! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! G A R R E T T ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

While packing the car for Thunder I realized why I am not going to be a veterinarian. I was collecting up the blankets, chairs, rain gear, cooler, etc, etc, etc for our trek to the river bank to watch the airshow and fireworks. I have a system to ensure that I don't leave anything behind that involves collecting everything that I intend to take in one area and looking at all of it before packing anything into bags to be carried to the car. I had everything stacked next to the couch on the basement floor ready to be crammed into backpacks and duffel bags. I was focused. I was ready to get the show on the road. I started grabbing things and stuffing them into bags while thinking about what else we might need for a day outside in questionable weather. When I picked up the last blanket I saw something MOVE. I jumped back and made some funny noises while I watched this helpless little lizard try to hide under the jumbo Ziploc bag I had stuffed full of blankets.
I climbed up on my bed and screamed "G A R R E T T ! ! ! ! " Of course he immediately came to my rescue---He's my knight in shinning armor--- and he quickly captured the beast by grabbing it's tail. Like any skilled hunter, he carried his prize around the house showing it off to all the squealing girls with a huge grin on his face. Sadly his glory came to an abrupt end. The lizard's TAIL BROKE OFF! Garrett dropped the tail and it continued to wiggle around on the floor as the tail-less lizard scurried off to hide. The highlight of the event was when my Mom stepped on the amputated tail and it's inner contents squirted out onto the floor.
Thanks go out to Garrett for using his skill to capture the ferocious beast and his elbow grease to scrub the guts off the floor!