Well, here we go again.  It was three years ago when I last updated our "annual" message, and my excuse for that three year break was that I usually do these messages on a cold rainy day, and that in So Calif where I live, that doesn't happen much.  Guess what, it is raining and snowing!   So I again use that excuse.  I find it hard to believe that I again skipped three years.  We are still going to several shows on the West Coast, Ramy Guirguis and his Super Shows, and Bob Ashley and Brian Potter's NARBC shows, are still the biggest/best shows on the West Coast (NARBC does others, but we only attend the CA ones) and our hats are off to both of these groups for doing such a great job in promoting our industry. Drew and Jessica Reinhardt of Phoenix and Joel and Courtney Ebarb of Portland have smaller shows, but of great quality, and if you can make any of these shows, please come by our table and say hello.  Business is good, selling most of what we hatch each year.  But new customers are always welcome.  We have expanded our International Business to include new friends in the UK, Chile, and S Korea, among other locations. As we state on our letter head, "If it is legal for you to receive it, we can ship it to you"

 

The grand kids are doing well, Meagan is in the AirForce protecting our way of life, Lindsey is in college in Texas making her way up into the working world, Ty is in a private Christian High school with good grades and becoming quite a sports jock, along with some acting, Evan is doing well in school and is also quite an accomplished athlete, and Trevor is also doing well in school and athletics.  No complaints in the grand kid department.  As for our children, we have 3 total, each married, and one of each marriage group is unemployed.  Thank you President Obama for this wonderful economy.

 

Marilee took her daughter and oldest grand son and spent 2 weeks in Israel.  They got to see a lot of places most of us only get to read about.  Imagine what it must have felt like to have a guide point to a field and explain that is where David slew Goliath, or here is the rock Jesus moved to  get out of the cave, etc.  I am sure it was quite enlightening and they all said they had a wonderful experience.  Marilee was even baptized in the Jordan River!

 

I just returned from a Reptile Photo Trip to the Amazon River in Peru.  I am glad I went, just to have the experience, but the experience was terrible.  Between Montezuma's revenge and needing hernia surgery and having a bad knee, it was a terrible experience.  It is an amazing place, and many of the younger kids on the trip seemed to enjoy themselves, but between the 95 degree temp and 100% humidity, plus more mosquito's that I have ever seen, I was miserable.  I hope to have a full story posted in my article section about the trip soon, so watch for it. We did see over 100 species and subspecies of reptiles and amphibians, so in that respect it was a great trip.

 

We have cut back on reptile production, only producing about 500 babies a year, trying to slow down and not have as much work.  Now it is only a couple hours a day on average.  I just had my hernia operation (and yes, for a couple days it feels like a mule kicked you in the nuts) so will  have to take it easy for a few weeks, and not be able to lift heavy stuff for 6 weeks (glad I have  a strong wife), but except for this medical time out, I still play Senior Soft Ball 3 days a week, and walk several miles a week and work out twice a week, so I am not falling apart, just temporarily down a bit.  We have done a few slide presentation type talks to various groups.  And as I type there are beaded lizards hatching!

 

I never thought I would do this, but APPLEGATE REPTILES is FOR SALE.  My wife and I have discussed it, and even though it is quite profitable, and only takes a few hours a day, we can't really go anywhere. Someone has to be here to take care of the animals.  There is no hurry, and it isn't a forced sale, but no one in the family is interested in taking it over, and I am almost 68 years old. Why wait until I get sick or injured and have to sell?  I won't give it away, but if you are interested, give me a call.  We have Gila Monsters, Mexican Beaded Lizards (including  the largest ever found) and many of the various Kingsnake/Milksnake groups, including many rare and desirable morphs. Also, a mouse and rat business which feeds all our animals and makes enough of a profit to pay for all the mouse feed. We have enough empty cages that production could easily be doubled, possibly tripled. Happy to show with an appointment or talk more on the phone or via e mail.  I would like to see it go to someone who would appreciate over 40 years of service and good will to the reptile community.  With that bombshell of news I will sign off, thanking you for your patronage and wishing you a Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas, and any all all appropriate greetings that are customary, since I don't send cards! I will try not to wait another 3 years to update if I still own APPLEGATE REPTILES then.  Thank you

 

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