On Monday, we had a going away party for the plant manager. He's being promoted to a vice-president position, but he won't be directly over our plant anymore. He's a good guy. He's a born-again Christian, and he's been very open and politely vocal about his faith. He also loves movies. People in management have gone to meetings where he's asked everyone to watch a movie with him, and he pulls lessons from the movie to illustrate how he sees our efforts for the plant. His faith and his interest in movies causes me to think of Dolly when I think of him.
On Wednesday, we had a social gathering at a plantation home that is adjacent to the plant. We own the home because doing so gives us better security and we wanted to see it restored. After most of us had eaten, a guy walked into the room and asked whether anyone was a snake expert. I said that I knew a bit about snakes, and he asked me to follow him. He took me outside where a four foot Texas rat snake had crawled from somewhere and was near the drink coolers. I caught him and stood there holding him. One of the managers doesn't like snakes and was standing there getting the heebie-geebies. The site superintendent, "2nd in command" at the plant, came out and was shocked. As I took the snake around the house to find some bushes for it to hide, I stopped at a window when someone pointed. A few people walked over to look. The plant manager grimaced a little, but he's used to me being odd. I thought about keeping the rat snake, but he's really doesn't fit into my overall plan, and I think he'd be plenty happy at the plantation home.
My own snakes seem to be doing well. All three of them ate this week. We had a cold snap, and one of their cages got a little too cold one night. Fortunately, the snake was smart enough to crawl to the warm side and make herself comfortable. Some of them aren't smart enough to do that and will sit there until they catch a respiratory infection.
The reptile show in Baton Rouge is always small. I'm not sure why the show here is small while other shows in the state are larger. I mostly go to show support in hopes that it will grow someday. One of my friends lost many of her snakes to an electrical mishap a month or so ago. That was sad, and I had been seriously considering buying one of the snakes that had been lost. Another guy had hatchlings of a species that I want. I've ordered some from an out-of-state breeder, but if something happens with one of them, I'll go to this local guy.
I'm certain that there are some reptile shows in the Cleveland area. I found one organization that holds them fairly regularly. Their address is http://www.freewebs.com/shrz/index.htm . Their website says that they'll have two more shows this year.
On Tuesday, I went to vote early. I had worked quite a few hours extra the previous week, so I was okay with going to vote. My district really doesn't have a competitive House race. The Democrats didn't field a candidate, and the Republican has won with about 70% of the vote in most elections. The neighboring district has a very competitive race where the GOP could pick up a seat this time. I've been doing volunteer work for that candidate throughout this campaign. When I looked at my ballot, they had given me the wrong district. My ethical quandry was whether to vote in the race where I wanted to vote becasue they gave me that ballot or to tell them of their mistake. I told them their mistake. At first, they doubted, but they checked. Eventually, they gave me the right ballot, but it was frustrating having to give up a chance to vote for the candidate for whom I'd been volunteering.
I spent this morning putting out flyers at churches. I have mixed feelings about this kind of campaigning, but I help because I want to help the campaign. I may try to do a little more today. I'll likely make some calls tomorrow evening, and I'll spend election day checking turnout.
That's the news in my life. I hope all is well with all of you.
Bill
Hey Bill,
Good to hear from you. Thats pretty funny about the rat snake, I hope you didn't scare too many people!
When I had my boa, she would become very dormant in the winter time. I think there was one period when she didn't eat for about 6 months, no matter how hard I tried. I knew it was meal time when she started following my foot, as I waved it in front of her cage when I was on the phone. How many snakes do you have now? What type are you looking to get?
I think you did the right thing with your voting district. I sent in my absentee ballot for my district in IA, though I moved to Alaska in Sept. I was registered there, and I didn't register in time to vote in the Alaska elections. I believe you need to do so 30 days before an election. I would like to get involved with GOP efforts here in coming elections.
Alaska is amazing and I love it. I received 4 offers so far (I'm waiting on my 'official' offer from one of the large firms here) and I am very excited about the opportunities here.