mine snake proofed.

I'm sure Jackie that there are dogs who only need to be proofed once, but how are you going to know for sure that your dog is one of them, without proofing him again.   It's just like most things. Nothing is 100% either way. Just too many variables for me and obviously for you too, since you stopped doing it. I don't like negative training of that sort anyway. Like you have said, it can carry over into other objects. Your mention of the cruelty to the snakes is another very good reason not to do it. Like you say, you live with knowing there are poisonous snakes and take it as just a part of life. It sure might beat the snow we have up here too.

Interesting anyway, talking with someone who knows all about it. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

 I like snakes, but I'm not so sure I'd be happy to live in area with poisonous snakes. No, in fact, I would never live in an area with poisonous snakes.

kpwlee

sorry Tracy I am chuckling at you - take no offense please.

Poisonous or not --- no matter.  I nearly die of fright without being bitten!  I don't even like seeing them on TV or in movies.

On a less creepy note, the hummingbird was buzzing around the feeder when I was out back with Ruby earlier.  Soon it'll be time for the male rufous to migrate through.  They are bright orange and so cool.  We see them for about a week in April and then they're gone.  The first time I saw one (not knowing the color was possible), I thought, "What idiot spray painted a hummingbird in the Oregon State Beavers color?" 

http://birdweb.org/birdweb/bird/rufous_hummingbird

griffinej5

Tracy, you've given me the thought that maybe I should try messing with the seat adjustments. I've never actually had a problem in any other car, but my mom has it with this one too. I've taken several rentals on long drives, and had no issues. It's a Volvo with electronic adjustments. But, I'm also used to driving a manual. It's probably been 5 years since I regularly drove an automatic. My mom also drives a manual. I think I might position my left leg weird to try to prevent using the imaginary clutch, and it throws off my right, which is the one that feels worse. If I left my friend do some of the drive to VA, I'll have to see if she has a problem. I don't think my dad ever did whole driving the Volvo.

Um, Jen??! I am going to pee my pants if you have a Volvo now. Didn't you used to have a Chevy Aveo, while I had a Chevy Aveo? I sold mine in May and bought a Volvo!!!