Thaki is...

...getting a little bit sleepy.
...glad it is summer, and the weather is semi-reflecting it.
...excited about having sold three of her baby geckos.
...in love with the most recent hatchling.
...needing to start working out - walking to work should help.
...excited that Jinglepants loves her too.

Thaki is...

...baffled by the conviction and strength of her emotions of late.
...slightly disappointed and slightly relieved that Jinglepants did not say 'I love you too.'
...amazed with life.
...so proud of her friends that graduated this year.
...completely ready to drop everything and move to Hawaii.
...afraid that the intensity with which she's fallen in love is going to tear things apart
...hoping that you guys have some constructive suggestions.

I finally wrote a partial list of things I've learned about what it takes for me to have a 'successful relationship'. I define a 'successful relationship' as one that leaves both parties with a feeling of loving and being loved, and with a positive outlook on life. I'm passing these along to you in the hopes that maybe some of them will make life easier down the line.

Here's what I've learned:

- Give more than you take.
- Not all best friends make good partners.
- Staying friends can be hard. It can also be done.
- It doesn't matter if it's "forever".
- Love yourself first.
- You might get hurt, and that's okay.
- Be open minded.
- Don't let your brain fall out, though.
- Be patient, kind, forgiving, and thoughtful.
- Sometimes, it's okay if they aren't your 'type'.
- Experiment a little.
- Share things.
- And keep your own interests.
- LISTEN.
- Make time for each other.
- Obey the campsite rule (Leave your partner better than you found them).
- There's going to be some lousy relationships - thats okay too. Learn from them.
- Love openly, honestly, and freely.
- Opposites may attract, but similarities will keep it together.
- Everything you deserve from your partner, your partner deserves from you.

[To be privatized soon.]

Since October of last year, a ton of things have changed.

As of last October, I was a Jew(ish) 21 year old, who had taken a temporary job working for a chain pet store, while looking for a teaching or bartending gig. I was with the guy I'd been seeing for the better part of the past several years, and things were 'okay'. I was coaching Judo somewhere between 2-4x per week, and I had been forever. I owned a few reptiles - somewhere between two and five, I don't recall exactly. My hair reached my lower-middle back, and I wore skater pants and hoodies almost all the time. I spent my free time on the computer, or by myself.

As of tonight, I realized just how much my life seems to have changed. My hair is just barely long enough to pull into a ponytail. I've told my parents that Judaism doesn't really fill in the gaps for me as far as my religious beliefs go, and that while I'm happy to do the family gatherings, I don't really believe the things that I'm saying. I have no desire to pursue teaching, or bartending, in any serious way. I am working as a reptile specialist, and am running both a crested gecko breeding project and Party Gecko Enterprises on the side. I've taken up 'knitting' and acrylic painting. I haven't been to Judo in any serious way in nearly six months, though I do plan on going back soon. I spend my free time with friends, being social. I wear jewelry and pants that hug, and cowboy boots when I can get away with it. I have nice shirts, though I still wear hoodies more than I'd admit. I am with a new guy, who is absolutely astounding, and (as my cousin said) makes me 'glow'. I own a veritable zoo - one Red Tail Boa, one Ball Python, one Sonoran Black Kingsnake, one Leopard Gecko, one Alligator Lizard, seven Crested Geckos, 2 male Bettas (one regular, one crowntail), one Jenday Conure, one Cockatiel, a 28 gallon aquarium, and a bunch of reptile eggs. Plus the dog.

My life has taken a new direction, in more ways than one, and I'm happier with it than I have been in quite a while.

...I still listen to country music.

<3

SO! The first of my gecko eggs hatched this morning (with a little unneeded assistance because I started flipping out... 'oh no! it's stuck!' - most of it was done completely on its own though).

I am now a lizard momma!

...Lizard grandma?

I'm VERY excited. I have no idea what the final colors are going to come out to be, but right now, I don't care - I'm just glad it didn't hatch inside out or something. (...I kid you not - I was terrified that it was going to die during hatching, or that it was formed improperly or some such atrocity.)

His name is Apache, and you can see him here:

[link]

And here:

[link]

Also - last Friday, Harley (one of my other crested geckos) escaped.

I found him this morning, while I was down on the floor, prepping the baby's temporary tank. I was sitting there prepping the container when all of a sudden I hear this 'WHUMP' from inside my closet. "AHA! That sounds like a Crested Gecko landing!" I think to myself. Sure enough, as I peer under the edge of the closet door, there's Harley, staring at me. Very dehydrated and a little skinny, but otherwise, looking good. He's been hydrating today, and looks much better.