Saturday, September 12, 2009

Random Musings - 9/09

At a meeting this morning, while talking about the Swine flu H1N1 (some of the lab guys call it "hiney"), one of our doctors asked our Infection Control lady whether antivirals were shown to do anything for the patients.

Of course antivirals do something. They increase the numbers of drug-resistant cases next time around.

Silly damned question.
____________

On the home front, though, we seem to have ended up with a new turtle. Went out into the back yard, and there he was, sitting on top of our pool cover. Nobody seems to know where he came from, nobody's come looking for him, no signs posted around the neighborhood saying "lost amphibian," no nothing. He might not even be from close by - the "sternum" of his bottom shell is worn.

I have no urge to go door-to-door holding a turtle; flyers seemed like an easy solution, but none of the phone calls I've gotten have been from people who can describe the one easiest identifying mark on this little beast. Of course, we can't be talking about a particularly spectacular pet owner. I mean, no explanation will end well when it starts with "My turtle ran away from me."

My son had gone out to water the garden, and come back in to get my wife so she could see if any of the tomatoes needed to be picked. This means that he passed the turtle twice without noticing this cantaloupe-sized green thing on our bright blue pool cover; my wife saw him as soon as she stepped out the door.

That boy would not survive in the wild, if he just walks past ferocious wild animals like that. Vicious beast could've taken his leg off. (You know, given enough time...)

I asked if he thought he could finish doing the dishes without finding any more stray animals. He just smiled.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

You stole a turtle? Dosen't it hurt to fall from your morale high ground?

That's pretty low, Cynic, stealling some kids pet.

Pat Riot

Steven K said...

Wow, Anon, that must be some psychic powers you've got that let you know without a shadow of a doubt that the turtle used to belong to someone else...oh wait. You're just saying it to be a dick as usual because you've got nothing better to do than to troll on someone else's board.

Never mind!

Steven

Nameless Cynic said...

Well, Steven, to be honest, it probably did. A little research has told me it's an eastern box turtle (and male - freaky blood-colored eyes), not native to Albuquerque.

My question would have to be why he's claiming "stolen" when I already said I put up flyers. Didn't say that I went to the various "variety" pet shops in the neighborhood to see if anybody had asked about losing a turtle. I did that, though. I will admit that I didn't buy a want-ad in the paper, or time on the radio or TV, or anything like that. But I did make the effort to locate the original owner.

So I'm curious what else, exactly, he (or she) thinks I should do?

Diogenes said...

It. Not he. Not she.

NC, it's a classic rightwingnut: great at slinging mud, but kinda devoid of solutions to problems.

Nameless Cynic said...

But that's the thing. There really isn't a problem here, as such. This particular Pat just wants to (as you say) sling mud. And it's kind of a sad attempt, too.

Diogenes said...

You horrible turtle thief, you! Typical liberal! You should PAY for your turtles, man, instead of plucking them off your pool cover!

Unknown said...

So how long until you name it? If it has red eyes, are you going to name is Raphael? Or something less obvious?

If the owner is never found, will you be keeping it?

Nameless Cynic said...

Christopher went with Speedy, the red eyes don't indicate he's a TMNT, it indicates that he's the spawn of the devil-beast.

And yes, if the owner is never found, we're keeping it. We took it in because it isn't native to this area and probably couldn't survive. (Plus, we had the terrarium from the ex-lizard anyway. So it's only costing us vegetable scraps, and the odd 60 cents a week or so for crickets.)

Diogenes said...

Instead of crickets, would it eat Riot Strips, after you're done shredding him/her?

Nameless Cynic said...

Riot strips?

Diogenes said...

Yeah, the shreds of Pat

Steven K said...

Well, Steven, to be honest, it probably did. A little research has told me it's an eastern box turtle (and male - freaky blood-colored eyes), not native to Albuquerque.

Okay, point well taken. And good on you for trying to locate the original owners.

Peace out, dude.

Steven

Anonymous said...

Poor crickets...

I vote for the name Shelly... Or Sheldon, if it's gender needs to be honored. Diogenes would be more appropriate for a snapping turtle. But then again, his bark has always been worse than his bite.

Nameless Cynic said...

Well, my son (who will be the prime caretaker, after all) is leaning toward "Speedy."

Benefits of a classical education, I guess...

Unknown said...

Recommend Bowser, the turtle-ish villain from Super Mario Bros.

Anonymous said...

I second Bowser!
Cynic, it amazes me that even you finding a turtle is grounds for some bashing by this "Pat" person. Male or female, there have got to be some anger management issues there!
Yet Another Anon

Anonymous said...

Riot Strips? Why do you want to see me strip? One of you is concerned with my underwear and likes to use the term "dick"...one of you wants me to strip...and the host of the blog likes fantasizing about men's *ahem* "butt plugs". Sick, just plain sick.

Patricia Riot.

Oh, and doesn't the real Pat Riot call him "Aimless", not "Cynic"?