As Allergy Ridden as I am….

I sure feel like Heathcliff — excepting it has been ongoing for the past couple of weeks…and, I suspect, it isn’t going away anytime soon.  I saw something big, black and furry scurry aross the ditch along the roadway on the way into work tonight — it could have been a skunk that sprayed me and I wouldn’t have even known it.  I feel for Heathcliff, if he is truly having a stuffed up nose like many of us are right now….

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Valley of Fire – B/W Exploration (“Ominous Desert Sun”)

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Texas & Rattlesnakes!

It is so not so unusual of story to hear about rattlesnakes this time of year. People get used to walking around, especially in the recent colder days where folks are not generally out and about walking in the woods, etc., and not seeing very many of the snakes out and about. Oftentimes, it isn’t the snake looking to bite you, unless you are in the water and see a water moscasin or you happen upon a snake curled up and you accidently approach it and/or step on it.

Photos of Venomous Snakes of Texas

Copperhead	Cottonmouth (Water Moccasin)
Rattlesnake	Timber Rattler	Diamondback Rattler
Mojave Rattlesnake	Blacktail Rattler	Western Rattler
Massasauga Rattler	Pygmy Rattlesnake	Coral Snake

One certainly wants to use precaution when walking about in the rural areas; which is why the predominant footwear of a cowboy is generally the cowboy boot and the general style of pants is heavy denim! 🙂 The boots and pants offer an added protection, albeit not failproof, if a snake does strike from fear of being stepped on or killed.

In an apartment complex in the West/Lake Travis area, a man was recently walking his dog near a woodsy area. The dog happend upon a rattlesnake and was bit. A this time the small dog is still in the hospital recovering from the dog bite. Pet owners are not at fault, but they can be an extra observer set of eyes and not allow their pets go into tall grassy areas where the snakes may be lurking and hiding.

If anyone or any pet gets bit by a snake, one should follow the following set of guidelines until one can get to the hospital:

According to the American Red Cross, these steps should be taken:

• wash the bite with soap and water
• immobilize the bitten area
• keep the bitten area lower than the heart
• seek medical attention as soon as possible

Here’s a list of things not to do:

• Do not eat or drink anything unless okayed by medical sources
• Do not engage in strenuous physical activity
• Do not apply oral (mouth) suction to bite
• Do not cut into or incise bite marks with a blade
• Do not drink any alcohol or use any medication
• Do not apply either hot or cold packs
• Do not apply a narrow, constrictive tourniquet such as a belt, necktie or cord
• Do not use a stun gun or electric shock of any kind
• Do not waste time or take any risks trying to kill, bag or bring in offending snake

Just go to the nearest healthcare facility!

For many, snakes are a source of recreation — rattlesnake festivals, snake farms, and more. However, for even those in the recreational aspects of the enjoyment of snakes, one always must exercise caution above all other concerns.

Have fun this Spring and Summer, but don’t dress inappropriately if you are in tall grassy areas, in woodsy areas, in or around rocky areas, etc. Think smart and be safe!

Check out these resources for additional information —

South Texas Poison Center

Texas Snakes

South Texas Herpetology Association (& HB1309)

Texas Herpetological Society

West Texas Herpetological Society

Brazos Valley Herpetological Society

Austin Herpetological Society

Dallas-Ft.Worth Herpetological Society

Sweetwater Texas Rattlesnake Roundup

Freer Rattlesnake Roundup

Texas Rattlesnake Sales

Texas Rattlesnake Recipes

Rattlesnake Roundup Locator

Rattlesnake Humor

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Did you pay the Tax Man?? or…

will you be getting money back from Uncle Sam this year???

[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzLry3ABpV0]

I was chasing post offices for dropping off the envelope containing my extension request because I, after procrastinating for a couple of months, I couldn’t find where I had left that stack of papers! Well, I didn’t exactly have to chase down post offices, but it did take me a while to figure out where it was in the dark. Many years ago, we would take it downtown but that all changed when they built the post office facility on the northeastern outskirts of town.

