Lucky Snail's Foot

Today I was extended a job offer from a stellar company with some exciting opportunities. Now, you might not believe me, but I put Ebony and Ivory (you remember Ebony, right? I'll introduce Ivory later this week) in a little zip lock bag and stuffed them in my pocket for my interview. You know - can't leave my handicap children alone and all. But I'm pretty sure they're my new good luck charms. Without them I doubt I would have breezed through the interview with such panache and charm.

So go out there, dear readers! Go out there and pick up your very own lucky snail and take him with any time you're in need of luck. Because I promise you... the snail gods will look down on you and smile.

(But don't take them to a bar in hopes of "getting lucky". The overwhelming luck you receive will bring the potential one-night stands in close proximity where they may possibly hump your leg... and essentially crushing your new found good luck charms. A little common sense is sometimes better than a little luck!)

A snail out of water.

Knowing about my fascination, cultivation, and love of snails, a co-worker brought me a pretty good sized outdoor snail and left it on my desk for me to find this morning. I put him on a paper plate and watched as he stretched his antennae to sniff out his new surroundings. After watching him for a bit I took him outside and set him in an area that I trust will suit him better.

I have a question

I've had a few snails grow up to be almost regular snail size and then all of a sudden they disappear. Where do they go? Are there rogue snails hiding in between the cushions of my couch? Has my girlfriend been secretly snacking on them? Where are my snails?

Snails: Our Children of the Deep

Meet Ebony. She's one of my black mystery snails. She eats anything in her way. Often times she enjoys brisk walks crawls on my lilies. And occasionally Ebony enjoys a gentle foot rub.

Despite having Ebony and enjoying nearly every minute of our time together I've still yet to grasp exactly what it is about snails that's so... great. They kind of just eat, move, eat, breed and poop. But maybe that's what is so amazing and enthralling about our squishy (I accidentally squished one...) aquatic friends. These guys are so predictable and "dumb" that we cling on to them as if they were our own mentally challenged children. Our squishy, breeding, plant eating children.

Ebony has this fascination with racing to the top of my aquarium. But once she reaches the top and her little snail eyes notice she's got no where else to go she quickly pulls herself back into her shell and sinks to the bottom. Rinse and repeat. She does this for hours. If she wasn't already equipped with her own shell I would be jumping at the chance to fashion her a safety helmet and mini bite guard. It would be an awesome helmet with racing stripes and shiny reflectors for her night time activities.

Maybe snails aren't our handicap children. Or at least chances are my fellow snail owners won't be viewing their pets as children. But Ebony has found her place in my heart... as my mentally challenged child of the deep.