I like pets. Always have, always will. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not one of those “pets are people too” types, I just like having lots of different pets roaming around the house. It make me happy.

My husband, on the other hand, is a  squeaky clean dentist who does not share my “pets are hairy – they make  life merry” mentality. Last month, hubs made the mistake of asking me if I had any special requests for my 43rd birthday:

“I’d love an African Sulcata Tortoise.”  I answered as sweetly as I could, knowing that my request was going to be about as popular as the proverbial turd in the punchbowl.

His dramantic* reaction was priceless: his shoulders sank, he sighed heavily (it was the same look he gets when he discovers a door ding on his car), “But you already had a turtle a few years ago – how could you forget Speedy?” he whined.

“No Bug-Bug,” I said, “I don’t want a turtle, I want a tortoise - the kind that lives for a hundred years. And grows to be great big – like 100 pounds big . . . and I could never forget Speedy, by the way.”

Then my calm, unflappable  husband did something I rarely see him do – he went a little haywire: He lifted his hands dramatically into the air, sort of “Jesus style” (with his palms facing upward) and whispered, “What do you think is gonna happen when you die?  Or are you planning to live to be 143 years old?”

“Okay,” I said, “how ’bout this:  you get me whatever you want to get me for my birthday.” (Then I tried to look like the most underprivileged almost 43 year old in all of Texas.)

Guess what I got for my 43rd birthday?  Tortuga the Tortoise.  Want to know why?  Because my husband loves me more than he loves himself. I’m certain of it. And I have the Sulcata Tortoise to prove it.

Check out these video clips of Tortuga:  One video is VERY GROSS, and the other is VERY TRICKY.  Can guess which video is which?

The first person to submit the correct answer in the comment section below wins a Scribbles Reusable Bag of their choice!

Want to learn more about the African Sulcata Tortoise? Visit Sulcata Station. They are a wealth of information for novice Tortolians such as myself.

Also, lock in on the African-Tortoise Yahoo Group. (I’m a member!   I know- I’m braggin’!) You can be a member too?  (You know you want to!)  

*DRAMANTIC =  when a manly man goes all dramatic. Usually as a result of something his wife or mother says or does (or both if he and his wife are living with mama!)  I’ve submitted it toUrban Dictionary.  It is currently under review.  I’ll let you know if it was accepted.