I Got A Snake Man!

So GuyRoommate and I get home from our soccer game and GirlRoommate rushes downstairs to meet us, telling us to head down to the basement, she has something to show us. Yep, a snake caught in the netting for her plants. At first we didn't realize how badly he was stuck. I thought he was just rolled up in the netting, but no, he had slithered through the actual holes in the net, trapping himself.

First GuyRoommate, before realizing how badly trapped the snake was, just tried to shake the netting to free him. Then after realizing he was trapped, GuyRoommate requested scissors. He made a few snips in the netting before wondering, what type of snake is this? Is he poisonous? I came inside and started to Google snakes. Then I decided to call one of my soccer teammates. Teammate is somewhat of a Renaissance man - he knows a bit about everything, including gardening and the like. He didn't answer, but his wife did. She's a country girl, so I explained our predicament. After chatting and web searching, we all agreed it was a rat snake. Not poisonous, but if he does bite you may feel a bit sick.

In the beginning, GuyRoommate did most of the work. He snipped away at the netting while GirlRoommate jumped and shrieked while I chatted on the phone. I don't know what possessed me, as I was terrified, but I decided I needed to help.

It's hard to tell, but in the bottom picture that's my bare hand using kitchen shears to cut away the net. At one point GuyRoommate asked why I was leaning over his leg to cut, and he laughed realizing it was my way of keeping something - anything - between me and that snake.

I was so worried I'd cut the snake. It was hard to slide the blade of the shears between the skin of the snake and the tight netting wrapped around his body. We did eventually free him of the vast majority of the netting. As best as I could tell, there was only one loop left on him when he slithered away.

For as scared as I was, I felt bad for the snake. He was trapped, and he would surely die if we didn't help him. As soon as I was finished, I turned to go back in the house, and I could feel tears welling in my eyes. I was so stressed, so scared, so nervous, and it was all finally over. I think I managed to safely remove the net without cutting the snake. As I was also happy that the few times I did jump, I didn't stab anyone (aka GuyRoommate) in the face with scissors.

** Oh how funny! Right before I hit publish on this, my cousin sent a picture of a snake that's been hanging out at his place. That guy even climbs brick walls! They named him Pete. I was gonna name our snake Pete!

***Oh, and another thing. We trimmed up the netting and swept up the mess we made, hoping that no other critters will become trapped. As I was taking out the trash, a roach ran past me. Really!? Haven't I been through enough?!

Feeling Used

I’m sure you know someone that’s a jerk. And you’ve come to accept it – that guy is a jerk. I have a friend like that…a very, very close friend. Best Guy Friend actually. He’s quite often a douche, but as I’ve gotten to know him, I know there’s a good guy underneath that douchey exterior. A caring, thoughtful person.

BGF and I play on an indoor soccer team together. Yeah, he can be a butt. He yells, a lot. And there are times I agree with what he says. Watch the middle of the field, why was that person left all alone standing in front of the goal one on one with our keeper. Quit fucking around with the ball, just shoot. He just says it in yelling. And some people are tired of it. What frustrates me is I think that he has valid points, maybe just not the best way of saying them. But when I’ve tried to politely say something, I get blown off. So why not yell? At least then you know the person’s listened to you enough to know what you’ve said.

I’ll admit I’m biased. Like I said, while I know he can be a jerk, I know there’s more to him. Anyways….sitting around after the game the other night I found out one of my current teammates, and a close friend of BGF’s, doesn’t want to play with him anymore. We talked about why. I felt defensive and protective of my friend, who wasn’t there to defend and protect himself. But I thought he had a right to know of our conversation, so I told him about it when I got home. As a result, he’s decided not to play after the next season. He said he doesn’t want to be the reason that people leave the team, so he’s going to do it.

I feel like this all stems from what I told him, and I feel like the conversation about BGF took place with the knowing that I’d go back and tell him about it. Don’t use me to do your dirty work because you don’t have the balls to do it yourself. I don’t understand though, yeah, BGF can be an ass, get over it. Just like it’s hot outside, you just deal with it. At least that’s my opinion. And someone who’s seen us play could say, sure, it’s easy for me to say all of this because I’m not the one getting yelled at. You forget, he’s my friend away from the team. So I hear about my screwups on the ride home. I hear about it on the way to our next game, and I hear about it many times in between. But guess what? I don’t give a fuck what he has to say. He dishes out some shit, and I fling it right back, and that’s when I choose to even pay attention.

I know I’m rambling, but I find this whole thing annoying. Got a problem? Either man up and say something or get over it. Sure, I realize there have been things I’ve whined about in the past where you could easily throw my words back at me, but dammit, if you’re not going to do something on your own, don’t use me as your little pawn.