Out with the Old, In with the New

Yesterday, I stepped out on the front porch to have my first ciggie of the day, and found this "gift" laying on the steps.

Of course, my initial reaction was EEEEEEK! I have a SNAKE! Living near my house!

Which of course, is insane, because we are surrounded by woods, ponds and other flora which promote snake-life, so the idea of a SNAKE actually living in this woodland paradise isn't that far-fetched.

Nor is it exactly comforting, but whatever. In the 4.5 years we've lived here I've never seen evidence of a snake, until now.

And you know what they say about snakes. If you see one, that's ENOUGH! LOL

But, in the interest of laziness, I've left the snakeskin lying (laying? hmmm) out there, and I've spent a fair amount of time outside in the last couple days, so I've seen it more than twice.

I got to thinking about that snake. I'm sure it's not an exactly pleasant experience to shed one's skin. And, I'm sure he picked the concrete, a rather less comfortable place for a snake than say, the WOODS, in order to facilitate this process.

Which led me to thinking about FM and my life right now.

Although I don't think we are as creepy as snakes, it may be time for us to shed our own exterior skins in exchange for newer, brighter, better fitting ones.

It may be painful for a while (I'm actually quite sure it's going to be), but in the end we will walk away with a fresh new skin.

Thanks Mr. Garter Snake for the life lesson. I'm glad I didn't immediately throw your old protective covering into the trash, but instead let it sit there and remind me that sometimes change IS for the better.

Yep. We are in Peru. I can tell because HERE IS AN ALPACA!  I missed these guys, they're so cute. Not as cute as a vicuna, but cute enough to take massive amounts of pictures of and say, "AWWWWW!"

Other things that have happened since arriving:

• Stuck in the suburbs for the first week, venturing out only at night when accompanied by my bodyguards
• Read too much information about the dangers and pitfalls of Lima, left me feeling too chicken shit to take camera out of bag
• Moved to apartment in Miraflores, very safe area of town, now feel comfortable walking around to some areas
• Arranged for private driver for FM to take him to work and back, so he doesn't have to talk to taxi cab drivers
• Managed to make my BRAND NEW TENNIS SHOES stink already
• Got a SIM card for my phone
• Argued with Comcast cable about my bill for ONE HOUR
• Drank some beer
• Drank some wine
• Ate octopus salad (acceptable, think it was better in Croatia, however spotty readers to this blog would NEVER know I was in Croatia. In February.)

and, oh yea.

• Found out as of June 30, FM doesn't have a job anymore with his current employer.

Must find new job in order to continue Flatbacking lifestyle. Sigh.
Also visited some ancient Lima Culture ruins near my house, which can be viewed at http://www.aroundtheworldin80beers.net/id47.html if you are interested. Or not.

The stars at night. . . are big and bright. . . CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP

DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS!

Which, in case your someone who's NOT on my Facebook or checking my website, is where we are!

Until Saturday, when we leave for Peru.

And, personally, I prefer Dallas' little sister Fort Worth to Dallas anyday. Wish we were staying there. . .

By the way, I've been wearing the same pair of shorts for the last three days. . .

Hello? Hello? Anyone?

Wow. Been a while, eh? My statcounter tells me most my traffic is being driven here by google image searches. My bad.

But, being we are off to Peru next weekend, and I didn't post the entire time we were in Macedonia OR Croatia, I guess I'd better come back and talk to those people looking for octopi pictures.

Wouldn't want them to feel left out!