Wikipedia says the rat snake is famous for their climbing ability. No kidding! They're not poisonous and pretty helpful in keeping rats and mice in check but DAMN. I probably would have freaked out. But I've been less than five feet away from an Eastern Diamondback rattler once and thought it was pretty cool to see.

DH is deadly afraid of snakes.

You aren't provided a trashcan by your waste disposal company, sarameg? I've gotten used to that.

What would you have done in that situation?

Taken pictures. When we lived out in the country, we had at least one black snake living in the yard for some years. For some reason, the space between the electrical box and the wall in the wellhouse was perfect for skin shedding, so every couple of months we'd be startled by a new snake skin.

Here is an approximation of the phone conversation between me and my then husband, a police detective and veteran of many scary things.

Ex: "There's a snake in the yard. Should I kill it?"

Me: "What does it look like?"

Ex: "It's black. I think I should kill it."

Me: "It's black and not patterned?"

Ex: "It's black."

(More descriptions)

Me: "Don't kill the snake. It's a black snake."

Ex: "Are you sure it's okay?"

Me: "Don't kill the snake."

Ex: "Will the dogs be okay?" (The dogs weigh 60 and 75 pounds.)

Me: "It's not poisonous. It eats mice. Don't kill the snake."

Lather once, repeat.

A friend back in western Arkansas had a surprise visitor at her back door -- a black rat snake. Pictures: [link]

What would you have done in that situation?

Gone in the front door.

Black Rat snakes are cool.

I see them in the trees outside my office window from time to time. They are quite agile.

New trashcan purchased. (City does not provide cans. I think you even have to buy your own recycling bins from them if you want a yellow one. But they'll let you use a regular can too.) Along with a security cable and padlock. It's deterrent. Though if I see my can, I am totally stealing it back (I even put the house number on it and all! Assholes. Buy your own can, it's a mere $15!)

Aw: [link] "Wrapped it in a blanket and gave it a kiss goodbye."

I am such a sap. Made me tear up.

What would you have done in that situation?

Screamed like a little girl because seriously, oh HELL no, no, no.

Just... NO.

::sits in the corner and shudders violently::

sarameg, that link goes to whatever video is currently playing. Is there a link to the particular one you were watching?

Ah, they were looping the post-EVA interview with John and Drew when I caught it. I can't get the regular vids to play on my mac, so I don't know if they have it up elsewhere. But that's how John described their last bit of work.

Oh god, I emailed the now "potentially" new landlady's mother, because I can't find landlady's home phone and her voicemail isn't set up. I'm freaking out because I haven't signed the new lease or made payment and she hasn't replied to my email I sent last Wednesday.

Got a brief reply from the mother merely saying "I'm up, call me" which makes me feel like she has bad news to give that wouldn't be proper in an email. But it's only fifteen minutes since she sent it and she's not answering and now I'm in an even bigger state of panic.

Sure, if this falls through, I won't be homeless, I'll just have to renew my stay here, hopefully month by month. But I'll be here and I'll have to jump back into the agonizing process of apartment hunting. Living here with crazy downstairs lady. Living out of boxes. Here.