snowgoose

The only constant is change. No truer word was ever spoken, and especially for me this year.

It’s hard to believe that in January 2008, I was a blonde graphic designer who weighed over 82kg and had no idea that social media extended beyond Facebook. In less than one year, I have somehow managed to flip my life around dramatically. 2008 for me will forever be the year of the ‘great weight loss’ (12kg and counting), the year I decided that 24 years of being blonde was enough, and – most importantly – the year I discovered that a sense community in South Africa does exist.

Let me expand: In May, I managed to stuff my foot in the door of Online Marketing at Standard Bank. No mean feat considering I had no Marketing experience or education, and that the competition for this prized position must have been pretty stiff. I’m still not sure how I did it – I’m just waiting for the day the bubble bursts and they realise there are literally thousands of better candidates out there. I feel that I can, in part, thank the fact that in February I was introduced to web 2.0 and Social media in earnest. I had been a digital designer for over a year, but only seriously dabbled in social media this year – and all I can really say is “wow!”. I don’t need to expand on how this medium has changed my life… I did that in my 1st post on this blog.

What I will do is confidently shout “Roll on 2009! I’m ready for a lot more change, growth and more fantastic friendships.”

Me in December 2007 and last weekend at a super hero fancy dress party (I went as “Little Miss Twitter”… I am such a chop!)

I am a proud mother to two gorgeous children. Well, I think they are gorgeous; most people either stare in fascination or grimace in disgust. My kids are the best kind: They make no noise, they live very clean and they don’t demand too much attention.

The Big (and by big I mean fat) sister: Ozzy the Bearded dragon.

We got Ozzy in May last year; she is an Australian Inland Bearded Dragon. She’s named after Ozzy Osbourne because she “bites the heads off crickets”. I think it is quite clear at this point that we thought she was a boy. She stayed Ozzy because by the time we were able to sex her, the name “Sharon” just did not fit. (Thank goodness we didn’t call her Fred or George).

As you can see, she’s pretty darn fat. Morbidly obese might be more apt. Before you call child welfare to report abuse, let me explain that we do not over feed her and make a big effort to ensure she gets a balanced, low fat diet. She’s just not big on moving around and I am yet to find a lizard gym.

She’s very friendly, loves humans and has never bitten anything that didn’t have six legs.
She might lick you but that’s as dangerous as she gets.

The moody teenage brother: Mojo the veiled chameleon

Most people are scared of Ozzy but they should really be scared of Mojo. He hates humans; in fact he hates anything that isn’t food. If he were human, he’d live in his Black Sabbath and Korn poster clad bedroom darkly contemplating the demise off all “lame” adults.
If you are stupid enough to put your hand in his cage, you will be treated to him inflating himself like a balloon, hissing and trying his damndest to bite your probing fingers off.

All this means very little because like all moody teenagers, he is pretty harmless and his bark is far worse than his bite (in fact, he hasn’t actually bitten us, it’s all a show).

Mojo is so named because of his amazing skill of disappearing when in his cage (although chameleons do not change colour to blend into their background, that’s a myth) causing us to exclaim “I’ve lost my Mojo!” That and he is funny looking so he deserves a funny name.

He is a 9 month old Veiled chameleon, originally from Yemen. They are very fussy and hard to keep happy, but its so rewarding when you get it right (plus watching him catch his food with that super tongue is better than any TV show).

So now you have met my pets. They are the start of what will hopefully become an impressive lizard collection. I’d like to get a Tokay Gecko, a Ridge Tailed Monitor, a Sandfish Skink, a Panther Chameleon, a Spectacled Caiman (need a BIG garden for that one) and a whole lot more. But I have to earn a whole lot of money first as lizards are expensive pets.

I know you think I am weird. I don’t care. If I want to cuddle, I have my cats – If I want to be constantly surprised, fascinated and educated – I’ve got my kids; Ozzy and Mojo.