For the better part of my adult life I have been attending reptile conventions all across the country, oftentimes traveling alone and meeting up with people there. Granted, I have worked for kingsnake.com for a very long time and am pretty well known in our community but even with that, I have not been immune. I was both touched inappropriately and then stalked for the evening at a show. I was in a position that I didn't have to worry about going to the show promoter. He was a good friend. I didn't have to worry about me being safe, I had eyes on me for the rest of the night as well as the person who assaulted me. I was literally only alone when I was in the bathroom stall. I had people walk me to my room and they checked the door handle from the outside while someone else followed him the whole evening as well. Things were handled quietly the way I wanted them handled. I know some people disagreed with it, but I felt it was the best resolution at the time and it was what I wanted. That was at least 15 years ago and things haven't changed. I want to share that because, we remember things like this and this is not a decision we will overrule in a few years.

This weekend there was an incident and I am not going to divulge the details of it other than to say we took out our trash. Many years ago, I wrote on my facebook that if this ever happens to you at a show I am at, no matter what mental state I am in (because we all know what it is like after the auction) find me for help. This weekend someone did just that and I am glad I was there to help her. If something happens at a Tinley show, I do not care if you need to have the front desk ring my room at 4 am, I will come to you. Plain and simple. But I am not at every show anymore, but there are others like me. There are plenty of other women, in fact every single woman in this community has your back. This is a promise I make. If you need help, grab one of us. Tell us what happened. We will get you safe, we will get help and we will take care of things. The reptile community has been a pretty 50/50 split on men and women for the better part of 20 years now and we ladies do in fact stick together. 

Things happen when you get large crowds and alcohol together but remember these two things.  #1. We will police our community and not tolerate bad behavior within our shows. You will be removed #2. Momma is watching and here for you and when I am not there are others who will be.

And now for some photos that are not ball pythons or crested geckos from the show as promised. And yes those are captive bred and born Boelen's babies. Oh yes they are! I only made it a few rows, but if you think the show is just ball pythons and crested geckos, you simply are NOT looking hard enough.


Captive bred and born BOELENS!


Cool little gecko from Bryan Suson


Tokay from Seri


You KNOW I like em thicc. Blood python BAY BAY.


Lil batch of worms there, but still not a ball python... HUH.



Still not a ball python!

Ok there were ball pythons and cresties. But here is the deal. Those are on a lot of tables and if you don't check each table you will miss the stuff like this that I photographed. Because for a lot of breeders those common two help pay the bills for the fun stuff. Plain and simple. So do not just see balls and cresties and keep walking because most of these photos were taken on tables WITH those things. These were paid for with ball pythons and cresties because those are beginner staples. Stop complaining and start going slower through the show. And respect each others space.

Ok Mom Out!