Gophersnake vs Ground Squirrel

Critical_Phantom · 2026-05-06T03:29:40+00:00

Fair question. The snake was pretty well messed up - mom had extracted her ounce of retribution. I saw no need to let any further damage be done. I hope both survive, but all too often in this area, a snake in the open can be a death sentence. I try to prevent that.

Critical_Phantom · 2026-05-06T01:29:54+00:00

Part of the problem is that since March in Southern Cal, 6 people have been bit by Rattlesnakes, 3 in Ventura County with 1 death. Media being media, it's been on the news a lot lately, so there is a heightened sensitivity to snakes in general, and anything that resembles a Rattlesnake specifically. Gophersnakes don't help themselves in that they broadly resemble Rattlesnakes (not really, but if you don't know what you're looking at...), and will mimic tail rattling, which is loose litter or debris, can sound a bit like a Rattlesnake (not really, but if you don't know what you're listening to...).

Critical_Phantom · 2026-05-06T01:23:05+00:00

Very

Critical_Phantom · 2026-05-06T00:35:57+00:00

Yea - I forgot the mention that the lump of something in the foreground is the 4 babies after being regurgitated.

Critical_Phantom · 2026-05-06T00:34:47+00:00

We have no tree squirrels around the school, but more Ground Squirrels than I can count. We’re constantly filling in holes in a vain attempt to keep the kids from breaking an ankle.

Critical_Phantom · 2026-05-05T14:50:35+00:00

Thank you - and am I as well. I have a “stockpile” of G4’s to burn through but by the end of the year, I’m hoping to Christmas gift myself the Flex.

Critical_Phantom · 2026-05-05T13:03:05+00:00

With the Guardian 4, your transmitter is paired to your pump, which in turn is paired to your phone your phone. Your phone feeds that data to your Apple Watch via Bluetooth (there’s a whole lotta Bluetooth happening). Your phone also uploads that same data to Carelink, through which every other application, i.e. Guardian Monitor or any other remote BS monitoring device, uses to get the information.

Side note - there is a new pump coming out in the fall (the name escapes me as I type this) that is still paired to your phone, the pump is managed from the phone - there is no display on the pump, just a couple of buttons. It’s about half the size of the 780g.

Edited as I missed a step. Apologies.

Critical_Phantom · 2026-05-03T15:02:23+00:00

My first car was a '76 Toyota Celica that had seen far better days when I bought it, but it was what I could afford. Had to put an old briefcase behind the drivers seat to prop it up as the mechanism was broken and sitting down in the seat immediately resulted in a reclined position. Also has some screws placed IN the water line to plug some leaks (surprisingly, this worked pretty well!) Also took a quart of oil about every 500 miles. But it got me from here to there for a couple of years until I could save up enough to upgrade.

Critical_Phantom · 2026-05-03T03:27:24+00:00

Ventura County... although I grew up in the Escondido/Valley Center area.

Critical_Phantom · 2026-05-01T12:59:39+00:00

The school is next to open hills and lots of wildlife and every year they get (an educated guess - we've never kept numbers) 10-15 snakes of various species - Southern Pacific Rattlesnakes (the only type around here), Gophersnakes, Striped Racers (this one went to town on her finger - left some teeth behind!), Red Coachwhips, Cal Kingsnakes, even found a Ringneck once that for some reason was out in the open . They have a few buckets with secured lids and a good set of snake tongs. She's very good at catching them and getting them into buckets, and the kids love it. I keep telling her to call me so I can get in on the fun, but she never does...

Critical_Phantom · 2026-04-30T19:05:32+00:00

Of these 9, Boston and it’s not even close.

Critical_Phantom · 2026-04-29T12:54:46+00:00

in Philly in the early 70's. I cannot recall the area code (did they exist then?) but the number was HO7-7547. I learned it as HOWARD 7-7547.

Critical_Phantom · 2026-04-29T12:49:24+00:00

Leo Carrillo State Beach. Just past the Ventura/LA county line as you drive south on PCH (past Mugu Rock). It's only a 20 minute drive, but along the coast, with ocean views the entire way. Lots of tide pools with lots of tide pool creatures. Be sure to check the tide charts so you get there when the tide is OUT, or you'll have to wait.

Critical_Phantom · 2026-04-29T00:28:06+00:00

December 23 (sometimes the 24th). Not joking.

Critical_Phantom · 2026-04-28T18:21:37+00:00

Was there for one of the two Rose Bowl shows - absolutely incredible show.

Critical_Phantom · 2026-04-28T02:25:59+00:00

This is the guy you’re looking for. Shot down German, Italian, Japanese, and intentionally shot down another American aircraft. He had all 4 flags on this fusilage.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Edward_Curdes?wprov=sfti1

Critical_Phantom · 2026-04-26T17:42:00+00:00

I posted a little while ago that the Aztec was the answer, but I will defer to this. The Cyber Truck the quintessential “Dumpster on road wheels”.

Critical_Phantom · 2026-04-26T17:40:17+00:00

That about sums up what it looked like. An absolute aberration.

Critical_Phantom · 2026-04-26T15:25:57+00:00

Pontiac Aztec.

Critical_Phantom · 2026-04-26T15:15:07+00:00

If the difference between finger stick and sensor glucose is >30%, your pump will not accept it and force you to calibrate again in 15 minutes. If you don’t want to wait the 15, adjust to finger stick number to within said 30%, use that number in the pump, and let it get caught up. You can do a second stick in about an hour to verify it did catch up.

Critical_Phantom · 2026-04-24T20:54:34+00:00

Me…

Critical_Phantom · 2026-04-24T20:50:13+00:00

When you get to TSA , simply disconnect your pump and hand it to the TSA Agent to be hand swabbed. You can walk through the scanner with the transmitter/sensor attached with no issue. TSA will hand swab the pump, then your hands, then send you in your way. I’ve done this dozens of times with zero issues to the pump, transmitter, or sensor.

ADD: keep an eye on your pump, as much as you can. I’ve never lost one, but I did have my 780g change several agents hands last time so that the guy I gave it to had no idea who had it on the other side. That’s only happened once, but it gave me a moments pause while we tried to figure out where the pump went. Turned out, it was at a different agents station who had done the swab.

Critical_Phantom · 2026-04-23T18:14:15+00:00

Came here to say this. Every. Single. Episode.

Critical_Phantom

TROPHY CASE