My son is just about to drive me nuts obsessing over things. We’re way beyond “20 questions” into more like encyclopedia territory.

Three things, usually, in rotation:

• Spiders
• Snakes
• Sharks

Spiders? We talk about which ones are poisonous, what they do, where they live. “And if they wanted to, they could bite your head off!” No, son, only in the movies, spiders are smaller than your head. It would take a while for them to chew through your spine, anyway.

Snakes? Fascinated with venom and teeth. Oddly enough seems oblivious to rattlesnakes (which are more likely here in Texas). Then this morning I see a news report that they are trying to catch a Boa Constrictor nearby, assuming it was released by a pet owner when it got too big since of course Boas don’t live in Texas. It’s been spotted in a stock tank in a nearby town and is pretty big by all accounts. While trying to catch it? They caught a seven foot python but they don’t think it’s the same one. So son, maybe you’re right to worry about snakes in Texas.

Sharks? We live 200 miles from the shore. And shark sightings and actually eating people are rare, right? Well, enter the news reports that the dead zone off the texas coast is driving sharks in to the shore in search of food (food that looks kinda like kids swimming). And we’re going to the beach next week. Andthis movie just came out:

– The stuff that dreams are made of ->

Maybe he’s onto something?