Hello, internet friends! I've been mostly absent from the forums as of late. As some of you know, I'm an environmental scientist, and I work primarily on the assessment, containment, and remediation of various chemical contamination events. The nature of my work necessitates that I spend a lot of time out of town...sometimes with no or limited access to the internet. Additionally, my better half and I have been in a painfully complicated process of buying a new house (it's ending up requiring us to move twice - the first time is this weekend). Throw these situations together and add a bunch of recently hatched North American triangulum neonates, and it's probably easy to see why I haven't been able to participate much. Photos will probably be scant from me for a while, too.



On a related note, I did have the opportunity to visit my good buddy Jeff Hardwick about a week ago. I’d like to extend a HUGE “thank-you” to him and his wife Inge! A person couldn’t ask for more gracious and entertaining hosts… not to mention the chance to see such an amazing collection of top-notch and healthy animals. Speaking of the animals…I managed to talk Jeff out of an amazing pair of his hold-back Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, Mexico locality L. t. oligozona! I’ll do a whole post on the animals and their natural history in the future, but let it be said that I’m truly shocked that nobody had offered him a small ransom for them prior to me. While I knew he was producing a limited number of them, I’d never really taken a hard look at them until my visit. I was blown away. Seeing photos of the locality Latin American stuff that a few folks have on the forums is one thing, but seeing them in person is an all-together different experience! Here’s a little recommendation: if you see some of the lesser seen forms offered for sale and can afford to pick up a pair or two without filing for bankruptcy, DO IT. You won’t be disappointed.



Before parting, I'd like to address a few of the posts and forum members:



Hubbs,

I got your messages. I'll call as soon as I get the chance. Nice critters – I’m looking forward to hearing about your fall excursion. You’re welcome, and I’ll be getting them soon, too.



Doug L.,

Nice critters, buddy! Glad to see you keepin’ it real with all of those happy, healthy North American beauties.



Chris N.,

It’s always a pleasure to read your posts or chat with you on the phone. I find it refreshing to hear/read your passion and enthusiasm for your animals. Plus… you’ve got some kick-ass animals.



Dave,

The new gaigeae I got from you are awesome! Thanks, amigo! I feel privileged to work with such a fine pair from your outstanding group. You’re putting together quite the collection, and I’ll give you a call as soon as I can to hear more about it!



Doug M.,

I recently ran across some old photos of your stock. We need to chat about some of them, dude!



Jeff S.,

That does look like a crack pipe. LOL I must say, though, that IS a big nominate triangulum. You’ll get no argument from me on that.



Dell,

Holy hell, man! Nice string of posts! Had to get your internet time in before helping me move this weekend, huh?! I’ll comment on them one at a time.

Re: the gaigeae post –

I absolutely love those “little” whoppers from the new bloodline. Damn, that was a good pick-up! I’m a little jealous I didn’t move quicker and beat you to the punch on those!

Re: the hondo post –

I couldn’t let you get rid of that thing, man! No way! Even though you wanted to give him to me… He’s a special animal, and I knew you’d regret letting him out of your collection. Kinda funny that I talked some sense into YOU, isn’t it?! LOL

Re: the multistrata post –

That was simply an amazing post with a glorious array of Cherry and Thomas Co., NE animals. I wondered if you were going to put up something like this after our conversation the other night. I agree fully with your comments and ideas. Each and every animal has an intrinsic beauty, and it’s the variability within and between localities that makes them just a pleasure to work with. As you so eloquently showed us, the news-printing and dark flecking in the sides often does little to detract from the overall aesthetics of a given animal, and can sometimes help to enhance it! I can certainly think of a few animals in my collection and yours where this last point is very obviously the case!



-Cole

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