Most embarrassing/funny moment on a bike

[Nanci]

If it weren't for Garter snakes, a billion kids (adults, too) wouldn't be snake-lovers. When I was a kid, in Minnesota, what a joy it was to go out collecting plain old Garter snakes for a day, to see how many I could get. And what a wonder to finally find something different, a Redbelly, or a Bullsnake. I always wanted to find a Hognose, but never did.

OOOOHHH!!! I hatched a clutch of Redbellies on my gas stove once. I released them as soon as they hatched, though- they were _so_ small, like worms.

I was also an expert skink/swift catcher as a child, and at one time held the record for the largest Blandings Turtle found in MN.

Herps are so easy compared to cats and dogs.

I found a snake out in my backyard last summer. It was grey and black patterned. After finding Maizey, the Perfect Snake, in my yard only a few months previously, I was excited, and hoped it was a baby Corn. Picked it up, and proceeded to get bit about a million times. Brought it in the house, in a container, and looked it up. Baby Black Racer, known for a vile temperment. Photographed and released. Don't want any pets that don't want to be pets!

Nanci

[bentforlife]

My herp professor was Bette Bechtel. Her husband was the dermatologist in town. They had a whole wing in their house dedicated to studying albinism in corn snakes. They had over 100 snakes in that place, a few exotic species as well. Mrs. Bechtel taught the nursing students Anatomy and Physiology, she was a nurse herself. But Herpetology was her passion. She had several degrees as well as her nursing degree. She was also my advisor. She helped me through some tough times in my college career. She was more than just an advisor.

Since I graduated in '79, alot of things have changed at that school. It is now a university and the Biology department is huge! And they have a football team!!!

That's right about the herp bug...once bitten you can never really give it up. I love going through the herpetatium at the Fort Worth Zoo. They have some of the most unusual amphibians in the world. Like the tomatoe frog and poison dart frogs. I try to go once a year just to see what they've gotten.

Donna

[betagirl]

I had an iguana named Stimpy when I was in college. He grew to be huge! And he was a horny bugger in the summer. He'd chase you around the house and try to bite your toes. Then he'd hump one of my mom's green pillows. I'm not kidding. That'd take some of the energy out of him for a little while at least

As for my funny moment on a bike, it'd have to be before I knew how to blow my nose "properly" while riding. I was doing my first RAGBRAI and a bug flew into my nose. I thought I'd be able to blow it out, so I turned my head and blew it out alright. That and a bunch of snot all over my right sleeve/arm. The guy riding next to me saw it and laughed. Oops.