Sometimes...It's Stop and Smell the Roses!

[HanneysCorns]

Sometimes you need to stop and smell the roses...or before you know it, the fall chill has hit the air and their beautiful appeal in both sight and fragrance is no more.

Corns are my passion...but somewhere in this season, the hobby became too much business, politics, and obligitory...and the passion, the enjoyment of hatchlings, got whisked away as those many miles of road loomed out ahead of me. Please don't misunderstand...I love doing the shows, they are a highlight for me. Way up here in Northern Ontario I don't often get to spend an hour or two chatting in person to others who share my love of cornsnakes. The show days rejuvenate the passion...of that I have no doubt; without them I would surely become the 'crazy lady with the corns'...

When I woke up the morning following the Winnipeg Show feeling tired, exhausted, just plain pooped, hey, that I could put down to 'normal' body reaction to hours on the road, different beds to sleep in and a 'not normal' eating regime...but, 5 days later when I wasn't feeling any better, couldn't find more than an hour's worth of energy at any given time...and the biggest warning sign of all...and I just didn't care that there were hatchlings expecting a feed, water and change...I knew something was definitely wrong. My body wasn't the only thing telling me, take a break...so was my mind!

Well, to make a long story short...I did and am recovering from the pneumonia that almost put me in that small town hospital I vowed never to have admittance to again, but most of all, being in no contact with the reptile scene (in person) for 3 weeks has allowed me to re-gain some of the 'ooomph' and re-attach to the passion once again. I took some time to stop and smell the roses.

I do apologize to all of you who have emailed me. I just haven't had the strength or the energy to reply. This has and always will be a hobby for me...the business side of things are a necessity...off setting the hydro and frozen rodent bill if I'm lucky...and just so everyone understands, you, my customers are important to me...I simply needed a break...both my body and my mind were demanding it. It's very hard to give when the well is dry...and I was, quite frankly dry as a bone.

Now that I've had a chance to re-cuperate physically and regenerate mentally...you know you're getting there when you are already thinking about next year... ... life is beginning to feel more 'normal' once again. I look over this year's keepers...yup, there's almost 60 of them...and I rejoice. Some beautifully 'imagined' morphs have the potential to be produced within these '07's when mature.

My males who steer the breeding for next year are already down for brumation; the females have eaten their last meal and will be boxed over the next week and moved to the brumation room.

And the best part of all and the one 'pill' that cured the mental tiredness was unboxing all my '05's and '06's and putting them in the vivs...Wow! have they grown. A few of those '05 males went straight to brumation; they are definitely ready size wise! Oh yes, that got the passion stirred thinking, just a few more months and I'll get to hatch this and that for the first time.

Ah...the busiest of the season is over...2007 is winding down...and again my passion has been renewed in this crazy hobby of mine.

Thanks for reading...hmmm, now I'd better get to work getting some of next year's female breeders down for their nap.

Ruth

[Russell]

Hey, glad your feeling better! After Tinley I too needed a few days to recuperate. NO energy at all. I'm looking forward to having all my adults in hibernation, as I plan to spend three months just totally relaxing! I don't have anywhere near as many keepers as you do to tend to. And planned it that way. I need to keep it in front of me that this is a hobby, and hobbys are supposed to be fun!
Take it easy! and yes, stop and smell them roses!

[Joanna]

Ruth,

I'm sorry to hear you were ill and very happy to read that you feel more like yourself!

I hope you get to enjoy a bit of peace while the adults are sleeping.

[vanderkm]

Glad to hear you are doing better Ruth - saw a note in one other forum that suggested you had missed a show and were recovering - so very glad to hear you are back on your feet!

We are off for a well needed holiday at last - will be gone a couple weeks to New Mexico and all the guys are now napping for the duration - easier for the housesitter to deal with them - and essential for me to get some time off.

Take care,


mary v.

[Dude123]

Sorry to hear about the illness Ruth, but good to know you are feeling better now!

[Dionythicus]

It's good to hear from you and to know that you are recovering. I hope you are feeling better soon!