Summer is finally here. The kids are out of school. It's time to take that annual vacation or road trip.

@Stereoguy Thanks for the BC!

@cherokeepatti My farmer has a finger in every pot business wise. He is a snake handler. He catches the rattle snakes, collects their venom, dispatches them, keeps the meat and cleans and tans the skins. He's very good at it. Companies that make belts and hat bands buy up all he can give them. He can't sell the meat in the open market, but people seem to be able to find him and trade him out of it. We always serve some at our cookouts. It's quite a novelty but to me it's the same consistency as fish. Tastes good. He does most of his big catches in the fall, he waits for them to start denning up and he fills his bags. He catches some big ones. He also will come out to people's homes/property and remove the snakes for a fee. His "snake pit" that he built is pretty big and he has the set up. His dad likes to come out and help him with that. I just know when I see them close to me, I shoot them. If I hear several buzzing around one of the barns, I give him a call and he gets them.

@TexChik I used to watch a rattlesnake catching reality show. I don’t know if it lasted more than one season.

@cherokeepatti The venom collection is really neat to watch. He has an autoclave, uses sterile technique, and sterile flasks. He wears the googles , masks, and gloves and a head net. His wife takes care of the centrifuging and pipetting. Its a very clear light amber color. The antivenom companies appreciate not having to deal with the snakes . They inspect their facilities from time to time and they go to their meetings and do the training. Its just something they like
doing.

@Coralmist I don’t go inside stores. I use the “drive up” option, and they bring my groceries etc to my car. I do wear a mask when I’m interacting with that person, and especially as they are no longer wearing them. I don’t wear a mask outside going for a walk, but I try to maintain a minimum of 6-feet distance from others. If these Covid cases come down to a pre-Omicron level, and the death rate goes the same way, I can’t wait to go shopping again, but I will wear a KN95 mask.

@Carissimi Sooner or later you have to get out and live life. Covid isn't going away, assuming it is even real to begin with.

It’s real. I know people who had it. One died, and the other was in hospital for a long time, then needed at least a year of physical therapy for long Covid. It aged her 20-years, but she looks better now after 2-years. @CestManan

@Stereoguy ooh Crockpot. Also Rice cooker. For $7 a week does that include water fills and black tank dumping?

@Stereoguy We did have a good time, but it was very tiring. We were on a river cruise in Europe. Now resting and rebuilding the vacation fund.

@Stereoguy Nope apparently I wouldnt survive the op so being kept alive on alot of medication but no gaurantees how long that will be .