Starting today, December 13th, I’d like to try something new, and maybe the littlest bit silly.
One of my favorite things to do is watch Youtube- specifically True Crime videos, and 9/10 when I’m sitting at my desk doing my worldbuilding exercises or just doodling, I’m listening to those videos. My favorite Youtubers do something called Vlogmas which is where they film and post a video every day in December, or they’ll pick a theme each month for their True Crime videos. I think that’s really cool but, since I’m not a Youtuber, I thought maybe I’d take that idea and make it my own and do a “12 Days of Critmass” where I come on here and write about a different topic every day.
Since I got this idea- or at least the name for this idea from a silly snake meme that I saw on Pinterest, I thought that my first post could be about snakes. So, if talking about snakes, seeing pictures of them, or anything related to keeping or having pet snakes upsets or triggers you, I ask that you please click off this post.
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Now, I’ve been keeping snakes for 10+ years now. When I was 15-years old, I got my very first snake, a corn snake, who I called Lestat. While my Grandma was at work, my mom took me to a pet shop called Something Fishy where we went to get some food for my little brother’s pet turtle, George, and that’s where I saw him for the first time.
Lestat was this beautiful, little corn snake who they were selling for $45 but, my Grandma did not want me to have a snake. We’ve always lived with my Grandma, so usually what she said went but, not this time. This time, my mom had decided that I was old enough to know what I wanted, and she let me have him. Together we “snuck” this tiny corn snake into the house, where he happily lived on my desktop until he died in 2017.
Lestat was my best friend in the same way that a dog is to some people. That little corn snake was my whole world. He was my writing buddy, sitting at my desk with me while I typed so many poems, school papers, and the beginnings of so many stories. He was my designated horror movie watching buddy, and my Player Two- sitting in my pocket, my lap, or around my shoulders as I played silly video games both on my own, with friends, and with my mom.
Because of Lestat, I got my first job, so that I could pay to take care of him on my own, and I’ve been working ever since. (Aside from right now, due to my leg still being messed up, and Covid-19 having my job shut down.) There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t wish he were here with me. That little snake taught me things about love and responsibility that I never would’ve learned otherwise, and I will never stop loving him or thinking about him.
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Currently, I have three snakes.
Oogie Boogie- a 20-year-old ball python who came to me in late 2017 after Lestat passed away. Due to his previous owners leaving him alone with a live rat or mouse he has big, thick patches of scar tissue across a good portion of his body. He is entirely blind because of this, and sometimes he can be very jumpy but, if you want to sit down and watch a movie, he’s more than happy to sit in your lap and just lay there with you for a little while. He’s a good boy, even though he’s an old boy whose been through a lot.
Sasu- an 8-year-old ball python, who I got from the PetSmart in Crystal Lake on Mother’s Day in 2012. Like most ball pythons, he’s kind of a potato, but that’s okay because he’s my potato. He likes to sit in his water bowl all the time, even when he isn’t shedding, and if your hair is up in a sock bun, he will wrap around your bun and stay in your hair. He’s a little too big for that now but, its something he seems to enjoy so, who am I to stop him?
Finally, there is Soliel, a little yearling corn snake, who I call Sunny. He reminds me so much of my Lestat, he’s rambunctious, and explorative. He loves being out of his habitat but, he’s also happy to remain in his home, and try to rip down the suction cupped vines off the side of the glass. He makes me happy, but they all do.
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Like any pet, despite what some people might think, snakes have their quirks and needs that have to be met for them to be happy, healthy, and well-adjusted creatures. They also have their likes and dislikes, and I think this is obvious in the way that some snakes are perfectly happy taken frozen/thawed prey and others will eat only live. Not all snakes enjoy being out of their enclosures for long, extended periods of time, and others would rather spend their time exploring.
It simply depends on the snake and their personality.
Now, I know that I said this before on my last post, however, because this is a post about snakes, I just feel the need to stop and say it again. While I do own both snakes and pet rats, I do not now, nor have I ever condoned or supported the practice of feeding life prey to any animal. I feel that it’s cruel both to the animal being eaten as well as the animal being fed because one or both animals could end up hurt or dead.
Obviously, the “feeder” animal in this situation is supposed to end up dead and used to feed the animal of your choosing, such as a snake. However, you must remember that these “feeder” animals are still animals themselves with instincts, such as the instinct to fight back and survive, and while doing so it may injure your pet. Most prey animals like mice, rats, rabbits, and other small animals do not always visibly show signs of weakness or diseases while being ill, which would make them an easy target to be preyed upon. Frozen feeders however do not have the risk of diseases, as most diseases do die off in the deep-freezing process! Thank you for your time and for coming to my TED Talk!
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I had so much fun writing this today, so I think the next 12-days are going to fly right on by. For a while, I wasn’t sure if I should make posts if they didn’t center around writing somehow but, while I am an author, I’m also a person. Which means that there are other things going on in my life aside from just writing. So, if you liked this post, please give me a like, and feel free to drop a comment down below, or contact me through Facebook or Instagram, or Twitter with other ideas on what I can post about.
While I love my critters dearly, I do want to do a couple posts on my writing. I have a lot to share with you about my current WIP an urban fiction/sci-fi crossover, some information about an upcoming book release that I’ll be doing here really soon. It’s just something that I’ve put a lot of time, effort, and thought into, and I’m ready to unleash it into the world!
Which brings us all to the end of today’s post.
I hope everyone is staying safe, healthy, and kind.
Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas.
-Sky
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