What a long drive back from Columbus. Had a great time, but it took a full day to recover from the solo travel. 11 hours behind the wheel. Not far outside Starkville (what a name) I saw a large Eastern Box Turtle in the service lane of Hwy 82, clearly headed across the road. I managed a safe stop about 150 yards later and proceeded to back up the service lane. Don’t try this. I had a clear day, a flat straight road, and lots of visibility, but what follows probably wasn’t safe at all.

As I got closer to the turtle, he crossed into the right lane of traffic, and I could see two vehicles approaching in that lane. I backed a bit into the right lane, causing the first vehicle to change lanes around me (and, I’m sure, to declare me completely insane) then returned to the service lane. I had to repeat the procedure for the second vehicle, as clearly neither had seen the turtle. As big as he was, they might have blown a tire hitting him, possibly resulting in an accident. By now I was back in the service lane and beside the turtle, and with no more oncoming traffic I was able to retrieve him and give him a good talking to.

As he gaped his mouth at me in a threatening posture, I yelled at him to be VERY afraid of the road. I then proceeded to march him down the embankment, carrying him like a briefcase on his side (he’d generally be better off afraid of humans too) and spotted a big area of runoff water below. Knowing that it wouldn’t matter which side he landed on in water of that depth, I hurled him skyward and he landed with a big splash. I returned to the van, reasonably sure that the experience would leave him disinclined to climb up to the road again.

The 2 foot American Alligator I borrowed for the festival (for which I had to carry the appropriate permit) didn’t have a name, so the Outdoor Learning Center let me name him Columbus. He is, after all, Alligator mississippiensis. Gator done!

I really want to say another big thank you to the great folks at CableOne for their kindness and hospitality. By the way, I finally figured out why no one at the festival had boiled peanuts again this year. They’re out of season. In late summer the green ones freshly harvested are boiled in salt water until soft and yummy. Apparently the ones I was introduced to that first year had been frozen after cooking for later sale. This summer I’m going to boil up a batch myself.

I’m craving boiled peanuts. Must be Market Street Festival time!

Every April my mind drifts to Mississippi, and to a town that seems to have adopted me. My first visit was for Discovery Networks, representing Animal Planet for CableOne. They were just launching new Discovery product, and my show made a great reason to sign up for cable.

The response was so big that CableOne has invited me back year after year, and this one’s going to be bigger than ever. We’ve got a bigger tent so everyone can actually fit inside, and the festival itself just keeps getting more acclaim as one of the very best local festivals in the entire South.

This year’s dates are May 2-3. A band will play Friday night and Saturday is the big street festival, followed by another great band jamming into the evening. I’ll be doing three shows outside CableOne’s location on May 3.

Columbus is a great college town located on the Tombigbee river, a lush landscape filled with heritage and history. The festival boasts some of the best food from the area, plus booths with all kinds of interesting things that I only seem to see at this particular event. The entertainment is always excellent, and I’m very pleased to play my part in that.

The folks at CableOne have become like family to me, and it’s great to be invited back to the big party. They pulled off a genuine miracle a couple of years ago after a tornado hit the town, getting cable and high speed internet back online in a huge undertaking. This bunch is really top notch.

My entire fascination with snakes began in Mississippi, in my great-grandmother’s back yard in Jackson.  That little Speckled King snake really created a cascade effect.

So if you’re in the Columbus area be sure to catch the show, but if you’re in Memphis, or Tupelo, or maybe Jackson or Birmingham - why not load up the family and make the trip? I guarantee - you’ll love it.

I’ve just been notified that I’ll be returning to Mobile, AL for The Gulf Coast Exploreum. I’m excited about this on three fronts. First, Mobile is very cool. Coastal frontage, estuaries, beaches, historic neighborhoods, great food and new friends I’ve made.

Speaking of the food, a buddy in Houston told me I had to try the West Indies Salad at a restaurant there - and it was excellent. Turns out it’s the ultimate local dish, created in Mobile in 1947 by Bill Bailey (won’t you come home) but the chef wouldn’t divulge a thing that was in it. Several tries later, and I’ve nailed it. Lump crab, diced onion, marinaded 3 days in a vinaigrette - you get the idea. Served on crackers - yum. But I digress…

Second, last year was my first appearance at this extremely cool science museum - and we packed the house. I’m delighted to be invited back the very next season. Maybe it’ll become an annual event!

