For those of you not into museums or exploring what your city, town, or even backyard have to offer, then I encourage you to venture out a little and explore a new place. See what there is to be seen. It’s worth it.
Promise.
Both the video and the pictures were taken at the Cockrell Butterfly Center or Brown Hall of Entomology in the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
When I was younger my sister and I would use everything and anything to make a Barbie-sized world come alive. Fluffy towels were unfolded to make lush carpeting. Greeting cards popped up to provide doorways. Cotton balls and jewelry boxes served as throw pillows and benches. Luckily, Barbie’s surroundings were only limited by our imaginations rather than our toy boxes or piggy banks.
That same imaginative quality popped up the other day after sitting outside on the doorstep. I thought someone was on their way to the house, so I went downstairs to open the door. Moving languidly over the cracks, a little snail kept me company as I waited for a person who never arrived. Before knowing that she wouldn’t be able to make it, I continued waiting for her while watching my companion make its way to moist soil. Bored from sitting so long, I grabbed a piece of grass and put it in front of the snail’s path to see what it would do. Slimy ripples undulated over the green blade trying to identify the object. It seemed to pass the test and was judged acceptable to glide upon. Something weird started happening. I bent down to get a closer look. A long, thin brown object seem to come out from the top of the shell as the slug wriggled and writhed around. I wasn’t sure what I was watching, yet it fascinated me. My assumption was it could possibly be feeding or a radula-related anatomical feature. I ran upstairs to grab my camera in hopes of videotaping any activity that followed.
When I arrived back outside all my excitement dissipated. The brown line that seemed to slither out of the snail’s shell and over its body was not part of the gastropod anatomy, rather something excreted from the organism itself.
Lying in a coiled pile a few millimeters away from the snail was the tiniest pile of poop I have ever seen. If my sister and I ever built Barbie a toilet, what the snail left behind would probably have fit inside it perfectly.
Commentary from ‘Buster’s Santo
People feel comfortable with me, like they know me, like they can say anything they want. This includes commenting on my purchases, or in this case, on my rentals.
A few weeks ago I walked into my neighborhood Blockbuster to rent Watchmen and He’s Just Not That Into You. Figured two movies would be more than enough and walked to the register with my movie picks. The guy scanning the rentals commented on how great Watchmen is, but warned me that I shouldn’t expect a happy ending or typical heroes. It was amusing that he didn’t offer any insights on my other rental. He totally ignored it, not surprising. What do you say to someone renting He’s Just No That Into You? “Oh, Watchmen, cool movie…and oh…are you trying to figure out if he’s into you?” If he wants a repeat customer, probably not.
He continued on the Watchmen note by asking if I’m into graphic novels or video games. To his amazement I responded, “Not so much into graphic novels, but I do enjoy video games.”
“Really!? Oh, okay. Well, have you played Call of Duty?!”
“No.” I hesitated before continuing, but went on anyway, “It’s like Barbies for boys. Too many options. I find it overstimulating.”
“Hmm…” I don’t think he liked what I said and moved past it quickly, “Which consoles do you have?”
“Only a DS, but I borrow consoles from my buddies depending on which game I want to play.”
“Which games do you like?”
“Pretty much anything, but I really enjoy God of War and can’t wait for the third one to come out.”
“I thought it already came out.”
“Nope, there was a prequel on the PSP, but the third one should come out on the PS3 pretty soon.”
He checked the computer, “Yeah, you’re right.”
After some more game talk/nerdy flirting, I headed out. Surprised me a little with the inquisitiveness, but nothing crossing the line or getting too personal.
Today’s conversation was a little different, more invasive, less nerdy, and lots of assumptions with emphasis on “ass”.
I walked in looking for two specific foreign movies, Romance and Intimacy. The same Nosey Parker (one of the Malaysian’s favorite terms) happened to be behind the counter. His back was turned while helping another customer. A few moments later he saw me waiting.
“Hi, ma’am. Can I help you find something?”
“Hi, yeah…I just wanted to see if y’all had two movies in stock.”
“What are they?”
“Do y’all have Intimacy or Romance?
“Intimacy or Romance?”
“Yes.”
“Feeling kinda down today, huh?
“Ha. No. Not quite.” Oh, just wait. I thought that was a kicker, but it gets better.
He continued typing on the computer, double-checked his spelling, then walked back over to me and says, “Sorry, we don’t have it.”
“You don’t have either one?”
And the kicker, “No, but we do sell chocolate.”
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