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1) The Rattlesnake Inspired Fear Thread you’ve all been waiting for!
2) I& #39;ve worked a 12 hour day straddling the valley & the mountain property. Got a belly-full of primo single malt scotch, and I& #39;m preparing to rant & meander a bit.
If you want to hear about rattlesnakes, Alaskan bears, motorcycles & space robots - hang around.
If you want to hear about rattlesnakes, Alaskan bears, motorcycles & space robots - hang around.
3) First order of business. Fear.
What are you more afraid of?
Rattlers or Mental Slavery?
What are you more afraid of?
Rattlers or Mental Slavery?
4) A good friend said to me tonight,
"The only thing worse than death is not living"
Damn straight. Glad I& #39;ll never know that fate worse than death
"The only thing worse than death is not living"
Damn straight. Glad I& #39;ll never know that fate worse than death
5) Two nights ago, while walking my 3 dogs (The Fluff Pack), I spotted this rattler just a few feet from our regular walking path. It was hiding underneath an overgrown tree on our property.
I sent a pic to my brother & we scoured the internet for the species that night...
I sent a pic to my brother & we scoured the internet for the species that night...
6) We discovered it& #39;s the Crotalus oreganus helleri: The Southern Pacific Rattlesnake.
"In recent years, the southern Pacific rattler has become an increasingly dangerous snake in the southwestern region of California...."
https://www.desertusa.com/reptiles/southern-pacific-rattlesnake.html">https://www.desertusa.com/reptiles/...
"In recent years, the southern Pacific rattler has become an increasingly dangerous snake in the southwestern region of California...."
https://www.desertusa.com/reptiles/southern-pacific-rattlesnake.html">https://www.desertusa.com/reptiles/...
7) "the species appears to be expanding its range and inflicting more bites". ..."Anecdotal reports suggest that the snake& #39;s venom contains more neurotoxin that it did a few years ago." It has become known as the "people-biting snake in California,"
I& #39;m in California! YIKES!
I& #39;m in California! YIKES!
8) Well, hell! That& #39;s a badass snake. I don& #39;t want my doggies accidentally getting curious & get bitten. Not letting The Fluff Pack turn into the Snack Pack.
Must take action.
Must take action.
9) So my lovely wife & I decided we& #39;d better clear that brush, tree & hidey-hole area the snake& #39;s been using.
She& #39;s not afraid. Very pretty & feminine woman, but she& #39;s still a pioneer - a mountain girl.
She& #39;s not afraid. Very pretty & feminine woman, but she& #39;s still a pioneer - a mountain girl.
10) The night I spotted the rattler, I ran to the house, "Quick honey, run down here & see this rattlesnake!" She didn& #39;t delay.
This happens often. We& #39;re out in the middle of nowhere. We& #39;ve seen plenty of snakes, scorpions, tarantulas...all kinds of fun & scary stuff.
This happens often. We& #39;re out in the middle of nowhere. We& #39;ve seen plenty of snakes, scorpions, tarantulas...all kinds of fun & scary stuff.
11) So she wasn& #39;t worried or scared running down our mountain in flip-flops to go spot the snake.
But God forbid she doesn& #39;t wear a mask at the Stop-N-Shop!
But God forbid she doesn& #39;t wear a mask at the Stop-N-Shop!
12) Snakes are a part of life on the mountain. We actually like them. They eat rodents.
Here’s a pic of a rattler that was living at the bottom of our entry stairs. We named him Phineaus (with emphasis on the Sssssss at the end) He’s a Crotalus Ruber- Red Diamond Rattlesnake
Here’s a pic of a rattler that was living at the bottom of our entry stairs. We named him Phineaus (with emphasis on the Sssssss at the end) He’s a Crotalus Ruber- Red Diamond Rattlesnake
13) Snakes. Yeah, they& #39;re dangerous. Respect. But NO fear.
So off we go today! It& #39;s brush-clearing time. Gotta make our dog-walking path a little safer. Hours of hot, sweaty work. Good times! And remember....snakes...no fear.
So off we go today! It& #39;s brush-clearing time. Gotta make our dog-walking path a little safer. Hours of hot, sweaty work. Good times! And remember....snakes...no fear.
14) Halfway thru today’s work, we’re cutting out some lower branches in the tree. We found a bird’s nest. It was empty. Hmmmm... maybe our snake friend got there before us? I think we’ll keep it. It’s beautiful.
15) Almost done. Trimmed the hell outta that tree & no more snakey hidey-home. It’s all exposed now. We’ll tighten it up tomorrow, but success!
