Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I havent been on in a while, but I would have posted this earlier. On November 9, me and my dad got tickets to see Jeff COrwin at the NAtional Aquarium in Baltimore. We got there just in time at 7:30. Before he came on stage, a clip was shown of various episodes. My favorite was him with some baby elephants and one starts reaching into his pants, and Jeff says. "I said I'd give you PEANUTS!" Get it, LOL! Then Jeff walks in and everyone cheers. He told us the story, which you probably heard, about the garter snake as a child. He discussed some close encounters, mostly with elephants. Toward the end, he told a story which bummed me out: He went to Hawaii to film some type of endangered honeycreeper(bird), there was so much fuss about it, Jeff wondered, What's so cool about it? The crew arrived at the aviary where it was kept. The bird was kept in a concrete aviary with an electric fence! This bird must be special, he thought. They were allowed to film the bird, and when Jeff looked, it was a small, brown bird, nothing special! He was like, huh? Why is this one so protected, he asked. The keeper replied: It's the very last one. This impacted Jeff a lot, as well as me. Later, Jeff received an email from the birds keeper. He said: The honeycreeper is no longer endangered! Jeff replied, thats great! What happened? The reply was: its extinct. WOW. The concept of extinction just dawned on me. WOW.WOW.WOW. That really motivates you. And bums you out.

Anyway, he then walked around the auditorium answering questions. Someone of course asked how Steve Irwin's (RIP, mate) impacted him both personally and professionally. I was surprised to hear it didnt impact him professionally. Although he was hurt to hear the news. Some kids asked,"do you have pets? whats the most poisonous(correct term: venomous)snake?". Jeff has two cats. You all know the most venomous snake of course! He got withiin 3 feet of me and didnt answer my question(Can we see your tatoo?)and my dad took some pics. He then left and everyone cheered again. It was a great experience and cheered me up a bit after poor old Steve-O. I'll be glad to answer any questions you have about it and will posts pics later. Thanks for reading!

Ryan

I was ecstatic to see him in person and none of my friends want to talk about it! Theyre not herp people :/ . Id like to hear about any of your expieriences with herp celebrities. Whether Jeff, Mark O' Shea, or ayone else. Im open to any questions about it and will post pics here and in the photo gallery later.
If youd like I could talk about the whole thing even deeper. Every little detail. I desperatley want to talk about it to someone, so pleeeeease reply! Thanks for reading!

Ryan

I've met famous people before and know what its like to want to talk about it but nobody wants to hear. Try tellin' a group of hard rockers about the time country music singer John Anderson (Just A Swingin') introduced you to George Jones, back stage, during one of their concerts.

I don't know much about Corwin, so fill me in a bit. What kind of tattoo does he have, and where? Is he really knowledgeable about animals or is he just an actor reading scripts? Did he seem cocky or down to earth?

Have a good one!
Mike
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It is said that 1 out of every 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Think of your 3 closest friends, if they're normal, then it's you.

Wow! Sounds awesome! My daughter and I are big Corwin fans. I'd've asked him how he manages to wear shorts through all those exotic bush locales w/out being eaten alive! I saw him and Steve-O (RIP) doin' it, so I decided to go field herping in shorts. Hey works for the guys on TV, right? BIG mistake. I swear I got scratched and bit by every prickly thorn, chigger, bug or itchy living thing that was out there, --- and that's only in the hills behind Chatsworth.

reako45

Chatsworth? GA?
Why, that's just a skip and a holler away from here, Murphy, NC. My wife and I used to lead groups on a hike & swim to Jack's River Falls many years ago.

Howdy, neighbor!

Take care!
Mike
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It is said that 1 out of every 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Think of your 3 closest friends, if they're normal, then it's you.

Sorry, HappyHillBilly, --- it's Chatsworth, CA.

reako45

Hmmmm,........ that's a bit more than a skip and a holler then, 'eh? LOL!

Oh, well,.... sorry to have bothered ya.

Take care........ "distant" neighbor!
Mike
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It is said that 1 out of every 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Think of your 3 closest friends, if they're normal, then it's you.

Hey Ryan, thats so awesome you got to see Jeff in person! I wish I could just tag along on one of his show's expeditions! Hahaha I bet there's never a dull moment... That is really sad about that species of bird becoming extinct in Hawaii. It really does get the reality and necessity of conservation across, albeit a sad ending. The steps for the future of conservation are here now. Well cheers, Lance

Thanks guys so much for replying! All my friends think Im wierd if I try to talk about. Even though I am weird, just not because of this LOL. First and foremost, Ill answer HappyBilly's questions first.

Jeff has a tatoo of a western(?) coral snake on his upper arm in an S position. I first saw it on the Brazil episode(when he ate all the bananas) during the shower scene. And he is in fact a herper guy/biologist/naturalist/herpetologist. I forgot what college he went to though. he told us the infamous garter snake story when he was a kid. He discussed some close encounters which even rival Steve(RIP) and Mark O' Sheas. He seemed very intelligent, funny and down to earth, like you asked. When he walked around the auditorium asking questiions, he got about 3 feet away from me and didnt notice his greatest fan! Oh well. Maybe Ill see Mark O' Shea at the next MARS expo in Baltimore. Ill get pics if I do. Thats next September though. If i met either of these guys, Id probably nerd out and ask a dumb question and theyd walk away. LOL. I would have met Jeff personally backstage if I had a VIP ticket, but they were sold out 2 months in advance . Hes an all-around amazing dude.

Anyway, Ill post pics of him very soon. Also, Ill visit the Steve Irwin Memorial Garden at the Discovery channel HQ in Silver Springs, MAryland. It about half an hour away from my house. I will donate $ money to his memorial fund. Ill always miss my childhood hero *Sniff*. I know Ill cry my heart out when I go. Alright it;s late now and I have to go to bed. Thanks again everybody! I'll post pics very soon!

Ryan

Well, that's cool!

I'm glad to hear that he's not a fraud and is down-to-earth.

Keep on trying to get close to those you admire and one of these it may well pay off. As hard as it sometimes is, try to contain yourself so you don't ward them off. Some "stars" (so to speak) like screamers and some prefer the calm, but enthusiastic, fans.

Take care!
Mike
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It is said that 1 out of every 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Think of your 3 closest friends, if they're normal, then it's you.

As soon as I can get my camera hooked up Ill put the pics on!! I have close-ups and pics of him on stage. Ill put pics of my beardie, 2 leos, and cresty too but in the correct forums. Cresty are adorable arent they? Even Chuck Norris would say "Awww!" Well not really LOL. Hed probably roundhouse kick it in the face. Anyway pics coming within about an hour. Cheers!

Ryan

Pics! Pics! I wanna see your pics!

LOL! What did ya do, sport, post the pics to the wrong forum?

Just checkin' in on ya!

Have a great day!
Mike
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It is said that 1 out of every 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Think of your 3 closest friends, if they're normal, then it's you.

Sorry 4 the wait. I just had my first crew(rowing team) practice. I was exhausted. Completley exhausted. I couldnt get my dad to put the pics on the computer yet. I was gonna do it earlier today but I went to an expo today. Anyone else go to Northern Virginia Reptile Expo today? I will also put pics of my leps, cresty, and beardie. If I can get my dad to get the camera hooked up Ill get the pics on. Im glad to know someones waiting on me! Check back in about an hour.

Ryan