Being that I generally email to communicate these days and pay my bills online, I have no real need for the post office any more. I just check my mailbox daily for mail still being delivered to me these days.

When I finally found it, the postmen were great with great humor although they had rain ponchos on to persevere through the earlier rain storm. They had a great system down and huge truck heading over to the IRS facility. I have often wondered that, since we live in the same city as the big city for the IRS facility for the State of Texas, why should we have to put the post stamp on the envelope and hand it to the postman when we could drive to the facility just as easily off of IH35 and hand it directly to them themselves. Wouldn’t it just make sense?? Oh, well… I guess we humor them by taking it to the post office and having them go through the protocol of postmarking the envelope.

Although I still haven’t found my special stack of papers, on a positive note, my apartment is cleared of some extra clutter that had been piling up while I was sick a few weeks ago and my crazy hours at work. Hope the event of preparing your tax returns hasn’t given you the tax return blues this year…

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It’s Official – Bluebonnet 2007 Photos…

presented in a RockYou format. This certainly has to be one of the best years despite, or because, of the strange weather we had this winter and spring. Check it out…. Bluebonnets (and wildflowers) 2007!

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Thoughts on a Saturday…

I am working two shifts today and writing this in between calls and multi-tasking with other things that I am working on as well. The fact that I am able to do this is good because that means that there aren’t as many crisis callers today.

Yesterday was a wonderful day spent looking for bluebonnet photo opportunities, as well as photos for my Cross Project. The Cross Project was interesting as I was welcomed by many Churches (not of my own faith denomination) to go into their Churches and take photos. As such, I met a lot of interesting folks along the way. (The Cross Project photos have been updated, although I have a few more to add later when I create a page for my bluebonnet photos I took yesterday.) The icing on the cake was having fajitas with my daughter and her significant love. I had so much fun there.

This morning, at work, we encouraged one of our coworkers to go home because she was sounding sickly. Another coworker came in a bit later. When we told him that we had encouraged the other coworker to go home, he shared with us a story about being in the subways in NYC. He stated that a very determined woman was walking through the subways pushing her way through, all the while spraying lysol ahead of her just to make sure that she wasn’t going to get sick! Sometimes, I feel like that at times; being sick is no fun indeed, although I don’t get sick too often.

On another note, today is sunny and very windy. North Texas (Dallas/Fort Worth area) had two tornados hit last night. While it is windy here in Austin (central Texas), it is very nice out there and doesn’t appear to be the type with tornado capacity; hopefully, it will remain to be a very nice day. We need that for a change!! I am also sure that the SafePlace Walk this morning is very appreciative of the wind and sun; it certainly makes for beautiful weather to walk in and make an impact on awareness for domestic violence and sexual assault programs. I am envious; it looks gorgeous outside of the window in our office.

Okay… just completed the Bluebonnet Project!  Check it out! 😀

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Cross Project & Bluebonnet Search

Worldly Inquiring Mind “iWIM” 😀 › Create New Post — WordPress

Got back this afternoon from my adventure of my ritual, traditional bluebonnet photo hunt this morning. Went along 620, to Hwy 71, to 281 and through Marble Falls, Burnet, to 29 and through Bertram and Liberty Hill, to 183 and through Leander and Cedar Park, to wiggling back to 620 to head back home. Along the way I got some pictures for my Cross Project.

I have updated the page with the Cross Project on it. Check it out!!

I will be updating with photos from my Bluebonnet tour, which ended up getting a lot of other wildflowers as well this year at some phenomenal places, later tonight or sometime tomorrow.

Although we were threatened with thunderstorms, hail storms, and possible tornados in the area, they still haven’t arrived just yet. Sun is shinning and it has been a beautiful day after all. Glad I didn’t let the forecast from the weathermen this morning keep me from getting out and about today. I think you will agree that some of these photos are just awesome.

Check back for the bluebonnet photos; however, enjoy the Cross Project photos in the meantime!

More soon!

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