I am an animal nut.  I come by this honestly enough, as I grew up in a house that was full of pets.  We had everything, mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, insects... one room in our house (it was called Irving for lack of a better title) was dedicated to the lizards, turtles, snakes and alligators.  The whole room had a construct of plants and ropes against the ceiling for the lizards to crawl around in, a plastic wading pool with the turtles and alligators and an open tank of crickets for self-feeding.  Our house was referred to as the zoo by the neighbors.  I really can't think why!  Before you get weirded out about the snakes, they were all in tanks; poor snakes get such an evil press!  They were at the least beautiful, and very interesting.

So, my greatest pet stories come from the alligators; doesn't everyone have a great alligator story or two?  These critters were really Caimans, a relative to the alligator, but not as mean.  Our two cuties were 18" when we acquired them and they grew to between three and four feet long, including the tail.  Denny and Corduroy resided in the plastic wading pool with the turtles in the Irving room.  Despite the three-foot barrier they could jump out and would grace us on occasion with their company.

One such visit was when I had a date over.  The dog came running out from under the couch so I popped my head under to look and was greeted with alligator jaws opened at me.  That's how they greet people.  It is a primitive manner, I know, and being young at the time I couldn't appreciate it.  I ran shrieking up stairs to get my parents, "Mother, your alligator is out AGAIN!"

I don't think that date ever came over again...

For some reason my husband doesn't share my enthusiasm for this hobby.  I haven't been able to figure that one out though.  My brother, on the other hand, has a room in his house where the tortoise can roam at will.  I have turned to farming and visiting my brother's house when I can.

Remind me to tell you about the lamb in the bath later...

An update on my life (if you care to check in that is):

Please note the week prior to a production is "affectionately" known as hell week - for all the late night rehearsals and trying to get everything together before the run.

We opened "The Miss Firecracker Contest" by Beth Henley last Friday.

So, Miss Glutton for Punishment that I am, "Lend Me A Tenor" by Ken Ludwig opens this Friday - different theater company.

Now as if that isn't bad enough, there is the Fourth of July in here somewhere and all that it entails: parade, carnival, visiting relatives & my Mother's birthday.

Not only am I sleep deprived and stressed, I am also sick and PMSing.

I think my brain hit zombie status awhile ago.  I'll have to have that verified by an independent authority figure. 

I am so glad I have an understanding boss.

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Well, if the first play was anything to go by, everything will be great.  We had such fun that I had a really hard time not laughing while performing.  My character is very drunk in one scene and falls/slides off the couch and ends up sitting there befuddled while my co-actor tells me a story about midgets and cesarean births.

It was excellent, and I am told there will be photos to link to.  Well, we'll see about that.

In this next production, I am on stage in a towel and then a Merry Widow and I seduce a guy on stage at the same time there is another seduction going on stage in the "next room."

Ya gotta love being able to live wild vicariously - except that I am very tired.