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Freak heat wave, RIP Vino

Posted by Katie M at 7/9/2010 4:37:57 PM

God, I'm losing it over here.... Seattle is NOT known for heat... we're NOT known for snow, crud... we're known for temperate rain! Well, for the past few days, we've been in the high 90's. I finally got myself a couple of way over priced AC units, as AC is a luxury here, and you can rarely even find portable units for sale anywhere. It took me 10 different stores, and 6 hours to find the 2 units, and $700 later to try and prepare for the days to come, as it was "only" in the low 90's by they day I found them. Here comes the problem... I'm disabled, and can't really lift large, heavy bulky objects. So, I had to wait till yesterday to have my friend haul them upstairs. In the meantime, I'd just relied on my wonderful thermostats, added cool water, kept the shades drawn, frozen water bottles against tubs, etc. Everyone seemed cranky, but ok.

Flash forward, AC units are on, we're finally getting it somewhat cooled down, and by that I mean 86 degrees INSIDE my place at 4 in the morning WITH the AC units on full blast (we're in a Heat Advisory because seriously, we aren't prepared for this heat here), and I go to check on everyone again, and I found my little Vino hadn't survived the ordeal. I'm absolutely beside myself... he was truly the NICEST atb I've met in my life... perhaps one of the nicest snakes in general.... he's the reason I got more... and now he's gone... I have MORE ice packs now going around the other kids, and am changing them out the second they thaw... weather is supposed to break come Saturday night, but god.... why???? really? I couldn't have made it through this without losing my Vino???

RIP my little buddy... I'm so sorry I didn't protect you...

Comments:

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Shannon ,	Posted At: 7/9/2010 4:43:08 PM
	I'm SO sorry Katie. It's never easy losing an animal, especially when you try your best to protect them all. RIP Vino :-(

aaron,	Posted At: 7/9/2010 5:00:28 PM
	oh no!!! vino!!!! Sorry Katie, I know how much that guy meant to you.... hugs

Donna Boswell,	Posted At: 7/9/2010 5:09:51 PM
	I'm sorry Katie! My heart breaks for you. I know that you are blaming yourself, but you did everything you could to make sure everyone made it through this. Keep your head up girl, mourn, and remember the snake that was Vino.

Kristy ,	Posted At: 7/9/2010 5:10:05 PM
	Sorry for your loss :'(

Sonja ,	Posted At: 7/9/2010 5:10:17 PM
	Aw, I'm sorry, Katie. He was a cutie. RIP Vino

gfx,	Posted At: 7/9/2010 5:21:21 PM
	Oh no, I'm so sorry to read that, I know how much he meant to you. :( Perhaps its just a crappy coincidence. If he died because of the heat, you'd certainly see others in similar distress. RIP Vino. :(

Eligos,	Posted At: 7/9/2010 5:27:03 PM
	Sorry to hear that Katie :( RIP Vino. The heat out here in brutal, my apartment was at 94 degrees when I left today on lunch.

Sonja K. ,	Posted At: 7/9/2010 5:39:18 PM
	Sorry, Katie! : (

Katie M,	Posted At: 7/9/2010 6:02:50 PM
	thanks guys... gfx - I assume it was heat, because he, as well as quite a few others, have been not-stop soaking as a result of all the heat... that said, I'll keep an eye out. The AC units are doing they're job much better today, even though today is by far the worse day yet (hopefully the forecasters are right, and it begins to cool down tomorrow).

Jeff ,	Posted At: 7/9/2010 6:06:11 PM
	So sorry to hear Katie :(

Netanya Emerson,	Posted At: 7/9/2010 6:19:26 PM
	Sorry to hear this katie

Higdon's Herps,	Posted At: 7/9/2010 6:38:21 PM
	I'm so sorry Katie. :-( We both seem to be have the same amount of bad luck. Ya'll have abnormal heat conditions and we have abnormal wet conditions down here in OkieLand. We are usually in the middle of a draught down here, but we have gotten rain everyday for the last week to 10 days. Several days the average rain fall has been 3in plus per day.

Nitram G.,	Posted At: 7/9/2010 6:53:01 PM
	RIP Vino. that sucks katie but keep your head up everything happens for a reason imo and that includes death. if nothing else at least it put you on higher alert for the rest of the clan. the earth is changing, its raining where its dry, its hot where its cold, earlier this year we hit 40 degree weather here in sfl and i had to battle to keep everyone warm as we're not used to the cold. i didnt even have a jacket, can ya imagine? he was a hot lookin atb and im sure he will be missed.

Lauren ,	Posted At: 7/9/2010 8:24:51 PM
	I'm very sorry to hear of your loss. :( I had some scares earlier with the heat and my apartment's air conditioning not working, but luckily that got fixed.

josh cole,	Posted At: 7/9/2010 9:07:32 PM
	sorry katie. Ya its hot here too. ( tampa ) But lucky for me its hot year round so are ac runs year round. It really sucks. Good luck with cooling the rest down.

Mimi Ross,	Posted At: 7/9/2010 10:01:11 PM
	Katie, Im so so sorry. If you need anything, anything at all please call.

Bree,	Posted At: 7/10/2010 12:56:50 AM
	Katie- I'm sooo soo sorry, I know condolences don't fix things, but know that the entire community is sending you warm thoughts.

Megan Carsner,	Posted At: 7/10/2010 1:11:05 AM
	Aw I'm sorry Katie! I would have so come up there and helped you with the units. I've found many portable A.C. units down here. I think costco, home depot and lowes has them here. I can't be 100% though but the reason I DO know is because we were going to invest in one if this hot stuff kept up. Anyway's keep the kids cool. This should all be better by tomorrow. As for us, the only heat we've left on is the monitors heat. Otherwise, heatless it's reached about 86-89 degree's in our apartment alone. With our lamps on (seeing as we don't have the fancy heat set up yet lol) the bulbs would just cook everything including us. So hand in there momma!

Jeremy N.,	Posted At: 7/10/2010 1:47:41 AM
	Katie I'm soooo soooorry about you're loss to vino I know how much he ment to you my prayers and thoughts go out to you hang in there :)

wintersreptiles,	Posted At: 7/10/2010 11:37:23 AM
	sorry for your loss.

shellboa,	Posted At: 7/10/2010 12:42:45 PM
	Awww Katie, thats terrible. I'm sorry hon, {{hugs}} You did your best.

Jim Mangum,	Posted At: 7/10/2010 1:15:11 PM
	Very sorry to hear this Katie! Glad everyone else is ok though! Things were out of your control...Sorry again!

Starwild ,	Posted At: 7/10/2010 3:32:03 PM
	I'm sorry Katie, to be frank I'm surprised MORE people haven't lost snakes given this damn heat wave! I live in NC and we've been flirting with 100 for the last week but at least we're used to it here and have central air conditioning. Again my condolences for your loss.

josh ,	Posted At: 7/10/2010 5:57:03 PM
	Sorry about your baby beautiful snake

Aurora ,	Posted At: 7/11/2010 6:01:15 PM
	Very sorry to hear. RIP little guy.

NWHeather,	Posted At: 7/13/2010 12:02:30 AM
	Katie, I'm so sorry :( I just saw this. He was a gorgeous little baby. ((HUGS))

Frances ,	Posted At: 7/21/2010 11:52:57 PM
	Oh Katie, I am so sad for you, he was beautiful.