NANFA-- bringin critters home

Bob Bock (bockhouse_at_earthlink.net)
Mon, 19 Feb 2001 09:37:32 -0500

Having grown up in the city, I tended to bring different things home. My
avian adventures were limited to baby sparrows, which fell out of nests.
(Never could get those to survive.)

One day, though, my future step brother and I were wandering around the city
park. We came upon a big old dead rat floating in the park fountain. It
was about a foot long, and marvelously gruesome to our 10 and 11 year old
eyes, having been covered with sores and just beginning to rot. We fished
it out with a forked stick, then paraded it back to my step brother's
apartment. We found an old apothecary jar, dumped the rat in, and started
filling it with rubbing alcohol. Our plan was to bring it to school for
science class. But my stepmother came in and threw us and the rat out and
made us take showers when we came back in.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Leo Arieux" <HOLLIS1506_at_webtv.net>
To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
Sent: Sunday, February 18, 2001 4:22 PM
Subject: Re: NANFA-- plastic storage tubs as aquariums?

>
> Fish were probably the least offensive hobby to my mother's
> sensibilities. I caught kept and sold snakes, in fact when I was a
> teenager I financed many a date on snake sales. I am quite sure my dates
> would have died if they knew there had been live snakes in my auto.
>
> I also raised pigeons...had a flock and
> a loft for them to roost. I had fantails and even some poutier pigeons,
> amazing birds. I came from a hunting family so many opportunities arose
> for exotic pets.
> I kept a screech owl ( it had a broken wing which I set with the help of
> my grandfather ) I fed it sparrows and white mice ( raised white mice
> and rats to feed
> my snakes ) oh boy did my mother like them.
>
> Then there were the bantum chickens....
> the rooster didn't like my mother so he would attack her ankles when she
> was hanging up the wash in the back yard.
> She corrected his attitude one day ,,,,she drop kicked him about 15
> feet, from then on he gave her a wide berth <BG>.
>
> Oh yes my father, grandfather and I went hunting a couple of weeks after
> one of the many hurricanes that frequented our area and in a tree which
> had been blown down was a large nest, in the nest was one surviving baby
> flying squirrel. Cute little beggar, fed him with a kids toy baby bottle
> with formula from the pet shop. He grew up quite nicely. I taught him to
> climb up the curtains in the house to the valance then jump to my
> shoulder ( bad move ). One day he jumped on my mothers shoulder and
> hair! oy vey such a commotion you would not believe. I was given an
> ultimatum either the squirrel goes or we both go.....so adios mr.
> squirrel.
>
> How about alligators had one of those and several kinds of turtles, four
> hunting dogs
> ( setters ) , my grand father had a mule which he used to pull a wagon
> that he used to drop off herbs and various vegetables to retailers in
> the old French Market. All the kids in the neighborhood
> would line up to see who would go with us. Between the various pets and
> that I was a very popular kid <VBG>.
>
> Oh by the way all of this took place in New Orleans in the middle 40's
> and 50's.
> The city was less sophisticated in those
> days. Fortunately, this is what fathers,grandfathers and kids did in
> those days for entertainment, unlike now ! Too
> bad look at all the opportunities parents and children miss by now doing
> outdoor things together.....beats the hell out of
> TV and the bonding is great.
>
> Leo
>
> In sunny New Orleans where a parade has just passed two blocks away and
> we're awaiing another this evening.
> Where you can hear the familar words ,
> "Throw me something mister" ringing out.
>
> ************************************
> Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler'
>
>
>
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>

/----------------------------------------------------------------------------- /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes / Association" / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association / nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word / subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to / nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to / nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead. / For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org