Third, it’ll be the triumphant return of Capone. I adopted him on my way out of Mobile last year, so while his adorable mug has been on TV from Baton Rouge to Houston to Tyler since then, Mobile audiences have yet to meet him.

While I was there, a wonderful lady named Pam called the museum and asked for the snake man. I called her back and learned that her husband had died in a tragic accident a few weeks earlier. Capone had been his baby. When she asked if I would consider adopting him, I told her I would be honored. And it has been amazing having him in the family.

He’s full of personality and the cameras love him. Even people who really hate snakes always seem to adore Capone. Many a place he has visited has fervently requested that I leave him behind. He is also the only reptile I have ever seen who can do an actual trick. Performing it is a delicate balance between man and beast, but believe me - it’s mostly him.

Anyway, I’ll be in Mobile from July 18-20, so if you’re anywhere close (Gulf Shores, Pensacola, Biloxi, Pascagoula) be sure you don’t miss the show!

Check out Exploreum’s Blog entry about it:

http://exploreum.blogspot.com

You may have found my site from somewhere too far for me to travel for a single show (I travel pretty much anywhere I can drive to for multiple shows at big venues) but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a party unforgettable for your loved one using the snake theme. What follows are several time-tested ideas that I have seen work beautifully at lots of parties where my show was the entertainment.

As for that part, no one is doing a show quite like mine but there are quite a few snake (or at least reptile) shows available around the country. Snake Encounters incorporates comedy, magic and a dozen snakes from around the world to create an experience that is very educational, but the audience just has too much fun to notice. The guest of honor becomes the star of the show at a couple of different points, and there is a touch-and-hold, photo-op time at the end with the snakes that I know are time-tested patient enough for the most excited kid - or the most petrified grownup. Not all of the shows out there are able to incorporate this aspect, due to either the nature of the animals they are using or how litigious their area of the country is likely to be. I know of a counterpart of mine in a part of Maryland where nearly every adult seems to be a lawyer, a politician - or both. She said it gave her chills to even think of handing a snake to a child to hold by themselves. In my experience, it’s a matter of knowing your animals, keeping the energy level calm in the room by laying down appropriate ground rules beforehand, watching like a hawk for anyone about to freak and handing only part of the snake to anyone who appears nervous, reticent or over exuberant. Staying in control of the situation is a must, and that is where experience makes the biggest difference.

One of the most popular snake party ideas I recommend, and I’ve seen hundreds of versions of it over the years, is the snake cake. There are a few pics of this idea in my gallery under “Party Ideas.” Basically it’s just a matter of making more than one cake (which gives you the option of making more than one flavor for your guests to choose from) in circular “bundt” style pans. Cut the resulting circles in halves or thirds, turn them opposite each other, and viola! Snake shape!

Use creative frosting ideas to resemble an existing snake, or go for a fanciful “cartoon” design instead. For a realistic snake, consider making a rounded “head” mold out of heavy aluminum foil, and a tapering “tail” mold for the other end. Just make sure the end of each mold matches the size and shape of the cake where the two meet. For the “cartoon” version, it’s actually very cute to have the head and the tail be the sharp cutoff that results when you cut the cakes, so you don’t have to make the extra molds. A gummy worm split at one end makes a great tongue.

If you can find a circle mold that doesn’t have the “humps” that bundt pans do, so much the better.  Snakes dont’ come in segmented shapes.  If I find a good example I’ll post a link to buy it with and/or tell you what stores carry it on my party page. Some types of ring molds will work, as will (I’m told) a large round pan with a much smaller one in the middle of it (the space between creating the ring) but I’ve never tried this  idea myself.

Of course, you’ll probably want to decorate around your theme, and my party page will soon include links to purchase snake pattern paper, safari and jungle theme party goods (the closest thing currently available,) Taiwanese Vinyl snakes, wooden snakes (also available as craft kits - fun!) and great gifts with a snake theme - like remote controlled plastic snakes and Egyptian snake armbands - for your convenience. I’ve already done the searching for you, so shop to your heart’s content. By the way, it appears that there is currently no one doing snake themed paper party goods (except for the snake pattern decorating paper) that I have been able to find. If I can convince one of the manufacturers to give it a try, they will be available from my party page as well. Generally, most hosts opt for safari or jungle theme items, which it seems to me would also mean that crude natural wooden plates, cups and utensils would make a cute variation on this idea.

