I am a self-confessed snake phobe. I looked it up and according to http://phobialist.com/reverse.html, the fear of snakes is scientifically called Ophidiophobia or Snakephobia.

I am deathly terrified of snakes. I'll freak out if you put a picture of a snake next to me. I swear. You can't make me touch even just a picture of one, so you can probably imagine just how I'll react if I see a real, live, slithering snake.

I don't know but for some reason, snakes seemed to follow me this week.

July 18 (Saturday): On our way to Marikina Sports Park, I was browsing through a back issue of Preview Magazine and I stopped on one page to read an article. Dan was looking strangely at me the whole time (while driving). After I finished reading the article, I looked at the other page that I was holding with my right hand and realized that there was a whole page ad with a huge yellow python. I can't remember exactly what the ad was for (I remember seeing the same ad on a billboard along C-5), but after seeing it, I screamed and threw the magazine to the back of the car. I still haven't picked it up to this date. But it's now in our room. Somewhere, under a pile of magazines. Hehe.

July 19 (Sunday): Mama and I were watching tv while Dan, Dada, Dave, and Mark were outside talking about guy stuff. During one of the commercials, my mom noticed something weird hanging down from one of the pin lights in the living room. She took a closer look and let out a yelp. I didn't even need to ask her what it was. The still (apparently dead) figure was a snake. After my mom confirmed that it was a snake, I let out a scream and stood up from the couch. I ran a few feet away and stood as still as I could, toes curled, my hands gripping the hem of my dress. I was practically in tears, not out of pity for the dead snake hanging down from our pin light, but because of fear. Haha! The guys dealt with it. I think it was Mark who pulled the snake down and threw it away, somewhere. I dunno. I didn't really care as long as it was somewhere far, far away from me. LOL.

July 21 (Tuesday): I was on my way home with one of our trainees, Jen. We took an fx from Valero and were chatting the whole time. We were sitting in the middle. I was right next to the door, behind the driver. I put the paperbag that I had with me on the floor, between the door and my feet. At one point, I think it was along Paseo, or near Kalayaan, I felt something moving near my feet. I thought it was just my paperbag. But "something" continued to move. While talking to Jen, I tried to see what it was. It was quite dark so I didn't see anything. I didn't try to reach down to find out what it was because it might be a rat or a cockroach or something. So I raised my feet instead and propped them on the back of the driver's seat. Jen and I continued our chatter.

All hell broke lose (for me anyway) halfway through Kalayaan, near C-5, when one of the guy passengers sitting in front exclaimed "Manong, may ahas!". The driver slowed down and tried to see if it was true. He saw it too so he pulled over. I think we were just past Gate 1 (in front of the new bldg with a Reyes BBQ at the ground floor). The guys in front and the driver had a discussion on who was going to physically remove the snake from the fx. Apparently, none of them wanted to do it. They were afraid to touch the snake coz it might bite them. Hehe. While they were trying to figure out what to do, I was freaking out. Silently, of course. I tried to get off the fx, but the door next to me was locked. Good thing the other passengers also decided to alight. I got off the fx in a flash. The whole time, my heart was beating so fast I thought I was going to pass out from fear. Haha!

By the time the fx was emptied, they couldn't find the snake anymore. We all think it slithered to the engine. Even the cop who pulled over couldn't find it with his flashlight. Giving up, the driver said it probably was gone. Jen and I were like "No way". We weren't getting in the fx again. They didn't find it, so it's still somewhere in there, because we didn't see it slithering away on the pavement. For some weird reason, all the guys went back in the fx. Jen and I along with another female passenger decided to just get another fx. Haha!

The whole time, I couldn't get over the fact that it slithered past my feet. I've never been that close to a snake! Had I seen it, I would've passed out due to sheer terror. While Jen and I were in the 2nd fx going home, we couldn't help but recount the experience. It was just plain weird that an fx would have a snake. I mean, what are the chances, right?

Jen and I were nervous the entire ride home. I, for one, am traumatized. Since that event, I've never been able to sit comfortably in an fx - especially going home at night. My fx rides have just officially become more stressful because of fear that it might happen agan - but then, it's highly unlikely. Hehehe.

When I got home that night, Dan saw the fear in my eyes. He tried comforting me, but I just ended up crying like a baby. It was a good thing Jen and I were talking the whole time, otherwise I probably would've broken down in public. Eek. Not good.

Anyway, yeah. These 3 snake encounters are more than enough to last me a life time. I hope I never have another encounter. Ever.

This kind of weather... The stay-at-home-and-sleep kinda weather, is so not conducive to working. I WANNA GO HOME!!!

Uber cold here in the office. I'm wearing knit sweaters over a knit tank top. A few hours into my shift, I realized that my outfit wasn't giving me enough warmth, so I decided to throw a scarf around my neck too. I feel a bit warmer now, but the cold is still seeping in through my shoes and... I wish I had gloves/mittens for my hands. My hands are nearly frozen! I have such a hard time typing. LOL. It's a good thing I'm monitoring calls coz I'm wearing a headset that's big enough to cover my ears. So yeah, so far my ears are toasty warm. Wonder what the temperature here right now is. It's definitely below 15 degrees. Waaaahhh! Please gimme some warmth... Wish my Memet was here to give me a hug...