I made a new friend today!
Yep. That's a lizard on my shoulder. I found it outside the convenience store on the Pensacola Naval Air Base. For those of you keeping track, that's the home of the Blue Angels flight team. Everything in the area gets named for them. Gas stations. Grocery Stores. Churches.
Anyway, this one was feeling very friendly. I put my hand out and he just jumped onto my arm. Much softer and warmer than the concrete wall he had been clinging too, I'd imagine. Beautiful skin. Watched his color change to match my shirt. I was over-joyed, of course. He was a little camera shy, and clingy though. I would have taken him home, but I'm not sure he would have survived the car ride. He certainly didn't want to leave me anyway. I did convince him to leave, but it was tough. I wish I'd been able to get a better picture. Bright colors. Lean, but not unhealthy. Long unbroken tail. Very attentive and responsive. Apparently my skin tasted good. That's not really news, but it speaks to a refined character. ;) There was a part of his head that was always darker and duller in color. Looked like a bit of old skin from his last molting.
I sent that picture as a message to a number of cell-phones. I'm sure not all of you got it, or could see it, so that's why I posted it again here. If you didn't know and couldn't tell: I *LOVE* lizards. I'm facsinated by them. They seem to like me. I've seen a lot of beared dragons compete for my attention. A lot of iguanas give me a little head-toss, signaling recognition - even if I've never seen them before. The meaner ones even seem to be calmer around me - like nile monitors. Didn't get a chance to handle that one though. Anyway yeah: lizards, they're my thing.