Reptile & Amphibian Forums

to hug your kid and wife and to know that you've physically left the destruction behind you.

I just got in from hurricane Katrina disaster recovery operations with 37 of my Seabees and all I can say is WOW. You can't even begin to picture the destruction that took place in the coastal areas. I will upload some pictures from the carnage soon but just wanted to say "hello" for now.

I did manage to get some killer shots of a big ole alligator that lived near our camp. This thing was 12-13' long and on the last day before we left I took some great photos of us feeding it raw chicken. While I was deployed my wife hatched out for me a small clutch of albino applegate gophers and a killer clutch of all yellow thayeri. I fed them tonight and got half of the clutch of ten to eat...of course all of the gophers ate right away.

Look forward to posting with you guys soon,
Russ Bates

Looking forward to seeing the pics. I haev a soft spot for the yellow ones.

and the psycho is back runnin the place. LOL

Welcome back buddy and thanks for serving our country. Freedom isn't free and you guys serving in the military have this old Vets heart felt gratitude. Thanks for all you do and give the wife a squeeze for us.

-----
Vichris

Vichris Variables

so good to be back too. Man did my snakes miss me I fed them for the first time since I left and they were happy to get some food. To slow things down in my snake room I closed the blinds and turned off all heat so they stayed around 77 for most of the 35 days. They seem no worse for the wear but I did have some dirty cages to clean upon my return.

Cool pic of you and your toys/hobbies.

Take care,
Russ

Welcome home Russ, I know how good it must have felt to walk back through your door there and I know how happy your family is to have you home with them again. I know not many of us can even begin to understand the level of destruction there unless we know someone from the area or have been there like you have. Great to know you are home to your family and safe.

I work with a fellow from the Bayou's outside of New Orleans, seeing the look on this man's face as he described the carnage there was all I needed to understand exactly what happened. His entire family was still living there when the storm hit, most all of them escaped with their lives, but absolutely nothing more. This co-workers father was, foolishly, the only member of the family to stay behind and ride that thing out. This durable and stubborn old Cajun was one who actually stayed to watchdog their home. He jumped in his boat when his home was gone, weathered the rest of the storm under a flooded overpass after making his way up to the city, and rescued as many from rooftops as he could until his boat sank. He was himself then rescued by the Coast Guard from another rooftop, proceded to walk and hitch-hike north of the city until he could catch a ride to Dallas where they had sent all of the family members. What we hear about the death and destruction is absolutely horrible and tragic, but some of the stroies of survival are nothing less than amazing.

it sounds like your friend gave you a good description. All I know is the next time they say "hurricane" my wife and kids are out of here.

Russ

sorry no thayeri picks yet but I'm working on them. This gator was small at about 6'...not the monster I told you about. I've got picks of him on my work laptop and will post after I return to work.

Russ