Also on my “party ideas” pages of the gallery are two additional things to consider. The first is to do craft projects, either done by you beforehand or by your guests during the party if you have enough time budgeted for it, that make snakes out of common things. A favorite that you’ll find in one pic is white clay that hardens either in the over or better yet the air, paintable in colors and patters of real snakes (the usual theme is coral snakes vs coral snake mimics - different color sequences of red, yellow and black - be sure to use water based paints that wash out and/or provide old shirts to paint in if your guests are doing it.) Another you may have seen is paper plates, cut in a spiral and hung by the “head” end with string or clear fishing line, decorated with washable markers. Add a paper clip to the tail to resemble a rattle and help the finished snake hang more realistically.

My favorite had to be old neckties inserted with coat hanger or craft wire to stand up like hooding cobras, with little craft work eyes glued in place and red felt forked tongues - adorable.

And finally, how about a snake pinata? With a little imagination, you could decorate an existing “worm” or “2″ pinata design to look more like a snake, but the pic on my site is of a very inventive mom’s creation. She used a big zig-zag balloon, which she and her kids covered with paper mache and then made resealable hole in for popping the balloon and filling the resulting cavity with candy. On my party page will be a link to a pinata maker who does customizable disk-shaped pinatas that could be done with an image of a coiled snake, but I’m going to request the actual snake shape and if they agree, you can bet you’ll be able to find it here.

Even if you can’t book me as your entertainment, feel free to drop me an email to Daryl@SnakeEncounters.com if you have any questions or want to suggest other ideas. If you book someone from your area who does a quality show that you can honestly recommend, let me know about it and I’ll offer them a reciprocal link.

Herpy New Year - May Your 2008 be Truly Great!

My dear friend and mentor Jim Dunlap, Curator of The Holifield Outdoor Learning Center in Plano, has lost an animal that I knew very well. She was an 18 foot Burmese Python named Katy. For three decades, she brought wonder into the lives of countless kids who were lucky enough to be in a school district that visited the center, or that Plano ISD sent Jim and company out to visit. She was a big old sweetheart, but she was getting weaker and hadn’t eaten without help in quite a while. It’s a very sad loss that made the news locally, as so many people remembered her across the area. My deepest sympathies go out to Jim and his excellent crew. Countless animals literally owe their lives to them.

Thursday November 29th through Saturday December 1st were devoted to Discovery Science Place in Tyler. I was remarkably unfamiliar with the town, having lived so close to it most of my life, but you do have to get well off of I-20 to get there, so in countless trips past it going East, I apparently never saw much more than the exit sign.  Downtown was mostly built quite a while ago, and it is one of those buildings that Discovery Science Place calls home.

As science museums I’ve performed for go, this one is small and like most of them, on a tight budget - but the staff are first rate and the enthusiasm we generated in Tyler was exceptional. Every show was sold out. Kudos to Marketing Director Val Williamson, who had only been there a month at the time, but did a wonderful job. The audiences were delightfully responsive and I’ve already been told to plan on next year. It may even become an annual event like the one in Dallas.

I think that science and nature museums are some of our cities’ most worthy causes. The mind is like a muscle, and it needs exercise and creative play. If you aren’t a member of your local museum, consider becoming one. You get discounts and other perks, but you are also directly contributing to science and nature education in your own community. So much can be learned that is difficult or impossible to get in schools, where the focus has become preparing students to do well on state tests.

I also ran into an old friend from high school, whom I had not seen since the early eighties. Joe Terrell is now a popular news anchor for KLTV, the dominant affiliate in town. It was great to see that he was doing well, and has a delightful family to boot. Special kudos to the station for providing excellent coverage of the event, including a segment with morning anchor Molly Reuter and meteorologist Grant Dade that was even better than usual. Their cameraman was calling it the best segment ever. A link to their site’s video clip of it will be on the experience page of my site. Worth a look.

