Throwback Thursday on a Monday

[asphaltcowgrrl]

Okay, so Haldoor's post about the weta got me thinking about these old pictures. Severina2001, these are for you.

One day, the girls and I were out at The District - an open air shopping center of sorts near one of the local casinos and we stumble across this just sunning on the sidewalk:



His owner sees us looking, invites us over so the girls can check him out. His name is Vegas, of course, and if I remember correctly, he's a monitor lizard. Cute, eh?

I can't for the life of me remember what the guy's name was, but Troy knew him and said he was a right prick when they played tennis together. But, he was very kind to the girls, so I'll give him that. Dude picked up Vegas and put him right into Taylor's arms and she did not know what to do at all. It was kind of amusing though, because he gently tapped Vegas under the chin and he lifted his head right up and posed pretty.





Maddie was a litte more into it:



But Maddie was always pretty fearless. I do wonder if this is why she wanted a bearded dragon so badly.



Just for reference, these pics were taken in October 2009, making Taylor 9 and Maddie 6. I'd previously estimated Vegas at 4' long, but maybe he's closer to 3'? Either way, he's one big reptile. Sweet as can be though. Makes me wonder what happened to him and his owner.

Comments

[haldoor.livejournal.com]

He is gorgeous! We really don't have anything like that here, other than pets. They are very careful about what animals they let into NZ due to the native biodiversity and not wanting to change that or destroy any of the natives not found in other places.

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

They're not native to this area either, I don't think. But they seem to be popular as pets which is crazy. I remember you telling me how they restrict what comes into the country, which I think is a wonderful thing, honestly. I wish more countries would do that.

[haldoor.livejournal.com]

It makes total sense, really, but of course for island countries like mine, it's a lot easier, and there's usually more reason, like the fact that so much of what's here isn't found anywhere else. We have so few mammals (other than introduced) that insects and birds filled their niches, so if you introduce any new new mammals, they're a threat to the native animals because they eat the same things or whatever, so it makes total sense. And then there's the agriculture that is a huge part of our economy, so they don't want anything to upset what little balance there is with that, either. Which is why even bringing fruit, vegetables, bark, wood products, animal products in when you fly HAS to be declared (and/or biffed), as so much of it is not allowed. Eat that apple on the plane, peeps, don't bring it in here — an instant $400 fine if you're caught (and you will be; we have sniffer dogs for this at the airport!)

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

Makes perfect sense. It's still great that your government is so dedicated to keeping things like they are. It'd be too easy to let things slip.

Can you imagine two of those dogs meeting up at the dog park? "What do you do for a living?" "Oh, I find drugs and bombs! What do you do?" "Um, er, I find illicit produce packed in tourists' luggage."

I know it's a serious thing though, I'm not making fun. :)

[haldoor.livejournal.com]

It absolutely does!

LOL! I'm reminded of the 'Go, Dog, Go' book from my childhood, where there's several scenes of two dogs meeting, and one says to the other 'Do you like my hat?' and the other says 'No, I do not like your hat.', and in the last scene, the dog has THE fanciest fruit-filled (I think) hat, and the 2nd dog says 'Yes, I DO like your hat!' It always tickled me! ;-)

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

OMG, I loved that book as a kid, too.

[haldoor.livejournal.com]

I remembered it a little wonky, but here you go for a giggle:

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

That's still totally adorable! LOL

[shanachie-quill.livejournal.com]

Aaaww what sweet memories and pictures.

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I didn't think I even still had them, so it was nice to find them.

[shanachie-quill.livejournal.com]

I can totally understand that.

[severina2001.livejournal.com]

Ay-yi-yi. I mean, I've been to Arizona a few times and I saw little teeeensy lizards and that was neat as long as they were outside and not too close to me. But that is ONE MONSTER OF A LIZARD. Although I've got to admit, that harness is ADORABLE and mitigates a little of the scare factor.

Not a chance in hell I'd ever hold that sucker.

(Sorry I didn't reply sooner. I spent a couple of days with my sister so I didn't have internet access.)

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

Hah! Yeah, our back wall gets sun almost all day long so it's not uncommon to see the little guys hanging on the brick and sunning themselves. They also like to run across the screens on my windows to drive the cats nuts. He was HUGE, that is no lie. And his owner would walk him down the sidewalk until they got to the coffee shop. That was a sight to see.

Taylor wasn't much thrilled about holding him either, but she got over it. But then, she was 9 at the time. It's easier to get over things when you're 9.

(It's all good, I was more afraid I'd permanently scared you off. LOL)