Alert! Alert! Alert! New pet! Kids are excited! Cats are noncommittal. Food choices are discussed. Son-of-a-wrek nearly gave me whiplash. And other bad bad bad ramblings. As I see fit!

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Son-of-a-wrek drew the short straw. As he’s on vacation this week, he gets to drive me to various appointments and clinics.
I nearly passed out on the way to dialysis. He is one funny guy. I laughed all the way.

On arrival to the dialysis center they prefer the driver of said weird Mom to sign in with a cel number.
As Son hates all things medical it was a lightening fast sign in with a big flourish and he then ‘runs’ out the door. Blowing a kiss at me.
You had to be there. Trust me we all got a laugh about that.

When it was time to undo me from the Vampire machine I had alittle difficulty. Son was already back. He most decidedly did not want to hear about it. He just wanted to leave.
So we are finally released and go for the tacos. He was a mite confused that I needed to go to Sonic for tea and eat the tacos at the Sonic. But I got him straightened out on that point.

On the way home, about 20 minutes, I was laughing again. All of a sudden he brakes and nearly killed me. Whiplash, anyone? “What the heck?” I exclaimed!
There was a box turtle trying to cross the road.
I’m sure he was half baked. 'Cause it was hot, folks.
Son jumps out and tosses the turtle in the back floor board. Jumps in and speeds home.

Well.

I’m alarmed.
Finally he says, “The kids will love this”

As I have a pseudo-pet 'possum there’s not much I can say. So I don’t.

We get home and of course a half baked turtle is a hit with the kids. A box was found. A water dish was found. Lettuce leaves and a strawberry were brought out on the deck.

Tommy Turtle chowed down. Looked up at all of us and tried to drown himself in the water dish. I’m not sure I blamed him.
We found a shallower dish.

I told the kids to let him rest and come in and wash those salmonella hands, promptly.

I looked in on Tommy’s box this morning. He still appeared alive. I walked the dogs. Gave Clarence a strawberry and cheerios. he lives cheerios.
I didn’t think about it again.

Uh oh. Tommy flew the coop.
His box was empty this afternoon.

We ascertain the baby took him out of the box so he could eat grass.

He’s gone.

Lord, I hope the baby had clean hands at supper.

2

Pictures?!?!

Do you know its species? The Eastern box turtle has become a rare thing to see in the wild. They were common when I was a kid and are vulnerable today.

3

I hope you can find the turtle and put it back where you found it. They have very specific needs and territories, and do not do well being relocated.

4

Can you make “Turtle Soup” with any species of turtle, or just a certain kind? Just wondering if it was a kidnapping as opposed to a voluntary disappearance.

5

mmm…perhaps the baby should not eat grass?

(Plus, his hands will be cleaner before supper.)
:slight_smile:

6

A while back I stopped at the same time as a guy in a pickup for a red-eared slider in the road. I always take them in the direction they’re going and set them in the shoulder. He put the turtle in his truck for his kids. I made him promise to bring the turtle back to the exact spot when they were done with it, since they’ll spend their lives trying to get back to their home territory.

StG

7

Ummm?. No I would not have taken Tommy the Turtle and sat him on a asphalt highway to continue to bake in a hot sun. (turtle soup, yuk!)or to get run down by a vehicle.
He was walking in a southerly direction. Pointed straight to my house.
Who’s to say he wasn’t looking for my place?
I do have a reputation for taking in all strays and lay-abouts, hence: the Hobo chickens, Bayliss, Clarence and a veritable Zoo of other things.
Doesn’t matter he’s gone now.

My prediction is he will be eating the low hanging tomatoes in my Garden by next week.

He may not know it but he hit the Lottery.

8

Tea: Where I live, I get a sammich from Subway and go get my tea elsewhere, because I’m not sure that Subway’s slightly yellow beverage has ever seen a tea leaf.

Box turtles: In the 1970’s, I found a box turtle near my yard and made a chicken-wire pen with the intention of trying to keep it as a pet for a while. The turtle turned out to be a very persistent climber. I admitted defeat on day 1 of the turtle ranch, and I think their community put me on a blacklist, because I can’t recall encountering another box turtle in the wild since then.

Salamanders: I bet you don’t remember mentioning salamanders, but I’m going to pretend you did. My brother and I used to find yellow-spotted black salamanders in the garden in the 1970s, but I haven’t seen those in a long time either. I think the box turtles kidnapped them.

Possums: Little possums are the cutest. I had a couple teeny ones exploring the snow by my patio a few years ago. They held their noses and tails up high, and that was all you could see over the snow as they ran around plowing trails. Possums look a bit gnarly by the time they reach old age, which is typically about two years old. They must really party hard and burn the candle at both ends to go decrepit so fast.

9

I have to agree. Tea at Subway is not up to standards. I can taste if it’s old. And unsweetened tea is often old.

10

Made a big pitcher of strong black iced tea and I’m mixing equal amounts of tea, Simply Lemonade, and Nikolai Vodka. An Arnie Palmer with a drinking problem.

11

@kayaker , you’re a cruel, evil man!:smirk: