The grass is always greener

Thanks to global warming or El Nino or Cobra's weather machine, we've been in an severe to extreme drought for the better part of the past 2 years. In case you don't know, severe is only the middle level of drought. Its worse than abnormally dry and moderate, but not as bad as extreme or exceptional. Isn't that kind of like a fast food restaurant only offering medium, large and super-sized drinks and then rejecting you when you order a small? Can you ever really be more dry once dry? Nevertheless, one tropical system and inches upon inches of rain later, we were not only out of the severe drought stage but approaching annual average rainfall totals with 4 months left to go in the year. A year ago, when we first moved in to our house, we were blessed with the gift of a lawn mower from Riley's uncle. I could go weeks without cutting the grass this time last year, it was a matter of what shade of yellow I wanted the yard to emit. A year and Fay later, the grass is green and growing. I cut it Thursday afternoon and by Sunday, it is ready for another trim. Yard work was not the only impact of the tropical downpour of last Tuesday. The eco-system that is our backyard was thrown out of whack in many other ways. The birdseed that scattered the yard below the corner of the porch under the feeder was washed away. The song birds have all but given up on our house as a food source. Mosquitoes are breeding in a moisture wonderland. Spidermonkeys fled to the garage to escape the rising waters. They weren't the only ones. Late Thursday night on the normal last call for the pups to potty, I carried Max out to his spot as Kennedy sped out to hers. On the return trip, Max's eye caught it first...something sliding away from the back door on the porch. I thought it was a stick blowing across the deck...until I got near. I quickly shuffled Kennedy inside and deposited Max onto the kitchen floor. I grabbed a flashlight and stared into the eyes of the beast. A snake of about 2 feet in length stared back at me, waiting for my next move. I have an Indiana Jones-like passion for snakes. The thought that I wasn't wearing shoes and probably stepped right over it when we first went out didn't sit well in my head. But there was not time for emotion, I had to take action. I obtained a cardboard box from the garage as well as the broom. I snapped a couple photos on my cell phone then gave the serpent my best slap shot into the box. I closed the lid, it hissed and rattled. I put the broom on top of the lid to be sure it was secure. To google I went next, searching and researching the www in an attempt to identify this brand of asp. It didn't take long; I credit my wildlife searches from weeks before in relation to the bigfoot carcus capture. Turns out I had captured an Agkistrodon contorix contorix linnaeus right there in our backyard. Southern Copperhead to the common folk. A mildly venomous asp with an attitude, I proceeded to slay the dragon with a shovel. Its in a garbage bag on the side of the house if you want to come check it out. I try to show anyone I can. I felt a bit like Tom Hanks when he finally made fire. I trapped and killed a dangerous creature that threatened the lives of pets around the neighborhood. Unfortunately, Riley and Jessica aren't exactly sleeping easier these days...they may have been better off not knowing of my adventure as it stirs the notion that there could be more out there. Yet, whatever Gustav may bring...be it more yardwork or slithering stragglers, I feel I am ready to take it all on.