MY NAME IS HANK AND I AM EXCITED TO BE PART OF THIS "FAMILY" OF TURTLE KEEPERS AND ADVOCATES. BEING A MECHANIC AND A PRETTY GOOD MCGYVER, I AM ALWAYS TRYING TO IMROVE THE WAY THINGS ARE DONE OR DESIGNED, AND BOY DID THE FLOOD GATES OPEN WHEN I STARTED(GOT OBSESSED WITH) RAISING RES'S!
WE ALL HAVE OUR STORIES ABOUT HOW WE GOT STARTED IN RES PARENTING,SO HERES MINE. IN 1977 GROWING UP ON THE RANCH I CURRENTLY LIVE ON AND MANAGE, I THOUGHT I SEEN EVERY ANIMAL IN THE VALLEY, ON HOT DAY TRIPLE DEGREE SUMMER. I FOUND A TURTLE (APPROX 12"L)IN BACK OF OUR HOUSE.1/4MFROM ANY WATER ESCEPT FOR IRRIGATION DITCHES. I LITERALLY GAZED IN AWE AND WONDER,NEVER SEEING SUCH A THING EXCEPT BOOKS AND ZOOS. I PUT IT ON THE BACK PORCH STEP AND RAN TO THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE SHOUTING TO MY DAD."DAD I FOUND A TURTLE COME QUICK!" HE CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE, FOLLOWED ME TO THE BACK AND THERE ON THE BACK STEP WAS... YOU GUESSED IT IT. NOTHING! I WAS SO ANGRY. I WANTED TO SHARE WITH HIM THE COOLESST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN.HE UNDERSTOOD AND SAID HE BELEIVED ME. I SEARCHED AND NEVER FOUND HIM,OR ANY TURTLES DURING MY ENTIRE YOUTH. I NEVER FORGOT ABOUT THAT TURTLE.
NOV. 2006 ON MY BIRTHDAY MY WIFE,WHO REMEMBERED THE STORY TOOK ME TO STARBUCKS AND GAVE ME MY BIRTHDAY PRESENT. INSIDE THIS PLAIN BROWN CDBRD BOX WAS ONE DIME STORE TURTLE AND TWO 5" RES'S. SOME GIFTS REALLY TOUCH THE HEART STRINGS HUH? MYLIFE HASN'T BEEN THE SAME SINCE. I KNOW ALSO HAVE AGUIRED/RESCUED 10 MORE DIME ST TURTS FROM A FLEA MARKET. IT HAS AND IS AN OBSESSION OF MINE TO CREAT THE PERFECT ENVIRONMENT FOR MY HERPS,I HAVE GONE FROM TUPPERWARE TO AQUARIUMS AND FEEL LIKE 'JOHNY 5' WITH A HUNGER FOR 'INPUT'. I LIIK FORWARD TO SHARING THERE CURRENT HABITATS AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR COMMENTS ON MY DESIGN IDEAS IN THE FUTURE.BY THE WAY WE HAVE 5 DOGS 13 RES'S 1 SUN CONURE,1 BEARDED DRAGON AND A PARAKEET.THIS RANCH WILL HAVE LIFE!!
LOOKING FORWARD TO TALKING TO YOU ALL MORE.
HANK[/quote]
You sound very creative. I'm looking forward to seeing some of the things you've done. (I like your quote as well.)