My hotel had cable, so there was no NFL Network on which to see the Cowboys-Packers game Thursday night (how ’bout them Cowboys!) but across the street was a sports bar called Daniel Boone’s, actually owned and operated by a guy named Daniel Boone. Nice meal and a great game. Turns out NFL Network streamed it (which they did not announce in advance) so I could have seen it on the laptop, but streaming video can’t yet do justice to fast-action sports.

Overall, my experience in Tyler was hectic but wonderful. I’m looking forward to my return, and to doing whatever I can to help this small but vibrant science museum become the hugely popular family destination it richly deserves to be.

Such is the life of The Snakeman in December that it’s hard not to dread it a bit in late November. Not only does no one to speak of have a snake problem for me to fix, but for some silly reason no one seems to want a snake show for their holiday party. Hmmm. Maybe some little red hats? Of course, there have been exceptions - mostly corporate events. I did the company holiday party for Dallas PBI affiliate KERA/KDTN and another for The Mustang Group, a very cool tech firm in Allen. Both were a big hit, in fact the exec who booked me for the latter told me he was the biggest hero in the office the next day. He hadn’t even told most of them what the entertainment was going to be in advance.

I do a good Santa voice, maybe if I did the show in red suit and beard… SSSSssanta! Hmmm. Rudolph, you dummy! I said the Schmidt house! Ho ho ho…

Last year I was booked for Dickens On the Strand, the annual festival in Galveston. The theme was the first World’s Fair, circa 1853, so I was a period performer doing a snake show from that era. Top hat, waistcoat, period specific English accent - jolly good, what? Too bad that’s not their theme every year.

Not that I hate the holidays, it’s great to see family all in one place again and random acts of kindness seem to work better this time of year, but it can be a tough month, December.

Here’s wishing everyone safe and happy holidays. Turkey is a big part of my life lately, as it’s turning to summer in Argentina right now and Capone is on the prowl for his little balls of it. It’s really like watching a dinosaur eat.

So at the holiday table, when shove comes to push, this bird in your hand… is worth two of George Bush.

Just a little seasonal humor.

Julie and I both have birthdays in early November, and we celebrated at the French Room. Chef Jason Weaver really outdid himself this time. I’ve had the pleasure over the years to dine there perhaps a dozen times in as many years (the last five with Julie) and we both agreed that this was the best ever. Just unbelievable. If you ever want to completely treat yourself, you’ve got to try it. We each picked an appetizer and from there I let Chef surprise us, and Sommelier Gregory Cheval paired a wine with each exquisite thing we were served. He’s really amazing, not only knowing what the best wine is but who made it and what wonderful people they are and where they live and - you get the idea. This place is so opulent it could easily be stuffy but the opposite is true. Impeccable, but utterly accessible. Four thumbs up.

The special “Scary Snakes and Magic Show” that Science Spectrum requested was quite successful. With the exception of the other character voices I do anyway, the show was narrated in a vampire accent with overtones of a Karloff monster. Despite a lack of rehearsal time in the big room (kudos to Elton for lighting and sound help) the idea was a big hit and the event was well attended, significantly more so than last year they tell me. Lubbock is fortunate to have a facility of that caliber. Great folks. I’m just full of ideas for the next time I get to perform the new Halloween version of the show.

The Houston Museum of Natural Science booked me for three shows, part of their annual Halloween celebration, complete with scary labs, eerie edibles, live creepy crawlies and all around great fun. The performances were warmly received and the staff were great.

It was my first visit to this museum, and let me tell you that they are a class act. I haven’t been quite that impressed since a boyhood trip to the Smithsonian. Absolutely amazing. I took in the Lucy’s Legacy exhibit (actual 3.2 million year-old bones, plus Ethiopian artifacts from all through its history - very cool) and the American Museum of Natural History in New York’s traveling “Lizards and Snakes Alive” exhibit, also very well done. Great animals, killer graphics. Well done. I also got to see the incredible entomology exhibit, which includes a four story waterfall surrounded by pathways through exotic plants and the most unbelievable collection of butterflies I’ve ever seen - fluttering all around me. I’m telling you folks, this place is a must-see.

Meanwhile, I’m off tomorrow for three shows on Halloween for the wonderful college town of Lubbock, Texas at Science Spectrum - another top notch facility. I’ve added some spooky music (and Capone - they haven’t met him yet) and will lapse at times into some of my Boris Karloff character voices.

Have a safe and happy Halloween everyone!