16) 7 + barrels of shovel-packed brush- we deserved a glass of whiskey 
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🥃" title="Tumblerglas" aria-label="Emoji: Tumblerglas"> on the deck & a sunset from heaven. We got it.
on the deck & a sunset from heaven. We got it." title="16) 7 + barrels of shovel-packed brush- we deserved a glass of whiskey https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🥃" title="Tumblerglas" aria-label="Emoji: Tumblerglas"> on the deck & a sunset from heaven. We got it." class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>
17) As we relaxed on the deck, sipping our whiskey we started reflecting on the day...
..the times we& #39;re living in now
...the fear of going outside without a mask
...the madness of everything around us
and how we view life
..the times we& #39;re living in now
...the fear of going outside without a mask
...the madness of everything around us
and how we view life
18) When we first met 23 years ago, the only vehicle I had was a Harley. All our first dates were on that motorcycle. She was totally unafraid- I loved that about her.
Okay, maybe we& #39;re crazy. Maybe we& #39;re stupid. But at least we& #39;re LIVING life on our terms. Living the adventure
Okay, maybe we& #39;re crazy. Maybe we& #39;re stupid. But at least we& #39;re LIVING life on our terms. Living the adventure
19) The other night, she stopped me & shared this quote from one of our favorite old-school sci-fi shows. She thought it PERFECTLY applied to our current situation and the virus panic. I agree. (this is the Space Robots part kids)
20) Then I flashed on the time I moved to Alaska for a spell. My buddy was a real asshole- good guy, but loved to give me shit. When he found out I was gonna move to Alaska he bought me this book to read on the flight. Alaska Bear Tales!
21) The book was story after story of people being attacked, maimed & killed by bears. Gory as hell! By the time I got off the flight & landed in Anchorage I had a lifetime of scary bear tales in my brain.
And now I was going out into the wild! WOOO HOOO!
And now I was going out into the wild! WOOO HOOO!
22) So here I am in Alaska for 5 months. Got a gig training some staff & the perks sold to me were plenty of "hunting, fishing & hiking". Well I& #39;m gonna grab those perks full-throttle! I may never be back here again. (I haven& #39;t yet)
23) One memorable fishing trip was the time I drove hours out to a special fishing river - alone. Got my tent, my pack, food, fishing gear. The whole 9 yards.
Gonna be a great weekend, right?
Gonna be a great weekend, right?
24) So I& #39;m all packed & stacked with my gear, hiking into the backwoods. I encounter several groups of people hiking back to the trailhead. "Hey man, be careful. Bear sightings. We& #39;re headed back. Really man, be careful"
25) Oh holy hell. Now I& #39;ve got that "Bear Tales" book swimming in my head.
"Oh FUCK that" I said to myself. "I& #39;ve driven hours to be here. I& #39;ve traveled all the way from CA to be here. I& #39;m NOT going back. Fuck the fear. I& #39;m going forward!"
"Oh FUCK that" I said to myself. "I& #39;ve driven hours to be here. I& #39;ve traveled all the way from CA to be here. I& #39;m NOT going back. Fuck the fear. I& #39;m going forward!"
26) Maybe I& #39;m crazy. Maybe I& #39;m stupid (well not that stupid - I still took all the proper precautions. Stored my food FAR away up in a tree away from my camp. Made tons of noise. Carried a firearm & bear spray)
Yeah, I might be crazy & stupid. But I sure had a GREAT FISHING TRIP
Yeah, I might be crazy & stupid. But I sure had a GREAT FISHING TRIP
27) Fast forward to today.
NOW, I& #39;m supposed to put my entire life on hold because I *might* get sick. AND I *might* die.
SO FUCKING WHAT? I might die doing ANYTHING. I& #39;m gonna stop living because....what????? Are you fucking kidding me?
NOW, I& #39;m supposed to put my entire life on hold because I *might* get sick. AND I *might* die.
SO FUCKING WHAT? I might die doing ANYTHING. I& #39;m gonna stop living because....what????? Are you fucking kidding me?
28) So if y& #39;all see me being an asshole about wearing a mask, now you have some perspective. I want to live life on MY terms. Don& #39;t tell me to hide from the bears. Don& #39;t tell me to be fearful on my own land because there& #39;s a rattlesnake.
29) There& #39;s RISK is life. There& #39;s always been risk in living. Deal with it.
AND if you can& #39;t deal with it, okay by me. That& #39;s your deal. But don& #39;t push your fear on me. I& #39;ve got my own fear I& #39;m dealing with....
AND if you can& #39;t deal with it, okay by me. That& #39;s your deal. But don& #39;t push your fear on me. I& #39;ve got my own fear I& #39;m dealing with....
30) Remember up-thread when I asked this?
31) If your fear is of people NOT obeying & NOT wearing masks, to me it& #39;s proof that my fear of a mentally enslaved populace is 100% valid.
Orwell was right and you Mask-loving-fear-robots are the proof.
Orwell was right and you Mask-loving-fear-robots are the proof.
