I've written before (and certainly talked about it a lot) the crazy, wild-ness that is living in Florida. There are all sorts of crazy bugs, animals, reptiles, and people that live here. Many of them live in my yard, in fact (not the people), so one has to be vigilant when doing yard work.
This weekend, I got home to do some serious yard activity. Mowing the lawn, weeding, digging up these old bushes, clearing away sticks -- I have a regular green thumb. Maybe not a green thumb,more like a green pinkie, but I'm getting there.
I started off mowing the lawn, and as I made a sweep in the front yard near our landscaped bushes, flowers, and mulch, I startled a three-foot black racer snake from its sunbathing. In response, it slithered into a hole in the bricks in the side of our house.
...
"WOOOOOO!" I cried when I saw it, since not only did I scare the shit out of it, but it most certainly did not make me feel very easy when it slipped into the house. Pete just had pulled in the driveway at that time with our lunch, so I called him over to check out the racer that was poking its head out of the hole. In Our House.
"Do you think it can get inside?" I asked.
"No," said Pete with authority, "no way. It will only get under the house. Let's eat."
Not really encouraged with this explanation, I took a break from mowing to eat. When I came back out, I inspected the hole, and the snake was gone. But I really didn't want to be startled by it, and since my new plan was to run it over with the mower (I know, I know, it gets worse), I inspected the rest of the yard. There it was, hanging out by our palm tree. Since it was so close to the tree, I decided I would hack it up with a shovel. Pete came and thwarted my plan when he chased the snake over to the neighbor's yard while I was getting the shovel, and just told me to "be vigilant."
I was, and finished up with the front yard and then moved on to the back. I was clearing branches and weeding before mowing when I saw that damn snake again by the other palm trees. I raced to get my shovel, only to be thwarted again when the snake slipped away while I was getting the shovel because the neighbor's dog came out and started barking.
Of course, the whole rest of the time I was on the look out for the snake, but it didn't come back. I have a feeling this battle is not yet over.
Good Tidings To You!
15 hours ago
7 thoughts and stuff:
My brother chopped a snake in half with a shovel when I was six. It writhed behind a bush. I used to go behind that bush and pee on the side of the house, but wouldn't after that because I thought that half a snake would get me. My mom would probably die if she knew that was the only reason I started peeing inside.
Oh my good GOD. I'd move.
Oh. My. Lord. Pocklock shared this post on Google Reader and I can *so* relate. I moved to Florida from Connecticut seven years ago, and I have thought the same thing--about the bugs, the wildlife, the PEOPLE!!--since I arrived. Soon after moving here, I saw a story on the news that a local woman found a snake hanging out inher toilet! I have not used once since without checking first, that freaked me out so badly. Don't get me wrong, I love it here, but there are some things a girl from the northeast just doesn't get used to. One thing that I did learn though? Having a *black* snake is good thing (as far as snakes go) because that means you don't have any others: the black naturally deter the other kinds.
Plug up the hole in the house with foam filler...for the love of all things good and holy...do it NOW before it slithers back in your house!!!! Iew...I'd die!!!
minnow, that is awesome. i got poison ivy from peeing outside when i was little. that stopped me. now, the weirdest thing, since i got it THERE, i am not allergic to it anymore.
pocklock -- see above comment. a fellow outdoor-peer.
dawn -- where do you live down here? and i KNOW about thinking everything was so freaking different down here. i do love it now, though. the crazy, crazy bugs are ok, but the black snakes need to move on. but i guess not if they keep the others away.
Peggy, i am still waiting on pete to fill the stuff up!!!
I'm in Lakeland. I lived in Davenport when I first moved down here & moved to Lakeland two & a half years ago. How long have you been living down here? I am mostly used to it but I swear the wildlife down here is still semi-prehistoric. And I will never be used to the roaches & Christmas lights on palm trees!
i don't mind the lights in the sun at christmas, but i cannot believe the roaches! and the weather!!!
i have been here for about three and a half years. it has been a huge switch from nyc, but i love living so close to the beach!
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